I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 12: The Rain Stops, the Plague Healed

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Rain Stops, the Plague Healed

Sweep the ancestral temple.

Clean the divine tablet.

Steal the ancestral offering of beast blood soaked rice.

The taste is a bit lacking, but the daily increase in sensed power fascinates Shen Can.

Today, the rain is still falling.

More mushrooms have grown inside the cave.

Since he developed the improved epidemic witch medicine formula, Shen Can has focused on cultivation.

His power increased rapidly, and "All Transformations Return to One" allowed him to convert all consumed meals into his own strength.

Now he possesses the Power of Four Desolations.

To advance to the Mountain-Opening Realm, he estimates he needs the Power of Nine Desolations.

At the entrance of the ancestral temple cave.

"Brother Acan, next time there’s beast blood, I’ll become a Stone-Breaking Realm martial artist."

Ayu, who hadn’t been seen for many days, came to the ancestral temple, excitedly sharing his joy, "Once I become a martial artist, I must hunt a wild beast to offer to the ancestors."

Earlier, Clan Chief Huo Chang returned with two Tier One Wild Beasts, and their extracted beast blood allowed the clan to gain five Stone-Breaker martial artists.

The tribal members preparing to become martial artists had all been cultivating the Kui Ox Fist for at least ten or eight years.

Now, after practicing the improved Kui Ox Fist, the results are surprisingly good.

According to the list held by Huo Xian, the next time there’s Stone-Breaking Realm beast blood, it’ll be Ayu’s turn.

Ayu’s talent is quite impressive, surpassing many of the thirty-something clan members, who belonged to the late bloomers.

The way he surpassed them, naturally, was through fighting.

With the torrential rain, everyone couldn’t go out; either they were wrestling inside the cave or wrestling on the bed.

"Brother Acan, this is for you."

After chatting for a while, Ayu took out a package with a strange smell from his bosom and stuffed it into Shen Can’s arms.

The package was wrapped in beast skin, and inside were several pieces of dried wild beast meat.

"I’m going to soak in beast blood, so I don’t need to eat this."

Shen Can didn’t refuse, wrapped it again, and tucked it under his armpit.

"Brother Acan, I’m heading back."

Shen Can, carrying the dried meat, walked into the cave. The ancestors were not as ambitious as his little brothers, so it seemed some chanting to the ancestors was needed.

...

The 127th day of the heavy rain.

Shen Can possessed the Power of Five Desolations.

Early in the morning, he was still sweeping the ancestral temple, cleaning the mushrooms, and noise came from outside the cave.

"The rain is lighter!"

"The flood has receded."

This noise instantly echoed inside and outside the tribe.

Down the mountain, the distance from the initial flood shore had receded by two zhang.

Huo Xian rarely left the ancestral temple and went to observe at the water’s edge, setting up a wooden stake at the original water shore.

Three days later, the flood receded by eleven zhang.

Five days later, the new water shore’s edge had a thirty zhang distance from the wooden stake.

Even with sporadic small rain outside, Huo Xian, after observing at the water’s edge, went to discuss with Huo Chang.

Soon, bonfires were lit in various caves around the tribe.

Basket after basket of medicinal herbs were moved out of the storage cave and handed to the tribe members.

Tribe members were tasked to stay by the bonfire to gradually disperse the moisture from the herbs.

In the bonfires, mugwort was occasionally placed, and when it burned, it emitted a fragrant smoke that filled all the caves.

Huo Xian brought Shen Can to start working. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

A large copper pot was set on the bonfire, and Shen Can poured the mixed herbs into the pot to boil, and the tribe’s elderly, women, and children began drinking it.

The tribe women, by the bonfire, while watching over the roasting herbs, also crushed and kneaded some medicinal materials together into medicinal balls.

Starting with the children and women, then to the tribal martial artists, everyone was given a medicinal ball to wear.

Shen Can was also kneading the balls; crushed herbal powder mixed with water, hand-rolled into ball shapes, and lightly toasted in front of the bonfire.

The caves inhabited by the tribe quickly filled with a strong medicinal scent.

The children were all confined inside the caves, while the smaller kids were directly placed into the baskets of herbs.

Everyone was on high alert.

After another two days.

The sun came out.

This was the first time Shen Can had seen the sun since arriving in this world.

The rain truly stopped.

Though the flood hadn’t completely receded, it was decreasing every day.

The previously flooded areas were covered in mud; nearly everywhere that was submerged was bare, with no vegetation.

...

Ancestral temple cave.

With hands blackened from kneading medicine pills, Shen Can was gulping down medicinal soup from a large pottery bowl.

This medicinal soup was from the improved epidemic formula he had developed.

From now on, everyone in the tribe would drink a bowl daily.

The bonfires would remain lit, continuously brewing medicine.

Initially, Shen Can considered showcasing his suggestions, like maintaining ventilation and hygiene.

But observing, he found them unnecessary.

With the sun now out, beast skins were hung on the rocks outside the cave to dry.

Not only did they sun dry, but also used medicinal smoke.

The interior and exterior of the tribe’s caves were subjected to a grand roasting, including the mountain outside the cave entrance.

Any leftover medicinal residue from daily brewing was scattered throughout the caves.

Regarding waste areas, a roaring fire was lit.

If it couldn’t be lit, the tribe used beast oil.

Adults were led by the martial artists to search for wood, gathering it on the mountain outside the tribe for drying.

In case of future plague insects, giant bonfires would surround the tribe to disperse them.

Huo Shan led the tribe’s Mountain-Opening Realm martial artists out towards the tribe’s distant areas.

With the flood receding, the first priority was to inspect within a hundred li of the tribe.

In case any strong wild beasts were trapped nearby due to the flood, now was the time to hunt them.

Additionally, search for wild beast corpses buried under mud, and bury them to prevent becoming plague insect fodder.

Marked burial sites were essential as a prime herb for preventing epidemics, Washing Grass, was likely to grow near wild beast corpses.

Once it grows, the tribe would need to harvest it for reserves.

Although the rain had just stopped and the plague insects hadn’t arrived, preparations for the next outbreak were underway.

The entire tribe was mobilized.

Two days later.

Huo Shan returned quietly.

Subsequently, Huo Chang, after saying something to Huo Xian, went out.

Shen Can noticed Huo Xian started preparing the neutralizing beast blood herbs, and eagerly took over the task.

Under the night sky, a Tier Two fish-like strange creature with sword-like spines was dragged into the ancestral temple.

[The Sacrificial Master has extracted 230 years of lifespan from the Tier Two Sword Pattern Fish.]

This time, only two stone troughs of beast blood were collected; the beast blood wasn’t stored in the ancestral temple but was directly taken away by Huo Chang.

By daybreak, Huo Chang returned dust-covered with a Mountain-Splitting Kui, which was in poor condition, and only one trough of beast blood was collected.

With new offerings, the previous offerings in the Blood Vase must be quickly cleaned according to the rules.

Shen Can thought of stealing some, but realized Huo Chang had no reason to hide the Tier Two monster fish, probably for precaution.

So, he cleaned the Blood Vase of beast blood and filled it with Mountain-Splitting Kui blood.

Huo Xian was about to remind when he saw Shen Can consuming the beast blood from the Blood Vase and nodded, "Keep the Tier Two wild beast a secret and don’t tell the clan members."

Shen Can understood and turned his thoughts to developing a Tier One neutralizing witch medicine formula.

...

Another day passed.

"Roar!"

A beast’s roar sounded outside the cave, immediately drawing the tribe members out.

A six-zhang Mountain-Splitting Kui appeared, emitting strong evil qi.

Unlike its starving and emaciated kin in the flood, this Mountain-Splitting Kui exuded strong aura, with shiny scales and fur.

Thick chains were secured around its neck and nose, ending in the hands of a martial artist standing atop its back.

This martial artist was tall and robust, with flaring nostrils and a faint blood qi visible on his arms.

"Huo Chang, why not welcome the guests when they arrive!"