I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 55 - 26: Upper Huang’s Calamity

"The Exorcism Chapter in Witch Doctor study includes the Zuyou Curse-breaking Technique; back then I didn’t like studying it seriously, so I only remembered bits and pieces."

Inside the confinement cave, Jifu gazed in the direction Shen Can had left, his eyes showing a trace of venomous hatred.

After months of torment, all he had left was boundless animosity.

"Go ahead and practice, this is what the insane Witch Doctor within the clan came up with."

"The entire tribe must perish for the hatred in my heart to be quenched."

...

Walking out of the confinement cave, Shen Can displayed a contemplative look.

The location of the sunken ship was known only by Upper Huang and Blazing Flame nearby.

Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that other surviving tribes might know, but the main suspects were still Upper Huang.

Otherwise, how did they find such a precise spot in such vast wilderness?

The information leaked by Upper Huang, so the origin of the Blood Witch is most likely tied to the Copper Shell Ruins Market.

Upper Huang brought back two Ironwood logs from the market, each over ten zhang in length, carrying them all the way—who knows how many people saw it.

It was enough to catch anyone’s eye.

"Ayu, go call Brother Huo Hou; I need him to contact the clan leader about something."

Having made the arrangements, Shen Can recited the Zuyou Exorcism Method as he returned to his dwelling.

[Spent ten years of lifespan deducing the Zuyou Exorcism Method]

By entering the Sacrificial Tripod Cauldron with his Divine Sense, Shen Can assumed a Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture.

[In the first year, you tried to perform this incomplete Witchcraft but felt your body being hollowed out bit by bit; in the third year, you died]

[You discovered clues that it’s not a complete Zuyou Exorcism Method but a fusion of an incomplete curse technique and a Zuyou Technique]

...

[After a century of pursuit, you finally traced it back to its roots and separately parsed out an incomplete version of the Zuyou Exorcism Method and the Witch Soul Blood Passage Technique]

[You begin deducing the Zuyou Exorcism Method...]

The next day, Shen Can woke up, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes, taking quite a while to regain his senses.

In total, he had expended more than two hundred years of lifespan to deduce the Exorcism Method.

What Jifu provided was not only incomplete but harmful and could only be considered a part of the exorcism method in the Zuyou Technique system.

This night, he managed to only grasp the basics of the exorcism method, needing to further spend a significant amount of lifespan to deduce for improvements.

...

Seven days later, Huo Chang returned.

"Acan, Huo Hou told me everything, about discovering a Witch near the sunken ship.

I searched near the mining area and indeed found some scorched-looking dead grass.

I brought them back for you to see. They look like burn marks and have a bit of a stench."

"This time I went to the mining area and eavesdropped; it confirmed Upper Huang is indeed heading to the Great Marsh."

Huo Chang watched as Shen Can examined the soil, and hastily asked, "So, does it look the same as the traces at the Sunken Ship Hills?"

"Mhm."

Shen Can nodded after examining.

"Acan, I didn’t pay attention before, but this time when I went to the mining area, a Martial Artist from the Mining Guard Team went missing.

Because of this, they even killed quite a few miner slaves searching for the missing Martial Artist.

I initially thought the miner slaves had killed him out of resentment, but now it seems likely he was captured by the Witch, who then learned about the Sunken Ship Hills."

Quickly, Shen Can made a judgment on the matter.

Gathering from the current information, the explanation formed a closed loop.

As for the Witch’s origin, it was more suspicious of having come from the Copper Shell Ruins Market, because nearby desolate areas scarcely gave birth to Witches, especially Blood Witches which have thresholds.

"Acan, does this mean Upper Huang might be targeted? Otherwise, why would a Wizard travel all this distance for no reason?"

In the Ancestral Temple, Huo Chang paced. He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at this conjecture.

It’s true they didn’t get along with Upper Huang, but both are striving to develop; just when they have a chance to rise, a crisis looms.

"Acan, is this Witch very powerful? Why does his witchcraft differ from yours, with a faint stench?"

No matter how clueless Huo Chang was about Witchcraft, he understood that this kind of witchcraft was definitely not good.

"It’s alright; this is a curse technique, and I can break it."

"Really?"

Huo Chang looked at Shen Can; this seemed way too fast.

After deliberating for a moment, Shen Can spoke, "This Wizard shouldn’t be too strong, just rather vicious in his methods."

This judgment stemmed from Jifu’s previous statement that when he advanced to Tier Two Wizard, his Divine Sense was merely five zhang.

Moreover, Divine Sense could easily be disrupted by external factors, causing a decrease in sensing ability.

Messages relayed by Huo Tu mentioned a torch, indicating the newcomer’s Witchcraft Path realm wasn’t strong; otherwise, a torch wouldn’t have been necessary.

"If it’s just this one Witch, the impact on Upper Huang Tribe remains uncertain, but it’s still better than us dealing with Upper Huang alone."

"Therefore, I still need to return and gather more information."

After much thought, Huo Chang realized the existing information was too scant.

However, a few days later, Huo Hou, who was transmitting messages, returned.

"Ancestral Temple Keeper."

Seeing Huo Hou rushing into the ancestral temple covered in dust, Shen Can ceased drawing the Witch Talisman.

"The clan leader sent news: something happened within Upper Huang Tribe!"

"Their clan’s Celestial Vein Martial Artists suddenly had an internal conflict, resulting in the death of at least one."

Shen Can was stunned; what kind of luck was this?

Then a chill ran down his spine.

Most likely, this was the Blood Witch’s sinister move.

Jifu mentioned the Blood Witches’ methods were ruthless and uncanny, only considering poisoning; what curse could this possibly be?

For low-tier Witchcraft Path curse techniques to maximize their effect, a medium is required.

"A medium?"

"Even a Tier Three Martial Artist fell victim."

"It’s Ironwood!"

Quickly, Shen Can comprehended it.

Only those in the Celestial Vein Realm could cut Tier Three Ore; therefore, it was natural for Celestial Vein Martial Artists to have contact.

To repair the Ironwood Ship, Upper Huang must have visited the market more than once; likely during the first visit, they were targeted.

A Blood Witch traveling so far solely to incite an internal struggle in Upper Huang—surely there was more to the goal than just them.

The aim must at least be the entire Upper Huang.

Half an hour later, Shen Can had sorted out his thoughts.

"Ayu, go invite the clan elders and Uncles Huo Shan and Huo Qii to the Ancestral Temple."

Soon, several figures arrived at the Ancestral Temple.

"Acan, what’s the matter?"

"Uncle Huo Qii, gather the martial artists in the clan and divide them into two groups.

One group of four hundred people will camp halfway between our tribe and the Upper Huang Division and await news, while the remaining martial artists are responsible for protecting the tribe."

Then, Shen Can looked at the two clan elders Huo Yuo and Huo Kui.

"Elders, Uncle Huo Shan and I need to leave the tribe. You must mobilize all the clan members to pack up and await the news.

If something unexpected happens, Uncle Huo Qii will bring the martial artists back to the tribe.

Then you will lead the clan members to Bishi Mountain by the waterside; this is one of the migration clan lands previously selected by the Clan Leader.

I will go to Bishi Mountain with the Clan Leader to meet you there."

Shen Can directly made two preparations. If there’s something to gain at the Upper Huang Division, take it; if not, then they would have to run.

Why run? Because of that Blood Witch. If it’s a Tier Three Blood Witch, then there’s no choice but to run.

However, the probability is small, likely only Tier Two, but he would not take the gamble.

"Acan, this..."

Still in a state of shock and silence, Huo Xian’s lips were dry.

"Master, this is just a preemptive arrangement. Maybe we’ll gain something."

Saying this, Shen Can suddenly looked at Huo Qii, "Uncle Huo Qii, if you return, the first thing you should do during migration is to have Uncle Huo Kui remove that guy in the detention cave.

Also, start feeding him Mafei Powder furiously from now on, don’t let him wake up."

"I understand."

Huo Qii nodded, "I will take the clan members and wait halfway."

"Ashan, protect Acan well."

"I know." Huo Shan nodded.

Shen Can went to the shelf behind him, grabbed a handful of Witch Talismans, and tucked them in his arms, saying, "Distribute these Witch Talismans to the elite martial artists in the clan. Tear them open when needed."

...

"Master, don’t worry. If we can’t win, it’s not like we don’t have legs to run."

After saying a word to Huo Xian, Shen Can left the tribe heading south with Huo Shan, Huo Qingg, Huo Muu, and Huo Hou.

Huo Qingg and Huo Muu were the two clan members who recently advanced to the Power of Thirty Desolations.

Huo Hou was responsible for delivering messages.

Heavily armed, carrying bows and crossbows, Witch Blades, and wearing armor, they made their way to the area near the Upper Huang Division.

Even Shen Can wore Witch Armor, with a bow slung over his shoulder.

They waited in a hidden valley for Huo Chang to arrive.

This was the contact point between Huo Hou and Huo Chang, and each time they met, they set the next meeting place.

They waited for two days.

"Acan, why are you here!"

Seeing Shen Can appear in the valley, Huo Chang immediately wanted Huo Shan to send him back.

"Clan Leader, if there’s a chance to gain, we shouldn’t pass it up. Without me, how can we deal with the Blood Witch?"

"What’s the situation in the Upper Huang Division?"

"Very bad."

Huo Chang spoke, "I’m no longer watching in the mining area, just staying on a mountain outside the Upper Huang Division.

In recent days, there have been fierce fighting sounds from the tribe every night, leaving everyone on edge."

Huo Chang’s face didn’t look too good at this point.

He was also somewhat frightened.

When a tribe is on high alert every day, it’s not far from destruction.

"Is that place safe? Should we take a look?"

Huo Chang looked at the accompanying clan members, who were undoubtedly the strongest in the clan, and reluctantly nodded in agreement.

As night fell.

In the northeastern corner of the Upper Huang Division, on a small hill that had previously served as a lookout.

Amid dense branches and leaves mixed with vegetation, a few heads popped out, looking toward the Upper Huang Division.

The moon hung in the middle of the sky. Suddenly, screams erupted in the quiet Upper Huang Race Territory as torches were lit.

Figures quickly converged in one place.

Then the sounds of fighting rang out.

It persisted for half an hour before gradually calming down, seemingly with casualties.

...

On the hilltop, Shen Can squinted his eyes, scanning the surroundings of the Upper Huang Race Territory.

The Blood Witch’s spell-casting methods weren’t as high-end as imagined, requiring close-range engagement to activate witchcraft.

"Clan Leader, let’s wait. The Blood Witch won’t show up so easily without thoroughly tormenting the Upper Huang Division."

This torment continued for more than half a month, with fights erupting every night.

On this day, with the Osmanthus moon hidden, the night was noticeably colder than usual.

Before midnight, there was already movement in the Upper Huang Race Territory.

The Upper Huang Clan Leader, Huang Yunn, eyes blood-red, blood seeping from his eye corners, suddenly smashed through buildings.

He continued to crush clan members trying to stop him.

"Clan Leader, wake up!"

"Ancestors, what has happened to us? Why such punishment?"

...

Huang Yunn’s throat emitted beast-like roars as, in a short time, dozens of clan members were killed by him, and he was soaked in blood.

"Ah..."

Bloodstained, his face became hideously ferocious, blood vessels bulging under the skin, like bloodworms crawling.

In no time, Huang Yunn became even more bloodthirsty, even sending Celestial Vein Martial Artists in the clan flying with blood spatters.

"Loose the arrows!"

Huang Yang stood high, tears marking his old face, trembling as he shouted.

Around him, dozens of clan members lifted their bows and crossbows, aiming at their own Clan Leader, some shaking so badly they couldn’t stand firmly.

"Fire!"