I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 65 - 36: Knocked Out in One Pot

On the shore, Shen Can finally saw the appearance of the Red Goldfish clearly.

Its entire body shone with a bright red-golden luster, and it had dragon whiskers about a foot long under its jaw. Its skull was quite different from an ordinary Qing fish, with a forehead that bulged like a small hill.

The Auspicious Beast possessed high spiritual wisdom and was very rare.

The repeated appearances of an Auspicious Beast near the clan division, helping people and watering the fields, might mean it was looking for a permanent meal ticket.

The Dragon Beard Carp swam in the water for a long time before approaching within three zhang of Shen Can.

Half of its fish head rose out of the water, and beneath the jaw where the reverse scales were, there was a bloody glow, as if there were writhing blood worms attached.

Seeing the bloody glow, Shen Can understood it was not here to beg for food, but to seek help.

And it even understood the principle of giving before receiving, watering the clan’s land.

Such intelligence, wasted being just a fish.

"Let me have a look."

Shen Can spoke. He tried to direct his divine sense towards the location of the reverse scales.

Subsequently, he felt his divine sense bounce back, giving him a headache.

From within the blood glow, Witch Runes burst forth, like lightning, bouncing back the divine sense he had sent out.

In the position of the reverse scales, there was a sharp witch artifact the thickness of a finger.

"Blub blub."

Sensing that Shen Can was impacted, the Dragon Beard Carp blew a bubble that landed on Shen Can, the warm moisture falling on his head easing his headache slightly.

"It’s pinned down."

Shen Can recovered and approached the Dragon Beard Carp, observing it intently.

"Bloop."

The Dragon Beard Carp shook its head, its big black eyes filled with mist, shedding large teardrops.

"Bloop, bloop!"

"I’ll pull it out for you, but there’s a witch curse on the witch nail, and you’ll need a long time to recuperate."

"You can stay in our division during this time to recover. I’ll arrange a cave with a water pool for you to reside in."

Shen Can tried patting the lowered head of the Dragon Beard Carp.

"Bloop."

The Dragon Beard Carp nodded.

...

A day later.

At the stone wall pool beneath the clan mountain, the water’s surface was clear, with a gentle coolness flowing.

The Dragon Beard Carp tilted its body; Shen Can poured some Mafei Powder and waited a moment before clasping the witch nail with his large hand.

"Puff," the Dragon Beard Carp leaped up entirely, blood spurted from its jaw, and Shen Can caught it with a prepared jar.

He pressed a handful of Mafei Powder onto the wound.

"Bloop!"

"Bloop!"

The pain made the Dragon Beard Carp continuously blow bubbles.

The nail was a foot long, shaped like a sharp spike, its surface witch runes soaked red in fresh blood, sparkling with a transparent blood light.

The witch runes on the nail, Shen Can recognized them at a glance.

They were from the Lingyu Tribe.

A sorcery akin to extracting the essence from blood.

"Take good care of your injuries. Our tribe has also secretly learned this tribe’s sorcery, so we can just help you heal."

Thinking it over, Shen Can lay in front of the bubble-blowing Dragon Beard Fish and said this.

This fish was spiritually intelligent. If it saw that the sorcery he performed was the same as the source of the witch nail on it, an unexpected situation might arise, so it was better to explain in advance.

"Bloop."

A bubble flew out, landing in front of Shen Can, transforming into the shape of a fruit.

"Alright, I’ll make sure you have enough to eat every day."

The news that there was an Auspicious Beast in the tribe did not spread, but the previous news that the tribe members were saved by this beast spread as idle talk throughout the whole tribe.

Shen Can returned to the Ancestral Temple with the witch nail; this item could be used as a witch artifact for sneak attacks.

As for why it appeared on the fish, it was mainly to extract the Auspicious Beast’s essence blood.

The Lingyu Tribe conducts east hunting, capturing slaves, hunting beasts, and also capturing this kind of Auspicious Beast, extracting the essence from their blood, which should be related to the Lingyu in their tribe division.

As for why they didn’t simply capture it, Shen Can guessed that the most likely reason was that they failed to catch it. If they had caught it, they would have immediately filleted the fish.

In his eyes, Auspicious Beasts, in the Lingyu Tribe, at most count as ingredients possessing the bloodline of Auspicious Beasts.

"Whoosh!"

Back at the Ancestral Temple, Shen Can attempted to refine the witch nail, his divine thought affixed to it, and the moment witch power was injected, the witch nail immediately flew towards the jar containing the fish blood.

Shen Can hastily called it back, almost losing the hard-earned Auspicious Beast blood to the witch nail.

While Auspicious Beasts are also part of the Wild Beast lineage, the blood in this jar and ordinary Wild Beast blood are completely different, lacking a bloody scent, and sparkling like amber.

The next day, Shen Can went to check on the little fish and found it in the water, blowing bubbles while sleeping soundly.

The pool was filled with floating fruits.

After examining the wound, he found that it had scabbed over.

...

Another day passed, and Huo Hou returned to the tribe.

"I accompanied the clan leader heading south, and on the way, we discovered over two hundred organized clan soldiers. The clan leader feared it might be related to the previous issues with the Upper Lake Division, so he sent me back to inform the tribe to prepare in advance."

Receiving the news, Shen Can wasted no time, summoning Huo Shan and Huo Qii, instructing them to prepare ahead.

Arrange traps around the clan land, increase the range of daily patrols, and pay extra attention towards the Upper Huang Division.

...

In the ruins of the Upper Huang Race Territory.

Over two hundred people were inspecting back and forth within the ruins.

In just a few months, some places in the burnt clan land had already begun to sprout weeds.

Upon investigation, they found traces in this ruin, clearly events that had occurred within these past few months.

This coincided precisely with the time when the Upper Lake Race Leader led hundreds of clan soldiers northwards.

Cyan Bird Division Elder Cang Li spoke, "Brother Ape-Frog, excluding the tribes destroyed by natural disasters over the past ten years, within our tribal area, there have already been four tribes suddenly wiped out, their clan lands turned into scorched earth, correct?"

Ape-Frog surveyed the ruins left by the fire and nodded.

"Rumor has it outside that it was done by our three major tribes. I even thought it was your Ape Mountain Division or the Upper Lake Division that did it."

"How coincidental." Ape-Frog nodded, "We also thought it was your Cyan Bird Division or the Upper Lake Division that did it."

The elders of the two tribes exchanged a glance.

Alright, now it’s clear, it was the Upper Lake.

The three tribes are considered the strongest in this area, revered by the smaller tribes as upper-class tribes, hence only they could unite to establish a Ruins Market.

Only they, the three tribes, have the capability to completely wipe out a lower-class tribe.

After several tribes encountered incidents, rumors that it was done by the three tribes spread.

"Upper Lake Division has hidden so deeply; if it weren’t for us coming over this time, we might really be kept in the dark."

This time, the Upper Lake Division went deep into the forest to capture slaves, with no movements for several months, and the Upper Lake Division kept it secret.

Moreover, every flood, the major western Lingyu moves along Giant Peak Mountain towards East Hunting Giant Marsh, which they knew.

A group of people from the Upper Huang Tribe, wearing dazzling armor, appeared in the Copper Shell Ruins Market, attracting quite a bit of attention.

When establishing the Ruins Market, the three families had a rule, whoever encounters it first considers it theirs, and the other two families must not interfere with the trade, which allowed Upper Lake Division to benefit.

Otherwise, they would have tried to intervene long ago.

The Upper Lake Race Leader has led people into the mountains with no movement for so long, they also fear Upper Lake Division has gained a significant opportunity.

"Elder, it has been checked, there is nothing left, just ruins." Some clan members came back to report.

Ape-Frog nodded, "Just like the records of those tribes that were destroyed, not a single useful trace remains.

A tribe with at least seven to eight thousand people, counting this Upper Huang, five tribes, at least forty thousand people.

Where have the people and resources gone?"

Cang Li patted the broken wall, saying angrily, "This time we must catch the tail of Shui Miao.

If this continues, Upper Lake will dominate alone, becoming the real upper division."

...

In the distance, on the mountaintop.

Huo Chang looked at the figures making camp, and then at those carrying water bags down the mountain.

He had been observing long enough; the over two hundred people always cooked their own meals when camping, even the water the clan members drank was boiled before being poured into everyone’s water bags.

The meals cooked every night were very standard, thick porridge with dried meat.

Following them all the way, he often tried to listen in closely, but unfortunately, he never found an opportunity.

Unable to eavesdrop, he couldn’t figure out the origins of this group, only guessing they were from the Upper Lake Division.

Thus, he arranged for clan members to advance to the Upper Huang Race Territory to make some preparations.

Unexpectedly, this group indeed headed towards the Upper Huang Race Territory.

Now, Huo Chang dared not have any wishful thinking.

"Aqing, go drug them."

No matter which division they’re from, best to take them down temporarily.

The dozen people coming down from the Upper Huang Race Territory divided into two; one group seeking water, the other seeking firewood.

Huo Chang didn’t care about the woodcutters and focused on those searching for water.

Nearby, only the eastern valley had a spring; other areas had none.

...

Upper Huang Division Eastern Valley.

The pool was clear, the spring within gurgling.

Huo Qingg entered the valley and called out to the waiting Huo Muu and Huo Qiangg.

"They’re here, quickly pour it!"

The two of Huo Muu quickly scattered Mafei Powder into the spring water.

Since the spring water flowed slowly, they had to time it right to ensure the effectiveness of the drug.

"Quickly, stir it up."

"This time the Mafei Powder from the Ancestral Temple Keeper is really good; it dissolves right upon entering the water."

"Let’s go, don’t leave any traces."

The three quickly hid in the valley, and soon seven or eight people carrying water bags entered.

"Not easy, finally found a place with water, and it’s spring water, no need to dig a well ourselves."

"Quickly fill them, we still need to go back and cook."

The seven briefly glanced around, found the spring water clear, and started to open their bags and fill them.

As for drinking it directly, they didn’t do so.

All the way, they hadn’t drunk unboiled water.

After the plague, all water had to be boiled before drinking; this was the experience passed down.

As for why, their temporary cooks didn’t bother asking, they just followed.

...

Night fell.

In the ruins of the Upper Huang Race Territory, bonfires were lit.

Two big pots emitted steam, and martial artists with wooden bowls started serving themselves, then squatted in a corner against the wall to eat.

Going out with the tribe, they could only eat something warm at night; in the morning and noon, they made do with something simple.

Thud!

Soon after, someone felt their eyelids twitch, drowsiness hit, and they leaned against the stone wall and fell asleep.

One, two...

...

"Everyone’s down, all down."

"Acan’s drug is pretty strong, huh."

Huo Chang glanced from afar, then turned to ask Huo Qingg, "How much did you put?"

"I saw the water was moving, so I put it all in."

Huo Qingg didn’t look back, staring at the Upper Huang Race Territory, "Acan’s drug worked really well this time, they thought they were just sleepy after drinking."