I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself

Chapter 437 - 187: Sword Pointed at Xiaoyang (Part 2)

Prior to Yanran’s advancement to the Bo Division, they had already informed the Blazing Flame Tribe.

"I am here under the orders of the Clan Leader, to pay respects to the esteemed Ancestral Temple Keeper of your division."

As he spoke, the Grand Elder of Yanran took out a jade box from the Witch Pouch.

"This was entrusted to me by our Clan Leader to be delivered to your Ancestral Temple Keeper. It is of great importance, and I hope to meet the Ancestral Temple Keeper soon."

Huo Chang, being a strong practitioner within the Ninth Layer of the Celestial Vein, sensed a peculiar aura emanating from the jade box at such a close range.

"What is this?"

"Recently, while our Clan Leader was cultivating, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of ominously patterned blood, and sent me to seek an audience with your Ancestral Temple Keeper for a solution."

"Originally, our Clan Leader intended to come in person, but unfortunately, he is unable to move now."

At this point, the Grand Elder of Yanran sighed.

"I really don’t know what’s going on. The Secret Technique we had suppressed somehow regained its devouring power, and the Clan Leader even heard a summoning call."

"As a result, we dared not let the Clan Leader go out, for fear that if anything happened to him caused by Xiaoyang, our Yanran Division would be doomed."

"The Ancestral Temple Keeper is in seclusion and will be out in three or two days. Your emissary can rest within our tribe for a day or two."

"Thank you very much."

Although the Grand Elder of Yanran was anxious, he could only agree.

After settling the Grand Elder of Yanran, Huo Chang sent a message to Shen Can.

That night, Shen Can returned to the Ancestral Temple from the mountain valley.

The issue during the cultivation of the Yanran Clan Leader is most likely related to the Three-Headed Secret Technique, and it seems the dormant Xiaoyang has started causing trouble again.

Side Hall of the Ancestral Temple, Shen Can’s residence.

The jade box brought by the Grand Elder of Yanran was opened by Shen Can, revealing a ball of bloodstain writhing like a moving maggot, constantly swaying up and down.

After taking a quick glance, Shen Can flicked out a flame to incinerate it.

Piercing sizzling sounds echoed, the veins within the bloodstain twisted and struggled, even manifesting the illusionary shadow of a three-headed illusion.

"It’s time to eliminate Muo Xiao."

"Should we send word to Jishan and Yanran?" Huo Chang also felt it was time to eliminate Muo Xiao to prevent him from lurking ominously in the eastern mountains.

"No, we’ll handle it ourselves."

"Xiaoyang has been hiding in the east, rising again and again. He must have ancestral reserves left behind."

"And as for Muo Xiao, he surely harbors more secrets."

Hearing Shen Can’s plan to act independently, Huo Chang paused for a moment, then understood.

The current Blazing Flame is no longer what it used to be; eliminating Muo Xiao alone is not a major issue.

"This time, we will mobilize elite forces, not targeting ordinary tribes of Xiaoyang, but aiming directly at Muo Xiao and his so-called Witch Ancestral Temple, and the leader-level clansmen."

"Any remaining Xiaoyang tribes and that mountain forest can serve as a trial ground for the young generation within our clan."

Huo Chang hadn’t expected Shen Can to have a plan that killed two birds with one stone.

This idea had just come up to Shen Can.

Over the years, the Blazing Flame Tribe and Xiaoyang had never ceased their skirmishes, only involving small-scale engagements.

Some small Xiaoyang tribes reside in the eastern mountains, where the environment is even more inhospitable, leading some to contemplate returning.

Settlements on the periphery of the clan land naturally became their targets.

The clan soldiers repeatedly went out to clear them, as Xiaoyang’s reliance on the mountainous terrain allowed them to hide quickly, beginning a back-and-forth that neither side could decisively end.

However, these skirmishes also tempered the clansmen, maintaining this status quo.

By decimating the upper echelon and foundation of the Muo Yan Branch, leaving some small tribes as a training ground, it would be just right.

"What do you plan to do about the Yanran Clan Leader’s situation?"

"I’ll first meet the Grand Elder of Yanran, and then decide whether to go to Yanran."

"Clan Leader, you can start preparing for the battle. This time, we don’t need too many clan soldiers; just select elite clansmen. Our goal is the high level of Xiaoyang and to retrieve Xiaoyang’s legacy."

"Have someone send a message to the Old Profound Turtle to return."

"Thus, besides the Dragon Bear stationed at the Dai Land, we can have Uncle Huo Shan remain at the clan land. With the remaining five Clan Guardian Beasts and the two of us, it should be sufficient."

"Indeed, this will be my last battle in the Clan Leader’s position. I’ll command the clan soldiers, and you’ll lead the War Beasts. This time, we must unearth Xiaoyang’s legacy."

Huo Chang felt a resurgence of war intent within him.

With six Divine Treasure Level combat forces, he had never thought the Blazing Flame could wage such a wealthy war.

The next day, the Grand Elder of Yanran met Shen Can at one of his courtyard residences.

"Greetings to the Blazing Flame Ancestral Temple Keeper."

The Grand Elder of Yanran observed all formalities and maintained a respectful attitude.

"I need to know the condition of your respected clan leader."

Shen Can didn’t exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point.

Grand Elder Yanran sighed before beginning to speak, "It was about a year ago, the clan leader suddenly wanted to go into seclusion."

"After this incident of coughing blood, we found out that the clan leader had actually heard a call, a very mysterious language, neither of our Human Race nor Xiaoyang’s."

"The clan leader mentioned it might be the language of the Tri-Headed Race, but the sound was too indistinct for him to discern clearly."

"I better take a look."

Hearing Grand Elder Yanran’s description, Shen Can prepared to travel to the Yanran Tribe.

"Thank you, Ancestral Temple Keeper." Grand Elder Yanran hurriedly stood up to express gratitude.

"Grand Elder, wait for two days and return by yourself.

Remember, put on a worried face, pretend you haven’t seen me."

Grand Elder Yanran immediately understood, nodding in agreement.

At this moment, Shen Can quietly left the tribe, heading towards the Yanran Tribe.

Two days later, with a look of worry and urgency, Grand Elder Yanran left the Blazing Flame and returned to the tribe.

In the Blazing Flame Tribe, Huo Chang also began mobilizing troops and allocating resources within the clan.

Giant crossbows, rigid bows, and fine armor were first selected from the clansmen cultivating the Desolate Beast Battle Body, while ordinary clan soldiers were chosen from among the Decurions and Squad Leaders in the War Soldier Camp.

The Medicine Division and Medical Division began preparing healing medicine pills.

The Military Division started inspecting flying ships and warships.

...

Yanran Tribe.

Shen Can, who had rushed over quietly, did not show himself but hid outside the Yanran Race Territory.

The Three-Headed Secret Technique on the Yanran Race Leader had been partly disrupted by him. In addition, the places where silver needles were inserted into the intersecting meridians had been stable for a long time.

The method he used for the Yanran Race Leader was simple, though it couldn’t make the Yanran Race Leader break free from Muo Xiao’s control, it could undermine Muo Xiao’s grip on him.

After several years, the dormant Muo Xiao once again turned his attention to the Yanran Race Leader.

Thus, Shen Can suspected that it was possible Muo Xiao was somewhere near Yanran.

This was based on his understanding of the Three-Headed Secret Technique. If the Three-Headed Secret Technique were intact, Muo Xiao could naturally control Yann Wanyun from afar.

But due to the methods he used on Yann Wanyun’s meridians—causing breaks and seals—

Remote control would not be as effortless anymore.

The closer to Yann Wanyun, the more potent the control would be.

After a few days, the anxious-looking Grand Elder Yanran returned to the tribe and was immediately pulled into the Clan Hall by the other three elders, who ordered sentries to stand guard outside the hall.

"Grand Elder, how did it go?"

"Grand Elder, what about the Blazing Flame Ancestral Temple Keeper?"

Grand Elder Yanran sighed.

"The Blazing Flame Ancestral Temple Keeper is in seclusion cultivating, besides, how could the Ancestral Temple Keeper step out casually?"

"Alas, what are we to do!"

"This is a matter of life and death, the Blazing Flame Ancestral Temple Keeper can’t just stand by, maybe the gift we brought wasn’t valuable enough."

...

A hundred miles outside the Yanran Tribe.

The vegetation was lush, with underground roots entwined like dragons.

Among the many roots, a wooden coffin had merged with them, and the blood seeping from the coffin had soaked into the earth below.

When the wooden coffin opened, a member of the Tri-Headed Race slowly opened their eyes, and the scar-like mark on their central skull gleamed with blood-red light.

All three mouths opened simultaneously, chanting an obscure incantation, emitting eerie ripples.

Following this, the roots merged with the wooden coffin, as if alive, began dragging the coffin swiftly away from the wooded area, hiding it in another forested area.

Underground dark room in the Yanran Tribe.

Yann Wanyun’s body was covered in dense scales, the Three-Headed Tattoo on his body was protruding, even though one of the skulls had already lost its vitality, yet it had grown like a piece of rotten flesh on his body.

The strange sounds echoed in his skull, reverberating repeatedly.

The meridians sealed within his body flickered with blood light, continually attempting to expel the silver needles blocking them.

In the skies, Shen Can transformed into a shadow floating in the air, overlooking the surroundings of the Yanran Tribe repeatedly.

After a thorough search, he saw no strange figures within a hundred miles around the Yanran Race Territory.

If not on the ground, then it might be underground.