I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself

"We’re nearly there. From now on, you’ll be cultivating and living here."

"The Martial Hall has experienced Martial Masters to teach you cultivation techniques. You must cultivate well to defeat Xiaoyang and protect your loved ones."

On the leading flying ship, Huo Chang spoke to the several hundred youths he brought.

The excitement during the initial gathering of survivors is now replaced by exhaustion in integrating tribal members.

Compared to the large number of tribal members outside, the number of people in the Blazing Flame Headquarters Division is still too small.

Therefore, every now and then, young people suitable for cultivation from the tribes outside the mountains are incorporated into the headquarters’ Martial Hall for training.

Moreover, some talented orphans are bestowed with the surname Huo.

Starting on the Martial Dao cultivation path, it takes at least ten years to cultivate successfully.

This provides ample time to nurture these youths into members of the Blazing Flame.

Recently, Huo Chang has not hesitated to learn from others, understanding the Jishan Bo Division, and examining the Luo River Bo Division’s situation.

Like most tribes in Yongyi, both Jishan and Luo River control a certain number of direct vassal tribes, and then dominate some upper-class tribes.

And the upper-class tribes themselves control a certain number of vassal tribes.

In the process of confronting Xiaoyang, the Jishan Bo Division, besides drawing enough clan soldiers from its direct vassal tribes,

found its subordinate upper-class tribes appearing deceptive, using clan soldiers from their vassal tribes as elites to deal with the Jishan Bo Division.

Of course, this also stems from the reason that the Jishan Bo Division lacks ambition, its blade is too dull.

If this were during the reign of the first Lord Jishan, if various tribes dared to act like this, they would have broken countless swords.

Nevertheless, it all points to a problem: tribes subordinated to the upper-class tribes under a Bo Division do not directly obey the Bo Division.

If Blazing Flame wants to learn from Jishan, it is to control the upper-class tribes.

Then, allocate each area to a specific upper-class tribe, allowing them to develop and gather vassal tribes themselves.

This situation is particularly applicable to undeveloped areas; give you a Clan Establishment Order, go ahead, whatever you build is all yours.

But after consideration, Huo Chang feels that this approach is not entirely suitable for the Blazing Flame Division.

Now that Blazing Flame has gathered so many tribal members, even if some can be dispersed, most people still wish to live with the Blazing Flame Division.

Such a large number of tribal members, the next step is integration.

After sending a group of young people to the Martial Hall, Huo Chang strides into the Ancestral Temple.

Shen Can immediately sees the crease on Huo Chang’s forehead, indicating that it has been tense for several days.

"Acan, the population gap between the headquarters and mountain tribes is too large, we must find a way to speed up integration."

An individual wishing to accomplish the work of several generations must think outside the box.

"How is the gathering of survivors and forming vassal tribes going?"

Shen Can leads Huo Chang to his residence and pours him a cup of water.

"The number gathered is not much, primarily because the northern area of Ji Land has been severely ravaged by Xiaoyang.

The remaining tribes mostly hesitate to move north, considering it too remote, forcing them to migrate.

Furthermore, among the newly gathered survivors, I have selected a portion to send directly to the headquarters to accelerate the increase in clan members."

"After several Great Sacrifices, the mountain tribes should be close to our division, right?"

Shen Can recalls the past sacrifices, although the tribal members’ minds were varied, most have recognized the tribe.

After all, during the destruction of tribes as Xiaoyang moved south, it was Blazing Flame that provided them new protection.

For those who lost their original tribal shelter and have remarried and started families anew, stability is what they hope for.

"But with so many people, over time, if the headquarters stays in the mountains, I’m afraid peoples’ minds will change."

Huo Chang shows concern, if the Blazing Flame headquarters had a hundred thousand bloodlines now, there would be less worry.

Ultimately, the headquarters population is just too small.

From Huo Chang’s words, Shen Can also realizes the underlying issue.

The delineation between headquarters and external tribes, even Shen Can sometimes subconsciously makes this distinction.

The small number of Blazing Flame bloodlines is a fact, but if everyone from top to bottom subconsciously differentiates between internal and external, in time it will indeed cause issues.

For integration, it must go beyond familial connections to encompass conscious integration.

This division between headquarters and external hasn’t even been integrated, yet is already present, which is very unfavorable to unity.

"Clan Leader, don’t speak of the division between headquarters and external anymore; it is detrimental to tribal unity."

Huo Chang is taken aback but quickly understands.

Such unintentional language easily influences tribal members.

Especially when he is the clan leader, overseeing clan soldiers and other affairs, and often interacting with tribal members externally.

Immediately, Huo Chang’s eyes turn resolute, and he speaks solemnly, "It seems it’s time for another reformation."

The integration issue within and outside the tribe is fundamental to advancing the Bo Division, it must be resolved.

In the following days, each time Little Dragon Fish returned with Little Sparrow from outside, they would see Shen Can and Huo Chang busy together.

Several days passed, yet it was unclear what was being discussed.

It eavesdropped for a while but found it rather dull, thinking it would be more enjoyable to listen to the whispers in the night.

...

In the northeastern direction of Ji Land, near the Great Marsh, lies a vast mountain range.

The Great Marsh, created by the Golden Crow Kuafu, had long been submerged beneath the surging waters.

The wild grasses flourished, and the charred old trees sprang back to life from their roots, bringing vitality back to the mountains.

From this wilderness extending a thousand miles south, in areas untouched by the Golden Crow Celestial Fire, the aura of wilderness was even denser, with ancient trees sprawling, lush and vibrant.

Within the old mountains stood a tranquil mountain stream, with water gurgling softly.

A group of Xiaoyang quickly approached, disrupting the peace and quiet of the place.

Leaping and traversing swiftly, they crashed into a mist-shrouded forest, where a towering structure loomed faintly in the fog.

The entire ancient hall blended seamlessly with the rock walls, its exterior covered in thick dark green moss.

"The ancient hall, it’s indeed here!"

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein exclaimed excitedly upon seeing the emerging Stone Hall.

"Muo Xiao, your chance, I shall inherit it. Unexpected, isn’t it? Yet here I am, Qiu Yin, devouring your Muo Yan Lineage."

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein approached the Stone Hall.

"Great Witch Priest, Muo Xiao is already dead, and now I have assimilated the Muo Yan Lineage.

As long as the Great Witch Priest hands over the old Divine Treasure of the Muo Yan Lineage, I can venerate you as Muo Xiao did.

I can even help you unify the divided Ancestral Temple, making you the sole Great Witch Priest of the entire Xiaoyang."

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein had none of the chaotic escape state he was in before, his eyes full of ambition.

Who would have thought that Muo Xiao, under whom it suffocated, was now dead?

Everything went to its advantage.

Rumble!

The ancient Stone Hall slowly opened its stone door, revealing a pitch-black entrance.

Deep within the hall, the Great Witch Priest’s eyes twinkled playfully, and a hoarse voice echoed.

"Come in."

"You all wait for me here."

Upon hearing this, the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein was overjoyed, leaping forward into the Stone Hall.

But as soon as the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein entered the Stone Hall, the doors shut rapidly, and the clansmen outside, trying to push them open, found it impossible.

"Ah!"

From within the Stone Hall came the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein’s shrill scream.

"You... you you you..."

Half an hour later.

Within the dimly lit great hall, beast fires flickered, creating multiple swaying shadows of a figure garbed in a wide beast robe.

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein lay prostrate on the ground like a dead dog.

On either side stood two Xiaoyang Martial Artists with grayish-white fur, coldly observing it.

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein gazed fearfully at the Great Witch Priest.

Those were not the eyes of the Great Witch Priest; it knew those eyes far too well.

It was unmistakably Muo Xiao, still alive.

In an instant, its ambitious dreams shattered like bubbles.

Not even in dreams had it ended so swiftly.

"You..."

Stammered the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein in terror, but seeing those icy, indifferent eyes, dared not speak further.

It desperately wanted to ask why Muo Xiao hadn’t died.

But sensing the killing intent, the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein quickly sobered up, realizing that any more words might result in a swift demise.

"I submit."

The Muo Xiao Great Witch Priest didn’t spare the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein a glance, "Reintroduce yourself, you may now address me as the Xiao King."

"The Xiao King!"

The Master of the Qiu Yin Vein was taken aback.

Walking towards the seat in the center of the hall, the Muo Xiao Great Witch Priest settled in, looking at the Master of the Qiu Yin Vein.

"The Ancestral Temple Keeper of the Human Race Tribe has thwarted my plans, you are to deal with him."