The contamination strategy of [Flayer's Curse] had succeeded. But it would take more time to fully complete the Blood Knight's Beast Transformation Ritual.
The good news was that Isabelle had mastered a way to deal with the frenzied Blood Knight and was becoming increasingly adept at it.
Unfortunately, the [Evil Bone Whistle] still had no effect on the Blood Knight. It could only hinder his movements slightly and could not control his actions.
Isabelle was still working hard.
While Lu Yao was focused on dealing with the Blood Knight, a series of changes quietly unfolded in the once-unremarkable Garlic Tribe.
Thanks to the hard work of all the Pixelated Villagers, the Garlic Tribe's population had surpassed six hundred.
Regrettably, the tribe's two leaders, the Prophet and the Shaman, quietly passed away one after the other.
Their names were also carved onto the Monument.
"Nong Lai: the tribe's first Prophet. He was God Yao's eternally loyal follower and the bridge between the deity and the tribe. He led the tribe through natural disasters and famine, surviving its darkest days. His name will be remembered by all."
"Lie Cang: the tribe's first Shaman. He brought the knowledge and courage of the Forest Tribe into the Garlic Tribe. He was a clever pioneer and a guide of Wisdom, helping the tribe master technologies it had never possessed before."
The Prophet and Shaman were buried in the forest, while their Ghosts were taken by the local Death God, Scott, to Sanilo, where they began a new chapter of their lives.
The Garlic Tribe's leader became Hero Fisher-Walk.
By then, he was already an old man with graying hair. Yu Zou no longer led Hunters everywhere to hunt and patrol. Instead, he relied on his experience and prestige to lead the tribe onward.
To Lu Yao, the lives of Pixelated Villagers were very short.
Yet as he watched these little people, who had once prayed to him, marveled at him, praised him, feared him, and revered him, step into death without warning, he could not help feeling a little melancholy.
After becoming leader, Yu Zou made a simple adjustment to the Garlic Tribe.
First, Yu Zou invited Astrologer Shahan to govern the tribe alongside him, and Shahan agreed.
Their division of duties resembled that of the previous generation's Prophet and Shaman.
The Astrologer was responsible for the tribe's faith in its deity, praying in the Temple and seeking Sacrificial Offerings to receive divine guidance.
As a man of action, Yu Zou began leading the tribe's reforms.
First, he cleared a patch of Trees at the edge of the forest and turned it into Farmland, giving the tribe more land to grow food and ensuring that the Garlic Tribe's food reserves continued to increase.
At the same time, he led the villagers in rebuilding the dock with large amounts of stone and wood, then constructed several tall Granaries around it.
Yu Zou led the tribe in cutting wood and building Dugout Canoes. The people boarded them and began exploring farther in every direction along the East River.
The East River was swift and broad. Dugout Canoes were often swallowed by whirlpools or wrecked after striking rocks. Their vigorous exploration of the river cost the Garlic Tribe dozens of lives, a loss unlike anything they had suffered before.
The tribe's villagers became deeply uneasy, and some even questioned Yu Zou.
"If the Prophet were here, so many people would never have died."
"If the Shaman were still alive, he definitely wouldn't have done this."
"Lord Yu Zou is old."
"Even Heroes grow old. If this keeps up, the tribe is finished."
"Farming is still the safest. The water is too dangerous. Even the East River Tribe can barely survive without a Sea Monster. We have no chance at all."
Facing all the doubts and pressure, Yu Zou held firm to his course.
At this time, Shahan also gave Yu Zou his full support. "We have to go out. The deity has already given us enough guidance. This is the Deity's will!"
Yu Zou told the people, "We have abundant food, and that gives us the confidence to truly venture onto the river."
"The river has not only fish, but also natural roads that can take us in every direction."
"The river is a giant camel that never tires. It can take us anywhere."
"We must become the tribe that goes out, rather than sitting here and waiting for other tribes to find us."
"Have you forgotten the disastrous defeat against the Cave Dwellers? That was the result of standing still."
Lu Yao's God's-eye view made everything clear.
Lie Tou's death back then had continued to affect Yu Zou ever since.
Even after becoming an old man, Yu Zou was still surrounded by unease and fear. He always felt a sense of urgency, as though some invisible monster might attack the Garlic Tribe at any moment.
This sense of urgency was something the Garlic Tribe had never possessed before.
Lu Yao greatly approved of it.
Be prepared in times of peace for danger in times of crisis.
Without fear, there could be no progress.
An imagined enemy would give the Garlic Tribe more motivation and unity to keep moving forward.
However, there were no settlements on the other side of the East River, only vast barren land, rocky highlands, and several shallow stretches filled with loose stones.
Dugout Canoes moved back and forth across the river like ants, searching everywhere as wave after wave pressed on.
Just as Lu Yao was about to go downstairs to pick up his delivery, a notification popped up on the screen and stopped him in his tracks.
[Astrologer Shahan wrote the first parchment book, Tribal History.] [The Garlic Tribe learned writing.] [Yulian built the first Galley.] [The Garlic Tribe invented the Galley.] [The Garlic Tribe learned to make and use Galleys. Faith has increased.] --Great God, a believer has achieved a feat far beyond his peers. Would you like to transform him into a Hero? [Yes] [No]
Lu Yao took a look.
A villager wearing a short Wool jacket had appeared in the Temple. The name above his head was Yulian, and he was only sixteen years old.
A question mark appeared above Yulian's head, and the box beside him showed what he was thinking.
"They say only those acknowledged by the deity can receive enlightenment and truly enter the Temple. Does this mean I've been acknowledged?"
"But I didn't bring a Sacrificial Offering. If the deity gets angry... I won't get struck dead by Lightning, will I..."
"Sigh, I'm just a shipbuilder. I don't understand anything about deities."
"I hope the deity won't blame me."
Lu Yao could now clearly feel that as tribal civilization advanced, the Pixelated Villagers' thoughts were becoming more and more active.
The young Yulian had built a Galley.
His surname also showed that he was a fisherman. It was a fitting profession.
Lu Yao clicked [Yes], and Yulian immediately gained his own profile and character illustration.
In the detailed profile, Yulian was a youth standing by the water. Barefoot and dressed in a crude short Wool jacket, he stared intently at the fish in the distance, as though considering how to catch them ashore.
Below the illustration was something he had said.
--Boats are people's shoes. We need more and better shoes if we want to walk farther across the water.
[Hero Lv1] Yulian Attack 0 Defense 0 Knowledge 2 Mana 0 luck 1 Morale 1 [Abilities] Wisdom Lv1: Wisdom is the key for Apostles to hear the Deity's will. The higher the level of Wisdom, the easier it is to improve and comprehend various abilities. Shipbuilding Lv1: Skilled at building ships, with faster construction speed and a certain chance of producing advanced vessels. ...
Lu Yao felt rather gratified.
Shipbuilding and Wisdom were both highly practical, excellent abilities.
It was also because of Shipbuilding that Yulian had been able to invent the Galley. By himself, he had pushed the tribe's Shipbuilding forward by a huge step.
And Yulian was only sixteen. His future was limitless.
After all these years, and several generations of growth, the Garlic Tribe had finally drawn a good card!
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