Possessed by Plague Worm

The sun shone high in the sky.

Below the tribal mountain, figures over two meters tall carried massive stones as if they were playing, skillfully building field ridges according to the undulating terrain.

As the Temple Guardian, Shen Can naturally didn't engage in manual labor.

Of course, even if he had wanted to, it wouldn't have been his turn. All the tribesmen felt he had delicate skin and should work with Huo Xian to sort medicinal herbs.

A-Can's physique and talent were not ideal.

This had become the consensus of the entire tribe.

Shen Can emerged from the isolation cave and looked down towards the mountain.

The tribesmen were working very quickly; the tribal grounds below the mountain were almost completely cleared.

"A-Can, the Chieftain is looking for you." A tribesman stopped him halfway.

Shen Can changed direction and headed towards the Chieftain's cave.

As the tribe's Chieftain, Huo Tang's cave was distinct from those of other tribesmen; he had his own independent cave.

Of course, his cave also served as the venue for tribal discussions.

"Chieftain."

Upon entering the cave, Shen Can spoke first.

"A-Can, Uncle Huo Xian said you have great talent in the way of the Witch Doctor, even catching up to him."

Huo Tang sized up Shen Can. Ever since Shen Can had cooperated with him in isolating the tribesmen last time, he felt Shen Can was one of the few tribesmen with brains.

He was someone worth cultivating.

Among the Blazing Flame Tribe's over two thousand tribesmen, there were plenty who dared to charge headfirst, but very few who could think.

"I called you here to prepare the ingredients for the neutralizing shamanic medicine. I'll need it soon. Just like with isolating the tribesmen before, this matter needs to be kept secret; don't let the tribesmen know."

"Prepare three portions of second-tier first. I'll need it in the latter half of the night."

"As the Chieftain commands, I'll get to it as soon as I return."

Shen Can didn't ask further questions. He accepted the task and left the Chieftain's dwelling.

Night fell.

Inside the Ancestral Temple, Shen Can looked at the Odd Fish, which still had a breath of life, his eyes gleaming.

Lifespan was insufficient, but now it's been replenished.

The tribesmen were truly amazing.

The subsequent matters proceeded smoothly, and the ancestors once again had a good meal.

[Sacrificial Master plundered 232 years of lifespan from the second-tier desolate beast, Snake Bone Scale Fish.]

The Luan Knife sliced open the fish's body. The beast's blood filled three entire stone troughs, and then, along with the fish meat, it was all taken away.

Huo Tang had not left.

"Elder Uncle, the Plague Worm hasn't appeared outside the tribe for a long time, and the infected tribesmen are all recovering. Do you think this plague is about to end?"

Huo Tang spoke, naturally consulting someone experienced for professional matters.

Huo Xian lowered his head in thought.

This year, the Plague Worm had not approached the tribal grounds due to the influence of the shamanic medicine, and consequently, fewer tribesmen within the tribe had been infected.

He was naturally aware of Shen Can's isolation of tribesmen with simulated plague symptoms.

Huo Tang continued, "The houses below the mountain have now been cleared, and the mud is fertile. If the plague passes, it will be good for the tribesmen to start farming and gathering as soon as possible."

When it came to food and drink, it was better to be early than late.

"Also, I'm not planning to move the Ancestral Temple for now."

"You make the arrangements. The current Temple Guardian is A-Can; I've already let go of the responsibility."

Huo Xian pondered, "As for whether the plague has passed, I need to first look through the ancestral records."

"I'll do as the Chieftain says," Shen Can stated, having no objections.

Leaving the Ancestral Temple on the mountain, it would be even more convenient to send offerings to the Ancestral Temple in the middle of the night.

It was clear that with the improved martial arts and shamanic medicine, the Chieftain's ambition had been ignited.

What objections could he, as a Temple Guardian, have?

The Chieftain was a man with a plan. He only needed to serve the ancestors and plunder lifespan.

It was quite good.

Huo Tang also remained, waiting for Huo Xian to look through the tribal records.

Shen Can also helped in the search. The Blazing Flame Tribe didn't have much ancestral experience; there were only about three to five animal skins.

The tribal records stated that the longest plague had lasted three months, and the shortest had lasted one month.

Based on the shortest experience and the current situation of the tribe, the Blazing Flame Tribe should have weathered the plague after this flood.

But how should I put this? In Shen Can's opinion, it was like Schrödinger's cat.

The Blazing Flame Tribe had no idea about the situation further out; all they knew was that things were fine near their own tribe.

Of course, he thought this because he wasn't the tribe leader.

He only needed to serve the ancestors.

Huo Tang, on the other hand, had to manage the entire tribe's daily necessities.

After deliberation, Huo Tang decided to proceed cautiously, only allowing some tribesmen to descend the mountain to cultivate land, and their living arrangements would be elsewhere.

At the same time, the medicinal soup and other remedies should not be stopped.

Inside the Ancestral Temple.

"Fat and plump sacrificial animals, abundant offerings."

As Shen Can chanted, the Luan Knife plunged into the neck of the desolate beast before him.

[Sacrifice Master plundered 57 years of lifespan from a Rank 1 desolate beast, Mountain-Cleaving Kui.]

[Lifespan: 1098]

Holding the blood goblet, Shen Can felt a thought emerge in his mind. The lifespan he had consumed previously had once again exceeded a thousand years.

After the sacrifice was complete and the meat was distributed, Shen Can walked to the cave entrance to breathe in some fresh air.

Below the mountain, the newly leveled terraced fields were already a lush green, with sprouts emerging.

Every few days, tribesmen who went out hunting would bring back a desolate beast and offer it to the Ancestral Temple.

However, most Rank 1 desolate beasts were brought in during the day, and after their blood was drained, tribesmen would be arranged to soak in it.

Rank 2 desolate beasts, on the other hand, were brought into the Ancestral Temple under the cover of night, and their blood would be taken by the tribe leader.

Furthermore, the hunting parties delivering the offerings were divided into two groups.

Shen Can never felt curious enough to pry into these matters, nor was he curious about Huo Shan's disappearance again.

Inside the Giant Peak Mountain Range.

Huo Shan, whom Shen Can was thinking about, was carefully leading tribesmen through the mountains, with everyone having clear roles.

One person cleared the path ahead, another followed behind, occasionally taking out dried beast dung from a leather pouch and scattering it.

Huo Shan moved around the front, back, and sides of the team, going back and forth to provide support.

More than ten miles behind the main group, a nimble tribesman walked and stopped intermittently, collecting the scattered beast dung back into a leather pouch according to the branches and stones placed along the way.

The group had been out for more than twenty days and had not found a single Rank 2 desolate beast. Their range of activity was getting further and further from the tribe.

"We'll go around the Fu Shan Tribe directly."

Huo Shan took out a beast-skin map and looked at it. Within a three-hundred-mile radius of the tribe, they were quite familiar with the area, and the tribe had already established landmarks through some special geographical features.

For example, the mountain with a large rock on its summit in the distance was where the Fu Shan Tribe was located, at the foot of that rocky mountain.

According to the tribal records, the Fu Shan Tribe was located three hundred miles northeast of the tribe.

Fu Shan was already considered a tribe deeper within the Giant Peak Mountain Range. There were other tribes living further inside, but the Blazing Flame Tribe was not very clear about them.

For three hundred years, the tribe's range of activity had been limited to this area; venturing further might result in too great a loss.

Huo Shan led this expedition hoping to find a Rank 3 desolate beast while all the other tribes were focused on preventing the plague.

They came in the direction of the Fu Shan Tribe because, according to tribal records, Rank 3 desolate beasts had appeared in this vicinity near the Fu Shan Tribe.

They came to try their luck.

Previously, he had visited several other places, all without success. Instead, he had encountered scattered Plague Worms moving through the mountains.

After skirting around the Fu Shan Tribe, the group climbed towards the mountain with the giant rock on its summit, intending to cross it.

"The Fu Shan Tribe is quite careless. Why aren't they even lighting a bonfire? Do they think the plague has completely passed?"

Upon reaching the mountain, Huo Yan leaned against the foot of the giant rock and looked out. There was no smoke coming from the direction of the Fu Shan Tribe.

Huo Shan held his breath and also looked.

A little over a month ago, he had visited the Fu Shan Tribe to observe. Smoke and fire had been rising, and the air was filled with medicinal scents. The tribesmen were on high alert, which had made the tribe leader, who hadn't found any opportunities, very sad.

After watching for a while, Huo Shan thought and said, "Let's rest here for a moment."

The group found shelter beneath the giant rock and began to replenish their energy. When night fell.

There was still no sign of fire from the direction of the Fu Shan Tribe.

This time, the group couldn't sit still any longer.

"Descend the mountain. You all wait for me at the foot of the mountain. I'll go and take a look."

Huo Shan made his decision, and the group once again charged down the mountain in their hunting formation.

Huo Shan cautiously approached the Fu Shan Tribe.

The Fu Shan Tribe's territory was similar to the Blazing Flame Tribe's: they moved into the mountains during floods and down into the valleys when there were no floods.

To drive away the Plague Worms, bonfires were lit on all the hills near their settlement.

Huo Shan crept closer from the west side of the Fu Shan Tribe's territory and climbed a small hill on their western flank. The spot where bonfires had originally been lit was now just a pile of ashes.

He peered down cautiously from the hill.

The direction of the Fu Shan Tribe's settlement was very quiet.

This sent a chill down Huo Shan's spine. He clenched his jaw, biting down on his scarf, and the strong smell of medicinal herbs flooded his nostrils, jolting him awake.

He waited like this until dawn.

He saw tribal members emerge from caves in the Fu Shan Tribe's settlement. Their movements were stiff, and no one greeted each other.

The atmosphere was eerily silent.

A bad feeling surfaced in his mind.

Huo Shan was greatly alarmed and hurried down the mountain, nearly falling face-first on the way.

"Brother Shan, how is it?"

"Monkey, hurry back to the tribe with your legs. No, you can't enter the tribe. Summon the chieftain outside the settlement and tell him... tell him the Fu Shan Tribe has a plague... a Plague Worm."

"A Plague Worm that can possess people."

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Huo Hou hadn't even registered what was happening.

"Did you hear me?"

Huo Shan kicked Huo Hou.

"Everyone, give Huo Hou the remaining medicinal soup. You, wash yourself thoroughly with the soup before you go near the tribe."