Blazing Flame Division.
The rain keeps pouring.
Today is the thirty-third day.
The torrential rain finally eased a bit.
The Chief of the Tribe, Huo Chang, looked worriedly at the vast expanse of white sky and earth, sighed, and finally spoke: "While the mountain flood is weaker, Ashan, why don't you go out to salvage wild beasts again, and take the young people from the tribe with you. They need the experience."
Caves densely populated the mountainside, and with the call, over a hundred figures emerged from the caves, leaping like apes towards the direction of the flood.
The floodwaters roared, crashing between the rocks, with the muddy surface covered in vegetation.
The figures that surged out were as strong as black bears, each leap spanning several meters, darting back and forth on the stones protruding from the flood, searching for prey washed out by the mountain flood.
"Plop!"
"Acan got swallowed by the flood!"
Suddenly, amidst the numerous bear-like figures, one relatively smaller figure was swept away by the waves.
"Gulp gulp..."
"Cough cough..."
"Wasn't I working overtime? How come I'm choking on water."
Such a thought emerged in Shen Can's mind, then followed by a pounding headache as memories not his own flooded in like tides.
He then felt himself being grabbed by a big hand and pulled out of the water.
...
A month later.
"This rain, it's endless."
Standing at the mouth of the cave, Shen Can stared dumbfounded at the torrential rain, as if the Milky Way in the sky had overflowed, filling his view with a vast expanse of white.
Through the curtain of rain, he could still see tribal martial artists lurking at the flood's edge, salvaging wood and other things swept away.
Under such conditions, only martial artists had the power to protect themselves, while the younger generation, not being martial artists, were holed up in the caves.
The rain kept falling, truly making the atmosphere unwelcoming.
Besides making people uneasy, the whole body felt sticky and uncomfortable.
In this month, he was still somewhat dazed by the reality of arriving in the Great Wilderness.
This is a vast and primal world, where natural disasters are constant, and disaster beasts rove.
Like this rain, it has already lasted for over sixty days, with the raging mountain flood never ceasing, and from the distant mountains, the thunderous roars of beasts occasionally echoed.
Without Martial Dao, trying to survive in such an environment is exceedingly difficult.
Shen Can touched his sturdy abs, surprised that even at six feet tall, he'd ever feel so weak.
The Blazing Flame Tribe trains in Kui Ox Fist, each tribe member fiercely consuming meat and practicing punches, growing like calves, yet he grew slightly slower.
Only six feet.
Ayu could handle ten like him.
Ayu is his childhood playmate, standing just over seven feet tall.
Over the past month, Shen Can has refrained from going into the floodwaters to catch prey, fearing he'd trouble the tribe to fish him out again.
He sighed, turning to enter the cave, where on the campfire roasted a piece of beast meat, the aroma wafting, yet it did not stir his appetite.
But one must eat when hungry.
Shen Can fetched a jar, pinched a bit of fine salt, and sprinkled it over the beast meat.
He hadn't expected that such a primitive, desolate feeling tribe would have fine salt.
When he first saw the tribe had fine salt, Shen Can felt like he'd missed out on a billion, the chance to make a name for himself slipping away just like that.
Gnawing on the roasted meat, its taste bland as wax, his gaze drifted, his thoughts wandering into the sky.
"If not for previous life... My Mongolian brothers, sorry, I had enough meat, could try some Xinjiang folks, big temperature difference could make them sweet dessert, Guangdong buddies too, always drinking soup, very nourishing, Shandong people must have some onion flavor, Shanxi pals bring vinegar flavor, Sichuan and Chongqing friends bring spiciness... Xiangxi... Xiangxi's not an option, can't eat delivery men... Yunnan..."
Before long, smacking his lips and imagining scenes of brothers coming together, Shen Can was abruptly brought back.
Ayu, bearish as ever, walked into the cave.
"Brother Can, Uncle Huo Shan asked me to tell you to go to the Ancestral Temple."
"What does he want at the Ancestral Temple?"
Shen Can hesitated, perhaps he was caught slacking off?
This month, he hadn't done anything, just ate and slept, then slept and ate.
...
The Ancestral Temple is located at the center, surrounded by many caves of the tribe.
At this moment, within the spacious cave of the Ancestral Temple, a wet Mountain-Splitting Kui is tightly bound by vine ropes, having just been fished out of a mountain flood.
Returning from the hunt with prey to sacrifice to the ancestors is a tradition passed down by the tribe.
Moreover, the prey offered to the ancestors must be bled, butchered, and boned by the Ancestral Temple Keeper before it can be distributed among the tribe members.
However, with the recent incessant rain, the hunting team could only salvage prey from the floodwaters, making it difficult to catch live game.
The hunting team leader, Huo Shan, who delivered the prey, didn't leave but instead started chatting with the Ancestral Temple Keeper who was watching over the temple.
"Old clan uncle, didn't you say long ago that you were not feeling well and needed someone to inherit the duty of the Ancestral Temple Keeper? How about letting the boy Shen Can follow you?"
"This child's constitution is somewhat weak, and during previous hunts, he struggled to keep up with the hunting team; this time he almost drowned. I thought he wouldn't survive."
"With such a frail body, even soaking in beast blood wouldn't withstand the impact of the beast blood. It would be too dangerous for him to go hunting again. It would be better for him to follow you and take care of the Ancestral Temple, the ancestors surely wouldn't mind."
Huo Xian rubbed a gray-brown herb in his hand and replied without turning his head, "They are all children of our tribe; why would the ancestors blame them?"
"I really am getting old. The duty of the Ancestral Temple Keeper cannot go unpassed. If Shen Can agrees, let him follow me. The hunting team doesn't lack one less person."
Huo Shan hesitated; becoming the Ancestral Temple Keeper meant never leaving the tribe, having to sweep the Ancestral Temple halls every day, living a repetitive life.
The younger generation in the tribe are full of Fire Qi and are reluctant to watch over the Ancestral Temple. They are more eager to go out hunting in the Great Wilderness, where they can show their bravery and win over strong women.
He had mentioned this to Shen Can before, but his stubbornness had always refused.
Shen Can arrived at the cave where the Ancestral Temple was located; before entering, he heard the roar of a beast, followed by Huo Shan's summoning voice.
"You two hurry and come in."
"Shen Can, does your head still hurt?"
When Huo Shan saw the two coming over, his gaze fell on Shen Can.
"It's much better now."
Shen Can spoke, bowing to the Ancestral Temple Keeper Huo Xian, politely calling him Grandpa.
There was no choice; people his age in the tribe, including the middle-aged cultivators like Huo Shan, had all consumed the secret Medicine Ball made by Huo Xian.
As he entered the cave and saw the tall and vigorous old figure, it matched with the memories in his mind, bringing back vast images of being stuffed with Medicine Balls.
"Shen Can, Uncle Huo Xian is getting old, and the Ancestral Temple can't be left without people. Come and follow Uncle Huo Xian to take care of the Ancestral Temple."
"Take care of the Ancestral Temple?"
Shen Can was taken aback, as the merged memories informed him that the Ancestral Temple was the spiritual center of the tribe and a sacred land in the hearts of all clan members.
Of course, he used to be very resistant to coming to guard the Ancestral Temple, as that would only entrap him.
But now...
"I am willing to guard the Ancestral Temple."
After hesitating, Shen Can agreed.
There was no choice; the merged memories told him the Great Wilderness was too dangerous.
With his physique going out hunting, it would be easy to die outside.
Uncle Shan asking him to come to the Ancestral Temple to follow Elder Huo Xian was clearly to protect him.
It's best not to engage in such deadly endeavors.
Going out would not be hunting but delivering meals and becoming a burden to other clan members.
Guarding the Ancestral Temple wasn't exactly sitting idle.
Seeing Shen Can agreeing, Huo Shan was a bit surprised; he thought Shen Can would refuse again.
It seems that he has grown up after almost drowning this time.
"Old Uncle, everyone can't wait; after honoring the ancestors, let them have the meat quickly."
Huo Xian nodded at the tribe members gathering outside the cave, "Shen Can, come over here."
Shen Can quickly responded, tidied his messy robe, and walked towards Huo Xian.
The Ancestral Temple cave was deep, with rows of wooden Divine Tablets placed at the end, not appearing very sacred.
Yet, as he approached, Shen Can still inexplicably felt a sense of solemnity.
A wooden rack beside the Divine Tablet was holding the knife and the Copper Vase, along with some other copper utensils.
The knife's grip was bulged into a hollow sphere, with a copper ball inside, which would emit a crisp bell-like sound when held.
This was a Simurgh Blade, specifically used for offering the ancestors the meat.
The surface of the Copper Vase was pitch black, shaped like a Three-legged Tripod Cauldron, drying unknown layers of beast blood.
At this moment, with his back to Shen Can, Huo Xian grabbed the Simurgh Blade, "This time, you will preside over the ceremony; do you dare?"