[You spent fifty years deriving the Mountain Hammer...]
[You then spent another fifty years deriving the Zhongshan Furnace...]
...
As evening approached, Huo Shan arrived at Shen Can's residence just about to speak, but noticed Shen Can was recording something at his desk and chose not to interrupt.
Seeing Huo Shan like this, Shen Can felt a bit strange, wondering if he had changed his nature.
After finishing the last few words, Shen Can got up and walked outside.
Huo Shan was squatting in the corner outside.
"Acan, did I disturb you?"
Huo Shan spoke, seeing Shen Can not speaking, he couldn't help but say, "It was all Brother Tang who said it, the Ancestral Temple Keeper shouldn't be rash and loud, if I keep raising my voice he'll beat me every time he sees me."
"The Clan Leader can't even beat you, and you're afraid of him?"
Shen Can laughed.
"That's not the point, he's the Clan Leader." Huo Shan shook his head.
"By the way, Acan, how did you know so many martial artists in the clan broke through today? Previously, some clansmen stuck at the Stone-Breaking Realm all suddenly broke through, more than a hundred of them.
Four people also broke through to the Mountain Opening Realm.
Some who were cultivating early didn't reach the breakthrough stage, but their Qi Strength increased quite a bit."
"The ancestors manifested." Shen Can replied, then asked, "What about the dependents?"
"The dependents also had dozens break through to the Stone-Breaking Realm. I had people gather detailed statistics, so the detailed data will be available tomorrow."
Huo Shan said, "It really seems the ancestors have manifested."
"Now that you're here, don't leave. There's something tonight."
As night fell.
Seven disciples arrived at the Ancestral Temple together.
"Master."
The expressions of the seven disciples varied.
Everyone knew that Huo Chong and Huo Yunn had both advanced to Tier One Wizard.
Soon, Brother Tang, Huo Yuo, Huo Yun, and other Clan Elders also arrived. Huo Xian had already moved a small stool to sit on the side, watching with a smile.
"Since I accepted you as disciples, you've been calling me Master for years, but I haven't formally accepted you as apprentices."
Shen Can deliberately changed into his Temple Sacrificial Robe and looked at the seven disciples.
"Today, before the ancestors, the Sacrificial Artifacts, and the Clan Leader, witnessed by each Clan Elder, I formally accept you as my disciples."
Seven figures knelt on the ground, respectfully bowing to Shen Can.
"Huo Chong, you will be the senior disciple."
"Yes, Master. I will take care of all junior brothers and sisters."
After Huo Chong paid his respects, he had a Beast Hide Scroll in hand.
At Shen Can's gesture, he opened it, revealing the "Heavy Mountain Hammer Method" and "Zhongshan Furnace".
The hammer method was just a name; the main content included Witch Talisman engravings on weapons like knives, swords, and bows.
The subsequent Zhongshan Furnace was a method for improving the iron furnace used for refining ores.
The reason the clan couldn't refine high-quality ores was due to insufficient heat; aside from special fuels, higher temperature flames could be enhanced using witchcraft.
As the Blazing Flame Tribe developed, Tier Two and Tier Three weapons would become the mainstream of future crafting.
Until a large number of blacksmith wizards could be cultivated, focusing on refining allowed the old blacksmiths in the tribe to craft Tier Two and Tier Three quality weapons.
Huo Chong or Shen Can himself could then engrave the corresponding Witch Talisman.
As for Divine Weapons, they were not Shen Can's current pursuit; first popularize, then pursue Divine Weapons once mass production is achieved.
Subsequently, Huo Yunn was given the "Hundred Herbs Poisonous Book", "Bulrush Medical Scripture", and "Temple Ancestral Witch Medicine Insights".
The first two books were obtained from a defeated ranger, and the last was derived by Shen Can himself.
Disciple Huo Fu was bestowed the "Sword Control Talisman Manual", and "Comprehensive Talisman Manual (to be continued)".
Disciples Huo Ye, Huo Long, Huo Tuan, and Huo Jiang were all given the "Temple Witchcraft Cultivation Insights".
"Your senior brother and second senior sister have advanced to wizards, and as your master, I hope you will continue to strive hard."
"Of course, if you want a Witch Weapon, I don't have one here; you'll have to ask your senior brother for it."
"Besides Huo Chong and Huo Yunn, I plan to take the rest of you for a period of cultivation."
The main reason Shen Can planned to take a few disciples to cultivate was that he found through inquiries that several disciples vaguely sensed the location of the Witch Vein.
This indicated they were not far from truly advancing to wizards.
It became evident that the anomaly caused by the Sacrificial Tripod Cauldron today had a more profound impact on the tribe than he imagined.
If the witch disciple students were like this, then the tribal members practicing Martial Dao would experience an increase in cultivation speed for a while longer.
...
Early the next day, while Shen Can was sweeping the Ancestral Temple, Brother Tang came in to pay respects to the ancestors.
"Acan, I've arranged for Ashan to enter the Great Marsh."
As soon as he entered, Brother Tang said, "Choose a day for the Great Sacrifice of the whole clan."
It's understandable why Brother Tang was anxious; after bringing back the residual spirits of the ancestors, the tribe immediately underwent changes.
The number of wizards increased by two.
Needless to say, so did the martial artists.
And this was even before the sacrifice.
While the two were speaking, the sound of disorderly footsteps and chattering came from outside the Ancestral Temple.
"Clan Leader Uncle, Brother Acan."
The first to poke his head in was Ayuan, who had grown into a younger version of Ayu over the past few years.
Ayuan led seven or eight children of various sizes, with some carrying wild rabbits and some carrying wild birds, kneeling down with a 'thud' in the Ancestral Temple.
Over the past few years, small wild beasts in the mountains and fields had become more numerous. These children in the tribe were still at an age where they loved to make noise. Aside from practicing martial arts together, they would roam around the clan land, collecting bird eggs and capturing lynxes.
"For the ancestors to eat."
A group of children, old and young, raised the prey they had caught as if presenting a treasure.
Shen Can looked at the brutally dead rabbits and wild birds, inviting everyone to stand up.