Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1163 - 347: A Hasty March

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Previously on Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now!...
Chen Yan decided on a heavy sabre design, a "horse-cutting sword," that would complement his immense physical strength from the Divine Tree Juice and root. He requested the Golden Saber to forge it. The Golden Saber agreed, but then demanded ten drops of Chen Yan's heart blood to quench the blade and make it recognize him as its master, much to Chen Yan's apprehension.
Elixirs and artifacts alike require time, thus Chen Yan remained within the earthen dwelling. Time slipped away unnoticed. His days were quite relaxed; he would either focus on meditating and circulating his Primordial Qi, or he would hone his Primordial Spirit and Divine Sense, much like sharpening a blade. In his free moments, he'd venture from the earthen building to explore the hamlets surrounding the Black Wood Tribe. He even had Zhan Li procure for him a standard Ghost Race attire from the Black Wood Tribe. Donning the snug, narrow-sleeved Ghost Race garb, Chen Yan ambled through the settlement daily. The Ghost Race People possessed physical characteristics distinct from outsiders, so even in their clothing, Chen Yan was instantly recognizable as a foreigner. Yet, when Chen Yan explored, Zhan Li would sometimes accompany him, her head lowered in a subservient manner, resembling a maiden attending to a young master. Although Zhan Li had lost her former standing, she had once been the revered Cave Maiden of the Black Wood Tribe, holding a position of immense prestige. Even after the upper echelons of the Black Wood Tribe were purged, Zhan Li faced no charges, leading many to believe she had been spared due to her deep connections, at worst merely demoted. Nevertheless, a former Cave Maiden, famously hailed as the [Ghost Race’s Number One Genius], was a figure of high regard among the common folk of the Black Wood Tribe. Such an important individual, accompanying Chen Yan, a mere outsider, with respect and caution, immediately commanded everyone's consideration for him. As he wandered through the village, he was met with a degree of deference. Occasionally, some tribespeople engaged in commerce within the village, upon sighting Chen Yan's arrival, would adopt an air of greeting nobility, offering him respectful salutations. To put it plainly, if Chen Yan had wished to act tyrannically, he could have easily frequented eateries without paying, enjoying free watermelon. However, Chen Yan would never stoop to such behavior; he simply ambled about when the inclination struck him, eager to experience the Ghost Race's customs and culture. The herbs dried by the Ghost Race themselves, the wares found in the marketplace, were considerably inferior to those procured from Master Shilu. Chen Yan would sometimes, during his strolls, discover something novel, casually purchasing a small quantity to take back for his research and amusement. Frequently, he would take the item, then nod slightly towards Zhan Li trailing behind him: "Pay." Zhan Li would promptly and respectfully retrieve her coin purse, extracting a Jade Coin to tender to the vendor. Throughout this period, while he acquired no items of significant value or expense, he did procure a number of interesting objects. For instance, the Ghost Race had not only mastered the art of cultivating and drying mountain herbs but also excelled in the handling and utilization of peculiar mountain insects. They not only raised and controlled these insects for their purposes but could also dry them for medicinal use or even as sustenance. To Chen Yan, this wasn't dissimilar to the traditional Gu magic found in the Miao border regions. The Ghost Race's form-fitting, narrow-sleeved attire bore a striking resemblance to the Limi ethnic groups in the real world. Consequently, residing in the Black Wood Tribe offered Chen Yan an experience akin to touring the Limi National Scenic Area in reality. Over time, Chen Yan gradually assimilated into the daily life of the Black Wood Tribe's village. Every two to three days, he would venture out for a stroll, growing accustomed to sipping a couple of bottles of the local mountain wine brewed by the Black Wood Tribe, and nibbling on some sun-dried fruits prepared by the villagers. The mountain wine possessed a potent alcoholic content, often infused with various herbs and even dried insects. The villagers asserted that these herbs offered diverse benefits, such as improving vision, acting as a diuretic, cleansing heat and toxins, and promoting blood circulation while dispelling stasis. The most comical and vexing incident for Chen Yan occurred one day while he was drinking; the villager selling the alcohol winked and presented him with a jar, proclaiming it was infused with special ingredients that, upon consumption, could amplify a man's vigor. Chen Yan immediately rolled his eyes. This was because the villager, uttering these words, deliberately winked and cast a glance at Zhan Li standing behind Chen Yan. From that day forward, when strolling in the village, Chen Yan ceased allowing Zhan Li to accompany him. A month later, a subtle shift began to permeate the village's atmosphere. The newly appointed Ghost Race chief, Guen, that eccentric elder, issued a decree for war. The eighteen tribes of the Ghost Race convened, and within the Black Wood Tribe's village, the mood grew increasingly somber.In every dwelling, Chen Yan observed the robust young men of the Ghost Race donning their most durable attire and retrieving their mountain hunting armaments—pronged spears, blades, and even their travel packs. Families possessing more means had readied protective gear for their offspring, generally fashioned from rattan or leather. For those with fewer resources, wooden components were fashioned and assembled into makeshift wooden armor. Truthfully, Zhan Li had previously informed Chen Yan that following the assembly of these young men, armaments were typically issued. Furthermore, the conscripted youths from these hamlets rarely found themselves at the forefront of combat; their primary roles were relegated to auxiliary duties. However, once the conscription decree was proclaimed, the village's mood steadily transformed, becoming increasingly somber and weighty. The customary smiles of the herb and dried insect vendors vanished. Then, one day, after Chen Yan had partaken in a drink at the vintner's stall, the gaunt, swarthy vendor unexpectedly presented a small clay pot from beneath his counter, extending it towards Chen Yan. "This is for you." "Hm?" Chen Yan expressed his surprise.