TPWBI Chapter 43

The sacrificial celebration and grand exhibition event was Yang Yi’s suggestion.

Just like a military parade, it displayed the very best things in the tribe, letting the people of the tribe understand the progress and development the tribe had achieved in the past year.

It allowed everyone to more directly feel the changes within the tribe, giving all members a stronger sense of unity, so that they would continue to work hard for an even better display next year.

If, in the future, more people from other tribes were invited, it would also demonstrate the tribe’s strength and prosperity, playing a role of deterrence.

This year, everything had just begun. There were still a great many things that could be displayed to everyone.

The first to be exhibited was the most enticing food. First came all kinds of leafy vegetables that had already matured and could be harvested and put to use.

Ever since they began to ripen, many members of the collecting team had been freed up and reassigned to other work positions.

Harvesting vegetables in the fields was far safer and more efficient than going into the forests and wilderness. For the same amount and the same amount of time, it now takes less than one-tenth of the people it used to require.

Transportation was also extremely convenient. With the short distance and good road conditions, just a small handcart, with one person making a few trips back and forth, was enough to complete it.

There was no need to carry them back from a thousand li away. If they encountered a beast on the way, the wild fruits and vegetables painstakingly gathered might even be lost.

The varieties were also extremely abundant, and the taste was quite good, without the bitterness or astringency that many wild vegetables had.

Some vegetables, such as lettuce, could even be eaten raw, and the taste was also very good.

Through them, the people of the tribe could more tangibly experience the changes of the tribe.

As for the fruit-bearing vegetables and staple crops, although they had not yet ripened, they were still brought over with soil and all to be displayed.

Placed beside them were the fruits Yang Yi had brought from the marketplace, along with simple descriptions, letting everyone see the harvests of the future.

The chili peppers, which ripened early, were the highlight among these. The moment they were presented, they immediately drew a warm response from everyone.

With it, the tribe’s meals had improved.

It allowed them to taste more and better flavors. Every time after eating, their whole bodies felt warm, and much of the fatigue within them was dispersed.

Right after that came the poultry they had been raising for some time. Although they were still in their juvenile stage, many had already grown quite large, especially the ostriches, which—because of mutation—were already about the same size as adult ostriches on Earth.

At the lead was Goose King. Majestic and full of vigor, it led a whole flock of poultry. Whether geese, chickens, ducks, or ostriches, they all obediently followed behind it.

Like a long dragon, hundreds of them, big and small, took quite a while to finish their parade before the exhibition ended.

Originally, Yang Yi hadn’t planned to bring out so many of them, just a few samples for display. But Goose King insisted on pomp and grandeur.

When it appeared, it had to be with such a grand lineup, strongly demanding to bring this many underlings with it. This fellow was not one with a good temper, so they could only yield to it.

It had to be said, the effect was even more imposing this way. So much meat!

It made everyone watching drool. If it weren’t for Goose King being there, those little poultry would have been scared into scattering everywhere under the naked, hungry stares of the crowd.

After the poultry procession came the results of the hunting team, as they carried up the fiercest and largest thorn dragon they had recently brought down.

The corpse of the thorn dragon was like a great mountain, yet its wounds were very small, showing just how precise its elimination had been. It silently revealed the hunters’ powerful combat strength, carrying immense deterrence.

This not only represented having plenty of meat to eat, but also showed the strength they possessed—that they could hunt any food.

Right after that came the prepared dishes. Even before they were brought onstage, waves of fragrance came wafting through the air.

This time, the cooking team could finally give full play to their skills. The dishes were still of the usual kind; they did not deliberately make things that people normally couldn’t eat just for the sake of the exhibition.

However, this time there was no need for a huge pot. As long as the food was divided fairly when serving, that was enough.

Instead, they used large platters to hold the dishes, serving them plate by plate. This way, effort could be put into plating, color matching, and so on. The methods were much more refined than making food in a big communal pot.

Under Yang Yi’s influence, they already understood that food should not only be delicious and filling, but must also be complete in color, aroma, and taste. That was what real cuisine was.

Cuisine was an art. When people no longer worried about having enough to eat and wear, they would naturally begin to care about more.

The more exquisite the cooking, the more it meant that life itself was beautiful.

Thus, for this exhibition, the cooking team put in all their effort. Even though there weren’t many seasonings, they were still able to bring out wonders.

They even tried their best to avoid using iron pots, because they had not yet been able to make their own iron pots.

Plate after plate of dishes was brought out and displayed one by one. Everyone couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.

“This is truly amazing!”

The people of the Green Python Tribe felt their understanding had suffered a tremendous shock. They had never known that food could be made this way!

Only such beautiful, fragrant, and enticing food was worthy of their tribe.

By comparison, the food of their own tribe was far too shameful to look at!

To think they had always felt so proud before, believing that they were the ones who truly knew how to enjoy life—unlike those other tribes, whom they considered savages.

“Can these really be eaten? I can hardly believe they are food!”

Xiang Zhang, the leader of the Green Python Tribe’s visiting group, exclaimed in amazement, feeling it was utterly unbelievable.

“Of course. In a while, you can taste them yourselves. I dare say that across the entire Eastern Continent, and even the Western Continent, you will not find food better than this.” Hei Lie was immensely proud and complacent, his manner extremely arrogant.

“And this is only the beginning. Our tribe is growing stronger and stronger, and things will only get better, whether it be food or anything else.”

Xiang Zhang did not feel that the man before him was overly arrogant, because he had the capital to be so!

His gaze couldn’t help but glance toward the Divine Envoy beside him, who looked extremely weak—so fragile that he seemed as if he could be crushed to death with just a light squeeze. Xiang Zhang’s heart was filled with emotion.

All of these changes had come from this young man. They had known of him from the very beginning.

Their caution had kept them from approaching, and as a result, they had missed this opportunity.

The Spark Tribe’s development had an enormous connection to this man, who appeared so very unusual.

This thought lasted only a moment. If this young man had really come to their tribe, perhaps he would not even have had the chance to display his uniqueness.

He might even have been eliminated by them for being too strange.

Their tribe was already very strong, and more importantly, it maintained stability. If they could not predict what changes would bring, they would rather maintain the current state.

To make them unconditionally believe in such a strange man, a man full of secrets from head to toe—that was something some of the old ones would find extremely difficult to do.

Sensing this gaze, Yang Yi turned his head and gave Xiang Zhang a slight smile.

Xiang Zhang’s eyes flickered, and he also returned a smile, then quickly turned back to continue watching the exhibition, silently chanting in his heart.

“Great Chief Jin Huan, you are the most beautiful person in the world. I must remember this sentence and not be tempted.”

After the food exhibition ended, the next was the display of clothing.

At first, it was the most common animal hides. But upon a closer look, Xiang Zhang noticed a difference.

These furs had been treated with an entirely new method!

They looked shinier, more elastic, and softer. When made into clothing, they were far more attractive.

During the explanation, he also learned that hides treated in this way were more resistant to insects and much more durable.

In most tribes across the Eastern Continent, the methods for treating hides were mainly oil tanning and mouth tanning.

The former involved taking animal fat—the brain and other fatty parts—spreading it on a board, then rubbing the hides repeatedly on it until they became soft.

The latter was the chewing method, where hides were chewed so that the saliva reacted with the leather, making it soft.

But no matter which method, neither could achieve the results of the hides now being displayed.

“I want to trade for these hides!” Xiang Zhang said excitedly.

Hei Lie was not surprised and agreed at once: “Of course. But our method is more complicated, requiring more manpower and procedures, so they will be more expensive than hides treated in the usual way.”

Just as Xiang Zhang was about to speak, Hei Lie continued: “However, since the Green Python Tribe and our Spark Tribe are friendly neighbors, we’ll give you a better deal than the other tribes.”

“A better deal?”

“If it were any other tribe, I would trade these carefully treated hides for at least three times, or even more, of the same type of hides. But with your Green Python Tribe, you only need to pay double.”

Hearing this, Xiang Zhang was very pleased. “Yes, yes, we are in friendly relations! That’s how it should be.”

Yang Yi pressed his lips together to hold back a smile. This Hei Lie was truly becoming more and more cunning.

Although there really was a discount for the Green Python Tribe, it was absolutely not as much as he claimed.

Because they were close by, it greatly reduced transportation costs, so selling hides to them at a cheaper price than to other tribes was simply normal practice.

But said in this way, the meaning became completely different.

After the fur display came wool products—first processed wool, and then finished items.

Most of them were winter clothing, looking clean, white, and warm. Xiang Zhang, who had long been coveting Yang Yi’s clothes, did not hesitate at all and wanted to buy, buy, buy.

Next came tung oil and the tools used for oil pressing.

Xiang Zhang had little interest in this. Even though he listened to the introduction, he still lacked enthusiasm.

But when the carefully crafted golden nanmu furniture was carried out, his attitude immediately changed.

“Oh, this is called a bed? Oh, it really looks beautiful. It must be very comfortable to lie on! And that coating on it—that tung oil? So that’s what it does, making the wood even more beautiful and smooth.”

As someone who had already learned to enjoy life, Xiang Zhang, upon seeing furniture he had never encountered before, could immediately guess their uses.

And Xiang Zhang was also able to accept it quickly, willing to try out these new household items.

With a grand wave of his hand, he added them straight to his shopping list.

Black pottery and the foot-powered potter’s wheel, which had only recently come into use, were also carried up. Even though the Green Python Tribe had already traded for quite a lot of black pottery, when they saw the black pottery being displayed, they still couldn’t help but feel their eyes light up.

These pieces of black pottery were clearly of better quality and more refined than the ones given to them before. The paintings on them were also much more exquisite compared to the earliest ones.

There were a few works in particular that Xiang Zhang especially liked. He immediately demanded that he must have them, willing to offer more food in exchange.

Although the Green Python Tribe was already trading with the Spark Tribe, it was obvious that they were still holding back. For example, items like salt had never been given in large quantities.

Each time they traded, they always wanted to get more fresh novelties from Yang Yi.

In truth, Yang Yi could easily deal with this, since each time he would only throw in small extras like a bottle of blood-red cosmetics as an add-on, which was nothing much.

But this kind of tendency could not be encouraged. If they wanted long-term trade, they still needed to use goods to attract them.

The Green Python Tribe pursued beauty to an extreme, and Yang Yi also did not want to pursue only development. He wanted to develop art as well. Therefore, he encouraged Han Bing to design black pottery.

He wanted black pottery not only to have a practical function, but also decorative value, so that it could exist as art.

Han Bing was very interested in this. Combined with the ever-improving skill of the pottery group in making black pottery, their collaboration produced these current pieces of black pottery that united both beauty and practicality.

Their forms were extremely elegant, full of personal style, and it was obvious that in the process of Han Bing and the pottery group working together, many sparks had been struck.

For the sake of beauty, Han Bing came up with more imaginative ideas. To solve these problems, the pottery group was led to think much more.

Thus, in this process, they made great progress, resulting in the black pottery they have now.

Compared with the earlier black pottery, the colors were purer, the gloss higher, and they were thinner, with not much difference from porcelain anymore.

For the Green Python Tribe, these black pottery pieces would once again be a new source of attraction.

The exhibition of weapons was also indispensable. In recent days, they had captured many prey. Using their bones, tendons, and hides, they had produced more weapons.

Hei Lie, based on the design of the recurve bow, also used local materials to create bows and arrows that were more stable and had a longer range than traditional bows.

Not only that, after the Fang Tribe was annihilated in the Black Forest last time, once the purple miasma had dispersed, Tu led a small team, wearing gas masks, and rushed inside to seize all of their blackstone weapons.

Before the making of metal weapons, blackstone weapons were still extremely sharp and powerful. They could not simply watch so many blackstone weapons go to waste.

The Blackstone Tribe had been very generous this time, giving the Fang Tribe several blackstone weapons, all of top quality.

This further strengthened their armed forces. They were no longer entirely reliant on the metal weapons provided by Yang Yi.

Finally, what was exhibited was people. Brave and strong warriors took the stage. After this period of militarized training, everyone had changed greatly.

Each person stood straighter and carried greater momentum. Coupled with good food and sound sleep, each day was filled with hope, and they all looked vigorous and full of spirit.

Hundreds of men moved as one, their actions perfectly uniform, their gazes sharp and fierce.

Their tall, sturdy bodies, with muscles that faintly revealed explosive power beneath them.

Their deep, powerful shouts, paired with full weaponry and equipment, made them like ferocious beasts, capable of tearing a man apart at any moment.

To the people of the Spark Tribe, this was something deeply attractive and full of security. But in Xiang Zhang’s eyes, it was an immense deterrent.

This was a group that absolutely could not be provoked lightly.

This was Xiang Zhang’s greatest impression after watching. Earlier, when they had come to the forests of the Green Python Tribe, they had already felt the presence of this troop of warriors.

He hadn’t expected that in just a few days, they would make even greater progress.

The warriors of the Green Python Tribe were also formidable. But even when gathered together, they could never have such a momentum.

Their strength was not simply the sum of individuals, but something far greater, displaying the power of a collective.

Xiang Zhang found it hard to put that feeling precisely into words, but he was certain that this group of people would be very difficult to deal with.

When the sacrificial celebration ended, Xiang Zhang and his party finally got to taste the food of the Spark Tribe.

“This is even more delicious than it looks!”

Xiang Zhang was overjoyed, becoming yet another person captured by chili peppers.

“My dear chieftain, we must exchange for these chilies. I have never eaten such a unique and delicious taste. I have already fallen deeply in love with this feeling. I simply cannot live without it.”

The Green Python Tribe, dwelling deep in the jungle, where it was damper and colder, was in fact all the more suited for eating chili peppers.

Xiang Zhang did not fully understand the reason behind this. He only knew that he could deeply feel that this thing was not only delicious in taste, but, more importantly, beneficial to their bodies.

“We are friendly tribes, companions, allies. Since you like them so much, of course, we are willing to bring them out for exchange.”

Without realizing it, Hei Lie had already defined the relationship between the two tribes.

Xiang Zhang, caught up in a frenzy of buying, was not unaware of this, but he had already been drawn to so many things that he tacitly accepted this kind of relationship.

This tribe had only been settled on this wasteland for just over a month, and they could already achieve such development. He could fully imagine what they would become in the future.

Driving these people away or wiping them out now, even if successful, would cause a devastating loss. It was an extremely unwise move.

If not enemies, then friends.

Before other tribes arrived, they needed to secure an advantageous position. Only this way would future exchanges be more convenient, allowing them to obtain more and better goods at the first opportunity.

“As long as the Spark Tribe remains friendly, our Green Python Tribe will likewise remain friendly.”

Hei Lie laughed and said, “On this point, you and your people can rest assured. In our view, war only hinders development. As you’ve seen today, we have far too many things to do and no hands to spare on wasting energy.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Xiang Zhang’s gaze shifted toward Yang Yi, who was not far away.

Today, he had only been able to greet this man, called the Divine Envoy, upon first arrival. After that, he had no chance to get close again. He felt much regret in his heart.

Hei Lie took all this in with his eyes but said nothing.

This was the result of discussions they had had earlier. Yang Yi was the Divine Envoy. Within the tribe, he could be close with everyone, but with outsiders, he had to maintain distance and mystery.

Xiang Zhang was merely a mid-ranking member within the Green Python Tribe. Although he represented the tribe on this visit, he was neither the chieftain nor the shaman. Hei Lie personally receiving him was already enough. He was not qualified to be hosted personally by the Divine Envoy.

The Spark Tribe’s exhibition also had to retain some secrecy. It did not mean laying everything completely open.

For example, the pigeons they had already begun to domesticate, as well as the meteorite that Lan Xue had found, were all still kept confidential for the time being.

Even the ability possessed by the Hua sisters was not something that could be leaked. This was one of their trump cards.

Using his ability, Lan Xue had found an iron ore vein. Not only that, he had also discovered a meteorite of extremely high purity.

In history, the discovery of iron began with the discovery of meteorites.

At that time, the craftsmanship was still not advanced enough to extract iron from iron ore, so many weapons were made from rare and precious meteorite iron.

The ore vein wasn’t too far from the Spark Tribe; a warrior only needed a day to reach it. If the road was cleared, the speed would be even faster.

Moreover, most of these ores were exposed on the surface, making them extremely easy to mine.

Yang Yi even used instruments to test the ore they brought back and found the purity to be extremely high. It was top-quality iron ore!

This was exceedingly rare on Earth. Yet according to Lan Xue’s description, the same kind of iron ore was found in abundance there.

Just the amount exposed on the ground alone was already astonishing. By his sensing, the deep underground was also filled with iron ore.

This was undoubtedly one of the best pieces of news received before the sacrificial celebration. With iron ore, it meant they would be able to forge their own iron tools!

And such a plentiful supply was even more delightful.

“We are truly very lucky. Our tribe chose to settle here; it must be under the protection of the gods.”

Even Yang Yi couldn’t help but mutter piously; aside from good fortune, there was no other explanation.

Lan Xue and his group returned on the eve of the celebration. There was no one stationed at the iron mine.

To be safe, before claiming it, they couldn’t let the Green Python Tribe know.

Otherwise, if they seized it first, it would be troublesome. Even though that group probably didn’t yet possess the skill of iron smelting, they could still trade resources for benefits, which would also bring a great deal of trouble to the Spark Tribe.

Don’t be fooled by how the Green Python Tribe currently seems fairly friendly, especially when they appeared to be easily swayed with a few cosmetics to win their favor. In reality, it wasn’t that simple.

“The Divine Envoy was very pleased to receive your gifts. He feels that the Green Python Tribe is a friendly and kind tribe full of beautiful women, and has especially asked me to deliver a gift to you in return.”

Hei Lie signaled with his eyes, and a warrior beside him brought forward a black pottery jar.

“What is this?”

Xiang Zhang curiously opened it, and when he saw what was inside, he froze.

“This is… red salt?”

He reached in with his hand, scooped a little, and upon tasting it, his eyes widened.

“This really is the red salt from our tribe?! How come it doesn’t have any bitterness, and it’s so fine and delicate! There must be some mistake, right?”

Hei Lie smiled and said, “This indeed is the red salt we exchanged from the Green Python Tribe. But our great Divine Envoy treated it, and it became this fine red salt, smooth and without bitterness.”

“My heavens! No wonder your food tastes so delicious. Salt must be a very important reason!”

Xiang Zhang suddenly understood, finally realizing why their seemingly simple dishes tasted better than the carefully prepared meals back in their tribe.

Their salt carried a natural bitterness. No matter how it was processed, the food always had a strange aftertaste.

Without a comparison, they had simply gotten used to it. But now, with the contrast, Xiang Zhang immediately felt just how terrible their red salt tasted!

“Salt itself does not carry bitterness. It’s the other substances within it that bring about that taste. Not only does it make the flavor unpleasant, but it’s also not good for the body.”

Xiang Zhang’s expression turned serious, staring straight at Hei Lie. “What kind of trade do you want to make?”

“That depends on what your tribe is willing to offer.” Hei Lie’s lips curved slightly, his dark eyes calm and unflinching.

Xiang Zhang fell silent for a moment, then said with certainty: “We want to obtain this fine red salt.”

The people of the Green Python Tribe had long realized that eating too much of their salt was harmful to the body. But compared to eating no salt at all, the negative effects seemed relatively minor.

This was not just a matter of taste; it concerned the health of every single person in the Green Python Tribe.

“You can exchange your coarse salt for more of our fine salt, just like with animal furs,” Hei Lie paused for a moment.

“However, since we are friendly tribes, and the Divine Envoy is a generous man who is willing to believe that the Green Python Tribe is trustworthy, not treacherous or cunning in pursuit of beauty, he is willing to teach you the method of turning coarse salt into fine salt, so long as you can guarantee a steady supply of red salt to our Spark Tribe in the future.”

Xiang Zhang was silent for a long time before he finally spoke: “I very much wish to agree to the great Divine Envoy directly, but this matter is far too important. I do not have such authority. I must return and report to the chieftain.”

“There’s no rush. I believe you will make the right choice.” Hei Lie smiled indifferently. “These fine salts can be considered a gift.”

The people of the Green Python Tribe did not linger. After the celebration ended, they hurried back.

When the foundation of the temple had been completed and they were just about to begin building the walls, the Green Python Tribe’s chieftain, Jin Huan, personally led a group of people to the Spark Tribe.

---