Chapter 151: The Antler Cassava

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In the minds of most people, hunting and fishing tribes are thought to survive solely by hunting and fishing. In reality, more than half of their food also comes from gathering and cultivation. No matter how rich the forest’s biodiversity, the number of birds and beasts is still limited. In the wilderness, far more abundant than birds and beasts are various wild vegetables, fruits, fungi, and root plants. No matter how skilled the hunter, one cannot eat meat every meal throughout the year. This is especially true for the wild tribes; besides various mushrooms, wild vegetables, insects, and animals, more than half of their food comes from the widespread deer antler cassava. Particularly for the gluttonous wild boar people and the weak hunting dog-headed people, during years of famine, winter survival depends entirely on stored deer antler cassava. Leo, as an envoy from the flower-growing clan with a passionate farming tradition, could not let these go unnoticed. So, in his free time, he studied them carefully. Following the standard cassava powder production process from his previous life, he made a bag of deer antler cassava flour and prepared delicious pastries for Ivan to taste. Poor Ivan only ate a small piece and suffered stomach pain for a whole day, clearly the toxins had not diminished but perhaps worsened. Several dog-headed thieves who sneaked a bite collapsed on the ground, convulsing with tongues hanging and drooling for an entire day. Leo suspected that the toxins in the deer antler cassava were more than one kind: not only causing indigestion and intestinal spasms but also paralyzing nerves, leading to suffocation, paralysis, or death. It was utterly a hybrid of cassava and poisonous mushrooms! Leo’s cassava powder production process was less about detoxification and more about purifying. Eating this stuff when starving might be acceptable, but consuming it during labor or battle was a death wish. After several failed experiments, Leo had no choice but to abandon the deer antler cassava. At that moment, Master Bobak’s suggestion sparked new hope in Leo. Master Bobak said nothing but sent a pure stream of consciousness. Some memory images appeared in Leo’s mind—this was the process of handling deer antler cassava. The sensation was extraordinary, like watching a video directly in his mind, but more like a lived memory. Sensing Leo’s amazement, Master Bobak smiled and said, “Soul Link is a shamanic legacy of the beast tribes. It’s not only for communication but also for knowledge sharing.” “Beastmen lack the elves’ talent and humans’ intelligence. Many profound and complex knowledge and spells are hard to express in words and must be passed down through Soul Link.” “This is also the origin of the beastmen’s divine endowment and ancestral inheritance.”

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Leo immediately understood: the erudite beast shaman is like a university professor, while the young beastmen are like elementary students. Teaching university-level knowledge orally to elementary students is too difficult, so they must copy and paste. Charms, spells, and knowledge can be conveyed by language and writing, but years of spiritual insights and experience can only be learned firsthand. Soul Link is like a cheat code, granting young shamans several hundred years of inherited knowledge directly. Leo suppressed his curiosity and reviewed the short culinary video Master Bobak sent him using the beast shaman’s secret technique. First, wash the deer antler cassava thoroughly, then sun-dry it while observing its skin. Skin that turns black signifies the cassava is processable. If the skin remains red, the toxins have not been extracted, making it inedible and only fit for feeding unicorn boars and ogres. Next, peel off the skin, cut into small pieces, soak for two days, boil until soft, dry completely, then grind into powder. This is roughly the same as the cassava powder process from Leo’s previous life, except two additives are added during soaking: sulfur and silver. After Leo digested the information, Master Bobak explained patiently: “After sun-drying, most toxins leach out with water, turning the skin black. Those that don’t turn black still retain toxins.” “Sulfur and silver neutralize two other types of toxins separately.” “Soaking for two days and nights with multiple water changes removes all leached toxins.” “Processed deer antler cassava still retains mild toxicity but is now edible for humans. Eating it in large quantities may cause mild poisoning but won’t be fatal.” “However, even so, it’s not recommended to consume too much. The best staple for humans remains grains.” Leo relaxed immensely, feeling joyous but cautious, asking, “Does it consume too much silver?” Master Bobak laughed and teased, “At least less than buying grain with silver coins.” Gratefully, Leo said, “Master Bobak, I don’t know how to thank you…” Bobak smiled, “No need. Just do what you want. I look forward to your achievements. But saving lives isn’t just about having food.” “Child, you still have to work hard.” “Oh, and please take good care of Freya for me.” “Telling you this method has already disrupted the balance of the wilderness, violating my creed. I cannot teach you any more.” In the six months since crossing over, this was the first time Leo fully restrained his usual glibness and nodded solemnly, “I will.”

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There was a trace of weariness and emotion in Master Bobak’s voice: “A thousand years ago, there was someone like you, filled with compassion and ambition—what you call humanitarianism and…” A voice named El summarized with a term unfamiliar to this world: “The Great Unification Ideology.” She had extracted it from Leo’s mind. Leo shook his head repeatedly, “I’m not ambitious at all. If it weren’t for the refugees threatening the village, I’d rather go home and sleep.” El’s voice continued, “A true man lives between heaven and earth, how can he remain oppressed for long?” “To live as a hero among men, to die as a mighty spirit?” “When poor, maintain one’s integrity; when successful, help all under heaven?” “Eh? What’s this? Study materials? Oh~~” Leo was exasperated, “Master Bobak, control her!” Master Bobak advised, “El, stop fooling around.” “Heehee.” Curious, Leo asked, “Is it Emperor Orlantis?” There was only one emperor known as Emperor Orlantis: Augustus the Great, founder of the Orlantis Empire, who unified the twelve southern nations, forged an alliance with the northern supreme king, unified north and south, expelled the beastmen, and established a millennial legacy. “No, it’s the ruler of the Central Court, the elven lord Chisail.” “Ah?” Leo grew even more curious about this history, but elves were secretive and humans ignorant, leaving him no way to learn more. Yet Master Bobak was unwilling to discuss further; he was busy now. Besides, these matters were ancient and distant, beyond what Leo needed to know at present. Before leaving, Leo couldn’t help but ask, “Master Bobak, what exactly are you doing in the northern snowfields?” “Ah, I am saving lives too.” “Everyone’s lives.”