A Matter of Ingredients, Not Skill
It was not a matter of skill, but because the medicinal herbs written in the recipe could not be obtained. If one could not procure the exact herbs listed in a recipe, they had to be substituted with others of similar medicinal efficacy. However, trying them one by one to reconstruct the recipe was ultimately no different from creating an entirely new recipe from scratch.
'There's nothing I can do.' Jekyeong briefly considered asking Choi Ju-tang for help, but quickly abandoned the idea. His false identity as a Jiao-dragon was already more than enough. He had no desire to show off any more of his uniqueness than necessary.
'There is no need to rush. I have plenty of time, so I can take things slow.' Jekyeong tossed three high-grade Seonghu Pills into his mouth all at once. While fragile human cultivators took such cultivation pills one at a time, and only after waiting a sufficient period, he had no such limitations.
'Mmm.' Since the Seonghu Pill was a medicinal pill primarily consumed by early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, its efficacy felt somewhat mild to him, a mid-stage Great Yao. However, perhaps because he had swallowed three high-grade pills at once this time, a fairly hot wave of medicinal energy began to circulate. A moment later, a fierce, hot wind swept through the depths of the Black Cult Palace.
About a month had passed since the clash of the two Demon Kings at the Whale King Palace. A new demon faction, officially named the Yangseo Demon Court but commonly referred to by everyone simply as the Demon Court, had formally made its appearance.
The Demon Court established its territory in a domain far from the Whale King Palace. Originally, it was merely a territory with slightly dense spiritual energy, but in less than a fortnight, it transformed into a first-grade Spiritual Vein. Word had it that they had transported an entire spiritual mine all the way from Muryangae, which was undoubtedly the work of the Heumwon Clan.
'How typical of the demon race.' Could this be considered artificially creating a spiritual vein? No, in this case, it would be more accurate to say they had relocated it. Well, regardless, the Demon Court had managed to secure a decent nest. Although it fell far short of the second-grade spiritual vein of the Whale King Palace, the fact that they had moved a spiritual vein all the way from Muryangae demonstrated their formidable power in a way.
While the Demon Court made a grand, noisy display of its rising reputation, the Whale King Palace remained surprisingly quiet. On the surface, they seemed somewhat intimidated by the Heumwon Clan stepping up once again to assist the Demon Court.
With the Jansu Whale King and the Whale King Palace keeping quiet, the war between the humans and the demons fizzled out. The human side lost their momentum as the Whale King Palace went silent, and their calculations grew complicated with the rise of the Demon Court, prompting them to withdraw as well.
In the midst of this, Mu-ara, the leader of the Demon Court and the new Demon King of Yangseo Lake, earned the title of the Simjeon Demon King. With the emergence of the Simjeon Demon King as the second Demon King of Yangseo Lake and the rise of the Demon Court, the political landscape of Yangseo Lake was gradually descending into chaos.
'Hmm.' While a tempest raged outside, Jekyeong remained holed up in the Black Cult Palace, listening to all the news with mild amusement. For Jekyeong, who was devoting his time not only to his usual cultivation but also to his newly discovered interest in alchemy, everything happening outside the Heukgyo Water Territory was literally nothing more than wind and rain blowing far away from his home. As long as no one came to bother him, he had no interest in external affairs.
"Lord Jiao. Elder Makgye from the Whale King Palace has come to visit."
"Tell him I am currently recuperating from severe injuries."
"Ah... Yes, my lord." After Hyeongu scratched his head with a troubled expression and turned to leave, Jekyeong clicked his tongue in disapproval.
'I wish they would just give up already.' Unlike the seemingly calm surface, a fierce undercurrent of competition had begun between the Whale King Palace and the Demon Court. They were rallying the Great Demons they had previously ignored one by one, and were even attempting to demarcate territories like the humans did. Although the Heukgyo Water Territory where Jekyeong resided was the remotest of the remote, making it relatively free from such commotion, troublesome matters kept arising due to the sheer weight of his reputation as a Jiao-dragon.
Both the Whale King Palace and the Demon Court continuously sent envoys to recruit him. This time it was Makgye, and before that, it was Jang Yeong. At first, fearing he might offend them, he had responded cautiously every time. But there was a limit. With them taking turns visiting endlessly, as if they had coordinated their schedules beforehand, his patience was finally wearing thin.
"Um... Elder." As Hyeongu hesitantly showed himself, Makgye's face immediately darkened.
"Lord Jiao is currently recuperating, so..."
"I see." Makgye turned away, making no effort to hide his intense displeasure.
Hyeongu did not raise his head until long after Makgye had departed. Only when he heard a heavy, munching sound from behind did he slowly lift his head.
"Sigh. This is shaving years off my life, I swear." It was no exaggeration. Every time he turned away the envoys of the Whale King Palace and the Demon Court, Hyeongu felt his already modest lifespan shrinking rapidly.
"Don't worry so much, Father."
"What do you know!" Hyeongu shouted, a vein throbbing on his forehead. Regardless of his father's outburst, his son patted his belly while chewing on a handful of water plants.
"...My Geyeon Grass? Don't tell me you ate it all already?"
"I thought you didn't have much of an appetite." Hyeongu lunged at him in another fit of rage, but there was nothing he could do against Bigu, who was easily seven or eight times his size.
"Don't be so angry, Father."
"Ugh! What on earth do you do all day besides stuffing your face! I don't know if I gave birth to a turtle or a pig!"
"Did you give birth to me, Father? Didn't Mother give birth to me?"
"You rascal!" Unable to contain his fury, Hyeongu lunged once more, but as expected, he was merely bounced back harmlessly by Bigu's bulging belly.
Bul-mang-won.
"I received the spirit stones you sent." Choi Ju-tang looked to be in high spirits. It was only natural. The war was fizzling out, and he had pocketed a handsome reward without suffering a single loss.
"Your generosity is as grand as your size." Jekyeong had rewarded his senior handsomely for traveling a long distance and working diligently. Even for Jekyeong, who did not lack spirit stones, it was a significant expenditure. However, this 'sincerity' contained not only the payment for the job but also goodwill to maintain a friendly relationship in the future.
"How are things on your end?"
"Well, overall, not too bad."
"I heard Gwak Jeong-sin is likely to step down from his position?"
"Yes. The losses were simply too devastating. Well, it has nothing to do with me anyway. Although Gwak Jeong-sin dragged me into this, no one is trying to target me because of it. After all, the merchant association still values experienced Foundation Establishment cultivators like me."
Choi Ju-tang had decided to settle down in Yangseo Lake. Though he claimed he didn't know how long he would stay, he seemed intent on living comfortably for the time being while enjoying the backing of the Yeongbu Merchant Alliance.
"What about you? Which side have you decided to join? I heard you were originally a guest elder of the Whale King Palace?"
"It was merely in name. Previously, the Jansu Whale King was the sole Demon King of Yangseo Lake, so there was no reason to needlessly offend him."
News of the Simjeon Demon King's appearance and the rise of the Demon Court had now spread widely throughout the Human Territory. Most humans predicted either a crisis for humanity or internal strife among the demons. The former focused simply on the fact that another Demon King had emerged, while the latter emphasized the principle that two tigers cannot share the same mountain.
"I won't be taking any side. There's no need for me to get caught in the crossfire of a battle between giants."
"Of course, that would be ideal if you can manage it, but will you be alright?"
"I plan to wait and see for now. Even if I must choose a side eventually... there's no need to rush. As long as I'm not too late, that should suffice."
In truth, Jekyeong's attitude was shared by most Great Demons. However, while other Great Demons had no choice but to bow down despite harboring such thoughts, Jekyeong had something to rely on, allowing him to show some backbone.
He had two sources of confidence. First, his territory was located in the remotest part of the demon region, making him relatively isolated from the influence of the two Demon Kings. Would two Demon Kings, busy keeping each other in check, really make a personal appearance in such a worthless place? Jekyeong did not believe beings of their stature would be so idle. At most, they would dispatch one or two trusted subordinates, and Jekyeong was confident he could handle that level of intrusion.
This was his second source of confidence: his personal strength. Even if one or two late-stage Great Yao were to attack him, he was confident he could escape with minimal damage, even if he couldn't defeat them.
When the time came for the Spiritual Fruit to ripen, Jekyeong paid a visit to Muk-su without fail. His brief moment of joy at seeing the plump, ripe fruit quickly vanished, and his eyes narrowed as he noticed that the number of fruits was about two fewer than before.
"The count seems a bit low. Is it just my imagination?"
Muk-su silently stretched out a branch. Jekyeong followed its direction and turned his head, spotting a tiny speck actively darting across the distant sky. He could faintly hear a "Caw! Caw!" echoing in the distance.
'...Does that fellow steal them often?'
"Often? Sometimes? I don't know."
"Why didn't you stop it?"
"Why should I?"
"I'm the one who provides your food."
"Cheongo brings me food often too, you know. There are barely any humans, but what it brings is fresher than what you give me."
'You unprincipled little brat! Is anyone fine as long as they bring you food?' Jekyeong cursed inwardly, but on the outside, he silently harvested the spiritual fruit as if nothing were amiss.
"Don't do that next time. If you're hungry, tell me first."
"But you don't come."
"If I don't come, can't you just come to me?"
"I'm a tree. Trees don't move."
"But you're not a tree, you're a wood demon."
"Still not moving. It's too much trouble."
"Ugh." Jekyeong let out a low groan, unable to hold it back. Muk-su paid no heed to Jekyeong's frustration and silently shook its branches, as if telling him to leave and stop bothering it now that his business was done.
'Hmm?' As he turned around with a slightly troubled mind, Jekyeong suddenly felt that the spiritual energy at the mountain peak where Muk-su resided was slightly denser than at the Black Cult Palace. On his way up, he had been filled with anticipation for harvesting the spiritual fruit, and because the difference in spiritual energy concentration was extremely minute, he hadn't noticed it until now.
'Why is this?' He was curious and intrigued, but he didn't dwell on it. Who knew? Maybe Cheongo had spat out a few seeds around here after snacking on the spiritual fruits.
"Lord Jiaooo!" As he strolled leisurely, a slow, somewhat stifling voice echoed from afar. Turning his head, he saw something far too massive and obese to be called a mere turtle slowly approaching. It was Hyeongu's son, Bigu.
"A gueeest has arriiived." Looking at Bigu, Jekyeong realized for the first time that even a turtle's neck could accumulate fat. Was it because he wasn't an ordinary turtle but a turtle demon? Yet, neither Hyeongu nor any other turtle demons were like Bigu. This fellow was simply too massive... and fat.
In the past, Jekyeong had simply thought of him as a fellow with an exceptionally large appetite and build, but as time went on, he realized it went far beyond that. This creature ate endlessly and grew endlessly.
"I know." Since Jekyeong's divine sense enveloped the entirety of Heukgyodo and even extended to a certain range outside the Island Protecting Grand Array, he naturally knew who was waiting outside. The guest Bigu spoke of had arrived just as Jekyeong was arguing with Muk-su about the missing spiritual fruits. The reason he hadn't immediately gone to greet the guest was because he could already guess the visitor's intentions.
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong." Ha Son-seo offered a polite greeting, clasping his rock-like pincers together.
"Fellow Daoist Ha Son-seo." Jekyeong nodded politely in return, showing due courtesy.