A Degraded Formula

Every breath brought a wave of pain, and his entire body tingled with numbness. Jekyeong focused entirely on recovering from his injuries, swallowing dozens of demon healing pills at a time. After resting without moving a muscle for over a fortnight, his physical strength had returned to some extent, but the pain remained as sharp as ever.

I just have to endure it.

Alchemical pills were not omnipotent. Furthermore, the healing pills of the Human Race were formulated based on the physiology of human cultivators, meaning their efficacy was severely limited for a massive Great Demon like him.

"Ugh."

Though the pain persisted, it was manageable now that his strength had returned. Only then did Jekyeong retrieve Hoyeon Sin's storage ring. Ignoring everything else inside, he pulled out the pill formula that had caught his attention before to examine it once more.

The Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill.

The moment Jekyeong laid eyes on the formula, he understood exactly why the Hoyeon Family had targeted him.

Did Hoyeon Sin intend to use this Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill to break through to the Core Formation Realm?

Cultivation pills were broadly divided into two categories. The first was standard cultivation pills that aided in the accumulation of spiritual energy, and the second was breakthrough pills designed to help overcome bottlenecks. Generally, when people spoke of cultivation pills, they referred to the former. Breakthrough pills were so rare and precious that ordinary cultivators rarely got to see them, let alone consume them. Yet, even these precious breakthrough pills were not called "spiritual elixirs" because of the various side effects, big and small, that accompanied them.

However, the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill possessed the miraculous properties of both types of pills, and remarkably, it carried absolutely no side effects. If the contents of the formula were true, this pill was indeed worthy of being called a true spiritual elixir. Jekyeong surmised that Hoyeon Sin had sought to use it to break through to the Core Formation Realm, or at the very least, to solidify his late Foundation Establishment stage.

As Jekyeong scanned the ingredients, his lips twitched involuntarily. Half of them were things he had never even heard of in his life, and most of those he did recognize were items that could not be obtained with Spirit Stones alone unless fate aligned.

And on top of all that, the essence blood of a Flood Dragon.

If the previous ingredients had made his eyes widen, the Flood Dragon's essence blood was the crowning stroke. Jekyeong had been skeptical when he first read about the pill's effects, but now he had no doubts. With such an extravagant array of ingredients poured into it, it would be stranger if a spiritual elixir didn't result.

He had gathered almost all the ingredients too.

In addition to the formula, Hoyeon Sin's storage ring contained high-quality demon healing pills, several Dharma Treasures, and a multitude of unfamiliar spiritual herbs. Jekyeong could only identify two of them, but both happened to be ingredients for the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill. From this, he deduced that the other spiritual herbs he couldn't recognize were likely the remaining ingredients for the pill as well.

Excluding the Flood Dragon's essence blood... only three ingredients are missing. But these... if I set my mind to it, I should be able to obtain them somehow.

Catching himself in these thoughts, Jekyeong let out a self-deprecating chuckle. What was the point of gathering the rest of the ingredients? He lacked the most crucial one: the essence blood of a Flood Dragon.

Still... it's not entirely worthless.

The formula for the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill was the most profound alchemical recipe Jekyeong had ever laid eyes on. The sheer volume of ingredients, coupled with the long and intricate refinement process, was enough to make his head spin just looking at it. Jekyeong realized that if he could fully comprehend this formula, his alchemical attainment would undoubtedly take a massive leap forward.

Since he had nothing else to do while nursing his injuries anyway, Jekyeong decided to comprehend the formula of the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill. The unfamiliar names of the medicinal herbs were a hurdle, but fortunately, he had multiple avenues to acquire such information. The seniors of the Bul-mang-won had never disappointed him, and this time was no exception.

In less than ten days, Jekyeong managed to grasp almost all the ingredients of the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill, from their names to their medicinal properties. As he had initially suspected, they were all spiritual herbs used as auxiliary ingredients.

This is daunting.

Despite uncovering all the information about the required spiritual herbs, his comprehension of the formula itself had barely progressed. The recipe for the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill was simply too abstruse. Having become an otherworldly alchemist, Jekyeong had developed a fair amount of confidence and pride in his alchemical skills. Yet, before this formula, he felt as though he had been thrown back to the days when he first lifted the lid of an alchemical furnace. Every moment of comprehending the formula was a continuous cycle of deep study and sudden epiphanies.

Fortunately, effort did not betray him. After three full months of arduous comprehension, Jekyeong finally achieved a basic understanding of the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill.

The core is the Flood Dragon's blood. The vast vital energy contained within the Flood Dragon's essence blood is the centerpiece, while the other ingredients serve to amplify that power and suppress any backlash.

Through these three months of comprehension, his understanding of the Dao of Medicine had deepened significantly. He felt confident that if he were to recreate the pills he had made in the past, he could achieve far superior results now.

The blood of a Flood Dragon... But if vital energy is the ultimate core, does it absolutely have to be a Flood Dragon's blood?

As his understanding of the formula solidified, various inspirations began to spark. What started as a fleeting question felt increasingly plausible the deeper he delved into it.

My boundless vital energy is my greatest strength. Of course, it cannot compare to a true Flood Dragon, but still...

A perfect Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill was out of the question. But a degraded version... might that actually be possible?

While Jekyeong immersed himself in studying the formula, he kept his ears open to the outside world. Every other day, he met with Choi Ju-tang to gather intelligence on the war, and along the way, he heard updates on the current state of the Hoyeon Family.

"The Hoyeon Family has fallen," Choi Ju-tang began, sharing news from a few days prior. "Hoyeon Sin managed to return, but his injuries were apparently severe. That was your handiwork, wasn't it? At any rate, word is he couldn't even fight properly."

Although Choi Ju-tang did not know the finer details, such as Myeong-ha's involvement or Hoyeon Sin's exact condition, he was aware that Jekyeong and the Hoyeon Family had engaged in a bloody battle.

"The Hoyeon Family tried their absolute best to keep it quiet and hide their Patriarch's injuries. They wanted to buy enough time for him to recover. But somehow, the Jangtap Sect caught wind of it and descended upon them like a thunderbolt. Completely without warning. In my estimation, the Jangtap Sect definitely knew about Hoyeon Sin's condition."

Having lost a significant portion of their main forces and with their Patriarch incapacitated, the Hoyeon Family was utterly powerless in this worst-case scenario.

"Dealing with the Jangtap Sect alone would have been overwhelming, but then the Cheongdo Sect, the Gye Family, and various other factions arrived late to join the feeding frenzy. There was simply no way they could hold out."

"So, were they all wiped out?"

"Some fought to the death, while others fled. Well, saying it like that makes it sound like the Hoyeon Family is completely gone, but that isn't quite the case."

The Hoyeon Family had once aspired to become the premier cultivation clan of Yangseo Lake. Even though they had declined, a portion of their underlying strength still remained.

"Their main estate was destroyed, but many of their businesses still operate throughout Yangseo Lake. I don't know if they can hold on or for how long, but if the survivors who fled band together, they should be able to maintain a decent level of influence."

"Hmm? Won't their enemies pull them up by the roots to eliminate any future trouble?"

"Well, they might try... but the power of an established clan doesn't lie solely in their martial strength. From what I've gathered, the network of connections the Hoyeon Family built over the years is just as formidable as their power. The only reason the Jangtap Sect could act so boldly this time was due to the unique circumstances of the war. They launched a surprise attack while everyone's attention was focused on the demon territory."

In the past, when the Hoyeon Family attempted to rise as the third Golden Core power of Yangseo Lake, no one had dared to touch them. Even if other factions lacked the strength to do so, the fact that the Geumyang Sect and the Myeongseomun Sect had stood by and watched was something worth noting.

"The calamity that befell the Hoyeon Family this time was a karma of their own making. Furthermore, since quite a few factions had a hand in it, they can share the burden of any future repercussions. However, completely severing the lineage of an already ruined Hoyeon Family is an entirely different matter. It would not only bring infamy but also incur a blood debt, and no one wants to shoulder that kind of responsibility."

The Hoyeon Family had already fallen. Its flesh had been carved up and devoured by various factions, led by the Jangtap Sect. Previously, the weakened Hoyeon Family had been a tempting prey drawing the gaze of many; now, those very factions found themselves in a similar position. Yet, they were not the Hoyeon Family. Individually, they could not compare to the Hoyeon Family at its peak, nor even to the weakened state the clan had been in just recently.

"They need time to digest the flesh they've torn away. To do that, the most important thing is to avoid giving those who are waiting in the wings any justification to strike."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I understand."

The Human Race often claimed that the demon territory was chaotic and dangerous, but Jekyeong believed that the human territory was far more cutthroat. Normally, they wore the masks of gentlemen, putting on airs about rules, order, and benevolence. Yet, the moment an opportunity presented itself, they discarded their pretenses, swinging their blades like executioners in their thirst for blood. Their cruelty was by no means inferior to that of the Beast Race. What made them truly terrifying was that despite possessing such savagery, they controlled it, unleashing it only at the most opportune moments. In some ways, humans were far more frightening than demons.

"What about you?"

"Pardon?"

"The war is as good as over. What's happening now... is merely the harvest. Even the few who remained behind in the human territory are getting restless, eager to join in."

The war had unfolded exactly as anticipated. The Human Race had launched a full-scale invasion into the demon territory, and the dispirited Beast Race seemed utterly powerless to stop them. Gyeongwang Palace and the Yojeong had already devolved into a state of every demon for themselves, leaving the ordinary, defenseless demons to be slaughtered. He had heard that the prices of demon beast byproducts had already plummeted by half. Alchemists and Spirit Blacksmiths were overwhelmed by a deluge of orders, while major factions had begun locking horns over the ownership of newly conquered waters.

There were no variables. The Human Race had won, and they were just beginning to exercise the rights of victors.

"I am fine for now."

Jekyeong was not worried. Though the ecstatic humans were rampaging as if they would swallow the entire demon territory whole, the Heukgyo Water Territory was nothing more than a barren, remote corner of the world that wouldn't even catch their eye. Even in the highly unlikely event that those squeezed out of the competition eventually turned their gaze toward his waters... by then, they would realize a harsh truth. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The Human Race had won the war, but they were not the true victors.

While recovering from his injuries, Jekyeong constantly redesigned the pill formula. The Flood Dragon's essence blood was the core of the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill, and all the other ingredients were tailored to amplify and stabilize its effects. Consequently, if he were to replace the Flood Dragon's blood with his own essence blood, the quantities and ratios of the other ingredients would have to be adjusted accordingly. This was the exact part that gave Jekyeong a massive headache. It would have been ideal if he could conduct experiments, but unfortunately, his circumstances did not allow for it. Though not as rare as the Flood Dragon's blood, the other ingredients were still exceptionally scarce, which was likely why the amount Hoyeon Sin possessed was so meager.

I only have one shot.

Jekyeong had no intention of attempting it unless he was at least eighty percent confident. The rare herbs were one thing, but his own essence blood was far too precious to be wasted carelessly.

"Lord Jiao, this is a delivery from the Ghost Spider."

Hyeongu brought over a storage ring. When Jekyeong checked inside, he found slightly over two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones and two drops of essence blood.

He really is sending them in dribs and drabs.

This was already the third time. At least the amount of Spirit Stones was relatively consistent, but the essence blood was highly erratic. First, he had sent four drops, then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a single drop, and now two. It seemed obtaining essence blood was no easy task.

Then again, it makes sense.

Jekyeong didn't know if there were other ways to obtain essence blood, but the only method he knew was hunting Vicious Beasts or Great Demon Beasts. Yet, even after a grueling hunt, the outcome was entirely up to luck. With the demon territory in such a chaotic state, it would be incredibly difficult for Myeong-ha to secure essence blood. Ultimately, he would have to purchase it using Spirit Stones. Since essence blood was a rarity seldom seen even in auctions, no matter how wide Myeong-ha's network was or how resourceful he might be, he wouldn't be able to acquire a large quantity in a short period.

Well, it doesn't matter.

Jekyeong had demanded essence blood partly because refining it was the easiest way to rapidly increase his strength, but more importantly, to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠boost his chances of success when refining the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill, even if only by a fraction. Of course, refining a few more drops of essence blood wouldn't make his own blood as miraculous as a true Flood Dragon's, but he still had to do everything within his power.

Yet, even that effort was easier said than done. Essence blood was not something that could be absorbed immediately upon swallowing. While Jekyeong could now refine ordinary essence blood within a few days, refining too much of it in a short span was a burden even for him. Although no major issues had arisen yet, Jekyeong had felt a slight discomfort when he refined the first four drops of essence blood Myeong-ha had sent in quick succession. That unfamiliar sensation—similar to indigestion yet distinctly different—had served as a warning to Jekyeong, who had grown somewhat complacent.

He had no choice but to engrave once more into his mind the words he had repeated countless times but always seemed to forget.

There is no rush.

One must not confuse enthusiasm with impatience. Just because time passed did not mean the herbs already in his possession would disappear, nor was the war outside progressing at a breakneck pace. There was absolutely no reason to rush. Jekyeong refined the essence blood and continued to comprehend the modified formula of the Flood Dragon Blood Ascension Pill. His progress was slow. It wasn't even a matter of tapping a stone bridge before crossing; he was tapping it so thoroughly that it felt like he was waiting for the bridge to collapse. At times, he couldn't even tell if what he was tapping was a stone bridge or just the bare ground. Nevertheless, Jekyeong did not doubt, nor did he stop.

While Jekyeong was immersed in his comprehension, the war gradually reached the endgame he had anticipated. At some point, as if by unspoken agreement, the major factions of the Human Race halted their invasion of the demon territory all at once. Consequently, the minor factions and rogue cultivators, who had been rampaging in high spirits without a care for the world, suffered a devastating blow from the Beast Race's counterattack. Upon hearing this news, Jekyeong was certain that the Gakchung Clan had finally made their move.