Chapter 577: Demonic Alchemy
Looking at the recipe, Xuan Hao could not help frowning to himself after reading halfway through it.
The spiritual herbs required for the medicine was nothing abnormal at first and just consisted of normal spiritual herbs that were not too hard to find inside the Flying Sword Sect. However, the last few things on the recipe were what truly allowed the potion Elder Song was refining to be considered a demonic medicine that belonged among something made by a demonic alchemist!
Not only did the recipe call for a sacrifice, but it also called for a lot of different things Xuan Hao had never heard about being used in alchemy before like the blood directly extracted from the heart of a pure maiden and other vile materials!
Feeling a bit doubtful when he saw so many disgusting things needed for the recipe, Xuan Hao could not help glancing curiously towards Elder Song. Wondering how he had used as a substitute for those things.
"Ahm... For the pure maidens heart blood, I used the sap of the blood jewel tree, while for the-" Understanding the meaning behind Xuan Hao's gaze, Elder Song quickly told him what he had used to substitute the horrible things called for in the recipe.
Making sure to explain all of the things in full detail so he wouldn't end up getting misunderstood...
"-Also, I don't know much about the disease that Song Jia is suffering from. All I know is that she will die without getting the medicinal potion on time...!"
"I understand. Most of those things needed should are already here, I just need to find a way to substitute the required sacrifice in a way that doesn't result in me wasting my own lifespan... Elder Song, you can go and rest up for now, I will take care of the medicine for Song Jia!"
Swish~
Not waiting for Elder Song to respond, Xuan Hao used his domain to send him outside before gathering all the spiritual herbs required for the medicine currently scattered around Elder Song's house.
Even if the explosion had been extremely destructive for Elder Song's home, the spiritual herbs were all intact. Mainly because Elder Song had made sure they were kept in a safe container that had luckily managed to survive the blast from the cauldron blowing up earlier.
At least he would not have to start running around the Flying Sword Sect searching for the required spiritual herbs... The only thing he needed to do was find a substitute for the sacrifice!
As for refining the actual medicinal potion? Xuan Hao did not worry about this at all. After all, he was an Artisan Alchemist! Refining a Spirit Grade Potion was nothing difficult. Especially considering he had the recipe at hand.
"Hm... Now, what in the world can be used as a substitute for a sacrifice? Lifespan is something Elder Song found to work, but forcibly extracting my own lifespan will damage my foundation and will end up taking years to recover no matter how little I extract..." Muttering this to himself as he once again glanced over the recipe of the demonic medicinal potion, Xuan Hao could not help frowning to himself.
If possible, he did not want to extract his own lifespan to make the potion, but he could understand from Elder Song that if Song Jia didn't get the potion in time, there was a high likelihood that she would die!
"I should check out Song Jia first!"
Swish~
Not losing his calm because of anxious Elder Song was when he had sent him out, Xuan Hao left the small house of Elder Song together with the spiritual herbs required for the demonic medicinal potion.
...
Appearing at Zu Fei's pavilion where Song Jia was currently playing around together with some of Zu Fei's younger disciples, Xuan Hao did not reveal himself as he used both his divine sense and domain to investigate Song Jia's body with all his strength-
"Hm? Nothing...?"
However, even after using both his divine sense and domain, he found nothing wrong with her body!
"Looks like the disease she is suffering from is more serious than I expected..." Not doubting the fact that Elder Song had told him the truth and that Song Jia was suffering from some sort of deadly disease, Xuan Hao remained focused. Continuing to search for any more abnormalities in Song Jia's body.
"Elder Xuan...?"
"..."
Fully focused on trying to find out the disease that Song Jia was suffering from, Xuan Hao could not help showing a slightly surprised expression when Song Jia suddenly came to a stop and looked towards him before saying this while tilting her head. Clearly confused as to why he was there...
How could I forget... She can sense my aura! I can't hide from her at all...
"Hello Song Jia... I just happened to come by..." Not knowing what to say when he had been caught by the little girl, Xuan Hao could only give an excuse as he said this while continuing to investigate her body for any abnormalities with his divine sense and domain at the same time.
"I see... Are you perhaps here because of big sister Fei!?"
Big sister Fei...? Since when did that old lady become a big sister...?
"Yeah, I had something to talk to her about." Deciding to play along, Xuan Hao said this as he watched the little girl nod her head in understanding before pointing at a certain person approaching them from the side.
"Big sister Fei is just over there- Look she is coming over right now!"
"..."
Feeling the familiar presence of Zu Fei approaching from behind along with hearing what Song Jia said, Xuan Hao could not help cursing silently to himself.
How in the world did he end up in his current situation!? He only wanted to investigate the disease Song Jia was suffering from, but now he had ended up getting caught in such a situation!
Even worse, the disease was extremely elusive, and he needed more time to find it, so he could not even run away!
To find out about a proper substitute for the sacrifice that did not involve using his own lifespan, Xuan Hao had to first get an understanding of the disease in question to find out what kind of spiritual herbs might work to supress.
Maybe he would even be able to directly use his strength and qi to supress or destroy the disease himself after finding the disease. After all, he was still a Domain Lord. Most diseases and other sorts of illnesses could easily be removed with his qi after he found it. This not only counted for normal disease and illnesses, but also more special ones that cultivators suffered from!
This way, he might be able to deal with Song Jia's disease without even having to refine the demonic medicinal potion in the first place!
Of course, this was only a best-case scenario... First, he had to find out about the disease itself and to do that, he had to find out where it was hiding inside Song Jia's body.
"Elder Xuan, I wonder for what reason you have come to visit my pavilion... Did something perhaps happen?"
Hearing the voice of Zu Fei from behind, Xuan Hao smiled a bit wryly as he tried thin king up a reason for his sudden appearance. After all, he did not want to mention Song Jia's disease to Zhu Fei, as it would inevitably lead to talks about the medicine she needed.
Knowing Elder Song's image in the sect and in the eyes of the other Core Elders, Xuan Hao did not want to say anything about the fact that he had been making a demonic medicine.
Even if the other Core Elders could understand, the disciples below would inevitably also learn about this. At that point in time, Xuan Hao doubted that these disciples would be able to understand that Elder Song had sacrificed himself to refine the demonic medicinal potion. Instead, they would most likely just end up focusing on the fact that he had refined a demonic medicinal potion!
Thinking about all of this in an instant, Xuan Hao turned around to face the confused expression of Zu Fei.
"Zu Fei... Actually, I'm here regarding Feng Chen..."
"Feng Chen!? Did something happen to him!?"
Sorry sect master, it looks like I will have to sacrifice you for Elder Song's reputation... At least, you can consider this as repaying him for all the things he has done for you over the years!
"Actually, Feng Chen was talking with Shu Yao and some of the Spring Flower Sect's elders and they planned to head to the planned location of the new sect to check it out alone later today-"
"Those vixens!? You dare do this without telling me about it Feng Chen!?"
Swoosh~!
Before he even managed to finish what he was saying, Zu Fei had already disappeared filled with killing intent as she dashed towards the direction where he could sense Feng Chen was quietly cultivating by himself.
Thanks for the help beforehand, sect master...