Huang Ji’s actions were fast and powerful. After leaving early and returning late for two days, he appeared once more in front of Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo looked over: “Senior Sect Brother Huang Ji has already made preparations?”
Huang Ji didn’t say a word. In his hand, an inter-spatial tool in the shape of a ring was thrown over.
Gu Zuo caught the ring, and opened it to take a look. It was densely packed inside. Indeed, it was all medicinal ingredients. Apart from this, there was also quite a few gourds. Contained within these gourds should’ve been the blood essence of different wild beasts.
No matter how powerful Huang Ji was, it was impossible to personally go hunting and harvesting nonstop. Among the blood essences of these wild beasts, many were probably purchased from the Sect. As for the medicinal ingredients, they were all purchased.
But this didn’t matter.
The important thing was that Gu Zuo had checked the items on the list he wrote, and everything was really collected at this time.
At that moment, Gu Zuo also didn’t hesitate. After Gu Zuo briefed Huang Ji and his dear big brother, he rushed headfirst into the medicine refining palace hall. Right now, he needed to hurriedly refine a tub of medicinal decoction, and to let Huang Ji properly soak in it.
Because he’d been refining medicinal decoctions for Tianheng for a long time, Gu Zuo easily and agilely did the same for Huang Ji. Even though this was the first time he refined the Beast Blood Body Tempering Decoction, he refined it without any hindrances.
Soon after, Gu Zuo carried out the bath tub that was filled with the medicinal decoction.
Correct. He just lifted it out — The strength of the current Gu Zuo was very great. No longer was he a weak chicken like before. This wasn’t to say that he had boundless strength, but lifting a tub of medicinal decoction wasn’t a problem!
Huang Ji kept watch outside the doorway.
Gu Zuo directly sealed the bath tub, and passed it over.
Huang Ji reached out his hands and received it.
Gu Zuo hastily said: “Senior Sect Brother Huang, please find a secluded place to temper your body.”
Huang Ji lifted his foot and began to walk. The direction he proceeded towards was the cavern at the back of the hill where he moved in.
At the cavern entrance, the boulder still stood tall and upright. Huang Ji walked straight in, and placed the bath tub on the ground. Not a bit of sound was made when he put it down, so one could tell that his control over his own strength had reached its peak.
In order to ensure the medicinal decoction’s effectiveness, Gu Zuo had actually only refined a half-finished product. If one wanted to officially soak in it, then it was still lacking a piece of working procedures.
Gu Zuo wasn’t the least bit ambiguous. He immediately used several hand seals and tossed in some medicinal pills. This concealed the mysteries of him refining the medicinal decoction.
Huang Ji didn’t investigate it at all. He only quietly watched Gu Zuo complete the task. However, after Gu Zuo said he was done, Huang Ji promptly started taking off his clothes.
Gu Zuo: “...”
The very next instant, Gu Zuo turned his head, lifted his foot, and ran away.
— Ah, Senior Sect Brother Huang, what was he doing?! No matter how much he believed that he was a man, his physical body was that of a woman! This was, this was too unconstrained...
Gu Zuo, who couldn’t tolerate this kind of unconstrained behavior, directly rushed out. At flying speeds, he bumped into Gongyi TIanheng, who had coincidentally followed them from behind because he was somewhat interested.
Seeing how Gu Zuo was cutting such a sorry figure, Tianheng was a little surprised: “Ah Zuo?”
Gu Zuo gave a hollow laugh. He pulled Tianheng along, and continued scampering away to the other side of the hill: “Big brother, we’d better not disturb Senior Sect Brother Huang...”
Tianheng’s thoughts turned. He had already guessed the matter that previously happened. He allowed Gu Zuo to keep pulling him forward, and revealed a somewhat subtle expression.
Huang Ji, who stayed in the cavern, acted according to Gu Zuo’s medical advice, and calmly soaked inside that medicinal decoction. And this period of soaking lasted for no less than fourteen hours.
When he came out, the color of the sky was already dark.
And, in order to distract himself from that awkward mood prior, Gu Zuo started to sort out the subsequent development process of the Heavenly Beast Body after leaving the cavern. That list of items was read quite a few times by him, he processed all of the ingredients that could be processed, and he even prepared a small batch of decoction ahead time, in order to research it.
However, Gu Zuo was surprised when Tianheng, who was practicing on the side, suddenly flashed over and arrived next to him when he was in the middle of researching this batch of medicinal decoctions.
Gu Zuo raised his head: “Big brother?”
Tianheng’s gaze fell upon the small bowl of medicinal decoction: “Ah Zuo, this is the Beast Blood Body Tempering Decoction you refined for Huang Ji?”
Gu Zuo nodded: “It is. What’s wrong?”
Tianheng faintly nodded: “It’s indeed just like that.”
Gu Zuo’s frame of mind immediately changed.
If it was said that Huang Ji was classified as a thrill, then he would assuredly treat Tianheng prudently and with extra delight. It was just that this Beast Blood Body Tempering Decoction was refined to target Huang Ji’s constitution. If it was switched to Tianheng, then adjustments would have to be made to the prescription.
Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Zuo said: “Since big brother feels it can be used, then we’ll start gathering beast blood.” He gave it a thought, and continued to speak, “We’ll start from ordinary beast blood, and then move to wild beast blood essence.”
Originally, he wanted to request Huang Ji to gather it all up in passing, but after some consideration, he felt that Huang Ji’s realm was too high compared to that of his big brother. It was better to avoid using the same kind of beast blood.
Tianheng naturally agreed.
Gu Zuo thought of something, and kept talking: “Big brother, during the first instance of body tempering, it’s best to select the blood of nine types of wild beasts. After adapting to nine types of blood, you can switch to nine types of blood essence. Soon after, you can use all types of blood essence.”
Tianheng smiled and said: “Ah Zuo will consider things carefully. Just leave the matter of the beast blood to your elder brother.”
Gu Zuo earnestly said: “I have lots of medicinal ingredients in reserve. It should be adequate.”
Tianheng nodded his head: “If it’s not enough, just tell the Tianlong Guards.”
Gu Zuo: “Rest assured, big brother. I will.”
Once the two’s discussion was set, Tianheng and Gu Zuo went their separate ways.
Also, after Gu Zuo checked on his numerous medicinal ingredients, a swift and fierce silhouette dashed over like a bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, the figure had already arrived ahead of him.
This person, who wore a short leather jacket and pants, had extremely fair skin, but appeared as strong and healthy as a cheetah. They bore a savage and peculiar temperament. The qi emissions which were emitted from the person’s body were like the roars of a ferocious beast, which would intimidate those watching from afar!
The instant this person arrived, their ferocity and might compelled quite a few disciples who were practicing martial arts to strategically withdraw, clearing out a path for them!
Gu Zuo walked out of the medicine refining palace hall, looking at this astonishing person: “How does Senior Sect Brother Huang feel?”
Huang Ji extended a palm and lightly clenched it into a fist. An indistinct qi explosion seemed to erupt between those slender fingers. It was very powerful: “I’ve never been better.”
Gu Zuo revealed a smiling expression: “Anything specific?”
Huang Ji said: “My strength has doubled. At all times, my blood is surging forward, and between those surges, it overlays my power and qi energy. My might is far superior compared to that of my past self. After my physical body absorbed the medicinal liquid, it has become even more resilient.”
It was truly rare for him to speak so much, and still be able to express himself so clearly.
— From this, it could be seen that Huang Ji’s mood was unprecedentedly happy.
Gu Zuo was also very cheerful. He looked at Huang Ji without caring about his uncovered arms and slender thighs. Even though it was just a hurried glance of a doctor’s gaze, he discovered that there was a layer of lustrous, jeweled light on the other party’s muscles. The effects it brought about weren’t only beautiful, but it also gave an indescribable sense of power.
Huang Ji had become even stronger!
Soon after, Gu Zuo said: “First, Senior Sect Brother Huang can adapt to the body’s changes, and then gather the next batch of medicinal ingredients and beast blood. By the time Senior Sect Brother Huang gets all the necessary items, you’ll have grasped all the circumstances of your body. Then, we can conduct the second body tempering.”
Huang Ji nodded at him. Immediately following that, he turned back and dashed away like a fierce beast.
Gu Zuo watched him from a distance, and could see that he was venting his additional power with bouts of running. This was also to adapt to his strength.
As Gu Zuo witnessed the Heavenly Beast Body continuously growing stronger in his hands, he also could imagine how valiant his big brother would become after tempering Tianheng’s body!
...After fantasizing for a few seconds, Gu Zuo resumed refining medicine and cultivating.
This didn’t require too much thinking. Carrying out the plan without delay was the most important matter.
In the following days, everything returned to normal.
Every three days, Huang Ji would soak in a medicinal decoction. During his free time, he would either adapt to his strength by himself or, in accordance with Gu Zuo’s arrangements, find Mingxia and give her pointers.
As for Tianheng, through his discussions with Gu Zuo, he also configured some plans. Sure enough, he gathered the blood of nine different types of wild beasts. Moreover, these nine wild beasts belonged to different beast bloodlines — Specifically, it was a bull, tiger, elephant, crocodile, wolf, python, eagle, lizard, and sparrow.
The fresh and hot blood filled numerous gourds. Under Gu Zuo’s meticulous processing, it became a relatively mild and harmless medicinal decoction that the Tiandu Body could absorb completely.
Every time Tianheng soaked in it, the originally scarlet-red decoction gradually faded, and became a medicinal liquid that looked like ordinary, clear water. This repeated several times until the medicinal power was unable to further strengthen Tianheng’s physical body. The blood was quickly changed to blood essence, and its medicinal properties were naturally more violent.
Immediately following which, Gu Zuo made a suggestion.
Since they selected the beast blood of nine different bloodlines, during the subsequent refinement process, it was best to not rashly switch to other bloodlines when raising the product grades of the utilized beast blood.
To make another example, if the essence blood that Gu Zuo first used was from the Lightning Eagle, Gale Wolf, and other wild beasts, then when the power of these wild beasts’ blood essences were no longer sufficient, it would be changed to wild beasts of higher levels such as the Rushing-Thunder Eagle and the Scarlet-Flame Wolf. Continuing in this manner, the blood used to temper Tianheng’s physical body would still be comprised of eagles, wolves, and other wild beasts. However, the bloodline carried by each species would become more and more precious.
Yes, amid the bone pearls within Tianheng’s body, another change occurred.
Just like Tianheng’s initial guess, his bone pearls were filled with a voracious thirst for the medicinal decoction that Gu Zuo refined, which contained the beast blood power. Once Tianheng soaked in the medicinal decoction, an immense attractive force arose in the bone pearls towards the medicinal power, sucking in the medicinal decoction’s quintessence in an unending stream.
Merely, what Tianheng also didn’t anticipate was that the reason why he was so keen towards this power was because there were two sets of bone pearls which were interested in the beast blood!
After the medicinal decoction’s quintessence entered his body, a set of snow-white bone pearls absorbed this power. Within a brief period of time, it was dyed a faint red color. This red color was incomparably pure, without the slightest sense of malicious intent. But at the same time, that set of bone pearls, which was gradually becoming pitch-black, unexpectedly started ingesting this power as well!
Gu Zuo also felt very surprised.
He originally thought that the set of black bone pearls would mainly absorb toxins, and the ultimate goal was to become a toxin that could poison anything in the world. However, he absolutely didn’t expect that the beast blood’s power would be split in two. Among them, the pure one was absorbed by a set of blank bone pearls, and the portion with malicious intent that was stripped off was completely absorbed by the pitch-black bone pearls!
Moreover, in the wake of this absorption, the surfaces of that set of pitch-black bone pearls formed a layer of dark-red. Bit by bit, this dark-red color seeped into the center of the bone pearls. One could imagine that, after even more analogous powers went in, perhaps this set of pitch-black bone pearls wouldn’t be pitch-black any longer. It could become dark-red or an even stranger color.
Contrary to what one might expect, Tianheng seemed to have a faint understanding of the numerous bone pearls within his body.
Only, after this beast blood power was separated and absorbed, his mental state seemed to give rise to a type of tyrannical feeling — As if it wanted to control him to go out and indulge in carnage!
At the same time, Gu Zuo was startled and cried out in a low voice: “Big brother! You, your eyes—”
Tianheng slightly turned his head: “What?”
He himself naturally couldn’t see it. Right now, his eyes, which were originally as bright as the stars or as deep as the abyss, were filled with a heavy malevolence. His pupils had become blood-red, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. Although his facial features still wore an easygoing smile, his temperament was no longer graceful and poised. Instead, because of the contrast between his extremely handsome face and his frightening eyes, he exhibited a peculiar sense of beauty.
Gu Zuo swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Actually, he wasn’t scared...
Merely, could it be that, because the medicinal decoction he prepared was wrong, his dear big brother was suffering a qi deviation? Obviously, there weren’t any problems with the previous instances of decoction soakings!
— In fact, this wasn’t Gu Zuo’s fault.
After a wild beast died, its blood was naturally filled with the aura of violence. In addition, there was the unwillingness and resentment of the wild beast prior to its death. There was also the lingering death qi and the wild beast’s remnant willpower.
Many martial artists could make use of this blood, but using it wasn’t easy. The greater the strength of the wild beast, the harder it was to handle its beast blood. If one’s own willpower wasn’t strong enough or if one didn’t request a pharmacist to neutralize these brutal aspects, then there’d only be a single outcome.
To fall into madness, and experience a qi deviation.
There was no need to doubt how miserable this kind of ending would be.
When Gu Zuo refined the decoction, he originally used medicinal ingredients to remove the negative aura. He believed that soaking in it would, at most, cause a bit of pain for the physical body — But was this also caused by the medicinal effects?
However, when Tianheng absorbed the medicinal power, the pure part, which was neutralized, was absorbed by a set of bone pearls. Meanwhile, the neutralized, but not completely dissolved, negative aura was absorbed by another set of bone pearls, and fused with the toxins contained within those bone pearls. Then, it attacked his willpower!
It would’ve been fine if it was ordinary blood, but not only did Tianheng use the blood essence of wild beasts, it was the layering of quite a few types of blood essences. Blood essence that contained the wild beast’s willpower was naturally stronger than ordinary blood, but layering the blood essence would make it even more powerful. Even after Tianheng focused on the blood essences of wild beasts of nine different bloodlines and absorbed them, this just compounded the layering of the willpower of equivalent bloodlines!
Being capable of only expressing malevolence and brutal desire in his eyes... This already showed how powerful Tianheng’s willpower was.
The reason for this was due to Tianheng’s constitution. It didn’t have anything to do with Gu Zuo’s skill level.
But Gu Zuo didn’t know this, so he continued to research up until Tianheng broke free from that tyrannical consciousness and steadied his own willpower. When Tianheng explained the situation to him, Gu Zuo quietly let out a sigh of relief.
However, the dosages of blood essence would certainly become higher and more concentrated in the future. If the bone pearls absorbed it all like this every time, then how useful would his medicinal ingredients be for neutralization? But originally, the remnant willpower and negative aura of those wild beasts were all part of the beast blood power. If it was completely removed... On the prescription that Gu Zuo obtained, it was seriously explained that this would cause a huge loss to the purity of the blood essence. It would cause the blood essence to lose at least half of its power.
Gu Zuo hesitated.
Should he keep researching, or switch methods?
Tianheng opened his mouth: “Ah Zuo, you don’t need to worry about this matter.”
He got out of the bath tub by himself, and raised a hand to put on some clothes. However, the uncovered surfaces of his body still possessed contours that were perfect beyond compare. His supple and strong muscles also contained a frightening power.
Gu Zuo furrowed his small eyebrows, and looked over: “But big brother, you...”
Tianheng looked at his own palm like it was a jade carving, and smiled: “The stronger the beast blood, the greater the benefits to my physical body. The tyrannical willpower contained within is also a type of tempering for my own willpower. Ordinary people would want this sort of tempering for themselves, but they have no way to obtain it. Now that I have this opportunity, how couldn’t this be any more ideal? Just now, I endured a single round and my willpower is tougher than before. From now on, if I encounter this kind of situation again, it won’t disturb me whatsoever. Ah Zuo, you should be happy for me.”
Gu Zuo sighed: “But even if there was one instance where big brother can’t react in time...”
Tianheng’s gaze softened. The corner of his lips curled into a smile: “Then, I can only ask Ah Zuo to look for a type of medicinal pill that can calm the mind and pacify the soul, and refine it for me. In the future, I’ll often be tempering my body and willpower. I’ll have to trouble Ah Zuo to keep me company and slip me a pill when I’m unable to endure.”
Gu Zuo thought it over, and nodded with a solemn appearance: “I’ll listen to big brother.”
Indeed, this was a method that should allow his big brother’s physical body and willpower to conquer all obstacles!
Under the effects of countless medicinal decoctions and pills, the advantages of Huang Ji’s Heavenly Beast Body became apparent. His present valiance and qi emissions became even more vigorous with each passing day. However, after frequently training, the qi emissions became reserved. On the contrary, it wasn’t displayed so ostentatiously anymore. At the same time, it caused people to sense feelings of danger and admiration from the bottom of their hearts.
On this day, Gongyi Mingxia was carrying a basket. She was walking to the back of the hill in the early morning.
Huang Ji sat cross-legged on a large boulder in front of the cavern entrance. Both of his eyes were closed tightly, and his pitch-black, thin lips were pursed into a straight line. His complexion was upright and solemn. Compared to his usual wild nature, this was more dignified and awe-inspiring.
Mingxia was still young. After seeing this kind of scene, she didn’t think about how handsome or threatening this “Senior Sect Brother” was. She only felt that he was very good-looking. This kind of attitude in practicing martial arts would make people exclaim in admiration.
— Actually, she had long gotten used to the sight of that incomparably handsome eldest brother, Gongyi Tianheng. No matter how good others looked or how beautiful their bearings were, none of it was regarded too importantly by her.
Instead, Mingxia was happier about Huang Ji’s disposition.
Simple and straightforward, he handled matters in a structured fashion, and was always decisive and nimble.
With regards to a young girl from an aristocratic family who’d seen all sorts of chaotic and convoluted things, even though Huang Ji looked violent, she didn’t feel scared when he showed his skills. On the contrary, she felt relaxed and amiable.
The moment that Mingxia stopped in front of the boulder, Huang Ji’s eyes opened. His eyes were sharply contrasted and extremely clear. When he looked at other people, it always made them feel like he was looking straight into their hearts — In reality, this naturally wasn’t the case. Strictly speaking, the truth was that he never let anyone he looked upon enter his heart.
At this moment, Huang Ji jumped off the boulder.
Mingxia handed over the basket in her hands: “Senior Sect Brother Huang, this is the breakfast that Big Brother Ah Zuo cooked. Eating all of it will help your body recuperate.”
That’s right. Mingxia now bore a mission which was to bring Huang Ji his breakfast every day! This breakfast was one that Gu Zuo specially made. While it helped Huang Ji recuperate, it also gave Mingxia the chance to interact with Huang Ji. She would seize these opportunities to ask Huang Ji for pointers!
And this process would repeat every day.
Huang Ji would eat things in a very bold and unrestrained way.
After the basket was opened, there was lots of meat essence that came from the same wild beasts whose blood essence was used for tempering his body. The meat was blended and cooked with some medicinal ingredients, and the aroma would assail the senses. It was very beneficial to the body.
Huang Ji didn’t spare any thoughts to eat slowly. A hand flipped over, and in his palm appeared a trident. It was only about as large as his palm, but it was very convenient for eating meat.
On the side, Mingxia watched with a smiling expression. When Huang Ji finished eating, she put away the basket. Soon after, she took a step forward and nimbly said to Huang Ji: “Senior Sect Brother Huang, this little sister has already finished practicing that set of fist techniques yesterday. Please instruct me!”
Huang Ji nodded in a straightforward manner: “Come!”
At once, Mingxia stamped her foot, and her entire body turned into a streak of color. She swung her fist and dashed straight ahead, producing the sound of a whistling wind!
If Gu Zuo was here, he would’ve discovered that the present Mingxia’s movements were already very similar to that of Huang Ji. Previously, although the temperament of that spirited girl was still bright and beautiful, every one of her gestures and moves seemed to share a common origin with Huang Ji.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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