When preparing the list of medicinal materials, Zhao Xuanqi listed nine different ingredients, mixing them with those required for the Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder. He didn't have to worry about Cai Mingliang discovering anything.
He bought ten portions of the nine medicinal materials, spending a full fifty silver coins. By price, each portion was more expensive than the Martial Arts Hall's basic Secret Medicine. Keep in mind, the hall's basic Secret Medicine contained Rare Beast Blood Powder, an ingredient that was essentially priceless and had no open market.
This was partly due to his purchasing channels, but also because the Six Harmonies Blood Melting Powder Zhao Xuanqi was concocting was a grade higher than the Martial Arts Hall's basic Secret Medicine, requiring more precious medicinal materials.
After getting the medicinal materials, he spent a few silver coins to rent a small hut in a remote part of the Upper River District to serve as his brewing room.
'I still have some silver coins left over this time. I definitely need to think about getting a new place.'
Concocting a Secret Medicine, especially a basic one, wasn't actually that complicated. The most crucial parts were mastering the heat, timing, proportions, and the order of brewing.
A so-called Secret Medicine worked by combining the properties of its medicinal materials to fully activate the drug's inherent nutrients and characteristics, creating an effect where the sum was greater than its parts.
Zhao Xuanqi weighed out the six medicinal materials and set them aside in order. The most difficult part was measuring the right amount of Blood Powder.
The bamboo tube of Blood Powder contained a very small amount. If he failed too many times, he would quickly run out.
He carefully considered the amount of beast blood in the original recipe, then measured out a small portion of the Blood Powder and set it aside.
He lit the stove fire.
Zhao Xuanqi added a suitable amount of fresh water to the clay pot. Once the temperature was right, he added the medicinal materials one by one and let them simmer.
Three hours flew by. Once all the medicinal materials had been thoroughly rendered down, he poured in the Rare Beast Blood Powder.
BUBBLE BUBBLE!
The moment the Blood Powder was added, the medicinal broth immediately thickened, and a pungent, metallic smell of blood filled the air.
After another half hour, a glob of dark black paste had formed in the clay pot. Zhao Xuanqi extinguished the fire and stared at the thing in front of him, silent for a moment.
'Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder is supposed to be sweet with a unique fragrance. Its color should be deep red, like translucent amber...'
'Looks like... I failed.'
'This stuff in front of me doesn't look like a success. Of course, it's possible that adding this world's Rare Beast Blood Powder caused some changes in the Secret Medicine's appearance.'
'I'll just have a taste.'
Zhao Xuanqi shook his head. The ingredients in the recipe for the Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder were all relatively stable. Even if the proportions were wrong, the worst that could happen was that the medicinal properties would clash, reducing its nutritional value. It wouldn't be highly toxic or have major side effects.
He scooped up a bit of the paste with his finger and put it in his mouth. An indescribable flavor exploded on his tongue, shooting straight up to his sinuses.
'It's a failure, alright. Did I add too much Blood Powder?'
Zhao Xuanqi took a deep breath. The Secret Medicine's nutritional content was even lower than it had been before he added the Rare Beast Blood Powder.
'But even as a failure, the nutrients it contains are still equivalent to a few full meals. Plus, it's easier on the body than normal food. It'd be a shame to waste it.'
Zhao Xuanqi choked down the entire glob of black paste in a few gulps. He took several deep breaths to compose himself, then, without pausing, immediately started brewing the second batch of the Secret Medicine.
By the next day, after ruining three batches of the Secret Medicine, Zhao Xuanqi had finally figured out a more accurate ratio.
The fourth attempt was complete.
A unique, clean fragrance, mingled with the faint scent of blood, filled the small hut. Before Zhao Xuanqi sat a fist-sized, deep-red mass with the texture of amber.
'This time, it should be a success.'
Zhao Xuanqi waited for the medicinal mass to completely solidify. After observing it for a moment, he poured some warm water into a bowl and dissolved the Secret Medicine again, nodding in satisfaction.
He raised the bowl and drained the medicinal broth in one gulp. His eyes instantly lit up.
As the broth entered his stomach, it felt like a ball of fire. His blood surged, his digestion kicked into high gear, and his body began to absorb the nutrients.
He roughly estimated that this portion of Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder contained at least twice the nutrients of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall's Celestial Wind Qi Supplement Powder!
Most importantly, this was the basic Secret Medicine of the Hundred Beasts Sect. Its properties were perfectly compatible with the Hundred Beasts Sect's Secret Transmission!
Zhao Xuanqi immediately got up and assumed a Pile Skill stance.
He began circulating the Fierce Form Pile Skill.
Guided by the Pile Skill, the nutrients from the Secret Medicine flowed continuously to every part of his body. And because of the medicine's compatibility, these nutrients were converted by the Pile Skill and absorbed by his body much more easily.
From this perspective, the effects of a single portion of Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder were more than double that of the Secret Medicine from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall!
Half an hour later, Zhao Xuanqi stopped his Pile Skill practice. He could feel his Qi and Blood surging, his muscle fibers contracting, making his physique more defined. After the tempering of several doses of the Secret Medicine over the past half-month, his height had increased again. He was now over 1.7 meters tall and approaching 1.75 meters, looking more and more robust. His entire demeanor had changed dramatically, making him almost unrecognizable from the person he was a month and a half ago.
'The remaining Rare Beast Blood Powder is only enough to make seven more portions of Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder. Compared to the Martial Arts Hall's Secret Medicine, the Hundred Beasts Sect's version is definitely the most suitable for me.'
'I have to find a way to get more Rare Beast Blood Powder, or even more precious Rare Beast Materials. The Jingmao Trading Company is one lead I can follow up on, but the quickest way is probably to raise my status in the Martial Arts Hall. That would give me access to more channels... and more secrets.'
Zhao Xuanqi slowly opened his eyes. His expression was calm, as tranquil as an old well.
'Becoming the Martial Arts Hall's fourth True Inheritance disciple would be a good move. The Three-Hall Tournament is only half a month away. Time is tight. I need to get serious about this.'
...
...
「Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.」
During this period, Zhao Xuanqi fell into a regular routine. Every day, he would go to the Martial Arts Hall to train and collect his Secret Medicine. At night, he would consume the medicine and absorb it using his Pile Skill.
The only major event during this time was Zhao Xuanqi using his remaining silver coins to rent a two-story loft on a main street near the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, greatly improving the siblings' living conditions.
Furthermore, thanks to a deliberate arrangement by Liu Changfeng, Zhao Qin found a job as a factory worker at a printing press.
However, Zhao Xuanqi wasn't satisfied with this job for her. He knew Zhao Qin's dream was to study and complete her education. He planned to eventually send her to the girls' school in Celestial Sea Prefecture to help her achieve that dream. This job was just a temporary measure, since Zhao Qin wasn't the type to sit idle anyway.
Within this time, the upcoming Three-Hall Tournament had become a hot topic of discussion among all the disciples of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. The excitement was gradually building. For the Martial Arts Realm of Celestial Sea Prefecture, it was considered a rare annual grand event.
Then, just a week ago, a rumor began to spread quietly among the disciples of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall.
The previously decided-upon representative for the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall might be subject to change.
A contest between fellow disciples would be held within the hall. Only the winner would earn the right to represent the Martial Arts Hall in the upcoming Three-Hall Tournament.
Everyone was taken aback.
Zhou Ze had achieved Seven Sounds in half a year. He had been accepted as an Inner Sect Disciple directly by the Hall Master, personally instructed by him, and had been in closed-door training for two months with unlimited resources.
Who among the new Outer Disciples could possibly be qualified to challenge Zhou Ze for the representative spot?