Chapter 210: Your Majesty, Calm Your Anger! Test the Elixir!

The whole affair has a very interesting point.

That's why Yan Song happened to run into the refugees.

This is the capital, not a county town; even without the 800,000 imperial guards, there are still tens of thousands of yamen officials, and the Six Gates and the Divine Marquis Residence's constables even outnumber the yamen staff.

If the refugees get close, according to the custom before Chu Yang's ascension, they would be expelled; how could they happen to be waiting on the road where Yan Song leaves the capital?

Zheng Dongliu gave no details, and Chu Yang had no interest in probing; he only knew that from now on Li Ge Xiao is entitled to lay down everything and start anew.

Such good news calls for a drink with him, and that fellow didn't even mention it to me.

Your Majesty has just ascended, with many state affairs to handle; it's only natural that Li Ge Xiao wouldn't dare offend you.

Lord Zheng is joking; let Zhang Juzheng and his men handle state matters, for if I take over, the world might become even more chaotic.

Your Majesty is a man of great wisdom; do not belittle yourself.

Ha ha, you've become quite adept at sucking up these past few days; what's up, have you been consulting Cao Zhengchun in private?

An old minister's words are all heartfelt.

Hmm… that sounds even more like Cao Zhengchun.

The two exchanged a smile and continued onward.

Speaking of Li Ge Xiao, what's his current plan? Has he considered returning to the Brocade Guard?

On this matter, I have spoken with him once; he said he still wishes to serve the world and its people, but he does not want to return to the Brocade Guard.

Li Ge Xiao's demand is simple: he does not wish to be bound in any way; he's grown weary of the bureaucratic red tape and fed up with the oppression of power.

Chu Yang fully understands Li Ge Xiao's mindset; had he faced the same situation, he would have turned dark long ago—let alone Yan Song, the entire Ming Empire would have been turned upside down.

If that's the case, then we should form a separate unit for him and grant him some privileges, as a representation of me walking among the people.

Chu Yang also hopes Li Ge Xiao's story gets back on track, so he can meet the people he was meant to encounter.

"Representing Your Majesty?" Zheng Dongliu furrowed his brow. "If he's representing you, Li Ge Xiao's power seems a bit excessive."

"No problem," Chu Yang waved his hand. "Lord Zheng once said that to catch a fox you must be more cunning than the fox; actually you don't have to be more cunning—you just need a stronger fist than it."

Zheng Dongliu smiled helplessly; indeed Chu Yang was right, but only he would think that way—others can't guarantee their fists are always harder than the enemy's.

"It's settled then; you two can discuss the specific regulations."

Soon after, Chu Yang and Zheng Dongliu returned to the Forbidden City.

The chilly palace was hardly bustling, which Chu Yang disliked, so he slipped into the Soul Palace at night to discuss alchemy with the Xianxia Chu Yang.

Using Demon Race flesh and blood for alchemy is not mainstream in the cultivation world; most high‑grade pills are crafted from plant essences and celestial spirits.

Since the essential purpose of a pill is to boost the user's spiritual true essence, adding flesh only makes extracting spiritual energy harder and is not worth the cost.

Even when demon beasts are employed, normally only their hearts, spirit eyes, or bones are used; flesh is rarely utilized.

"If the goal is to raise a warrior's cultivation, it doesn't have to be done by enhancing true essence; supplementing qi and blood is also a method."

"When qi and blood are abundant, not only does the body grow stronger, but the condensation of true essence speeds up naturally—a win‑win."

The Xianxia Chu Yang explained while offering Ming Empire Chu Yang a comparable alchemical formula as reference.

The Magic Chu Yang, seeing this, immediately added his insights on using demonic beasts when forging demonic pills.

The clash of different knowledge systems gave Ming Empire Chu Yang abundant inspiration; such inspiration creates limitless possibilities, the very foundation of their standing across the myriad heavens.

After borrowing a fine‑quality alchemy furnace from the Xianxia Chu Yang, Ming Empire Chu Yang returned to his own world, eager to start pounding flesh‑blood pills.

He still had two Demon King corpses obtained earlier in Jinling City, along with several great demons and spirit‑demon corpses, perfect for practice.

The native lands of the Ming world still lack some spirit herbs for alchemy with flesh, but that's fine; Chu Yang had intended from the start to use only flesh, adding nothing else.

Alchemy is troublesome and requires a quiet chamber; fortunately, the scheming Prince, being cheap, secretly built a hidden room in the palace quarters that perfectly met Chu Yang's requirements.

The Prince truly is a good man— even in death he can help me; Chu Yang sincerely hopes he'll be reborn in a good womb.

Since the furnace was pre‑made and already bore a formation, Chu Yang didn't need to add anything extra; he only had to set up the alchemy room's formation.

According to the Shu Shan Sect's alchemy experience, the room's formation must match the furnace's; the most common methods are fire‑refining and water‑refining, though other techniques exist, each with its strengths, but the Shu Shan Sect excels at those two.

When developing new pills, most alchemists choose water‑refining, as it is gentler and less likely to cause an explosion.

If using water‑refining, the room's formation must be of the metal element to enhance it via generating cycles; conversely, fire‑refining requires a wood‑element formation.

There remain many miscellaneous details; Chu Yang, familiar with the key points, arranged everything methodically.

If he didn't intend to develop the alchemist profession in this world and make alchemy sustainable, Chu Yang could simply have others practice for him.

Once a market for Demon Race flesh emerges in this world, the entire Human Race's zeal for hunting demons would reach its peak.

After a full day's toil, Chu Yang finally completed all preparations and, on a moonless, windy night, officially began alchemy.

Outside the palace chambers.

The loyal Cao Duzhu was on duty.

Since the two factories became the Forbidden City's property security, Cao Zhengchun naturally became the security captain; his status plummeted, and if he weren't so skilled, even passing dogs would bark at him twice.

Cao Zhengchun deeply regretted it—one misstep after another; after a lifetime of sucking up, he never expected to finally stumble.

"Being alive is already quite good..."

Cao Zhengchun often comforts himself this way, then looks toward the emperor's chambers with a plaintive face, "I was the first to pledge allegiance to Your Majesty."

"Had I known, I should have..."

Before he could finish, a deafening crash echoed from the chambers, like thunder on flat ground, violently exploding in the dead of night!

Boom—! Cao Zhengchun shivered, terrified, fell to his knees, and kept kowtowing!

"Your Majesty, calm your anger! Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

"The servant deserves death!"

…

Lightning flashed inside the furnace, as if undergoing a heavenly tribulation.

Chu Yang stared at the scene in astonishment.

The flesh‑and‑blood melting process went fairly smoothly, with no setbacks, until the final critical moment when a purple lightning flash appeared before the eyes.

This scene is not recorded in the Shushan Sect's alchemy books either.

However, Chu Yang noticed that since the lightning appeared, the flesh‑and‑blood pill began to form rapidly, Demon Race power gradually stabilized, turning into a pure energy.

It was somewhat similar to his own massive life force.

After a short while.

The alchemy furnace fell silent, a rosy glow slowly flowed outward, and a warmth spread through the alchemy chamber.

Like the sunrise rising in the east.

Chu Yang executed a cultivation technique, the furnace lid flew up, three purple‑red pills burst out, as if alive, wobbling and drifting into Chu Yang's palm.

Because it was his first furnace opening, Chu Yang did not use the flesh of two Demon Kings, but used a spirit demon instead, also for the convenience of testing the medicine.

The pills crafted from Demon King flesh can be taken by Chu Yang, but not necessarily by others, so they lack reference value. Confident that his body is impervious to toxins, Chu Yang swallowed a purple‑red pill, and the warm medicinal energy instantly spread throughout his body.

"The boost to Qi and blood is only slightly inferior to Blood Bodhi, yet it contains immense energy, and there are far more than ten million Demon Race members here; if all were turned into pills, the supply would be inexhaustible."

Chu Yang suddenly harbored an evil thought: he could keep a portion of the Demon Race in captivity, with no need to exterminate them all.

"A pill made from spirit demon flesh is enough for a martial artist to undergo a blood exchange and become a top‑tier Jianghu master; the cost is no more than nine pills."

"It could almost mass‑produce top‑tier masters."

"However, for ordinary martial artists, spirit demon strength varies, and gathering the materials for nine flesh pills is not that easy."

"Demon Race flesh could become a focal point of resource contention among sects."

"As for the Grand Master…"

"Taking a pill made from great demon flesh should allow a breakthrough, but great demons are still scarce, so competition will only intensify."

Chu Yang silently calculated for a while, then decided to strike while the iron was hot, forging pills from great demon and Demon King flesh, speculating that the Demon Power needed to break through to Grand Master could not be guessed.

He can only know by experiencing it himself.

For the next hour, thunder roared continuously in the sleeping palace, shaking the entire Forbidden City.

Cao Zhengchun, initially fearful, grew gradually numb; after hearing the thunder so often, it even became somewhat sleep‑inducing.

However, he dared not sleep; who knows when His Majesty the Emperor will emerge, and then charging him with dereliction would be truly unlucky.

Not long after, Yu Huatian received news and hurried in from outside the palace; he and Cao Zhengchun take turns on duty, and today was his day off.

"Your Majesty, what is happening?"

Yu Huatian stood outside the sleeping palace listening to the thunder, anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"You ask me, who should I ask?"

Cao Zhengchun rolled his eyes, "Who knows what that ancestor is up to late at night without sleeping? I've been here listening to the noise all night, people are about to go mad."

"If Your Majesty does not come out soon, I'll break in; the commotion inside is truly worrisome."

Yu Huatian bit his lip, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Cao Zhengchun couldn't help but mutter inwardly, "What a loyal old dog, finally he knows where he fell short."

Yu Huatian truly regarded himself as the Emperor's dog!

About another incense‑burning period later.

Zhuge Zhengwo, Zheng Dongliu, Guo Bukjing, all arrived outside the sleeping palace, eyeing the place with strange looks.

The scene also had an uninvited guest, the ancient San Tong that Zhuge Zhengwo brought.

Bu Bai Wan Tong was very excited.

After a while, Li Ge Xiao, Lu Xiaofeng and others arrived, and this time the thunder inside the sleeping palace gradually faded.

"Cao Gonggong, please report to Your Majesty that we are waiting outside, ready to receive orders."

Cao Zhengchun gave a brief assent, then tiptoed to the door and knocked, carefully awaiting the Emperor's summons.

Unfortunately…

In the secret chamber, Chu Yang was busy inspecting the pills and paid no attention to the knocking outside.

Cao Zhengchun, seeing no response inside, felt his throat tighten and said, "The thunder was so fierce just now, could something have happened to His Majesty?"

He mustered courage, pushed open the sleeping palace doors, looked left and right, yet could not see Chu Yang.

"Cao Gonggong, what are you doing?"

Chu Yang suddenly appeared beside Cao Zhengchun, and his words startled Cao so much he jumped up and down.

The last remnants of his sanity kept Cao Zhengchun from striking Chu Yang.

"Your Majesty, you nearly scared me to death; Lord Zheng and the others are waiting outside the hall, I was sent in to tell you!"

Cao Zhengchun bowed respectfully, then pointed toward the crowd outside the room.

"Let them in."

"Your Majesty, this is your sleeping palace; allowing ministers to come and go at will is rather improper."

"I said let them in, so let them in."

Cao Zhengchun dared not speak further, hurried outside and called the others into the sleeping palace.

When the group entered, they saw Chu Yang beaming with a bright smile, as if he had accomplished something great.

Lu Xiaofeng, seeing this, silently cursed in his heart, thinking that even killing the emperor might not make Chu Yang this happy.

"Your Majesty, what was the thunder in the sleeping palace earlier?" Guo Bukjing stepped forward and asked bluntly.

"Lord Guo, I forgot to tell you, I was alchemizing, and Lord Zheng and the Divine Marquis are both aware."

Chu Yang replied with a smile.

"Alchemy?" Guo Bukjing looked bewildered at Zhuge Zhengwo.

Zhuge Zhengwo shook his head and laughed, "Your Majesty said yesterday he would use Demon Race flesh to alchemize; I thought he was just joking with us."

Guo Bukjing's face turned ashen, and he turned to Chu Yang, scolding, "Your Majesty is truly being reckless; Demon Race flesh is utterly useless, even poisonous—anyone who touches it dies. How can it be used for alchemy? If something goes wrong, what will become of the Ming Empire!"

It's clear Guo Bujing is furious; he regards Chu Yang's safety as more important than anything else, otherwise he wouldn't have risked his life to come to the imperial palace to save him.

"These words are spoken too early, Master Guo." Chu Yang smiled as he took out the refined elixir, a warm Qi emanated from it.

"What is this?" Guo Bujing stared wide-eyed, incredulously looking at the elixir in Chu Yang's hand, he exclaimed in disbelief: "You actually refined an elixir?"

As soon as he said that.

Others swarmed forward, gathering beside Chu Yang, observing the medicine in his hand.

"Your Majesty, is this really what you refined?"

"Nonsense!"

"Your Majesty, can this be eaten?"

"Nonsense upon nonsense! Give it a try and you'll know if it works."

"Try?" Everyone looked at each other.

"Who will try? It's not like we haven't seen the fate of those who ate demon meat; who dares to lightly try this thing?"

Hmm…

Actually someone dares! Gu Santong snatched the elixir and shoved it into his own mouth.

The next second.

His Qi changed, his thick true essence surged like a spring, pushing the people around him several meters away.

"He broke through!"

"The realm of a grand master!" (End of chapter)