Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 526 Demon Blood Dragon Pill, Fleeing in a Disgrace
The Imperial Palace, Shennong Hall.

This place was originally one of the three main halls of the inner palace, but Zhu Jinzhen renamed it to fit the occasion.

Because this is where he kept the Shennong Cauldron, which he brought back from his conquests beyond the borders.

"Your Majesty, the dragon flesh and blood you requested have been brought back." Yang Ning respectfully presented a piece of dragon flesh weighing several kilograms, along with a jade bottle filled with dragon essence.

For the sake of this dragon's flesh and blood essence, Zhu Jinzhen bestowed upon the dragon he had subdued in the Americas, which threw a huge tantrum and is still wreaking havoc in the American seas.

"Well, hard work."

Zhu Jinzhen nodded slightly, waved his hand to summon the dragon's flesh and blood essence to his front, and then with a thought, he instantly cut a piece of flesh and blood into the Shennong Cauldron, along with a few drops of the dragon's essence blood. The thousand-year-old Tianshan snow lotus, lingzhi, and ginseng piled up beside him were also thrown into the Shennong Cauldron.

He tossed the remaining dragon essence into a specially emptied treasure basin beside him, intending to replicate some of the dragon's flesh and blood for later alchemy experiments.

"Two more main ingredients are still missing."

"How about the Fire Dragon Balls and the Demon Dragon Balls?"

Zhu Jinzhen tossed the two dragon balls, replicas of the treasure basins, into the Shennong Cauldron.

As the fire of the Shennong Cauldron erupted, various mysterious alchemy array patterns intertwined in the void. After about half an incense stick's time, several grayish pills took shape.

[Demonic Blood Dragon Pill: Refined from the inner core of a dragon, the flesh and blood of a flood dragon, and essence, supplemented with 131 kinds of spiritual herbs. Effects: Grants the user a physique and blood energy comparable to a flood dragon, unleashes potential, increases power by 300 years, grants immunity to all poisons, and has a chance to possess a faint flood dragon bloodline, extending lifespan by 800 years. Side effects: The Demonic Blood Dragon Pill is extremely yang and strong. Those who are not strong enough to withstand the surge in power will suffer a backlash, ranging from complete loss of power to ruptured meridians and death. Those with weak willpower are prone to demonic possession and madness.]

Zhu Jinzhen was deeply moved as he listened to the information about the pills he had just refined from the Shennong Cauldron.

"Wow, good grief."

"Isn't this the Lesser Dragon Essence?"

"With an increase of three hundred years of merit and an extension of eight hundred years of lifespan, coupled with a physique and bloodline comparable to a dragon, he is practically an enhanced version of a terrestrial immortal, perhaps even surpassing a slightly inferior terrestrial celestial being?"

Soon, Zhu Jinzhen frowned again.

The Demon Blood Dragon Pill contains the power of the Demon Dragon Pearl, making the resulting pill extremely potent, yang, and pure. Perhaps due to the addition of the Fire Dragon Pearl, its medicinal properties are too strong, resulting in severe side effects.

If one cannot withstand the effects of the medicine, one will suffer a backlash, ranging from complete loss of physical strength to death from ruptured meridians.

Furthermore, if one's willpower is not strong enough, there is a possibility of going insane.

Losing one's cultivation power is a minor matter; one can simply start cultivating again. But if one's physical body is completely destroyed, unless Zhu Jinzhen uses the Martial Arts Body Cultivation Furnace, or he is killed and then resurrected using Teyvat, even he is powerless to save it.

"Yang Ning, go find a few people to test the medicine on."

Zhu Jinzhen ordered the secret guard beside him to keep one, and toss the rest to Yang Ning.

He also gave instructions regarding the efficacy and side effects of the Demon Blood Dragon Pill.

"This subordinate understands." Yang Ning nodded solemnly. He knew that although the Demon Blood Dragon Pill had extremely serious side effects, if it was still within a controllable range, it was still an invaluable and miraculous medicine.

It is one of the shortcuts that would allow Tian Ce and Cang Yun to collectively advance to the realm of terrestrial immortals.

There is no room for carelessness.

After Yang Ning left, Zhu Jinzhen resumed his immersive experiment.

……

In the world of turmoil, at Lingyun Cave, Cao Zhengchun and Cao Shaoqing, who had come in ahead of time to scout and gather intelligence, along with a dozen or so agents from the Eastern Depot, fled in a disheveled state from the cave. A dozen pillars of fire, resembling molten lava, erupted from the depths of Lingyun Cave with a rapid, whistling sound.

"Heavenly Gang Boy Skill!"

Cao Zhengchun glanced at his disheveled subordinates, then decisively gathered the vital energy from several miles around and struck out with a palm.

"boom!"

A terrifying collision, accompanied by the clash of flames and celestial energy, shook the Lingyun Cave, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. Before Cao Zhengchun could catch his breath, a piercing roar like that of a demonic unicorn echoed from the cave.

"go!"

Without saying a word, Cao Zhengchun turned and ran.

In less than a breath, a fire unicorn bathed in flames suddenly rushed out of Lingyun Cave. Its eyes were filled with terrifying killing intent as it looked around, as if searching for the thief who had attacked it while it was sleeping.

At this time, several miles away.

Cao Zhengchun, Cao Shaoqing, and other agents of the Eastern Depot were still running for their lives.

After running forty or fifty miles, and making sure the fire qilin wasn't chasing them, the group finally found a place to sit down and catch their breath.

"Master, that fire qilin is truly ferocious and terrifying. Should we go again?"

"The Grandmaster of the Celestial Phenomenon realm, a top-tier leader, was almost kicked to death by the Fire Qilin. The intelligence from the secret guards is also problematic. They said this Fire Qilin was injured and not a big threat."

"Yes, if it weren't for the Grand Eunuch blocking the way, we would probably have been burned to ashes."

"That's the situation on our side, but I wonder how things are progressing at the Western Depot?"

"I'm afraid it won't be any better than for us. Eunuch Yu from the Western Depot is arrogant and has taken on the most difficult task this time: to go to sea to visit the dragon and confirm the strength of that azure dragon overseas."

"If the Fire Qilin, despite its injuries, is this strong, then wouldn't the Azure Dragon, which is merely in its slumber, be comparable to a terrestrial celestial being?"

The group of people were panting, all showing expressions of relief.

Cao Zhengchun wiped the burning sensation on his face, which was covered in dust, and said with a mixture of relief and gloom: "The secret guards' intelligence has never been wrong. We must report this matter of the Fire Qilin to His Majesty when we get back and demand an explanation."

What happened to the Fire Qilin, which was supposed to be only at the celestial level, at most at the level of a terrestrial deity due to its extraordinary nature?
Even when he used the Heavenly Gang Child Skill and the Sunflower Manual to their fullest extent, he almost capsized in a ditch.

As for the Western Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor?
Cao Zhengchun felt that they probably weren't much luckier than him.

An injured fire unicorn nearly wiped them out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's mission is to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the imperial court in the Central Plains, the situation of the experts within the imperial family, and the strengths and weaknesses of many sects across the land, including Shaolin, Wudang, Tianmen, and Sou Shen Palace.

The Western Depot's mission was to sail out to sea to find Cang Lao.

Of the four celestial spirits, the Azure Dragon is the leader.

The Azure Dragon of this world may not be as strong as the Green Dragon, but given the precedent of the Fire Qilin, Cao Zhengchun felt that the Azure Dragon of this world was definitely more than ten times more difficult to defeat than the Fire Qilin.

Yu Huatian's task is definitely not going to be easy.

"Fortunately, this mission went relatively smoothly." Cao Zhengchun said, looking at Cao Shaoqing beside him. Upon seeing this, the latter immediately took out a piece of Qilin flesh and blood in a large jade box, along with a piece of Qilin scale that was still shimmering with a blood-red light.

(End of this chapter)