Ch. 93 - Refining A Human Into Medicine

“What kind of elixir are you trying to refine?” Ye Fan tried to stall for time. Even at this moment, he wasn’t willing to give up.

“An immortal pill, of course, one that allows one to cross the Bitter Sea, traverse the Celestial Bridge, and reach the Other Shore,” Elder Han replied coldly, seemingly seeing through Ye Fan’s intentions. “Don’t bother trying to delay me. No one is coming to save you. Just settle in and prepare to become the main ingredient.”

“You’re not worried that soldier might show up again?” Ye Fan remained calm, not the least bit panicked. “Perhaps you still don’t know who he is.”

Elder Han’s expression didn’t change. “Who is he?”

“He’s from one of the ancient desolate clans, the Jiang Clan.” Ye Fan sighed and added, “You’ve just brought a major disaster down on Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Maybe you’re unaware of my true identity, I have ties with people from the Jiang Clan. That soldier came here looking for me…”

Ye Fan spoke with an air of seriousness, continuing smoothly.

Elder Han showed no reaction, silently listening until he finally said coldly, “How could someone like you have any connection to the Jiang Clan?”

“I once saved a young girl from the Jiang Clan who was lost in the outside world. That formed a strong karmic bond between us. If you don’t believe me, go ask around at Red Mist Grotto-Heaven. Not long ago, I even ventured into Red Mist Grotto-Heaven alongside Jiang Clan members.”

“...” Elder Han’s face finally changed. As one of the six major sects in the State of Yan, Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven was aware of the Jiang Clan’s intrusion into Red Mist Grotto-Heaven.

Elder Han clenched his teeth. “No matter what you say, you’re not walking out alive.”

Ye Fan responded sternly, “You’d better think twice about offending an ancient clan like the Jiangs. Don’t think you can cover this up. You already fought one of their soldiers today, they’ll track down every clue.”

“You little brat. You may be young, but you’re crafty. Do you really think you can fool me that easily?” Elder Han suddenly laughed darkly. “You’ve said too much. Now I finally understand what’s going on. That soldier was from the Jiang Clan. He did storm into Violet Sun Grotto-Heaven not long ago, he must have been chasing you!”

With his age and cunning, Elder Han quickly pieced together the recent events.

Ye Fan’s heart sank. “You arrogant old corpse. Just wait, disaster is coming for you!”

“You’re quite calm for someone on the brink of death,” Elder Han sneered. “Still trying to deceive me, huh? Let’s get started.” He grabbed Ye Fan and added, “Don’t worry. No one will disturb us. I’ve carved countless Dao runes in this cave. Since entering, it’s been completely cut off from the outside world. No one can find this place.”

The fact that the Jiang soldier had been hunting Ye Fan did unsettle Elder Han a bit, he was, after all, snatching away someone’s “prey.” He thoroughly searched Ye Fan’s body.

“Nothing but useless junk.” He picked up the chipped jade fragment and examined it for a long time before tossing it to the ground.

Ye Fan cursed the shameless Daoist Duan De. That fat liar had solemnly sworn this jade could save his life at a critical moment. Clearly, it was worthless.

“Duan De, you damned cheat! Screw your ancestors!”

“What’s this?” Elder Han picked up the bodhi seed, inspecting the Buddha etched on its surface. “Natural patterns forming an image… This bald monk looks familiar. I think I’ve seen his kind outside the Eastern Wilderness…”

“Bald monk…” Ye Fan was speechless.

Elder Han put the bodhi seed away. Then, facing Ye Fan, he said, “Alright. Time to put you in the cauldron.”

“Elder Han, since I’m about to die, could I at least have a decent last meal?”

“Don’t bother. Even if I give you a few more minutes, what could you do with them?” Elder Han carried Ye Fan to the cauldrons. “Pick one yourself. That’s the only right you have left.”

Ye Fan knew there was no escape and began cursing loudly: “You old bastard! I curse your ancestors, your whole lineage, your eighteen generations of female relatives…”

Elder Han didn’t react. He threw Ye Fan into one of the cauldrons, then went to a corner of the stone chamber and brought over several large porcelain jars, pouring their contents into the cauldron.

“What’s that?” Ye Fan caught the fragrant scent entering his nose.

“It’s herbal slurry refined from various medicinal plants, essential for alchemy. If you further purify it, you get the legendary ‘Hundred Herb Essence.’” As he spoke, Elder Han emptied all the jars into the cauldron.

He then began bringing over the rare herbs from the medicine cabinets. “At last, all the ingredients are gathered. I hope this will produce the elixir I need.”

First, he retrieved the lotus seed from the Black Jade God Lotus. As big as a pigeon egg, it gleamed with a dark light and gave off an intoxicating fragrance that penetrated the body, refreshing the spirit.

“Thinking of swallowing it in one bite?” Elder Han sneered at Ye Fan. “Don’t even dream.” He dropped the lotus seed into the cauldron. Then, he pulled out a dagger and stabbed it into Ye Fan’s left arm. Blood poured out.

“You, ”

“This is alchemy. You’re the main ingredient, your essence lies in your blood and flesh. Of course your blood must be offered to the cauldron first.” Elder Han showed his cruel side. Stroking his severed arm, he added, “To find you, I lost a limb today. I will refine you thoroughly, this has to succeed!”

“Spurt!”

Blood sprayed again as he stabbed Ye Fan’s right arm. The cauldron turned red with blood. Elder Han’s true nature was now clear, no longer lifeless, his eyes gleamed with savage light. He pierced Ye Fan’s legs as well.

Ye Fan’s limbs throbbed with agony, and his face turned pale.

“Don’t expect a miracle!” Elder Han growled, then stabbed Ye Fan in the chest. “I won’t pierce your heart, you won’t die right away. With these herbal liquids bathing you, you’ll survive a long time. I want you conscious while I refine you into medicine.”

Like a ghost, Elder Han licked the blood off the dagger with his shriveled tongue. “Such a sweet taste. I look forward to the moment the pill is complete.”

“You damn corpse…” Ye Fan gritted his teeth, his whole body wracked with pain. Life was slowly slipping away.

Next, Elder Han opened an ancient jade box and took out the Green Jade Snow Lotus. The egg-sized fruit glowed with a gentle green light and shimmered with a divine aura, lighting up the entire cauldron.

“You should feel honored. To be refined alongside such rare treasures is a blessing from your past ten lives.”

“Bless your grandpa, and your entire cursed clan…” Ye Fan cursed again. Blood kept pouring from his wounds as he felt his life fading away.

Elder Han then picked up the Nine-Leaf Phoenix Grass, red and radiant like carved ruby, said to only grow on soil soaked in phoenix blood.

But after putting the herb into the cauldron, he frowned and muttered, “No, this is too risky. If the refinement fails, everything will be lost…” He hesitated. “Better to refine the main ingredient first. If successful, then I’ll add the rest.”

He only added three rare herbs and stopped.

The other herbs still glowed in the medicine cabinet, filling the room with divine fragrance and multicolored light. Each one was just as valuable as the three he had already used.

“Let’s see how the main ingredient and these three mix first.” Elder Han made up his mind and put away the rest.

“Got any last words, brat?” Elder Han smirked as he lifted the cauldron lid.

Ye Fan, barely hanging on, replied, “Yeah, why don’t you slam your head into this cauldron and die?”

“Clang!”

Elder Han slammed the bronze lid down and began heating the cauldron. Ordinary fire wouldn’t do, it had to be Hellfire drawn from deep underground. A milky silver-white flame flickered beneath the cauldron.

This was the reason he carved out a secret chamber here, because of the Hellfire, the most powerful flame a cultivator at his level could control.

“Brat, I lost an arm because of you. Now I’ll refine you for seven days and seven nights. You’ll suffer until you become my elixir!” Elder Han stroked his stump, his voice as chilling as death.

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