Zhao Wanqing's injuries were actually quite serious.

Just by looking at her complexion, it was clear she was at least anemic from vomiting.

On the way back, Zhao Wanqing had taken emergency pills to prevent her condition from worsening.

There was a reason why Li Xingtian brought Zhao Wanqing back to the courtyard house first.

The ritual formation there was basically the same as the one in the Qingfeng Sect Mine.

It was highly likely they shared the same origin. Li Xingtian had this feeling when he saw the corner of the formation ritual in the village.

That's why Li Xingtian suggested he memorize the ritual while Zhao Wanqing went in to investigate for clues.

It would be best to first report this information to Master to see if there were any hidden dangers, and whether it was something done by the Qingfeng Sect.

Or perhaps they could directly frame the Qingfeng Sect, letting the Demon Suppression Bureau eradicate them to eliminate future troubles, but this step would require careful planning.

To avoid the Demon Suppression Bureau's investigation leading back to their own sect.

Whether it was Zhao Wanqing's commission or the Demon Suppression Bureau's investigation, in Li Xingtian's heart, it was ultimately not as important as their current small sect of only three people.

There was quite a commotion in the courtyard, and Li Yingling hadn't fallen asleep yet. Hearing the noise, she opened the door.

Her gaze quickly locked onto Zhao Wanqing, who was clearly severely injured, with a pale face and a weak aura.

"Injured badly?" Li Yingling asked.

Zhao Wanqing took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic energy within her: "It's not a big deal, the Demon Suppression Bureau has professional doctors."

Li Yingling's tone was sincere, even fearing Zhao Wanqing would refuse, she quickly stepped forward and held her hand:

"Since you're here, my Master's alchemy skills are exceptional, especially in healing pills."

"Too much trouble for the senior..."

"No need! My Master is just adjusting the taste of the pills, you can help by tasting them." Li Yingling glanced at her junior brother, "Junior brother, don't you agree?"

Li Xingtian was slightly speechless at her words, but it was obvious that not supporting his senior sister now would mean that next time, if Master made some strange pill, she would have an excuse to make him try it first.

Recalling Master's flour pills...

Li Xingtian ultimately went against his conscience and said, "Senior sister is right."

"Very well, I happen to have some new ideas." Chu Xingchen didn't refuse, after all, both of his disciples now looked at his pills as if they were poison.

Now was the time to prove himself.

Li Yingling still held Zhao Wanqing's hand, directing her junior brother:

"Junior brother, go get the pot."

Get the pot? Zhao Wanqing frowned slightly, what could be done with a pot?

But then she saw Chu Xingchen take out some spirit grass from his spatial ring.

Is this... alchemy on the spot?

Li Xingtian also brought out the iron pot specially used for alchemy from the kitchen.

A bad thought arose in Zhao Wanqing's mind—were they planning to use the iron pot for alchemy?

She had never seen an alchemist use an iron pot for alchemy.

As it turned out, good thoughts rarely come true, but bad thoughts often do.

Zhao Wanqing soon witnessed a good show of iron pot alchemy.

A large pot of water and spirit herbs were quickly condensed into a dark green water orb, exuding the unique natural scent of spirit herbs—a grassy smell.

Zhao Wanqing's eyes widened, could they really use an iron pot for alchemy?

Seeing Zhao Wanqing's expression, Li Yingling thought she was scared and comforted her:

"Don't be afraid."

The real fear was yet to come.

"Huh?" Zhao Wanqing uttered in confusion.

But this time, Chu Xingchen had really thought it through.

Firstly, bitterness is a relative taste issue. If bitterness couldn't be handled, then it could be solved by another approach!

As long as you can't taste the bitterness, then it's not bitter, right?

There are many ways to lose taste, and this time Chu Xingchen chose a herb that also had blood-replenishing properties.

Now, healing and blood replenishment were accomplished in one go.

Considering Li Xingtian's aversion to flour, Chu Xingchen decided to forgo flour this time.

"Done! Come and try it."

Chu Xingchen wrapped the green water orb in spiritual energy and brought it to Zhao Wanqing.

Zhao Wanqing had watched the entire alchemy process, and she naturally recognized those spirit herbs, all of which were healing herbs.

In theory, what was made from these should be edible.

But looking at the dark green water orb in front of her...

Zhao Wanqing steeled her heart and swallowed it directly.

At first, there was indeed a bitter taste, but it quickly dissipated.

However, as the green potion went down her throat, there was a violent reaction.

It was an indescribable reaction, a sense of the body automatically rejecting the potion's fierce presence.

From the moment it was swallowed, the body was fiercely resisting.

But the potion's effect seemed to ignore the body's resistance, boldly entering her body.

Like a bandit, kicking open the door with ferocity.

And the potion's effect was indeed quite good, Zhao Wanqing could clearly feel her internal organs recovering.

But her organs were also rejecting this medicinal power.

Yet she could also feel the comfort of recovery.

At this moment, comfort and discomfort appeared simultaneously.

Just like someone tickling your left foot with feathers while someone else scratches your right foot.

The itch was scratched, but the discomfort of scratching the wrong spot.

Zhao Wanqing now had only one thought—this medicine felt more unorthodox than those evil cultivators!

Li Xingtian glanced at Zhao Wanqing's strange expression, then said to his senior sister beside her:

"Senior sister, you take care of her first, I have something to discuss with Master."

"No problem." Li Yingling agreed decisively.

It was clear her junior brother had something he couldn't let the Demon Suppression Bureau know to discuss with Master.

Such cooperation was naturally something Li Yingling would agree to.

——————

Inside the room.

"Master, whether those evil cultivators are related to the Qingfeng Sect is debatable, but their methods are likely of the same origin."

Li Xingtian picked up the pen and paper on the table and carefully drew the formation rituals from the mine and the village.

"However, the method of using blood qi is different from the Qingfeng Sect, which leans towards defense, while those evil cultivators focus on offense."

"The blood qi of the evil cultivators is extremely corrosive. If the Qingfeng Sect people are also being manipulated, there might be another powerful force behind all this."

Chu Xingchen nodded lightly at his words: "So, what are your thoughts?"

"Taking chestnuts from the fire is naturally inadvisable," Li Xingtian said seriously, "Today, the ambush in the village was just a Foundation Establishment peak evil cultivator, and their methods weren't strong."

"So I believe the Qingfeng Sect is the big fish. If we report the Qingfeng Sect..."

Li Xingtian stopped there, having carefully drawn the differences in the formation rituals of the two places.

He also marked the differences between the two formations.

The Qingfeng Sect had engaged in evil cultivator activities, and reporting them would be a good deed.

However, the Qingfeng Sect had a Nascent Soul Ancestor in residence.

A large tree is hard to topple, and the Yuzhou City Demon Suppression Bureau might not want to provoke them.

After all, although the Qingfeng Sect had done bad things, they did so discreetly and without fanfare.

But with the whole village sacrifice incident, if the Xuanwu Kingdom was willing to deal with it, many sects might be willing to join in.

Chu Xingchen looked at his second disciple, who was staring expressionlessly at the formation ritual he had drawn.

Li Xingtian noticed his Master's gaze and looked up:

"Opportunities must be seized, and decisions must be made."