Chapter Ninety-Five: Dragonblood Fruit

After putting away the soundproofing box, Qi Xiao quickly left the pink miasma, still thinking over his views on biological alchemy.

The roots of biological alchemy could be traced back to the dawn of alchemy itself. In the earliest wizarding age, as alchemy rose to prominence, some alchemists, while attempting to transmute metals into gold, also began to explore the transformation and creation of life.

They believed that through specific rituals and material transmutations, one could grant life to inert matter, or improve and enhance certain traits in living beings.

By the present day, the concept of biological alchemy had long since diverged from its original form. With the rapid development of all manner of wizardly theories and techniques, biological alchemy had changed by the day, especially after the rise of mechanical alchemy. Among all the alchemical disciplines, it was one of the greatest beneficiaries of this new field.

Yet while biological alchemy brought benefits, it also gave rise to numerous ethical and moral issues. Even though wizards had always maintained an exceedingly low moral baseline, biological alchemy still managed, time after time, to push past that limit.

Even for those less fanatically deranged biological alchemists, biological alchemy was often a double-edged sword. Take, for example, the Sheepfolk clan to which Qingzhou belonged: facing extinction because of reproductive problems, it was only through biological alchemical modification that their people’s line was preserved. Yet such modifications were often accompanied by side effects and lingering aftereffects.

In short, since the moment it was created, biological alchemy had been mired in controversy. And when that genius biological alchemist Adam created the C-C formula tens of thousands of years ago, the controversy reached its peak.

Put simply, C-C was an almost universal gene-programming formula, allowing biological alchemists to add, remove, or replace parts of a genome with unprecedented precision.

It was as though Pandora’s box had been opened. Biological alchemy entered a period of savage, breakneck development, during which many dark incidents were concealed, known only through a few scraps preserved in history books. In the end, the two great organizations among wizards concerned with alchemists, the Headquarters of the Research Institute and the Foundation for the Containment of Anomalous and Curio Studies, were forced to act together, issuing a series of restrictions on biological alchemy and placing warrants on those wizards who refused to obey and continued their fervent research in secret.

Even Adam, that dazzling new star of alchemy, died in the upheaval, a fate that could not help but inspire lament.

Even now, tens of thousands of years later, the legal and regulatory systems still faced enormous challenges in dealing with the ethical problems brought about by biological alchemy.

After all, wizards were inherently unrestrained, capable of anything in the pursuit of truth. No matter how severe the prohibitions, there would always be biological alchemists willing to risk their lives to pursue the truth as they saw it.

And naturally, everyone understood the principle that too much of a good thing became a bad thing. Biological alchemy, as an important branch of alchemy, would be difficult for alchemical organizations to accept if it were so tightly restricted that development came to a standstill.

However, judging from the few famous biological alchemists currently known, all of them seemed quite mad. Qi Xiao had the feeling that if the restrictions were loosened even slightly, they would immediately throw themselves into a frenzied sprint, which left the upper ranks of the Research Institute somewhat powerless.

Qi Xiao actually believed that if the goal were simply to treat an individual patient, biological alchemy’s understanding of cells and genetics was far superior to potion alchemy. If blood plague were in the hands of a biological alchemist, it probably wouldn’t amount to much of a problem at all.

But potion alchemy excelled at the overall treatment of a disease. As long as a remedy could be developed, most patients could rely on potions to fight it.

Since these monsters with sheeplike traits had all been transformed, the goat-headed creature beneath the lake was most likely transformed as well, and clearly possessed both thought and intelligence; after all, it had even sent someone to investigate him after he seemed to have touched something.

Perhaps because he had already reached the depths of the forest, Qi Xiao unexpectedly discovered a dragonblood fruit tree. Several familiar giant anacondas were coiling around it and mating. Towering high into the sky, the enormous tree bore only a scant few fruits dangling from its branches.

Dragonblood fruit naturally had aphrodisiac properties, so it was hardly strange that these forest anacondas, driven by the forest’s influence into constant mating, would guard it. But Qi Xiao had no intention of being polite. Whether used as an alchemical ingredient or as a delicacy, dragonblood fruit was a precious treasure not easily found.

Qi Xiao lay flat on the ground and observed the giant serpents. Even the smallest of them measured at least ten meters in length, while the largest exceeded fifteen. Their thick bodies were like water barrels, their muscles taut beneath the scales, clearly possessing tremendous explosive force.

Their skin was a deep green, harmonizing with the bark of the dragonblood fruit tree. Against that green background were irregular dark brown markings. It was hard to say why such creatures, born at the very top of the food chain, possessed such advanced camouflage, perhaps to aid in hunting.

The scales of the anacondas were smooth and lustrous, reflecting the faint light around them, so that their bodies flashed with a cold, eerie sheen beneath the canopy. Closely packed together, the scales protected them from harm.

Several anacondas were entwined with one another, their bodies interlaced into a complex, tight knot. Their movements were slow yet powerful, each writhing motion conveying a silent exchange between them.

Their heads were relatively small, in stark contrast to their massive bodies. Their jaw muscles were well developed, giving them a powerful bite, though they appeared far gentler during mating.

Their eyes were golden, with vertical pupils, allowing them to detect movement keenly even in dim light.

During mating, the bodies of the anacondas would intermittently tighten and relax, a manifestation of their reproductive instinct. Such behavior was not only a physical need, but originally also a declaration of possession toward mates and a warning to their own kind. Yet now, several giant serpents could even be seen entwined together in mating, clearly indicating that the forest’s influence had broken through the instincts encoded in their very genes.

During mating, their tails would sometimes slap the ground or tree trunks, producing low thuds, perhaps a form of communication.

These anacondas seemed highly adapted to the environment around the dragonblood fruit tree. Their behavior blended perfectly with the forest’s ecology, and they guarded the few fruits that remained.

Even without extraordinary power, their sheer size was enough to pose a great threat to apprentice wizards. What was more, Qi Xiao could see that two of them, while mating, had magical currents converging between them, clearly meaning they possessed a degree of supernatural power, which only increased the threat they posed to wizards.

Although Qi Xiao was determined to obtain the dragonblood fruit, he did not act blindly. He knew that facing these anacondas with supernatural power, any rash move could lead to fatal consequences. At the same time, he did not want to make too much noise; using the Thunderwing Dragon Flame Staff would only be a backup plan, to be used only if absolutely necessary.

Qi Xiao decided to observe first in detail, analyzing the anacondas’ behavior patterns and activity cycles. He noticed that although these giant serpents were fully absorbed in mating, they had not completely relaxed their vigilance toward their surroundings.

Silently, Qi Xiao cast the Water Mist spell. When he first obtained it, he had not thought much of it, but in the wilderness it proved remarkably useful. Mist spread through the air as he drank a silence potion and carefully made his way through the undergrowth, doing his utmost to ensure that every step remained soundless.

At last Qi Xiao drew near the dragonblood fruit tree. Even from far below the branches, he could distinctly feel the intense vitality radiating from the fruit.

After crushing three potion vials, the mist in the air grew even thicker. The giant serpents visibly began to grow uneasy; their massive tails lashed the ground with force. But Qi Xiao paid them no heed, quietly chanting the incantation for spatial transfer.

The instant the fruit came into his hand, Qi Xiao felt the surging energy within it. Very soon, all five fruits had been taken.

Taking advantage of the moment before the anacondas reacted, Qi Xiao did not linger. He sprinted eastward at full speed. He knew that once the serpents realized the fruits had been stolen, their fury would be immense. He had to leave the area before they noticed.

As Qi Xiao fled, the mist gradually dispersed. Even after he had run a great distance, he could still hear the giant serpents’ roars and the crashing of falling trees. Clearly, some poor ancient trees had suffered an innocent disaster.

Qi Xiao did not care. He took a dragonblood fruit from his cloak and examined it carefully.

The fruit was smooth and oval, about the size of an adult’s fist. Its skin was a deep red, polished and glossy, as though coated with wax, reflecting a faint sheen of light.

Across the dark red peel ran delicate golden veins, extending from the stem to the top of the fruit like fine dragon scales.

Held close, the fruit gave off a faint fragrance. It was somewhat like diluted blood vapors, yet without the fishy odor of blood. Instead it was fresh and invigorating, with a trace of sweetness that left one refreshed and uplifted.

If peeled open, it would reveal bright red flesh, tender in texture and rich in juice. The flesh contained abundant nutrients and special active compounds, and eating it directly had pronounced effects in strengthening the body and enhancing virility.

The active ingredients in dragonblood fruit could promote cellular metabolism in the human body and increase muscular strength and endurance. Long-term consumption could improve physical condition and strengthen immunity.

But as an alchemist, Qi Xiao certainly would not choose to eat it raw. In alchemy, dragonblood fruit was often used to make potions that strengthened the body and restored vitality. As a principal ingredient in a potion, combined with other materials, it could produce effects several times stronger than direct consumption.

Qi Xiao even wanted to turn one or two into jam and juice. After all, the fruit was sweet, juicy, and distinctive in flavor; surely it would make a delicacy with its own special charm.

Fresh dragonblood fruit needed to be stored in a cool, dry place to preserve its active ingredients. Qi Xiao took from his spatial apparatus an iron box engraved with a freezing spell. As an alchemist, he naturally had prepared quite a few similar containment devices.

Dragonblood fruit was not actually all that scarce. In some older forests, there were even groves of dragonblood fruit trees. But because each tree yielded so little, and because its aphrodisiac properties made it fiercely coveted whenever it appeared, the price had been driven up drastically. It was also Qi Xiao’s first time seeing it anywhere beyond the pages of a book.

After storing the fruit, Qi Xiao was in good spirits as he made his way to the location he had previously marked as the gathering place of the six-hoofed beasts.

According to Qingzhou, by the time it underwent transformation, its clan had been reduced to fewer than a hundred individuals. Even after receiving biological modification and regaining fertility, reproduction was evidently extremely difficult. The clan’s numbers today could certainly not exceed what they had been then; they were merely surviving by a thread.

Because of the “curse” cast by that wizard who practiced desire magic, the clan’s mating drive had become extremely intense. Thus, during their transformation, powerful side effects had been imposed to keep their original forms from descending into endless copulation. Its drowsiness had been born of that.

The transformation of that goat-headed monster was likely also meant to circumvent such a side effect. Qi Xiao came to the lakeside and, under cover of night, sank into the water.

Qi Xiao descended slowly, yet the goat-headed creature showed no reaction at all. This surprised him greatly. Although it had an invisibility effect active, to Qi Xiao it seemed only a token gesture. After all, he had directly entered territory that this creature had presumably managed for who knew how long. From its earlier ability to sense him from several kilometers away, Qi Xiao had expected a being with an extremely sharp perception. He had not anticipated that it would fail to notice him even at such close range.

Of course, Qi Xiao was delighted by this. He sank slowly to the lakebed. The water around him grew darker and darker, with only a trace of light filtering down from the surface. In this deep, shadowed water, the goat-headed creature’s outline gradually came into view, its form bearing a strange resemblance to the sea monsters of legend.

Qi Xiao had observed it from afar before, but at close range the details seemed even more lifelike. Its expression was serene, its eyes tightly shut, long lashes trembling faintly with the motion of the water.

The area from its nose to its mouth showed traits reminiscent of fish. Its nostrils and lips opened and closed slightly, as though breathing slowly underwater.

From the head backward, the creature’s body gradually changed into the form of a fish, with a broad, scaled back and a powerful tail that allowed it to move nimbly beneath the surface.

Its scales shimmered with a deep blue-green luster in the faint light. At that moment it lay on the lakebed, body half-curled, tail lightly coiled around itself, clearly sunk in profound sleep.

Around the creature grew underwater plants resembling aquatic grass, swaying gently with the waves and forming a natural barrier for this mysterious being.

Though the creature was asleep, not only its nostrils but also its gill openings opened and closed slowly, drawing oxygen from the water in this way. It seemed to possess two modes of breathing.

Even in slumber, Qi Xiao could still discern the tremendous power contained in its physique and muscles. He prepared his defenses, raised the Dragon Flame Staff, and ready himself for a classic reenactment.