Human ingredient

**Falling Red (落红)**: In Daoist ritual and folk belief, menstrual blood is often treated as a potent form of “yin impurity” that can neutralize or alter the properties of elixirs, talismans, and spiritual objects. Li Huowang uses this taboo as a shield—a brilliant inversion of real-world superstition into a survival tactic. It’s worth noting that this is a very specific, often overlooked piece of folk knowledge, and the fact that Li Huowang remembers it from his own world underlines his unique advantage.

Definition

Story context

Buckle up, fellow Daoists, because this chapter is a masterclass in desperate ingenuity. Li Huowang has been thrown into the deep end of Danyangzi’s alchemy, and he’s learning faster than anyone expected. But this isn’t a happy training montage—it’s a high-stakes race to save a life. With Bai Lingmiao’s turn as a “human ingredient” approaching, Li Huowang uses his real-world knowledge of Daoist ritual taboos to pull off a gamble that’s as clever as it is chilling. The chapter delivers a bitter, brilliant twist: one life saved, another sacrificed, and a terrible lesson in the cost of survival in this world.

Why it matters

This is a turning point. Li Huowang has stopped being a passive victim and has started playing the game—on Danyangzi’s terms, but using his own knowledge. Watch how his internal voice evolves: from the satisfaction of a plan working, to the cold numbness of delivering another man to death. The horror here isn’t the gore; it’s the normalization of sacrifice. Also, pay attention to the detail about the incense sticks as timers—it’s a small but perfect example of how the Dao-Twisted World forces a return to pre-modern methods, and how Li Huowang adapts to them. The real question going forward: how much of his humanity can he keep while mastering the art of “just following orders”?