7: Chapter 7 Five Years

To accelerate the condensation of the True Spiritual Root, Su Yang increased the quality of the Five Elements Materials consumed each month.

This was a massive expense; if he hadn't become an Alchemist, he wouldn't have dared to be so extravagant.

When Su Yang arrived at the Immortal Treasure Tower to sell Medicinal Pills, Shopkeeper Cui was particularly astonished.

"Fellow Daoist Su actually has such a large quantity of Medicinal Pills. Could it be... these were refined by Fellow Daoist Su?"

Su Yang smiled and nodded. "I've luckily become an Alchemist. Please give me an appraisal, Shopkeeper Cui. From now on, we will be long-term partners."

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist! May wealth pour in from all sides in the future!"

Shopkeeper Cui hurriedly offered his congratulations, feeling shocked in his heart.

Alchemy is one of the four great arts of cultivation, and Medicinal Pills are essential for Cultivators. Countless Cultivators want to become Alchemists but are limited by their lack of talent for Alchemy.

Alchemy requires not only intellectual understanding but also a keen sense of smell for Spirit Medicine.

The age of each Spirit Medicine, the time of harvest, the moisture content after storage—any of these factors will affect the fire intensity, timing, and techniques used during Alchemy.

A slight deviation will lead to a failure in Alchemy or a decrease in the quality of the final product.

To put it simply, Alchemy is a matter of intuition.

It's similar to a talent for cooking; even with the same techniques used by a master and an apprentice, the flavor of the dish will always be slightly different, and Alchemy is even more demanding than cooking.

Among the Cultivators in the entire Clear Source County, the number of Alchemists would not exceed three.

One can imagine how sought-after Alchemists are in Clear Source County.

But problems arose because of this; Su Yang becoming an Alchemist meant he would inevitably take a bite out of the Medicinal Pill business in Clear Source County.

The interests involved were intricate and complex.

"Regarding the matter of me becoming an Alchemist, I hope Shopkeeper Cui will not take the initiative to spread the word," Su Yang said, cupping his fists.

Shopkeeper Cui nodded. "I can do that, but this kind of thing can only be hidden for a while. The Immortal Treasure Tower's monthly acquisition of Tier 1 Low Grade Medicinal Pills is limited, and there aren't many Alchemists in Clear Source County. Over time, someone will surely notice. If asked, I won't be able to hide it, so I hope Fellow Daoist Su will understand."

"I understand."

Su Yang nodded slightly, not caring too much.

There are many Tier 1 Low Grade Medicinal Pills in circulation in Clear Source County, but Medium Grade and High Grade ones are rare. He was confident that in a few years, he would be able to refine Medium Grade and High Grade Medicinal Pills!

"By the way, please help me exchange these Spirit Stones for a few Tier 1 Medium Grade Pill Formulas."

"It seems Fellow Daoist Su's Alchemy talent is extraordinary; are you already starting to aim for Tier 1 Medium Grade?"

Shopkeeper Cui counted the Spirit Stones with a beaming smile and handed over several Tier 1 Medium Grade Pill Formulas in exchange.

Su Yang smiled and waved his hand, taking the Pill Formulas and the remaining Spirit Stones.

"Huh?"

There were twice as many Spirit Stones as he had estimated. Had the price been calculated incorrectly?

While he was puzzled, Shopkeeper Cui stepped forward with an explanation.

"Recently, there has been unusual Yao Beast activity on the outskirts of the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range. Many Cultivators have gone to hunt them, causing the supply of Medicinal Pills at the Immortal Treasure Towers in other counties to become tight."

"If Fellow Daoist Su is able, you can refine more Fasting Pills and Primal Origin Pills recently. The prices of these types of Medicinal Pills have risen, and the Immortal Treasure Tower will take as many as you have."

Between the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range and Clear Source County lies Guangling County.

This supply of Medicinal Pills from the Immortal Treasure Tower is mainly for the Cultivators in Guangling County.

That county has attracted a large number of Cultivators because of the numerous Yao Beasts in the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range, leading to significant development and making it several times more prosperous than Clear Source County.

"Thank you for the information, Fellow Daoist. However, the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range has always been quiet. Why would the Yao Beasts suddenly become active? Could it be..."

Su Yang frowned slightly, recalling the beast tide that had occurred in the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range sixty years ago.

Shopkeeper Cui's expression turned solemn.

"The cause of the activity hasn't been determined yet, but from the signs, it is indeed very similar to the past beast tide."

He relaxed his expression and laughed softly. "There's no need to be nervous, Fellow Daoist Su. Clear Source County is hundreds of miles away from the Hundred Lotus Mountain Range; even a beast tide wouldn't reach here. Besides, the Cultivators of Guangling County will be there to block it."

"That's true."

Su Yang nodded in agreement, chatted for a bit, and then took his leave.

Upon returning home, Su Yang once again devoted himself to improving his Alchemy skills.

He focused on refining Fasting Pills and injury-recovering Primal Origin Pills, taking advantage of the current unlimited sales to exchange for as many resources as possible.

The other Medicinal Pills were stored for the future development of the Family.

A month later, Su Yang's third child was born.

It was a girl named Su Xuanjing, born with a Fate: Clear Mirror, Still Water!

[Clear Mirror, Still Water: Extreme focus and inner clarity, allowing one to quickly enter a state of selflessness.]

This was Su Yang's first child born with a Fate, and he chose the character 'Jing' for her name based on the characteristics of the Fate.

Su Yang was full of expectations for her future; the effect of this Fate could enhance focus, and someone with strong focus could achieve success in anything they did.

Unfortunately, Su Xuanjing also lacked a Spiritual Root.

When a Pseudo Spiritual Root and a Mortal conceive, the probability of the child having a Spiritual Root is miniscule.

This makes it nearly impossible for ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators like Su Yang to establish a cultivation Family.

If the descendants have no Spiritual Root, what's the point of cultivating?

...

Time flew by like a weaver's shuttle.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over these years, the Su Family gradually acquired the surrounding fields.

From the initial three hundred mu of land, it expanded to a thousand mu, and the number of guards and servants tripled.

Many of the Su Family's long-term laborers chose to stay on the Su Family's land to start families and careers, building rows of houses.

Looking out, wisps of cooking smoke rose, children played by the riverbank, and farmers worked diligently in the rice fields, presenting a scene of prosperity.

Su Family Inner Courtyard.

A child dressed in luxurious silk clothes held a slender wooden sword.

His handsome face showed no emotion as he repeatedly practiced tedious sword forms, move by move.

His mouth opened and closed as he breathed rhythmically.

Despite practicing for the entire morning, there wasn't a single trace of sweat on his forehead.

In contrast, the younger-looking boy beside him was drenched in sweat, his limbs aching with fatigue.

With a clatter, the wooden sword fell to the ground.

Su Xuanming plopped onto the ground, panting. "Big brother, let's take a break. I really can't hold on anymore. Dad said not to over-practice martial arts, or it'll affect our physical development."

The boy in silk remained unmoved, still practicing his sword moves. His movements were neither fast nor slow, but they flowed like water.

"Dad said that whatever you do, you must persevere. Whether it's martial arts or studying, it's not just about self-improvement, but also about building willpower. Habits must be cultivated from a young age, as they will affect our entire lives."

"One moment you're studying, the next you're practicing martial arts, always doing things by fits and starts. How can you succeed?"

Su Xuanheng's tone was flat, his gaze sharp. As he swung the wooden sword, he seemed like a sharp blade about to be unsheathed.

Su Xuanming took a towel from a servant and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But Dad told me that everyone's talent is different and that choice is more important than effort. From the looks of it, I'm simply not cut out for martial arts."

He sighed, a look of sorrow unsuitable for his age appearing on his youthful face.

"I have a slight talent for studying, but I'm not content with being an ordinary person. If only I had a Spiritual Root like Dad, to be a free and unfettered Cultivator and see a wider world."

He didn't practice martial arts because he liked it, but because he had no choice.

He craved great power, liked heroes who could leap over walls and roofs, and revered Cultivators who could move mountains and fill seas.

In such a vast and wonderful world, how could he be content to spend his life as a Mortal?