11: Chapter 11 Peak of Qi Refining Level 5

The medicinal power showed no signs of weakening, still surging forth continuously.

The newly achieved Realm was instantly consolidated, and his spiritual energy continued to climb, once again rushing towards a new Peak.

Su Chengyuan's consciousness had fallen into a blank ecstasy; the only thing he could do was instinctively operate his Cultivation Technique, welcoming this heaven-sent rain.

After an unknown period, when the last trace of medicinal power was perfectly refined and integrated into his Dantian, Su Chengyuan suddenly opened his eyes.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes!

He slowly raised his hand, feeling the unprecedented, abundant, and powerful strength within his body. His entire being trembled slightly from the immense shock.

He hurriedly looked inward, and when he saw the condition of his Dantian, his breathing instantly stopped.

Qi Refining Fourth Layer! And it was... Qi Refining Fourth Layer Peak!

Three Medicinal Pills, and he had only used one!

It took him from Qi Refining Third Layer directly to Fourth Layer Peak! This was more than the results of his past ten years of arduous Cultivation!

Su Chengyuan stood up, feeling as light as a swallow, his senses several times sharper. Even the chronic lower back pain from years of labor had vanished without a trace, as if he had become ten years younger.

He clenched his fist forcefully, and a faint popping sound echoed in the air.

"This... is this the effect of a supreme-grade pill? If Chenger and Yun Ling also had these Medicinal Pills to assist their Cultivation, wouldn't their speed be..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes first filled with shock, then turning to ecstasy. Finally, the eyes of this middle-aged man actually reddened slightly, welling up with hot tears.

He wasn't thinking about his own great increase in Cultivation, but rather about the son who had silently paved this entire path for him.

"My good son!"

Su Chengyuan stood in place for a long time. The room was filled with the foul odor of Impurities expelled after cleansing his Meridians and washing his Marrow, but he didn't care at all.

His agitated emotions were like a turbulent sea, and it took a long while for them to slowly calm down.

He pushed open the door, and the night breeze blew, making him feel much refreshed.

Without the slightest hesitation, he walked directly to Su Cheng's room.

Under the moonlight, Su Cheng's door was ajar, as if it had been waiting for him.

Su Chengyuan pushed the door open and entered, only to see his son sitting cross-legged on the bed, looking through a herbal guide by the moonlight, his expression focused, not at all surprised by his arrival.

"Father, how do you feel?" Su Cheng put down the book, jumped off the bed, and poured him a cup of warm water.

Su Chengyuan took the teacup, his hand still trembling slightly. He looked at his son's young yet unusually calm face, a thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a long sigh, filled with shock, relief, and a hint of unreality.

"How can I even describe how I feel..." He gave a bitter laugh, draining the water in the cup. "I've lived half my life in vain. One Medicinal Pill is worth more than ten years of my past hard work. No, more than ten years."

He paused, his voice extremely low, but his eyes were astonishingly bright: "Qi Refining Fourth Layer Peak, just one step away from entering Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Chenger, what you gave me wasn't a Medicinal Pill, but another life!"

"This is what Father deserves." Su Cheng's gaze was smiling and full of determination. "We are a Family. Besides, this is just the beginning."

Looking at his son's matter-of-fact expression, a warmth spread through Su Chengyuan's heart, and the sense of unsteadiness brought by the sudden surge of power was instantly solidified by familial affection.

"What's next?" he asked proactively.

"The remaining two sets of medicinal ingredients, continue to refine Medicinal Pills, and you continue to consume them." Su Cheng's thoughts were exceptionally clear. "Your strength is the greatest guarantee for our small Family. The higher your Cultivation, the wider and safer our future path will be. After all, you are 'in the shadows'."

Su Chengyuan nodded, no longer being sentimental.

He understood that his current role was not just a father, but also his son's 'Dao Protector' and 'Executor' in this Cultivation world.

"Good, I'll listen to you."

In the following days, Su Cheng's life became extremely regular.

During the day, he would spend a large amount of time meditating, recovering the Qi of Creation and Mental Energy depleted from the previous night's Alchemy.

This process was also a form of Cultivation for him; each time he depleted and recovered, his Mental Energy would become more refined, and his control over the Qi of Creation would become more harmonious.

Su Chengyuan, on the other hand, carefully concealed his Cultivation. He acted as usual externally, but spent less time with other Family members, using the excuse of guiding Su Cheng in Cultivation, fearing that his progress might be noticed.

Five days later, Su Cheng's Mental Energy and Qi of Creation recovered to their Peak.

At night, he opened the Pill Furnace again.

This time, he clearly felt a difference.

Perhaps due to the growth of his Mental Energy, his perception of the Pill Furnace was clearer, and he was more adept at infusing the Qi of Creation.

The ancient patterns on the Pill Furnace also seemed to brighten slightly, and the transformation process within the furnace seemed faster than last time.

When the Pill Furnace stopped operating, Su Cheng's face was pale, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

The second top-grade qi gathering pill was successfully made.

When Su Chengyuan received the Medicinal Pill, his emotions were no longer as turbulent as the first time; instead, there was a firm expectation.

Without the slightest hesitation, he went into seclusion again that very night.

With the experience of the first time, he was much calmer this time.

The medicinal power was still as vast as the sea, but his Meridians had already been widened and cleansed once, greatly enhancing their capacity to bear it.

He calmly guided the pure energy, flushing his Dantian Qi Sea over and over again.

The barrier of Qi Refining Fourth Layer Peak, under the impact of the second dose of medicinal power, crumbled like paper, collapsing at a touch.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer!

The immense medicinal power propelled his Realm forward triumphantly, until it slowly stopped at the Qi Refining Middle Stage of the Fifth Layer.

Su Chengyuan opened his eyes, feeling the spiritual energy within his body, which was more than twice as profound as before. He got up and walked into the courtyard, casually clenching his hand in the Void Realm towards a bluestone used for grinding feet.

"Crack!"

With a soft sound, a fine crack actually appeared on the surface of the hard bluestone.

Su Chengyuan himself was startled and quickly retracted his hand.

He looked at his palm, his eyes full of disbelief.

Is this the power of Qi Refining Middle Stage? In the past, he wouldn't even dare to imagine it.

He looked back at his son's tightly closed door, and a surge of heroic spirit rose in his heart.

The man who once needed to be protected by his Family and daughter now finally had the strength to support a sky for them.

Su Cheng also sensed the movement in the courtyard from within the door and couldn't help but grin.

His father's change in mindset made him happier than the improvement in his Cultivation.

The heart of a strong person is the first cornerstone on the path to a higher Realm.

Another five days passed.

When Su Cheng refined the third, and final, top-grade qi gathering pill, his body swayed, almost collapsing to the ground.

Three consecutive high-intensity Alchemy sessions had almost drained all of his mental and spiritual energy.

Leaning against the wall, he handed the Medicinal Pill to his father, who had long been waiting outside.

"Father, this is the last one." His voice was a bit hoarse.

Su Chengyuan looked at his son's pale face and tired eyes, his heart aching, and his hand trembled slightly as he took the Medicinal Pill.

He wanted to say something, but found that any words seemed pale and powerless.

He could only nod heavily, deeply engraving this heavy fatherly love and promise in his heart.

That night, Su Chengyuan once again consumed the Medicinal Pill.

When all the medicinal power was absorbed, his Cultivation steadily stopped at Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak.

In less than a month, from Qi Refining Third Layer Middle Stage to Fifth Layer Peak, he had crossed two minor Realms, and his Foundation was solid, his spiritual energy pure without any Impurities.

Such a miraculous encounter would probably be unbelievable if spoken aloud.

Su Chengyuan sat in his room all night, not Cultivating, but familiarizing himself with this brand new body and this surging power.

He needed to completely control this power and make it his instinct.

At dawn, when the first ray of morning light shone through the window, Su Chengyuan pushed open the door and walked out.