14: Chapter 14 This is too much! (Part 1)

Several Elders hurriedly supported Family Head, pinching his philtrum and transferring Spiritual Qi until he slowly regained consciousness after a long while.

Upon waking, Family Head seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, his eyes dim and lifeless. He just stared at the document in his hand, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

The atmosphere in the deliberation hall was oppressive. All the core members of the Su Family, except for Su Chengyuan and his son, were present, their faces ashen, heads bowed in dejection.

"They're going too far! The Wang Family is trying to force us to our deaths!" Great Elder Su Tianzheng slammed his palm on the table, his beard trembling with anger.

"But what can we do? Go against the Wang Family? If they casually send a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator, our Su Family will be erased from Qingyang Town." Second Elder Su Tianling sighed deeply, his face filled with powerlessness.

"An increase of thirty percent... The Su Family's annual output, aside from the spirit fields, is that almost depleted mine. In total, it's only about four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Previously, we offered one hundred stones annually, leaving three hundred to support our thirty-odd Cultivators in the Su Family. It was already a struggle, and we still had to save some for emergencies.

Now, with an additional thirty stones, what Cultivation can we do? We might as well all go farm!" a young clansman growled indignantly.

As soon as his voice fell, the hall became even more gloomy and desolate.

This was not alarmist talk, but a stark reality.

Cutting off Cultivation resources meant a slow death for an immortal Cultivation Family.

"How about... we go to the Tiangang Sect and find Yun Ling, ask her to think of a solution?" someone suggested in a low voice.

The words were barely out before Su Tianzheng immediately rejected them: "Nonsense! How long has Yun Ling been at the Tiangang Sect? She's just an Outer Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Fourth Layer, with little influence.

The Tiangang Sect is powerful, but would it go against a Family supported by another Golden Core Sect just for a new Disciple?

The Wang Family is backed by the Blazing Fire Sect. Their actions this time clearly show that the Blazing Fire Sect is supporting them from behind, testing the Tiangang Sect's reaction.

If Yun Ling forcibly steps forward, not only will she be unable to help the Family, but it will also make things difficult for her within the Sect!"

Everyone fell silent once more.

"Family Head, what should we do now? There are only three months left until the next tribute." Second Elder Su Tianling looked at Family Head, who was at the head of the table, and asked.

Family Head closed his eyes, his fingertips continuously tracing lines on the tabletop. After a long silence, he said, "Go... call Chengyuan here."

Soon, Su Chengyuan was called to the deliberation hall.

As soon as he entered, he felt the unusual atmosphere.

After hearing the whole story, his face also flushed with anger, but he quickly calmed down.

At this moment, the entire Family was looking to him, the "father of a Tiangang Sect Disciple," for ideas.

Su Chengyuan met everyone's gaze and slowly began, "The Wang Family is powerful, and with the Blazing Fire Sect behind them, we... cannot afford to offend them."

As soon as these words were spoken, the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in the eyes of everyone in the hall dimmed again.

"Yun Ling has just entered the Sect, her Foundation is unstable, and her Cultivation is still shallow. She truly cannot stand up for the Family right now. If we involve her at this time, we will only harm her," Su Chengyuan continued, needing to first dispel the clansmen's idea of relying on his daughter.

"Then you mean...?" Family Head stared at his son.

"Endure." Su Chengyuan said only one word.

"Endure?" Great Elder Su Tianzheng nearly jumped up. "Chengyuan, do you know what this means? If we endure this time, next time they'll demand fifty percent, seventy percent! By then, our Su Family will be completely finished!"

"I know," Su Chengyuan said helplessly. "But right now, besides enduring, we have no other choice. Elders, we are an entire major Realm apart from the Wang Family. This cannot be compensated by fighting to the death.

Where there's life, there's hope. As long as our Su Family remains, and as long as Yun Ling is still in the Tiangang Sect, we have a chance to turn things around."

His words, though cruel, were realistic.

No one in the deliberation hall refuted him again, only heavy breathing remained.

Finally, Su Chengyuan looked at his father's worried face and softly added, "Father, uncles, please believe me... and believe Yun Ling. These days won't last much longer."

Everyone just thought he was comforting them and mostly didn't take it to heart.

Only Family Head, upon hearing these words, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He deeply gazed at his usually mediocre son, and in the end, said nothing more, only wearily waved his hand, signaling everyone to disperse.

Su Chengyuan returned to his small courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Su Cheng standing in the courtyard, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Father."

Su Chengyuan nodded and told his son what had happened in the deliberation hall.

"Father did the right thing," Su Cheng said, without any surprise, after listening. "Now is not the time. This cold splash of water from the Wang Family is just right to sober up those who are getting complacent in the Family. A newly initiated Qi Refining Stage Disciple cannot become the Family's protective charm."

His calmness reassured Su Chengyuan.

"Then we..."

"We do nothing," Su Cheng said calmly. "If they demand tribute, we give it. If they want to humiliate us, we endure it. You and I have only one mission: Cultivate. Turn all the grievances and anger into Cultivation.

Father, have you forgotten what I told you? When our strength is enough to easily crush them, all schemes and tricks are just jokes."

Su Chengyuan looked at his son and nodded heavily.

From that day on, the Su Family outwardly plunged into a cloud of sorrow and despair.

The clansmen's Cultivation resources were cut, many wore expressions of resentment and unwillingness, and the internal atmosphere of the Family became tense and oppressive.

However, in Su Cheng's small courtyard, it was like a paradise apart from the world.

Su Chengyuan completely cut off all external interactions, staying in the courtyard daily.

Su Cheng, on the other hand, began a frantic period of Alchemy.

One top-grade qi gathering pill after another, glowing with precious light, quietly formed in the qiankun creation furnace.

The birth of each Medicinal Pill was accompanied by the consumption and recovery of Su Cheng's Mental Energy.

During this process, his Cultivation also steadily improved.

He devoted almost all his time to Alchemy and recovery, yet the immense Spiritual Qi contained within the Medicinal Pills still pushed his Realm, unknowingly advancing towards Qi Refining Fourth Layer Middle Stage.

When the forty-seventh batch of medicinal ingredients was refined, and the last top-grade qi gathering pill lay quietly at the bottom of the Pill Furnace, Su Cheng let out a long sigh of relief.

He looked at the pile of Medicinal Pills in the Pill Furnace space, his face filled with unstoppable satisfaction.