143: Chapter 143 Keep the good stuff in the family!

Su Cheng had already prepared his explanation and replied respectfully, "Reporting to Revered Master, it is a Cultivation Technique called the 'Evergreen Art' that I found in the Prefecture City market."

The "Evergreen Art" was a widely circulated Wood-attribute Cultivation Technique, known for its balanced and peaceful spiritual energy and long-lasting vitality, but it lacked any particularly outstanding features, making it a common choice for many Loose Cultivators.

Upon hearing this, the doubt in Elder Qingmu's heart deepened.

The Cultivation Technique itself was mediocre; perhaps the issue lay with the person.

He gave Su Cheng a deep look but ultimately did not continue questioning him.

Everyone has their own secrets.

During the selection, this child was able to say that "The Dao of Alchemy originates from vegetation," showing he was no ordinary person.

Su Cheng had a clean background and came from Qingyang Town; the Sect had already investigated this thoroughly.

As for his connection with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and those supreme grade Qi Refining pills in the Prefecture City's Zhenpin Pavilion, the higher-ups of the Danding Sect had actually heard of them, but they didn't take it to heart.

After all, to a colossus like the Danding Sect, the Qi Refining stage pill market was nothing more than child's play.

"Perhaps this child has some special Physique..." Elder Qingmu speculated in his heart; it was the only thing he could think of.

Because even if he used his Divine Sense to check Su Cheng's body inch by inch and inspect his energy circulation route, he would not be able to detect the existence of the qiankun creation furnace or the Qi of Creation.

Elder Qingmu stopped obsessing over Su Cheng's Cultivation Technique or Physique. As long as he could save his precious vine, nothing else mattered!

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

This matter must never be leaked! If those other old fogies in the Sect found out that Su Cheng had such miraculous nurturing abilities, wouldn't that be a disaster?

Today one would invite him to check a spiritual field, tomorrow another would ask for help in accelerating the growth of a precious medicine—how would Su Cheng find time to Cultivate?

Such a precious lump of gold must be kept hidden in his own hands; keep the good stuff for one's own!

Suppressing his excitement, he pointed to another Spirit Medicine in a jade basin in the corner of the room, which was entirely crimson and looked like burning coral, and said, "Disciple, don't be in a hurry, look at something else for Revered Master!"

That was a third-grade crimson flame coral, full of fire energy, but at the moment its color was dim and its spirituality was dissipated; it was likewise nearing its end.

Su Cheng smiled inwardly, knowing that his Revered Master was testing his depths.

He followed the previous pattern and channeled a stream of pure Wood-attribute spiritual energy into it.

However, this time, the crimson flame coral not only had no reaction, but the residual Fire-attribute spiritual energy within it actually produced a faint repulsion against Su Cheng's Wood-attribute spiritual energy.

A moment later, Su Cheng helplessly withdrew his hand and shook his head: "Revered Master, it won't work. My spiritual energy seems to only have a nourishing effect on Wood-attribute spiritual plants. For this Fire-attribute spiritual object, my spiritual energy is repelled as soon as it gets close."

Hearing this, a hint of disappointment was hard to hide in Elder Qingmu's eyes.

He had originally fantasized that Su Cheng could become a universal "Divine Doctor of Spiritual Plants."

But on second thought, he felt relieved.

Indeed, if he could truly ignore attributes, that would be too Heaven-Defying and would instead easily attract disaster.

Having limitations was only natural.

Having thought through this point, Elder Qingmu had no more doubts!

"Good Disciple, although your ability has limitations, it stays between us; you must never let a third person know!" He swept away his dejection, looked radiant, and spoke to Su Cheng with a solemn expression: "To the outside world, Revered Master will say you failed your attempt, understand?"

Since Su Cheng's ability had limitations, it was even more important not to let others know. Otherwise, wouldn't he, as the Revered Master, have to fight for 'quotas' with other Elders in the future!

Su Cheng immediately understood and nodded, "Disciple understands."

"Good!" Elder Qingmu nodded with satisfaction, patted Su Cheng on the shoulder, and laughed loudly: "From today onwards, Revered Master will handle your monthly task of ten foundation establishment pills for you!

In the future, your task is to come every day to extend its life. Just tell Revered Master what resources you need. As long as you can save it, Revered Master will credit you with a great achievement!"

"Disciple obeys."

Spending a little time every day to transmit some Qi of Creation was just a small effort for him, yet it could be exchanged for the full protection of a Golden Core True Person; this deal was extremely worthwhile.

Elder Qingmu's gaze toward Su Cheng became even more satisfied. Stroking his beard, he asked kindly, "By the way, you've just entered the Sect. Do you have any doubts regarding your cultivation or Alchemy? Feel free to speak up, and Revered Master will clear them up for you."

Su Cheng had been waiting for these words.

He took the opportunity to ask Elder Qingmu about the Great Dao of the Golden Core, which was prepared for Fang Zhenhai of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, as well as for his father, sister, and Family in the future.

"Revered Master, I am now at the Foundation Establishment stage, but the Golden Core realm is still like looking at a flower through the fog. I hope Revered Master can enlighten me."

When this question was asked, the smile on Elder Qingmu's face faded slightly, and he looked at him with some surprise: "You've only just entered Foundation Establishment and your Foundation isn't stable yet. Why do you think to ask about this? Being overly ambitious is a major taboo in cultivation."

Su Cheng explained, "Revered Master misunderstood. I am not being overly ambitious; it's just that I have an Elder who has been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Peak for many years and has been unable to Breakthrough. I thought that if I could gain a bit more understanding of the Golden Core Dao, perhaps I could find some way to help that Elder in the future."

After hearing this, Elder Qingmu's expression softened, and he nodded: "So that's how it is. You are a thoughtful child. Very well, this is no secret; one could find out by spending some contribution points at the Dharma Transmission Pavilion. But since you asked, Revered Master will tell you about it."

He led Su Cheng to sit on a stone bench in front of the house and said slowly, "From Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, it seems like only a step away, but in reality, it is a heavenly chasm that has blocked ninety-nine percent of Foundation Establishment Cultivators since ancient times."

"This step is difficult in three aspects."

"The first difficulty: the sea of spiritual energy must be condensed into a core." Elder Qingmu held up one finger. "A Foundation Establishment Cultivator's Dantian is a sea of spirit.

And the Golden Core is the compression of this vast ocean into a solid pill-like sphere.

This process requires a massive amount of extremely pure spiritual energy as support.

For an ordinary High-Grade Spiritual Root Cultivator, without external help, just accumulating this spiritual energy alone would require a hundred years of hard work."

"And you," Elder Qingmu glanced at Su Cheng and continued, "your Spiritual Root is only Medium Grade. Although you are exceptionally gifted in the Dao of Alchemy and were able to step into Foundation Establishment at a young age, your Foundation ultimately cannot compare to those geniuses with High Grade or even supreme grade Spiritual Roots.

In the future, if you want to advance to the Golden Core, the time required will only be longer. This is your first major obstacle."

Su Cheng nodded; he had already anticipated this.

The "Qiankun Creation Art" had a solid Foundation, so the difficulty of breaking through would naturally increase as well.

For Su Cheng, it was actually a perfect disguise, though his cultivation progress would certainly be much slower.

Seeing his calm expression, neither arrogant nor impatient, Elder Qingmu approved even more.

After all, for a Disciple of the Danding Sect, a poor Spiritual Root and slow cultivation speed were not irreparable defects.

"The second difficulty: clarifying one's Dao Heart and sensing Heaven and Earth." Elder Qingmu held up a second finger. "Forming a core is not just a sublimation of energy, but a leap in the level of life.

You must clarify what Dao you are walking during your endless cultivation.

Is it the Dao of the Sword? The Dao of Fire? Or the Dao of Alchemy? Only by finding your own Dao can you imprint a trace of that Dao Rhyme onto the Golden Core during formation; this is called a pill pattern. (This Dao Rhyme is the Concept Su Yunling wanted to perceive before her Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.)

Only a Golden Core with a pill pattern can be considered a true Golden Core, allowing the future path to go further."

"For an ordinary Cultivator, to perceive even a trace of Dao Rhyme is a blessing from heaven. Some people sit in meditation for a lifetime and may not necessarily touch that threshold."