15: Chapter 15 This is too much! (Part 2)

"Father, the Alchemy Materials have run out," he said, walking out of his room to Su Chengyuan, who was meditating in the courtyard.

Su Chengyuan opened his eyes, stood up, and said, "You've worked hard these past few months."

"Let's divide them up," Su Cheng went straight to the point. "Forty-seven Medicinal Pills in total. We've used fifteen of them, leaving thirty-two."

He paused, then began to allocate: "We must send some to older sister. The competition within the Tiangang Sect is fierce, and without resources, she won't be able to move an inch alone. Leave ten for her."

"Additionally, we cannot only expend without gaining. We must find a way to exchange for more Spirit Stones and medicinal ingredients. Take out ten and give them to you, Father, to find a way to sell them."

"Of the remaining twelve, our father and son will split them. I only need five, which should be enough for me to Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer Late Stage. The remaining seven are all for you. Your Realm is currently our biggest trump card."

Listening to his son's clear and far-sighted arrangements, Su Chengyuan felt both comforted and emotional.

He didn't decline, but simply nodded solemnly: "Good, I'll listen to you."

In the following three months, the father and son once again entered a period of arduous Cultivation, as if in seclusion.

With the help of five top-grade qi gathering pills, Su Cheng condensed a total of two hundred and fifty wisps of Qi of Creation. His Realm advanced like a broken bamboo, breaking through the Bottleneck in one fell swoop, and steadily settled at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer Late Stage.

If it weren't for the immense Spiritual Qi required by the Qiankun Creation Art, his Realm at this point would have been at least Qi Refining Seventh Layer or above.

And Su Chengyuan's transformation was even more earth-shattering.

Seven top-grade qi gathering pills were no less than a complete rebirth and good fortune for him.

When he finished refining the last Medicinal Pill, a powerful Aura, one that even startled him, erupted within his body.

Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Eighth Layer, Ninth Layer!

His cultivation soared, and finally, it steadily stopped at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Middle Stage!

At this moment, he became the undisputed number one master of the Su Family, an existence capable of directly contending with the Wang Family Head, Wang Boan.

However, apart from the father and son, no one knew of any of this.

Three months passed in a flash.

This day was the day the Su Family was to pay tribute to the Wang Family.

The atmosphere in the Su Family mansion was even more oppressive than three months ago.

One hundred and thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones were neatly stacked in a wooden box.

This was almost ninety-nine percent of the Su Family's income for these three months.

Watching these resources, which should have belonged to the clansmen for Cultivation, about to be delivered into the Wang Family's pockets, everyone present felt their hearts bleed.

Soon, the Wang Family's procession appeared ostentatiously on the streets of Qingyang Town.

The leader was no longer the sharp-tongued young man from last time, but a gloomy-faced middle-aged man.

He rode a unicorn horse with shimmering scales, his powerful Aura unmasked, revealing him to be a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator.

Family Head Su Tianxiang, accompanied by several Elders, forced himself to greet them at the entrance.

When he felt the powerful, unconcealed pressure emanating from the middle-aged man, his heart suddenly sank.

Qi Refining Ninth Layer! The Wang Family actually sent such a person to collect tribute. This was a naked threat.

"Steward Wang, what an honor to have you. The Su Family has failed to properly welcome you," Su Tianxiang cupped his hands, lowering his posture even further than last time.

Steward Wang grunted through his nose and said indifferently, "Where are the items?"

Su Tianxiang quickly had the Elder behind him hand over the wooden box containing the Spirit Stones.

A subordinate next to Steward Wang stepped forward to take it, opened the wooden box, glanced inside, and nodded: "Steward, the count is correct."

Steward Wang glanced at Su Tianxiang, a smile playing on his lips: "Family Head Su is quite sensible. It seems the Tiangang Sect's reputation isn't all that useful, eh?"

Su Tianxiang's expression changed, but he could only force a smile: "Steward Wang, you jest. My Su Family is nestled in a corner; it is our good fortune to contribute to the prosperity of the county town."

"Good fortune?" Steward Wang burst out laughing, his laughter full of mockery. "Since Family Head Su is so enlightened, our Family Head said we shouldn't treat you unfairly. Recently, our Wang Family's spirit fields are short on manpower. Seeing that your Su Family has so many talents, why don't you send two Cultivators above Qi Refining Third Layer to help guard them for a while?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Su Tianxiang and the several Elders behind him instantly blanched.

"Steward Wang, this... this isn't according to the rules!" Grand Elder Su Tianzheng couldn't help but step forward, angrily saying, "We've already done our duty by submitting tribute. How can you then ask us to send people to do hard labor! Besides, your Wang Family is so vast and powerful, how could you possibly be short of manpower!"

"Impudent!" Steward Wang's face darkened, and a cold pressure instantly enveloped the entire Su Family entrance. "This Steward is speaking to your Family Head. Do you have a right to interrupt? Whether we're short of people or not is up to my Wang Family, not you!"

That Qi Refining Ninth Layer Aura pressed down on Su Tianzheng, making him gasp for breath. He stumbled back several steps, his old face flushed crimson.

Su Tianxiang quickly stepped forward, blocking Su Tianzheng, enduring the pressure with difficulty, and said: "Steward Wang, our Su Family only has a little over thirty Cultivators in total, and only a dozen or so are above Qi Refining Third Layer. Everyone has Family affairs to attend to; we truly cannot spare anyone."

"Cannot spare?" Steward Wang said unceremoniously, "I don't think it's that you can't spare anyone, but that you don't want to, right? Family Head Su, I'll give you one last chance. Will you send people, or not?"

As soon as his words fell, several Wang Family Cultivators behind him simultaneously took a step forward, their spiritual power surging, Magical Artifacts in hand, and a murderous Aura swept over them.

They were about to make a move!

Su Tianxiang's heart sank to rock bottom.

He glanced at his clansmen beside him, who were angry but dared not speak, and then at Steward Wang opposite him, whose arrogance was soaring.

He knew that if he said no today, the Su Family would likely be engulfed in a bloodbath.

Ultimately, all their backbone and dignity were crushed into dust before the absolute disparity in strength.

"We... will."

After uttering these difficult words, Su Tianxiang's face turned pale, and rage surged in his chest.

"Hahaha, that's more like it," Steward Wang laughed with satisfaction. "I'll give you three days to choose the people and send them to the Wang Family spirit fields yourselves. If you dare to play any tricks, you'll bear the consequences."

With that, he no longer lingered and left with his subordinates.

What was left for the Su Family was a humiliation even heavier than three months ago.

Inside the deliberation hall, there was silence.

Going to the Wang Family's spirit fields as guards, while sounding like 'helping,' was, to put it harshly, going to be slave labor.

This was a trampling of the entire Family's dignity.

"Who should go?" Su Tianxiang seemed to have aged several years after saying this.

The dozen or so Cultivators above Qi Refining Third Layer in the hall all bowed their heads, none daring to meet the Family Head's gaze.