171: Chapter 171 Even I, their master, were kept in the dark?

"That skill of yours, Spirit Medicine Affinity, has a name in our Sect: 'Herb Attendant.' Someone who can make Spirit Medicines actively cooperate to release their medicinal power is someone even Third-Rank Alchemists scramble for. After your performance today, it won't be long before other Golden Core Elders come looking for your help."

Su Cheng frowned slightly; he hadn't expected this.

Han Jing continued, "This is a good thing. You can accumulate contribution points, expand your network, and learn things. But there's also a downside: a lot of your time will be taken up, and your own Cultivation and Alchemy might be affected."

"My suggestion is to give Elder Qingmu a heads-up beforehand and let him talk to the Elders who might come looking for you."

These words were spoken sincerely.

Su Cheng made a mental note; Han Jing was someone worth befriending.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Han."

After Han Jing left, Su Cheng closed the door again and sat back down on his prayer mat.

His original plan was to get close to Immortal Master Elder Lu Yuan by assisting in Alchemy, playing the long game with the ultimate goal of obtaining the Pill Formula for the spirit nurturing pill or a finished High Grade spirit nurturing pill.

But Han Jing's words made him realize he had underestimated the value of the 'Spirit Medicine Affinity' label within the Danding Sect.

Even Third-Rank Alchemists were scrambling for it.

In other words, he was now a 'scarce resource' for the entire group of Third-Rank Alchemists in the Sect.

Although there would be more trouble, if used properly, this identity could open up a much larger situation than he had anticipated.

But Han Jing's reminder was also correct; a tool that is overused will wear out, and resources fought over by everyone easily attract trouble.

Early the next morning, Su Cheng went to the mountaintop as usual to infuse the dragon beard vine with the Qi of Creation.

The dragon beard vine's recovery had entered its final stage. The bark on the main trunk glowed with a moist luster, the leaves on the branches had all turned green, and the thickest vine had even begun to sprout new buds.

At the current rate, it would be fully restored in a month at most.

Elder Qingmu was rarely not loosening the soil nearby today; instead, he was sitting on a large rock waiting for him.

"You brat, you're so capable, yet you even hid it from me, your Revered Master?"

His tone sounded like he was blaming him, but Su Cheng had spent over half a year with this Revered Master and could tell the difference between good and bad words.

The more improper Elder Qingmu's words were, the happier he was inside.

Su Cheng's palm was still pressed against the stem of the dragon beard vine, and he didn't look back. "Is Revered Master talking about the huayuan pill?"

"Three High Grade ones," Elder Qingmu snorted. "That old fellow Elder Lu Yuan eagerly sent me a message last night, saying your Spirit Medicine processing ability is extremely strong. Although we don't cross paths much, I've known his mouth for hundreds of years; he doesn't praise three people in an entire year. You brat, you've been in the Sect for less than a year, and you've already earned his praise."

Despite his words, the pride on Elder Qingmu's Face couldn't be hidden.

Having one's own Disciple be sought after by other Golden Core Elders was a first in the history of Qingmu Peak.

Su Cheng finished his work, stood up, and was about to talk about the arrangements for assisting in Alchemy when Elder Qingmu spoke first.

"Alright, I can guess what you want to say. It's nothing more than going to Wanhua Peak to help in the future." Elder Qingmu jumped down from the rock. "You don't need to worry about this; I've already talked to Elder Lu Yuan."

Su Cheng was stunned.

"After replying to the message last night, I chatted with him for another half hour." Elder Qingmu paced slowly around the dragon beard vine with his hands behind his back. "That old fellow Elder Lu Yuan says nice things, like 'come over and sit more often in the future,' but do I not know what he's planning?"

"He's tasted the sweetness of the huayuan pill, so he'll definitely want to find you every few days. If Wanhua Peak looks for you, Chiyang Peak will want to find you too when they see it, and those old fogies in the Alchemy Hall won't let you go either. Will you still have time to Cultivate then? Will you still have time to look after the dragon beard vine for me?"

Su Cheng didn't interrupt; his Revered Master wasn't finished.

"So I set a rule with Elder Lu Yuan." Elder Qingmu held up one finger. "Provisionally twice a year."

"A year?"

"A year. Aside from Elder Lu Yuan and me, if other Golden Core Elders want to borrow you to assist in Alchemy, it's at most twice a year. No more will be accepted, no matter who asks."

Su Cheng ran this number through his head. Twice a year meant being available to the outside only once every six months; this frequency was quite restrictive.

"As for the fee." Elder Qingmu held up a second finger. "For each assistance, the reward for Spirit Medicine processing shall be no less than two thousand contribution points, and the other party must compensate you double for any depletion you suffer during the Alchemy process. This is the base price, with no upper limit."

Two thousand contribution points per time, with double compensation for any consumption incurred.

An amount Su Cheng would have to refine over a dozen batches of second-rank pills at Contribution Peak to earn, he could get in a single assistance session.

"Revered Master... isn't that set a bit too high?" Su Cheng weighed his words. "In the end, my ability is only top-tier for Wood-attribute Spirit Medicines. Although I have no problem with the affinity perception of other attributes, when it comes to restoring vitality or clearing Spiritual Veins, I'm far from it. Setting this price..."

"High? Not at all." Elder Qingmu waved his hand. "How many Wood-attribute Spirit Medicines do you think are in the ingredients used by a Third-Rank Alchemist? At least thirty to forty percent."

"Just the preprocessing of this thirty to forty percent of Spirit Medicines—if someone else does it versus if you do it—the quality of the resulting Medicinal Pill can differ by a whole grade."

"That old fellow Elder Lu Yuan is shrewd; he won't drag down the quality of a Medicinal Pill just to save two thousand contribution points."

Su Cheng didn't argue; what his Revered Master said was the truth, or at least the truth as he understood it.

His Spirit Plant affinity talent wasn't limited to attributes. Whether it was Fire-attribute, Water-attribute, or Metal-attribute Spirit Medicines, he could perceive their medicinal properties, vitality, and spiritual power flow more accurately than ordinary Cultivators.

This was an ability brought by Cultivating the Qiankun Creation Art. Naturally, Su Cheng couldn't reveal this, so he only displayed abilities in the Wood-attribute.

The azure soul flower and yuanling grass performed exceptionally well in his hands, which outsiders attributed to the natural compatibility between Wood-attribute spiritual power and Wood-type Spirit Medicines.

This explanation was reasonable, and Su Cheng was happy to let everyone think so.

Back then on Qingmu Peak, when his Revered Master had him try to repair that Fire-attribute crimson flame coral, he had deliberately not used the true methods of the Qi of Creation.

It wasn't that he couldn't do it, but that he shouldn't.

Although strictly speaking, all Spirit Medicines contain some Wood or Earth-attributes.

But an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Disciple, whose Cultivation Technique was clearly Wood-type, yet could achieve the same level of spiritual soothing and medicinal power guidance for Fire-attribute, Metal-attribute, and even Water-attribute Spirit Medicines?

If word of this got out, the phrase 'exceptionally gifted' wouldn't cover it; it would be replaced by 'this person is strange.'

Elder Qingmu believed this explanation, and Immortal Master Elder Lu Yuan believed it too.

So Su Cheng's ability was useful, but not so useful that it would arouse suspicion.

There were scenarios where he could help, and many where he couldn't, all depending on the proportion of Wood-attribute Spirit Medicines in that batch of pills.

Su Cheng handled this distinction very clearly.

"Besides, with the price set high, those who don't truly need it naturally won't come to bother you, saving you from having to deal with them," Elder Qingmu added.

Su Cheng thought for a moment and asked, "Then what about Elder Elder Lu Yuan?"

"Elder Lu Yuan is different. He was the first to use you, so I gave him Face. For him, each assistance will also be calculated at two thousand contribution points, but you decide the frequency yourself. This is what I negotiated for you, and he agreed."

Elder Qingmu paused, his tone carrying a bit more weight. "You don't need to worry about other Elders trying to force a deal. With Elder Lu Yuan and me, two Golden Core Elders, protecting you, who would dare to use force? The rules of the Danding Sect are there: without the Revered Master's nod, no one can mobilize the Disciple of a Golden Core Elder."

Su Cheng cupped his hands. "I understand. Thank you, Revered Master."

"Don't mention it." Elder Qingmu's voice softened. "In the end, you're not the only one in the Sect with this kind of skill."