20: Chapter 20 Another Trouble-Finding

Su Cheng obtained a new Pill Formula. After memorizing it, he threw it into the Pill Furnace and began a new round of his grand Alchemy undertaking.

He first spent a great deal of time using the Qi of Creation to restore the vitality of the mountain of discarded medicinal materials he had exchanged for, then sorted and stacked them neatly.

Meanwhile, Su Chengyuan began his arduous "underground work."

Under the pretext of preventing outsiders from disturbing his son's cultivation, he completely sealed off their small courtyard.

He arranged for his wife, Liu Yue, to stay in their daughter's room.

Then, over several nights, he used his spiritual power to forcibly carve out an underground secret chamber several yards square beneath his own room.

To be safe, he took some time to visit the Treasure Gathering Tower in the county town and spent a large sum of money to buy two sets of First-Order Medium Grade Formations—a protective Formation and a concealment Formation—making the entire secret chamber as solid as a fortress.

From then on, this small secret chamber became his exclusive cultivation grounds.

By day, he was that unremarkable Qi Refining Third Layer member of the Su Family.

By night, he would enter the secret chamber to practice the Sharp Gold Finger and Profound Ice Thorns over and over, familiarizing himself with the mysteries of the Wind Riding Steps.

Spiritual power condensed at his fingertips, and cold air swirled in his palms.

At the same time, he used his own spiritual power to refine the water-severing sword and black tortoise shield day and night, gradually establishing a mental connection with them.

Father and son, one above ground and one below, were each accumulating strength in their own way.

Time flew by, and another five months passed. Spring had arrived in Qingyang Town, and flowers were in bloom.

Inside the Su Family courtyard, however, it felt as if they were isolated from the seasons.

Su Cheng devoted almost all of his time to Alchemy.

As his Mental Energy grew and his control over the qiankun creation furnace became more proficient, his Alchemy efficiency reached a terrifying level.

In five months, he had refined over three hundred and twenty top-grade qi gathering pills.

These Medicinal Pills lay quietly within the furnace space, shrouded in a hazy, precious light.

If an outsider were to see this scene, they would likely go mad on the spot.

This was not the net worth of a Qi Refining Cultivator; even a Foundation Establishment Immortal Master would not have such a terrifying reserve of Medicinal Pills.

Su Chengyuan's bitter cultivation in the underground secret chamber also began to show results.

His execution of the Sharp Gold Finger had become quite fluid; although the golden light had not yet reached the Realm of being released with a mere thought, it was exceptionally swift.

Once the Profound Ice Thorns were cast, they could spread cold air within several yards, though the range and power were still unstable.

The Wind Riding Steps made his movement much more agile; it was no longer easy for an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator to track his movements.

He had also gained preliminary mastery over the water-severing sword and black tortoise shield after day and night of refining, allowing him to use them in conjunction with his Spells.

His cultivation had steadily consolidated at the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, only waiting for an opportunity to push for Peak Tenth Layer Qi Refining.

This was because he had mainly focused on practicing Spells during this time, only occasionally consuming Medicinal Pills for cultivation.

The power of the father and son was swelling frantically in the silence, merely waiting for a catalyst to explode.

And this catalyst arrived quietly, in the way they least wanted to see.

Three days ago, Su Chengzhi—Su Cheng's eldest uncle—took his son Su Yunhao, who was already at the Early Stage Qi Refining Second Layer, to the county town to purchase a batch of goods for the Family shop.

Su Chengzhi was a steady man, but Su Yunhao was in his youth. Naturally, having heard of the Wang Family's targeting of the Su Family, he couldn't help but feel indignant.

While the father and son were selecting fabrics at the county town's largest cloth merchant, "Jinxiu Pavilion," they happened to run into several young disciples of the Wang Family.

The leader was Wang Teng, the second son of the Wang Family Head, Wang Boan.

This person was sixteen years old with a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation. He had always been arrogant and domineering, and was a well-known little tyrant in the county town.

"Yo, isn't this the Su Family? What, does your Su Family still have money to buy new clothes? I thought you guys couldn't even afford pants anymore!" Wang Teng recognized Su Chengzhi and his son at a glance and mocked them sarcastically.

Several Wang Family disciples behind him immediately burst into laughter.

Su Chengzhi's face turned pale. He quickly pulled back his son, whose anger was rising, and forced a smile at Wang Teng. "Young Master Wang must be joking. We are just handling some business for the Family."

"Handling business?" Wang Teng squinted his eyes, stepped forward, and tapped Su Chengzhi's face with the folding fan in his hand. "I think you Su Family people were born with the fate of servants. By the way, I heard the two clansmen sent to guard our spirit fields are quite efficient. They're as obedient as dogs."

"You!" Su Yunhao could no longer restrain himself. He threw off his father's hand and glared at Wang Teng. "Wang Teng, don't go too far!"

"Too far?" Wang Teng was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly as he folded his fan and pointed at his own nose. "I'm going too far? A little Qi Refining Second Layer nobody dares to shout at me? Even your father doesn't dare to make a sound. What do you think you are!"

"I'll kill you!" Su Yunhao's blood rushed to his head. With a surge of spiritual power, he threw a crude Fireball Spell at Wang Teng.

"Courting death!" A cold light flashed in Wang Teng's eyes. He didn't dodge, but simply waved his hand, using a burst of powerful spiritual power to swat the fireball away.

His figure blurred, appearing in front of Su Yunhao, and he kicked him in the abdomen.

Su Yunhao let out a miserable scream as his body flew backward, crashing heavily into a shelf and scattering bolts of expensive fabric everywhere.

"Hao'er!" Su Chengzhi was struck with terror and rushed over to help his son up.

Wang Teng was relentless. He walked up slowly and stepped on Su Yunhao's hand, grinding it down with force.

*Crack!*

The crisp sound of bone shattering echoed throughout the shop.

"Ah—!" Su Yunhao let out a shrill scream.

"If you dare to raise a hand against me, you must be prepared to be crippled." Wang Teng looked down at him, his face filled with cruel pleasure. "Today I'm only breaking one of your hands to teach you a lesson. If there's a next time, I'll take your life!"

"Young Master Wang, please show mercy! The child is ignorant, please be the bigger person!" Su Chengzhi knelt on the ground, clutching Wang Teng's leg and begging piteously.

"Get lost!" Wang Teng kicked him away and wiped his shoe on his clothes in disgust. "Not only did you attack this young master, but you also ruined so much fabric. Su Chengzhi, I'll give you seven days to prepare two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones and personally bring them to the Wang Family to apologize. Otherwise, I will personally come and tear down your Su Family!"

After saying that, he led his group away laughing loudly, leaving behind a mess in the shop and the weeping Su father and son.

When the news reached the Su Family, the entire clan instantly erupted.

Humiliation, anger, fear... various emotions intertwined in the hearts of the clansmen.

But more than anything, there was a sense of powerlessness.

Two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones! This was practically asking for the Su Family's life!

Family Head was once again so angry that he became bedridden, and the burden of the entire Family fell onto the shoulders of several Elders.

When Su Chengyuan learned of this, he was trimming flowers and plants in his courtyard.

As he listened to the clansman who came to report the news, his expression didn't change at all, but deep in his eyes, a flame was quietly burning.

He knew he couldn't keep this from his son.

He didn't want to hide it anymore either.

For the past few days, he hadn't dared to tell Su Cheng the news, fearing it would disturb his Alchemy.

But now, the Wang Family's arrogance had reached its peak. If they continued to endure, the Su Family would truly be trampled into the mud, never to rise again.

As night fell, the Su Family mansion was shrouded in a cloud of gloom.

In Su Cheng's small courtyard, however, it was as quiet as another world.

Su Chengyuan pushed open his son's door. Su Cheng had just finished refining the last furnace of Medicinal Pills and was regulating his breathing.

Seeing his father enter, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Father, you have something on your mind." Su Cheng's voice was very calm.

Su Chengyuan looked into his son's all-seeing eyes and gave a bitter smile. He no longer hid anything and recounted exactly what had happened that day.

"Eldest Uncle and Yunhao were seriously injured; the bones in Yunhao's right hand were shattered. The Wang Family has put out word that we must prepare two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones within seven days and go to their door to apologize."

After Su Chengyuan finished speaking, he quietly looked at his son, waiting for his decision.

After listening, Su Cheng showed no expression of anger or surprise. He was merely silent for a moment before getting off the bed, walking to the window, and pushing it open.

Outside the window, the moonlight was as cool as water, and a night breeze blew gently.

From the direction of the Su Family mansion, the faint sounds of suppressed weeping and arguing could be heard.

"I understand," Su Cheng said softly.