319: Chapter 319 It's not too late to thank them after the deal is done.

"This Junior is willing to pay the price for this." Su Cheng weighed his words carefully. "As for how to negotiate or what conditions to offer the other party, that is entirely up to the Head to decide; this Junior has no objections. I only hope the Alchemy Hall can help bridge the connection, allowing this Junior the opportunity to sit down and negotiate with the people from their Sect in person."

After hearing this, Head Xu Changqing frowned slightly, examining Su Cheng with surprise and suspicion.

"The path of the Physical Body is not the main focus for us Alchemists," Head Xu Changqing advised. "With your talent and aptitude, reaching the Golden Core is only a matter of time; why be in such a rush?"

Su Cheng shook his head. "This Disciple is not being impatient; it is truly because my Spiritual Root is too poor, and my Cultivation speed is too slow. It is precisely because this Disciple's talent in Alchemy is decent that I am even less willing to waste time waiting."

Head Xu Changqing fell silent. Although Su Cheng's words were a bit arrogant, since the other party could even refine a top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pill, continuing to waste decades or even a century in the Foundation Establishment Stage would indeed be a waste of talent.

Su Cheng knew clearly in his heart that he was not lacking in Cultivation pills; he could refine superior-grade pills himself.

The real problem lay at the root; the width of his Meridians determined the absorption amount and speed of Spiritual Qi. If this problem was not solved, the amount of time that could be saved by taking more pills was limited.

Unless he could manage to absorb five pills in the time it took others to absorb one, which brought him back to the previous issue: he needed to widen his Meridians to increase his absorption capacity.

Head Xu Changqing sighed and did not try to persuade him further.

It was a good thing for young people to have drive; forcing him to stop might instead damage that sharp spirit.

Sometimes, the more one accumulates, the more rigid their thinking becomes; it is better to charge forward while one is still full of drive.

"Fine, I will give it a try," he said. "I have some connections with the Giant Spirit Sect and the Fentian Sect, but this kind of matter needs to be handled slowly. I will listen to what conditions they propose first, and then arrange for you to discuss the details."

"Many thanks, Head."

"Don't thank me yet." Head Xu Changqing raised his hand to stop him from bowing. "Don't thank me until the deal is done."

Su Cheng nodded, then bowed to Head Xu Changqing.

"For the Head to be willing to come forward and bridge the connection for this Junior, this Junior will remember this favor."

Head Xu Changqing waved his hand, just about to tell him there was no need for such formalities, when Su Cheng continued: "Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or fails, if the Alchemy Hall has any tasks in the future, this Disciple will certainly spare no effort."

These words were spoken very sincerely; since the last time with Senior Sun Boyong, Su Cheng had once again owed a great favor.

Su Cheng knew deeply that when asking for help, one must have the proper attitude. Just because the other party did not demand anything did not mean one could forget it; it was better to bring it up proactively.

Head Xu Changqing looked at Su Cheng with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Alright, go back and wait for news."

Su Cheng bowed, turned, and left the inner hall.

The time spent waiting could not be wasted; he should Cultivate when it was time to Cultivate, and practice Alchemy when it was time for Alchemy.

The business of refining the top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pill on behalf of others was already being handled through the Alchemy Hall. He only needed to wait for the other party to send the Spirit Medicine to begin refining, and he would produce one pill every half month.

Also, he needed to see if he could obtain more auxiliary means for Fang Zhenhai, to ensure he could break through to the Golden Core Realm without fail.

There were many things to do, but by taking them one by one, he could always sort them out.

After returning to his Immortal Cave, Su Cheng began to execute the new plan he had set for himself.

Every morning, he would Cultivate the Qiankun Creation Art and practice breathing exercises for three hours.

In the afternoon, he would refine five to ten furnaces of pills, and in the evening, he would find time to practice Spells: Azure Wood Thunder Blast, Green Vine Binding Kill, Thick Earth Barrier, Wood Evasion Technique, as well as the Spirit Gathering Technique.

Then, he would continue to consume superior-grade Spirit Nourishing Pills to improve his Divine Soul cultivation. His days were spent in a regular and fulfilling manner.

Seven days later, the Alchemy Hall sent someone to deliver the first batch of Spirit Medicine needed for the nine-aperture golden spirit pills.

The box was opened, and twelve portions of Spirit Medicine were neatly arranged in specialized medicine storage boxes. Each portion was sealed with the spiritual light Restriction of the spirit wood box, and the quality was excellent.

After receiving the Spirit Medicine, Su Cheng did not wait long. He set up an isolation array and put the Spirit Medicine into the qiankun creation furnace one by one.

Two days later, twelve top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pills appeared in their respective jade bottles.

Su Cheng took one out and placed it in his mouth.

The Medicinal Pill dissolved as soon as it entered his stomach, and a gentle yet immense medicinal power spread from his stomach to his limbs and bones.

That medicinal power was not violent, but it was continuous, slowly permeating all the Meridians and acupoints of his entire body.

This change was significant. Su Cheng could clearly feel that his Spiritual Qi intake, which had previously been like a trickling stream, had increased by a large margin after the pill took effect—about forty percent.

Not only that, the medicinal power continued to remodel his Dantian membrane and the inner walls of his Meridians, making both more flexible and permeable, preparing them to carry more Spiritual Qi in the future.

Su Cheng sat cross-legged in his Immortal Cave and practiced breathing exercises for an entire day; the improvement in his Cultivation efficiency was immediate.

Now, in the same amount of time, the accumulation speed of creation spirit liquid was clearly much faster. Based on this progress, it would only take about two years to advance from the Early Foundation Establishment Stage to the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

Su Cheng opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

This time frame was the same as he had expected. If he could obtain the Burning Heaven Art as soon as possible and combine it with the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill to widen his Meridians, the time could be further compressed.

However, for now, he did not dwell on this problem.

Su Cheng picked up three jade bottles containing the Medicinal Pills and placed another Jade Slip into a Storage Pouch engraved with Restriction runes.

These three were for Fang Zhenhai, his father, and his sister.

Su Cheng got up and went down the mountain, handed the Storage Pouch to the business association manager in the market, and asked him to personally deliver it to Fang Zhenhai.

Afterward, he returned to the Sect to continue his Cultivation.

Two months was neither long nor short.

The Alchemy Hall sent someone every half month to take away one top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pill, and Su Cheng never delayed.

The Alchemy Hall was running the business of refining on behalf of others very successfully, and subsequent factions seeking pills were already lining up.

According to the deacon who came, the current waiting time had already stretched until next year.

However, Su Cheng did not worry about that for the time being; he would refine as much as the Spirit Medicine provided allowed, and just deliver on time every half month.

Although there was improvement in his Cultivation, time was still indispensable; he could only proceed step by step.

He had already cultivated his Spells to a level of pure perfection, so he did not bother learning new ones. It was unnecessary; what he had now was enough for him to use, and if all else failed, he still had a large number of Talismans.

He waited for another month, and finally, news came from Head Xu Changqing.

"The Giant Spirit Sect has relented."

After receiving the message, Su Cheng immediately rushed to the Alchemy Hall on Zixiao Peak.

There was an extra person in Head Xu Changqing's inner hall. This person had a burly figure, broad shoulders, and a thick back. His pair of palms were larger than an ordinary person's face. He was wearing a sleeveless brown short jacket, revealing two forearms covered in dark golden patterns—the marks of a Body Cultivator left by years of Body Tempering.

"This is Golden Core Elder Shi Kun of the Giant Spirit Sect, Elder Shi." Head Xu Changqing introduced.

Su Cheng cupped his hands in a salute: "Greetings, Elder Shi."

Elder Shi Kun looked Su Cheng up and down a few times and did not bother with formalities: "You are that kid who refined the top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pill? I heard you want the Pill Formula for the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill?"

Su Cheng bowed and said, "Yes."

Elder Shi Kun took out a Jade Slip with flowing spiritual light patterns from his bosom. "This Pill Formula has never been passed on outside our Sect, but because this transaction is significant, Young Friend Su, just read it here and memorize the Pill Formula in your mind."

Head Xu Changqing's brows moved slightly as he looked at the spiritual light on the Jade Slip.

Su Cheng naturally also noticed the spiritual light on the Jade Slip, and suddenly felt that something was amiss in his heart. He asked:

"Elder Shi, this Jade Slip…"