323: Chapter 323 truly chilled my heart as a father.

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian cut straight to the point and asked, "Feng'er, what is your relationship with that Su Cheng?"

"It's alright," Lin Feng said with a smile, "We are considered familiar with each other."

Beside him, Lin Yu let out a cold laugh, "Alright? If it were only 'alright', would he let you use his name as a Personal Disciple of the Danding Sect to conduct business outside? Ninth Brother, isn't your use of the word 'alright' a bit too modest?"

"Loose-lipped," Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian glared at Lin Yu, "I am asking Feng'er; when is it your turn to interrupt? Say another word and you can get out."

Lin Yu's expression stiffened. In the end, he didn't dare to talk back, but the look he gave Lin Feng became even uglier.

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian withdrew his gaze, his expression softening considerably as he turned to Lin Feng, "Feng'er, let me be direct. Can you help the Family obtain a few of those top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pills? Ask Young Master Su what conditions he has; as long as our Lin Family can fulfill them, we will do so."

Lin Feng lowered his eyes. He had long anticipated this question. From the day the news arrived, he knew Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian would make this request of him.

"To tell you the truth, Father, previous meetings were all initiated by Young Master Su..."

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian's expression turned stern, "Are you saying that you can't even pass on a message?"

"It's not that I can't pass it on, but I have to wait for Young Master Su to reach out," Lin Feng replied with a bow, "Young Master Su is Cultivating at the Danding Sect, and the Sect's Formation blocks external communication. Your son is truly powerless."

While these words sounded like an explanation, how could Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian not hear the underlying refusal?

The amiability on his Face faded bit by bit. If he could obtain a few top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pills, his influence within the Family would likely increase significantly.

As for Lin Yu on the side, he could no longer hold back, as the matter of the Medicinal Pill concerned him directly.

If his father requested Medicinal Pills, he would certainly get one.

But Lin Feng's words kept circling back to one meaning: he couldn't get them. Didn't that mean he had no hope either?

"Father asked you to do something, what is the meaning of you pushing it away?" Lin Yu stepped forward and shouted angrily, "This Medicinal Pill concerns the future Cultivation prospects of the clansmen. Are you unwilling to contribute to the Lin Family, or are you only thinking of yourself?"

Lin Feng's expression didn't change much; he simply said, "Third Brother, I just said that I will bring it up when Young Master Su comes to the Prefecture City, but I cannot make decisions on Young Master Su's behalf."

"You..."

"Enough." Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian interrupted Lin Yu, but his gaze toward Lin Feng now carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Feng'er, you are capable now, with Young Master Su backing you, and the business at Hundred Herbs Hall is doing quite well."

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian paused.

"But don't forget one thing: you bear the surname Lin, the blood flowing in your veins belongs to the Lin Family, and Hundred Herbs Hall was entrusted to you by me, despite opposition from the rest of the Family."

"Now that the Family has a need for you, your evasion truly chills my heart as a father."

Lin Feng sneered inwardly. If he hadn't been able to bring the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce business to the Family, Hundred Herbs Hall would have likely been shut down long ago. Over the years, Hundred Herbs Hall had earned the Family quite a lot of Spirit Stones; he hadn't expected his father to speak such heartless words.

Fortunately, he had made a vow many years ago: he, Lin Feng, was first a person of Su Chengyuan and his son, and only then a person of the Lin Family.

Thus, he had no lingering attachment to this father-son affection that had never truly existed, though he still needed the Lin Family for the time being.

"Father, how can you say that? Lin Feng naturally feels gratitude for Father's grace. Since you have put it this way, if your son continues to push back, it would be unfilial," Lin Feng said, "But Father, I must speak plainly first. Whether Young Master Su helps or not is his decision. If I pass on the word and he does not agree, I hope Father will not harbor resentment over it."

These words were impeccable, but Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian understood clearly: don't take favors for granted.

"I know." Seeing Lin Feng agree, Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian's expression looked slightly better, and he waved his hand, "You may go."

Lin Feng rose and took his leave.

After he left, Lin Yu's Face grew long.

"Father, you saw it, didn't you? This Lin Feng doesn't consider himself a member of the Lin Family at all; his heart has long since drifted elsewhere!"

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian ignored him and simply closed his eyes.

It wasn't that he couldn't see Lin Feng's attitude—he was respectful and polite, not overstepping boundaries, but the underlying alienation could not be hidden.

This made Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian feel some regret.

In earlier years, he hadn't paid enough attention to this son. By the time Lin Feng became successful and he wanted to win him over, the scale in the young man's heart had already tilted.

Yet, regret aside, he still had to strive for the benefits he needed.

The top-grade nine-orifice golden spirit pill was crucial for his and the Lin Family's future layout; even if it meant falling out with his son, he had to make Lin Feng accomplish this task.

As for Lin Yu...

Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian glanced at his son, who was still sulking on the side, and shook his head secretly.

This son was good in every way, except that his perspective was too small and his vision too narrow. He had already told him that he would take over his position in the future, and besides, he was in the middle of discussing business—what was he doing chattering on the side?

"You go back and Cultivate properly as well," Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian said calmly, "And stop causing me trouble."

Lin Yu gritted his teeth, bowed, and retreated.

After the door closed, Golden Core Elder Lin Xiaotian sat alone for a long time.

He was calculating another matter: if the path through Lin Feng didn't work, should he go directly to talk to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?

After all, he felt that he had some friendship with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce; they would surely give the Lin Family Face, and there was no reason for them not to do business that he was offering them.

Qingmu Peak, Su Cheng's Immortal Cave.

Time returns to when Su Cheng swallowed the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill; a pulse-protecting pill was held under his tongue, third-grade Body Tempering paste was applied all over his body, and five spirit jade talismans were attached to the Acupoints corresponding to his internal organs.

For the first two breaths after it entered his stomach, he felt nothing.

On the third breath, a scorching heat surged from his stomach, spreading upwards and downwards simultaneously along his central meridian.

On the fifth breath, that scorching heat could no longer be described as "scorching"; it was more like someone had poured a ladle of molten iron into his blood vessels.

Su Cheng's spine arched, and fine beads of sweat instantly seeped from his forehead; the medicinal potency was far more violent than he had estimated.

The Pill Formula for the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill noted that this pill used the "Dragon-Elephant Strength" to scour the inner walls of the Meridians, forcing the membranes to become supple under the tearing of external force, and then, by borrowing the medicinal power, to nourish and expand them on their own.

Simply put, it was first to thin the Meridians, then stretch them.

This process was extremely painful, continuous and inescapable, as if thousands of insects were gnawing inside his Meridians simultaneously.

Su Cheng bit down on his back molars and circulated the Qiankun Creation Art.

The Qi of Creation surged out from the dao foundation furnace, the cyan spirit liquid transforming into thousands of tiny streams, flooding into all three hundred and sixty-five Acupoints and the twelve main Meridians throughout his body.

The characteristics of the Qi of Creation were upright, peaceful, and full of enduring vitality, forming a clash of softness against hardness with the violent medicinal power of the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill.

The experience Su Cheng had accumulated over the years while dealing with the creation furnace came in very handy; he understood the nature of Spirit Medicines and Medicinal Pills too well.

The essence of the dragon-elephant marrow cleansing pill's medicinal power was a highly efficient "transformative force"; as long as one guided it in its direction, the pain would lessen and the effect would be better.

The Qi of Creation, carrying that wisp of Dao Rhyme, adhered to the inner walls of the Meridians, following the direction of the medicinal power's scouring.

The medicinal power tore open the old wall membranes in front, while the Qi of Creation filled in new tissue behind; the two forces, one following the other—destroying and establishing—coordinated seamlessly.

Six days later, every single Meridian throughout Su Cheng's body had been scoured by the medicinal power.