255: apologize

The evening glow dyed the backyard of the Repair Hall a warm orange, and the air was filled with the scent of dry soil and the faint, burnt aroma of spiritual Materials.

Under the old locust tree in the courtyard, Su Ming was bowing his head, holding a carving knife, pointing at a small Formation Plate on the stone table in front of him, and explaining in a low voice to Zhang Asheng beside him.

"Asheng, look at the li position of this 'Constant Temperature Formation Plate'; the output of Fire Yuan Qi is not necessarily better the larger it is."

Su Ming's tone was steady, and the carving knife in his hand gently outlined a tiny loop on the edge of the Array Patterns. "Too rigid and it breaks easily; too hot and it becomes unstable. You need to add a 'reflux pattern' here to let the excess heat return to the center of the formation, forming a self-circulation. It's like... leaving a steam vent when boiling water, understand?"

Zhang Asheng was sweating profusely from listening, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, and he nodded repeatedly. "Hall Master, I understand! It just means don't let the fire Qi get stifled inside!"

Just then, the courtyard gate was gently knocked.

The knocking was neither hurried nor slow, but carried a steady rhythm, completely different from the usual Outer Sect Disciples who were in a rush to repair their Magical Artifacts.

Su Ming raised an eyebrow, put down the carving knife, signaled for Zhang Asheng to step back for a moment, and then stood up to open the door.

As the latch was pulled back, a familiar yet slightly strange face came into view.

The person was dressed in white, with some dust on the hem of his clothes, the traces of a long journey.

He carried a long sword on his back, his face was still handsome, but the arrogant flair of the past was gone from his brows, replaced by a layer of composure gained after being tempered by the elements.

It was the Genius of Formation Peak, Luo Feng.

"Junior Brother Su, sorry to disturb you."

Luo Feng stood outside the door, his gaze falling on Su Ming, his expression somewhat complex.

He held an exquisite jade box in his hand, did not step in directly, but bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of apology. "I am here... to apologize."

Su Ming was slightly taken aback, stepped aside to make way, and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Luo, why do you say that? Please, come in."

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Su Ming poured a cup of clear tea, and the steaming mist from the tea rose in the evening breeze.

Luo Feng held the teacup but did not drink, instead offering a bitter smile. "Half a year ago, Elder Qingquan said that after your Outer Sect assessment, he would invite you to meet at Bibo Pool. I swore that I would take you there, but this delay has dragged on for several months. Making you wait in vain is my fault."

Su Ming was enlightened upon hearing this.

In fact, he had been busy with the expansion of the Repair Hall and his own Cultivation these past few months, so he hadn't really kept this matter in mind.

However, the fact that Luo Feng could specifically come to apologize for this matter showed his sincerity.

"Senior Brother, you are too serious." Su Ming smiled gently. "There are no years in Cultivation; a few months are just a snap of the fingers. Besides, I see you are travel-worn, and although your aura is restrained, there is a hint of wind and thunder; you must have taken on some remarkable task?"

"Junior Brother Su truly has a sharp eye."

Luo Feng placed the jade box on the table and sighed softly. "On the eve of your assessment, I accepted an urgent task from the Sect—to refine a Formation Plate for an Yin vein node in the Beimang Ghost Domain."

"Beimang Ghost Domain?" Su Ming's gaze tightened. That was a truly dangerous place, filled with Yin malevolence all year round; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not dare to enter easily.

"Exactly." Luo Feng nodded, a flash of trepidation in his eyes. "The Yin Qi at that node erupted, and we urgently needed to refine a core Formation Plate for a 'Nine Palaces Soul-Locking Array' to suppress it. This array concerns the safety of all living beings within a hundred miles, so I had to devote myself entirely to it, going into seclusion for three full months, and only achieved success yesterday."

Speaking of this, Luo Feng looked at Su Ming with sincere eyes. "By entering seclusion, I missed the chance to take you to see the Elder, and I am truly ashamed."

Su Ming listened, his expression solemn, and he stood up to bow respectfully to Luo Feng.

"Senior Brother, you traveled for the Sect's important business, placed yourself in danger, and protected the region; this is great righteousness. I am but an Outer Sect Disciple; what virtue or ability do I have to make Senior Brother worry about this? If Senior Brother apologizes again, you will be shaming this Junior Brother."

Su Ming said these words with sincerity. Although he practiced "The Way of Cautious Survival," this did not prevent him from respecting those who truly took responsibility.

In his Sea of Consciousness, Lin Yu clicked his tongue in praise. "These words are flawless. You flattered the other person while showing you understand the big picture. Disciple, your social rhetoric is becoming more and more proficient."

Seeing Su Ming's open and honest expression, the misgivings in Luo Feng's heart dissipated quite a bit.

He pushed the jade box on the table toward Su Ming and opened it gently.

A chill instantly overflowed, causing the surrounding temperature to drop by a few degrees.

Inside the box lay an ice-blue jade talisman, its surface covered with complex Array Patterns, shimmering with light; one could tell at a glance it was no ordinary item.

"This is a 'Cold Jade Array Talisman'." Luo Feng explained. "It is a protective item I refined when I was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, by collecting ten-thousand-year cold ice marrow. Once activated, it can withstand a full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the Early Stage."

Luo Feng paused, and a thick, abyss-like aura faintly emanated from his body; it was a pressure far exceeding the Foundation Establishment Stage, and although it flashed and vanished, it caused Su Ming's heart to shake violently.

"Now that I have reached the Golden Core, this thing is of no great use to me." Luo Feng smiled, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "Consider it an apology; Junior Brother, do not refuse."

"Since Senior Brother Luo has put it this way, I need not be coy." Su Ming took a deep breath, and without hypocrisy, generously accepted the jade box. "Congratulations to Senior Brother on your progress in the Dao and your Major Achievement in the Golden Core."

Luo Feng waved his hand, his expression returning to seriousness. "Let's put aside the small talk for now. Actually, Elder Qingquan finished his travels three months ago and returned to Bibo Pool. He specifically asked about you."

Su Ming's heart stirred. "What did the Elder say?"

"I truthfully reported what you did at the Repair Hall, including the standardized procedures and your unique insights into handling Materials." Luo Feng looked at Su Ming. "After hearing this, the Elder only said one sentence."

He cleared his throat and mimicked the Elder's tone: "The method of the Foundation lies in perseverance. Since he is polishing it, let him polish it some more. If the Heart-Nature is not settled, no matter how high the skill, it is just a castle in the air. When your Nine Palaces Formation Plate is completely finished, bring him to see me."

Luo Feng pointed to himself. "My 'Nine Palaces Soul-Locking Array' core Formation Plate is currently only 70% complete, and it will take at most another month to be fully finished. At that time, regardless of Junior Brother's Cultivation level, I will personally take you to Bibo Pool."