Chapter 560 - 311: Hearts Changed, Zhou Cang Missing!

"Hope so."

Upon hearing Su Mu’s words, Zhou Cang gave a slight chuckle. Although a majority of the Alchemy Hall now supported Vice Gang Leader Gongyang Jue, on the surface, Gongyang Jue would not directly issue orders to the Alchemy Hall.

Everything was proceeding in secret, not yet exposed publicly, so he decided not to say more at the moment.

"Master Cang, how long do you plan to be away?"

During this time, Zhou Cang’s guidance significantly advanced Su Mu’s skills in alchemy, and he also took care of him often. In his heart, Su Mu was grateful to Zhou Cang.

But he wasn’t going to remain long with the Cyan Fish Gang; perhaps as soon as his injuries healed, he would choose to leave.

"From a few days to a few months."

Zhou Cang pondered for a moment before responding hesitantly.

"I wish Master Cang a smooth journey."

Su Mu’s mind raced, considering that he might see him one more time before departing. To him, the Cyan Fish Gang was just a temporary stop in life. His current stay was for recovering from injuries, utilizing the resources of the Cyan Fish Gang to improve and strengthen himself.

In the evening, wisps of white floated across the long sky, and snowflakes began falling from the heavens. Donglai County embraced its first snow of late autumn this year.

As the sun set in the west, Su Mu swallowed a Qi and Blood Pill and a Small Returning Pill, and in the tranquil courtyard, began practicing the basic Five Animals Qigong.

The tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird seemed vividly alive, with a flow of spiritual charm between movements and stillness, as though five kinds of flying beasts were frolicking in the courtyard.

After each practice, Su Mu could clearly feel a tingling sensation at the damaged meridians within him, nearing complete recovery, and with each passing moment, his inner Qi and blood were slowly strengthening.

"Once healed... I’ll likely ascend directly to the third blood exchange."

A strong premonition filled Su Mu’s mind, believing that upon healing, he would make a breakthrough to the third blood exchange realm. As for advancing in the major realm, Su Mu was not urgent about it.

In the Donglai Competition, he could punch the Tao Family’s Law Enforcement Hall leader, Fourth-Grade Daoist Cultivator Tao Jidong, to death with strength at the Sixth Grade, which explained a lot.

At least below the Upper Three Grades, the major realm sometimes does not determine or represent everything.

So Tao Xinglie was crippled, and Tao Jidong was dead!

Su Mu possessed the insight panel, a secret known only to himself. Just by consistently advancing in martial arts, his comprehension could also continuously break through, and strong comprehension could aid in martial arts breakthroughs in return.

Therefore, there was no need for haste. The path he had to take might be different from any cultivator in the past or present.

No need to be too impetuous, just tread each step firmly and to the extreme.

He aimed to solidify his Martial Dao foundation as much as possible so that one day, towering peaks could rise, soaring nine thousand miles above!

Even so, Su Mu was already progressing rapidly, far surpassing the younger generation in Donglai County.

The like of Tao Xinglie, Song Jingyuan, Guo Zhen, these four great geniuses of Donglai, each backed by a powerful force of Donglai, born with silver spoons in their mouths, had their foundation forged from a young age and started cultivation at three to five years old.

Su Mu, however, only obtained his first Grade-Entering Fist Technique near the age of thirteen, officially embarking on the path of cultivation.

Compared to those individuals, Su Mu’s start was nearly ten years late. Yet at Su Mu’s current age, Tao Xinglie and the others were merely reaching Su Mu’s realm, their real combat power vastly incomparable.

Not to mention, Su Mu himself not only cultivated the Martial Dao but also practiced Confucianism. At the same time, he had significant achievements in alchemy and artifact refining. If such a thing were revealed, it would certainly be earth-shattering, shaking the entire cultivation circle of Qingzhou.

"Just over three years left... to be steady, I must also be quick!"

But Su Mu hadn’t forgotten the five-year promise he made in his heart. Once the five years were up, no matter what, he would go to the capital of the Great Yan Dynasty to meet the Little Doctor.

"Alright, no need to see me off any further."

The next day, Master Cang, with two attendants, left the Cyan Fish Gang.

After seeing off Master Cang, Su Mu returned to the Alchemy Hall to start refining pills. During the lunchtime break, an uninvited guest arrived.

"Sun the Alchemist."

A man with a hooked nose, around forty, dressed in the silver-lined robe of the Cyan Fish Gang’s Alchemy Hall elder, appeared in the outer hall.

"Elder Sun."

The person in front was named Sun Feng, an elder within the Alchemy Hall.

"Sun the Alchemist, we both share the surname Sun, perhaps we were family hundreds of years ago." Sun Feng joked as he stepped into the hall, "Sun the Alchemist, you have quite the talent in alchemy, staying here is really under-utilizing your abilities."

"There’s currently an elder vacancy in the Alchemy Hall, are you interested, Sun the Alchemist?"

Su Mu shook his head.

"You flatter me, Elder. I am hardly capable of such a significant position; you should find someone else."

Upon hearing this, Sun Feng’s smile faded but quickly returned as he spoke lightly, "Sun Li, youthful arrogance isn’t entirely a bad thing, but don’t ruin your future. Think it over well in the coming days. If you change your mind within three days, come find me at the Autumn Wind Courtyard."

Turning around, as he walked out of the hall, Sun Feng’s smile disappeared, replaced by a sullen look and he snorted coldly.

Under the eaves, Zheng Qi saw Sun Feng’s departing figure, lost in thought.

The next day, Su Mu arrived early at the Alchemy Hall and began refining pills as usual. Shortly after, Shangguan Miao arrived, but Zheng Qi was nowhere to be seen. Shangguan Miao seemed about to speak but eventually returned to his own alchemy room.

Later, Zheng Qi returned to Master Cang’s alchemy room, and in the following days, Shangguan Miao noticed Zheng Qi secretly observing Sun Li more frequently than before, something that had happened before but not with such frequency.