"So that was it."
Shen Huai'an withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Those who cultivate fear nothing more than being entangled in cause and effect. You handled this well. Repay this karma early and leave neither side owing the other; it will greatly benefit your Dao heart."
Qi Feng had just breathed a sigh of relief when Shen Huai'an abruptly changed the subject:
"However, since it is merely something needed by a mortal martial artist, there is no need to rush. Fang Mu, prioritize my Cosmic Heart-Clearing Pill first. Do not delay important matters."
Fang Mu, standing nearby, naturally agreed at once.
Qi Feng's body stiffened. Facing the lofty young sect master, how could he dare utter even half a word of refusal?
Though he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, he could only agree respectfully on the surface. "Yes, everything will be decided by the young sect master."
And so, he waited a full six days.
It took two days for the medicinal ingredients to arrive, then Fang Mu spent another full four days refining the pills.
It was not until the evening of the sixth day that the furnace of Cosmic Heart-Clearing Pills finally emerged successfully.
Apparently, their luck had been quite good this time—the pills were of mid-grade quality. Shen Huai'an took the pills and left immediately.
Only today did Qi Feng finally manage to seize an opening. In a rush, he slipped into the stone house to refine the pills he had promised Su Yueli.
By his calculations, today was already the eighth day—one full day past the seven-day deadline he had originally promised.
Qi Feng was frantic, constantly urging the Pill Peak disciple responsible for fanning the flames and controlling the temperature, wishing only for the process to go faster.
"Senior