“Frost-Eyed White Tiger,” Wang Yanfeng murmured softly.

“Oh, Eighth Uncle recognizes this tiger?” Wang Hao became interested. His knowledge of the cultivation world was still far too lacking.

“Yes, I’ve seen it in the clan’s Hundred Beasts Compendium. Before awakening its divine abilities, this tiger is no different from an ordinary white tiger. But once awakened, it can launch ice-based spell attacks with its eyes. Anything caught in its gaze freezes into ice! The Frost-Eyed White Tiger reaches Tier 2 as an adult, often reaching the high-grade of Tier 2 in its prime, with a high chance of even advancing to Tier 3!”

Hearing Wang Yanfeng’s explanation, Wang Hao broke out in a cold sweat. He had fought this tiger earlier. If it had already awakened its abilities, he would have been dead long ago.

The two wasted no more words and drove their magical tools to attack the Frost-Eyed White Tiger. Whether it was exhausted or not, the white tiger stood motionless until it was slain by them.

When they approached to examine it, they discovered two cubs hidden beneath the mother tiger’s belly. The cubs were only about the length of an adult’s forearm, their eyes still unopened. They looked to be less than a month old.

The two immediately understood why the mother tiger had refused to move even in death. They stood stunned for a moment. But since it was already done, Wang Hao wasn’t about to spout any naive, merciful words.

“Eighth Uncle,” he said, “I’ll take these two cubs outside. You handle the body.”

Wang Yanfeng nodded. A spirit beast capable of growing to Tier 3 had high breeding value. Although their eyes weren’t open yet, they likely had weak perception already. It wouldn’t be good to process their mother right in front of them.

After carrying the two cubs outside, Wang Hao found they kept crying out. The mother had been away for some time and was killed by them soon after returning; they were probably hungry.

The cubs were too young to eat anything else; they could only drink milk. But how would Wang Hao have something like that on him? His farm couldn’t raise animals either. Helpless, he took out a Golden Silk Spirit Apricot, squeezed out its juice, thought for a moment, then diluted it several times with clean water. Using a leaf as a funnel, he slowly fed the diluted juice to the cubs.

Smelling the fragrant spirit apricot juice, the two cubs immediately crowded over, competing to lick the droplets falling from the leaf funnel. After a while, seemingly full, they cutely stretched and curled up by Wang Hao’s feet to sleep.

Wang Hao only had one Spirit Beast Pouch, already occupied by the Golden-Eyed Duck. However, these two cubs were very small; temporarily putting them inside shouldn’t be a problem. He instructed “Ya Ya” to take good care of them.

Wang Yanfeng had simply processed the Frost-Eyed White Tiger’s body and was already nearby handling those spirit herbs. Wang Hao went over to help and also collected some seeds. Soon after, satisfied, they left the cave dwelling.

The journey back to the market district was uneventful and relatively smooth. Only when they returned to the shop did they finally relax.

Sipping tea, Wang Yanfeng still felt lingering fear. “That was truly dangerous this time. Fortunately, the gains aren’t small. Hao’er, how should we divide these things?”

Wang Hao thought for a moment. “Eighth Uncle can handle selling the Frost-Eyed White Tiger and bear demon corpses. You’re more familiar with connections in this market than I am. We’ll split the Spirit Stones fifty-fifty! As for these two cubs… I’d like to keep one. How you handle the other is up to you.”

Currently, Wang Hao’s farm output was mainly used for upgrades; supporting two spirit beasts would be too much pressure. But he couldn’t bear to give up both—after all, they were spirit beasts capable of advancing to Tier 3!

Wang Yanfeng said, “Hmm, I plan to cultivate the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art and can’t afford to raise a spirit beast myself. The other one can be given to the clan as a mountain-guarding spirit beast.”

Thinking about the two or three thousand Spirit Stones soon coming his way, Wang Yanfeng didn’t rest. He stood up and said, “I’ll go contact buyers now.”

Compared to Wang Yanfeng, Wang Hao had seen “big money” before and was much calmer. These Spirit Stones would only be enough for about a year of cultivating the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art; he wasn’t sure if it would be enough to reach the third layer.

If any body-tempering cultivator heard such wasteful talk from him, they’d probably beat him to a pulp.

Having been in the market district for five or six years, Wang Yanfeng had extensive connections. Over a week of early departures and late returns, he finally sold all materials at good prices. The half bear demon plus the complete Frost-Eyed White Tiger sold for four thousand Spirit Stones total; each got two thousand. Additionally, for donating materials like Borage and information on the Frost-Eyed White Tiger to the clan, each could also receive another thousand contribution points.

During this week, Wang Hao also familiarized himself with the shop’s business. There were only two shop assistants—young clan members with poor aptitudes: one named Wang Wenxin (ranked eleventh), and another named Wang Wenli (ranked eighth).

Business was decent but not great. Pills were essential goods, but Qingniu Market District had more than just the Wang family’s pill shop. Larger ones included shops run by the Qingyuan Sect and Four Seas Merchant Alliance; they regularly stocked Tier 2 pills. And what about the Wang family pill shop? They only had a few types of Tier 2 pills available—sometimes out of stock, requiring pre-orders!

Even Tier 1 pills were of better quality at other shops. What gave the Wang family an edge was lower prices—which also meant lower profits! There were also smaller pill shops competing; although alchemists were rare, there were quite a few Tier 1 alchemists even among rogue cultivators! Competition was fierce and inventory limited. If not for Qingniu Market District’s high pill consumption capacity, the Wang family shop would have closed long ago.

Old Wang wanted him overseeing this shop so he could earn contribution points, but given the current state, he’d only earn two or three hundred contributions per year. To exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill required thirty thousand contributions—it would take him a century!

Actually, this rate was considered high already; ordinary clan members earned even less—like those managing spirit fields—they’d be lucky to get one hundred contributions per year!

The fastest way to earn contributions was hunting demonic beasts and collecting herbs in the Duan Yuan Mountain Range—like what happened with him and Eighth Uncle this time. If they hadn’t sold for Spirit Stones but exchanged everything for clan contributions (basically a 1:1 ratio), each could get three thousand contributions!

But their luck this time was extraordinary! Normally, hunting Tier 2 demonic beasts wasn’t easy at all. And you couldn’t just count income without expenses—Wang Hao spent four to five hundred Spirit Stones’ worth of talismans plus pills—a cost of up to six hundred Spirit Stones!

If they hadn’t followed that Frost-Eyed White Tiger in the end, they wouldn’t have made much profit at all.

After much thought, Wang Hao decided to improve the shop’s profitability while also using the opportunity to improve his alchemy skills. His current success rate refining Yellow Dragon Pills was only thirty percent. Plus, he only knew how to refine this one type of Tier 1 Top-Grade pill—could he even call himself an alchemist?

Old Wang’s notes were good but needed actual hands-on practice to convert into his own ability!

Also, he could use this chance to sell part of his farm output through the shop, then use the herbs sold by the shop to refine pills himself—earning both Spirit Stones and contributions while improving alchemy skills… winning all around, right?

Action followed thought immediately. He first found Eighth Uncle, who was about to return to the clan headquarters. “Eighth Uncle, when you go back, help me ask two more people to come!”

“What kind of people?”

“Preferably young, clever, pretty female cultivators from the clan!”

Wang Yanfeng’s face darkened instantly, and he spoke in a displeased tone. “What do you want to do?”

“What are you thinking?! This is for clan business! Let me ask you—if a young, pretty female cultivator was discussing business with you, wouldn’t you feel comfortable? Wouldn’t the success rate increase?”

Hearing this, Eighth Uncle stroked his beard with a thoughtful, reminiscent expression. “That is true… talking to that maid Xiao Hong from the Four Seas Merchant Alliance feels very comfortable…”

Old lecher… Wang Hao was utterly speechless. This guy’s own mind was dirty, yet he was always suspecting him. “See? The Four Seas Merchant Alliance figured it out long ago. Why don’t you learn?”

Eighth Uncle nodded in agreement. “But adding two people increases clan expenditure. I’m afraid the elders won’t agree!”

Yes, no funds, no technology, no talent. Rashly asking higher-ups for resources—how could one get approval?

So Wang Hao said, “Then tell them I’ll pay these two salaries myself! If they still disagree, spread the word among the clan youth: I offer fifty Spirit Stones annually to hire two female cultivators to work here! Aptitude and cultivation are unimportant; just one point—they must be pretty!”

“Really going to do this?”

“Must do!”

“Alright, anyway, your father is backing you…” Wang Yanfeng actually felt the reasoning was correct, but personal support was useless when the clan elders were all Qi Refining Layer 9 cultivators.