With the combined revenue from three shops, the Wang family’s income had increased more than tenfold. Moreover, as word-of-mouth effects gradually took hold, their earnings would continue to rise!

This development greatly concerned the Wang family’s upper echelons. They stationed a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the shops year-round and dispatched two elders to manage the newly opened stores.

Wang Hao’s suggestions were also adopted. All service personnel, such as servers, were uniformly young and attractive female cultivators. If the Wang family didn’t have enough people, they would recruit rogue cultivators! Currently, the three shops employed twenty service personnel, eight of whom were rogue cultivators.

Of course, external pressure was also increasing. Many people were envious and considered joining forces to suppress the Wang family. But if they could unite, so could Wang Hao. The restaurant needed spirit wine, and the Zhao family had grown their business through the spirit wine trade. So, he invited the Zhao family to invest.

As the commission business expanded beyond spirit herbs, it also showed demand for raw materials like talisman-making and artifact-forging supplies. This created an opportunity to bring the Li and Lei families into the fold!

Furthermore, families like the Li and Lei families, who specialized in talismans and artifacts, could learn from Miao Dan Pavilion’s methods. They started late and lacked experience, but that was no problem—they could collaborate. The Wang family would share their expertise, and these families could establish themselves within the commission firm! After all, the Wang family lacked talent in talisman-making and artifact-forging anyway. Rather than trying to monopolize a market they couldn’t fully exploit, it was better to share it with others!

They could certainly go it alone, but was that as convenient or profitable as joining an already established commission firm with a solid reputation?

As long as the five major families stood together, shops opened by minor Qi Refining families or rogue cultivators simply couldn’t compete! In the end, they would have no choice but to be absorbed peacefully, engaging in mid-to-downstream industries and picking up scraps.

Looking ahead, Wang Hao even envisioned integrating the five families into one large trading firm. That way, they might have a chance to extend their influence beyond Qingniu Market!

But this matter was extremely difficult. Families were families; even simple alliances couldn’t truly unite them into a single cohesive force unless the Wang family possessed capabilities far surpassing the other four…

“You always overthink things. If I could crush opponents effortlessly like other protagonists, would I need to worry about all this troublesome business?”

Shaking his head and tidying up a bit, Wang Hao left his residence.

Today, he had an appointment with Manager Cui of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance to pick up a top-grade pill cauldron! His current one was nearly worn out from prolonged alchemy.

He had placed this order some time ago. Originally, Wang Hao wanted to buy a Tier 1 Top-Grade pill cauldron from the Qingyuan Sect, but unfortunately, they wouldn’t sell it. The Four Seas Merchant Alliance prioritized profit; as long as one could afford the Spirit Stones, there was little they wouldn’t sell.

This top-grade pill cauldron was only slightly better than a high-grade one. It was the result of a failed attempt at forging a Tier 2 Low-Grade pill cauldron, salvaged by the artifact forger. No one would intentionally use such high-value materials specifically for a Tier 1 cauldron.

As for the price? It was more than double that of a high-grade cauldron. Pill cauldrons were inherently much more expensive than magical instruments of the same grade. A high-grade pill cauldron often reached the price of a Tier 2 Low-Grade magical tool. This top-grade cauldron’s price was as high as one thousand Spirit Stones.

Wang Hao was now quite a notable figure in Qingniu Market. Along the way, many rogue cultivators greeted him, and Wang Hao acknowledged each one in turn. Shortly after, he arrived at the Four Seas Merchant Alliance.

“Manager Wang, you’ve arrived! The manager is upstairs; please go right up!” As soon as he entered, an attendant from the Four Seas Merchant Alliance eagerly approached.

Wang Hao smiled in acknowledgment and walked up to the second floor. Manager Cui Yuan was attending to another customer. Wang Hao waited briefly until that person left before Cui Yuan walked over.

“Brother Wang! My apologies for keeping you waiting!”

“Not at all, Brother Cui. I only waited a moment! Has the pill cauldron I ordered arrived?”

“It has arrived indeed! Please wait just a moment, Brother Wang; I’ll fetch it!” With that, he turned and went into an inner room. Moments later, he returned holding a palm-sized purple circular pill cauldron.

Cui Yuan placed the cauldron on the table. “Brother Wang, what do you think of this Violet Light Cauldron?”

Wang Hao picked up the cauldron and channeled his Spiritual Power into it. The Violet Light Cauldron immediately swelled in size dramatically, reaching the dimensions of a water vat. It flew out of Wang Hao’s palm and landed on the floor with a solid clang.

On its body lay a coiled purple phoenix depicted vividly. The lid was adorned with clusters of fiery clouds.

Wang Hao lifted the lid and carefully inspected the interior. The smooth purple inner walls showed no flaws or damage. Satisfied, he nodded.

Cui Yuan smiled. “Brother Wang, this was forged from second-tier spirit material, Purple Cloud Stone! If not for the artifact forger’s insufficient skill, it would have been at least a Tier 2 Low-Grade pill cauldron!”

It was indeed good quality—just damn expensive. Fortunately, Wang Hao could afford it.

“Thank you, Brother Cui! This cauldron is excellent; I’m very pleased!” Wang Hao then took out five hundred Spirit Stones to settle the remaining payment.

Cui Yuan accepted the Spirit Stones with a smile. “I’m glad you like it! By the way… have you given any more thought to my proposal from last time?”

He looked at Wang Hao appreciatively. “It’s such a waste for someone of your talent to remain cooped up in tiny Qingniu Market. If you join the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, with my father’s recommendation, you could at least become a manager in some location! With your abilities, doubling a shop’s revenue would be effortless! Once you catch the attention of higher-ups… even obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills wouldn’t be too difficult!”

“Brother Cui’s kindness is much appreciated,” Wang Hao declined politely. “But for now… I have no plans to leave Qingniu Market.”

Having lived cautiously for so many years filled him with resistance toward unknown ventures. The Four Seas Merchant Alliance undoubtedly offered far more resources than his family—even items like Condensing Essence Fruit wouldn’t be considered particularly rare there.

But ultimately… strength reigned supreme in this cultivation world.

As merely a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator… at best, he’d become manager of some small shop like those in Qingniu Market. What truly valuable goods could such minor markets offer?

As for making achievements and attracting attention? Wang Hao had no powerful backer. Such merchant alliances were rife with internal factions. Contending with others? He valued his life too much!

“Ah… Since you’ve decided… I won’t say more,” Cui Yuan expressed regret. “But I must still advise you… With your aptitude… even reaching Qi Refining Perfection likely won’t secure you Foundation Establishment Pills from your family… Truly… wouldn’t it be better to venture out and strive?”

Wang Hao bowed slightly. “I will remember your consideration for me.”

“Forget it,” Cui Yuan waved his hand. “But if you ever change your mind… my door remains open!”

After exchanging more pleasantries, Wang Hao took his leave.

After Wang Hao departed, a woman in yellow robes emerged from an inner room. Though veiled, her graceful figure and clear eyes sparked anticipation about her appearance.

The woman in yellow spoke softly. “Elder Brother… is a Five Spiritual Roots cultivator worth such vigorous recruitment?”

“This is no ordinary Five Spiritual Roots cultivator,” Cui Yuan replied without visible resentment—mostly admiration—and recounted Wang Hao’s actions over these past two years. “The decline in low-tier pill sales across shops lately is largely thanks to him!”

“If his managerial talents could serve our Cui family… Father might even advance further!”

Hearing Cui Yuan’s account, the woman in yellow nodded repeatedly. “His ideas are indeed novel! If he could reach Foundation Establishment… his prospects would be limitless! Pity he seems resolute against joining.”

“No matter,” Cui Yuan said. “I’ll remain stationed here in Qingniu Market for several more years—plenty of time to win him over. Once he reaches the ninth layer of Qi Refining with stalled progress… I doubt he’ll resist the temptation of a Foundation Establishment Pill!”