Leaving the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, Wang Hao walked slowly toward his own shop.

But after walking for a while, he felt someone following him.

With focused intent, he slipped into an alleyway.

Behind him, a youth around twenty years old watched Wang Hao’s figure, hesitated momentarily, then resolutely pursued him.

Wang Hao didn’t hide; instead, he waited at the alley’s end.

“You’ve followed me all this way… What do you want?” Wang Hao wasn’t worried about a direct threat—this was the center of the market. Any commotion would draw immediate attention!

The youth appeared timid and flustered. His cultivation fluctuated strangely between the third and fifth layers of Qi Refining.

“Hmm? A concealment technique! Are you willing to sell?” Wang Hao eyed the youth intently. “I offer three hundred Spirit Stones!”

The youth exhaled deeply and cupped his hands respectfully. “Rumors prove true—Manager Wang offers generously indeed!”

Seeing people still moving about the streets, Wang Hao spoke calmly. “You followed me for other reasons too? If you’re willing… come discuss it at Miao Dan Pavilion.”

“I… I trust you!”

“Then follow.”

Wang Hao led the youth swiftly to Miao Dan Pavilion. Upstairs, they found an empty room, and upon entering, he activated the soundproofing array.

Turning his gaze upon the youth, he said, “Sit, please. Now speak?”

The youth sat and drank some tea to calm his nerves. Wang Hao observed him closely. This person was likely inexperienced in traveling alone. Seasoned rogue cultivators of the market weren’t so timid—unless he was feigning it, but that would require superb acting skills.

“Manager Wang… I possess a pill formulary… Wondering if you’d purchase it!”

“Hmm?” Years of composure nearly failed him. Daring to sell a pill formulary?

He raised an eyebrow inwardly. My opportunity arrives!

He nodded slightly. “Naturally, I purchase… But I must first see the formulas contained. Our Wang family holds many already! The price only applies to formulas we lack!”

“This…” The youth hesitated. Once the formulas were seen, how could he sell them further if the deal fell through?

Yet he had investigated the Wang family’s reputation. It was truly praised widely—especially Wang Hao, who was known for generous dealings and was deeply respected among rogue cultivators! Meeting him today confirmed his extraordinary bearing, unlike deceitful merchants or bullies!

This reputation had been built in recent years. Had the youth come earlier, Wang Hao’s former notoriety might have scared him off!

The youth still attempted a negotiation. “Your family likely lacks them… I visited your shop days prior… You sell only a few pill types!”

“Mere claims prove nothing! Some pills not being sold doesn’t mean the formulas are absent!” Wang Hao was no greenhorn.

“Very well!”

The youth produced an ancient tome. Gritting his teeth, he handed it to Wang Hao. “My ancestral pill formulary! Over ten Tier 2 formulas alone! I ask one thousand Spirit Stones!”

He finished, gazing hopefully at Wang Hao.

Wang Hao opened the tome. Indeed, page after page of formulas. He checked only the authenticity of the known ones and glanced briefly at the remaining contents list before closing it—all done openly before the youth.

“I offer two thousand Spirit Stones! For the formulary plus the concealment method! But you must swear a Dao Heart Oath! Never sell these formulas within the Qingyuan Sect’s territory again!”

Hearing “two thousand,” the youth was first delighted, but hearing the condition, his face struggled.

“My terms are not harsh! Only forbid resale within the Qingyuan Sect’s domain! Go elsewhere—no restriction!”

Wang Hao sneered coldly. “If you seek multiple buyers… I’m no fool! Two hundred Spirit Stones then—how about that?”

“Two hundred? Too little!”

Wang Hao scoffed. “If formulas are everywhere, are they still valuable? You know the principle ‘treasure invites disaster’? With your cultivation… each additional sale increases the risk of murder and robbery.”

The youth shuddered, awakening. His earlier reluctance stemmed precisely from this fear! Now in desperate straits, and with Wang Hao’s reputation being relatively good, he had ventured this attempt.

He nodded in agreement. “Fine—I sell! But Manager Wang must also swear! Never reveal my identity as the seller!”

Hearing this, Wang Hao smiled inwardly. Quite a clever person—also cautious.

“Agreed!”

Thus, both supervised their mutual oaths. Then, Wang Hao produced two thousand Spirit Stones. The youth handed over the formulary plus a jade slip.

Wang Hao placed the slip against his brow immediately to inspect it.

“‘Hidden Spirit Art’! Alters aura, conceals cultivation! Mastered—can deceive detection by a cultivator one major realm higher!”

“Good—transaction complete! Fellow Daoist may depart!”

The youth, eager to leave quickly, bid farewell.

Wang Hao returned to his own room. He calmed his mind before examining the formulary.

Undoubtedly, this was his greatest acquisition besides his cultivation techniques thus far.

It was titled Xing Family Pill Formulary. It recorded twenty-five total formulas: thirteen Tier 1 and twelve Tier 2.

The Tier 1 formulas were mostly unremarkable—Wang Hao knew the majority. Only two brought a pleasant surprise.

One was the “Spirit Gathering Pill” (Note: distinct from the common Gathering Spirit Pill), which was unfamiliar to him. Its effects enhanced a cultivator’s Divine Sense by thirty percent—but only the first consumption was effective.

The other was the famed “Spirit Nurturing Pill”—for nurturing Tier 1 spirit beasts!

Currently, he was raising two spirit beasts. The Golden-Eyed Duck fed well, yet had advanced to Tier 1 Mid-Grade only after years. It still couldn’t carry flight—its growth was too slow! With the Spirit Nurturing Pill, its growth rate would accelerate greatly!

Among the Tier 2 formulas: six low-grade, three mid-grade, and three high-grade.

Three, including the Qi Gathering Pill, were already held by the family. The Foundation Establishment Pill formula was common knowledge and not precious indeed. Not exactly universal knowledge, but major factions easily obtained it. The Foundation Establishment Pill was precious due to its main ingredients—whether the Condensing Essence Fruit or a Tier 3 Demon Core, neither ordinary factions possessed. Without main ingredients, the formula was useless!

However, the refining insights included were quite valuable. The Xing family ancestor was likely at least a Tier 2 High-Grade alchemist. Disregarding the formulas, these insights alone were worth a fortune. Two thousand Spirit Stones were well spent; the auction value would easily be double!

The remaining eight were relatively valuable.

Four were Tier 2 Low-Grade: Barrier Breaking Pill, Qi Replenishing Pill, Meridian Protection Pill, and Beast Nurturing Pill.

The Barrier Breaking Pill aided Foundation Establishment cultivators in breaking through the mid-stage bottleneck. Qi Refining had bottlenecks, but Foundation Establishment had more numerous ones; the mid-stage bottleneck was significant among them. This pill refined True Essence and increased breakthrough probability.

The Qi Replenishing Pill was a recovery pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even for a late-stage cultivator, a single pill restored twenty percent of their True Essence.