Within a secret chamber atop the main peak of Wang Family Ridge sat three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Wang clan.

The elderly leader slowly put down the booklet in his hand, stroked his beard, and chuckled. “Hahaha, Heaven blesses our Wang family indeed!”

This elder was none other than the Clan Head—Wang Guang’an! He focused his gaze upon Wang Yanzhao. “You’ve raised a fine son indeed! It is a pity that due to past events, the clan owes him much!”

Beside him, Wang Longyou spoke up. “Great-Uncle, I know the child Wenhao well! Not only is he diligent in cultivation, but he is also Proficient in commerce! Most importantly, his reputation is impeccable—he has never shown resentment towards the clan!”

“Mmm, a good child indeed!” Wang Guang’an nodded. “Such great merit warrants a reward! I decree that if he reaches the ninth layer of Qi Refining, he will have priority exchange rights for the next Foundation Establishment Pill acquired by the clan!”

Overjoyed, Wang Yanzhao hurriedly bowed. “Many thanks, Ancestor!”

“Rise and speak.” Wang Guang’an reached out and helped him up. “Merit must be rewarded—that is clan rule! Why thank me? Rather, I should thank Wenhao myself! If he hadn’t obtained these formulas, I would still be sitting atop this mountain, withering into dust!”

However, he seemed to recall something, and his expression dimmed slightly. “Pity that the main ingredient for the Vitality Restoration Pill—Nine-Branched Herb—is also hard to find! Ai, fate and timing!”

Wang Longyou said, “Great-Uncle need not lament! The Duan Yuan Mountain Range is rich in resources; given time, perhaps it can be found! Even if there is none in Qingniu Market, in a year and a half, Qingyuan Market will hold a large auction. This nephew will personally attend to check!”

But Wang Yanzhao disagreed. “That would be unwise. Although Ancestor is the clan head, in recent years, Sixth Uncle has managed affairs. Your sudden departure is bound to draw attention! Our spiritual veins being overloaded is no secret anymore. While the five great families maintain surface peace, merely united against demonic beasts, none wish for a single family to dominate…”

The three fell into a slight silence. Then, Wang Guang’an mused and spoke, “Yanzhao speaks reason. You cannot move lightly. Let Yanzhao go instead! Use buying a Tier 2 alchemy furnace as a pretext!”

“This child also wishes to bring Wenhao along. The boy has never left Qingniu Market; it would be good to broaden his horizons, gain experience, and temper himself!”

Wang Guang’an nodded. “Agreed!” Then he chuckled twice. “Wenhao’s luck is quite good. If he goes, perhaps he will truly obtain the Nine-Branched Herb indeed!”

……

After Wang Yanzhao departed, Wang Hao began cultivating the Hidden Spirit Art.

It was a quite profound technique. Previously, when practicing cultivation methods or spells, even if he was slow to grasp them, he never failed to comprehend their true meaning. But the Hidden Spirit Art was extremely obscure; it seemed not like ordinary text but rather a translated foreign language. He spent over a month comprehending it before finally being able to perform the basics. A slightest mistake broke his concentration. Now he understood why the youth earlier had revealed flaws under fright!

“Fortunately, I succeeded in comprehending it. Henceforth, with diligent practice, surely I won’t be easily seen through.”

His mind stirred, and he muttered an incantation. His Qi began to retract instantly, and his aura fluctuations were restrained to the fifth layer of Qi Refining. With another change of incantation, it dropped to the third layer of Qi Refining!

Satisfied, he nodded, picked up the pill compendium, and began studying. Two months later, he fully grasped it and prepared to refine the Beast Nurturing Pill!

He clapped his palms, and the purple furnace flew out, enlarged in the wind, and landed steadily on the ground.

With hand seals, he ignited the spirit charcoal, and the temperature gradually rose.

According to the requirements, he gradually added the medicinal herbs. Half a day later, a batch of mixed orange pill liquid was completed.

Though it was his first time refining the Beast Nurturing Pill, he had long since memorized the steps. Seeing the liquid quantity was sufficient, he wasn’t conservative and divided it into seven portions, actually attempting to refine seven pills at once!

A gentle fire slowly simmered while his Divine Sense observed the subtle changes. Thus, another hour passed, and the liquid gradually evaporated. Sitting before the furnace, he showed a solemn expression. Now that the essence was extracted, he reached the crucial moment: condensing liquid into pills!

“The Xing Clan Ancestor’s notes are better than Old Wang’s; my alchemy has improved considerably!!”

Smiling softly, he whispered and urged the alchemy technique to condense the pills. As the furnace trembled, one of the seven liquid clusters suddenly vibrated violently. His control was ineffective. Helpless, he could only control that cluster to move away from the others and approach the furnace wall to let it evaporate!

He had no time to feel heartache and focused on condensing the remaining liquid into pills. Finally, as a fragrance wafted out, the remaining six clusters solidified into pills!

Both hands lifted, opening the furnace lid. With a point of his finger, six crystal-clear pills flew out!

“Sixty percent success rate. I can attempt to break through to become a Tier 2 Alchemist!!” He nodded with satisfaction. As for the destroyed cluster, that was a common occurrence in alchemy—nothing special. It was simply that his Divine Sense control was insufficient. If strengthened, naturally, it wouldn’t occur; even eight pills might be possible!

He wasn’t boasting; rather, as his alchemy skill strengthened, he had a clear self-awareness!!

“Just wonder if there’s any news on the Three-Leaf Spirit Calming Grass yet. If I take a Spirit Gathering Pill, breaking through will be simpler!!”

He muttered softly, tidied up, and walked towards Miao Dan Pavilion.

“Fifth Brother is free to visit today??”

After over a year of experience, Wang Wenyan was already poised and graceful. Moreover, with her beautiful appearance, she had gradually gained a title in the market—”Fairy Yan”!!

“Can’t I visit?? Rather, is Fairy Yan free today??” He deliberately glanced behind her and teased, “Where is that Fellow Daoist Zhu??”

“Fifth Brother, how did you learn from Wenmei to tease others!!” She immediately blushed. She was pretty and had a good personality, so many rogue cultivators were pursuing her. Among them, a rogue cultivator named Zhu was the most promising. Of course, to win the beauty, he must marry into the House!!

“Alright, serious business. Has anyone accepted the Three-Leaf Spirit Calming Grass commission??” His expression shifted as he asked.

She recalled for a moment before saying, “Three teams accepted, but so far, no news. Oh right, a Qi Refining sixth-layer rogue cultivator brought one once. It was a five-year-old Three-Leaf Spirit Calming Grass; the age was far off. I took the initiative and gave him ten Spirit Stones to buy it!!”

“Five-year?? Far off indeed; at least fifty-year is needed!!” On the surface, he remained calm, but inwardly, he was delighted. “First hand over that five-year Three-Leaf Spirit Calming Grass to me. As for the commission, increase the reward by five Spirit Stones!!”

She went to the counter, took out a jade box, and handed it over. He opened it; indeed, it was a blue Spirit Calming Grass with only three tender leaves!! Seeing a small section of root system attached, he smiled with satisfaction!!

“Fairy Yan, continue busy. Fifth Brother returns first!!”

The farm had already cultivated a black soil plot, and the time flow reached forty-fold. Now that he had the seeds, he only needed to wait a year and a bit more time to mass-produce Spirit Gathering Pills!!