Perhaps because Wang Hao’s Spirit Stones were sufficient, it only took two days for him to meet Chu He.

Chu He had been forty years old when he established his Foundation. His appearance hadn’t changed much since then, but he looked at Wang Hao with obvious surprise.

“Brother Wang, you’ve actually reached Foundation Establishment!” he exclaimed immediately, sighing with admiration. “Back then, you were already full of confidence. Now you’ve achieved your wish. The path to the Great Dao is truly open for you!”

“Not at all, not at all. I merely established my foundation by luck. How could I compare to you, Elder Brother?” Wang Hao replied politely.

“You must have come here for a reason, Brother. Just say it. As long as this elder brother can do it, I will definitely help!” Chu He said warmly.

“Yes, there is indeed a matter where I need Elder Brother’s help.” Wang Hao nodded and explained his need for the Mystic Yin Fruit.

Upon hearing this, Chu He’s expression relaxed. “The Mystic Yin Fruit is easy to handle. It can be exchanged with Sect Contribution Points. I’ll go get one for you right now, as a congratulatory gift for your Foundation Establishment!”

Wang Hao quickly raised a hand to stop him. “I was the one asking for your help in the first place. How can I let you pay? I still have quite a bit of wealth!”

He took out five hundred Spirit Stones and handed them over.

Chu He frowned, pretending to be angry. “Brother, are you looking down on this elder brother?”

Wang Hao had no choice but to retract the Spirit Stones. However, he immediately brought out two jars of Crimson Blood Brew.

“Elder Brother, if you won’t take the Spirit Stones, surely wine is no problem? This is a Spirit Wine produced by my Wang Family. Drinking it can restore spiritual power. You are helping me; let me treat you to a drink!”

Chu He hesitated slightly before accepting the Spirit Wine. He seemed to remember something and asked, “Brother, can you refine Second-Rank pills?”

He knew Wang Hao could refine First-Rank pills. Now that Wang Hao had reached Foundation Establishment, he might be able to refine Second-Rank ones as well.

“Does Elder Brother need spirit pills for cultivation? I happen to have a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills here; please take them!” Wang Hao said generously.

Chu He did not accept the bottle. “It’s not for me; it’s for Junior Sister Chen Qing! Due to soul damage in her early years, she faces a significant risk of failure when attempting Foundation Establishment. She is still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“I see.” Wang Hao thought for a moment.

Having shared life-and-death experiences with Chu He and the others, there was a foundation of trust. Moreover, the Mystic Yin Fruit was critical for his own path; he had to obtain it.

He took out a Soul Gathering Pill and a Vein Protection Pill.

“Elder Brother, these two bottles of pills should be helpful for Senior Sister Chen. Please deliver them to her for me.”

Chu He opened the bottles for a glance, then quickly snapped them shut, his eyes wide with joy. “Brother, you are truly rain in a time of drought! With these two pills, Junior Sister Chen will have the confidence to attempt Foundation Establishment!”

“Rest assured, Brother,” Chu He continued, his tone solemn. “I will bring you the Mystic Yin Fruit in a few days! Do you have any other needs?”

Wang Hao smiled. “If they are useful, that’s good. I don’t have any other needs myself. However, some younger siblings in my family require magic tools. I wonder if Elder Brother could help with purchasing them?”

“That is simple. I know several artifact forgers who have surplus inventory and are very willing to trade!”

Sect artifact forgers had annual quotas to meet, but they preferred not to sell their surplus to the sect itself. The sect’s purchase price was pitifully low; trading privately was far more profitable.

Wang Hao took out his remaining Vein Protection Pills and two thousand Spirit Stones.

“Then I’ll trouble Elder Brother to purchase three First-Rank Mid-Grade magic tools and two Second-Rank Low-Grade defensive tools for me. If there could be an additional Second-Rank Mid-Grade tool, that would be even better!”

Within the entire territory controlled by the Qingyuan Sect, most magic tools were crafted by disciples of the sect itself. Purchasing through internal channels would give Wang Hao a slightly lower price than external shops while allowing the forgers to earn more profit. Middlemen were never great in any era.

Seeing a whole bottle of Vein Protection Pills made Chu He even happier; these were hard currency. Even selling them at a high price would count as a favor owed. He repeatedly assured Wang Hao that everything could be left to him.

Wang Hao thanked him profusely and stood up to see him out of the reception hall.

Six days later, Chu He returned to the reception hall.

This time, he brought Chen Qing and another female cultivator with him.

The two Qi Refining disciples responsible for receiving guests were startled upon seeing Du Xiandie. Realizing that the guests were looking for Wang Hao, they broke into a cold sweat. They had failed to recognize someone important. Fortunately, they hadn’t offended Wang Hao—though they had accepted some minor bribes, which would now have to be returned.

Daring not to delay further, they quickly led the group to Wang Hao’s room. Upon reaching the entrance, they tactfully withdrew.

Upon meeting Wang Hao, Chu He promptly made introductions. “Brother Wang, this is Du Xiandie, Senior Sister Du, an artifact forger within our sect! Senior Sister Du is a Second-Rank High-Grade artifact forger; she has all the magic tools you desire!”

After leaving last time, Chu He had been selling Vein Protection Pills within the sect while inquiring which forgers had ready-made tools available. Du Xiandie was actually a clansman of a Golden Core Elder within the sect, holding high status—someone Chu He normally couldn’t even curry favor with.

But coincidentally, Du Xiandie needed Vein Protection Pills. Unfortunately, Chu He had already sold most of them, leaving only one pill, which naturally couldn’t meet her demand. So, he introduced Wang Hao to her.

Although Du Xiandie was related to a Golden Core Elder and theoretically shouldn’t lack resources, she also had an entire family to support. Her demand for life-saving pills was substantial.

Wang Hao was certainly willing to befriend a high-grade artifact forger. He promptly saluted, “I am Wang Hao. Greetings, Fairy Du!”

Du Xiandie sized up Wang Hao, then got straight to the point. “Fellow Daoist Wang, I heard you possess Vein Protection Pills?”

“I have already given all the Vein Protection Pills to Senior Brother Chu,” Wang Hao replied. “However, I still have materials on hand and can refine a batch after some time.”

The spiritual herbs required for Vein Protection Pills had long been collected from the Patriarch. There was already a batch of mature materials within his Spirit Farm. Although he hadn’t refined them before, having advanced to a Second-Rank Low-Grade alchemist years ago—and now successfully establishing his Foundation—trying several furnaces would surely lead to success.

“How long would that take?” she asked.

“About one month!” Wang Hao was confident in his skills.

Hearing this, Du Xiandie looked pleased. “Very well. I need three bottles of Vein Protection Pills. I’ll come to collect them in one month. What magic tools do you need? Tell me. If none are readily available, I’ll forge them for you immediately!”

“No problem,” Wang Hao said. “The First-Rank Mid-Grade tools are for my family’s Qi Refining clan members; I’m not picky. Fairy Du can provide any standard types. For the Second-Rank Low-Grade defensive tools—I need two, preferably of the Fire attribute. One should be compact. For the Second-Rank Mid-Grade—I want one with a speed attribute. Additionally, Fairy Du, do you have any flying boats that can carry several people?”

He had previously suggested to the Patriarch that part of their family should remain hidden while developing externally. Moreover, he himself planned to leave Green Bull Market for training outside. Having a flying boat would make logistics much more convenient.

Du Xiandie gave Wang Hao a surprised look. “Flying boats aren’t cheap. Fellow Daoist Wang, are you prepared with sufficient Spirit Stones?”

Her direct question made Wang Hao feel there might be an opportunity.

“As an alchemist, naturally I possess some wealth! May I ask Fairy Du how much such a flying boat costs?”

“I have one Second-Rank High-Grade flying boat on hand,” she said. “It can carry up to twenty people. Speed can reach four thousand li per hour. It requires Mid-Grade Spirit Stones or a cultivator’s power supply. It is equipped with simple protective formations and can defend against attacks from beasts below Second-Rank Low-Grade. As for the price…”

She glanced at Wang Hao. “You know such flying boats generally cost much more than ordinary Second-Rank High-Grade magic tools. How about eight thousand Spirit Stones?”