Free Web NovelChapter 330: News of the nascent soul pill formula
Holding a massive fortune of nearly one million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, Fang Hao did not rush to squander them. Instead, he sought out an inn within the inner city of Myriad Laws Immortal City known as "Listening to the Waves Cottage," which boasted richer Spiritual Qi. He rented a high-class Immortal Cave that came with an independent courtyard and an Earth Fire Chamber to serve as his temporary abode.
The environment here was quiet and secluded, with strict Restrictions, and the daily room rate was as high as five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. However, to the now wealthy Fang Hao, this was nothing.
Over the next few days, he kept to himself. He used the Immortal Cave’s Spirit Gathering Formation to stabilize his cultivation, nourish his Divine Soul, and heal the minor hidden injuries that had not fully recovered after his battle with the Golden Horned Thunder Python. At the same time, he closely monitored the upcoming Myriad Laws Assembly through the information Jade Slips provided by the inn and by occasionally venturing out to inquire at several top-tier teahouses and information shops, specifically searching for any clues regarding the nascent soul pill formula.
As the Myriad Laws Assembly approached, the Immortal City became increasingly bustling. High-Rank Cultivators were as numerous as carp crossing a river, and the figures of Nascent Soul Old Monsters were commonly seen. All sorts of gossip, secrets, and rumors spread rapidly through the streets, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.
That evening, while Fang Hao was regulating his breath in the courtyard, an inconspicuous communication talisman at his waist vibrated slightly. This was the contact method he had left at an information shop called the "Spirit Rhino Pavilion." The Spirit Rhino Pavilion claimed to provide all kinds of secret information; their fees were high, but their reputation was decent.
Fang Hao probed with his Divine Sense, and a message came from the communication talisman: "Regarding the ’nascent soul pill formula’ you inquired about, Fellow Daoist, there are two pieces of news. First, in three days, the ’Heavenly Palace Auction House’ will hold the first pre-event auction for the Myriad Laws Assembly. The finale item is a ’nascent soul forming pill,’ rumored to be from the hand of an Elder of Medicine King Valley. Second, an anonymous Cultivator has posted a commission at the’Shadow Workshop,’ willing to pay a large sum or exchange equivalent treasures for clues regarding the nascent soul pill formula. The client is suspected to be related to a certain Hidden Family in the Western Regions. The two pieces of news total five thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and have been deducted from your deposit."
A sharp light flashed in Fang Hao’s eyes. The first piece of news, the auction of a nascent soul forming pill, was not the Pill Formula itself, but being able to come into contact with a Medicinal Pill of this Rank might allow him to follow the vine to the melon and reach the forces holding the Pill Formula. The second piece of news was more direct; someone was secretly offering a high price for clues about the Pill Formula, which indicated that the Pill Formula was not completely untraceable, but rather monopolized by a very small number of forces.
"Heavenly Palace Auction House... Shadow Workshop..." Fang Hao pondered for a moment and decided not to let either lead go. He first used the inn’s channels to spend one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase an admission ticket for the Heavenly Palace Auction House. Afterward, he changed his appearance, suppressed his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and headed to the "Shadow Workshop," located deep in a remote alley in the inner city.
The Shadow Workshop was not a physical shop but a secret space constructed by a Formation, specialized in anonymous trading and the buying and selling of information. It was a place where dragons and snakes mixed, but one could occasionally dig up unexpected treasures. Fang Hao paid a high "entrance fee," received a black mask that concealed his aura, and stepped into that bizarre and surreal space.
Inside the space, figures were flitting about, all wearing masks with obscure auras. Transactions were conducted anonymously through specific Formation light screens. Fang Hao found the light screen where the commission for the Pill Formula clues was posted and, following the instructions, anonymously sent a short message: "Clues may exist, but I need to confirm the client’s sincerity and capability. I can provide partial verification information."
After sending the message, Fang Hao did not hold much hope, just harboring a "try it and see" attitude. However, only after half an incense stick of time, a reply appeared on the light screen: "Agreed. Please provide the verification information. If the value can be confirmed, the reward starts at one million Spirit Stones, or equivalent treasures, with no upper limit."
One million Spirit Stones as a starting point! Fang Hao was shocked; this was an incredibly generous offer. He thought for a moment and did not reveal any substantive content. Instead, he replied with an extremely obscure description of the medicinal properties of the "nascent soul condensing fruit," one of the main ingredients required for refining the nascent soul forming pill, taken from "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship." This description had subtle differences from the common information circulating in the outside world; unless one had a very deep attainment in the Alchemy Dao or possessed a core Legacy, it would be impossible to know.
After the message was sent, the other party remained silent for a long time. Just when Fang Hao thought they had given up, the light screen lit up again: "The information has been preliminarily verified and has a certain value. Please come to ’Withered Willow Ferry’ in the south of the city tomorrow at the hour of the Rat, bringing the complete clues for a face-to-face meeting. Only one person is allowed, and we will not wait if you are late."
Withered Willow Ferry? Fang Hao frowned slightly. That was an ancient, long-abandoned ferry outside Myriad Laws Immortal City. It was desolate and remote, truly an ideal location for a secret transaction. However, the risk was also extremely high; there was no guarantee it wasn’t a trap.
"Wealth is sought in danger..." A flash of determination crossed Fang Hao’s eyes. For the nascent soul pill formula, taking some risks was worth it. He had now fully recovered his strength, and with his golden puppet and numerous trump cards, as long as the other party was not a Soul Transformation Cultivator, he was confident he could escape even if it were a trap.
He replied "Agreed," and then left the Shadow Workshop.
The next day, as the hour of the Rat approached, the massive outline of Myriad Laws Immortal City in the night looked like a sleeping primordial giant beast. In the south of the city, the moonlight was bleak and hazy, and the wild grass was overgrown. Fang Hao, dressed in black and wearing that black mask, restrained his aura to the extreme and, like a ghost, arrived at Withered Willow Ferry without a sound.
The ferry was long dilapidated, with rotten wood strewn about. The river water whimpered, and night owls cried, adding to the eeriness. Under a withered old willow tree by the river, a slender figure, also dressed in black and wearing a mask, was already standing quietly and waiting. Under the moonlight, her figure was graceful. Although her face could not be seen, that cold and aloof temperament could not be hidden.
Fang Hao swept with his Divine Sense. The other party’s cultivation was not weak; she was surprisingly at Perfected Golden Core, and her aura was condensed, clearly indicating a deep Foundation. She was definitely not an ordinary Loose Cultivator.
"You’ve come." A cold female voice sounded, carrying a trace of imperceptible vigilance.
"Fellow Daoist, you have waited a long time." Fang Hao’s voice was hoarse; he had changed his tone.
"The clues." The woman got straight to the point, concise and to the point.
Fang Hao did not talk nonsense either. He took out a blank Jade Slip and used his Divine Sense to imprint further descriptions of the nascent soul pill formula from "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship," including the detailed processing method for the nascent soul condensing fruit, as well as an alternative plan for the other main ingredient, the "Heaven Soul Flower" (this plan was unique to "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship" and rare in the outside world), but he did not mention the complete Pill Formula. He tossed the Jade Slip to her.
The woman caught the Jade Slip, probed with her Divine Sense, and remained silent for a moment. Under the moonlight, Fang Hao could feel her aura fluctuate slightly; clearly, the information in the Jade Slip had greatly shocked her.
"Where did this information... come from?" The woman raised her head, her gaze under the mask as sharp as a sword, piercing straight at Fang Hao.
"I cannot say." Fang Hao’s tone was flat. "I only ask, what is the value of this information?"
The woman pondered for a long time, seemingly weighing the options. Finally, she spoke slowly, her voice still cold but with a touch of gravity: "This information is indeed true insight, and it is of great benefit to... our research. However, it is still not enough to exchange for the Pill Formula. Are you willing to come with me to see someone? If what you say can be recognized by that person, perhaps... you will have a chance to get what you want."
"See who? Where?" Fang Hao asked vigilantly.
"An Elder, inside the city," the woman said. "Rest assured, within Myriad Laws Immortal City, no one dares to easily make a move. If you are worried, I can make a Heart Demon oath to ensure your safety on this trip."
Fang Hao’s eyes flickered. He thought for a moment and nodded. "Agreed."
The woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and immediately made the Heart Demon oath, guaranteeing that she would not harm Fang Hao while taking him to meet the Elder and ensuring he could leave safely. Once the oath was established, a barely perceptible ray of spiritual light sank into her brow.
"Follow me." After saying this, the woman turned and walked towards Myriad Laws Immortal City. Her speed was not fast, clearly waiting for Fang Hao.
After a slight hesitation, Fang Hao followed. The two of them, one in front and one behind, maintained a safe distance and quickly disappeared into the night.
