As the gray-robed old man’s voice fell, the air inside the small "Mo Study" seemed to freeze instantly. The shopkeeper had already turned pale with fear, shrinking behind the counter, not daring to breathe. Liu Yiyi, on the other hand, looked joyful and respectfully bowed to the old man: "Grandmaster Uncle!"

The old man nodded slightly, but his gaze remained calmly fixed on Fang Hao. That gaze seemed indifferent, yet it carried an invisible pressure, as if it could see through a person inside and out. The pressure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, even if only a sliver was inadvertently leaked, was enough to make a Golden Core Cultivator’s mind tremble.

Thoughts raced through Fang Hao’s mind. This old man’s cultivation was unfathomable, at least at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage or even higher. For him to personally speak and offer a third-grade High Grade defensive magical artifact in exchange seemed like giving him immense Face, but in reality, it was a high-handed form of pressure. If it were an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator facing the "amiability" of a Nascent Soul Old Monster, they would likely have fearfully offered the item up, perhaps not even daring to ask for the artifact in exchange.

But Fang Hao was no ordinary Golden Core. He had experienced life and death, possessed a resolute will, and had the confidence to contend with a Nascent Soul. This "void stone" (containing void crystal) was related to repairing the golden puppet and was crucial to his Nascent Soul forming plan; how could he easily give it up? Moreover, the other party’s behavior was clearly relying on their cultivation and power to carry out a forced acquisition. If he took a step back today, he would likely be restricted at every step in Tiangong City in the future.

In a flash, Fang Hao had made his decision. His Face showed a perfect mixture of respect and difficulty as he cupped his hands and said, "I am deeply grateful for Senior’s favor. However... this item is also related to my own path, and I truly cannot part with it. Senior’s cultivation is profound; surely there are other channels to obtain this item. I hope Senior can understand."

He did not resist head-on but instead lowered his stance, pointing out that the item was also very important to him, attempting to move the other party with emotion. At the same time, he also secretly hinted that the other party’s cultivation was so high that they might not necessarily lack this single "void stone."

Upon hearing this, a very faint, almost imperceptible flash of surprise crossed the gray-robed old man’s unperturbed Face. He hadn’t expected that a mere Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator would dare to refuse him, and refuse so tactfully yet firmly. He took a deep look at Fang Hao, his gaze lingering for a moment on Fang Hao’s seemingly ordinary but faintly extraordinary and steady temperament, as if trying to see through something.

Liu Yiyi, beside him, narrowed her brows and scolded, "Presumptuous! My Grandmaster Uncle kindly offering an exchange is looking highly upon you! You, a mere Early Golden Core Stage Loose Cultivator, actually dare to..."

"Yiyi." The gray-robed old man spoke calmly, interrupting Liu Yiyi. He did not show anger but simply looked at Fang Hao and said slowly, "Since little friend is insistent, I will not force the matter. However, Tiangong City is a place where Dragons and snakes mix; since little friend possesses such a heavy treasure, you must be extra careful."

These words sounded like a kind reminder, but Fang Hao clearly understood the implicit warning and the faint chill within them. This was telling him that he could keep the item, but he would have to bear the consequences.

Fang Hao sneered inwardly, yet his Face remained respectful. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I will naturally be careful." Having said that, he no longer hesitated, flipping his hand to put the gray, dusty stone into his Storage Ring. He then cupped his hands toward the old man, nodded to the shopkeeper shrinking behind the counter, and turned to walk out of the "Mo Study" at a steady pace.

From beginning to end, his steps were steady and his aura was calm, without the slightest hint of panic. Only after leaving the shop and turning into another street with more foot traffic did he feel that gaze, which had felt like thorns on his back, slowly withdraw.

"Nascent Soul Old Monster... Tiangong Alliance..." A cold light flashed through Fang Hao’s eyes and vanished. The other party clearly wouldn’t let it go. Since that "void stone" had been targeted by them and refused by a mere "Early Golden Core," given the temperament of these high and mighty old monsters, it was impossible for them to stop here. The so-called "be extra careful" was likely the prelude to taking action.

"It seems Tiangong City is no longer a place to stay for long," Fang Hao thought to himself. But he did not leave immediately. The other Materials for repairing the golden puppet and the silver light shuttle had not yet been fully collected, especially the "geng metal marrow" and the "ten thousand year ironwood heart," which were also key items that could not be missed.

He suppressed his thoughts and quickened his pace, heading toward the "Tiangong Pavilion." As one of the largest merchant firms in Tiangong City, Tiangong Pavilion had an excellent reputation and a complete stock of goods. Although he might be targeted for buying the remaining Materials there, at least on the surface, the other party wouldn’t dare to act easily. Moreover, he needed to gather the Materials as quickly as possible and leave this place of trouble.

Sure enough, on the way to Tiangong Pavilion, Fang Hao’s Divine Sense, which far surpassed those of the same rank, keenly detected two hidden auras trailing him from a distance. One aura was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, while the other was at the Early Golden Core Stage. They were clearly scouts sent by the gray-robed old man or Liu Yiyi to keep watch.

Fang Hao acted as if he hadn’t noticed and walked straight into the grand and magnificent gates of the Tiangong Pavilion.

Inside the Tiangong Pavilion, the architecture was exquisite and the Spiritual Qi was abundant. It was divided into several floors; although there were many guests, everything was orderly. Fang Hao directly revealed his identity as a Golden Core Cultivator (still disguised) and was led by a beautiful and well-mannered Foundation Establishment Stage female attendant to a private room on the second floor, specifically for guests of Golden Core rank and above.

He did not hide his intentions and directly listed "geng metal marrow," "ten thousand year ironwood heart," and several other relatively rare but not top-tier auxiliary Materials. The person in charge of receiving him was a Middle Golden Core Stage middle-aged manager. When he heard "geng metal marrow" and "ten thousand year ironwood heart," a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. Clearly, these two Materials were rare even in the "Tiangong Pavilion."

"The items Fellow Daoist requires are indeed rare. As for ’geng metal marrow,’ this pavilion still has a thumb-sized piece in stock, priced at eight hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Regarding the ’ten thousand year ironwood heart’... unfortunately, it was just reserved by a Senior a few days ago. As for the other Materials, this pavilion has them all in stock." The middle-aged manager’s attitude was polite, but the price was certainly not cheap.

Eight hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was nearly dozens of times the apparent price of the previous "void stone" (actually void crystal). However, Fang Hao knew that although this price was high, it was still within a reasonable range. After all, "geng metal marrow" was a top-tier material for refining high-level Flying Swords and repairing high-level metal-element Magical Artifacts.

"I’ll take the geng metal marrow. Prepare the other Materials according to the list." Fang Hao did not haggle and directly took out a Storage bag full of Spirit Stones. He was quite wealthy in Spirit Stones; after killing many Cultivators and malevolent souls in the Valley of Buried Soldiers, he had collected many Storage Pouches. Combined with his previous accumulation, paying for these was more than enough.

Seeing Fang Hao so straightforward, the middle-aged manager’s smile widened, and he quickly ordered people to fetch the goods. Soon, a jade box and several Storage Pouches were brought in. Inside the jade box was exactly one thumb-sized piece of "geng metal marrow," entirely golden, with a faint liquid-like flow, emitting a sharp Geng Metal Qi. The other Materials were also of superior quality.

Once the exchange was complete, Fang Hao put the items away and asked seemingly casually: "I wonder if your pavilion has any news regarding the nascent soul forming pill, its Pill Formula, or its main ingredients?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged manager’s expression turned slightly solemn. He took a careful look at Fang Hao and shook his head. "Fellow Daoist must be joking. The nascent soul forming pill is incredibly precious. Even if there were any, they would only appear at the highest-level auctions and are usually bartered. As for the Pill Formula, it is a secret transmission of various sects, and this pavilion has no way of knowing it. Regarding the main ingredients... there are a few rare ones, but the price..." He listed several names and astronomical prices, clearly not something an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator could afford.

Fang Hao hadn’t held much hope to begin with, so he wasn’t disappointed. He nodded and rose to take his leave. He could feel that when he asked about the nascent soul forming pill, several hidden Divine Senses had swept over him, likely from the Tiangong Pavilion’s guards or higher-level Cultivators. The nascent soul forming pill was a matter of great importance, so they had to be cautious.

Leaving the Tiangong Pavilion, Fang Hao could clearly feel that the two trailing auras were still there, and it seemed another had been added, making it three. One of the auras was hidden and actually had a Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation.

"They really are persistent," Fang Hao sneered inwardly. He acted as if nothing was wrong and visited several other large material shops in the Hundred Crafts Workshop, gathering the remaining few inconspicuous auxiliary Materials. Only the "ten thousand year ironwood heart" was missing; several shops he asked had none, saying it usually only appeared at large auctions or through specific channels.

With the Materials mostly gathered, only the "ten thousand year ironwood heart" and the verification of whether there truly was "void crystal" inside the "void stone" remained. Fang Hao did not linger and began walking toward the outer areas of Tiangong City, where the crowd was relatively sparse, as if planning to leave.

The three trailing auras followed unhurriedly, always maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close.

When Fang Hao reached a relatively secluded alley connecting the outer city and inner city with few pedestrians, his steps paused slightly as if he were identifying the direction, and then he turned into the depths of the alley.

At the end of the alley was a small area of abandoned courtyards, with broken walls and overgrown weeds, appearing exceptionally desolate and quiet.

Fang Hao walked to the center of a relatively open ruin, stopped his pace, slowly turned around, and looked calmly toward the entrance of the alley, speaking indifferently:

"You’ve been following for so long, aren’t you tired? Come out."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the silent ruins.

After a brief silence, three figures emerged like ghosts from the shadows of the alley and the surrounding broken walls, forming a triangular formation that surrounded Fang Hao in the middle.

The leader was the Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator he had sensed earlier outside the Tiangong Pavilion, a middle-aged man with a gloomy Face and eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. To the left was a short and stout Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator holding a pair of black short halberds. To the right was a tall and thin Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator holding a snake-shaped longsword; judging by his position and aura, he seemed to be the stout Cultivator’s assistant or Disciple.

"Kid, your alertness is quite high," the gloomy Middle Golden Core Stage man said, his voice raspy. "Unfortunately, you’ve taken the wrong path. Hand over the items and cripple your own cultivation, and I can leave you a whole corpse."

He had clearly treated Fang Hao leading them to this secluded place as being like fish on a chopping block. Against the three of them, an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator (disguised) had absolutely no hope of survival.

Fang Hao swept his gaze over the three, a look of "panic" appearing on his Face as he slightly backed away, shouting with a hint of being fierce in appearance but weak within, "Who... who are you people? Do you actually intend to commit a crime in broad daylight within Tiangong City? I... I paid the city entry fee!"

The stout Golden Core Cultivator sneered, "Tiangong City? Heh heh, this is the Abandoned Area. If we kill you and bury you in these ruins, who would know? Kid, you only have yourself to blame for not knowing the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth, even daring to snatch something Elder Mo had his eye on! If you’re smart, obediently hand over your Storage Ring and 그 stone, and perhaps you can die a bit more quickly!"

"Elder Mo?" Fang Hao "realized," his Face showing even more "terror." "Is it... is it that Senior from the ’Mo Study’? I... I am willing to give the items to the Senior, I beg the three of you to spare my life!" As he spoke, he made a move to take off the Storage Ring on his hand.

The thin and tall Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s eyes flashed with greed, and he subconsciously took a step forward, seemingly wanting to be the first to grab the Storage Ring.

At the very moment his footsteps moved and his mind was momentarily distracted—