For three days, Li Yao lived like a ghost. He slept in the rafters of a temple dedicated to a forgotten earth deity, surviving on stolen fruit and sips of rainwater. He used the time to fully recover his energy and solidify his Mid Sub-Realm foundation, cycling the [Breath of the Primordial Awakening] with a focus born of desperation.
His target was the "Jade Willow Apothecary," a small, unassuming shop in the artisan's quarter known for dealing in lower-grade materials and serving itinerant cultivators and poorer guards. It was far enough from the central market to avoid the Hong Family's notice and, he hoped, beneath Captain Wang's direct scrutiny.
He waited until a rainy afternoon when the streets were nearly empty. He pulled his ragged hood low and entered the shop.
The air was thick with the smell of dried herbs and bitter roots. An old man with a wispy beard and sharp, calculating eyes looked up from behind a counter, polishing a piece of jade. His aura was faint—Peak Essence Gathering, Perfection Sub-Realm, but his energy was stagnant, having plateaued decades ago. This was Old Man Guo, the owner.
"State your business," the old man said, his voice raspy.
Li Yao placed the small vial of Ironwood Balm on the counter. "I'm looking to sell."
Old Man Guo picked up the vial, uncorked it, and took a cautious sniff. His eyebrows rose slightly. He dabbed a tiny amount on the back of his hand, rubbing it in. A faint, warm sensation of Earth-Wood energy spread from the spot.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I made it."
The old man barked a short, humorless laugh. "Boy, I've been in this business for sixty years. The refinement on this is... peculiar. It's crude in some aspects, yet the energy harmonization is better than some alchemists I know. You expect me to believe a street urchin made this?"
"I don't care what you believe," Li Yao said, keeping his voice flat. "I care what you'll pay. Test it properly. On a real injury."
Intrigued despite himself, Old Man Guo called over his assistant, a young man who had recently burned his arm on a crucible. The wound was red and angry. The old man applied a small amount of the balm.
The effect was visible within minutes. The inflammation receded, the red turned to pink, and a look of profound relief washed over the assistant's face. "The pain... it's almost gone, Master Guo."
Old Man Guo stared at the vial, then at Li Yao. The skepticism in his eyes was replaced by a keen, avaricious light. He could sense the potential. This wasn't just a salve; it was a recipe. A unique one.
"I'll give you five Spirit Stones for the vial," he said, his tone casual.
It was a fortune. Enough to live on for a year. It was also a trap. A vial of low-grade balm, no matter how effective, was not worth five Spirit Stones. The old man was testing him, trying to see if he understood the true value of what he had.
Li Yao didn't flinch. "I'm not selling the vial. I'm selling the recipe."
Old Man Guo's casual demeanor vanished. His eyes became hard. "A bold claim. And why would you sell it to a dusty old shop like mine?"
"Because the larger apothecaries are owned by the Hong Family or have ties to the Guard. I prefer a degree of... anonymity."
The old man was silent for a long moment, weighing the risks. Dealing with this mysterious boy was dangerous. But the potential profit from a new, effective recipe was immense.
"The recipe for a standard Low-Grade healing salve might fetch twenty Spirit Stones," Guo said slowly. "But this... this is different. I'll offer you fifteen."
"Analysis: He is low-balling. The recipe's unique purification method and energy harmonization give it a value of no less than forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Counter-offer: Thirty-five, with a non-negotiable condition."
"Thirty-five," Li Yao said, his voice firm. "And you provide me with the materials for one batch of a different product, on credit, right now. No questions asked."
Old Man Guo's jaw tightened. The boy was sharp. He knew his worth. The demand for materials on credit was a clever way to get a stake without having to reveal his source of funds elsewhere.
"Thirty. And the materials for one batch of a standard Qi-Replenishing Powder. But if you default, the recipe is mine, and your debt will be collected. Harshly."
It was a devil's bargain. But it was the only one on the table.
"Deal," Li Yao said.
He spent the next hour dictating the recipe for the Ironwood Balm, carefully omitting the specific [Cyclonic Qi Filtration] process, instead describing a complex, multi-stage physical refinement that would achieve a similar, if slightly inferior, result. He was not just selling a product; he was selling a decoy.
In return, he received a heavy pouch of thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and a parcel of herbs: Spirit-Mist Grass, Dawn Lotus Seeds, and a sliver of purified Sky-Azure Crystal. The materials for a basic Qi-Replenishing Powder.
As he turned to leave, the old man spoke again, his voice low. "A word of advice, boy. The walls in this city have ears. And the Captain of the Guard pays well for interesting whispers. Watch your step."
The warning was clear. He was in the web. He had taken the bait. Now he had to spin his own thread and climb out before the spider arrived.
He had his capital. He had his next project. And he had a dangerous new understanding of his enemy's weakness. The game had just escalated from survival to commerce, and the stakes were his entire future.