Although nothing was appraised, Jiang Hao was relieved that he hadn’t been discovered.

Using this ability in the future, he wouldn’t need to worry as much.

Jiang Hao let out a quiet breath of relief.

As for why the appraisal didn’t yield any results, the reason was unclear. Was it because her cultivation was too high or for some other reason? He could only test it again later.

“You seem very intent on hiding your cultivation,” Hong Yuye said calmly, her gaze fixed on Jiang Hao.

“I simply wish not to draw too much attention, Senior. The flower in the courtyard is extraordinary and could easily attract trouble,” Jiang Hao replied, not entirely lying.

His cultivation was advancing too quickly, and with the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower in his possession, the pace wouldn’t slow down.

If he didn’t conceal his cultivation, it wouldn’t be long before countless people set their sights on him. Forget Golden Core cultivators—even someone at the late or peak Foundation Establishment stage could render him helpless.

“Then take this.” Hong Yuye casually placed a book on the table and warned, “You understand the consequences if the flower isn’t well cared for, right?”

“I understand,” Jiang Hao replied immediately, nodding.

He glanced at the book on the table.

It had no title, so it didn’t seem to be a cultivation manual.

Hong Yuye rose slowly and walked toward the door.

As she reached the doorway, she turned to look back at Jiang Hao.

That glance, cold and piercing, sent chills down his spine.

“Does Senior have any other instructions?” Jiang Hao steadied himself and lowered his head to ask.

Her gaze was too terrifying for him to meet directly.

It seemed to carry an immense pressure that made him feel restless and uneasy.

This was the power of a true cultivator—one glance could crush a person’s spirit.

“Regarding my matters...”

Before she could finish, Jiang Hao quickly said, “I swear, Senior, I will never disclose anything about you to anyone, even if it costs me my life.”

“You’d better remember your words.” Hong Yuye gave him a final glance and then left.

“I’ll be visiting regularly to check on the flower’s growth. If anything happens to it, you’ll face my wrath,” her icy voice echoed in his ears.

Jiang Hao waited for a long time until he was sure she had left entirely.

Only then did he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Her gaze alone had left him drenched in cold sweat.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Whenever she was around, his emotions became chaotic, and now that she had left, he felt a calm void.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

“What did she leave behind?”

Jiang Hao walked over to the table and picked up the nameless book, flipping it open.

There was no introduction in the book; it began directly with explanations about spiritual energy, the mind, the body, and breathing techniques.

The descriptions were incredibly detailed.

The handwriting seemed casual but elegant, suggesting it was a set of personal notes.

Ignoring the aesthetics, Jiang Hao started reading carefully.

Soon, he realized that the book described techniques for controlling one’s breath, extending one’s spirit, and mastering physical strength.

If he could master these techniques, he would be able to perfectly conceal his cultivation.

Furthermore, the methods outlined could help him deduce the cultivation levels of others by analyzing their breathing patterns, spiritual energy flows, and physical strength.

Beyond that, mastering these techniques would make his cultivation efforts much more efficient.

“This book is practically a top-tier cultivation manual, an absolute treasure. It seems that woman is determined to get the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower.”

The Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower had been entrusted to him by Elder Bai Zhi. Initially, he had considered asking Elder Bai Zhi to transplant it back.

Now, he didn’t even dare to think about it.

As for the woman’s demand for the flower, he had no choice but to comply. His only hope was that the flower would mature as late as possible.

He also hoped Elder Bai Zhi wouldn’t try to take it back.

As for the traitor issue, there had been no developments, so it couldn’t be assessed for now.

After roughly familiarizing himself with the book’s content, Jiang Hao turned his attention to the formation diagram.

This was much simpler to understand.

The initial setup would require around a hundred spirit stones.

Fortunately, he had enough spirit stones at the moment, and the thousand-stone compensation was no longer a pressing concern.

With a month still to go, he had time to earn another hundred stones.

By the time the formation was set up, it was nearing noon.

Jiang Hao hurried to the Spirit Herb Garden.

The garden was the same as always. It wasn’t a place frequented by many, except for those coming to purchase herbs.

Most commonly, people sought Heartbreak Grass.

During this time, even the inner disciples of Heartbreak Cliff knew he had provoked the Tianhuan Pavilion and often avoided him, fearing he might ask to borrow spirit stones from them.

Of course, it wasn’t actually about borrowing stones—no one would lend them anyway.

They were more concerned that associating with him might lead the Tianhuan Pavilion to assume they were allies.

This situation made Jiang Hao realize that Heartbreak Cliff lacked the authority and influence of the Tianhuan Pavilion.

Only traitors dared to approach him, and even then, they always had legitimate reasons.

They, too, were afraid of being treated like bait.

“The big fish has already taken the bait. I just hope Elder Bai Zhi doesn’t start asking questions too soon. Otherwise…”

It was impossible to confess the truth. That woman’s strength seemed far beyond Elder Bai Zhi’s.

Or perhaps Elder Bai Zhi simply hadn’t shown her full power.

Given his current strength, he couldn’t afford to offend either side.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Jiang Hao began helping with tasks in the Spirit Herb Garden.

By now, the bubbles of energy had fully merged into his body.

[Spirit +1][Strength +1][Endurance +1][Dagger Mastery +1]

There was no increase in cultivation or vitality this time, but Jiang Hao didn’t mind. After reading that book, he felt more attuned to his strength and spirit.

Whenever he absorbed these bubbles, he could clearly sense the subtle improvements. This feeling was incredibly satisfying.

Over the next few days, Jiang Hao didn’t rush to sell talismans but instead focused on studying the book.

He needed to thoroughly comprehend it before venturing out.

Otherwise, if he encountered a strong cultivator capable of assessing him holistically, his cultivation might be exposed.

During his studies, Jiang Hao entered a state of mental clarity and serenity, which significantly accelerated his progress.