On his way to see the steward Chen, Fei Li couldn't figure out why he was being called, feeling a little nervous. As he was about to arrive, he heard a notification in his head. He stopped suddenly, and a light screen appeared before his eyes. The hints column said: "Today, someone mentioned to the steward Chen that you went out to hunt demon beasts. Since you still have energy to spare, the steward Chen has chosen to give you more tasks.

Fei Li was stunned for a moment. So this was how the system’s hints column worked; it seemed quite useful. After he knew how the hints column worked, he reminded himself to keep a low profile in the future. Today's matter was likely due to yesterday's rocket pig he had brought back, which led others to misunderstand that he had gone out hunting demon beasts instead of seriously collecting herbs. Although he had indeed killed demon beasts to gain experience points.

Later, Fei Li arrived at the steward Chen's residence. Chen was very kind and asked about Fei Li's physical recovery. Then, changing the topic, he smiled and said, "Fei Li, the sect's demand for pills has recently increased, so I need you to make more."

Fei Li cursed in his mind. Steward Chen was clearly trying to exploit him. With a sorry face, Fei Li said to steward Chen, "My body has not fully recovered yet, and I'm afraid I cannot bear the additional burden."

The steward Chen smiled, "Fei Li, I remember your alchemy skills are quite good. Moreover, this is a sect mission. I hope you can produce more pills."

After some bargaining, Fei Li ultimately agreed. He had already decided that once he returned to his wooden house, he would use the system to upgrade his alchemy layer, which should reduce his pill-making failure rate and help him manage the extra workload.

After returning to his wooden house, Fei Li casually ate something and rested early.

Early the next morning, someone knocked on his door. Fei Li opened it, and he found out it is Zheng Huilin and his daughter.

"Fei Li, I heard the steward Chen called you. What was it?" Zheng Huilin asked with concern.

Fei Li explained yesterday's events.

"With the steward Chen giving you more work, will you have time to cultivate?" Zheng Huilin worried.

Fei Li quickly reassured them, "Uncle Lin, Ke er, don't worry. I can handle it myself."

He didn't want to trouble them. They already had their own sect-assigned herb collection and pill-making tasks; there is not much time left for them to meditate, cultivate, or practice martial skills.

Especially, he didn't want to interrupt Ke er Lin's cultivation. Both of them were at the third layer of the meditation phase. Zheng Hui Lin's cultivation seemed hard to make progress, but his daughter had good talent. Fei Li didn't want his own matters to interfere with her progress.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Fei Li, don't be polite. Let us know if you need help," Ke er Lin said.

Fei Li smiled and shook his head. "Really, I'm fine."

After chatting a while, they left.

Back inside, Fei Li checked his system, seeing 3 experience points remaining. He invested 2 points into the Yuan Nurturing Pill's alchemy technique, watching it upgrade to the second layer.

Satisfied, he felt the alchemy experience increase in his mind. He took out his alchemy furnace and added ingredients. With the second layer technique, his control of fire and material fusion had become more precise.

Fei Li concentrated on crafting pills, time passing. By afternoon, he had completed part of the steward Chen's monthly task and stopped.

Although it was afternoon, he didn't feel hungry. His spiritual power could sustain his body's needs. With pills like the Bigu Pill, he could even go months without eating. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began circulating his spiritual power to recover what was spent during pill-making.

After adjusting his energy, Fei Li opened his eyes, feeling refreshed. Looking at the neatly arranged pills, he thought, "Indeed, after upgrading the Yuan Nurturing Pill's technique to the second layer, my success rate has significantly improved." He thought he could easily complete the steward Chen's assigned tasks.

After resting, Fei Li heard someone calling outside. Opening the door, he saw a woman smiling at him. He didn't recognize her until she spoke, "Junior Brother Fei Li, you haven't forgotten me, have you?"

He suddenly remembered—this was Liu Yue Wu, an outer sect disciple at the fifth level of the meditation phase. She was the one who had asked him to collect fire spirit grass, leading to his previous dangerous encounter with demon beasts and causing him to fall into the valley and injure himself.

Fei Li felt disgusted. Liu Yue Wu, with her higher cultivation layer, had asked a first-layer disciple to collect herbs, clearly wanting him to be harmed.

He thought, "The previous owner of this body was too foolish. Accepting requests from anyone, even this kind of guy."

Liu Yue Wu said. "Junior Brother Fei Li, you look well. Seems you've fully recovered. I'm so sorry. I was inconsiderate and caused you such serious injury. Did you find the fire spirit grass?"

Fei Li is not happy but still coolly responded, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I've recovered. Unfortunately, I didn't find the fire spirit grass."

Liu Yue Wu looked disappointed. After some casual conversation, she left.

That night, Liu Yue Wu was nestled in Zheng Hua Zhao's arms—an outer sect disciple at the eighth layer of the meditation phase. "Zheng Hua, I visited Fei Li today. He didn't find the fire spirit grass," she said.

Zheng Hua Zhao responded, "You had him look? He's only at the first layer. He'd likely die before finding it."

Liu Yue Wu laughed, "He is kind of foolish, so I casually mentioned it to him."

Zheng Hua Zhao chuckled, "You're wicked. But I do need the fire spirit grass to enhance my Foundation Establishment chances. I've already known its location."

Liu Yue Wu replied, "You have already known it? Fei Li is truly useless."

Zheng Hua Zhao, however, shook his head and smiled, "Not quite. You see, near the Fire Spirit Grass, there’s a second-tier demon beast—a Fire Serpent. Maybe he is useful."