"Alchemy, make money!"

  With the arrival of the system, Ye Chen, filled with renewed hope and motivation, was no longer scking off.

  Having lived two lives, Ye Chen understood one truth very well.

  Money is a man's courage.

  This is true in any world.

  On Earth, with money, you can work out, buy a house, buy a car, travel the world, and not be beholden to anyone.

  In the world of cultivation, it's not much different.

  Without spirit stones, you can only be like Lin Ke'er, becoming a clever bitch for a bit of resources.

  With spirit stones, you don't have to waste time working every day.

  You can rent better courtyards, use better pills, and eat better spirit rice.

  With strength, others will seek to please you.

  And Ye Chen had the Lick Spirit System.

  The stronger he became, the higher his level, the stronger the female cultivators he could interact with in the future.

  The feedback multiplier would be higher.

  So Ye Chen's desire to strive was at its peak.

  It was the perfect time to experience the insights of a first-grade full completion alchemist.

  However, when Ye Chen took out the herbs from the storage box, counted and inspected them one by one, he frowned.

  There was a problem with the herbs.

  To refine Qi Gathering Pills, the main ingredients needed are Withered Yellow Grass and Rose Red.

  But there was an issue with the Rose Red.

  Several stalks were clearly not stored properly, with petals slightly turning white, though not obvious.

  Such slightly whitened Rose Red had lost its medicinal potency and could no longer serve as a main ingredient.

  Forcing its use would only result in waste pills.

  The former self was a novice and didn't notice this problem.

  But the current Ye Chen was different, with complete insights, he was very knowledgeable about the herbs used at this stage.

  Ye Chen took out all the Rose Red and found that at least one-third of them had this issue.

  His face immediately turned grim.

  No wonder the former self had such a high failure rate.

  Back in the family, the former self's success rate was at least one in five.

  At least one out of five furnaces would succeed.

  But here, it was only successful once in seven or eight tries.

  So this was the reason.

  Someone was sabotaging him in secret.

  Thinking of this, Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.

  The herbs were supplied by the shop.

  This was Ye family's own business, and his failure in alchemy had no benefit for the family.

  So, who was behind this?

  ***

  Knock, knock, knock...

  The door was knocked, and a kindly voice came from outside the window, "Nephew Ye, are you alright?"

  Hearing this voice, a cold smile appeared on Ye Chen's lips.

  Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!

  Ye Chen threw the Rose Red back into the storage box, covered it, and then put on a smiling face, politely and warmly opening the door to welcome the visitor, "What brings Steward Zhang here, please come in, come in."

  Ye Chen hadn't worked in a state enterprise for ten years for nothing.

  And the entering Steward Zhang looked plump and had a friendly smile, "I just came to ask how Nephew Ye's alchemy is going? Didn't disturb your alchemy, did I?"

  Upon hearing this, Ye Chen immediately shook his head, "No, no, the alchemy is going well, it's just that I haven't fully adapted since leaving the family, so the progress is a bit slow. I'm afraid it will be at the end of the task deadline before I can hand over the pills."

  Steward Zhang smelled the faint burnt smell still lingering in the room and saw the pile of uncleaned herb residue, his smile widened, "What are you saying, nephew? You are a member of the Ye family, this shop is yours.

  Don't worry about handing in within the task period, even if it's a few days te, it's fine.

  I have the authority to grant some leniency, helping nephew is no problem.

  This way, nephew will have a better chance to join Qingyun Sect, right!"

  Qingyun Sect?

  Ye Chen listened, his expression unchanged, but his heart was completely certain.

  The one using Rose Red to sabotage him was this guy in front of him.

  ***

  Qingyun Sect was the local major sect, with a Golden Elixir Ancestor overseeing it.

  The first generation ancestor of the Ye family was once an outer disciple of Qingyun Sect.

  Unfortunately, he was unlucky and never reached Foundation Establishment.

  Later, he left to establish his own family, spreading his branches.

  Qingyun Sect supported this.

  Disciples with no prospects going out to establish families could increase Qingyun Sect's control over various pces.

  Occasionally, some tasks would be assigned.

  The first generation Ye family ancestor had a friend who became a Foundation Establishment elder, and former fellow disciples would often visit.

  When encountering issues, they could find connections to ask for help.

  So the family was quite prosperous after being established.

  But after the first generation ancestor died, this goodwill faded.

  Only a little remained, but not much.

  And now, with the third generation family head succeeding, the goodwill with Qingyun Sect was completely gone.

  However, Qingyun Sect had a benefit for these semi-affiliated families.

  If the family produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they could get two spots to enter Qingyun Sect.

  And the current third generation family head was at full completion of Qi Refining, now aiming to break through to Foundation Establishment.

  But supporting a Foundation Establishment cultivator required too many resources.

  So Ye Chen's generation, the fifth generation of the Ye family, was also driven out to work for the family, earning resources to support the family head.

  It was about sacrificing the individual for the family.

  But there was also a benefit, which was the entry spots to Qingyun Sect.

  There were seven people in Ye Chen's generation.

  They would compete for these two entry spots based on their performance during this period.

  So the former self worked hard on alchemy, until he died from overwork.

  After all, joining a major sect meant a better future and higher prospects.

  Far beyond what could be achieved by staying in the small Ye family.

  But the small Ye family, despite not even having a Foundation Establishment cultivator now, still had serious factionalism.

  Ye Chen was the only child of the third branch.

  As for this shop, it was managed by the second branch.

  Even the former self's alchemy techniques were learned from the Second Uncle.

  Thinking of this, Ye Chen suddenly understood everything.

  No wonder the former self's alchemy skills were so poor, unable to even distinguish if the Rose Red had issues.

  And no wonder the shop would secretly provide tampered Rose Red.

  This was digging a pit for him.

  To prevent him from competing for the Qingyun Sect spots.

  ***

  Thinking of this, Ye Chen could only sneer.

  A mere Qi Refining family, not thinking of working together to elevate the family, letting everyone rise, was one thing.

  But to deliberately suppress their own descendants for a spot they might not even get.

  It was utterly ridiculous.

  Such a family, even if the family head truly broke through to Foundation Establishment, had no future.

  Anyway, after understanding everything.

  Ye Chen had no expectations for this family anymore.

  But he was still very interested in the Qingyun Sect spot.

  After all, the system also mentioned.

  The higher the quality of the female cultivators, the higher the multiplier.

  On Earth, beautiful women flock to big cities.

  This principle surely applies in the cultivation world too.

  Outstanding female cultivators must have joined sects.

  If he could enter Qingyun Sect, he might encounter beauties with twenty, thirty, or even a hundred times the multiplier.

  He could save thirty years of effort instantly.

  Just thinking about it made Ye Chen very tempted.

  And the disciples formally recruited by sects had very high requirements.

  They must not have cultivated before and must have a clean background.

  Like Lin Ke'er, a rogue cultivator, without opportunities, she would have no chance to join a sect.

  The same went for Ye Chen.

  So he really had to compete for this spot...