Ya Fei's Recruitment!

What surprised Nalan Chaoge was that Guo'er had hurried back after being out for only two hours.

"Did you buy all the medicinal ingredients so quickly?" Nalan Chaoge asked doubtfully as he looked at the empty-handed Guo'er.

"Yes! This is wonderful, Young Master. I ran into Young Lady Ya Fei at the market just now. When she learned that you wanted first-grade medicinal ingredients, she had the Auction House people help us!"

"Silly girl, the Auction House's prices are so expensive!"

"No, Young Master. Young Lady Ya Fei didn't ask us for any gold coins. She said these hundred first-grade medicinal ingredients were a gift for you! Oh, right, she also gave me a letter to pass on to you!" As Guo'er spoke, she took out a low-grade Na Ring from her hand, along with a letter.

Ya Fei?

What was that woman up to now?

"My dear little brother, let your sister first congratulate you on becoming a Dou Zhe. These are one hundred medicinal ingredients; I hope you won't find them lacking. Consider them a gift from your sister for acknowledging you as her little brother. Oh, and you are not allowed to refuse. In order to help you conceal your murder of Mu Lu, your sister was demoted and sent away from Holy City by the family. We won't be seeing each other for a long time. So, are you touched? Remember, you owe your sister a huge favor. When I come looking for you later, you'd better not deny it! Your sister, Ya Fei!"

After reading the letter, Nalan Chaoge's lips curled upward. That woman truly knew how to play her cards.

Was the strength he had displayed after becoming a Dou Zhe really worth only a hundred first-grade medicinal ingredients?

Still, he had to admit that woman was exceptionally skilled at winning people over.

Fine, so what if he accepted this favor from her?

At a time like this, Ya Fei was leaving Holy City. Nalan Chaoge suddenly understood something: something was about to happen in Wutan City.

The Mite'er Family really did plan ahead for trouble.

"Young Master, should we accept these things?" Guo'er asked worriedly.

"Of course. Why wouldn't we?" Nalan Chaoge took the Na Ring and waved a hand, taking out all one hundred first-grade medicinal ingredients.

Their dazzling variety nearly filled the room.

"Whew, that's good. Young Master, here is your card!" Guo'er handed Nalan Chaoge's card over as well.

Nalan Chaoge glanced at Guo'er.

"Keep it with you. I hardly use money anyway. If I need any, I'll ask you for it. From now on, you'll be my little housekeeper." Nalan Chaoge's eyes never left those medicinal ingredients as he said it in a teasing tone.

Guo'er's face flushed crimson.

"Thank you for your favor, Young Master!"

"Hm? My favor?"

"Young Master, you... you're so bad!"

Guo'er said bashfully, her entire body tingling and weak as though she had no strength left.

Didn't being his housekeeper mean being his Wife? Did that mean Young Master was willing to marry her?

On the Dou Qi Continent, having three wives and four concubines was perfectly normal. Guo'er had never imagined that someone of her status could marry Nalan Chaoge. She had only hoped that Young Master would not abandon her in the days to come, and that alone would have satisfied her.

This girl...

"Alright, alright. Guo'er, go out first. I need to refine medicine!" It was not that Nalan Chaoge did not want to embrace such a beauty, but after being unconscious for two years, that part of him had not developed yet. He had the will but not the ability.

If he could refine medicine, he would definitely first refine a few pills to strengthen his tendons and bones, replenish his qi and boost his yang. Mm, mm, preferably some Harmony Powder, Joyful Union Powder, Spring-Gaining Powder, and the like. The more, the better!

"Then Guo'er won't disturb Young Master!" Guo'er curtsied. She knew what a maid—or a woman by Young Master's side—should and should not do, and when she ought to leave.

Once the room had fallen silent, Nalan Chaoge summoned the system again.

"System Big Brother, begin recycling!"

"Ding! The system has detected a large quantity of first-grade medicinal ingredients. Since the system is currently D-rank, it can only recycle second-grade medicinal ingredients!"

A D-rank system could only recycle second-grade medicinal ingredients?

Nalan Chaoge was dumbfounded!

Then what was he supposed to do with all these first-grade medicinal ingredients?

"Uh, no, Big Brother, each system rank can only recycle medicinal ingredients of the corresponding grade? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Ding! You didn't ask!"

"Damn it, then what do I do with these medicinal ingredients? At least take them in. Exchanging them for half the Points would be fine!"

"Ding! After the system's rank increases, it cannot identify or recycle medicinal ingredients that do not match the system's rank!"

"Damn!"

His excitement had been for nothing.

I knew it. How could there be such a good deal?

Everyone wanted a free lunch, but not only had he failed to get the lunch, he had even been tricked.

Fortunately, Ya Fei had given him these medicinal ingredients. Otherwise, Nalan Chaoge would have been so heartbroken that he could not eat.

"Ding! Although the system cannot recycle medicinal ingredients below its rank, you may choose to use these medicinal ingredients to refine pills. There is no grade restriction for pill refinement, but you can only refine pills below the system's rank! The Points consumed will be based on the Point cost of the system's current rank."

That did come as a pleasant surprise to Nalan Chaoge.

How had he forgotten about the system's pill-refining function?

Medicinal ingredients might be expensive, but compared to pills, they were far inferior.

A few first-grade medicinal ingredients worth a hundred gold coins each could be worth ten thousand or even a hundred thousand if refined into pills.

Still, this system was rather unscrupulous. Refining lower-grade pills also consumed Points at the current system rank's rate.

In other words, a D-rank system needed two hundred Points to refine a first-grade pill.

A C-rank system likewise needed four hundred Points to refine a first-grade pill.

What about S-rank?

What a scam!

There was no helping it. Who made him not an Alchemist?

"Then let's begin refining!" Nalan Chaoge said helplessly.

"Ding! Friendly reminder: the host currently has zero Points!"

"..."

In his excitement, Nalan Chaoge had forgotten that he had no Points.

Points could be obtained by recycling medicinal ingredients, cultivation methods and Battle Skills, or Heavenly Treasures. Nalan Chaoge thought it over briefly. The only things in his possession that could be recycled were a Xuan-tier mid-grade Raging Lion's Wrath and a Living Dragon Tendon nearing the sixth tier.

But if he recycled those things, he would feel somewhat unworthy of Nalan Jie's expectations.

He resentfully put away the roomful of first-grade medicinal ingredients. How was he supposed to earn Points?

Second-grade medicinal ingredients—right, he still had ten thousand gold coins. He could go buy second-grade medicinal ingredients.

The moment he thought of this, Nalan Chaoge quickly walked out of the room.

First-grade medicinal ingredients cost a hundred gold coins each. With ten thousand gold coins, he should be able to buy some second-grade medicinal ingredients, right?

"Guo'er, Guo'er..." The moment he stepped outside, Nalan Chaoge called out loudly.

"What is it, Young Master? Eh, Young Master, have you already finished refining the pills?" Guo'er looked at Nalan Chaoge in surprise.

"No. I need a few second-grade medicinal ingredients now. Can you go again and... Forget it, let's go. I'll come with you!"

"Young Master, how about... Guo'er goes alone? Um..."

"What is it?"

"I heard that Mu Tong of the Mu Family has returned. It seems he came back because of Mu Lu's death. Mu Tong's cultivation talent is low, but he had the best relationship with Mu Lu, so..."

"Oh?" Nalan Chaoge's eyes lit up, and the corners of his lips curled upward again.

What a coincidence.

Grandfather Nalan Jie had been transferred away from Holy City, while the Mu Family's people had rushed back at this moment!

It seemed the Mu Family had considerable influence. And that imperial family was rather interesting as well!

If they truly dared to make a move against him, he would not mind showing them just how wonderful this world could be!