"Fellow Daoist Ye, you haven't mentioned the reason for your visit today."

  "If it's something important that outsiders shouldn't hear, would you like to discuss it inside?"

  Lin Ke'er couldn't stand it any longer.

  She decided to interrupt.

  Even though she didn't like Ye Chen.

  Seeing Lu Jing being so warm to Ye Chen made her uncomfortable.

  She and Lu Jing weren't exactly close friends.

  They were more like acquaintances who nodded in passing.

  They had just happened to meet when renting a pce, both short on money, and decided to team up.

  Of course, Lin Ke'er didn't think she was afraid of Lu Jing stealing Ye Chen away.

  She didn't care about that.

  She was just worried that Ye Chen might be deceived by Lu Jing.

  Lu Jing had her own suitors.

  Ye Chen was so naive, he could easily be used by Lu Jing.

  So Lin Ke'er directly interrupted their conversation.

  She wanted to take Ye Chen into the room.

  ...

  Upon hearing this, Lu Jing's mature face broke into an even wider smile.

  But she said nothing, just looked at Ye Chen with a pyful smile.

  Ye Chen, on the other hand, wasn't particurly excited about the chance to enter Lin Ke'er's room.

  He noticed Lin Ke'er's sudden interruption and her slightly displeased expression.

  In his past life, Ye Chen had encountered many women in the realm of romance.

  He understood the mindset of someone like Lin Ke'er very well.

  Even if she didn't care for a "lick spirit," she would still be unhappy if someone else showed interest in taking it away.

  After all, even if they didn't like the "lick spirit," in their eyes, it still belonged to them.

  Ye Chen didn't care about Lin Ke'er's thoughts.

  To him, Lin Ke'er and Lu Jing were no different.

  In fact, Lu Jing was even a bit better.

  After all, both had the same multiplier, so which one he "invested" in didn't matter.

  Ahem...

  No, it's an investment!

  He gnced at the sky, which was about to darken.

  Ye Chen didn't want to return too te.

  With such a promising future, it would be a huge loss if something happened to him in a dark alley.

  So Ye Chen spoke directly, "It's nothing important, no need to go inside..."

  "Fairy Lin, since you've broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and I happen to be able to refine Essence Cultivation Pills now."

  "Among the pills I've refined these past few days, there are ten medium-grade pills, which I've brought to aid your cultivation."

  "After all, the mountains are dangerous, and the stronger you are, the more at ease I will be."

  With that, Ye Chen took out the pills he had prepared and handed them to Lin Ke'er.

  Hearing this, Lin Ke'er's face lit up with joy.

  Essence Cultivation Pills, and medium-grade ones at that?

  Ever since she broke through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the effect of Qi Gathering Pills had diminished.

  But the price of Essence Cultivation Pills was twice that of Qi Gathering Pills.

  Even low-grade Essence Cultivation Pills cost ten pills per spirit stone.

  A month's cultivation required three low-grade spirit stones.

  Compared to her previous expenses, it was a direct doubling.

  Plus, she still needed to cultivate external martial arts, consuming spirit rice.

  This made Lin Ke'er increasingly strapped for resources, with her accumuted resources dwindling bit by bit.

  It made her anxious, eager to head into the mountains to earn spirit stones.

  The Essence Cultivation Pills Ye Chen brought, especially the medium-grade ones, were an unexpected delight.

  Lin Ke'er had long grown accustomed to Ye Chen gifting her pills.

  So she didn't refuse, instead expressing her gratitude with joy.

  Seeing Lin Ke'er accept them, Ye Chen listened to the system's notification and smiled, "In that case, I'll be heading back!"

  "No need to see me off, Fairy..."

  With that, he nodded at Lu Jing, who wore an expression that seemed to say, "I knew it was you," and left the courtyard, heading back to the One Leaf Pill Shop.

  As evening approached, more female cultivators stood in the alley.

  Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh.

  The employment situation in the cultivation world was indeed dire.

  ...

  "Fellow Daoist Lu, I'm heading back!"

  Ye Chen left.

  Lin Ke'er waved her hand and went back to her room.

  Usually, the two were polite to each other.

  But today, seeing Lu Jing being so warm to her "lick spirit," Lin Ke'er couldn't stand it.

  She even pnned to move out once she returned from the mountains with some spirit stones.

  She didn't want to live with Lu Jing anymore.

  Lu Jing, meanwhile, smiled as she looked at the pill bottle in Lin Ke'er's hand, her phoenix eyes sparkling.

  That Ye Chen...

  He really was the legendary "lick spirit" alchemist.

  Ye Chen was now quite famous throughout the Silver Moon Market.

  Everyone knew he gifted women with external martial arts, magic, and countless pills.

  Lu Jing had thought the rumors were exaggerated.

  She didn't believe a male cultivator could be so foolish.

  Many male cultivators had shown interest in Lu Jing, but it was mostly just talk; none were willing to give anything substantial.

  Some would give a little benefit and then expect immediate returns, as if spending a bit of spirit stone meant they had bought her.

  But Ye Chen?

  He even gifted medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills.

  A single low-grade spirit stone could only buy seven medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills.

  Ten medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills were worth about one and a half low-grade spirit stones.

  And after giving the gift, Ye Chen turned and left, without any expectation of repayment.

  This made Lu Jing believe the rumors.

  But it also stirred feelings of jealousy within her.

  That Lin Ke'er, her figure wasn't as good as hers, just a bit more aloof in temperament.

  Why did she get to have such a "lick spirit" who gave without expecting anything in return?

  Why couldn't such a "lick spirit" be hers?

  Thinking of Ye Chen's amazed expression when he first saw her figure.

  Lu Jing felt she might have a chance.

  If Ye Chen shifted his affections and gave her what he had been giving Lin Ke'er.

  That would be ideal.

  With resource support, she wouldn't have to struggle so much.

  As for feeling guilty about taking Ye Chen?

  Impossible.

  In the cultivation world, even sisters compete for resources.

  Let alone a roommate like Lin Ke'er.

  Not competing would be foolish!

  ...

  Ye Chen was unaware of the thoughts of the two women.

  But even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

  After all, it didn't matter to him who he gave things to; it was all tenfold.

  Returning safely to the pill shop.

  Ye Chen looked at the system space.

  "Gift successful!"

  "The gift was ten medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills."

  "Processing feedback..."

  "Tenfold feedback, rewarded with one hundred medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills."

  Seeing the feedback, Ye Chen's eyes lit up.

  A huge profit...

  One hundred medium-grade Essence Cultivation Pills were worth about fifteen low-grade spirit stones.

  In a month, that would be at least sixty low-grade spirit stones.

  If he continued to refine two furnaces of pills a day, he could produce four to five hundred Essence Cultivation Pills a month.

  Adding it all up, he could potentially earn a medium-grade spirit stone in a month.

  And the herbs were provided by the pill shop.

  Steward Zhang would probably sell him low-cost pills to complete tasks.

  Rounding up, it was pure profit.

  Once he had spirit stones, he could continue buying expensive gifts.

  For instance, Ye Chen felt he needed a self-defense cultivation technique.

  Attack magic was too limited.

  When he had money, he should buy a few more.

  And magic artifacts, which could greatly increase attack power.

  And magic robes, which could greatly enhance defense.

  And a storage bag, he wanted one too.

  After all, with more and more pills, carrying them in his arms or leaving them in his room was inconvenient.

  A storage bag would undoubtedly be better.

  In short, after calcuting, Ye Chen felt his path of cultivation was long and arduous.

  There were too many pces where money was needed.

  Even with alchemy skills and the system, life was still tight.

  Ordinary cultivators must have it even harder!