Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

If he could upgrade an ordinary low-grade pill into a top-grade one, wouldn't the effect be drastically different? Wouldn't his cultivation speed then be like riding a rocket?

"Then how do we obtain the elixir?" Cheng Jun asked quickly.

"Can be obtained by completing tasks, purchased with spirit stones, or crafted by yourself."

"Refine it yourself?" Cheng Jun was taken aback. "I don't know how to refine pills." The original owner's memories contained no knowledge of pill refining whatsoever.

"The system can provide knowledge on alchemy. After learning it, the host can refine pills on their own."

Cheng Jun's heart skipped a beat. An alchemist! That was a highly sought-after profession, respected wherever they went. However, alchemy required a furnace, medicinal herbs, and also time and energy. He was currently penniless, possessing nothing; attempting alchemy was simply unrealistic for him.

It seems the fastest way is still to buy it with spirit stones.

Cheng Jun felt his pocket; he only had three low-grade spirit stones inside. These were the sect's allowance from last month, which the original owner had been reluctant to spend. This amount of spirit stones wasn't even enough to buy a single low-grade Qi Gathering Pill.

"I need to find a way to earn spirit stones," Cheng Jun secretly resolved.

After finishing his meal, Cheng Jun took his tray to the recycling station and then headed straight for the mission hall outside the gate.

The mission hall was a three-story wooden building, which looked much better than where he lived; at least the roof wasn't leaking. The lobby on the first floor was bustling with people. The walls were covered with all sorts of mission signs, each listing the mission details, requirements, and rewards.

Cheng Jun squeezed in and craned his neck to look at the task board.

"Hunting the first-tier demonic beast 'Black Wind Wolf' requires Qi Refining Level 5 or above, and the reward is fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"Gather ten 'Dewdrop Grass' plants. Location: Outer perimeter of the Misty Forest. Reward: Thirty low-grade spirit stones."

"Assist the weapon crafting hall in forging magical artifacts. Basic weapon crafting skills are required. The reward is twenty low-grade spirit stones."

"Teaching new disciples basic sword techniques requires them to be at least at the fifth level of Qi Refining. The reward is fifteen low-grade spirit stones."

Cheng Jun's heart sank as he read on. These tasks either required high cultivation levels or special skills, and he, a useless Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator, couldn't do anything about it.

Hunting demonic beasts? The Black Wind Wolf sounds ferocious; he'd probably be no match for it. Gathering spiritual herbs? The Misty Forest? That doesn't sound like a good place. Teaching new disciples? He's the worst at it all; who would want him to teach?

Cheng Jun circled the mission hall several times, almost straining his neck, before finally finding a mission that almost no one was looking at in the most remote corner.

"Clean the outer training ground once a day, reward two low-grade spirit stones."

Cheng Jun stared at the task board, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Cleaning? This job was just like delivering food in his previous life—both were jobs done by the lowest rungs of society. But what could he do? He was penniless now. Two spirit stones were still money, and every little bit counted.

He reached out and took the task sign off, then walked to the counter.

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged cultivator with a stubble beard, yawning. He didn't even raise his eyelids when he saw the task card Cheng Jun handed him: "Cheng Jun, right? Sign this. You need to start cleaning at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow morning and make sure it's clean before sunset, or you won't get any spirit stones."

"Understood." Cheng Jun signed the form, took the task card, and walked out.

The next morning, before dawn, Cheng Jun got up. He found a broom that was almost falling apart and went to the outer training ground.

The training ground was very large, paved with bluestone slabs, about the size of two football fields. Outer disciples usually practiced swordsmanship and sparred here. The ground was covered with broken stones, broken wood, wood shavings from swords, and weeds.

Cheng Jun took a deep breath and began sweeping the floor.

"Huff...huff..." The broom was heavy and broken, and after only a few sweeps, Cheng Jun was covered in sweat. His body was too weak; at the third level of Qi Refining, he was indeed a useless piece of trash.

He scanned the area while observing his surroundings. Many disciples were already practicing their swordsmanship in the training ground, the sounds of swords whistling through the air echoing everywhere. Each disciple was full of energy, their sword energy surging, and even the lowest-ranking among them was more skilled than him.

Cheng Jun looked at them, filled with envy. When would he be able to wield his sword like the wind, living a life of swift vengeance and freedom like them?

"Hey, isn't that Cheng Jun? What's he doing sweeping the floor?"

"Haha, I guess he failed the assessment and got punished!"

"Useless is useless. What can it do besides sweeping?"

Someone was laughing at him again. Cheng Jun gripped the broom tightly, lowered his head, and pretended not to hear. He bottled up all his grievances and anger, turning them into motivation, and swept the floor even more diligently.

He told himself that his current forbearance was for a future explosion. Once he became stronger, those who mocked him would pay the price!

It took Cheng Jun a whole morning to clean the training ground. He was so tired that his back ached and he could barely lift his arms.

He dragged his weary body back to the mission hall and handed in his mission. The unshaven cultivator inspected it, waved his hand, and gave him two low-grade spirit stones.

Cheng Jun accepted the spirit stones, his heart filled with mixed emotions. These two spirit stones were the first money he had earned through his own labor since transmigrating to this world. The spirit stones were cool to the touch, heavy, and emitted a faint spiritual energy.

"System, can these spirit stones be converted into energy?" Cheng Jun asked in his mind.

"Okay. Will you absorb it?"

"absorb."

Cheng Jun felt a slight warmth in his hand, then the spirit stones dimmed and became dull, resembling two ordinary stones. At the same time, a system notification sounded: "Absorbed two low-grade spirit stones, energy value +2."

Only two points of energy? Cheng Jun was a little disappointed. It seemed that obtaining energy by absorbing spirit stones was too inefficient.

In the days that followed, Cheng Jun began a period of intense training.

He gets up before dawn every day, first going to the martial arts arena to clean and earn two spirit stones. Then, he finds a secluded spot to begin cultivating the Azure Cloud Technique. At noon, he eats the cheapest spirit rice at the canteen, and in the afternoon continues cultivating, or goes to the back mountain to find a quiet place to practice his sword. In the evening, he returns to his dilapidated house and cultivates until late at night.

His life became extremely monotonous, consisting of nothing but cultivation and sweeping, occasionally going to the mission hall to see if there were any new missions he could do.

The spiritual rice in the canteen was far from enough for his cultivation needs, and he often felt dizzy from hunger. Having no other choice, he would go to the back mountain to gather wild vegetables and cook a vegetable soup to fill his stomach. Those wild vegetables didn't have much spiritual energy, but at least they could fill his belly.

And so, day after day, Cheng Jun's cultivation level slowly but steadily improved.

Half a month later, one morning, Cheng Jun was cultivating when he suddenly felt the spiritual energy in his dantian surge, as if it was about to break through some obstacle.

"I'm about to break through!" Cheng Jun was overjoyed and quickly cleared his mind of all distractions, focusing all his energy on circulating the Azure Cloud Technique.

"boom!"

Like a floodgate being opened, spiritual energy surged throughout his body, filling every limb and bone with power. He had finally broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining!

"Ding! Host's cultivation level has increased, energy value +50." The system notification sounded.

Cheng Jun opened his eyes, feeling a surge of power coursing through his body, much stronger than before. He clenched his fist, sensing the surging true energy within him, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Although it was only a minor Qi Refining Level 4, it was the result of his hard work.

After breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, Cheng Jun was able to take on more tasks. He was no longer satisfied with just two spirit stones for cleaning.

He searched for a long time in the quest hall and finally found a suitable quest—collecting "hemostatic herbs".

Hemostatic grass is a common first-tier spiritual herb with a wide range of uses, and the sect's purchase price is not low. The task requires collecting fifty hemostatic grass plants, and the reward is fifteen low-grade spirit stones. Hemostatic grass generally grows at the foot or halfway up a mountain, and is not considered dangerous. With his current Qi Refining Level 4 cultivation, he should be able to handle it.

After accepting the task, Cheng Jun grabbed a small shovel and a bamboo basket and headed towards the back of the mountain.

The back mountain was vast and covered in lush vegetation. Following the instructions on the task board, Cheng Jun carefully searched the bushes at the foot of the mountain.

The hemostatic herb is easy to identify; its leaves are serrated and bright green, and its roots are red.

"Found it!" Cheng Jun's eyes lit up as he spotted a hemostatic herb. He carefully dug it up by the roots with a shovel and put it in a bamboo basket.

One plant, two plants, three plants...

Cheng Jun became more and more skilled at the search, and before he knew it, he had ventured deep into the back mountain.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from inside.

Cheng Jun's heart tightened, and he immediately became alert. He held his breath and looked in the direction of the sound.

Something was moving in the grass not far away. Soon, an animal about the size of a rabbit emerged.

The animal was entirely fiery red, with red eyes and pointed ears, making it look quite cute. But Cheng Jun dared not be careless; he recognized it—a Crimson Flame Rabbit!

The Crimson Flame Rabbit is a first-tier demon beast. Although it is small in size, it is fast and can breathe fire, making it equivalent to a cultivator at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining.

Cheng Jun felt a little apprehensive. Although he was currently at the fourth level of Qi Refining, he had never actually fought a demonic beast before.

Just then, the Crimson Flame Rabbit spotted him, a fierce glint flashing in its eyes, and pounced on him!

Cheng Jun didn't have time to think and dodged to the side.

"Whoosh!" A ball of flame shot out from the Crimson Flame Rabbit's mouth, hitting the spot where Cheng Jun had just stood, instantly scorching the grass.

That was close! Cheng Jun was startled; it seemed this Crimson Flame Rabbit was more powerful than he had imagined.

He drew the iron sword that had been with the original owner for many years from his waist. This sword was issued to the original owner when he first joined the sect, and it was already rusty and the blade was dull. But now, this was the only sword he could use.

Enraged by its missed attack, the Crimson Flame Rabbit pounced on Cheng Jun again with lightning speed.

Cheng Jun took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He circulated the Azure Cloud Technique, channeling his true energy into the iron sword. Although his swordsmanship was only the most basic introductory swordsmanship, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and go for it now.

He saw the approaching Crimson Flame Rabbit and thrust his sword forward.

"Pfft!"

Although the iron sword was blunt, with the aid of true energy, it still pierced through the neck of the Crimson Flame Rabbit.

The Crimson Rabbit let out a piercing scream, collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few times, and then lay still.

Cheng Jun was panting heavily, his hand gripping the sword trembling. This was his first time killing a demonic beast, and he was still a little scared.

"Ding! Killed a Tier 1 monster, Crimson Flame Rabbit, energy value +10." The system notification sounded.

Cheng Jun breathed a sigh of relief, walked over, and dragged the Crimson Flame Rabbit's carcass over. The Crimson Flame Rabbit's pelt and meat could be sold for money; it couldn't be wasted.

He carefully collected the carcass of the Crimson Flame Rabbit and continued gathering hemostatic herbs. Having learned from his previous experience, he became even more cautious.

Soon, he purchased fifty hemostatic herbs.

Upon returning to his sect, Cheng Jun first went to the mission hall to complete the task of collecting hemostatic herbs, earning fifteen low-grade spirit stones. Then, he went to the market and sold the Crimson Flame Rabbit's corpse to a shop that buys and sells monster materials, receiving another eight low-grade spirit stones.

Including what he had left before, Cheng Jun now has a total of twenty-four low-grade spirit stones.

"Finally, I have money to buy pills!" Cheng Jun thought excitedly.

He arrived at a medicine shop, where a rich aroma of herbs filled the air.

"What would you like, sir?" A young man dressed as a medicine boy greeted him.

"I need a low-grade Qi Gathering Pill," Cheng Jun said. Qi Gathering Pills are the most basic pills for increasing cultivation, and they are very suitable for his current needs.

"A low-grade Qi Gathering Pill costs twenty low-grade spirit stones," the medicine boy said.

Cheng Jun gritted his teeth, took out twenty spirit stones, and handed them over.

The young apprentice took the spirit stone and poured a grayish-brown pill from a jade bottle, handing it to Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun took the pill, held it to his nose, and smelled it. It had a faint medicinal scent. So this is a low-grade Qi Gathering Pill?

He couldn't wait to get back to his dilapidated house and close the door.

"System, optimize this Qi Gathering Pill!"

"Analyzing... Optimizing... Optimization complete. Low-grade Qi Gathering Pill → High-grade Qi Gathering Pill. Energy consumed: 50. Current energy: 12."

A faint light flashed from the pill in Cheng Jun's hand. The originally grayish-brown pill instantly turned golden and shimmering with spiritual energy, and the medicinal fragrance became several times stronger!

Cheng Jun stared at the top-grade Qi Gathering Pill in his hand, his heart pounding wildly. So this is a top-grade pill? It truly lives up to its reputation!

Without further hesitation, he swallowed the top-grade Qi Gathering Pill in one gulp.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into a surge of powerful spiritual energy that instantly coursed throughout his body! The feeling was even greater than the spiritual energy he absorbed during a month of cultivation!

Cheng Jun quickly sat cross-legged, activated the Azure Cloud Technique, and guided the massive spiritual energy to impact his meridians.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

His cultivation level began to improve rapidly!

Mid-stage of Qi Refining Level 4!

Late stage of Qi Refining Level 4!

Peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining!

Qi Refining Level 5!

Still going on!

Mid-stage of Qi Refining Level 5!

It wasn't until the late stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining that the spiritual energy gradually subsided.

Cheng Jun opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. He could clearly feel that his cultivation had reached the late stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining! Just one optimized top-grade Qi Gathering Pill had allowed him to advance more than two levels!

"The system is awesome!" Cheng Jun couldn't help but exclaim inwardly. With the system, his path to immortality was destined to be extraordinary!

"Ding! Host's cultivation level has increased to the fifth level of Qi Refining. Reward: Energy Value +100."

Cheng Jun looked at the energy value on the system panel: 62. His heart was filled with hope.

Pass the inner sect assessment within six months? He's confident now! No, he not only wants to pass, he wants to be number one!