This system is somewhat seriously flawed.

“Perhaps it was a fateful encounter, where you met the greatest support for your lifelong nemesis. At this moment, he is nearby! Exert yourself with all your might, and defeat him just this once!”

“Complete the task and you will receive a Pill Spirit Gourd!”

“Simply place the medicinal ingredients corresponding to the pill recipe inside, and it will assist in refining the pill as described. The only flaw is that the pills produced by this gourd are of rather ordinary quality.”

The drowsy, synthetic voice halted abruptly, as if it had finished reading the assignment and clocked out.

It seemed to disappear after reciting the task.

Xiao Qingpei had no intention of responding, but after hearing about the Pill Spirit Gourd’s function, he couldn’t help but be tempted.

After all, pills were rare treasures for cultivators in this world. If not for the sect’s immortal examinations being the only method for advancement, even the precious quota for the immortal exam would pale in comparison to the value of pills.

Even so, the worth of pills rivaled that of the immortal exam manuals.

If the parents of this body had possessed a healing pill at the time, even if they’d shared it between them, they would not have died from their wounds.

Thus, Xiao Qingpei hastily glanced around him, but in his vicinity, there was not even the shadow of a person, or the outline of a large bird.

This left Xiao Qingpei feeling frustrated, and he shifted his thoughts: “Is there a consolation prize for this task?”

This time, the task didn’t keep Xiao Qingpei waiting long.

Barely the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the drowsy synthetic voice informed him that he had failed the task.

This time, there was neither consolation nor punishment.

Xiao Qingpei felt a twinge of regret.

It seemed that freeloading wasn’t always possible; next time, he would try harder!

Then, he entered the county town.

This county was called Rujin, one of the rare bustling towns within the Great Yao Dynasty. Yet even here, there was only one place that sold ancient items.

It was an antique shop, which also served as a pawnshop, dealing in the business of buying cheap and selling dear, openly deceiving customers.

Those with a conscience could not survive in this trade.

Xiao Qingpei strode inside. His appearance was ordinary, his attire unremarkable, lacking any sense of style, but his cultivation gave him an undeniable aura.

Even though he had suppressed his immortal force, standing among the crowd he was as conspicuous as a crane among chickens.

Because of this, the shop owner hurried out to greet him, assuming a distinguished patron had arrived—until he heard from Xiao Qingpei that he wanted to purchase items only a few decades old.

“Young man, are you here to make fun of an old man?” The shop owner, an elderly gentleman in fine robes, frowned at Xiao Qingpei.

Items several decades old—was he implying all the shop’s goods were fakes?

No one in this business could tolerate such words!

Xiao Qingpei knew his request sounded troublesome, so he produced a crimson jade hook shaped like half a Taiji symbol.

At the sight of it, the owner’s face immediately lit up.

“So it’s an immortal master visiting us!”

This was the Taiyi Jade Hook, also known as Pure Yang Immortal Jade.

It was used as currency among cultivators, crafted by the Pure Yang Taiyi Palace. Both its method of forging and its materials were secrets closely guarded.

With this Taiyi Jade Hook, one could exchange it at any nearby dynasty for whatever one desired.

This was the rule set by the Pure Yang Taiyi Palace.

It was acknowledged by all dynasties.

Yet, how many dynasties could fulfill every need of a cultivator? Thus, even when cultivators brandished the Taiyi Jade Hook, local dynasties often lacked the items required.

Over time, the Taiyi Jade Hook began to circulate.

To avoid incurring the wrath of the Pure Yang Taiyi Palace, each dynasty decreed that any citizen possessing a Taiyi Jade Hook who handed it over to the court would be granted exemption from corvée labor and taxes.

This explained the owner’s joy upon seeing the Taiyi Jade Hook.

After all, who wasn’t troubled by labor and taxes?

“Please, old sir, find me some items matching my requirements—about fifty years old, or even twenty years old, the closer the better, ideally from this very year.” Xiao Qingpei handed over the Taiyi Jade Hook and explained his request in detail.

Elsewhere, the Taiyi Jade Hook might be considered precious, but in the Great Yao region…

Few cultivators cared for it.

It was useless for obtaining anything related to cultivation; in some sense, it could be treated simply as a decorative accessory.

“Immortal master, please wait a moment!” the shop owner said hurriedly. He did not keep Xiao Qingpei waiting long; within the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, he returned with several suitable items.

Three pieces around fifty years old, two around twenty years old—all meeting Xiao Qingpei’s requirements.

“Thank you, old sir!” Xiao Qingpei left, satisfied.

The talent “Better Me Than You” required, when enlightening spirits, that it be done in places with a fair number of people. So Xiao Qingpei settled in a relatively secluded spot within the county.

It was a residence nestled beside a great lake, with beautiful scenery.

Its only flaw was the abundance of mosquitoes and heavy humidity; at dawn and dusk, mist would inevitably blanket the area.

Ordinarily, renting this place would require official documentation from the Great Yao court, but once Xiao Qingpei produced a Taiyi Jade Hook, all such troubles vanished instantly.

No sooner had Xiao Qingpei moved in than the drowsy synthetic voice sounded again.

“Having completed the novice tasks, you are fully attuned to the Female Lead Ascension System, and you understand that you are the true chosen woman of destiny. Thus, you have set yourself lofty goals—to ascend step by step, ever upward, to the pinnacle of the cultivation world!”

The familiar Xiao Qingpei: “…”

Had he not heard these words before?

“Perhaps it was a fateful encounter, where you met the greatest support for your lifelong nemesis. At this moment, he is nearby! Exert yourself with all your might, and defeat him just this once!”

“Complete the task and you will receive a Pill Spirit Gourd!”

The drowsy synthetic voice continued, confirming for Xiao Qingpei that he had indeed heard this before.

“Does your task repeat itself?” Xiao Qingpei finally couldn’t help but complain aloud.

“And, first tell me—who is nearby?” he continued, scanning his surroundings. Then Xiao Qingpei froze.

There really was someone nearby.

At the lakeside, a drowsy little figure was dipping tiny feet into the water, as if testing the temperature.