A Cunning Pervert in the Cultivation World Chapter 5: Alchemy

Li Feng gazed at the luminous screen floating right in front of him.

[Choose One Free Beginner Talent]

He took little time to decide. Talisman crafting, formation, artifact refining—all precious skills on their own. Yet they failed to match what he truly required.

He chose:

[Alchemy – Rank 1]

A warm surge rushed into his chest. In that instant, vast knowledge blossomed within his mind. Herb names, spirit root fragrances, pill furnace structures, flame refinement sequences—all imprinted straight into his soul, bypassing any need for study.

He breathed out steadily, murmuring,

"Pills and spirit stones... if you have enough of both, even Nascent Soul cultivators will look twice."

A swift check of the system menu revealed:

[Alchemy Talent: Rank 1]

Can refine Rank 1 pills suitable for Qi Refining cultivators.

Upgrade to Rank 2: 100 Favor Points

One Hundred?

"So that’s the cost of climbing the ladder."

Alchemy talent divided into four tiers—from Rank 1 to Rank 4. Rank 1 allowed Qi Refining pills such as Qi Convergence or Vitality Restoration. Rank 2, however, unlocked remedies for Foundation Establishment cultivators—rarer and far more lucrative. Higher ranks lay even further ahead for Li Feng now.

"No point being a phoenix while I’m still in a chicken coop. The nail that sticks out gets hammered. And right now, I have no hammer to swing back."

Besides, ingredients for advanced pills were beyond his reach anyway.

--

Outer Sect Alchemy Hall

He traversed the sect grounds, reaching the Outer Sect Alchemy Hall—a lengthy sandstone structure nestled amid spirit herb gardens. Burnt grass and bitter root scents lingered heavily in the air.

Shelves crammed with manuals, jars, and tools cluttered the interior. At a weathered counter lounged an elder sporting a neat gray beard and deep crow’s feet around his eyes. Half-asleep, he cracked one eye open as Li Feng approached.

That single eye fixed on him.

"...You," the elder grumbled. "Didn’t you buy your way into the sect thirty years ago?"

Li Feng offered a polite bow. "That’s right, Elder."

The man’s eye squinted tighter. "Still stuck in Qi Refining third realm?"

"...Also right."

Silence hung briefly.

Then the elder sighed, straightening up. "You’re not the first old fool chasing alchemy, believing pills fix what decades of failure couldn’t."

"I’m aware," Li Feng replied steadily. "But I’d like to try anyway."

A weary grunt escaped the elder. He rummaged behind the counter, fetching a bronze pill furnace, 10 sets of Qi Convergence herbs, and a Qi Convergence Pill manual.

The bill tallied 100 spirit stones.

Before passing them over, the elder tossed in a thin jade slip.

"Flame control techniques. Free. Better you don’t blow yourself up."

Li Feng took it all with a profound bow. "Thank you."

The elder stayed silent, merely shooing him away.

"Alchemy’s not cheap. Fail one batch, and you lose some investment. Fail all 10? That’s a hundred spirit stones wasted."

Li Feng offered a subtle smile.

"Then I’ll just have to succeed."

--

Outside the Outer Sect Alchemy Hall

He emerged onto the sunlit path winding back to his dwelling.

And there she was.

Yue Lan.

That silver robe clung to her form like fresh snow over a jade sculpture’s curves. Her flowing black hair danced in the wind, golden eyes fixed ahead with focused intent. Her stride embodied grace—not merely womanly, but a cultivator’s poise, precise and steady. Each step seemed aimed at her next breakthrough.

Disciples craned their necks even from afar.

Some murmured softly.

Some gawked without shame.

None approached her.

She embodied ice.

A frosty bloom thriving in this sect’s stony fissures.

Unlike other disciples admiring her, Li Feng’s eyes dwelt too long on the sway of her peach beneath the robe’s edge.

Suddenly, Yue Lan looked his direction.

Their gazes locked, if only briefly.

Then she averted hers. Continued on. Acted as if he were a stranger.

Li Feng felt no slight.

No shock either.

"Last night was a transaction," he whispered to himself. "Nothing more."

Yet even as those words left him, a grin crept across his face.

"If one night isn’t enough... I’ll just do it ten times. And if ten times isn’t enough, then a hundred."

His boldness stemmed no longer from mere lust. It rested on solid ground now.

A system.

A system that granted rewards for bestowing and gaining favor.

A system capable of thawing even frigid jade, given enough time.

Still, as he approached the narrow trail to his hut, his pace eased. Recklessness had no place yet. System or not, weakness clung to him. He remained the pudgy, middle-aged man with dim prospects.

In this world, weakness was a sure call to death.

"Laying low is the best choice, and it's not so bad if I get a fairy to accompany me," Li Feng chuckled, looking every bit like a lecherous old man right then.

Harboring that idea, he gripped the furnace and manual tighter before slipping back into his hut.