For the next three days, Zhou Kai fully switched into actor mode.

He strictly adhered to the dull and tedious daily routine expected of a Chen Family Guest Elder.

During the day, he appeared punctually at the Spirit Beast Garden.

He no longer just went through the motions like before but genuinely began to work seriously.

One moment he was checking the fur color of Long-Tailed Rabbits, the next he was concerned about the feed for the Cloud-Stepping Antelopes. He even went so far as to seriously discuss breeding tips with a few Chen Family tenant farmers responsible for feeding.

“Xiao Liu, look at this Cloud-Stepping Antelope. It’s grown quite plump and strong recently. Did you add bean cake to its fodder?”

“Guest Elder Zhou has a keen eye! Indeed, we added some. See how shiny its coat is!”

Zhou Kai nodded with an air of approval, as if pleased with a promising student, while silently calculating the numbers on his system panel in his heart.

Occasionally, when he ran into Chen Muhui, who was equally idle, the two would get together to drink wine, listen to operas, and complain about their reduced allowances or which Deacon was putting on airs again, perfectly blending into the background.

His performance of being weak, helpless, and content with his lot was utterly convincing. It was as if his near-death experience in the outskirts of Crouching Tiger Mountain a few days prior and the subsequent interrogation by Chen Xingze were merely fleeting clouds that had left no ripple in his heart.

But at night, a different scene unfolded within his small courtyard.

As night fell and stars dotted the sky.

Inside the room, an amorous atmosphere rippled like water waves.

Chen Ziyi nestled obediently in Zhou Kai’s arms, breathing evenly, her cheeks flushed with contentment.

Holding this warm and fragrant soft jade in his arms, Zhou Kai felt the refresh of his system panel in his mind.

【Ding! Deep Interaction with Beauty Chen Ziyi obtained. Omni-Points +8!】 【Ding! Deep Interaction with Beauty Chen Ziyi obtained. Omni-Points +8!】 【Ding! Deep Interaction with Beauty Chen Ziyi obtained. Omni-Points +8!】

…

A regular schedule and regular interactions led to a regular increase in Omni-Points.

Zhou Kai did not hesitate at all. He poured all the points accumulated over these days into Alchemy.

His consciousness sank into the system panel.

【Zhou Kai (Dantian Damaged)】 【Cultivation: Qi Condensation Fourth Layer (0/400)】 【Vitality: Meridian Opening Second Layer (0/200)】 【Spirit Root: Metal (Low Grade 12/100), Wood (Low Grade 25/100), Water (Low Grade 17/100), Fire (Low Grade 23/100)】 【Cultivation Arts: Alchemy (Second Grade 155/300)】 【Beauty: Chen Ziyi (Mortal, Affection 88)】 【Available Omni-Points: 0】

It was time to solve this damned Dantian problem.

Without further hesitation, Zhou Kai took out the materials for True Condensation Pills purchased from Baolu Pavilion.

A flame danced at his fingertips. The Chiyang Furnace emitted a faint hum as the runes on its walls lit up one by one.

Rare medicinal ingredients were fed into the furnace in a specific order. Zhou Kai focused intently, his spirit highly concentrated, carefully sensing every subtle change in each herb’s properties within the furnace. His hands shifted through spiritual seals, constantly adjusting the flame’s temperature and intensity.

Second-grade pills were mostly used by cultivators from late-stage Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment. Zhou Kai had just entered the Qi Condensation fourth layer. The toll on his spiritual sense was immense. Even though the system had elevated his Alchemy skill to the second grade, accurately controlling his Spirit Qi output during actual operation remained a significant challenge.

During the refining process, the furnace fire nearly went out of control several times. When merging the medicinal liquids, brief rejection reactions occurred. Relying solely on his second-grade Alchemy experience—far surpassing his peers—and intuition granted by the system, he forcibly stabilized everything. Sweat nearly soaked through his clothes.

The slightest mistake would have meant starting over from scratch, resulting in a furnace full of dregs.

Time passed bit by bit. A strange medicinal fragrance gradually permeated from within the pill furnace—clear, cool, and lingering. Drifting into his nostrils, it invigorated his spirit.

At a certain moment, Zhou Kai’s eyes sharpened abruptly. His hands shot out a pill-retrieval seal!

The lid of the Chiyang Furnace popped open. Several streaks of light shot out from within and were caught by a jade vial he had prepared in advance.

With a few light ding-dang sounds, five pills now rested in the jade vial.

Four were perfectly round and smooth, emitting a soft white light with a rich pill fragrance—these were mid-grade True Condensation Pills!

The last one was slightly larger in size. Its color was more lustrous and translucent. A faint treasure light seemed to flow on its surface. Its pill fragrance was even more refreshing; taking just one whiff made one’s Dantian feel warm—it was unmistakably a top-grade True Condensation Pill of excellent quality!

Success!

A weary yet unconcealable smile of excitement appeared on Zhou Kai’s face.

From one set of materials, he produced four mid-grade and one top-grade pill! This success rate and quality might not even be achievable by some seasoned second-grade alchemists! The system truly delivered!

However, his own spiritual sense was severely depleted; he lacked the strength to start a second batch immediately.

He picked up one mid-grade True Condensation Pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a gentle yet vast warm current that instantly surged toward his lower abdomen—the location of his Dantian.

“Hiss…” Zhou Kai couldn’t help but let out a comfortable groan.

Under this medicinal force’s scouring effect, those fine cracks on his Dantian barrier began to mend at a visible pace.

The faint stinging sensation that accompanied Spirit Qi circulation also lessened considerably.

A warm, tingling itchiness emanated from deep within his Dantian—a feeling of rebirth!

The medicinal effect lasted for a full incense stick’s worth of time before gradually dissipating.

Zhou Kai carefully sensed the changes in his Dantian; an expression of wild joy spread across his face!

Effective! Remarkably effective!

He closed his eyes to sense carefully for a moment before opening them again to make an estimate.

“One mid-grade pill repaired roughly thirty percent of the damage. It seems that after taking two more pills tomorrow, my Dantian will be completely restored.”

“Hiss… One set of materials gone—that’s one thousand Spirit Stones down! These True Condensation Pills truly aren’t something ordinary people can afford.”

Zhou Kai smacked his lips slightly; it pained him somewhat. If not for having this system at hand, he wouldn’t have dared imagine having such an opportunity for extravagance.

His gaze fell upon the remaining pills—especially that top-grade True Condensation Pill—and a playful smile curled at Zhou Kai’s lips.

“This top-grade one… I definitely won’t sell it. I’ll take it for that Miss Wang to see for herself. Let her understand more clearly my true value as this ‘potential stock,’ solidifying her resolve to continue investing.”

With Wang Qiaoqiao as this connection point, future resource sales also had an outlet now.

Everything was developing according to his envisioned direction…

…

The next day.

After refining and absorbing the third True Condensation Pill’s power, those final stubborn fine cracks were smoothed over bit by bit under this nourishing force until they were completely repaired and vanished without a trace from sight or sensation alike within him now, too. Finally, after all these days since he was first injured back then, he was healed at last!