Chapter 2: These Skills Are Truly Torturous!

After issuing the threat, the system quickly added:

“If the host completes all the tasks, this system can apply to higher authorities to grant the host any one wish.”

Chu Qiao: …

To put it plainly, this means I might not get a reward even if I finish the tasks, but if I don’t, I’m definitely dead?

“I’m a modern person living in the contemporary world. How could I possibly complete tasks from your cultivation realm?”

“Please complete the tasks, host.”

“Uninstall the system!”

“Please complete the tasks, host.”

Chu Qiao had reached her limit.

“I’m filing a complaint against the system!”

“Task countdown initiated: 9 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.”

Chu Qiao: …

This idiotic system is even threatening me now!

She took a deep breath.

Calm down.

Getting angry would only harm herself.

Besides, no matter how unlucky she had been, it was impossible for misfortune to follow her forever.

Maybe there were great opportunities waiting ahead.

And since the system wanted her to complete the tasks, perhaps in this parallel universe, it was truly possible?

Well, might as well try everything.

Chu Qiao focused on the task.

Disguise herself as a high-level expert and gain Lu Jingtian’s trust?

In her world, there was indeed a Lu Jingtian in the capital—

The current head of the Lu family, the only top-tier aristocratic clan in the city.

The Mr. Lu whom Chu Han had tried so hard to attract attention from.

From this, it was clear the task of curing the rare disease afflicting the elderly Madam Lu meant treating Lu Jingtian’s grandmother.

That wasn’t the problem. The problem was—

The system expected her, a mere medical student struggling to even secure an internship, to cure a rare, incurable disease?

How was she supposed to do that?

Just then, a small backpack icon quietly appeared in a corner of her mind.

She clicked it open and saw a novice gift pack inside.

Chu Qiao’s face lit up with joy.

She knew the system wouldn’t just abandon her; it had sent aid.

Eagerly, she opened the gift pack.

Inside were two skills and one item.

She activated the first skill—

“Ding! Congratulations, host, you have learned Basic Poison Mastery.”

“Basic Poison Mastery only allows the creation of poison capable of killing one person. Please work hard to upgrade. Advanced Poison Mastery can create poisons that can kill an entire city!”

From the system’s tone, she even detected a hint of temptation toward a bright future.

“…”

This must be a mistake.

Chu Qiao clicked to open the second skill.

“Ding! Congratulations, host, you have learned Basic Pill Condensation Skill.”

“Basic Pill Condensation allows you to condense the spiritual sea, aura, blood, and other substances inside cultivators of equal or lower level into a pill at their dantian, enabling easy abdominal extraction.”

“Please work hard to upgrade.”

“Advanced Pill Condensation can cross levels to condense pills and perform abdominal extraction, even condense a celestial’s immortal aura into a pill (not recommended as it may result in death).”

Chu Qiao’s joy vanished.

She gritted her teeth.

These skills were truly cruel!

It was as if the system feared she would be executed too late!

Stupid system!

Suddenly, the system spoke again:

“Friendly reminder: The novice gift pack’s value lies mainly in the item.”

Did the system hear her cursing?

Chu Qiao wasn’t embarrassed at all.

“Fine, I’ll trust you once more.”

She opened the item.

With a faint flash of space—

A small exquisitely crafted jade plaque appeared directly in her hand.

The plaque was edged in gold; the front engraved with her name, the back inscribed with the traditional characters “Lin Yanfeng.”

“This is an identification plaque certifying you as a direct disciple of Elder Lin Yanfeng of the Medicine Garden. Only four such plaques exist in the world.”

“Showing this plaque means even a monarch must comply and act according to your wishes.”

This was truly impressive… Chu Qiao expressionlessly slipped the jade plaque into her pocket.

Her anxieties completely vanished.

In this world, Lin Yanfeng indeed existed.

He was one of the world’s top surgical geniuses, a guiding light for countless medical students.

Even Cai Zhenrui, a medical authority and teacher of Chu Han, respectfully called him “Teacher Lin.”

Rumor had it he had retired three years ago, and almost no one could persuade him to return.

Since retiring, he had only personally taught three students.

Now, all three had achieved remarkable accomplishments and showed signs of becoming the next legends in medicine.

Chu Qiao had once dreamed of becoming Lin Yanfeng’s student, learning top-tier medical skills under his tutelage.

But dreams were one thing; reality another. She knew her place.

There was no way she could be Lin Yanfeng’s student.

Besides, who still used jade plaques as identification these days?

She really was foolish to trust such a dumb system.

With no other choice, Chu Qiao decided to visit the Lu family to see if there was any chance to complete the task.

...

The Lu family villa was located in the most luxurious district of the capital.

Lu Jingtian, head of the family, was known for his ruthless decisiveness and cold-bloodedness.

He had once severely weakened three other century-old noble families to expand his clan’s empire, leaving them unable to recover to this day.

This made the Lu family the only great aristocratic clan in the capital, unmatched by any other elite family.

But at this moment... Lu Jingtian had been by his comatose grandmother’s side without rest for two days.

Lu Anyun entered the room and sighed upon seeing her brother’s exhausted and dispirited expression.

“Big brother, you should rest a while... The banquet is about to start, and you’ll need to personally receive the guests.”

In truth, the grandmother had been ill for two years.

...

But after seeing doctors from all major hospitals domestically and abroad, no one could diagnose her illness.

All the reputable doctors in the capital, except for the retired Lin Yanfeng, had been summoned by Lu Jingtian.

Yet no one identified the disease, only prescribing life-prolonging medications to sustain her.

A few days ago, the grandmother suddenly slipped into an irreversible coma, and the medications stopped working.

Out of desperation, they resorted to inviting all medical experts nationwide to the banquet, hoping to find a glimmer of hope.

Lu Jingtian remained motionless, as if he hadn’t heard Lu Anyun’s words.

She sighed deeply inside.

She understood her brother’s feelings...

Years ago, a fortune teller said he would be the Lu family’s nemesis, so their parents wanted to send him away.

But the grandmother had endured all the pressure, personally raising him.

In this world, her brother only cared deeply about their grandmother.

She didn’t dare imagine what he would become if their grandmother didn’t pull through this time...

Just then, a middle-aged man entered.

“Second uncle,” Lu Anyun greeted him.

The second uncle glanced at the unmoving Lu Jingtian and said gravely,

“Jingtian, don’t be too upset...”

“Academician Cai is here too. I heard he has had many new insights in medicine recently—maybe they’ll help with mother’s illness...”

Lu Jingtian cut him off flatly.

“Has the divine doctor Lin Yanfeng arrived?”

Lin Yanfeng was his last hope.

The second uncle was silent for a moment, then sighed.

“You know, the research project that failed three years ago severely affected Doctor Lin, causing him great psychological distress and forcing him into retirement.”

“I heard he now copes by carving as a hobby. Recently, he even gave his few students jade plaques representing their status.”

“They’re antique-style, quite beautiful.”

Seeing no reaction from Lu Jingtian, he continued,

“But this time, Doctor Lin said he would send his new student to take a look first...”

“Maybe if his student can’t handle it, he’ll come out himself?”

Lu Jingtian suddenly looked up.

His cold, oppressive phoenix-like eyes shone brighter than the sun.

In the past two years, he had invited Doctor Lin countless times but was always decisively refused.

This time, Doctor Lin’s softened stance was undoubtedly exhilarating news!

“I’ll personally go to greet him!”

Lu Jingtian stood up.

In an instant, he regained the imposing demeanor befitting the Lu family patriarch.

Meanwhile,

Chu Qiao stood before the gates of the Lu family villa.

The banquet was about to begin, and elegantly dressed dignitaries were arriving one after another, creating a lively atmosphere.

In her plain, ordinary clothes, Chu Qiao attracted no attention.

Looking at the grand gates, far more luxurious than those of the Chu family, she suddenly realized a very serious problem—