Li You has mediocre talent for cultivation. Thanks to a bit of talent for alchemy, he was lucky enough to become an inner disciple of the Tianquan Sect while still at the Foundation Establishment stage.
When he has nothing else to do, he tends the medicinal garden, pulling weeds and catching bugs.
When he does have something to do, he brews pills. He has barely made any spirit pills, but he's got a huge pile of poison pills.
All in all, life is pretty comfortable.
The Tianquan Sect holds a secret-realm expedition once every ten years, and all inner disciples are required to take part.
“I'm just a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator, pitiful, weak, and helpless.”
“Better to lie low at the entrance to the secret realm.”
Somehow, he gets dragged against his will into the final boss's lair.
Only then does he realize this isn't a secret realm at all. It's the deeply hidden tomb of a female emperor.
And the female emperor isn't quite dead yet.
The female emperor beams at him.
“I like the look of you, kid.”
“Want a piece of Supreme Bone and a pair of Double Pupils?”
Li You knows his limits.
“I can't afford those.”
The female emperor is even more straightforward.
“I'm giving them to you for free.”
“The Heaven-Burying Coffin, the Red Lotus of Karma Fire, Xirang, and the Three Lights Divine Water.”
“Find all four for me. I want to live a second life!”
Li You's face falls.
“Finding all four is harder than proving the Dao and becoming a Great Emperor!”
The female emperor is just as stubborn.
“I won't listen, and I don't care.”
“You have one hundred years to get it done, or else...”
To stop Li You from slacking off on the job, the female emperor even assigns him a supervisor.
The supervisor is every bit as ruthless.
They squeeze Li You for all he's worth.
He has to tell the supervisor stories during the day and tuck them in at night.
Li You goes from a carefree little alchemist to a wage slave saddled with a massive debt.
His days are pure misery. He can't eat his fill or get any sleep.
Come on [punch hard]
Not bad, pretty good
Well written