From the Earth comes the bounty of diversity, the herbs were rising toward the sun, showing off their lush green and sparkling colors as if they were in a carnival parade. The green herbs made a green quilt for the senses upon the flower bed. Michael's herbal garden was a sort of binary - the neat areas were very, very neat and the wild areas were very, very wild. The two extremes right next to one another enhanced one another. The garden was neither too small nor too big but it was the size of a typical green.

Because of the effects of the fertilizer Michael got from the system, the herbs had grown quicker and healthier. Some herbs grew as tall as an average man while some flowers were as big as a ten years old child.

"Don't water the Dragon root too much and Jack, get away from the Angel Catnip" Elder Reiner who taught herbology in the Sunrise sect was walking through his new favorite place, Michael's herbal garden.

He was supervising the disciples and ensuring the herbs grow as healthier as they could. Ever since Michael began to grow the herbs in the garden, the old shaggy land became a lush garden that filled the surrounding air with soothing therapeutic fragrance.

While Elder Reiner was supervising the disciples, he saw sect leader Claire rushing towards him.

"Elder Reiner, have you seen Ghost?"

"No-"

"Jack!"? She didn't even wait for Elder Reiner to finish his sentence as she shouted at Jack.

"Are you searching for me, Sect Leader Claire?" Just as Jack was about to point his fingers at the figures walking towards them, Claire heard Michael's voice and turned back.

"Thank god you're here, why aren't you at the auction fair, and WHOA!" when her eyes fell on Gaya, shock and surprise took aback Claire. The mortal girl who was following around Michael had turned into a Body Refining stage level 3 cultivator in just a matter of days.

Everyone except one person swarmed around Gaya like ants around a sugar cube. Michael stepped aside and let Gaya have her moment. He knew the snake loved attention and admiration. Claire and Elder Reiner stared at Gaya speechlessly while Gaya stood there with a smug face.

Michael could tell she is itching to reveal her real cultivation level.

"How do you...?"

"I was lucky enough to find a ten thousand years Hazel lotus on my way from Phoenix island to here. He made me a potion using it and boom, my cultivation talents went straight up" said Gaya proudly. The Hazel lotus was not a made-up herb but a real rare herb that could revitalize the Arch Energy roots in one's body. A ten thousand years old Hazel lotus could indeed make an incompetent cultivator into a genius and although they didnt find the herb in truth, its medicinal quality helped the both of them come up with the story to cover up Gaya's sudden transformation.

"Come here" After Claire came out the shock, she let out a wide grin and reached her arms to embrace Gaya.

"Hey" Gaya tried to step back but her effort was wasted as Claire took her into her arms in a loving embrace.

"Oh shit" In the scene, the only person who seemed horrified and kept his distance from Gaya was Jack. Even when she was a mortal girl, she beat him on a regular basis, and now Jack couldn't even imagine what she would do to him. He cried inside and prayed to the gods, "Oh mighty God, please bless your child with enough strength to endure the beating he's going to receive"

Michael chuckled inside seeing Jack praying looking at the sky.

"I'm so happy for you Aelia, we should celebrate this" Claire spoke while squeezing Gaya as she tried to wiggle herself out of the hug and threw a 'help me' glance at Michael.

"Why did you want to find me, Sect Leader Claire?" Michael helped his friend by asking Claire.

"Oh yes," Claire seemed like she remembered something important and let go of Gaya.

"The Nether realm is not opening next week, they are opening the gates today"

"What? Why?" Gaya asked as Claire sighed, "I think it's related to the recent Netherel attack in River town. Summoning the Netherels may have weakened the layer between our world and the Nether realm. However, it doesn't matter why, if you want to enter the Nether realm, go to Sarton now"

"Then I guess I'm leaving now" Michael had good feelings about the Nether realm and wanted to steal all of its riches.

"Girl, are you planning to enter the Nether realm with him?" Elder Reiner looked at Gaya and asked.

"Nah, he can have this one" Considering the Nether realm has security measures against people who were above the Body Refining Stage, she didn't dare to try to enter the Nether realm. The last time when someone tried to enter the Nether realm hiding his Body Strengthening cultivation, he was turned into ashes the moment he stepped into the Nether Realm.

"Raylene, do you trust me?" Michael asked with a serious face. The question surprised Raylene but she took a deep breath and answered honestly,

"Master Ghost, you saved us and gave us a home when I and the children had nowhere to go. The food we are eating is yours, I have nothing to give it to you except my life if you ask for it, my life is yours " Without her control, Raylene's eyes became watery.

"Will you be my subordinate and serve me well?"

"Yes," Gaya surprised to see Raylene drop to her knees asking no questions.

[Does the host wish to accept Raylene as a subordinate?]

"Yes"

Subordinate: Raylene

Cultivation Level:

Race: Human

Status: Healthy

Trait: Cook

Loyalty towards the host: 97%

Right out of the bat, she was 97% loyal towards Michael, unlike a certain someone. He was happy to confirm her trait was indeed Cook and now he could turn her into a 5-star chef.

While she was kneeling in front of him, he placed his hand on her head

"I'm going to make you a 5-star Chef and head chef of all my future restaurants and hotel chains. I will give you 30% of the profits and the resources for you and Cindy to cultivate. Serve me well" Raylene was speechless and almost fainted on the spot

"System, make Raylene a 5-star Chef" Right after this, Gaya saw a bright light emerge from Michael's hand and cover the body of Raylene for a few seconds as she closed her eyes.

When the light disappeared, Raylene slowly opened her eyes and looked at Michael like she was looking at a god.

"System, I need the blueprint and the interior design of ristorante la sponda"

He spent another 500 Badass points and bought the blueprint and the interior design to transform the Lucky Cat tavern into a stylish high-end Restaurant.

"Here, put this in your ear" Michael then looked at Gaya and handed over the small earpiece to her. While she was staring and curiously fiddling around the earpiece, he took out the thin book that had the blueprint and the interior designs.

"Master Ghost-"

"Show your gratitude and loyalty in your actions" Michael interrupted Raylene with a wave of his hand and said.

Raylene was still in shock but the tears of overwhelming joy gushing out of her eyes like water breaking out of a dam.

"I will, Master Ghost" It took several seconds for Raylene to wipe away her tears and exclaim. Michael just nodded with a smile and disappeared out of her sight with Gaya.

"I want our restaurant to look like this, you can make a few changes if you want" In a few seconds, Michael reached the border of the Sunrise sect and handed over the book to Gaya.

"Just don't die alright?" She punched him in the shoulder playfully.

"I'll try"