The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 758. Speedrun Cultivation

Two days later, Tyler arrived at the Exchange Center.

The Exchange Center was one of the busiest places in the Outer Manor. Almost every disciple visited it sooner or later. Contribution points could be exchanged for cultivation resources, pills, talismans, weapons, formation plates, and countless other items. Even the marketplace inside the sect was managed through the Exchange Center. Anyone wishing to rent a stall had to pay contribution points here first.

Of course, disciples could also sell their items directly to the Exchange Center.

However, the offered prices were usually lower than market value.

That was why many disciples preferred renting stalls and selling things themselves. It required more effort, but the profits were much higher. Unless someone urgently needed contribution points, they rarely sold directly to the sect.

The Exchange Center itself was quite beautiful. The entire building appeared to have been carved from the trunk of a giant ancient tree. Green vines covered portions of the walls while spiritual lights flickered among the branches overhead. Compared to the gloomy architecture common throughout the Dark Forest Society, this place felt surprisingly peaceful.

After entering, Tyler looked around.

Nine counters were arranged throughout the spacious hall.

Several had long queues.

Others were relatively empty.

Tyler naturally chose the shortest line and patiently waited.

While waiting, he silently calculated his gains from the last two days.

The cooperation with Lee and Louch had gone smoother than expected. After receiving silver from Tyler, the two senior disciples had become remarkably enthusiastic. They even invited several friends to help gather materials for various missions. Meanwhile, Maximus had been helping him sell products throughout the market.

Tyler had discovered a simple but effective method to earn contribution points.

Many disciples needed daily cultivation resources such as spirit rice, herbs, medicinal powders, and low-level ingredients. Tyler would purchase a sample, duplicate it using the Copper Pot, then sell the copies for slightly lower prices.

Take spirit rice as an example.

A bag normally sold for two contribution points. Tyler sold two bags for one contribution point.

The profit margin was lower, but the demand was enormous.

As long as enough disciples bought from him, the contribution points accumulated rapidly.

Combined with mission rewards and market sales, Tyler’s earnings had increased astonishingly fast.

Even after sharing profits with Lee, Louch, and Maximus, he still possessed more than two hundred contribution points.

Soon, his turn arrived.

"Next."

The disciple behind the counter didn’t even look up.

Tyler stepped forward and handed over his token.

"I would like to exchange for a spirit stone."

Only then did the disciple raise his head.

Without saying much, he took the token and placed it onto a formation plate. Spiritual light flashed briefly as the formation verified Tyler’s identity and checked his balance.

A moment later, two hundred contribution points disappeared from the token.

The disciple returned it casually.

Then he opened a small wooden box stored beneath the counter and pushed it toward Tyler.

"One low-grade spirit stone."

Tyler accepted the box and opened it.

The moment he saw the contents, he was slightly surprised.

Inside rested a translucent crystal the size of a fist. Faint streams of spiritual energy flowed within it like mist trapped inside glass. The energy was far richer than anything Tyler had encountered since arriving in this world.

He had imagined spirit stones to be much smaller just like in Zi world.

The reason why cultivators valued them so highly. This wasn’t merely currency. It was condensed spiritual energy.

For a mortal who hadn’t even entered the Qi Refining Realm, holding one felt like carrying a small cultivation resource treasury.

"Spirit stone, acquired." Tyler carefully examined it before closing the box.

The disciple behind the counter was surprised by his reaction. Most new disciples looked like they bought a treasure when purchasing their first spirit stone.

Tyler put away both the box and his token.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

The disciple simply nodded and reminded Tyler, "This whole spirit stone, can be broken into three low grade spirit stones."

Tyler thanked him again and then turned around and left the Exchange Center with a faint smile on his face.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

The moment Tyler returned to his cave, he immediately closed the stone door behind him. He didn’t even bother sitting down before taking out the Copper Pot and the spirit stone he had just exchanged for. The crystal radiated faint spiritual fluctuations, far richer than the spiritual energy floating naturally in the air. Looking at it, Tyler couldn’t help feeling satisfied. Spending two days earning contribution points had been worth it.

Without hesitation, he dropped the spirit stone into the Copper Pot.

A moment later, he reached inside took a spirit stone. Then again.

One spirit stone became three copies.

Tyler smiled.

No matter how many times he used the Copper Pot, the ability still felt unreasonable.

If other disciples discovered such a treasure, countless experts would probably hunt him down immediately.

He placed one spirit stone back into the Copper Pot for future use and carefully broke the other two into smaller fragments. Spirit stones naturally didn’t need to be broken, but Tyler wasn’t planning to cultivate normally. He intended to use every bit of spiritual energy as efficiently as possible.

Just as he finished arranging the fragments, a familiar voice sounded from outside.

"Tyler! Are you inside?"

It was Maximus.

Tyler walked over and opened the cave entrance.

The dark-skinned youth was standing outside carrying a bundle of items.

"Here. I bought everything you asked for."

Tyler checked the contents and nodded with satisfaction. Spirit mats, incense, formation markers, and a few other miscellaneous materials were all present.

"Good."

Maximus looked curious.

"What are you planning to do?"

Tyler casually accepted the items.

"Seclusion."

Then he paused before adding,

"See you in two days."

Before Maximus could ask any more questions, Tyler closed the cave entrance.

Bang.

Maximus stood outside staring at the closed stone door.

Then he looked at the wooden sign Tyler had hung outside.

Cultivation in Progress. Do Not Disturb.

Maximus scratched his head.

"Two days?"

He couldn’t understand why Tyler suddenly sounded so confident.

Meanwhile, inside the cave, Tyler ignored everything happening outside.

He carefully laid out the materials Maximus had purchased. Then he took out the Yin Spirit Grass he had received as a free gift from the marketplace when buying Snail shell. Originally it had only been a single blade of grass. After passing through the Copper Pot several times, however, it had become several stacks.

The cave floor soon filled with spirit grass.

Tyler arranged the spirit stone fragments around them according to a specific pattern. One piece was placed here, another there, while the spirit grass occupied the connecting points. Gradually, a crude circular formation began taking shape.

It wasn’t a particularly advanced formation. But in this world, it’s definitely a futuristic level formation.

But for Tyler, In fact, it could barely be called a true formation.

Still, for a cultivator at Tyler’s current level, it was more than enough.

After finishing the arrangement, he placed the spirit mat in the center and sat down cross-legged.

A Spirit Gathering Array. Combined with Yin Spirit Grass and spirit stones.

Everything was prepared.

Tyler slowly closed his eyes and began cultivating according to the Moon Wood Technique.

The surrounding spiritual energy immediately stirred.

Streams of energy flowed toward him from all directions. The Yin Spirit Grass released gentle waves of Yin and Wood energy, while the spirit stone fragments continuously supplied pure spiritual qi.

The process was surprisingly smooth.

Tyler deliberately slowed the absorption speed.

Faster wasn’t always better.

Many novice cultivators greedily absorbed everything they could, including impurities hidden within the energy. That approach increased cultivation speed initially but created problems later.

Tyler had no intention of making such mistakes. It’s not like he lacks spirit stones. The array carefully filtered everything. Only the purest spiritual energy entered his body.

The streams of qi slowly flowed through his meridians according to the circulation routes recorded in the Moon Wood Technique. Each cycle strengthened his body slightly while allowing him to become increasingly familiar with the energy.

Tyler quietly enjoyed the sensation.

It had been a long time since he had cultivated properly.

Due to World hopping, it’s been a while since he Cultivated. Many of the previous worlds either lacked spiritual energy entirely or followed completely different systems.

Now, sitting in a cultivation world once again, he felt a familiar sense of peace.

The Moon Wood Technique continued operating.

The spiritual energy accumulated.

One circulation. Ten circulations. A hundred circulations.

Gradually, the energy gathering within his body reached a critical point.

Then—

Crack.

Tyler felt something break.

Not physically. It was more like an invisible barrier shattering.

The spiritual energy flowing through his body suddenly became much smoother. A dark green aura briefly emerged around him before quickly returning to his body.

The surrounding spirit stone fragments dimmed significantly.

Tyler slowly opened his eyes.

For a brief moment, dark green light flashed within his pupils.

First Level of Qi Refining.

He had officially stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Tyler stood up and stretched slightly.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Not bad."

Ordinary disciples often required months before entering the Qi Refining Realm. Some even needed years.

Tyler had compressed that process into a short period of cultivation.

If others learned about it, they would probably think he possessed heaven-defying talent.

Only Tyler knew the truth.

It wasn’t talent. It was resources.

Feeling the spiritual energy flowing smoothly through his body, Tyler inspected his foundation briefly.

Then he nodded. His cultivation was stable. The spiritual energy inside his body was pure. There was no need to spend additional time consolidating his realm.

The Moon Wood Technique circulated naturally as though he had already cultivated it for months.

Tyler couldn’t help smiling.

"This is what a proper cultivation speedrun looks like."