The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 756. Mission Hall

The next morning, Tyler left his cave and headed straight toward the Mission Hall. He had spent most of the night thinking about cultivation resources. The Moon Wood Technique wasn’t difficult to cultivate in the early stages, but according to the introduction, its later requirements were astonishing. Fortunately, he possessed the Copper Pot. As long as he could obtain one cultivation resource, multiplying it would not be difficult. The real problem was obtaining the first sample.

The Mission Hall was already crowded when he arrived. Outer disciples moved in and out constantly, some carrying baskets, some transporting herbs, and others returning from tasks. Tyler didn’t immediately look at the missions. Instead, he walked toward the exchange counter and examined the contribution point exchange list.

Soon, he found what he was looking for.

One Low-Grade Spirit Stone — 50 Contribution Points.

Tyler rubbed his chin.

"Seems cheap."

The disciple beside him almost stumbled.

"What do you mean cheap?"

Tyler turned around and saw a tall dark-skinned youth staring at him. The youth looked about the same age as him, though he was nearly half a head taller.

"You think fifty contribution points is cheap?" the youth asked.

Tyler nodded honestly.

The youth laughed. "My name is Maximus. I joined this year too."

"Tyler."

Maximus shook his head and pointed at the exchange board.

"That’s only a single low-grade spirit stone. You know a small water purification formation consumes two spirit stones just to run properly? Most mortals like us can’t even use qi yet. If we want to activate formations, spirit stones are the only option."

Hearing this, Tyler showed a look like he gained a better understanding of the value of spirit stones in this world.

They were money. Cultivation resources. Yeah whatever, as long as he got one, that is enough.

"Let’s look at the tasks," Tyler said.

Maximus immediately nodded.

"Come with me. I know the best tasks for newcomers."

He led Tyler toward a large desk near the side of the hall. Unlike the mission wall, which contained countless jade slips, this area contained a thick register filled with simpler tasks.

Maximus opened it and began flipping through the pages.

"Look here. These are daily tasks."

Tyler leaned forward.

Sweep the outer courtyards.

Clean the windows of Manager Shangguan’s residence.

Carry water for the Outer Pill Hall.

Transport materials to the Outer Weapon Hall.

Feed spirit chickens at farm.

Tyler read through several pages.

"What are the rewards?"

Maximus pointed at the descriptions.

"One contribution point for every two days."

Tyler blinked.

"Two days?"

Maximus nodded.

"If you only work one day, you don’t get anything."

Tyler immediately lost interest, "Too slow."

Maximus nearly choked.

These were the safest tasks available.

There is No danger. No need to fight beasts. No need to go to forest. These are Just ordinary works. Many newcomers relied on these tasks to survive.

"These are the easiest missions for mortals," Maximus explained patiently. "Most other tasks require cultivation. Some are even dangerous."

"I’ll look around first."

Tyler had already started walking away.

Maximus watched his departing figure and chuckled, "I was exactly like that when I first joined."

Every newcomer dreamed of getting rich overnight.

After seeing the other missions, Tyler would eventually return. At least, that’s what Maximus thought.

Meanwhile, Tyler arrived before the mission wall and began examining the jade slips one by one.

Corpse Mushrooms, ten kilograms — One Contribution Point.

Black Venom Spider Lily — One Contribution Point.

Pomato Harvest, ten kilograms — One Contribution Point.

Tyler’s mouth twitched.

"Is this a Mission Hall or a wholesale market?"

The more he read, the stranger he felt.

Many missions looked less like cultivation tasks and more like shopping requests.

There are also missions like -

Help a mortal village eliminate pests.

Investigate a haunted house.

Search for a missing ghost.

Purchase funeral offerings.

Urgently need a virgin corpse.

Tyler quietly moved past that last one.

Eventually, a particular mission caught his attention.

Gather Twenty Dark Snail Shells — Forty Contribution Points. His eyes immediately lit up.

Forty contribution points.

That was almost a spirit stone.

Tyler removed the jade slip and began reading the details.

The Outer Pill Hall required twenty Dark Snail Shells for alchemy. The snails could occasionally be found in the Dark Swamp near the Outer Manor, though most disciples gathered them from swamps deeper within the Dark Forest.

At the bottom of the mission was a note.

Note : Bring all twenty shells at once or do not bring them at all.

Tyler smiled.

This task was perfect.

He immediately carried the mission slip toward the registration counter.

The disciple managing the counter accepted both the mission slip and Tyler’s token before registering the task.

After reading the mission details, the senior disciple looked up.

"Junior Brother, these shells aren’t easy to gather."

"Tyler listened quietly.

"The Dark Swamp near the Outer Manor rarely contains many Dark Snails. Most people enter the Dark Forest to search for them. If you decide to do that, be careful." The senior paused briefly before continuing. "We’ll temporarily deduct one contribution point as a task deposit. Once the mission is completed, it will be returned along with the reward."

Tyler raised an eyebrow, "All missions require deposits?"

The senior shook his head. "Only certain missions. Others don’t require any deposit at all."

Then he looked at Tyler, "Do you still want to accept it?"

"Yes."

The senior nodded and completed the registration.

A moment later, one contribution point disappeared from Tyler’s token.

After putting away the token, Tyler glanced around the hall. Maximus was nowhere to be seen.

Since there was nothing else to do, he simply left.

A few moments after Tyler departed, Maximus returned to the hall accompanied by two pale-skinned outer disciples.

The two appeared older and wore the same outer disciple robes. However, their cultivation fluctuations were noticeably stronger.

"Where is he?" one of them asked.

Maximus immediately pointed toward the entrance, "He was here just now, Senior Brother."

The senior disciple frowned, "You talked to him here as we instructed?"

Maximus nodded, "I did, but it looks like he left before I could stop him."

The other senior clicked his tongue.

"Tsk." Then he waved his hand dismissively, "Keep an eye on him.

Maximus nodded.

The first senior said, "He probably accepted a mission. Once he earns some contribution points, we’ll ask him to treat his senior brothers."

The two exchanged knowing smiles.

Maximus’ expression became slightly bitter. The word treat sounded pleasant, but he knew exactly what it meant.

When he first joined the sect, these same senior brothers had invited him to celebrate becoming a disciple. By the end of the gathering, he had spent five contribution points.

Five contribution points.

That was nearly two weeks of work.

Remembering the painful experience, Maximus couldn’t help sighing.

Some lessons in the sect were far more expensive than cultivation itself.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Tyler followed the directions on the mission slip and soon arrived at the Dark Swamp near the Outer Manor. The moment he approached the area, he immediately understood why the mission rewarded forty contribution points. The swamp was filled with dark green water that continuously bubbled as though something beneath the surface was boiling. Thick green mist floated above the swamp, carrying a foul smell that resembled rotten flesh mixed with chemicals. Even from a distance, Tyler felt his eyes sting slightly.

Scattered throughout the swamp were the skeletons of various beasts. Several bison skeletons lay half-submerged in the mud, their bones stained dark green by years of exposure. Some of the bones had already begun dissolving. Looking at the scene, Tyler had no doubt that the swamp water possessed strong corrosive properties.

He took a few more steps forward before stopping.

The smell alone was enough to make him uncomfortable. More importantly, he could already feel a slight burning sensation in his nose and throat. As a mortal who hadn’t yet entered the Qi Refining Realm, forcing his way into the swamp would be no different from courting death.

"Looks like I need some equipment first."

A gas mask would have been ideal or something with similar effect.

After standing there for a while, Tyler decisively turned around and left. There was no point risking his life over a mission.

Back at the marketplace within the Outer Manor, numerous outer disciples had already set up stalls. Some sold herbs they had gathered from the forest, while others sold beast materials, talismans, medicinal powders, and all sorts of strange items. The atmosphere was surprisingly lively.

Tyler slowly walked through the market while searching for something that could help him resist the toxic gases from the swamp. A pill, a talisman, or even some kind of breathing artifact would do.

However, before he found any of those things, his eyes suddenly landed on something else.

He stopped before a stall and sat down.

Among the various items displayed there was a black shell roughly the size of his palm.

A Dark Snail Shell.

The stall owner immediately noticed where Tyler was looking.

"Junior Brother has good eyesight," the senior disciple said with a smile. "That’s a genuine Dark Snail Shell. The powder ground from it is useful in alchemy and can also be used to make medicines for skin diseases and itching. You won’t find these in the swamp near the Outer Manor anymore. Those places were harvested clean months ago."

Tyler picked up the shell and examined it carefully.

The shell was empty. There was No snail.

The senior disciple continued speaking.

"If Junior Brother buys it, I’ll even throw in this Blade Yin Spirit Grass for free. Two contribution points for both."

"Deal."

The senior disciple was visibly surprised.

He had prepared several more sales pitches, yet Tyler agreed almost immediately.

Still, business was business.

The senior quickly took out a small formation plate and activated it. Several runes lit up on its surface.

Tyler placed his disciple token on the formation.

A moment later, two contribution points disappeared.

The transaction was completed.

The senior disciple happily handed over both items, "Junior Brother, come back anytime."

Tyler accepted the shell and the spirit grass before leaving the market.

Only after he was some distance away did a faint smile slowly appear on his face.