The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 759. Outer Disciple

"Choosing the two-hundred-contribution-point spirit stone was definitely the right decision."

Tyler smiled as he stood up from the spirit mat.

Originally, there had been low-grade spirit stones available for fifty contribution points. Most outer disciples would choose those because they were cheaper and easier to obtain. Tyler had ignored them from the beginning and directly aimed for the more expensive one. Now it seemed that his decision had been correct. The spiritual energy contained inside the higher-quality spirit stone was much denser, and after being multiplied through the Copper Pot, the benefits had exceeded his expectations.

After tidying up the cave, Tyler removed the Seclusion sign hanging outside and opened the stone door.

The moment the entrance opened, he found Maximus sitting nearby.

Apparently, the fellow had been waiting for some time.

Tyler looked at him strangely, "Don’t you have your own cultivation to worry about?"

Maximus immediately stood up.

"Huh? Why did you come out so quickly?" He looked genuinely confused. "You only entered seclusion yesterday. Did you run out of food? If that’s the case, I can help buy some rations."

Tyler couldn’t help laughing.

Without saying anything, he circulated the spiritual energy inside his body. A faint fluctuation spread outward.

Maximus froze.

Although he had yet to enter the Qi Refining Realm, he had already spent months studying cultivation basics, he already sensed Qi. The fluctuation was unmistakable.

This is Spiritual qi.

First Level of Qi Refining Realm.

His eyes widened.

"You..."

Then realization struck him.

"Senior Brother Tyler! Congratulations!"

The title came out automatically.

In cultivation sects, strength determined seniority. Tyler had already entered the Qi Refining Realm while Maximus remained a mortal. Calling him Senior Brother was perfectly normal.

Maximus felt as though his worldview had suffered a heavy blow. He had spent months attempting to sense spiritual energy. Tyler had entered the sect only a few days ago. Yet somehow, Tyler had already become a cultivator.

"Monster."

The word escaped from Maximus’ mouth before he could stop himself.

Tyler pretended not to hear it.

"Let’s go. I’ll treat you to a meal."

He patted Maximus on the shoulder and began walking toward the cafeteria.

Maximus remained standing there for several seconds. "Genius..."

Only after Tyler had walked some distance did he finally snap back to reality and hurriedly catch up.

Along the way, Tyler suddenly remembered something.

"Where are Lee and Louch?"

Maximus immediately understood who he was referring to.

"Oh, them."

A strange expression appeared on his face.

"They went home."

"Went home?"

Maximus nodded.

"The silver you gave them was quite a lot. Both of them still have mortal families outside the sect. They wanted to bring the money back personally."

Tyler wasn’t surprised. To higher level cultivators, silver wasn’t particularly valuable. To mortals and lower level Cultivators like Lee and Louch, however, it was a different story.

Soon the two arrived at the cafeteria.

The moment Maximus stepped inside, he straightened his back.

"Senior Brother Tyler, please wait. I’ll bring the food."

Tyler looked at him, "How are you going to pay?"

Maximus immediately became embarrassed.

Tyler laughed.

"I’ll come too."

A short while later, the two occupied an entire table.

Spirit chicken buns. Spirit vegetable soup. Roasted spirit rabbit. Several dishes made from spiritual ingredients.

Although the quality wasn’t particularly high, it was already considered luxurious food for outer disciples.

Maximus nearly cried while eating.

Meanwhile, Tyler couldn’t help comparing everything to Taka’s and Darla’s cooking from previous worlds.

The difference was enormous.

Still, compared to ordinary sect food, this meal was already decent.

As they ate, Maximus suddenly remembered something.

"Senior Brother Tyler, now that you’ve entered the Qi Refining Realm, you should visit Manager Shangguan tomorrow."

Tyler looked up.

"You need to register officially. Right now you’re still considered a probationary disciple in the records." Maximus explained.

Tyler nodded. That made sense.

The next morning, Tyler headed toward the Outer Manor and arrived before Manager Shangguan’s residence.

The manager was reviewing documents when Tyler entered.

After hearing Tyler’s purpose, the old man’s eyes widened slightly, "You what?"

"I’ve entered the Qi Refining Realm."

Manager Shangguan stared at him.

For several moments, the room became silent. Then the manager’s spiritual sense swept across Tyler. A moment later, his expression changed.

It was genuine.

The fluctuations could not be faked.

"You really entered the Qi Refining Realm."

Tyler nodded.

Manager Shangguan rubbed his forehead.

He had seen talented disciples before. He had even seen disciples who entered the Qi Refining Realm within a month.

But less than a week?

That was unusual.

The old man quickly arrived at a conclusion.

"You must have cultivated before entering the sect."

Tyler simply smiled. Manager Shangguan interpreted the silence as agreement.

"No wonder, then you changed your Cultivation method in the sect."

That explanation made much more sense. Otherwise, reaching the Qi Refining Realm so quickly would be difficult to explain.

"Congratulations."

Manager Shangguan took Tyler’s disciple token. A stream of divine sense entered it. The information recorded within the sect formation changed immediately.

Probationary Disciple to Outer Disciple.

The status was updated instantly.

After returning the token, the manager continued speaking.

"You’ll receive your official outer disciple uniform shortly. The first set is provided free by the sect."

Tyler nodded.

Then Manager Shangguan spent the next half hour explaining sect matters.

"The basic classes are important. Pill refinement, formations, talismans, combat techniques, artifact knowledge, spirit herb identification, and cultivation theory. Most disciples begin learning these subjects after joining the sect."

The old man glanced at Tyler.

"Although you’ve already entered the Qi Refining Realm, you shouldn’t skip them."

Tyler listened carefully.

Knowledge was valuable regardless of cultivation level. After learning everything he needed, he cupped his hands and left.

At Evening, a servant disciple was currently carrying a neatly folded dark green uniform toward Tyler’s cave.

The servant was none other than the disciple who had originally guided Tyler through the Outer Manor.

The moment he looked inside, his footsteps froze. His eyes widened and his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Tyler was casually sitting there, tossing several spirit stones between his fingers as though they were ordinary pebbles.

The servant disciple stared blankly.

A few days ago, Tyler had been a newcomer. Now he was an official outer disciple. Not only that, he seemed to possess spirit stones as well.

The servant disciple immediately reached a conclusion. This was definitely some rich young master. There was no other explanation.

Suppressing his shock, he quickly bowed, "Senior Brother Tyler."

Although his cultivation was already at the Third Level of Qi Refining, he was still a servant disciple. He had failed to reach the Qi Refining Realm within the required time limit after entering the sect and had been assigned servant duties.

According to sect rules, Tyler’s status was now higher than his.

Calling him Senior Brother wasn’t wrong.

Tyler looked up. The servant quickly handed over the folded uniform, "I’ve brought your outer disciple robes."

Tyler accepted them.

The dark green robes carried the emblem of the Dark Forest Society embroidered near the collar.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

The servant immediately waved his hands.

"No, no, no. Senior Brother Tyler, please don’t call me that. I’m only a servant disciple."

Tyler smiled.

"Alright. Thank you, Junior Brother."

The servant finally relaxed.

Then Tyler casually picked up one of the depleted spirit stones lying beside him and tossed it over.

The servant hurriedly caught it.

He looked down.

Even though most of the spiritual energy had already been consumed, it was still a spirit stone.

His breathing immediately became heavier.

"This..."

"Keep it."

Tyler smiled.

The servant disciple almost thought he was dreaming.

Even a depleted spirit stone still retained some value. Servant disciples like him rarely received such rewards.

His attitude immediately became several times more respectful.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Tyler."

Then he quickly introduced himself.

"My name is Ah Hai. If Senior Brother ever needs anything, just call for me."

Tyler nodded.

"I will."

Ah Hai left with a smile that refused to disappear from his face.

Meanwhile, Tyler looked at his newly acquired outer disciple robes and then at the spirit stones remaining beside him.

His life in the Dark Forest Society had only just begun.

Yet compared to the day he arrived in Skull Town as a starving beggar, everything had already changed completely.

"Looks like it’s time for another speedrun."

Tyler sat inside his cave while lightly tossing a spirit stone in his hand. Entering the First Level of Qi Refining had been easy enough, but continuing to advance at the same speed would inevitably attract attention. Reaching the Qi Refining Realm within a few days could still be explained away as talent, prior experience, or fortunate opportunities. However, if his cultivation continued rising at an unreasonable pace, even the elders would start paying attention.

Tyler wasn’t worried about being noticed. He was worried about people becoming curious.

Curiosity led to investigations, and investigations could eventually lead to the Copper Pot.

After thinking for a while, Tyler suddenly smiled.

Why hide it completely?

Soon, a plan gradually formed in his mind. If he wanted to cultivate quickly without attracting suspicion, he would simply follow the same path he had used before.