Chapter 2

"An intact third-stage material can be exchanged for a minimum of fifty contribution points." After mumbling for a while, Shopkeeper Meng seemed to notice the occasional flicker of anticipation on the young man's face and smiled awkwardly, then said, "However, as you can see, this is just a segment of a third-stage earth dragon's tail bone. For a third-stage earth dragon, the tail is not its most valuable part. If you had found the earth dragon's inner core, it wouldn't just be fifty contribution points; even one hundred and fifty contribution points, I could exchange for you. …"

It seemed that the mention of a monster's inner core brought a hint of excitement to Shopkeeper Meng's face.

Fang Tianshan felt quite speechless at this moment.

In most cases, only fourth-stage and above monsters can form inner cores. A fourth-stage monster's strength is comparable to that of a True Human in human martial artists. Once a martial artist breaks through from the Transformation of Strength realm, and the internal energy in their body transforms into true essence, they are no longer called a regular "martial artist" but a "True Human." True Humans have three levels: Human Essence Realm, Earth Essence Realm, and Heaven Essence Realm.

According to Fang Tianshan's knowledge, any member of the Green Cloud Sect who can reach the True Human realm can directly advance to become an inner disciple of the sect. Even the highest level of True Human, the Heaven Essence Realm, is only held by the sect leader in the entire Green Cloud Sect.

This clearly shows how difficult it is for a martial artist to advance to a True Human.

With Fang Tianshan's current Dark Strength realm, facing a fourth-stage monster would almost certainly result in death. A fourth-stage monster, with an inner core, is like having true essence cultivated within its body, which naturally makes a significant difference in strength compared to ordinary martial artists. How could a martial artist who hasn't cultivated true essence deal with it?

Of course, the vast majority of third-stage monsters cannot have inner cores in their bodies. However, there is a rumor that earth dragons carry the bloodline of ancient dragons. If these hidden bloodline powers are activated under unknown circumstances, a third-stage earth dragon could also form an inner core.

For intermediate monsters from the fourth to sixth stages, the inner core is the most valuable part of the monster.

Fang Tianshan had never dared to hope that he would be fortunate enough to obtain an inner core at his current stage.

...

"Let's do this: although this earth dragon's tail bone is not complete and cannot be considered a third-stage item, it still has some value compared to ordinary second-stage items. I will calculate it as a high-grade second-stage item for you," Shopkeeper Meng said seriously. "As for the small piece of beast skin on the earth dragon's tail, it will be calculated as a low-grade second-stage item. How does that sound?"

"Alright." Fang Tianshan considered for a moment and nodded.

"Ha ha," Shopkeeper Meng smiled lightly, picked up the two items from the counter, and said, "The earth dragon's tail bone counts for thirty-five contribution points, …"

"Wait, …" Fang Tianshan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly spoke up, "A high-grade second-stage item is worth thirty contribution points, right?"

Although Fang Tianshan had never obtained any high-grade second-stage materials, he was very clear about the basic exchange prices. Unlike the three grades of first-stage materials, which are worth three, two, and one point respectively, the three grades of second-stage materials can be exchanged for thirty, twenty, and ten points respectively. The value of the dragon tail bone that Shopkeeper Meng was giving Fang Tianshan was not less but more.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Meng nodded in approval and explained, "I said before that this earth dragon's tail bone is slightly better than ordinary second-stage items, and even compared to high-grade second-stage materials, it is still somewhat valuable. Therefore, thirty-five contribution points are appropriate. Similarly, the small piece of beast skin can be counted as fifteen contribution points."

As he spoke, Shopkeeper Meng recorded it: "Total fifty contribution points."

Fang Tianshan looked at Shopkeeper Meng's stout figure and felt secretly grateful. To be honest, although the contribution point exchange records are regularly checked by the sect, as long as the difference from the actual items is not too significant, the amount given is largely up to Shopkeeper Meng.

This decision was undoubtedly very considerate for Fang Tianshan.

However, thinking about the additional fifty contribution points, Fang Tianshan was not excited but rather somewhat suspicious. Now, his accumulated contribution points had reached nine hundred and ninety-nine, just one point short of the thousand-point standard. Seeing the calm expression on Shopkeeper Meng's face, Fang Tianshan wondered if the old man was deliberately doing this.

Just enough to hold him back by one contribution point, preventing Fang Tianshan from immediately becoming an outer disciple of the Green Cloud Sect.

...

Sure enough, while Fang Tianshan was full of doubts, Shopkeeper Meng had already completed the transaction record for this exchange and waved at Fang Tianshan, saying, "If you have no other items to exchange, take your identity token to confirm the transaction."

Every young man aspiring to join the Green Cloud Sect receives an identity token when they first exchange contribution points with the sect. The token not only contains the results of the bone age test but also records the contribution point transactions. Once the contribution points in the token reach one thousand and the bone age is under eighteen years, they can go to the outer sect office to exchange for the identity token of an outer disciple.

Fang Tianshan looked at Shopkeeper Meng with a slight bitter smile. For a moment, his left hand subconsciously moved to his right chest, and his right hand was ready to reach into his pocket to take out the item for the exchange. However, since he was only one contribution point short and still had half a month before his eighteenth birthday, he didn't need to be too anxious.

However, when Fang Tianshan's eyes swept over the wall cabinet behind Shopkeeper Meng, which was filled with various items, and saw a certain bottle of potion, his heart stirred. After careful consideration, he took out a small, slightly glowing crystal from his pocket and placed it on the counter.

"Hmm?" Shopkeeper Meng gave Fang Tianshan a strange look and said, "Another Light Source Stone? You kid, it seems you really have a lot of good things hidden. No wonder you weren't in a hurry. It turns out you prepared for today's exchange two months ago. Tsk tsk, kid, it looks like you've made all the necessary preparations."

"Shopkeeper Meng is joking," Fang Tianshan replied with a bitter smile.

If Shopkeeper Meng hadn't deliberately "made things difficult" by leaving him one point short, Fang Tianshan wouldn't have planned to use the Light Source Stone. As for the "another" stone, it was because Fang Tianshan had exchanged a Light Source Stone two months ago.

That was the first time Fang Tianshan had obtained a Light Source Stone. To be precise, he learned its name out of curiosity from Shopkeeper Meng. This thing has almost no grade. It can be extremely valuable or utterly worthless, depending on whether the person who possesses it can absorb and use it.

This is because the Light Source Stone has some special properties.

According to Shopkeeper Meng, very few cultivators in the continent can use the Light Source Stone. It is neither something one is born with nor something cultivated later, but rather an accessory to a plant called Yin-Yang Grass. The Yin-Yang Grass itself is not even a first-stage herb. In the Netherworld Mountains, there is a considerable amount of Yin-Yang Grass. However, not all Yin-Yang Grass can produce Light Source Stones, and the conditions are very strict.

At that time, Shopkeeper Meng, considering Fang Tianshan's steady and hardworking nature, gave him ten contribution points, which was almost equivalent to a low-grade second-stage mineral. This price was already very high, but Fang Tianshan only exchanged for one Light Source Stone.

Now, Fang Tianshan was taking out another one. With Shopkeeper Meng's experience, he naturally didn't think Fang Tianshan had just found it recently.

"Ten contribution points again?" Shopkeeper Meng looked at Fang Tianshan with a playful expression.

"Um." Hearing Shopkeeper Meng's words, Fang Tianshan felt relieved and took out his identity token, saying, "According to the rules, to become an outer disciple, one only needs one thousand contribution points. The excess can be used at our discretion, right?"

Shopkeeper Meng nodded. In fact, not only the excess over one thousand contribution points can be used at one's discretion, but even if it hasn't reached one thousand, as long as you are willing to spend contribution points, you can use them. Individuals can exchange materials for contribution points from the sect, and the sect provides finished pills such as "Qi Enhancement Pill," "Qi Gathering Pill," "Golden Wound Pill," and even some basic martial techniques, which can be purchased with contribution points.

However, obtaining contribution points is very difficult, and in most cases, people do not choose to buy pills from the sect, which is undoubtedly a luxury for young people who have not yet become outer disciples. Fang Tianshan only exchanged for a "Qi Solidification Pill" from Shopkeeper Meng once when he was seriously injured. Otherwise, he tries to use as few contribution points as possible.

Now, Fang Tianshan's eyes were fixed on a bottle of potion in the wall cabinet behind Shopkeeper Meng. He pointed to it and said, "I want to exchange for a bottle of 'Seal Washing Agent.'"

Shopkeeper Meng's eyes widened in surprise, looking at Fang Tianshan with a strange expression and said, "You actually want this bottle of 'Seal Washing Agent'? Are you sure?"

"I am sure." Fang Tianshan nodded firmly.

——

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