The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 771: 771. Schez Town

There were only two safe routes leading in and out of the Dark Forest Society. Both were protected by the sect’s formations, allowing only official disciples or those carrying temporary entry tokens to pass without triggering the countless hidden restrictions inside the forest. Ordinary people who wandered in without permission would never even know how they died. Tyler and the others followed one of the designated passages, leaving the gloomy forest behind before finally arriving at the place where hired carriages usually waited.

The same necromancer who had brought Tyler to the sect a few days ago was still there with his old skeletal horse. The moment he recognized Tyler’s green outer disciple robes, his expression changed. When he had first met Tyler, the young man had been nothing more than a ragged beggar carrying a sack of copper coins. Yet after only a handful of days, he had already become an official outer disciple of the Dark Forest Society.

"Congratulations, Young Master," the necromancer said respectfully while cupping his hands. "Please get in."

Tyler smiled and boarded the carriage without saying much. Before setting off, however, he quietly circulated the Concealing Art he had learned back in the Boundless World. His cultivation instantly sank from the Third Level of Qi Refining to the Second Level, perfectly disguising his true strength.

Even so, the moment Lee, Louch, Maximus and Shyla sensed his aura, they exchanged speechless looks.

"...Boss."

"You broke through again?" Maximus couldn’t help asking.

Tyler simply smiled without answering.

The four had already stopped asking how he cultivated. Every time they met him after a short separation, his cultivation seemed to have advanced another step. At this point, they had already accepted that following Tyler was probably the greatest opportunity they would ever encounter in their lives.

The journey itself was peaceful. Once they left the Dark Forest Society’s territory, the gloomy atmosphere of the forest gradually disappeared, replaced by ordinary villages, farms and bustling towns. However, although the scenery became more lively, the people they met all subconsciously avoided their carriage.

It wasn’t because Tyler’s group had done anything.

It was because they looked far too ominous.

The skeletal horse pulling the carriage walked with heavy clacking sounds. Lee’s naturally pale complexion made him resemble someone who hadn’t seen sunlight in years. Louch looked healthier, but his broad figure and gloomy Yin aura weren’t much better. Shyla wore a loose black robe with its hood pulled low while her skeleton silently followed behind carrying luggage like an obedient servant. Only Maximus still looked like a perfectly normal young man, though standing among the others made him appear equally suspicious.

Even the mountain bandits wisely chose to pretend they hadn’t seen the carriage.

"I think..." Maximus muttered while looking outside, "...we’re the ones who look like villains."

Lee glanced at himself before looking at Shyla’s skeleton.

"...You might be right."

Shyla rolled her eyes.

"What do you expect? We’re disciples of the Dark Forest Society."

By the time the sun began descending, the group finally arrived at Schez Town.

The town had been built directly into a mountain. Stone roads wound around the cliffs like giant snakes, while countless stairways connected different districts at various heights. Looking from below, houses seemed to overlap one another, creating a spectacular scene. Cultivators wearing robes from different sects filled every street. Shops loudly advertised pills, talismans, formation discs and spiritual herbs, while law enforcement teams constantly patrolled the town to prevent conflicts during the Rookie Cultivators’ Assembly.

The moment Tyler’s group entered the town, several guards quietly glanced their way.

They didn’t stop them.

They merely watched.

Although the Dark Forest Society belonged to the righteous path, its cultivation methods were simply too gloomy. Most ordinary cultivators instinctively kept their distance.

Tyler didn’t mind any of it.

Before entering the town, he had already put on a white skeleton mask bought from the Exchange Hall. He had even engraved a tiny perception-altering formation on its inner surface. It wasn’t powerful enough to fool experts, but it subtly made people overlook his appearance after only a brief glance.

The group first headed toward the nearest inn.

The innkeeper immediately recognized the robes of the Dark Forest Society. His smile stiffened slightly before he bowed apologetically.

"Honored disciples, we’re truly sorry. All our rooms have already been reserved because of the Rookie Cultivators’ Assembly."

Tyler nodded without making things difficult.

They visited another inn.

Then another.

Then another.

Every answer was exactly the same.

"We’re sorry..."

"No vacant rooms."

"Please try another place."

After being rejected five times in a row, even Shyla let out a helpless sigh.

"Looks like we’ll have to sleep outside the city tonight."

"Or in the carriage," Maximus added.

Just then, a burst of laughter drifted over from the opposite side of the street.

"Oh? Isn’t this the Dark Forest Society?"

Everyone turned around.

A group of disciples wearing orange robes embroidered with a blazing sun and clock-like markings slowly approached. Their robes alone were enough to reveal their identities.

"The Sun Dial Sect."

Lee’s expression immediately darkened.

The Sun Dial Sect and the Dark Forest Society had competed with each other for generations. One cultivated Yang, the other cultivated Yin. Their disciples fought whenever they met, though outright killing was forbidden between the righteous sects.

Leading the group was a tall young man whose aura was considerably stronger than everyone present.

He smiled warmly while releasing his cultivation without any attempt to hide it.

Fifth Level of Qi Refining.

"My name is Dave," he said politely. "Greetings, fellow disciples of the Dark Forest Society."

"Who are your fellow disciples?" Lee replied coldly.

"My, my... no need to be so hostile." Dave laughed, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally lingering on Tyler for a brief moment. "We merely wished to greet our neighbors."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and walked toward the very inn that had rejected Tyler’s group moments earlier.

The innkeeper practically ran outside.

"Honored disciples of the Sun Dial Sect! Your rooms have already been prepared!"

Seeing the respectful attitude, everyone immediately understood.

The rooms had never been full.

The innkeepers simply hadn’t wanted to offend either side, so refusing the Dark Forest Society had been the easier choice.

Even Shyla couldn’t help frowning.

"They’re doing this on purpose."

"They’ve been doing it for years," Lee said with a snort. "Every time our disciples come here during the Rookie Cultivators’ Assembly, the Sun Dial Sect books the best inns in advance. Even the remaining innkeepers don’t dare offend them."

Louch shrugged as though he had already gotten used to it.

"So what now? Sleep in the carriage?"

Tyler remained silent. Instead of feeling annoyed, he slowly looked around the busy street. His gaze swept over the overflowing inns, the crowds of cultivators, and finally settled on the endless stream of people entering and leaving the commercial district. A smile gradually appeared beneath the skeleton mask.

"So that’s where the money is."

"Huh?" Maximus blinked.

Tyler looked at the four of them.

"Forget looking for an inn."

"Then where are we staying?" Shyla asked.

"We’ll buy one."

"..."

The four simply stared at him.

For a brief moment, nobody spoke.

Then Lee slapped his forehead.

"Right... I almost forgot who our boss is."

Louch immediately nodded.

"Buying is easier than renting."

Tyler ignored the strange looks they were giving him and continued, "Split up and find a few brokers. Ask whether there are any courtyards, restaurants or inns for sale. The larger the better."

Everyone immediately scattered into the crowd.

About half an hour later they returned, each bringing one or two local brokers with them. The moment the brokers realized someone was genuinely interested in buying property instead of renting it, their attitudes became much more enthusiastic. One after another they unrolled maps of Schez Town, introducing courtyards, shops, warehouses and restaurants currently on the market.

Tyler listened quietly without interrupting until one elderly broker casually mentioned something.

"...Actually, the largest inn in Schez Town is also for sale."

Tyler immediately looked at him.

"The largest one?"

The old broker nodded, although he didn’t seem particularly hopeful.

"The owner wants to retire and return to his clan. Unfortunately, the asking price is simply too high. Even several cultivation families have come to look at it before leaving empty-handed."

Tyler didn’t even ask about the price.

"Take me there."

The broker hesitated.

"...Young Master, perhaps you should hear the price first."

Tyler smiled.

"If I couldn’t afford it, No one can."

The old broker’s eyes brightened immediately.

"Then please follow me."

"Not yet."

Tyler shook his head before looking toward Lee and the others.

"You four wait for me somewhere nearby. Drink some tea, walk around the market, do whatever you want. I’ll be back shortly."

Without giving anyone time to ask questions, Tyler turned and disappeared into the crowd.

After walking through several streets, he found a quiet alley, removed the skeleton mask, changed out of his Dark Forest Society robes and transformed himself into an ordinary wealthy traveler. Only then did he enter a different inn, rent a private room, lock the door behind him and slowly take out the copper pot together with several spirit stones.

A smile appeared on his face.