The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 778: 778. New Deal

The square was still buzzing with discussions. Almost everyone was staring at Tyler and the strange machine beside him. Qin Zhao raised his hand and the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

"I know all of you have many questions," Qin Zhao said with a smile. "But this is still the Rookie Cultivators’ Assembly. The competition has not officially ended. Let’s announce the winners first."

"Please wait, Senior Qin." Tyler suddenly stepped forward.

Qin Zhao looked at him. "What is it?"

Tyler cupped his hands. "I wish to withdraw from the rankings."

The words stunned everyone. Even Qin Zhao frowned, "Why?"

Tyler scratched his cheek before answering honestly, "I’m not an alchemist. I came here to demonstrate the Pill Maker, not to compete with real alchemists. The machine may have refined the pills, but I didn’t. If I stand on the podium, I don’t think it would be fair to those who have spent years studying the Pill Dao."

He turned and looked at the remaining contestants, "They deserve those rankings more than I do."

The entire square became quiet.

Many of the eliminated alchemists looked at Tyler with complicated expressions.

Moments ago, they thought this fellow had come to smash the dignity of every alchemist. Now... He was voluntarily giving up first place. Even Qin Zhao remained silent for a long moment.

Finally, he laughed.

"Hahaha... Good!" He nodded several times, "I almost misunderstood you, little fellow."

He looked toward the judges, "What do you all think?"

The judges exchanged glances before nodding one after another.

"I agree."

"So do I."

"He has already proven what he wanted to prove."

Qin Zhao turned back to Tyler, "You are giving up thirty-six drops of the Holy Water of Qianyang."

"I know."

"You don’t regret it?"

Tyler smiled.

"I only need one drop."

The crowd burst into another round of discussions.

Qin Zhao looked at Tyler for a few seconds before laughing again.

"You brat..."

"I really can’t understand you."

He took out a small jade bottle and flicked it toward Tyler.

"One drop As requested."

Tyler caught it with both hands, "Thank you, Senior Qin."

He immediately put the jade bottle into his storage pouch.

One drop was enough. Because Tyler has his copper pot.

The judges quickly adjusted the rankings, "The third place goes to..."

The disciple who had originally ranked fourth almost jumped from excitement.

He hurried onto the stage and repeatedly thanked the judges.

The female alchemist, Azula, officially became the champion, while the male alchemist beside her took second place.

Both of them looked toward Tyler before receiving their rewards.

Without him stepping down... Neither of them would have moved up. Soon, the Pill Dao Convention officially came to an end.

However, nobody was discussing the champion. Nobody was discussing the Holy Water either. Every conversation revolved around one thing.

The Pill Maker.

...

After leaving the competition grounds, Jack Nelson immediately caught up with Tyler. His eyes were brighter than ever.

"Brother Tyler... No... Boss."

He lowered his voice, "Is this the business opportunity you mentioned yesterday?"

"Yes." Tyler nodded.

"You have more of those machines?" Jack rubbed his hands together.

"I do."

"How many?"

"As many as you want."

Jack froze, "As... many as I want?"

Tyler smiled, "I can make more. But the question is whether you have what it takes to hold all of them."

Jack’s breathing became slightly heavier. He had already calculated everything in his head. With those machines... He wouldn’t need to hire so many alchemists to produce ordinary pills. Mortals could operate them. The cost would drop dramatically.

His family’s profits... He might even become the Next Family head. Jack almost laughed out loud.

"Boss! I want ten first." he said

"No problem." Tyler nodded.

Jack continued excitedly, "Forty pills in such a short time... An ordinary alchemist would spend several hours refining the same amount."

Tyler rubbed his chin, "But, I haven’t even decided on the price yet."

Jack immediately said,

"I’ll pay whatever I normally spend hiring alchemists."

Before Tyler could answer, Shyla suddenly stepped forward. She crossed her arms and looked at Jack.

"Young Master Jack."

"Hm?"

"You’re treating this machine like one alchemist." She shook her head, "Wrong."

Jack blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"This thing doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t sleep. It doesn’t complain. It doesn’t ask for a raise. It doesn’t accidentally explode its furnace. It can keep working all day. She pointed at the Pill Maker. "Tell me. Does that sound like "one" alchemist?"

Jack’s smile gradually disappeared. He looked at the machine again. "...No. It sounds like several."

Shyla nodded in satisfaction, "Exactly."

Jack scratched his head awkwardly, "So... How much?"

Tyler suddenly laughed, "For you? I’ll give you ten machines for free."

Everyone turned toward him.

"What?" Maximus almost shouted.

"Boss!" "Free?" Even Lee and Louch looked confused. Shyla also stared at Tyler.

Tyler simply raised a hand, stopping everyone from speaking.

Jack looked at Tyler seriously, "I don’t believe you’re that generous."

Tyler smiled.

"I’m not."

Jack laughed.

"I knew it."

"I’m taking fifty percent of the profits." Tyler made a cutting gesture.

Jack fell silent.

He began calculating again. After nearly half a minute, he finally extended his hand.

"Deal."

Tyler shook it.

"Deal."

Just like that, the first business partnership for the Pill Maker was established.

...

Not long afterward, another familiar figure walked over.

It was Qin Zhao.

This time, he wasn’t acting as the competition judge.

Instead, he walked over with a smile as though chatting with a junior he appreciated.

"Little Aspirant." Tyler cupped his hands.

"Senior Qin."

"I came for one thing."

"The machine?"

Qin Zhao laughed. "You guessed correctly."

"I’ve traveled for many years and have seen countless treasures. But this..." He looked toward the Pill Maker. "I’ve never seen anything like it."

Tyler nodded, "If Senior likes it, I can make one and send it to the Sacred Dan School."

Qin Zhao smiled, "Good."

"How much?" Tyler waved his hand, "It’s a gift."

Qin Zhao immediately frowned "A gift?"

"Yes. For the Elder."

"what elder..?." Qin Zhao suddenly laughed. "We’re both in the Qi Refining Realm, right?"

Tyler looked at him and smiled, "Senior... "Are we really?"

Qin Zhao paused.

Then he burst into laughter.."Hahaha!"

"You little fox."

He lightly patted Tyler’s shoulder.

"It seems you know more than you let on."

The people standing nearby looked at each other. None of them understood the conversation.

Only Tyler knew..Qin Zhao had deliberately suppressed his cultivation..His real strength was definitely far beyond the Qi Refining Realm. Well he just guessed it, now he confirmed it.

Qin Zhao took out a dark green token and handed it over,."I won’t take your machine for free. If you ever visit the Sacred Dan School, show this token. You’ll be treated as one of our honored guests."

Tyler accepted it with both hands, "Thank you, Senior."

The two chatted for a while before Qin Zhao left with a satisfied smile.

...

The last person to approach Tyler was the newly crowned champion.

Azula walked over nervously, holding the jade bottle containing the Holy Water.

She stopped a few steps away and bowed.

"Brother Tyler..."

"Thank you."

Tyler looked at her.

She wasn’t the stunning beauty who would leave everyone speechless, but she had a soft, adorable appearance. She was slightly chubby, and her round cheeks made people want to pinch them.

"What are you thanking me for?" Tyler asked.

Azula smiled shyly.

"If you hadn’t withdrawn... I wouldn’t have become the champion."

Tyler shook his head.

"You earned it yourself."

Azula lowered her head.

"I’ll still remember this favor."

Before Tyler could reply, Shyla let out a loud snort.

"Hmph."

She grabbed Maximus by the shoulder and turned around.

"Come on."

Lee blinked.

"Where are we going?"

Shyla rolled her eyes.

"Giving them some privacy."

"Oh..."

Lee immediately understood.

Louch nodded seriously.

"Young people should have time to talk." Maximus looked confused. "...But aren’t we all young?"

Lee immediately dragged him away. "Stop asking questions."

In the blink of an eye, Tyler and Azula were the only ones left standing there.

"I... I want to repay you now..." Azula said shyly, stealing a glance at Tyler from time to time.

Tyler smiled beneath his mask and lowered his voice.

"I’ll be staying at the Sunflower Inn. Just tell the receptionist you’re looking for me, and they’ll bring you to my room."

Azula hesitated for a moment before asking softly,

"You won’t be wearing the mask then... right?"

"Of course not," Tyler replied with a grin. "We’ll talk face to face. If you’re comfortable, we can even talk in our birthday suits."

Azula’s face immediately turned bright red.

"I-I’ll see you later..."

She hurriedly turned around and left.

Watching her leave, Tyler couldn’t help but smile. He already understood what she wanted. She wasn’t just curious about the Pill Maker, she also wanted to know who was hiding behind the skeleton mask.

For her, spending a night with Tyler was a small price to pay. As for Tyler, he wasn’t about to refuse food that had fallen straight into his lap.