The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 787: 787. New Personal Maid

"You really don’t know the meaning of holding back, do you?"

Vance let out a helpless sigh as he looked at the young man sitting comfortably behind the large desk.

As one of the elders of the Dark Forest Society and a respected Formation Master, Vance had seen countless geniuses throughout his long life. Some possessed extraordinary talent in cultivation, while others were gifted in alchemy or formations. However, Tyler White was unlike any disciple he had ever met.

He wasn’t merely talented.

He was disruptive.

Ever since Tyler had joined the Dark Forest Society, one unbelievable event after another had occurred. First came the Pill Maker Machine, which overturned the traditional methods of alchemy. Then came Introduction to Encryption and Decryption, which completely changed the Formation Dao. Before the formation world had even finished digesting those changes, Tyler released the White Dragon Tower and the affordable Dragon Boats, throwing the entire flying boat industry into chaos.

As a result, the Dark Forest Society’s reputation had risen dramatically.

Although very few people knew what Tyler White actually looked like, almost every major force on the continent knew one thing.

Tyler White belonged to the Dark Forest Society.

Naturally, the sect had taken every precaution possible.

Everyone who had direct contact with Tyler before he rose to fame had undergone memory restrictions. Unless authorized by the sect, they would never be able to reveal Tyler’s appearance or any confidential information about him. Only Tyler’s trusted subordinates were exempt from those restrictions.

As for the beautiful maids serving inside Tyler’s mansion...

None of them were ever expected to leave.

The sect had no intention of allowing any unnecessary information to leak outside. Whether Tyler chose to keep them, dismiss them, or even dispose of them was entirely his own affair. The Dark Forest Society simply didn’t care.

Vance shook his head before speaking again.

"Your recent actions have caused quite a stir. Several righteous sects have begun putting subtle pressure on our Dark Forest Society."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"The Flying Boat Market is already showing signs of collapse. Prices continue falling every week, and many major manufacturers are on the verge of bankruptcy. The Sect Master asked me to visit you personally."

Tyler looked up from the documents on his desk.

"Oh?"

"If possible," Vance said seriously, "he hopes you can stabilize the market a little. If not..." Vance shrugged his shoulders. "The Sect Master said to continue with your plans. He’ll handle the pressure from the outside."

Tyler smiled faintly. That answer sounded exactly like the Sect Master.

As long as the benefits outweighed the risks, the Dark Forest Society would gladly offend half the cultivation world.

Vance quietly observed Tyler’s office while waiting for a reply.

Although he had already visited the White Dragon Tower several times, he still found the place astonishing.

The office itself was larger than many elders’ residences within the sect.

Elegant furniture crafted from rare spirit wood filled the room. Large crystal windows overlooked the entire city below, while expensive paintings decorated the walls. Formation arrays silently maintained a comfortable temperature throughout the room, and even the spiritual energy was noticeably denser than outside.

Vance couldn’t help twitching his lips.

As an elder of the Dark Forest Society... He didn’t even have an office this luxurious. For a brief moment, an absurd thought appeared in his mind.

Perhaps...

He should simply resign from being an elder and work under Tyler instead. Unfortunately... His dignity, seniority, and pride refused to allow such a thing.

While Vance remained lost in thought, Tyler’s gaze slowly shifted behind him.

Standing quietly there was a beautiful young woman.

She wore a light blue robe embroidered with delicate silver patterns. Her long blue hair flowed naturally behind her, and although her expression remained calm, Tyler could easily detect the unwillingness hidden within her eyes.

After looking at her for a few seconds, Tyler rubbed his forehead.

"Don’t tell me..." He sighed. "...she’s another gift."

Ever since people learned about Tyler’s preference for surrounding himself with beautiful women, gifts had begun arriving one after another.

Beautiful maidens. Talented disciples. Young women from influential families.

Some elders had even sent their own descendants in hopes of building a closer relationship with him.

Tyler honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Vance coughed awkwardly.

"No, no... This one is different."

He pointed toward the young woman behind him.

"She’s my granddaughter."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"She’s not being sent here for... that kind of purpose."

Vance almost bit his tongue while explaining.

"She’s here as your maid."

After noticing Tyler’s strange expression, he hurriedly corrected himself.

"Ahem... not exactly a maid. She’s your bodyguard will follow you as maid."

Vance let out another helpless sigh before continuing.

"You are only at Fourth Level Qi Refining cultivator. My granddaughter has already reached the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"I believe she’ll be able to ensure your safety."

Naturally...

Everything Vance said was based on Tyler’s fabricated cultivation.

As far as the outside world knew, Tyler White remained a Fourth Level Qi Refining cultivator whose greatest strength lay in formations and inventions. Only Tyler himself knew the truth. He had already stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

If Vance somehow discovered Tyler’s real cultivation speed...

He would probably insist on marrying his granddaughter to him immediately.

The young woman stepped forward before respectfully bowing.

"Greetings, Young Master Tyler. My name is Suzuka."

Her voice was calm and polite.

However, Tyler could easily sense the unwillingness hidden beneath her composed appearance.

He glanced toward Vance.

The old elder looked away with an embarrassed expression.

The truth wasn’t difficult to guess. Suzuka already had someone she liked. Unfortunately for her... Vance clearly considered Tyler the superior choice.

After all, from Vance’s perspective, no young disciple in the Dark Forest Society —or perhaps even the surrounding kingdoms —could compare to Tyler White.

Although Vance hadn’t forced a marriage...

Sending her here as Tyler’s personal bodyguard was already enough to separate her from the young man she loved.

Naturally, she wasn’t happy about it.

Still... She had agreed.

Tyler could already imagine the reason.

Vance probably offered generous cultivation resources or promised benefits her boyfriend in exchange.

Tyler inwardly sighed.

Old men really loved interfering in the affairs of the younger generation.

He simply nodded.

"You may stay if you wish. I don’t mind."

In truth, Tyler didn’t particularly need a bodyguard.

The formations protecting the White Dragon Tower were powerful enough to stop even Golden Core cultivators for a considerable amount of time. On top of that, he possessed numerous high-grade talismans capable of killing Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators instantly.

Ordinary enemies posed little threat to him.

Still...

Since Vance had personally brought his granddaughter here, refusing outright would only embarrass the old man.

Changing the topic, Tyler looked back toward Vance.

"As for the Flying Boat Market..." He thought quietly for a few moments. "I’ll suspend production."

Vance blinked.

"What?"

"The White Merchant Group won’t release any new Dragon Boats for one year." Vance stared at Tyler in surprise.

"You mean that?" Tyler nodded. "One year should be enough for them to whatever they want."

"Besides..." A faint smile appeared on his face. "I’ve already found another business opportunity."

Vance suddenly had a very bad feeling.

He had seen that smile before. Every single time Tyler smiled like that... Someone’s industry suffered.

First, it had been the alchemists. Then, the formation masters. Now, the flying boat manufacturers.

Vance narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "...Whose turn is it this time?"

Tyler chuckled. "Don’t worry. Elder Vance. My next product isn’t expensive. It only costs five spirit stones."

Vance relaxed slightly.

"That’s all?"

Tyler nodded.

"And each one can only be used a few times before becoming useless."

For some reason...

Instead of feeling relieved, Vance felt a chill crawl down his spine.

His instincts, sharpened over centuries of cultivation, screamed that something was terribly wrong.

Looking at the harmless smile on Tyler’s face, Vance silently pitied whichever industry was about to become Tyler White’s next victim.

If history had taught him anything... Another market was about to collapse.