Contribution Hall

The green-robed elder said matter-of-factly, "The Forest Goddess Temple shows great favor to every Apprentice-level member. Even the most ungrateful person cannot deny its generosity—Green Marrow, Dragon Blood... each of these treasures would be hard for even an ordinary Planetary-level expert to find in the outside world, yet here, they are easily obtained. This is indeed favor, but it does not come without demands."

"For Planetary-level members, aside from this one-time Temple of Life baptism, there will be no more free gifts. You must rely on your own contributions to the temple to exchange for what you need. If you can become a core member, merely offering devout faith to the great Forest Goddess and understanding her noble beliefs is worth five hundred contribution points—enough to enter the Temple of Life once more."

Guen suddenly understood: "Then, when you put it that way, the first method and the second aren't really any different."

The green-robed elder bristled, "Of course there's a difference! For someone like you... forget it, there's no point talking to you. Sincere faith isn't just lip service. The benefit of being a core member is receiving direct gifts from the Forest Goddess—supreme Secret Methods that cannot be found anywhere else on this planet. Let me put it this way: if you kill a dire beast below Planetary Level 3, and contribute all its materials to the goddess—since it's a contribution, you'll only get forty percent of the gold coin reward from the outside market. The rest counts as contribution points, roughly five or six points."

"What!"

Only then did Guen truly startle. The materials from a single Planetary-level dire beast could easily sell for over a hundred thousand gold coins. By that calculation, nearly ten thousand gold coins were worth only one contribution point.

Double Moon Town's annual tax revenue was just a few hundred gold coins.

Even the main city of Leiquan City only brought in two to three hundred thousand a year. The Aoyu Empire, excluding Lionheart City, had only six main cities—this was a sixth of the entire empire's tax revenue.

Yet one contribution point from the Forest Goddess Temple was so exorbitantly priced, it completely caught Guen off guard.

"Don't judge the Planetary-level world by the standards of an Apprentice-level brat. Killing a single Planetary-level dire beast is nothing remarkable," the green-robed elder scolded. "To ordinary people, Planetary-level is already transcendent. A Planetary-level expert has a lifespan of a thousand years. If you think the contribution is too little, go hunt higher-ranked beasts. A Planetary-level dire beast from Tier 4 to Tier 6 is worth about twenty points. Higher tiers can fetch seventy to eighty points per beast—if you have the life to claim them."

With that, the green-robed elder puffed out his chest, clearly hinting at his own status as a Planetary Level 3 expert.

Guen asked doubtfully, "Can contribution points only be used to exchange for entry into the Temple of Life?"

Five hundred contribution points. For dire beasts below Planetary Level 3, that would take one to two hundred kills for a single entry.

Guen admitted the Temple of Life greatly boosted cultivation, but the cost of entry was even greater!

"Of course not! Essence of Vegetation, Force Weapons, high-level Secret Methods, all kinds of rare materials, detailed maps of the Wild World... you could even buy titles and fiefs in the Aoyu Empire. But entering the Temple of Life is one of the most expensive options. For you, it's one thing; for core members, the Temple of Life is extremely important. Five hundred contribution points is completely worth it. Go check the Contribution Hall yourself to see what's available for exchange. Of course, besides these, there are also tasks. You can earn contribution points by contributing rare materials, but the temple also has troublesome matters that need handling. Those tasks are only rewarded with contribution points, and any one of them pays better than contributing materials." The green-robed elder was thoroughly disdainful of Guen's shallow knowledge.

Guen wasn't angered. Instead, he earnestly thanked the elder: "Thank you for the guidance, senior. I'll go take a look now."

By that calculation, five hundred contribution points were finally acceptable.

Otherwise, relying solely on hunting Planetary-level dire beasts to accumulate contribution points would be far too slow.

Guen bid farewell to the green-robed elder and arrived at the Contribution Hall. Contrary to his expectations, the hall was extremely quiet—not a single person was there, only a massive vine covering the entrance.

The vine seemed alive. Sensing Guen's presence, it extended a tendril, lightly tapped Guen, then tapped the Kejia Beast, before withdrawing the vines blocking the door, allowing Guen to enter.

"This vine seems even more lively than my Kejia Beast. Not only can it detect my strength, but it can also sense the connection between me and the beast." Guen immediately grew interested in the vine.

Though the Kejia Beast could run and jump, its eat-sleep-eat routine had already branded it as dull-witted in Guen's mind.

"Is this the reward?"

As soon as he entered, Guen saw rewards covering the entire wall, all sealed within massive pillars, completely wrapped in vines, with only small portions exposed alongside a few lines of simple descriptions.

"One dormant cub of the Planetary-level dire beast Blood-Purple Crystal Wolf. Can grow to Apprentice Level 9 as an adult. Contribution required: 45 points."

"Five portions of Dragon Blood. Auxiliary cultivation resource. Increases cultivation speed and physical strength. Contribution required: 15 points."

"One portion of Green Marrow. Auxiliary cultivation resource. Increases cultivation speed and physical toughness. Contribution required: 200 points."

"One Essence of Vegetation. Contribution required: 100 points."

"One seed of the rare bond-plant Ziyuan Taro. Can grow to Apprentice Level 7. With a special formula, can be nurtured to Apprentice Level 9. Covers over ten miles. Cannot be broken by non-Planetary-level warriors. Contribution required: 275 points."

"One session of cultivation in the Temple of Life, maximum stay of one hour. Contribution required: 500 points."

"One Tier 1 Force Weapon, Boundless Sea Wave Staff. Main material: Blue Soul Gold, supplemented by materials from multiple Planetary-level dire beasts. Masterwork of Chief Antler. Contribution required: 1,160 points."

"Two sessions of Force Weapon forging personally by the High Priest (one weapon per session). Must provide materials for both sessions. Contribution required: 600 points."

"One hundred miles of fief in the Aoyu Empire. Contribution required: 200 points."

"Earl title in the Aoyu Empire, with a generous fief of one hundred fifty miles and three subsidiary villages. Contribution required: 750 points."

"Twenty Apprentice Level 8 Golden-Bearded Mastiffs. Contribution required: 3 points."

"One male and one female Apprentice Level 9 Drill-Back Turtles. Contribution required: 10 points."

"Large quantities of Planetary-level dire beast flesh and blood. Contribution required: 1 point for three tons."

"One day of sparring with a warrior below Planetary Level 3. Contribution required: 10 points."

"One day of sparring with a warrior above Planetary Level 3 but below Level 6. Contribution required: 25 points."

"One day of sparring and guidance from a warrior at Planetary Level 7 or above. Contribution required: 100 points."

"One day of sparring with an ordinary Planetary-level Spirit Reader. Contribution required: 20 points."

"One day of sparring with a high-level Planetary-level Spirit Reader. Contribution required: 100 points."

"Guidance from the High Priest / Chief Antler / Kalong. Contribution required: 100 points."

"Six volumes of cultivation experience and insights from past Planetary-level members (all exceeding Planetary Level 5, including ultimate techniques and Secret Methods). Contribution required: 3,700 points."

"Volume one of the six volumes of cultivation experience and insights from past Planetary-level members (all exceeding Planetary Level 5, including ultimate techniques and Secret Methods). Contribution required: 170 points."

"Volumes one and two of the six volumes of cultivation experience and insights from past Planetary-level members (all exceeding Planetary Level 5, including ultimate techniques and Secret Methods). Contribution required: 500 points."

"Volumes one through three of the six volumes of cultivation experience and insights from past Planetary-level members (all exceeding Planetary Level 5, including ultimate techniques and Secret Methods). Contribution required: 1,140 points."

So rich!

Even with some expectations, Guen was still dazzled by the abundance of rewards within the Forest Goddess Temple.

It covered and exceeded every category of reward he could have imagined.

"But I haven't contributed anything at all!"

Guen was immediately jolted back to reality. Through the watch bestowed by the Goddess Temple, he could see how many contribution points he held, and deductions were also processed through the Smart Watch.

"Let's check the missions."

Guen's dwelling did have some Vajra Ape flesh and materials, and he had seen the contribution exchange rate—it would only net him four or five contribution points, nowhere near enough to solve his problem.

"Missions!"

Guen walked to another wall and saw the tasks posted there.

"Guard the Temple of Life for three years. Reward: 6 contribution points."

"Capture a Planetary Level beast alive, its rank no higher than third-tier. The lower the rank and the more intact the specimen, the better. Reward: 15–45 contribution points."

"Proceed to Eastsea Province. The province is currently overrun with ferocious beasts. For each month spent there, reward: 3 contribution points. For each Planetary Level beast slain, reward: 3 contribution points. For killing a large number of low-level beasts, reward: up to 10 contribution points."