The Contribution Hall

The old man in the green robe said matter-of-factly, "The Goddess Temple treats every Apprentice Level member with great generosity. Even the most coldhearted person couldn't deny its munificence. Green Marrow, Dragon Blood... Every one of these treasures would be difficult for even an ordinary Planetary Level expert to find out in the outside world, yet here, you can obtain them with ease. That is indeed generosity, but it doesn't come without strings attached.

"For Planetary Level members, apart from this one blessing from the Temple of Life, there won't be anything else given for free. You'll need to earn what you want by contributing to the Goddess Temple. If you become a Core Member, simply offering one more sincere prayer to the great Goddess of the Forest and understanding her noble beliefs will be worth five hundred contribution points—enough to enter the Temple of Life once more."

Guen suddenly understood. "So, the first method isn't really any different from the second."

The old man in the green robe glared at him, bristling. "Of course there's a difference. Someone like you... Forget it. There's no point explaining it to you. Sincere faith isn't just something you talk about. The advantage of being a Core Member is that you can receive a direct gift from the Goddess of the Forest—the supreme Secret Method. You won't find anything else like it anywhere on this planet. Let me put it this way: if you can kill a Planetary Level Three or lower beast, you can offer all its materials to the Goddess. Since it's a contribution, you'll only receive forty percent of what they'd fetch in the outside world in gold coins. The rest counts as contribution, which comes to about five or six points."

"What!"

Only then was Guen truly shocked. The materials from a Planetary Level beast could easily sell for over a hundred thousand gold coins. By that calculation, nearly ten thousand gold coins were worth just one contribution point.

Double Moon Town only collected a few hundred gold coins in taxes each year.

Even Leiquan City, the main city, collected only two or three hundred thousand in annual taxes. Aside from Lionheart City, the Aoyu Empire had only six main cities—that was already a sixth of the entire country's tax revenue.

The value of a single contribution point at the Forest Goddess Temple was astonishingly high, far beyond anything Guen had expected.

"Don't judge the Planetary Level world by the standards of the Apprentice Level," the old man in the green robe scolded. "Killing a Planetary Level beast isn't anything remarkable. To ordinary people, Planetary Level experts are already beyond the mortal realm. A Planetary Level expert can live for a thousand years. If you think the contribution is too small, you can hunt higher-level beasts. Planetary Level Four to Six beasts are worth around twenty points, while a beast of an even higher level can be worth seventy or eighty points on its own—if you survive."

The old man in the green robe stood tall and proud as he spoke, clearly hinting at his own Planetary Level Three status.

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

Five hundred contribution points would take a hundred or two hundred beasts below Planetary Level Three to earn.

Guen admitted that the Temple of Life greatly accelerated cultivation, but the price of entry was even greater!

"Of course not. You can get Essence of Vegetation, Force Weapons, advanced Secret Methods, all kinds of rare materials, detailed maps of the Wild World... You can even buy a noble title and land in the Aoyu Empire. But entry to the Temple of Life is among the most expensive things. For you, that's one thing, but for Core Members, the Temple of Life is extremely important. Five hundred contribution points are well worth it. You can go to the Contribution Hall and see what's available for exchange. And besides all that, you can earn contribution points by taking on tasks. You can get contribution for rare materials, but the Goddess Temple also has all sorts of troublesome matters that need handling. These tasks only pay in contribution points, but even any one of them will earn you more than contributing materials." The old man looked down on Guen's shallow knowledge.

Guen wasn't offended. Instead, he thanked the old man solemnly. "Thank you for the advice, senior. I'll go take a look."

By that calculation, five hundred contribution points were at least within reach.

Otherwise, hunting Planetary Level beasts one by one would make for painfully slow progress.

Guen said goodbye to the old man in the green robe and headed to the Contribution Hall. Contrary to his expectations, the place was deserted. There wasn't a single person around; only an enormous vine covered the entrance.

The vine seemed alive. Sensing Guen's presence, it reached out and gently tapped him, then did the same to the Kejia Beast. Only then did it draw back from the doorway, allowing Guen to enter.

"This vine seems even more perceptive than my Kejia Beast. It can not only gauge my strength, but also tell that the Kejia Beast is connected to me." Guen immediately grew interested in it.

The Kejia Beast could run and jump like any other beast, but it slept after eating and ate after sleeping. Guen had already decided it was a fool.

"These are the rewards?"

As soon as Guen entered, he saw rewards covering the walls. Each was sealed inside a massive pillar, completely wrapped in vines, with only a small portion visible beside a few brief lines of description.

"A sleeping Planetary Level Blood-Purple Crystal Wolf cub. It can grow to Apprentice Level 9 when mature. Contribution required: 45 points."

"Five portions of Dragon Blood, cultivation resources that can increase cultivation speed and physical strength. Contribution required: 15 points."

"One portion of Green Marrow, a cultivation resource that can increase cultivation speed and physical resilience. Contribution required: 200 points."

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

"One seed of a rare, bonded Ziyuan Taro plant. It can grow to Apprentice Level 7. With a special formula, it can be nurtured to Apprentice Level 9 and cover dozens of miles. No one below Planetary Level can break through it. Contribution required: 275 points."

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

"One Tier 1 Force Weapon, the Boundless Sea Wave Staff, made primarily from Blue Soul Gold and supplemented with materials from several Planetary Level beasts. Chief Antler's proud creation. Contribution required: 1,160 points."

"The High Priest will personally forge Force Weapons twice (for one weapon only). You must provide the materials needed for both attempts. Contribution required: 600 points."

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

"The title of Earl in the Aoyu Empire, along with a generous grant of one hundred and fifty miles of land and three affiliated towns. Contribution required: 750 points."

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

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

"A large quantity of Planetary Level beast meat. One contribution point can be exchanged for three tons."

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

"One day of sparring with a warrior of Planetary Level Three or higher, but below Level Six. Contribution required: 25 points."

"One day of sparring and instruction from a warrior of Planetary Level Seven 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."

"Instruction from the High Priest, Chief Antler, or Kalong. Contribution required: 100 points."

"Six volumes of cultivation insights and experiences from past Planetary Level members, all of whom surpassed Planetary Level Five and whose writings include their signature techniques and Secret Methods. Contribution required: 3,700 points."

"Volume One of the cultivation insights and experiences from past Planetary Level members, all of whom surpassed Planetary Level Five and whose writings include their signature techniques and Secret Methods. Contribution required: 170 points."

"Volumes One and Two of the cultivation insights and experiences from past Planetary Level members, all of whom surpassed Planetary Level Five and whose writings include their signature techniques and Secret Methods. Contribution required: 500 points."

"Volumes One through Three of the cultivation insights and experiences from past Planetary Level members, all of whom surpassed Planetary Level Five and whose writings include their signature techniques and Secret Methods. Contribution required: 1,140 points."

What an impressive selection!

Even though he'd had some idea of what to expect, the abundance of rewards inside the Forest Goddess Temple still left Guen dazzled.

The rewards already covered—and even went beyond—everything Guen could think of.

"But I don't have a single contribution point!"

Guen was brought back to reality at once. The Smart Watch given to him by the Goddess Temple could show how many contribution points he had, and deductions were handled through the watch as well.

"I'll go look at the tasks."

Guen had some Vajra Ape meat and materials back at his place. He'd also seen the contribution rate, and they really would only earn him four or five points—not nearly enough to solve anything.

"Tasks!"

Guen went to another wall and looked over the tasks listed there.

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

"Capture a Planetary Level beast alive. It must be no higher than Level Three; the lower its level and the better its condition, the better. Reward: 15–45 contribution points."

"Travel to East Sea Province. Beasts are running rampant there. Earn 3 contribution points for every month spent in the province, 3 points for each Planetary Level beast killed, and up to 10 points for killing large numbers of lower-level beasts."