The Universal Exchange System

Clearwind City, City Lord's Mansion.

The reception hall was permeated with the faint fragrance of tea.

Lin Chen sat in a chair, somewhat dazed.

Spread out on the table before him was a contract.

"Lin Chen, as long as you sign this contract and relinquish your spot, three hundred thousand Gold Coins will be yours immediately."

The City Lord of Clearwind City sat opposite him with a smile on his face. He lifted his teacup and took a gentle sip, a flash of mockery hidden deep within his eyes.

Lin Chen looked at the contract on the table, his calm gaze beginning to ripple.

The Lin Family was once one of the three great families of Clearwind City.

Three years ago, a catastrophe befell the Lin Family.

He was the only one who survived.

No one knew that the soul residing within his body was no longer the original one.

Since then, the Lin Family's assets had been continuously encroached upon.

Now, only a single mansion remained.

He had been only thirteen at the time, completely powerless to stop it.

Especially this City Lord before him, who had used the name of being a family friend to "look after" Lin Chen.

In reality, he had been the one snatching the most, both openly and covertly.

Now, he even wanted to strip away his final hope.

The Green Mountain Sect test spot was designated by the Green Mountain Sect itself.

But as the City Lord, he naturally had the means to manipulate things.

As long as Lin Chen signed the contract, that spot would belong to the City Lord's family.

He raised his head to look at the City Lord, feeling helpless inside.

It was the same everywhere; the law of the jungle was an eternal, unchanging truth.

Seeing Lin Chen hesitate, the City Lord of Clearwind City's expression darkened.

"Lin Chen, are you still not satisfied with the price of three hundred thousand?"

He furrowed his brows and held out his palm, "Five hundred thousand. This is already an astronomical price, enough for you to enjoy a lifetime of luxury."

In truth, the assets he had plundered from the Lin Family were worth no less than two million Gold Coins.

And now, he wanted to buy out his future for a mere five hundred thousand.

In his dreams!

Lin Chen reached out and pushed the contract back, "Lord Qin, the Green Mountain Sect test spot was bought with my parents' lives.

It is also my final memento; I do not wish to sell it..."

"What did you say?"

Lord Qin slammed his teacup onto the table, his expression turning terrifyingly gloomy.

Lin Chen's attitude was extremely resolute, "I said, I am not selling the spot!"

Having said that, he stood up and turned to leave.

Before he had taken more than a few steps, the sound of a teacup shattering echoed from behind him.

"Lin Chen—"

Lord Qin drew out the sound of his voice, "In terms of sentiment, I have taken good care of you for these past three years, allowing you to grow up in peace.

In terms of propriety, I am willing to pay five hundred thousand Gold Coins for your spot to ensure you have a worry-free life, yet you are still not content?

As your elder, I am offering you kind advice; do not be ungrateful!"

Lord Qin had mastered the art of coercion and inducement to perfection.

Intimidating a sixteen-year-old child was more than enough for him.

However, the soul residing in Lin Chen's body belonged to another world.

He was not in the slightest bit afraid of these tactics.

He turned back around and looked coldly at Lord Qin, "The Green Mountain Sect has a rule: those who possess a test spot are treated as equivalent to Green Mountain Sect disciples.

If anyone dares to harm them, they will face the retaliation of the Green Mountain Sect!"

"You... what kind of person do you take me for?"

Hearing these words, Lord Qin's tone softened immediately.

"Lin Chen, you are too young and do not understand the cultivation world.

You have a Five Elements Waste Spirit Root; even if you reach the Green Mountain Sect, you will at most be a servant.

Isn't it better to live in comfort at home than to be a servant doing the most bitter and exhausting labor?"

To be honest, these words truly shook Lin Chen.

According to the experience of the cultivation world, someone with a Five Elements Waste Spirit Root would never surpass the Qi Condensation Realm, even if they cultivated for an entire lifetime.

And for a cultivator, the Qi Condensation Realm is merely the entry level.

One's lifespan would not increase, and at most, one would simply live a life free of illness or disaster.

Rather than being a subordinate for one's whole life, it would truly be better to take the money and live a carefree, happy life in the mortal world.

It must be said that Lord Qin was remarkably skilled at manipulating the human heart.

Seeing Lin Chen's wavering gaze, Lord Qin immediately stepped out from behind the tea table and grabbed the contract.

He walked up close in a few strides, "Lin Chen, as long as you sign this, besides the five hundred thousand Gold Coins, I can also have people help you take a few wives and concubines so that your Lin Family can flourish.

Furthermore, I can hand over the cloth shop business to you, ensuring you have no worries for the future."

Sugar-coated shells were being pelted at him one after another.

As he spoke, he thrust the contract in front of Lin Chen.

Yet, regarding such empty promises, Lin Chen remained completely unmoved, "I said I wouldn't sell."

When he transmigrated here, he was only thirteen, lonely and helpless; how had he managed to survive until now?

Was it not by relying on this quota?

To put it bluntly, it was the Green Mountain Sect that served as his backing.

If he were to sign the contract today and transfer the quota, he would have no protection.

Could he even keep the five hundred thousand Gold Coins once they were in his hands?

The answer was no.

He definitely would not be able to keep them.

He might even lose his life because of it.

Seeing Lin Chen refuse again, Lord Qin could no longer hold back.

"Lin Chen, do you dare to play me for a fool?"

He roared, grabbing Lin Chen's right hand directly, "You must sign today."

Lin Chen struggled with all his might.

But with his emaciated frame, how could he be a match for Lord Qin?

Watching his palm get closer and closer to the contract, he felt despair in his heart.

If he signed this contract, his life would certainly be forfeit.

[Ding! Detected strong resistance from the host, Universal Exchange System activated.]

Hearing this voice, Lin Chen felt a surge of joy.

Three years after transmigrating, the system had finally arrived.

[System binding successful, Currency System established.]

[Exchange System enabled.]

[One Spirit Stone can be exchanged for one year of cultivation.]

[Detected that the host is still in the novice Body Tempering stage; special offer applied: Gold Coins can be used for exchange. One Gold Coin can be exchanged for one year of cultivation. Spirit Stone exchanges will begin once the peak of Body Tempering is reached.]

It seems my decision was the right one!

Even after this novice period, exchanging one Spirit Stone for one year of cultivation was a guaranteed profit.

The channels for Spirit Stones were firmly controlled by the sect.

For the sake of Spirit Stones alone, he had to enter the Green Mountain Sect.

Not to mention, the sect had expert guidance and all kinds of cultivation techniques.

Therefore, the value of the quota in his hands was immeasurable.

It was precisely because he lacked authentic techniques that he had spent an entire year tempering his body just to reach Body Tempering Layer 1.

Of course, this was also because he had no money and no resources.

Now that one Gold Coin could be exchanged for one year of cultivation, what was he waiting for?

He didn't have much on him, just ten Gold Coins left.

He shouted in his heart: "System, exchange ten years of cultivation for me."

To be even a second slow would be a sign of disrespect to the system.

[Ten Gold Coins deducted, exchange successful.]

Lin Chen only felt a surge of fiery power instantly spread throughout his entire body.

Wherever it passed, his flesh, blood, and bones were all being frantically tempered.

It was as if he had truly cultivated for ten years.

The experience and the results of that cultivation merged into his body in an instant.

Body Tempering Second Layer!

Body Tempering Third Layer!

Body Tempering Seventh Layer!

In the blink of an eye, his strength surged several times over, and every indicator of his physical state skyrocketed.

He exerted sudden force with the hand gripped by Lord Qin, breaking free directly.

Lord Qin stumbled, nearly falling over.

In the past, Lin Chen had been alone and isolated, making it unwise to tear off the mask of civility with Lord Qin.

Now, he had no other choice.

"Lord Qin, I said I wasn't selling. What is the meaning of this?" Lin Chen glared at him.

Lord Qin's face turned livid. His eyes flickered several times before he finally took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.

He threw out his final trump card, "Lin Chen, as long as you sign the contract, I can make the call to have all the Lin Family properties returned to you, and I will give you an additional one million Gold Coins. How about that?"

To be honest, he truly dared not move against Lin Chen openly, as that would bring a catastrophe down upon the Qin Family.

However, his illegitimate son had indeed reached the age; if he couldn't secure a spot, how would he answer for it?

That was his only son, after all!

Seeing that Lin Chen didn't even answer him and left without the slightest hesitation, Lord Qin's face turned as dark as water.

He clenched his fists tightly, only loosening them after a long while.

"If that is how it is, then don't blame me. As long as it is done discreetly, no one will find out. I will spend money to find someone to maneuver things; securing a vacant spot shouldn't be difficult."

A cold sneer appeared on Lord Qin's face, "Someone come..."