Chapter 35: Wealth, Wisdom, and Wheels of Fortune

Lin Fan stepped out from the cool, stable environment of the lower-level training facility, back into the ambient air of the Outer Sect grounds. Night had fallen while he was immersed in cultivation. He could feel the difference immediately – the spiritual energy here felt thin and diffuse compared to the richness within the Enhanced Qi Training Room. Yet, his own Dantian felt replete, his Qi circulating with newfound smoothness and density. The twelve hours spent within the array-enhanced room had undeniably solidified his fifth layer foundation, pushing him firmly to the peak of the stage. The bottleneck leading to the sixth layer felt palpably closer, a barrier he was confident he could shatter with a dedicated push when the time was right.

As he walked back towards his dwelling under the moonlight, he reflected on the experience and the nature of his resources. The training room, costing a not-insignificant 100 Contribution Points, offered a significant advantage over simple ambient cultivation. The stable, enriched Qi was perfect for meticulous refinement, consolidating his gains after rapid advancements, and potentially for gaining deeper comprehension of his techniques without distraction. He could also see its value for delicate work requiring fine Qi control, like the alchemy he'd briefly attempted. If he were serious about pursuing that path, practicing within such a room would likely yield far better results than his dusty hut.

But was it necessary for his primary cultivation, given his access to infinite High-Grade Spirit Stones?

No, he concluded honestly. For raw speed, for forcing breakthroughs, nothing compares to devouring High-Grade stones. The sheer volume of pure energy they provide is overwhelming, capable of crushing bottlenecks through brute force. He recalled the speed with which he'd reached the fourth and fifth layers using them.

However, his thoughts continued, cultivation isn't solely about speed or raw power accumulation. Stability mattered. Comprehension mattered. The training room offered a controlled environment, a gentler, steadier stream of refined energy ideal for polishing his foundation, ensuring there were no hidden flaws from advancing too quickly. Using High-Grade stones constantly felt like sprinting everywhere; using the training room was like a steady, strengthening jog. Both had their place. The stones were for assaults on new realms; the room was for solidifying territory already conquered. It was a valuable tool earned via the sect's system, useful for specific phases of cultivation or auxiliary skill practice.

And that brought him to the broader nature of his advantages and limitations. Infinite Spirit Stones were a foundation, an incredible one, granting him effectively limitless energy for cultivation and unmatched purchasing power for available goods. But they weren't a universal solution.

Discretion, for instance. Manifesting piles of High-Grade stones or using them openly in populated areas was bound to attract dangerous levels of attention eventually. Sometimes, blending in, using sect facilities like the training room, or relying on lower-grade resources publicly might be necessary.

Specific needs were another factor. Spirit Stones provided pure, neutral Qi. What if a technique required potent Fire Qi? Or if an alchemy recipe needed rare Yin-attribute ingredients like the Frost Dew Grass or the Yin Essence Bead he now possessed? His infinite wealth could buy these things if they were for sale, but it couldn't transmute neutral spirit energy into specific elemental types or create rare, location-specific herbs out of nothing.

Furthermore, knowledge and skills often needed to be learned or acquired through means other than just energy infusion. The alchemy manual required study and practice. The library had revealed that deeper knowledge on seals or Yin phenomena was restricted by rank or sect access, not purchasable with stones alone. While the system's Lottery offered incredible shortcuts – instantly mastered techniques, powerful items – it was inherently random. He couldn't choose to draw an alchemy skill or the key to his locked box.

Infinite wealth provided the ultimate fuel and lubricant for his journey, removing resource constraints that crippled other cultivators. But wisdom lay in knowing when to use that overwhelming power directly (like breakthroughs with stones), when to leverage the skills and items gained via the system (lottery draws funded by SP), and when to engage with the world's own systems (like earning CP for sect privileges and knowledge).

He arrived back at his hut, his mind clear. He had consolidated his cultivation at peak fifth layer. He had 930 CP, well on his way to unlocking further sect benefits. He had gained valuable experience and unique items from his tasks. And he had a substantial reserve of 4200 System Points.

The Contribution Point grind could continue tomorrow. Studying the alchemy manual or library information required focused time. Right now, however, felt like an opportune moment to consult the system's wheel of fortune again. He was at a new peak in his current realm; perhaps the lottery would yield something pertinent to the upcoming sixth layer breakthrough? Or maybe a tool or skill related to alchemy, seals, or even the dagger and amulet mysteries?

The allure of potential shortcuts and power boosts was strong. With 4200 SP, he could afford 42 draws. That felt excessive, perhaps wasteful, given his previous large spree. A smaller, more targeted set of draws seemed more prudent.

Lin Fan sat down on his mat, a familiar thrill of anticipation running through him. He closed his eyes and focused his intent.

"System," he commanded inwardly. "Initiate the Lottery Draw function. Prepare for twenty draws."

Twenty chances. A significant investment, but hopefully enough to yield something truly useful for the next stage of his journey. The dazzling wheel of light began to form in his mind's eye, ready to spin.