Posting this here because by the time someone cares about this category I may no longer remember any of it.

First of all the dupe glitch is its own category because it requires the use of multiple game versions. For instance I use the steam version as well as the GoG version. By saving in one version, and loading that save in another version, you achieve a state where fast traveling causes some light seeds to respawn. Martyr's Tower and Cauldron are the two best known levels for this, as they each have 2 seeds on the fertile ground itself. Optimally you can achieve about 0.22 seeds per second using these two levels on SSD load times.

Here is a theory route for this category if one were to use the Hunter Black Gate skip:

Cauldron Construction Yard Wings (Yellow) Martyr's Tower Dupe Step & Breath (Red & Green) Hunter Machinery Ground Heaven's Stair Reservoir Alchemist Hand (Blue) Concubine Warrior City of Light

The reason City of Light is healed is because it is faster to heal and fast travel than to walk all the way back to reservoir (I think).

I'm guessing this route is capable of sub 3 hours but I'm not sure.