novelraw Chapter 108
Chapter 108
A Second-Rank martial art…
And he had actually conquered it in a single day, pushing it all the way to Practice Makes Perfect.
Even Su Wangchuan himself found it hard to believe.
But after thinking it over, it seemed reasonable.
Saber techniques were similar to sword techniques, and some of the muscle memory overlapped.
He had already spent many days on sword and saber practice. Naturally, when he cultivated 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》 now, it was twice the result with half the effort.
And moreover…
He seemed to have found the key to cultivating 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》—severing a stake with one slash.
It just so happened that the storeroom of the hall had a batch of training stakes like this.
If it were anyone else, they probably would not have been able to mobilize such a large quantity of compliant stakes so quickly.At that thought, the image of Hall Master He surfaced in his mind. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he murmured to himself:
“I wonder whether Hall Master He has already found the trick to cultivating 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》… If he has not, then his 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》 may not have reached Practice Makes Perfect yet.”
Su Wangchuan summoned the Status Panel:
Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 87/100)
(Life Profession: Blacksmith)
(Combat Profession: First-Rank Martial Artist)
Strength 8+14; Attack 7–8;
Agility 8+15; Defense 4.6; Speed +23;
Stamina 8+12; Health 200/200;
Spirit 8: (Unactivated).
Free Attributes: 3 (Assignable)
(Techniques folded)
His Agility had reached 23 points.
Su Wangchuan nodded in satisfaction, then opened the detailed information on 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》:
Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art: Practice Makes Perfect;
Current Realm: Deals close-range damage. On hit, grants +15 Attack. Certain probability to deal double-depth damage. Attack +30. Guaranteed Bleeding. Certain probability to cause Crippling. On striking a vital point, deals triple-depth damage, Attack +45, and triggers Wound Rending and Severe Injury.
Next Realm: Entry-Level Mastery.
Next Realm Effect: On hit, grants +20 Attack. Certain probability to deal double-depth damage. Attack +40. Guaranteed Bleeding. Certain probability to cause Crippling. On striking a vital point, deals triple-depth damage, Attack +60, and triggers Wound Rending and Severe Injury.
After examining it carefully, Su Wangchuan smiled.
Excellent.
The attributes of the Second-Rank martial art 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》 were tyrannical, far surpassing First-Rank martial arts at the same realm. It could even exert a degree of suppression over a First-Rank martial art that had reached Entry-Level Mastery.
As expected, the higher the rank of a martial art, the more valuable it was.
No wonder when a Third-Rank Martial Artist passed through Huishui County, the young men of many families had offered a hundred gold just to seek instruction.
A First-Rank martial art was worth one tael of gold.
A Second-Rank martial art was likely worth at least ten taels of gold.
A Third-Rank martial art—just one—was probably worth at least fifty to a hundred gold.
Su Wangchuan asked himself honestly.
If he became a Second-Rank Martial Artist and a Third-Rank martial art was placed before him, would he be willing to offer a hundred gold to learn it?
He would.
He would pay without hesitation.
With that, he understood why Third-Rank Martial Artists did not care much about a hundred-gold fee.
From Quasi-Martial Artist to Third-Rank Martial Artist, martial arts manuals were essentially secured…
How could that possibly be bought for a mere hundred gold?
The horizons of Huishui County’s families were simply too narrow.
“The further one goes, the more expensive martial arts manuals become.”
“It seems I still have to save money.”
Although Su Wangchuan now held profits from the branch helm and the Weapon Room, totaling seventy taels in gold notes and over a hundred taels of silver, he likely still could not afford even a single Third-Rank martial art.
He already had a certain status in Huishui County and a lucrative position.
What about everyone else?
What would they do?
Only now did he truly understand why people formed game studios within 《spirit realm》—why they created gold-farming groups to bring in money.
Cultivation truly consumed wealth.
But it had to be cultivated.
To live.
His earlier excitement gradually sank beneath his thoughts, and he quickly calmed.
“Ergou, bring people to clean up the training ground. Chop all the wood into pieces and throw it into the woodshed.”
“Yes!”
Su Wangchuan ate and rested.
That night, he chose the Second-Rank martial art 《Heart-Piercing Dart》 and began learning the wrist techniques for throwing.
Early the next morning, Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao actually arrived at the county seat docks with Zhao Heiniu. They found the hall through the Outer Disciples stationed at the dock.
“Senior Brother!”
“We are here!” Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao waved excitedly.
“Captain Zhao? Yuhui, Kaibao.”
“Why are you here?” Su Wangchuan asked in delighted surprise.
Zhao Heiniu pointed at the two of them. “These two brats have reached Quasi-Martial Artist strength. They kept begging me to bring them to the county seat to find you, saying they want to work under you. Even your master could not stop them, so I escorted them into the city… Fine. They are excellent workers, and it is just right for them to lend you a hand.”
Zhao Heiniu still regarded Su Wangchuan as the village blacksmith from back in Blackstone Village.
Su Wangchuan knew that these two could not have entered the city without Instructor Yu’s approval. He nodded and accepted.
Captain Zhao followed Su Wangchuan into the hall and took a look around the Weapon Room. When he saw that there were actually twenty assistants working inside, he finally calmed down. Only then did he realize that Su Wangchuan was no longer that naive young man who understood nothing.
“Not bad!”
“Wangchuan, work hard.”
“When you have time, come back and visit.”
Then he said he still needed to purchase some supplies for the village and took his leave.
“Wait.”
Chen Ergou stepped out from the side, carrying several jars of Huadiao wine, some marinated beef, and cloth.
“This is a small token of our master’s respect.”
Su Wangchuan smiled.
“Captain Zhao, please deliver two jars of wine to my master. As for the rest, share it among you and the brothers back in the village.”
“Good. I will take it.”
Zhao Heiniu beamed as he carried the items away.
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao turned to Su Wangchuan.
“Senior Brother!”
“We will follow you from now on.”
“You have to protect us.”
The two were close with him.
Su Wangchuan beckoned and brought them into the courtyard of the West Wing Room.
“What did Instructor Yu say?”
Friendship aside, he had to confirm whether this was the studio’s arrangement.
Bai Yuhui grinned.
“Instructor Yu saw that during the winter we mastered 《Archery》 and 《Basic Spear Technique》, and we even cultivated both to Practice Makes Perfect. Our Strength broke past 10 points, so he asked whether we wanted to keep following Lin Dahai to mine, or enter the reserve team for the land-clearing squad.”
“We chose the land-clearing team!”
Hong Kaibao added, “We also want to be as impressive as you, Senior Brother.”
Su Wangchuan nodded in understanding and murmured:
“The land-clearing team…”
“Why were you not arranged to follow Brother Lin Xun? I am part of the gold-farming group.”
“…”
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao gaped at him in shock. “Senior Brother Wangchuan, you are still part of the gold-farming group?”
“Yes.”
“I have always been under Instructor Yu. What is wrong?”
Su Wangchuan blinked. His expression was puzzled.
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