novelraw Chapter 151: The Manual Has Arrived!
Chapter 151: The Manual Has Arrived!
Wangchuan’s proposal was brought by Instructor Yu to Su Wan, Lin Xun, and the others.
Then it reached Captain Bai of the Land-Clearing Team One, and Bai Jingtang actually agreed with him:
“Better to stay still than to move.”
“Wangchuan is right. If we cannot save anyone, there is no need to clash with the Five Poison Sect.”
“Lin Dahai and the others are useful to the Five Poison Sect, so they are not in danger for now. Let us see what they plan to do.”
Lin Dahai and the others received instructions to follow the Five Poison Sect’s orders and work obediently at Blackwind Stronghold. They were to avoid conflict, and do everything they could to keep their in-game characters alive.
The other major game studios did not have nearly as much strength in Huishui County as the Warring States Game Studio, so they also chose to wait and watch.
Early the next morning, the group hastily forced down a few bites of cold, tough roasted meat. Under the commands of the burly man with the scorpion tattoo from the Five Poison Sect, they continued clearing up Blackwind Stronghold…
Those chopping trees kept chopping trees!
Those building walls kept building walls!Some of them were assigned to scrub the bloodstains in the stronghold…
They worked from morning until night!
They did not earn a single copper piece.
At night, the human cattle were herded back into the rooms and locked up again.
Lin Dahai, trembling with fear, ran off to report.
The studio quickly learned that, according to the tasks issued by the Five Poison Sect, they truly intended to rebuild Blackwind Stronghold.
And Lin Dahai and the others might remain at Blackwind Stronghold and continue doing hard labor for a while longer.
Lin Dahai specifically mentioned that the burly man with the scorpion tattoo had questioned him and some of the Quasi-Martial Artists separately—mainly because he had cultivated 《Basic Spear Technique》 and 《Archery》 to the “Practice Makes Perfect” realm. His Strength and Agility were both above 10, meeting the standard for a Quasi-Martial Artist.
The man said they needed to recruit some people to stay at Blackwind Stronghold as outer disciples of the Five Poison Sect and as minor underlings within Blackwind Stronghold…
With a monthly pay of five qian of silver!
He told their entire group to think it over carefully.
When Wangchuan heard this, he immediately knew the studio’s guess had been correct.
The Five Poison Sect planned to rebuild Blackwind Stronghold, and they had already begun recruiting manpower.
That meant Lin Dahai and the others were safe. As long as they did not refuse and stayed with the Five Poison Sect, they would soon get an opportunity to leave the mountains.
Over the next two days, Wangchuan entered the same state he had been in when he trained 《Fish Scale Technique》.
Every day, he logged in, took a short walk around, and reminded Wang Yuehui, Chen Ergou, and the others to keep an eye on the hall. Then he returned to his room, stood between his homemade barbell and the foam cushioning zone, and trained 《Iron Shirt》.
As his Agility rose—now as high as 37—his base Defense was 7.4. Even activating entry-level 《Iron Shirt》 could bring it to 9.4, stronger than when he had activated 《Fish Scale Technique》 back then.
Left with no choice, he increased the barbell to three hundred kilograms, then adjusted the potential-energy drop height until it met the training threshold…
BOOM!
Amid an even fiercer howling rush of air, his body was knocked flying and slammed into the foam cushioning zone.
A robot moved in to apply ice compresses and treat his injuries.
After spending most of the day, 《Iron Shirt》 rose to “Minor Mastery,” granting Defense +5, comparable to “Practice Makes Perfect” 《Fish Scale Technique》.
Wangchuan had to keep adjusting the barbell’s weight, raising it to four hundred kilograms, with combined potential energy nearing a six-hundred-kilogram level of force…
He trained for three full days!
At last, it was done!
Ding!
“《Iron Shirt》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect,’ rewarding 2 Stamina;”
“Next realm: ‘Entry-Level Mastery.’”
Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 59/100)
(Life Profession: Blacksmith)
(Combat Profession: First-Rank Martial Artist)
Strength 31; Attack 10–11;
Agility 37; Defense 7.4; Speed +37;
Stamina 28; HP 280/280;
He tapped open the detailed attributes of 《Iron Shirt》:
Iron Shirt: Practice Makes Perfect;
Current realm: +8 Defense. When attacked, the torso gains an additional +2 Defense, and the limbs gain an additional +1 Defense;
Next realm: Entry-Level Mastery;
Next realm: +12 Defense. When attacked, the torso gains an additional +3 Defense, and the limbs gain an additional +2 Defense;
Wangchuan smiled and muttered to himself:
“《Iron Shirt》 is already at Practice Makes Perfect. Next… I can only cultivate the Green Bamboo Gang’s second-rank martial art, 《Green Bamboo Staff Art》, or the second-rank martial art 《Breaking Army Hammer Art》.”
At that, he could not help cursing. The escort deliveries in 《spirit realm》 were truly a scam. After all these days, the five second-rank manuals still had not arrived.
Just as he was about to pick up a long staff and head to the training grounds, a disciple came to report:
“Hall Master!”
“Escort Leader He from Qingfeng Escort Agency is here to pay a visit. He says he has something for you.”
“…”
Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.
“It is finally here!”
He immediately set down his weapon and strode to the hall’s front reception.
He Han was already waiting there.
“Hall Master Wangchuan!”
“Escort Leader He!”
From several steps away, the two greeted each other warmly.
He Han held a box in his hands and presented it with both palms: “The item that the white heroine Bai at the prefectural government entrusted our escort agency to bring back—at long last, we have fulfilled our duty and returned it to you.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Escort Leader He! Quick—serve the best tea!”
Wangchuan accepted the wooden case.
He Han quickly stepped back and said, “No.”
“Hall Master Wangchuan, you are too polite.”
“We have brought back quite a bit of heavy cargo from the prefectural government this time, and I still need to return to the escort agency to keep watch. I cannot stay long. I hope Hall Master Wangchuan will forgive me.”
“When there is time, He will visit again. Then I can sit knee to knee with Hall Master Wangchuan and talk at length about the glorious incident of you boldly forcing back the snakes.” He Han cupped his hands and took his leave.
“Good. Wangchuan will sweep the couch and await you. Safe travels, Escort Leader He.”
Wangchuan escorted He Han out of the hall, then returned.
Sure enough, the wooden case held five second-rank manuals.
Only today did he learn that Su Wan had asked Captain Bai Jingtang to search for second-rank martial art manuals over at the prefectural government.
“Let me see what Captain Bai prepared for me.”
Su Wan seemed unreliable in many ways, but Captain Bai was someone dependable.
Wangchuan’s anticipation surged.
Back in his room, he opened the wooden case and took out all five second-rank manuals.
Second-rank martial arts: 《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》, 《Blazing Leg》, 《Mandarin Duck Saber Art》, 《Qingcheng Heart Method》, 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》…
He laid the five manuals out in a row.
Wangchuan rubbed the bridge of his nose and nodded silently.
《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》 was clearly meant to raise Strength.
《Blazing Leg》 was a leg-and-fist style meant to raise Agility.
《Mandarin Duck Saber Art》 stated that it was a dual-saber martial art, with faster attack speed and training for both hands and both blades. Perhaps it could coexist with 《Blazing Leg》 and raise Agility together.
《Qingcheng Heart Method》 was rather special.
It was a breathing and qi-circulation healing method. It could accelerate the body’s metabolism, speed up wound healing, and restore Stamina more quickly. It could also increase the Stamina attribute.
He had to learn it!
As for 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》…
Heh.
Wangchuan smiled.
If nothing unexpected happened, this was the bow art Bai Jingtang had used at Blackwind Stronghold to astonish everyone.
A second-rank bow art above 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》!
He had to learn it!
Aside from 《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》, which might overlap a little with 《Breaking Army Hammer Art》, the other four martial arts were all quite good.
CLICK HERE to Rate/Review