Supreme Martial Venerable: Starting with the White Ape Cloak Hammer skill point allocation

Zhou Yuan's throat bobbed, as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

He recalled a famous theory from his previous life about the three taels of silver, which said that an ordinary person could only earn thirty-three taels of silver a year through hard work, but needed thirty-six taels of silver to make a living.

For the sake of this meager sum of three taels of silver, ordinary people worked like oxen and horses, not daring to stop for even a moment.

He feels that he has now fallen into this vicious cycle as well.

Just as he saw a glimmer of hope for making money, something immediately came up that required him to spend his money.

The protection fee of two taels of silver per month was neither a lot nor a little, but it was just right to the limit of his tolerance.

If he has any more, he will starve to death, and then he might have to fight desperately.

Even with a little less, he could save up some spare money, and over time, that would eventually change his situation.

The Broken Blade Gang had clearly calculated this figure based on his income from selling sickles, enough to allow him to barely make ends meet without having to risk his life, but without any possibility of saving any money.

"Uncle Qian, could you give me a couple of days? Once I've sold these sickles, I'll use the money to pay for the incense offerings."

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said.

"There's never been a precedent for leniency when it comes to incense money, but we're not heartless men. Here's what we'll do: consider these four sickles as interest, and I'll give you five more days to gather the money."

Qian Ye snatched the four sickles from Zhou Yuan's hands. "How about that? Pretty good, right?"

Don't let us men down.

Master Qian and a few of his men swaggered away, each carrying a sickle.

Zhou Yuan clenched his fist, then relaxed it.

Whether he can beat these thugs is another matter, but even if he can, the Broken Blade Gang behind them is not someone to mess with.

He glanced silently at the system panel.

Name: Zhou Yuan

[Free points: 0]

[Realm: None]

[Skill: White Ape Cloak Hammer Hammer Beginner (30/300)]

[Skill: Intermediate Blacksmithing Technique (5/100)]

"It'll be soon. In a month at most, my White Ape Cloak Hammer will be able to advance. According to Master Li, once the White Ape Cloak Hammer achieves a minor milestone, I can try to break through the barrier for the first time."

If you can successfully pass this test, you will be eligible to participate in the county-level martial arts examination…

Zhou Yuan pondered to himself.

We must grasp both livelihood and future prospects, and make sure both are strong.

"Brother Yuan—"

After the Broken Blade Gang left, Zhuo Changyu came out of the house, his eyes red, and tugged at Zhou Yuan's clothes.

"It's nothing, just a few sickles. I'll work overtime tonight and I'll make them."

Zhou Yuan comforted her and turned to walk into the work shed.

Zhuo Changyu stared at him blankly for a while, then went into the kitchen. She couldn't help with anything else, so she could only make sure that Yuan-ge'er was well-fed and warmly dressed.

…………

Several days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yuan worked tirelessly day and night, only sleeping for an hour when he was so exhausted.

The effect of doing this is also very significant.

He became more and more skilled at using sickles. At first, he could make four sickles a day, but now he can make eight in a day and night.

Sometimes, when you're on a winning streak, you can even play ten games in a row.

A sickle costs thirty coins, and over the past few days, he has earned an average of two hundred and fifty coins a day.

In four days, he had already earned a thousand coins, which amounted to one tael of silver.

This rate of making money is already quite fast for ordinary people.

All told, he could earn as much as seven or eight taels of silver a month.

Earning seven or eight taels of silver a month, while not making one rich, would at least ensure a comfortable life.

In reality, of the seven or eight taels of silver, two taels had to be paid as "protection money," and another two taels had to be paid as taxes, leaving only four or five taels in hand.

Moreover, he also had to perform corvée labor from time to time, so the only time he could actually earn money throughout the year was seven or eight months.

So, on average, he only earned three taels of silver a month, barely enough to make ends meet.

Even so, this was the result of his tireless work day and night.

If an ordinary person does this, their health will collapse within a few years.

"No wonder the average lifespan of the poor is only in their thirties; how could they not die young in such a life?"

Zhou Yuan sighed. Forging iron wouldn't change his fate; only martial arts could.

"Brother Yuan, including the income from selling sickles these past few days, we have a total of four taels and three mace. After paying the incense money tomorrow, we can use the remaining silver to buy some supplies."

Zhuo Changyu held the account book and counted the copper coins on the table several times.

She eventually pawned her white dress, got four taels of silver, spent a few hundred coins to buy a coarse cloth dress, and the rest of her money is here.

This was all their possessions.

Looking at the girl in her brown coarse cloth dress, with a hint of joy on her face, Zhou Yuan felt a pang of sadness.

"Changyu, what do you think about me going to practice martial arts?"

Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said.

"Practicing martial arts? That would be great!"

Zhuo Changyu paused for a moment, then said, "My elder brother is a martial arts scholar, and my brother-in-law also practices martial arts..."

Her voice grew softer and softer.

Practicing martial arts requires money, becoming an apprentice requires money, and martial arts practitioners need to eat meat for nourishment, which also requires money.

They can't afford the tuition now.

"Never mind, let's talk about it later."

Zhou Yuan said.

The White Ape Cloak Hammer cannot be exposed to the light of day; Li Lin made that very clear.

When someone who has never practiced martial arts suddenly becomes a martial artist who has broken through to the next level, everyone knows that something is strange.

If he were to be accused of secretly learning martial arts, he would suffer a terrible fate.

Stealing martial arts skills is a major taboo in this world.

So he needed to give himself a title, such as which martial arts school he had joined.

However, this still requires money.

Without silver, one can't move an inch.

Zhou Yuan sighed. He decided to focus on blacksmithing for now and save up enough money to get rid of his craftsman status.

"Yuan-ge, do you really want to learn martial arts?"

Zhuo Changyu suddenly said.

Let's not talk about it now—

Zhou Yuan said.

"Brother Yuan, do you know Li Lin?"

Zhuo Changyu said as if he had made up his mind.

…………

Li Lin looked at Zhou Yuan, who had come to his door, and remained silent for a long time.

He only taught Zhou Yuan the White Ape Cloak Hammer technique because he was soft-hearted at the time, and he regretted it afterwards.

He always avoids things that could potentially offend powerful figures.

"That's right, I do owe her mother a favor, and I've said I'll repay it if I have the chance in the future."

Li Lin remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

"Master Li, our request now is for me to become your apprentice."

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice.

He hadn't expected Zhuo Changyu to give him such a surprise. With the keepsake left by Zhuo Changyu's mother, Zhou Yuan came to his door.

Once he becomes Li Lin's apprentice, he can openly and legitimately practice the White Ape Cloak Hammer technique.

"Zhou Yuan, there are some things you can't control. Even if I take you on as an apprentice, do you think Master Zhuo will agree to your marriage with Chang Yu?"

Li Lin sighed, "You are still too young and do not understand the principle that human strength is sometimes limited."

Hundreds and thousands practice martial arts, but only one breaks through the barrier. This path is a thousand times more difficult than you can imagine.

"I know, but I believe that diligence can make up for lack of talent, and that human determination can overcome anything."

Zhou Yuan said solemnly.

"In that case, you shall become my apprentice at my blacksmith shop."

Li Lin's heart stirred slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying, "However, let me make this clear beforehand: if you cannot break through the skin barrier within six months, I will kick you out according to the rules."