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

Zhou Yuan lay on the bed, his mind as calm as still water.

"Add some points."

He was silent.

Of the 12 free points, 10 were added to the White Ape Cloak Hammer, and the remaining two were added to Intermediate Blacksmithing Technique.

The reason he didn't put all his points into the White Ape Cloak Hammer was twofold: firstly, it was due to Zhou Yuan's obsessive-compulsive disorder, and secondly, he needed to improve his blacksmithing skills to make money.

He's busy from morning till night now, and his effort earns him 12 free points.

He has always allocated resources in this way.

Today, he finally achieved his goal.

As 10 free points were added to the White Ape Cloak Hammer, a memory surfaced in Zhou Yuan's mind.

The text on the panel began to blur, and an invisible current of energy was born from his blood, quickly flowing throughout his entire body.

This time, the feeling was more pronounced and stronger than when I first learned the White Ape Cloak Hammer.

As the airflow washed over him, Zhou Yuan felt his skin burning hot all over his body, as if he were being immersed in scalding hot water.

Zhou Yuan could even imagine that his skin must be completely red now, just like a boiled shrimp.

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and persevered, repeatedly recalling the process of cultivating the White Ape Cloak Hammer in his mind.

In his memory, he practiced diligently day and night, rapidly deepening his skills from beginner to advanced level.

His physique also changed accordingly, with more defined lines and more solid muscles.

His skin, in particular, became as tough as cowhide.

After about several dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan recovered from his slight dizziness.

By this time, he was soaked in sweat, his clothes and blankets were drenched, and he smelled of sweat.

Zhou Yuan got out of bed and looked down at his arm.

His skin was originally dark and rough from years of blacksmithing, but now, while the change in skin color is not very obvious, his skin has become exceptionally smooth and delicate, and has a resilient texture to the touch.

"Is this what it feels like to break through a barrier?"

Once the skin barrier is broken, the skin becomes as tough as cowhide, difficult to cut with a knife, and even if injured, its healing speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Zhou Yuan thought to himself.

Having reached this point, he has truly entered the inner sanctum.

Those who break through the martial arts barrier are qualified to participate in the county-level martial arts examination. Even if they fail, they can still become offerings to various powerful forces.

Zhou Yuan glanced at the system panel subconsciously; the text on it had already changed.

Name: Zhou Yuan

[Free Points: 0]

[Realm: Skin Tempering Realm]

[Technique: White Ape Cloak Hammer - Minor Mastery (0/1000)]

[Skill: Intermediate Blacksmithing Technique (35/100)]

White Ape Cloak Hammer, Minor Mastery, Realm: Skin Tempering.

"Once the skin barrier is broken, qi and blood can reach the skin. Is this the Skin Tempering Realm?"

Zhou Yuan thought to himself, "The term 'breakthrough martial artist' is a common folk term. Skin, flesh, bone, and marrow correspond to the Skin Tempering Realm, Flesh Refining Realm, Bone Forging Realm, and Blood Exchange Realm, respectively."

Breaking through a barrier is like entering a certain realm; it's not an achievement, but rather a beginning.

From the moment you break through the barrier, your Qi and blood continuously temper your skin until it becomes as tough as iron. At this point, if your Qi and blood break through the barrier again, you can break through the flesh barrier and become a martial artist in the Flesh Refining Realm.

However, each hurdle is like a mountain, and overcoming each one is a complete transformation, as difficult as climbing a mountain.

"Although those in the Skin Tempering Realm are qualified to participate in martial arts examinations, they are not guaranteed to pass. Let alone those in the Skin Tempering Realm, even many in the Flesh Refining Realm never achieve official rank in their entire lives."

Zhou Yuan thought to himself.

"That's not urgent for now. The most pressing matter is to get rid of our citizenship."

Having broken through the skin barrier, he could theoretically be removed from the artisan's status; all he needed to do was go through the proper procedures with the government.

However, there are still many nuances to consider when actually doing it.

According to the rules, martial artists who break through the barrier can indeed be removed from the artisan status, but the completion time of the process is entirely controlled by the government. Whether it's completed in one day, one month, or one year, it's still the same.

Without being removed from the artisan status, one cannot participate in the military examinations. If one is unlucky enough to encounter a problem, the government might delay for several years, and by then it will be too late.

Therefore, the money that should be spent cannot be saved.

But where does this silver come from?

The busy farming season is almost over, and fewer and fewer people are buying sickles. Perhaps I should learn to make something else.

With that thought in mind, Zhou Yuan got up and took off his clothes. While Zhuo Changyu went out to buy rice, he went to the yard naked and washed himself.

I had just changed into new clothes and was about to wash the blanket when suddenly someone walked in, covering their nose and looking disgusted.

"Zhou Yuan, I heard you've started practicing martial arts with Master Li Lin?"

The man didn't knock, but barged directly in front of Zhou Yuan, speaking in a condescending manner.

He glanced at the blanket in Zhou Yuan's hand and rolled his eyes in disgust.

"Hmph, are you beyond redemption? If you really had a talent for martial arts, even if you didn't pass the imperial examinations, at least you wouldn't have to be a craftsman for the rest of your life, making my sister suffer with you!"

He continued.

Zhou Yuan was familiar with this person; he was Zhuo Changying, Zhuo Changyu's second brother, whom he had met the first time he returned home.

"Martial arts training requires three parts training and seven parts diet. Meat and medicine are both essential. With your poor appearance, you probably can't even afford meat."

Zhuo Changying said.

Zhou Yuan: "..."

Did you come all this morning just to mock me?

Should I tell you that I am now a martial artist who has broken through the barrier?

Before Zhou Yuan could speak, Zhuo Changying shoved a porcelain bottle into his hand.

"My father severed ties with Changyu and forbade anyone to help her. This is a Qi and Blood Pill that I bought with my own savings."

Zhuo Changying said coldly, "Break through the barrier as soon as possible, get rid of the craftsman status, and don't let my sister continue to live in this place. Even if we don't consider anything else, the inner city is much safer than here!"

Also, don't mention the Qi and Blood Pill to Changyu!

After saying that, without waiting for Zhou Yuan to speak, he turned around, hopped around to avoid the mud on the ground, and hurriedly left.

Zhou Yuan held the porcelain bottle in his hand, pulled out the stopper, and smelled it. The rich aroma of medicine wafted into his nostrils, making him feel that his blood and energy were more active.

"It really is a Qi and Blood Pill; one pill costs over a hundred taels of silver..."

Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. He had heard Li Lin say that the Qi and Blood Pill was incredibly effective at nourishing Qi and blood, and that one Qi and Blood Pill could increase the success rate of the first attempt at breaking through by at least 30%.

Moreover, Qi and Blood Pills are extremely rare and difficult to obtain, even for those with money. Most martial arts practitioners can only afford Qi and Blood Powder or Qi and Blood Pills, which are also expensive, easily costing three to five taels of silver a month.

The saying goes, "The poor study literature, the rich practice martial arts." Practicing martial arts is something for the wealthy. Even if a poor person manages to break through the first barrier by chance, they will not be able to keep up with the demand for meat and medicine, and their body will be depleted, making it difficult for them to break through the second barrier.

"Zhuo Changying is really willing to give."

Zhou Yuan felt a pang of emotion. One hundred taels of silver would take him three years to save up, even without eating or drinking, and yet this person just casually gave it away.

It's no wonder the Zhuo family looked down on a craftsman; the gap between the rich and poor was truly beyond imagination.

Just then, Zhuo Changyu rushed in, his face full of worry.

"Yuan-ge, I think I just saw my second brother. Did he come looking for trouble?"

Zhuo Changyu said, panting.

"no."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, "I'm going to Master Li's blacksmith shop later. If anyone comes to buy a sickle, make a note of it and have it made when I get back."

To get rid of his citizenship, he'll probably have to ask his master, Li Lin.