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

Li Lin's blacksmith shop was very large; he forged iron in the front yard and practiced martial arts in the back.

Zhou Yuan had only visited the shop a few times since becoming an apprentice, and he was only vaguely familiar with the other apprentices who lived and ate at the shop.

However, each time I come here, I see familiar faces disappear and new faces arrive.

This is not unusual in a blacksmith shop.

Apart from those apprentices who signed "indentures," others who paid to learn martial arts would give up early if they couldn't successfully pass the training.

After all, tuition fees are expensive, and not many people can afford to pay for them.

Those who can afford the energy expenditure won't come to the blacksmith's shop to practice martial arts.

Rowing boats, blacksmithing, and grinding tofu have always been arduous professions, and anyone with a bit of luck would not want to become an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop.

"Junior Brother Zhou, what brings you to the shop today? Did you hear about Senior Brother Yuan's matter?"

A senior brother he had met a few times said to Zhou Yuan.

He started learning the art a few days earlier than Zhou Yuan, so the two were considered fellow disciples from the same period.

In total, there were more than a dozen fellow disciples who started their training in the past few days, but only four or five have persisted until now.

Others either couldn't afford the tuition and were forced to drop out, or they lacked talent and made no progress in their martial arts training, so they cut their losses early.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother Yuan?"

Zhou Yuan asked curiously.

The senior brother Yuan mentioned by the other party was also one of their fellow disciples from the same period.

"Senior Brother Yuan successfully broke through the barrier the day before yesterday."

The senior brother said with envy, "You broke through the barrier in just one and a half months. Senior Brother Yuan truly deserves to be recognized as a genius by Master Li."

We don't know when we'll be able to clear the level.

"Senior brother, you have always been diligent in your cultivation. I'm sure you'll break through this barrier soon."

Zhou Yuan comforted him.

"It's not that easy."

The senior brother sighed, "Yesterday, Junior Brother Zhao was envious of Senior Brother Yuan's successful breakthrough, so he also tried to break through, but failed and had to pack his bags and go home overnight. Different people, different fates..."

The atmosphere around them suddenly became oppressive.

Only a few disciples are able to successfully break through the barrier; most may never be able to do so in their entire lives.

Practicing martial arts is like constantly overcoming challenges; many people are stopped at the very first challenge.

And this is the case for the vast majority of people.

Those impoverished disciples who saw martial arts training as their only chance to turn their lives around all silently began to practice.

"Junior Brother Zhou, if we can't break through this barrier within a hundred days, then we lack the talent for martial arts. If we really fail in our training, I plan to..."

The senior brother was still talking.

"Senior brother, I have successfully passed the trial."

Zhou Yuan said softly.

He came here to ask Li Lin for help in getting rid of his citizenship. Successfully breaking through the barrier was one of his greatest assets, so he could no longer hide it.

"what?"

The senior brother stood there dumbfounded.

The training ground was completely silent, and all eyes turned to them.

A moment later, an uproar erupted.

Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhou.

"Senior Brother Zhou has successfully broken through the barrier and risen to the top in one step. In the future, we will still need your help."

"..."

Those fellow disciples who used to ignore Zhou Yuan now surrounded him, offering their congratulations enthusiastically. Even the talkative Senior Brother Guo was pushed out of the way.

Standing outside the crowd, Guo Shixiong looked at Zhou Yuan, who was surrounded by people, with envy in his eyes and a hint of resentment in them.

He and Zhou Yuan entered the sect around the same time. When their master examined his bones, he said that his innate talent was better than Zhou Yuan's, second only to the exceptionally talented Senior Brother Yuan.

As a result, Zhou Yuan had already broken through the barrier, but he was still lingering outside the Pi Gate.

Li Lin walked over at some point and patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder.

"Well done."

He rarely showed any affection for Zhou Yuan in public. Even when he took Zhou Yuan under his wing, he claimed it was to repay a favor.

Li Lin was actually somewhat surprised. He taught Zhou Yuan the White Ape Cloak Hammer technique because of a favor from Zhuo Changyu's mother, and also because he saw a reflection of his younger self in Zhou Yuan.

They were all struggling to survive, and they were all unwilling to accept their fate.

When Zhou Yuan uttered the words "Man can conquer nature," Li Lin was filled with emotion. When he was young, didn't he think the same way?

Reality, however, taught him how to be a person.

Li Lin never expected that Zhou Yuan would teach him another lesson.

This young man actually succeeded in breaking through the barrier.

However, it has been two months since I taught him the White Ape Cloak Hammer. He has only been able to break through the barrier in two months. His aptitude is only average. I'm afraid he won't achieve much in the future.

"A few days ago, a Qi and Blood Pill appeared in Gaoshan County, and it was eventually bought by the second young master of the Zhuo family at a high price—"

Li Lin suddenly pondered and asked, "He gave you that Qi and Blood Pill?"

Zhou Yuan was taken aback, not expecting Li Lin to ask such a question.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Yuan nodded.

Zhuo Changying only told him not to tell Zhuo Changyu, but didn't say he couldn't tell anyone else.

No wonder.

Li Lin sighed.

Guo Liang, who was standing outside the crowd, heard Li Lin's words and his eyes lit up.

No wonder Zhou Yuan broke through the barrier before him; he just got incredibly lucky!

If he had the Qi and Blood Pill, he would have broken through the barrier long ago!

If it took this long to break through the cultivation barrier even with the Qi and Blood Pill, then Junior Brother's potential is indeed limited. That Qi and Blood Pill was wasted.

"Come with me."

Li Lin said, then turned and walked towards the study.

Zhou Yuan quickly followed, and after walking quite a distance, he could hear Guo Liang whispering with the others behind him.

"He took two months to break through after taking the Qi and Blood Pill; his potential has definitely been exhausted."

"Who can blame them for being lucky? They managed to trick the daughter of a wealthy family."

"However, I heard that the Zhuo family has already announced that they have kicked that daughter out of the house. Zhou Yuan's wishful thinking is probably not going to work out. Before long, he will definitely be exposed for what he really is."

Zhou Yuan's lips twitched slightly.

They hate those who have, laugh at those who don't, despise those who are poor, and fear those who are rich.

Human nature has always been this way.

…………

"Now that you have successfully passed the test, you have the opportunity to participate in the martial arts examination. However, to participate in the martial arts examination, you must first change your status from craftsman to good person."

After closing the study door, Li Lin got straight to the point, "You came to see me about the matter of being removed from the household registration, right?"

"Yes."

Zhou Yuan admitted it.

"I'd like to ask, what are the steps involved in removing one's citizenship?"

Breaking through the barrier only grants one the opportunity to participate in the martial arts examination; it is the first step in a long journey.

Compared to other martial artists who have broken through their barriers, Zhou Yuan still has one more hurdle to overcome: household registration.

"If you fail to pass the test, it will be almost impossible to get rid of your citizenship."

But now that you have broken through the barrier, according to the laws of the Great Qi, you can be released from your citizenship and become a commoner.

Li Lin said, "However, the law is the law, but its implementation is a different set of rules."

If the government delays your registration, you won't be able to participate in the martial arts examinations. If this drags on for years, you'll lose all motivation.

Some people find it difficult to achieve great things, but easy to do bad things.

Zhou Yuan understood this point, which is why he didn't go directly to the government to change his registration, but instead came to find Li Lin.

"I want to know how much money it will cost to successfully change my nationality before next year's martial arts exam."

Zhou Yuan asked seriously.

"If you want everything to go smoothly, send five taels to the clerk, twenty taels to the registrar, and another fifty taels to the chief clerk."

Li Lin pondered for a moment, "In this way, we can guarantee that the change of registration will be successful within a day."

Go and raise the money. Once you've raised enough, come find me, and I'll help you smooth things over.