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

"Keep your distance!"

Pang Yunlong's words were like thunder in spring, and he sternly urged his horse forward.

Three hundred city guards and elite disciples from various families rode away in a cloud of dust.

The remaining martial artists, who had just broken through to the next level and came from ordinary families, hurriedly followed behind, their legs pounding like garlic.

Zhou Yuan, carrying a weapon hammer weighing thirty or forty pounds, mingled among a group of martial artists who had just broken through a level, moving at a moderate pace.

He doesn't need to keep up with the horse, as long as he doesn't stray from the group.

Many of the people around me were familiar faces from the blacksmith shop.

During the time he was expelled, only a handful of people in the blacksmith shop successfully passed the test on their first attempt.

Guo Liang was one of them.

Guo Liang started learning at the same time as Zhou Yuan, but broke through the barrier a little later than Zhou Yuan.

He originally had a fairly good relationship with Zhou Yuan, but later he grew closer to Yuan Qingfeng and gradually drifted apart from Zhou Yuan.

When Zhou Yuan was expelled from the blacksmith shop, Guo Liang even kept his distance, fearing that he would be tainted by Zhou Yuan's bad luck.

Just as Zhou Yuan was observing everyone, Guo Liang happened to look over as well.

"Zhou Yuan, do you need me to carry your weapon hammer for you?"

Guo Liang suddenly spoke up, "After you left the blacksmith shop, you didn't have any resources, so your progress will definitely be slower than mine."

You may not know this, but I've been accumulating a lot of energy and blood these days, and I'm about to break through to the next stage.

Although you are no longer an apprentice at the blacksmith's shop, since we've known each other, I'll definitely help you if I can.

Guo Liang's tone carried a hint of boastfulness; after currying favor with Yuan Qingfeng, his treatment at the blacksmith's shop had improved considerably.

Moreover, through Yuan Qingfeng's introduction, he also got a good job as a temporary official, where he could earn a lot of money every month.

"Thank you. I'll ask Brother Guo for help again when I can't carry it anymore."

Zhou Yuan said.

"They don't appreciate kindness!"

Guo Liang snorted, quickened his pace, and jogged forward.

Although he ran ahead, he kept looking back at Zhou Yuan.

I want to see what kind of expression this guy carrying a 30-40 pound heavy hammer will have after falling behind.

As he ran, Guo Liang realized something was wrong.

He was already exhausted and out of breath, but Zhou Yuan was still keeping up with the group at a leisurely pace, without even breaking a sweat.

"What did Zhou Yuan eat to grow up like that? He can run so fast!"

Guo Liang was somewhat surprised. In order to conserve his strength, he had specially chosen a lighter wooden-handled hammer before leaving the city.

Zhou Yuan was wielding a copper hammer with a long handle made of fine steel, which weighed more than twice as much as his!

"Is it because people who grow up in hardship are exceptionally able to endure hardship?"

Guo Liang thought to himself.

Seeing that Zhou Yuan was about to overtake him, he didn't have time to think and could only grit his teeth and keep up.

Little did he know that Zhou Yuan had already broken through the barrier twice, and his qi and blood were far more abundant than his.

Despite carrying a 30-40 pound hammer, Zhou Yuan handled it with ease.

He was not tired at all; in fact, he had the energy to constantly fine-tune his movements and breathing, using the energy he had developed from practicing martial arts on his journey.

This run covered dozens of miles.

In the end, even Zhou Yuan began to feel exhausted.

Another half hour passed before they finally reached the foot of Aozi Mountain.

The group, arriving on horseback, were full of energy and ready to go.

The warriors who broke through the barrier in the end were exhausted, panting heavily and covered in sweat. Several of them even collapsed to the ground, unable to stand up.

Pang Yunlong glanced at them with some disdain, but still ordered everyone to rest for half an hour.

"This place is deep in the mountains and dense in the forest. Not to mention Xu Nian and his group, it would be very dangerous even if they encountered poisonous snakes and wild beasts."

Zhou Yuan hid under the shade of a tree, wiping his sweat as he silently observed the terrain.

"If we're unlucky enough to run into Xu Nian, we'll probably be killed before we even have a chance to send a signal."

Zhou Yuan is very self-aware.

Although he framed Xu Nian several times, he knew that the gap between him and Xu Nian was enormous.

He only broke through the barrier twice, while Xu Nian had broken through at least four times, or even more.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Pang Yunlong's voice rang out.

"Gather together, let's head into the mountains!"

"Six people per team, each team maintains distance and moves forward, don't miss any place."

"Each member of the Tang Family Trading Company has three rockets. Pull the fuse immediately once Xu Nian is spotted."

"Zhou Yuan...you're on the same team as Guo Liang and the others."

Li Lin, with a serious expression, rattled off various precautions before finally speaking to Zhou Yuan.

"Yes, Master Li."

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly, and he cupped his hands in greeting.

Xu Nian is a vicious man who fled thousands of miles from the pursuit of Shenbing Valley. He even severely injured the previous commander of the city guard.

In a one-on-one fight, apart from the newly appointed city garrison commander Pang Yunlong, no one in Gaoshan County could match him.

Anyone who encounters Xu Nian alone is almost certain to die.

Zhou Yuan has no power or influence, and his strength is not outstanding, so other forces would never accept him as a team.

Although Li Lin had kicked him out of the blacksmith shop, he was now helping him out.

Zhou Yuan silently walked to Guo Liang and the others, remembering their kindness in his heart.

"Fellow disciples, you all know me, Guo Liang. Among the six of us, I am the strongest, so please obey my orders."

After Li Lin left, Guo Liang looked at Zhou Yuan and the others and spoke.

Besides Zhou Yuan, the other four in the team were also martial artists who had cleared their cultivation level on their first attempt, and they were not very noticeable in the blacksmith shop.

They knew that Guo Liang had ingratiated himself with Yuan Qingfeng, and they didn't want to compete with him for leadership of the team. They exchanged glances and nodded.

"Besides the five taels of silver given by Commander Pang as a reward for his hard work, the county is also offering a reward of two hundred taels of silver for Xu Nian, plus ten bottles of Qi and Blood Pills!"

Guo Liang lowered his voice and said, "Everyone, cheer up! If we can catch Xu Nian, we'll be rich!"

Zhou Yuan: "..."

A few dishes and he's this drunk.

If the six of us were to run into Xu Nian, it's uncertain whether we'd even have a chance to send out a distress signal.

He had absolutely no interest in the bounty.

No amount of money can compare to fate.

He subtly shifted to the side, trying to create some distance between himself and Guo Liang.

He was afraid that if he got too close, Guo Liang would trick him to death.

As they spoke, the group began to enter the mountain.

Guo Liang waved his hand and led the way, glancing around as if he were investigating.

Zhou Yuan held the hammer in his hand and followed the group at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

A few feet to the left was Yuan Qingfeng's team, while a few feet to the right was Cheng Jiuhe leading six disciples in a search.

Further away, Li Lin, fully armed, used his long spear to rustle the surrounding grass and trees.

Zhou Yuan quietly took two steps closer to Li Lin.

Master Li still makes people feel very safe.

The area around Aozi Mountain is several dozen miles in circumference, with deep mountains and dense forests, making the search a difficult and tedious task.

Zhou Yuan gripped the weapon hammer, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He began to practice the walking stance of the White Ape Cloak Hammer.

There is a supreme realm in martial arts practice, which is to apply one's skills in all aspects of life, including walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.

Zhou Yuan was still far from reaching that level, but faced with the long and tedious task of searching the mountain, he didn't want to waste his time.

boom! boom! boom!

His feet scraped the ground, making a dull thud.

Hearing the commotion from a distance, Li Lin turned his head and looked over, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

What's going on here? Still practicing?

Will I die if I don't practice martial arts?

This power... he's broken through the barrier a second time?

Is hard work and diligence really useful? Li Lin looked bewildered.

boom!

Just then.

Sudden.

In the distance, smoke and fire shot into the sky from the dense forest, accompanied by thunderous explosions.

Everyone, both on and off the mountain, rushed toward where the smoke and fire were rising, the sounds of footsteps and breaking vegetation filling the air.