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

Do you know why I didn't teach you weapon forging techniques before?

Li Lin took a long, rectangular wooden box from Han's hands, placed one hand on it, and suddenly asked Zhou Yuan a seemingly unrelated question.

Zhou Yuan shook his head.

After he became a disciple again, Li Lin spared no effort in training him, but never taught him the art of weapon forging.

"Because of talent."

Li Lin sighed and said, "Just like martial arts training, aptitude is the most important thing when it comes to forging weapons."

Without talent, even if one learns weapon forging techniques, one can only end up like me, spending one's entire life fighting ordinary weapons. It would be better to focus on martial arts; perhaps then one can make up for one's lack of talent through diligence.

"Don't think I'm exaggerating. Look at this jade knife. I could never forge it in my entire life, but it was just someone's practice piece when they were twenty."

As Li Lin spoke, he gently opened the wooden box and took out a sheathless steel knife.

Under the candlelight, the blade shone brightly like water, and a chilling aura emanated from it; one could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

"That's talent. You can work hard your whole life and still not reach the level that others can do effortlessly."

Li Lin continued, "Actually, you're only of average appearance, so I don't know whether doing this is helping you or harming you."

Li Lin stroked the blade of the jade knife with his fingers, his face showing some hesitation.

"Senior brother, things have come to this, are you really going to bow down to that Pang Yunlong?"

Han said, "You are good in every way, but you are too indecisive. You have been reluctant to use this jade knife, which is why you have attracted attention."

"If it were up to me, we would have used the Jade Blade much earlier. Even if you hadn't been able to enter the inner sect of Divine Weapon Valley and had only managed to become an outer disciple, how could you be bullied to this extent now?"

"This kind of relationship can only be used once, so it should naturally be used when it is most needed."

Li Lin sighed, "I know my own situation. Forcing myself to join the Divine Weapon Valley will only bring me more trouble than good."

"Zhou Yuan, I am now handing over the Jade Blade to you. You can decide how to use it. You can give it to Pang Yunlong. Even if it doesn't bring you wealth and honor, it will at least allow you to move freely in Gaoshan County in the future."

You can also use it to try and get a chance to join Shenbing Valley.

Li Lin handed the jade knife to Zhou Yuan and said in a deep voice, "This jade knife was forged by Elder Luo Baiyan of the Divine Weapon Valley when he was young. With this knife, you can meet him and ask for a chance to join his sect."

"Master Li, I've always wanted to ask you, since you have this connection, why don't you go see Elder Luo yourself? Such an important figure might be able to heal your injuries. Even if he can't, with his intervention, Commander Pang and the Flying Cloud Martial Arts School shouldn't dare to make things difficult for you anymore, right?"

Zhou Yuan asked in confusion.

"Believe it or not, if I leave Gaoshan County with the Jade Sword, I will die on the road before I even reach Shenbing Valley, and I won't even get to see Elder Luo."

Li Lindao.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. This jade knife was so important, wouldn't Pang Yunlong target him because of it?

Previously, those who targeted him were only after the Zhuo family's wealth. Now, the Jade Blade involves a big shot from the Divine Weapon Valley, which is even more eye-catching than the Zhuo family's wealth.

My little sapling can't withstand such a strong wind; if I'm not careful, I'll be smashed to pieces.

"So I will only hand over the Jade Blade to you when you have the opportunity to win the county magistrate title."

"As long as you win the county title, according to tradition, the prefect will host a banquet for the county magistrate under his jurisdiction. The prefect of my Mianlong Prefecture is named Yue Zichuan, and he is Elder Luo's personal disciple."

Li Lin said in a deep voice, "As long as you see him and show him the jade knife, you don't need to worry about the rest."

Before that, if you wish to learn weapon forging, I can teach you.

"I want to learn."

Zhou Yuan said without hesitation.

…………

"With my background, I must be cautious at every step if I want to get ahead. Otherwise, Master Li and Yuan Qingfeng are my examples... I must stay calm and not be impatient for quick success. I must accumulate more experience before I can succeed."

Zhou Yuan buried the jade knife and piled a bunch of iron on top of it, silently admonishing himself.

The county-level military examination is only the first step. He will face even greater challenges in the future, and he must be extremely cautious in his thoughts and actions.

With a thought, the system panel appeared before Zhou Yuan's eyes.

Name: Zhou Yuan

[Free Points: 300]

[Realm: Flesh Refining Realm]

【功法：白猿披风锤大成（550/3000）、白猿通臂拳大成（100/3000）、断水刀法小成（200/1000）】

[Skills: Advanced Blacksmithing, Basic Weapon Forging (10/3000)]

During the three days of the Wuke County Examination, the examination room was crowded and noisy, but Zhou Yuan refrained from taking extra exams.

After three days, 300 free points had accumulated on the system panel.

"If you work in the right direction, you'll accumulate free points much faster."

Eating meat, taking medicine—the same applies to my diet. Participating in martial arts training was also a huge effort for me, so my daily free points reached 100.

Zhou Yuan pondered to himself.

With Li Lin as an excuse, he no longer needed to hide his weapon-forging skills.

However, the matter of that book, "The Collection of Military Strategy," must never be revealed casually.

Pang Yunlong still suspects that Xu Nian hid the "Collection of Military Manipulation" in Aozi Mountain, and he has led people to search the mountain thoroughly.

"If I can join the Divine Weapon Valley with the help of the Jade Blade, the future troubles of the 'Collection of Military Supplies' will be completely eliminated."

Zhou Yuan pondered to himself.

However, the Jade Blade only gives him a chance to be tested. Whether he can become Luo Baiyan's disciple depends on his talent and aptitude.

His talent and physical attributes are only average, and the chances of him being noticed by the other party are extremely small.

"If I can't become a disciple of the Divine Weapon Valley, does that mean I should give up martial arts?"

Zhou Yuan shook his head. He could persevere when he didn't have a chance before, but now that he has achieved some success, has he started to worry about losing it?

No matter what, strength is fundamental. As long as he has stronger strength, he can stand firm no matter how big the storm.

With a thought, Zhou Yuan added all 300 free points to the White Ape Cloak Hammer.

Countless experiences of practicing the White Ape Cloak Hammer instantly flooded his mind. Zhou Yuan seized the opportunity, cleared his mind of distractions, and began practicing the White Ape Cloak Hammer.

…………

Clang!

A teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

"Still haven't found it?"

Pang Yunlong angrily rebuked, "Are you all useless?"

Xu Nian is dead, could he possibly take a copy of "The Art of Military Strategy" with him to the afterlife?!

"My lord, could it be that Xu Nian really memorized the 'Collection of Military Strategy' and destroyed the copy?"

A family member who had come to Gaoshan County with Pang Yunlong mustered his courage and whispered.

Pang Yunlong's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

"Without finding the 'Collection of Military Skills,' we can't afford any more mishaps with the Jade Blade. If we can bring Luo Baiyan into our Pang family's camp, the chances of the family head becoming the Valley Master will be much greater."

Pang Yunlong said coldly, "Go and gather all the people from the families at the foot of the mountain. Call Li Lin over too, and tell them to contribute money or manpower if they have any!"

Anyone who interferes with the Pang family head's important matter of vying for the position of Valley Master, I will not let them off!

"Yes, sir."

The Pang family member said, "By the way, I heard that Wu Ke County has produced some promising talents this time. Should we recruit them as well?"

"A few martial arts scholars are not worth my time? You can decide for yourself. The Pang family is only being polite because their ancestors are incredibly lucky!"

Pang Yunlong waved his hand impatiently.

…………