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

As the text on the system panel changed, a flood of memories about cultivating the White Ape Cloak Hammer entered Zhou Yuan's mind.

Zhou Yuan subconsciously stood up and assumed the stance of the White Ape Cloak Hammering Skill right next to the stove.

He held a hammer, his arms lowered, seemingly swinging but not quite, his abdomen rising and falling rhythmically.

To outsiders, he looked so exhausted that he couldn't even lift a hammer.

But in reality, Zhou Yuan was like a veteran who had practiced martial arts for many years. The secrets and details of the White Ape Cloak Hammer Stance Technique flowed through his mind like water. He made constant minor adjustments to his body until he achieved the most perfect stance.

I don't know how much time passed, but a warm current suddenly appeared and flowed around my body. Wherever it passed, my fatigue disappeared, and I felt a warm and comfortable feeling, like soaking in a hot spring.

Qi arises from blood; this is the beginning of White Ape Stance Exercise.

Only after mastering the basics of stance training can one begin to cultivate qi and blood. From this moment on, Zhou Yuan can be considered a true martial arts practitioner.

Don't underestimate this point.

If one cannot grasp the key to the generation of Qi from blood, no matter how much one cultivates, one will only be cultivating the surface, and at a certain point, the body will no longer be able to become stronger.

Whether one has mastered the basics of stance training is a standard many martial arts practitioners use to select disciples.

Only by mastering the basics of stance training can one's Qi and blood be nourished and strengthened until one breaks through the barriers and undergoes a complete transformation.

As that wisp of blood and energy circulated throughout his body, Zhou Yuan even felt his strength increasing at a visible rate.

He moved his slightly stiff hands and feet, and a wonderful feeling welled up inside him.

He could feel the flow of that wisp of blood and energy, which not only nourished his body but also gave Zhou Yuan a sense of complete control over his own power.

He swung the hammer, as if he had figured out how to unleash greater power in a more effortless way.

Li Lin once said that the White Ape Cloak Hammer is the most suitable martial art for weapon blacksmiths, and he was right.

"The White Ape Cloak Hammer is just the beginner level, yet it can increase my blacksmithing efficiency by 30%!"

Zhou Yuan was thrilled and eagerly awaited the day when the White Ape Cloak Hammer would be fully mastered.

"With this promotion, corvée labor won't be a problem for me anymore. Once I get through my corvée labor period, I'll be able to earn money easily with my current skills."

Zhou Yuan was filled with anticipation for the future.

Li Lin once said that once the White Ape Cloak Hammer has been cultivated to the minor completion level, one can attempt to break through the barrier. If one succeeds in breaking through, one will be qualified to participate in the martial arts examination.

With a thought, Zhou Yuan summoned the system panel.

Name: Zhou Yuan

[Free Points: 0]

[Realm: None]

[Technique: White Ape Cloak Hammer Beginner (9/300)]

[Skill: Intermediate Blacksmithing Technique (2/100)]

The content on the panel has been changed.

The White Ape Cloak Hammer requires ten times more points to progress from beginner to intermediate level.

"300 points, at the previous pace, it would take about a month to accumulate enough."

Zhou Yuan thought to himself that he was busy from morning till night and could earn 10 points a day.

A month is neither a long nor a short time; it's exactly the time it takes for him to finish his corvée labor.

"Then I can go home as a martial artist who has broken through the barrier. However, if I want to participate in the martial arts exam, having the strength is not enough. I also need to go through the process of changing my nationality first."

"It costs money to renounce citizenship..."

Zhou Yuan planned for the future and felt that he needed to continue improving his blacksmithing skills so that he could make money faster.

With anticipation for a better future, Zhou Yuan began to repair the broken ironware.

As evening approached, the laborers, having finished their day's work, began preparing dinner, while the clanging of blacksmithing still echoed around the stove.

The mountain of broken tools was almost entirely gone in just one day.

Upon witnessing this scene, the faces of the foremen visibly darkened.

Gao Dazhuang ordered them to give Zhou Yuan more tasks, which led to Zhou Yuan being worked to death on the riverbank.

Why does Zhou Yuan seem so relaxed now, as if he's not tired at all, but rather doing his job with great ease?

How are they going to explain this to Gao Dazhuang?

"Watch me!"

"A supervisor whispered, striding toward Zhou Yuan."

Zhou Yuan was repairing a crowbar. Just as he finished repairing it, a foreman walked over shirtless and swaggering over.

He had a leather whip tucked into his waistband, and his belly jiggled with each step.

"Who told you to do it so fast?"

The foreman, named Chen Liu, grabbed a handful of repaired iron shovels, banged them hard on the anvil, and said menacingly.

Zhou Yuan: "..."

You can't find any quality issues, so now you're asking me why I stepped with my left leg first?

Isn't this the task you assigned me?

Zhou Yuan calmly put down the hammer and said, "Master Chen, I'm just worried about delaying the river repair project, so I'm working overtime to fix these damaged tools."

"You dare to talk back?"

Chen Liu was furious. He placed his hand on the leather whip, as if to pull it out.

"You're working so fast, the charcoal on the construction site is almost used up."

Without charcoal, how do you repair the tools that are broken?

Are you deliberately trying to delay the project so we can be punished?

Chen Liu rebuked angrily.

Zhou Yuan sneered inwardly. "Working fast will affect the project's progress? Can't you at least come up with a suitable excuse if you're going to cause trouble?"

He took a deep breath. "Master Chen, just tell me how many tools you need to repair each day."

The anger on Chen Liu's face vanished instantly, replaced by a smile; his ability to change his expression was truly exceptional.

"Don't say we don't take care of you. If you don't have enough charcoal, we'll go buy some."

"I have some connections with the charcoal gang, so I can sell at a discounted price. You give me ten taels of silver, and I'll have them deliver a thousand catties of charcoal, enough to last until the riverbed is repaired."

Chen Liu patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder and said.

"Ten taels of silver?"

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes; this was blatant robbery.

Ten taels of silver can buy a thousand catties of white charcoal!

Blacksmiths use two types of charcoal: black charcoal and white charcoal. Black charcoal is made from miscellaneous wood and softwood, and it is cheap, but it does not burn hot enough and can only be used to forge farm tools.

If it is for forging weapons, then white charcoal is needed. White charcoal is made by burning hardwood, which burns for a long time at a high temperature and produces less smoke.

Of course, there are also higher-grade charcoal, which are more expensive, but ordinary blacksmiths can't buy them even if they have the money.

Gaoshan County is surrounded by mountains, so there is no shortage of firewood. Therefore, the price of charcoal is not high. The market price for white charcoal is ten taels of silver per thousand catties, while for black charcoal, it is only three taels per thousand catties!

Now Chen Liu is asking for ten taels of silver right off the bat, which is no different from outright robbery.

Zhou Yuan felt a sudden realization dawned on him. He knew that Chen Liu couldn't find fault with him elsewhere, so he was using this method to make things difficult for him.

"Master Chen, I really can't afford ten taels of silver. Could you make the price cheaper?"

Zhou Yuanqiang suppressed his anger and said in a low voice.

"Zhou Yuan, don't push your luck."

Chen Liu sneered, "You artisans need to bring your own charcoal when you perform corvée labor, that's the rule!"

"Are you trying to break the rules that have been in place for so many years?"

"I wouldn't dare, it's just—"

"Enough nonsense, ten taels of silver, not a penny less!"

Chen Liu scolded, "I'm allowing you to go home and get your money this year. If you don't see any silver tomorrow, don't blame me for whipping you."

You could also try to evade service, if you can manage to escape!

Without money or travel permits, anyone who dares to evade corvée labor will face certain death if caught.

"Let me show you another way. Don't you still have a wife?"

"Wouldn't we get money if we sold my wife?"

Chen Liu chuckled as he spoke.

young married woman?

Zhou Yuan was taken aback. "Do I have one?"