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

Chapter 80 Reward (Please continue reading)

"Did you understand?"

""

Luo Baiyan stood at the highest point of the mountain stronghold, looking down at the disciples who were busy cleaning up the battlefield, and spoke calmly.

Zhou Yuan stood behind him, watching the crowd coming and going below, feeling like he was watching ants moving house.

Upon hearing Luo Baiyan's question, he bowed slightly and said, "Please enlighten me, Master."

""

"Do you know?"

Luo Boyan smiled wryly, "You and Li Lin are alike in one respect, which is that you are both too cautious."

They clearly understand everything, but they don't even have the courage to say it.

Zhou Yuan thought to himself, "For people like us who come from humble backgrounds, every step we take is like walking on thin ice. If we're not careful, the grass on our graves will be three feet tall by now."

Courage is not something you can just talk about. Courage without support is recklessness, courting death, and stupidity.

This support comes either from a powerful background or from substantial strength.

"However, you are somewhat better than Li Lin; you dare to kill people."

""

Luo Baiyan continued, "To be honest, the reason I accepted you as a disciple was twofold: first, to repay Old Han's favor, and second, to mislead Pang Yuanyou and the others."

Their attention is on you, so naturally they pay less attention to me.

Zhou Yuan remained silent; he had only just realized this himself.

Luo Baiyan and Yue Zichuan's sudden appearance at Zhengzishan was clearly premeditated.

They watched helplessly as those geniuses from Gaoshan County were killed, only taking action after confirming Pang Yuanyou's guilt.

If Zhou Yuan hadn't sensed the danger and left the stronghold beforehand, he probably wouldn't have survived.

Of the talented young people from Gaoshan County who were lured into the mountains by the Pang family, only one-fifth survived by sheer luck. Although he almost died, Zhou Yuan felt no anger.

That's just how the world is; big shots plot their schemes and don't care about the lives of ordinary people.

To escape this fate, he can only climb higher and higher until no one can take his life lightly anymore.

"Zhou Yuan, although you were unaware of it, you still contributed to this operation."

I have never wronged or owed anyone anything, so I will give you a reward.

,

Luo Boyan did not offer any further explanation or apology; he simply continued speaking calmly.

"Three paths, you choose which one to take."

,

He held up three fingers, then gently curled one up.

"The first option is for you to continue as my nominal disciple. But as I said before, unless you achieve the Transformation of Blood Qi into Essence, you cannot formally join the sect; you will have the title but not the substance."

"What about the other two options?"

"..." Zhou Yuan asked hesitantly.

"The second way."

Luo Baiyan curled up his second finger. "This nominal discipleship used to deceive Pang Yuanyou is hereby invalidated. I will personally recommend you to become an outer disciple of the Divine Weapon Valley."

After becoming an outer disciple of Divine Weapon Valley, you and I will no longer have any connection. From now on, it is up to you who you choose to become a disciple of.

""

Before Zhou Yuan could ask, he curled up his third finger and continued speaking to himself.

"There is a third option: you stay in Gaoshan County and become the commander of the city's garrison."

Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback.

Although he held the title of Wu Xiucai (a military scholar), according to the custom of the Great Qi Dynasty, one had to be at least a Wu Juren (a military graduate) to be eligible for an official position.

In fact, most military graduates did not have the opportunity to obtain an official position. Those who were able to become officials were basically military graduates.

While it's not impossible for someone who is a martial arts scholar to become an official, they are extremely rare, even in the entire Great Qi Dynasty.

Gaoshan County is a small county, and the rank of the city guard commander is not high, both being seventh-rank officials like the county magistrate.

But those were proper officials, not miscellaneous officials like clerks or constables.

If passing the imperial examinations and becoming a martial arts prodigy is the first step to escaping the mire, then obtaining an official position is the key step to defying fate.

However, Zhou Yuan himself knew in his heart that he was somewhat forced to take on the role of the city guard commander.

In the past, the commanders of the city guards were mostly martial arts graduates who had broken through the cultivation level at least four times.

In terms of merit and personal ability, Zhou Yuan was far from qualified to be the commander of the Gaoshan County Garrison.

It's just compensation he's getting now because Luo Baiyan took advantage of him before.

"Elder Master Luo, if I become an outer disciple of Divine Weapon Valley, will I have the opportunity to learn superior martial arts?"

"..." Zhou Yuan pondered for a long time before asking in a deep voice.

"There is an opportunity, but it is very slim."

""

Luo Baiyan glanced at Zhou Yuan, as if he had expected him to ask this question.

"Apart from the geniuses who pass the martial arts examination and become inner disciples upon entering the sect, everyone else who joins the Divine Weapon Valley must start as an outer disciple. Outer disciples can learn mid-to-low-level martial arts. If they can pass the assessment within three years, they can become inner disciples."

Inner disciples can then learn superior martial arts.

As for the most advanced martial arts techniques in the valley, only true disciples can learn them.

There are only nine true disciples below the elders in the valley, and each of them is an unparalleled genius with superior talent.

Suddenly, Luo Boyan's hand landed on Zhou Yuan's shoulder and squeezed hard.

Zhou Yuan clearly saw his movements, but it was too late to dodge. He felt a force instantly spread throughout his body, and all the joints in his body made cracking sounds.

"I wasn't mistaken, you really are just of inferior talent."

Luo Baiyan said, "There are nine grades of innate talent: top-upper, top-middle, top-lower, middle-upper, middle-middle, middle-lower, lower-upper, lower-middle, and lower-lower."

Among those with the potential to practice martial arts, you are the worst.

Logically speaking, you don't even qualify to become an outer disciple of Divine Weapon Valley. Even if you manage to do so, your chances of becoming an inner disciple in the future are almost zero.

Therefore, the chances of learning superior martial arts are high.

"I actually suggest you choose the third option."

,

Luo Baiyan paused for a moment, "The other two paths are actually dead ends for you. Back then, Lao Han was of average talent, but he couldn't even make it in Shenbing Valley. In the end, he could only return to Gaoshan County to live."

With your natural talent and resources, breaking through the barrier three times is already your limit. If nothing unexpected happens, you can live a life of luxury as the commander of the city guard in Gaoshan County, which is much better than what Old Han did.

""

After saying that, Luo Baiyan looked at Zhou Yuan, waiting for Zhou Yuan to make his own choice.

There are three options. One is to have the status of a nominal disciple, which Zhou Yuan has already experienced before. There are benefits, but not many.

One was the status of an outer disciple of the Divine Weapon Valley. Putting aside whether he could be promoted to an inner disciple in the future, Zhou Yuan immediately ruled it out because he would have to endure three years of hardship.

Then there's only one path left.

Commander of the City Guard, formerly Pang Yunlong's position.

In Gaoshan County, this position is considered very powerful and influential. As Luo Boyan said, this is the upper limit that many people can achieve in a lifetime.

Even Pang Yunlong, isn't he now a corpse?

In this world, no wealth and glory can last a lifetime; only strength is fundamental.

"Can the commander of the city guards participate in the martial arts examination?"

Zhou Yuan pondered for a long time before asking again.

"Of course. If you're still not giving up, you can continue with the martial arts examination."

Luo Baiyan chuckled and said, "Not only that, if you pass the martial arts examination, you can still participate in the selection of Shenbing Valley and have the hope of becoming an inner disciple of Shenbing Valley directly."

"If you can truly reach that level, what harm would it do for me to accept you as an inner disciple?"

Although he said that, his expression and tone made it clear that Zhou Yuan would never reach that point.

"Understood."

Zhou Yuan nodded and made his decision, "I'll take on the role of city guard commander."

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