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

Chapter 99 Selling Charcoal (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

Shenbing Valley is located in Jiangzhou Prefecture, and it is famous throughout the world for its weapon forging techniques.

Most of the disciples of Shenbing Valley have mastered several weapon-forging techniques.

This resulted in numerous blacksmith shops lining the city of Jiangzhou, including Yongsheng Furnace, Maosheng Furnace, Yisheng Furnace, Hongye Workshop, Bailian Workshop, Jinye Shop, Tiecheng Shop, and Shunye Hall.

There are at least dozens of them, large and small.

Most of these blacksmith shops are backed by disciples of Shenbing Valley.

However, those who need to make money by running a blacksmith shop are basically the outer disciples of Shenbing Valley.

Inner disciples, and even true disciples, are all high-ranking figures who have plenty of ways to earn money and naturally don't need to work so hard for it.

The blacksmith shop Zhou Yuan found, named "Dewang Furnace," was owned by Cao Deli, whose family originally had an outer disciple of the Divine Weapon Valley.

However, the outer disciple of Shenbing Valley had an accident not long ago, so Dewang Furnace's business plummeted.

After Zhou Yuan and Zhuo Changyu learned of this news, they went to Zhuo Changyu's house to offer their services.

That's how the bargaining scene unfolded earlier.

After negotiating the price with Cao Deli, Zhou Yuan and Zhuo Changyu went to buy some daily necessities.

While we're at it, we'll also get the steward, maids, and cooks all in place.

Jiangzhou Prefecture is better than Gaoshan County in one respect: as long as you have money, you can get any service you want.

When I got home, I saw a young man in his early twenties loitering at the door.

Who are you looking for?

Zhou Yuan walked straight to the door, unlocking it as he asked.

Seeing that Zhou Yuan had unlocked the door, the young man smiled, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Wu Jinzhong. I live at the entrance of the alley. I heard that new neighbors have moved into this courtyard, so I came to pay my respects."

He was enthusiastic, and his tone was somewhat ingratiating.

Zhou Yuan felt slightly puzzled, but he couldn't refuse someone who was smiling. He let Zhuo Changyu lead the steward and maids into the door first, and then stood at the door and started chatting with Wu Jinzhong.

"What is the relationship between Brother Zhou and the Tong family of Shenbing Valley?"

Wu Jinzhong cautiously probed.

"It has nothing to do with it!"

Zhou Yuan briefly explained the origins of the courtyard.

Upon learning that Zhou Yuan came from a small town and had no connection with the Tong family, Wu Jinzhong's enthusiasm immediately waned.

However, he maintained a polite facade and chatted for a few more minutes before turning to leave.

Zhou Yuan chuckled to himself.

This courtyard originally belonged to Tong Jin. The other party assumed he had some connection with the Tong family of Shenbing Valley, which is why they came to befriend him.

"Divine Weapon Valley, Tong Family —"

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

Judging from Wu Jinzhong's reaction, Tong Jin's family seems to have extraordinary power.

Wu Jinzhong is also a martial artist at the Blood Exchange Realm, and he is preparing for this year's martial arts examination, yet he wants to curry favor with the Tong family, which shows his true colors.

Zhou Yuan was alarmed. Tong Jin had died in Gaoshan County, and there was no guarantee that the Tong family wouldn't become hostile towards him because of it. He would have to be more careful in the future.

Turning back home, Zhou Yuan began to build the forging furnace.

He and Cao Deli had agreed that he wouldn't need to "work" at Dewang Furnace on a regular basis; Cao Deli would have orders delivered to his home.

He would also regularly send someone to deliver the materials Zhou Yuan needed for daily life.

Therefore, he wanted to build a forging furnace at home so that he could practice martial arts and forge soldiers on a daily basis.

Based on his experience in Takayama Prefecture, having a forging furnace at home is really convenient.

More than ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yuan's days in Jiangzhou Prefecture gradually calmed down.

He also got used to the pace of life in Jiangzhou Prefecture and returned to his previous hardworking state.

Practicing martial arts and forging soldiers.

With a steward and maids in place, Zhuo Changyu finally had some free time.

In his spare time, Zhou Yuan also taught her some kung fu.

Although she may not achieve great success in martial arts due to her limited aptitude, practicing can still improve her health.

Days passed by like this.

On this day, Zhou Yuan finally felt that his physical condition had returned to its peak.

The burns he had previously suffered have completely healed, and his hammering, fist, and light-foot techniques have all reached perfection.

"It's time to start practicing the 'Blazing Fire Soldier Technique'."

Feeling his body's condition, Zhou Yuan thought to himself.

Once he masters the Fiery Blazing Soldier Technique, he can enter the True Essence Realm.

Although the True Essence Realm and the Blood Exchange Realm are only one step apart, their strengths are worlds apart.

The four stages of foundation building—skin tempering, flesh refining, bone forging, and blood exchange—aim at strengthening qi and blood and nourishing the body.

However, the human body has its limits, and no matter how strong one's Qi and blood become, it is impossible to break through these limits.

Moreover, as people age, their Qi and blood will decline from their peak.

Many martial artists at the Blood Exchange Realm, after growing old, have blood and qi that are even inferior to some younger Bone Forging Realm practitioners.

However, this problem does not exist in the True Essence Realm.

Once one's Qi and blood transform into true essence, there is no more period of decline. Moreover, the older one gets, the more abundant one's true essence becomes, and the stronger one's strength will become.

The true essence formed by the fusion of Qi and blood with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth contains immense power, far surpassing the power of Qi and blood.

"Even within the Divine Weapon Valley, the True Essence Realm is the standard for inner disciples."

Zhou Yuan pondered, holding his breath and silently adding the 180 free points he had accumulated yesterday to the "Blazing Fire Soldier Technique".

on.

With a flash of golden light, a memory flooded into Zhou Yuan's mind.

In an instant, Zhou Yuan's body curled up in pain, like a shrimp.

A violent force surged wildly within him.

His blood vessels and meridians were all scarred and battered by that violent force.

If his Beast King Golden Body hadn't already reached the fourth level of the Profound Turtle Realm, this single blow would have been enough to severely injure him.

Although the injury is now under control, the pain is unavoidable.

The feeling of being torn to pieces lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before gradually dissipating.

Zhou Yuan was panting heavily, with lingering fear still in his eyes.

"Is this the murderous aura of a weapon? It's terrifying."

Zhou Yuan got up, reflecting on what had just happened, and felt he never wanted to go through it again.

When malevolent energy enters the body, it's no different from being subjected to the death by a thousand cuts.

Cultivating the "Blazing Fire Soldier's Essence Technique" is equivalent to undergoing a slow and agonizing torture every time you practice it.

"No wonder there are only a handful of people who can cultivate it in the Valley of Divine Weapons. Tong Jin clearly possessed the manual, but he failed to master it. It's probably because he couldn't bear the pain."

Having lived two lives, Zhou Yuan considered his willpower to be fairly strong, but without a system panel to allocate points, he didn't think he could withstand such pain.

"To raise the Blazing Fire Soldier Technique to the entry level, you'll need to go through at least a dozen more of these upgrades."

Zhou Yuan gave a wry smile, but the next moment his expression became firm again.

Suffering is never something to boast about. If suffering could bring rewards, then ordinary people wouldn't even have the right to suffer.

Just like this "Blazing Fire Soldier's Essence Technique," those who are not disciples of the Divine Weapon Valley don't even have the opportunity to endure the hardships of this cultivation.

A sharp, malevolent aura and blood energy intertwined within his body, forming a double helix. Although the qualitative change had not yet been completed, Zhou Yuan already felt his power increase significantly.

"Once I master the 'Blazing Fire Soldier Essence Technique,' the first wisp of soldier essence will be born within my body, and I will officially step into the True Essence Realm."

Zhou Yuan was thinking about it.

Zhuo Changyu walked over, holding a piece of paper covered in writing.

"Brother Yuan, someone from Dewang Furnace sent over an order. Someone wants to order a knife."

Zhuo Changyu handed the paper to Zhou Yuan, which contained the order requirements.

"Take it."

Zhou Yuan glanced at it, confirming that his weapon-forging skills were sufficient, and then spoke.

Another advantage of being in Jiangzhou Prefecture is that you don't have to worry about his weapon-forging skills being exposed.

There are so many blacksmith shops in Jiangzhou Prefecture, and each of them has a connection with Shenbing Valley. It's not surprising that they know some of the weapon-forging techniques from Shenbing Valley.

It's no exaggeration to say that an ordinary weapon is beneath the notice of anyone with even a little influence in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

There are too many ordinary weapons. Throwing an ordinary weapon into Jiangzhou Prefecture is like throwing a drop of water into the ocean; no one will care.

"Have Dewang Furnace send over some more iron and charcoal later."

Zhou Yuan said casually.

Zhuo Changyu nodded and went to explain to Manager Zhu, who had come to deliver the order from Dewang Furnace.

When Manager Zhu returned to Dewang Furnace, he was still somewhat envious of the blacksmith's good fortune with women.

But what can you do when someone is a weapon forger?

Even a low-level weapon forger, who can only forge ordinary weapons, has a status that is far superior to that of a mere steward like him.

"Just as that guy returned to the shop entrance, Manager Zhu saw the young man who usually delivered charcoal to the shop hunched over, carrying charcoal."

He raised his hand and beckoned the other person over.

"Xiao Zhuo, Manager Zhu, you can just call me Xiao Zhuo."

Zhuo Changying bowed and smiled ingratiatingly.

"Xiao Zhuo, right? Deliver a truckload of charcoal to No. 8 Qushui Lane. Tell them it's from Dewang Furnace and it's for Master Zhou."

Manager Zhu said somewhat arrogantly, "Pay the money at the shop."

Choose good quality charcoal. Master Zhou is the blacksmith in the shop; if you anger him, you won't be able to sell anything to the shop again.

"They've brought us charcoal."

"Understood, Manager Zhu, rest assured, all the charcoal will be of the highest quality."

Zhuo Changying said with great joy.

A cartload of charcoal weighing a thousand catties could be sold to Dewang Furnace for three and a half taels of silver.

He delivers a cartload of charcoal every five days on average, earning seven coins after deducting costs.

He could earn an extra seven coins for every extra cartload he sold, so the hard work was worth it.

Zhuo Changying wiped his sweat, quickly unloaded the charcoal from the cart, and then drove the oxcart out of the city to reload it.

The once spoiled young master is now no different from the hardworking masses who do manual labor on the street.

Two hours later, Zhuo Changying arrived at Qushui Lane before dark.

Looking at the clean and tidy streets, he unconsciously patted the dust off his clothes.

He found courtyard number 8 and gently knocked on the gate.

Who is it?

A voice came from inside asking a question.

"The charcoal deliveryman, Dewang Furnace asked me to deliver it to Master Zhou."

Zhuo Changyu raised his voice.

With a creak.

The wooden door opened, and a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl with her hair tied in a maid's bun appeared in front of Zhuo Changying.

"Come in."

Her voice was clear and crisp as she spoke, turning around and calling out.

"Madam, Dewang Furnace has sent charcoal."

"Let's move to the backyard."

Before he finished speaking, a neatly dressed young woman walked out from the hall.

Zhuo Changying looked up and stared at the girl in astonishment.

The girl stood frozen on the steps, her face filled with disbelief.

"Second Brother?"

You've mistaken me for someone else.

Zhuo Changying covered his face with his sleeve, smeared some charcoal on his face haphazardly, picked up the baskets from the oxcart, almost putting his face into the baskets, and started to carry them to the backyard.

"Second Brother!"

With tears streaming down his face, Zhuo Changyu ignored Zhuo Changying's filthy appearance and rushed forward to grab his sleeve.

"You are my second brother, how could I mistake you for someone else?"

Zhuo Changyu shouted loudly.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Yuan came out from the backyard and immediately saw Zhuo Changying, who seemed to want to jump into the pile of coals.

He was momentarily dazed. How could the arrogant young master who had given him a Qi and Blood Pill and told him to take good care of his sister have fallen to such a state?

"No, you've really mistaken me for someone else."

"My clothes are dirty, madam, please don't get your hands dirty."

Zhuo Changying dodged, muttering to herself.

Zhou Yuan had already stepped to his side. He was much stronger than Zhuo Changyu and snatched the basket from Zhuo Changying's hands in one go.

"Second Brother Zhuo, it's been a long time."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Do you still remember the old friend who gave me the Qi and Blood Pill in Dog Tail Alley back then?"

Zhuo Changying had nowhere to avoid it and let out a long sigh.

"Can't you guys give me any face?"

He said with a wry smile, "Is this all the dignity I have left? Do I really have to be humiliated in front of my own sister?"