If Zhou Mo had trained in a single martial skill,
Even as a mere Level 2 cultivator, he would immediately stand apart from ordinary mortals.
"Not bad."
Chen Fan weighed the bamboo scroll in his hand and suddenly laughed.
As the camp grew, he would inevitably have to interact with the outside world, and that would doubtless set off conflicts, assassinations, and the like.
Everyone knew he was an Architect.
Weak and defenseless.
That was common knowledge.
Architects were a special type of cultivators, unable to master martial skills.
When an enemy exhausted all means to get close to him and finally seized what seemed like a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for assassination, he pulled a blade from his robe, then countered with his Great Perfection mastery of Water-Severing Blade Technique—that scene would surely be interesting, and the enemy's expression would be a sight to behold.
It seemed he would need to collect more martial skill-type Extraordinary Treasures in the future.
All were useful items.
An Architect?
He was just an ordinary cultivator with the 「Perpetual Night Lord」 panel, with no talent for architecture.
…
He did not crush the bamboo scroll in his hand.
This blade art was more suitable for 「Zhou Mo」. He planned to place this martial skill in a 「Training Room」 in the future. He currently did not have the blueprint for that building, nor did he know where to obtain it.
After the Stone House reached Level 4, there were three possible upgrade directions:
「Life Workshop」.
「Artifact Workshop」.
「Alchemy Workshop」.
These three directions determined what field the Stone House would focus on later; there was no possibility of upgrading the Stone House into a 「Training Room」.
"I need a marketplace."
Chen Fan sighed softly.
This further strengthened his resolve to establish his own marketplace after the rainy season ended. Capable of seeing the panels for Extraordinary Treasures, he could judge the value of Extraordinary Treasures straight away. A thriving marketplace could help him accumulate enough resources.
Right at that moment—
Zhou Mo and Dayu entered the canyon, each on a skeleton horse, alongside the crocodile.
"This trip was incredibly fruitful!"
Zhou Mo dismounted, with an enthusiastic look as he jogged all the way to the city wall to report, "The skeleton horse is very swift. Dayu and I split up today and cleaned out all the stations in the north of the wasteland."
"We didn't go south."
"The southern stations are too far; we couldn't make a round trip in one day."
"Also, the unmanned outposts you set up yielded quite a haul."
"Good."
Chen Fan, lounging in his rocking chair, glanced at Wang Kui down there receiving the supplies, then tossed the bamboo scroll he had been fiddling with to Zhou Mo with a smile, "A green-grade martial skill Extraordinary Treasure, Water-Severing Blade Technique. Fits you well."
"Find some time to study it in the coming days."
"Don't break it."
"It's meant for the Training Room later."
"…"
Zhou Mo, who had just been reporting in high spirits, looked down at the bamboo scroll in his arms, his smile frozen. It took him a while to react, his body trembling uncontrollably as he knelt on the city wall, his eyes reddening, saying huskily,
"Station Master… this is too precious… I…"
"When I joined the Ravine Wang Clan, a major goal was to learn their white-grade martial skill, 「Gale Blade Art」. After one year with the Wang Clan and having amassed enough contribution points, you'd get a chance to learn this blade art."
"But contribution points were hard to earn; I was still far from meeting the requirement."
"I…"
"I never thought I'd have the chance to study a green-grade martial skill one day. This opportunity is too precious for me, Station Master. From now on, my life is yours. Whatever you order, I will carry out!"
"…"
Chen Fan glanced sideways at Zhou Mo. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction—just a chance to learn a martial skill, why get so thrilled … It wasn't like Chen Fan was elevating him straight to the Great Perfection mastery of it; Zhou Mo still had to train himself, didn't he?
What hardships a wandering cultivator in this world has to stomach.
Even a white-grade martial skill was inaccessible.
But this also highlighted the rarity of martial skill-type Extraordinary Treasures, giving him a deeper understanding of their value.
He just chuckled somewhat helplessly.
"You've said the same thing before."
"You already owe me several lives now."
"Don't you have any other way to express your loyalty?"
"Well…"
Zhou Mo was so overwhelmed that his brain had completely short-circuited, unable to process anything. He blurted out instinctively, "This life is the only thing of value I have left; I got nothing else worth much…"
"Enough."
Chen Fan, rocking a little in his chair, said with a resigned smile, "Go on. Take your time and study it."
"Station Master, rest assured."
Zhou Mo took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and declared solemnly, word by word, "I will not let you down. Within five years, I will definitely arrive at Perfection in this martial skill. Anyone who dares offend you will die by my blade!"
"…"
His lips twitching, Chen Fan didn't speak, just waved him off.
Five years?
He doubted if they needed it by then.
If he couldn't obtain the blueprint for the 「Training Room」 in five years, it would be a disgrace.
His relentlessness in building up the camp these days wasn't just about the anticipated crisis; it was also about getting prepared for interacting with other forces after the rainy season.
…
"I heard it just now. A green-grade martial skill, right?"
Inside the cave,
Wang Kui, who had just moved all the supplies into the warehouse without yet taking inventory, jogged over to Zhou Mo, who had just come down from the city wall. His eyes were filled with envy as he leaned in for a look, "Can I see it? I've never seen a green-grade martial skill in my life."
"Go away, go away."
Zhou Mo swatted Wang Kui's reaching hand away, smoothing out with care the bamboo scroll. "Looking is fine, but why touch it? If it breaks, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Highest good is like water, benefiting all without contention…"
Zhou Mo softly recited the text, and, in turn, a mysterious, profound feeling stirred inside him, as if he had gained a slight insight. Even more excited, he hurriedly rolled up the bamboo scroll and carefully tucked it into his robe.
"Wait…"
Wang Kui recited the same text, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. "Why don't I feel anything? Let me hold the bamboo scroll and see if I get a sensation like that."
"Be careful, then." After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Mo handed the bamboo scroll to Wang Kui.
…
After some experimentation,
Wang Kui looked at the diagrams of stances on the back of the bamboo scroll, fell quiet for a while, then said with a complex expression, "So… one only gets inspired by holding the bamboo scroll and silently reciting the text. Not only that, but you also got to practice the stances on the back in the long run to further your mastery of it."
"Without the bamboo scroll in hand, just reciting the text yields no insight at all."
He was actually feeling somewhat emotional.
He and Zhou Mo both came from the Ravine Wang Clan.
Zhou Mo had spent three years with the Wang Clan.
He had spent thirteen years with the Wang Clan.
The prime, strongest years of his life had been devoted to the Wang Clan, yet they had never given him access to the library, much less a chance of even touching the clan's white-grade martial skill---「Gale Blade Art」.
This was his first time getting to know what it felt like to meditate on a martial skill.