The so-called Shining Gold Outpost was actually a landmark on the border of the Oma Empire: a half-collapsed clay clock tower, signifying that there had once been a human settlement here a century ago.
Now, however, there was not even a decent Mechanical City here. It was so remote that hardly any ordinary people ever passed through.
Yet this was the only route for smuggling into the City of Radiance from the Oma Empire.
The existence of the City of Radiance did not seem to be much of a secret among certain social classes.
At the very least, judging by the prosperity of Shining Gold Outpost, a great many scavengers came and went through this place.
Every building here served scavengers: taverns, Musket Shops, Potion Shops, equipment suppliers, Steam Machinery repair stations...
As well as all kinds of speculative merchants waiting here to buy up the goods brought back by scavengers from the other side at the first opportunity.
The intelligence spread by the Thornbird Merchant Guild rapidly fermented. Well-informed large Scavenger Gangs had all learned that ruins and mineral deposits had been discovered near the City of Radiance.
Professional Scavenger Gangs gathered toward this small city from all directions, then entered the mountains batch after batch.
By the time Rein and the others arrived, there were already more than ten times the usual number of scavengers gathered here.
Several hundred kilometers west of here lay the Alkolon Mountain Range, and most of the route was rugged mountain road. Large Mechanical Cities could not pass through, so they had to travel on foot or use small mountain troop carriers.
Moreover, part of the journey crossed a highland mountain region where powerful magical beasts roamed year-round. In terms of terrain and danger, it was even more complicated than the Bakenya Highlands Rein had accidentally entered before.
For that reason, old butler Benjamin hired a veteran Scavenger Gang called the Chamois Scavenger Group to serve as guides.
Although the captain of this Scavenger Gang was only a Second Tier Ascender and they numbered barely more than ten people, they were famous veteran guides who frequently traveled this route. At the very least, many Scavenger Gangs stronger than theirs had vanished on this road, while they had remained active for over five years.
The Countess still had no intention of getting down and walking. She looked every bit like a pampered wealthy lady whose fingers had never touched a drop of household water.
Then, somehow, the old butler acquired a mountain Steam Machinery troop carrier.
This eight-legged Steam Machinery vehicle, shaped like a spider, could race through complex mountain terrain, while its cockpit remained exceptionally steady thanks to an exquisite and complicated suspension system.
Rein eyed this piece of "black technology" with envy, though he figured it definitely was not cheap.
The Countess warmly invited Rein to ride with her, but the narrow cabin would have forced the two of them into close contact.
Rein did not think he could maintain his self-control, nor did he dare cross any boundaries, so he simply kept his distance.
Thus, like everyone else, he chose to travel on foot.
That day, the party set off, heading deep into the endless mountains.
The weather had been good these past few days. There was no rain, and the mountain roads were fairly easy to travel.
After several days together, Rein had become quite familiar with the Countess's bodyguard, Uncle Sam, who claimed to be a Third Tier shield knight.
Ordinarily, anyone who advanced to become a Third Tier Demon Hunter would be considered a first-rate expert, each one proud beyond measure.
Yet this honest-looking burly man always modestly claimed that his martial skills were merely average.
He would also patiently answer even Rein's most basic beginner questions.
The mountain mist was far lighter than on the plains, and the scenery was quite pleasant.
There were dense primeval forests here, with fragrant flowers and singing birds.
Whenever a cool breeze swept through, they could even hear a rustling sound like ocean waves rolling against the shore, fresh and pleasant to the ear.
The journey was a little dull, so Rein once again walked over to Sam and began asking for guidance.
He wanted to learn some martial skills from the Fighter Sequence for self-defense, and he needed an experienced guide.
Grinning, Rein asked, "Uncle Sam, I only advanced to become Transcendent not long ago. I want to learn some fighting techniques. Do you have any good recommendations?"
"Hehe. Why does a doctor like you want to learn fighting skills?"
Sam teased him, wearing his trademark honest smile.
But he did not pursue the matter. Instead, he answered directly, "If you want to learn fighting techniques, you first need to understand which path you intend to advance along after breaking through your second Gene Locks."
"Is there really that much to it? I only want to learn some beginner skills right now. Do I need to consider my path after Second Tier already?"
Rein was sincerely asking for advice. This was a blind spot in his knowledge.
Although he had decided to advance along the Battle Doctor Sequence, that did not prevent him from learning martial skills for self-defense before finding suitable exclusive skills.
The Transcendent system in this world worked that way. As long as one was willing to learn, one could study skills from any profession.
Even if you were a warrior, you could still learn to rub together little fireballs.
But the result would be that, compared to a professional mage with high elemental affinity, your fireball would be a tiny flame while theirs would be the size of a watermelon.
Only by learning skills that matched one's awakened Transcendent abilities could one bring out one's combat power to the fullest.
The Battle Doctor Sequence Rein had awakened possessed high strength, high toughness, and high perception. Martial skills from the Fighter Sequence suited him perfectly.
"Of course there is!"
Sam explained, "After the Fighter Sequence reaches Second Tier, there are two mainstream branches. One is the Qi Master path, which cultivates inner force, while the other is the Martial Artist path, which focuses on technique. Other less common sequences differ slightly, but they are broadly extensions of those two categories."
As he spoke, he patiently elaborated, "You should decide now which path you want to take later. The muscles and inner energy cultivated by the two sequences are completely different. One emphasizes 'using qi to control strength' for sustained combat, while the other emphasizes 'technical bursts' to kill enemies quickly."
"So that's how it is."
Rein's eyes lit with realization. It was the first time he had heard this explanation.
After thinking it over, he asked with a grin, "Uncle Sam, which one do you think is stronger?"
"No Extraordinary Profession can claim that one sequence is absolutely the strongest. There are only the strongest Transcendents."
Sam shook his head with a faint smile.
It was as though he had heard this question from many young people before.
Sharing his experience, he said, "Even if the advancement potions differ in quality, that does not necessarily mean a Transcendent who advanced with a Silver Potion will definitely be stronger than one who used a Black Iron Potion. The gains Transcendents receive from diligent training and real experience are far more important than potions. On the Transcendent path, potions are only the beginning. Cultivation is the process!"
"Oh..."
Rein nodded, seeming to understand but not entirely. Then he changed his question. "Uncle, which branch do you think is more competitive?"
Without even thinking, Sam replied, "In terms of choice, more than seventy percent of fighting-type Transcendents choose the Martial Artist branch, because that sequence offers broader advancement options and can develop combat power quickly in the short term."
Then his tone shifted. "But when it comes to top-tier experts, Qi Masters clearly have greater potential. Advancement is harder, but once they reach Fourth Tier Demon Hunter Master, the advantages of that sequence become increasingly obvious."
Rein vaguely understood. Wasn't this like the difference between the Sword Sect and Qi Sect of Mount Hua?
Unable to decide which one he should study, he asked, "Can I learn both?"
"You can. But then you will be broad and unfocused. Human energy is limited, and either branch requires enormous effort to master. Besides, there is another very important point."
Uncle Sam smiled and added, "From a medical perspective, the bodily attributes awakened by the potions of the two branches differ greatly. Martial Artists focus on increasing white muscle fibers, while Qi Masters favor red muscle fibers. White muscle fibers specialize in explosive power, while red muscle fibers specialize in endurance. General martial skills do not differ much, but the effects of certain exclusive ultimate techniques and profound arts are vastly different when used."
"Oh."
Once the technical terms came out, Rein understood completely and nodded repeatedly.
At that moment, an imperceptible gleam flashed through Sam's eyes as he added calmly, "When facing a true expert, these small differences are enough to become fatal flaws."
After hearing all that, Rein felt as though he had listened to a master lecture. Though he did not fully understand, it still sounded incredibly impressive.
Tilting his head, he looked over Sam's burly frame and teased with a smile, "Uncle Sam, you seem to know everything. Are you actually very strong?"
Sam revealed his trademark honest grin again and said with extreme modesty, "I'm only good with words. My martial skills are average."
"..."
Rein neither agreed nor disagreed, and did not press further.
After all, a Third Tier Demon Hunter was already far beyond his reach.
Then his eyes shifted, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. "Uncle Sam, can you teach me some general warrior skills?"
Sam seemed to have expected this. Smiling, he asked, "What do you want to learn?"
Perhaps because of the Countess, Rein always felt that Sam treated him with unusual courtesy.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Something that can save my life! Preferably something that can hurt enemies in return."
Sam raised a brow and selected one from his store of knowledge. "There is a general martial skill among strength-type warriors called Iron Mountain Lean. Three stages of stored force: ram, shock, shatter! Three stages of effect: block, injure, knock back! This is the martial skill that best matches your requirements. Do you want to learn it?"
Rein's eyes lit up. "I do!"
Sam did not waste words. He walked directly over to a huge tree nearly a meter in diameter beside the mountain road. "Watch carefully. When using this move, force rises from the ground, travels through the waist, and erupts through the shoulder and arm!"
The instant he finished speaking, his figure blurred. He instantly dashed forward two meters and slammed his shoulder against the tree!
A sharp smack rang out. It was as though time froze for an instant, followed almost immediately by the crack of the second wave of force.
Boom!
As the third wave of force erupted, the huge tree exploded as if blasted by explosives. Wood chips scattered everywhere as Sam forcibly smashed it in half!
After demonstrating, Sam brushed the wood chips from his shoulder. Even his breathing was steady. "Did you see clearly?"
Clearly, he had deliberately slowed down the demonstration so Rein could see it. How his feet pushed off the ground, the sequence in which his muscles exerted force, and how he circulated his qi—everything had been displayed in great detail.
Even so, its power was still astonishing.
"I saw it clearly. Wow, Uncle Sam, you're amazing!"
Rein's eyes sparkled with wholehearted admiration.
Even if he had not caught every detail, the Mind Core had.
The move looked plain and unremarkable, but its power was terrifying.
And Uncle Sam had obviously held back. If that had struck a person, wouldn't it have shattered bones and burst blood?
Uncle Sam scratched the back of his head and modestly smiled. "It's not some impressive move. Any ordinary warrior should know a trick like this, right?"
What he did not know was that his modest words made the warriors from the Chamois Scavenger Group, who had heard the commotion from afar, wear strange expressions.
They knew Iron Mountain Lean, certainly, but not everyone could casually smash through a massive tree like he had.
At least, their Second Tier Scavenger Gang captain knew he could not do it.
At that moment, they too acknowledged that the Countess's bodyguard was a true expert.
Night fell, and they rested.
Rein sat in meditation.
Set program: Mind Core, dream practice—Iron Mountain Lean!
Before long, in his dream, the scene of Uncle Sam smashing through the giant tree during the day replayed over and over.
Rein wore a solemn expression as he began to imitate and learn it bit by bit.
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