Want It All

After recalling last night's events, Zhou Yi glanced out the window. The sun had just risen, so his biological clock was quite punctual. However, his stomach was growling fiercely.

Zhou Yi shook his head, no longer dwelling on it. He got out of bed and prepared to wash up. After finishing, he put on his clothes, grabbed his Han Guang, and prepared to head out for breakfast.

Arriving at an alley at the end of the street, Zhou Yi bought two sesame seed cakes and began eating them heartily. Once full, Zhou Yi let out a long sigh, tossed two copper coins to pay, and headed towards his Cheap Master's house.

Zhou Yi thought about his master's address.

"Next to the Village Chief's house, next to the Village Chief's house. Where the hell do I know where the Village Chief's house is!!!" Zhou Yi felt like crying.

When his Cheap Master told him the address, he probably forgot Zhou Yi's background. Zhou Yi used to just cut bamboo; how would he know where the Village Chief lived? Even if there were important announcements, they were usually made at the village's ancestral hall.

Helpless, Zhou Yi began his journey of asking for directions. After asking several people, Zhou Yi finally encountered a friendly passerby who led him to the Village Chief's house.

The passerby thought: I didn't want to, but he kept drawing and sheathing his saber. I was scared.

Zhou Yi arrived next to the Village Chief's house and saw only a small courtyard. He could confirm this was his Cheap Master's house.

Zhou Yi surveyed the house before him. It was a wooden structure, with a small courtyard fenced off in front. The yard was very clean, appearing to be swept often.

Creeeak~

At that moment, the wooden door suddenly opened, and Zhou Yi's Cheap Master walked out. The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"What are you standing around for? Come in."

"Oh, okay, coming."

Zhou Yi entered the house. Qu Yong sat on a chair with his legs spread wide and said to Zhou Yi, "The skills I've learned include the defensive Jade Lock Skill, the footwork Star Picking Steps, the spear technique Soul Severing Spear, and most importantly, the cultivation method Tongming Record..."

Before Qu Yong could finish, Zhou Yi interjected, "I choose Jade Lock Skill!"

Zhou Yi thought to himself, As someone who values his life, of course I'll stack armor.

"You'll learn them all, but you don't need the spear technique. You chose the saber, so you can pick a saber technique from the Scripture Pavilion in the Patrol Team." Qu Yong said with a laugh.

A helpless expression appeared on Zhou Yi's face, but inwardly, he was overjoyed. As long as he had enough Yin Energy, he could learn all these techniques within a day.

Qu Yong fumbled in his clothes and produced three secret manuals, saying, "You can look at these three manuals first. The cultivation method within concerns your own realm, but you don't need to rush to learn it now. Do you remember what I told you about the characteristics of the Strength Channeling Realm?"

"Developing the strength of your own body to the extreme?" Zhou Yi asked tentatively.

"Correct! Although the Strength Channeling Realm is the most basic realm in martial arts, it is very important. In this realm, the more you develop your physical potential, the smoother your future path will be.

Some people try to advance prematurely without fully developing their bodies. Even if they advance, their combat power at the same level will be far inferior to those who have developed their bodies to a greater extent. This Jade Lock Skill alone isn't enough, but you'll have to earn the right to exchange for more with your future contributions."

Qu Yong handed all three secret manuals to Zhou Yi as he spoke.

Zhou Yi took the manuals and flipped through them casually, while simultaneously opening his modifier panel.

Name: Zhou Yi
Race: Human
Strength: 0.9
Speed: 1
Constitution: 1.1
Spirit: 1.2
Cultivation Method: Tongming Record (Not Started) Primordial Pile+ (Minor Accomplishment)
Martial Arts: Jade Lock Skill+ (Not Started) Star Picking Steps+ (Not Started)
Yin Energy: 36
Exotic Energy: Qi (1)

Zhou Yi's heart filled with joy as he saw the martial arts that had appeared on the modifier. However, the cultivation method Tongming Record appeared in gray, and there was no "+" sign next to it. Can't I upgrade it? Zhou Yi wondered to himself.

"Your Primordial Pile is only at Minor Accomplishment. As for these manuals, just memorize their contents for now. Only when your Primordial Pile truly reaches Perfection will you be considered to have entered the Strength Channeling Realm. At the same time, when your pile technique is perfected, your body will give you a surprise."

Qu Yong's words echoed in Zhou Yi's ears.

So I have to practice Primordial Pile to perfection before I can practice Tongming Record, Zhou Yi thought to himself.

"Then Master, when will I officially join the Patrol Team?" Zhou Yi asked Qu Yong.

"Generally speaking, anyone who has entered the Strength Channeling Realm is qualified to join the Patrol Team. However, I recently discovered a Weirdness that resembles a scarecrow, and it's close to reaching the Crimson Realm, which is why I planned to recruit new members. I didn't expect to find such a promising seedling like you."

Qu Yong paused and continued, "Don't rush. Just focus on practicing martial arts. We've recently scaled back our patrol range. As long as any abnormality is discovered, Old Qin and I will handle it. We'll talk after you've practiced Primordial Pile to perfection."

"Understood, Master. Could you help out your disciple first? Your disciple is currently broke." Zhou Yi looked expectantly at his Cheap Master.

Qu Yong clutched his money pouch and said to Zhou Yi, "No, no, not a single copper coin."

Qu Yong clutched his money pouch with heartache, thinking about how he'd spent an ounce of silver on drinks last night – what a waste! But seeing Zhou Yi's expression, Qu Yong couldn't bear to refuse. After rummaging through his money pouch for a long time, he finally pulled out an ounce of silver and reluctantly handed it to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi snatched the silver and quickly said to Qu Yong, "Thank you, Master!"

"This is considered a loan, you know. You have to pay me back when you join the Patrol Team," Qu Yong said helplessly to Zhou Yi.

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhou Yi nodded and said to Qu Yong. The purchasing power of silver in this world was quite strong; an ounce of silver was enough for one person to live for a month. Of course, it wouldn't be a luxurious life, but Zhou Yi didn't have very high demands for his living standards.