All of It

After recalling what had happened last night, Zhou Yi glanced out the window. The sun had only just risen. It seemed his body clock was still quite punctual—but why was he so terribly hungry?

Zhou Yi shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. He got out of bed to wash up. Once he was done, he dressed, took Han Guang, and headed out for breakfast.

In an alley at the end of the street, Zhou Yi bought two flatbreads and wolfed them down. After filling his stomach, he let out a long breath, tossed down two copper coins to pay, and headed toward Cheap Master's home.

Zhou Yi pondered his master's address.

"Next to the village chief's house, next to the village chief's house... How the fuck am I supposed to know where the village chief's house is?!!!" Zhou Yi looked as if he were on the verge of tears.

Cheap Master had probably forgotten who Zhou Yi was when he gave him the address. Zhou Yi had once been nothing more than a bamboo cutter—how would he know where the village chief lived? Even if there was some major announcement, it would be made at the village ancestral hall.

Left with no choice, Zhou Yi began his journey of asking for directions. After questioning several people, he finally ran into a friendly passerby who led him to the village chief's house.

The passerby thought, I didn't want to do it either, but he kept drawing and sheathing that blade. I was scared.

When Zhou Yi reached the area beside the village chief's house, there was only a small courtyard there. That had to be Cheap Master's home.

Zhou Yi studied the house before him. It was a wooden structure, with a small courtyard enclosed by a fence out front. The yard was spotless; it looked as though it was cleaned often.

Creak~

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

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

"Oh, oh, coming."

Zhou Yi entered the house. Qu Yong sat imposingly in his chair and said to him, "The skills I have learned include the Jade Lock Skill for self-defense, the Star Picking Steps movement technique, the Soul Severing Spear technique, and most importantly, the Tongming Record cultivation method..."

Before Qu Yong could finish, Zhou Yi cut in, "I choose the Jade Lock Skill!"

As someone who cherished his life, Zhou Yi naturally wanted to stack armor.

"You'll learn them all. You won't need the spear technique, though. You chose a blade, so you can pick out a saber technique from the Scripture Repository in the Patrol Team." Qu Yong laughed heartily.

Helplessness appeared on Zhou Yi's face, but his heart was bursting with joy. As long as he had enough Yin Energy, he could master all these techniques within a single day.

Qu Yong pulled out three secret manuals and said to Zhou Yi, "Read these three manuals first. The cultivation method concerns your own realm, but there's no need to rush into learning it yet. Do you remember what I told you before about the characteristics of the Strength Channeling Realm?"

"Developing the power of one's body to its utmost limit?" Zhou Yi asked tentatively.

"Correct! Though the Strength Channeling Realm is the most basic realm of martial arts, it is extremely important. The more thoroughly you develop your body's potential at this realm, the smoother your path will be in the future.

Some people want to advance early even though their physical development is lacking. Even if they do advance, their combat strength at the same level will be far beneath those whose bodies have been developed more fully. This Jade Lock Skill alone is not enough—you'll have to earn merits in the future and exchange them for more."

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

Zhou Yi accepted the manuals, casually flipped through them a few times, and opened the modifier panel at the same time.

Name: Zhou Yi

Race: Human

Strength: 0.9

Speed: 1

Constitution: 1.1

Spirit: 1.2

Cultivation Method: Tongming Record (Not Initiated) Primordial Pile+ (Minor Accomplishment)

Martial Arts: Jade Lock Skill+ (Not Initiated) Star Picking Steps+ (Not Initiated)

Yin Energy: 36

Exotic Qi: Qi (1)

Seeing the additional martial arts on the modifier, Zhou Yi felt a surge of delight. However, the Tongming Record cultivation method was grayed out, and there was no plus sign behind it either. Can't it be upgraded? Zhou Yi silently wondered.

"Your Primordial Pile is only at Minor Accomplishment. For now, memorize the contents of these manuals. Only when your Primordial Pile truly reaches perfection will you have entered the Strength Channeling Realm. And when your stance technique reaches perfection, your body will give you a surprise as well."

Qu Yong's words rang beside Zhou Yi's ears.

So I have to cultivate the Primordial Pile to perfection before I can learn the Tongming Record, Zhou Yi silently thought.

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

"Generally speaking, anyone who enters the Strength Channeling Realm is qualified to join the Patrol Team. But recently, I discovered a strange creature shaped like a scarecrow, and it is close to reaching the Crimson Realm. That's why we planned to recruit newcomers. I just didn't expect to find such a fine seedling as you."

Qu Yong paused before continuing, "Don't rush. Just focus on martial arts. We've recently narrowed the patrol range. If we discover anything unusual, Old Qin and I will handle it. Wait until you cultivate the Primordial Pile to perfection first."

"Understood, Master. Could you help your disciple out a little first? Your disciple's pockets are cleaner than his face." Zhou Yi looked at Cheap Master expectantly.

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

Qu Yong clutched his money pouch in pain. He thought of how he had spent an entire tael of silver drinking last night—what extravagance. Yet when he saw Zhou Yi's expression, he could not bear to refuse him. In the end, after fumbling around in his pouch for ages, he pulled out a tael of silver and painfully handed it to Zhou Yi.

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

"This counts as a loan. Remember to pay me back after you join the Patrol Team," Qu Yong said helplessly.

"Yes, yes, yes." Zhou Yi nodded at Qu Yong. Silver had considerable purchasing power in this world. One tael was enough for one person to live on for a month. Of course, it would be impossible to live especially well, but Zhou Yi did not have particularly high demands for life.