The Martial Artist Forum had all kinds of subforums. Some only allowed people to post informational threads and didn't allow replies. The "Martial Artist Basics Database," for instance, didn't allow anyone to comment; it was filled with nothing but basic information. Other subforums, meanwhile, consisted entirely of countless small threads. Every popular post drew hordes of people who discussed and chatted beneath it.
The Online Mall, on the other hand, had everything under the sun: all kinds of Guidance Techniques, Movement Technique Manuals, Blade Technique Manuals, firearms, cold weapons, gene serums, and more. In a word, the Online Mall was where you went to spend money.
Luo Zhe first opened the Martial Artist Knowledge Database. Threads like "50 Questions About Hunting Monsters," "Wilderness Survival Tips," "How to Avoid Provoking Beast General Level Monsters," and "28 Ways to Escape" popped up in an instant, filling the entire screen.
He casually opened one of the more popular threads, marked with a little flame in the top-right corner: "50 Questions About Hunting Monsters."
The post was written in a conversational style. It introduced the habits of 50 common types of monsters, as well as the best ways to react when encountering them. One of the monsters mentioned was the Iron-Haired Wild Boar, which Luo Zhe had encountered during the Martial Artist Combat Assessment.
According to the post, the Iron-Haired Wild Boar was a very common monster species. Most Iron-Haired Wild Boars were at Beast Soldier Level, and they were also among the rarer solitary monsters, preferring not to gather in groups. If you found a herd of Iron-Haired Wild Boars in the Wilderness Zone, there was no need to wonder: a Beast General Level Iron-Haired Wild Boar had definitely appeared in the herd.
All Iron-Haired Wild Boars also had a strange habit. Because their eyesight was especially good, they liked to track their enemies' movements with their eyes when facing them head-on. But due to the structure of their bodies, they couldn't directly see their sides. Therefore, the post advised martial artists fighting Iron-Haired Wild Boars to move quickly from side to side. This would force the boars to swing their heads back and forth, exposing the vulnerable throats on their necks.
The post also warned that after an Iron-Haired Wild Boar's throat was cut, it wouldn't immediately lose its ability to fight. Monsters had powerful vitality, and within the first minute, the pain would instead drive the boar into a frenzy. So the post advised martial artists hunting Iron-Haired Wild Boars not to provoke them during that time. Once they had lost too much blood and collapsed, the hunters could naturally reap their reward.
There were many other posts on the forum, and Luo Zhe clicked through them one by one. Their variety opened his eyes and also made him realize how hard a martial artist's life was.
Martial artists held a high position in human society, but they had earned it by risking their lives!
"Right, these posts make a lot of sense."
"Movement, attack techniques, and Guidance Techniques—the three most important manuals for martial artists! Guidance Techniques determine how much a martial artist can improve their strength. Movement and attack techniques, meanwhile, determine their combat ability." After reading the posts, Luo Zhe agreed. These three manuals were the most important to martial artists. If he had started practicing the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade two months ago and trained according to its manual, his strength would probably have improved even more than it had now.
If he had money, he should spend it on these three things!
"No wonder the Extreme Martial Arts Hall promised to let me buy these three kinds of manuals for free." Luo Zhe knew that, of course, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall wanted its own people to be strong.
"Let's take a look at the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade manual in the Online Mall."
He tapped the wireless keyboard's touchscreen and opened the Online Mall.
At once, detailed categories of goods appeared on the huge screen in the audiovisual room. Luo Zhe selected "Manuals," then "Attack," and clicked three times. Photos of various manuals appeared on the screen, along with their names and prices.
Without paying much attention to the other manuals, Luo Zhe went straight to the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade page.
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade. Category: Blade Technique. Rating: Ultimate. Price: 100 billion Huaxia Currency (full price), 50 billion Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Four-Star Contribution Points).
He had heard Chen Gu's opinion of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade before. It was the manual every blade-wielding martial artist most wanted to obtain! Luo Zhe finally had the chance to experience for himself the appeal of such an ultimate manual. Even Chen Gu, a martial artist who used firearms, had been moved to praise it. Luo Zhe carefully read the description.
The description said that the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade was reputed to be the hardest blade technique in the world to learn. It was called a blade technique, but it also included a corresponding movement technique. It even contained a unique Guidance Technique! The reason the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade was so difficult to learn was that it demanded exceptional physical strength, muscle sensitivity, and more.
That was more or less what Chen Gu had told him. The only question was how many levels he could afford with the money he had now.
He scrolled down the page and carefully examined the prices—
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, all nine levels—Price: 100 billion Huaxia Currency (full price), 50 billion Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Four-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first eight levels—Price: 50 billion Huaxia Currency (full price), 25 billion Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Four-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first five levels—Price: 2 billion Huaxia Currency (full price), 1 billion Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Three-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first four levels—Price: 500 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 250 million Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Two-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first three levels—Price: 200 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 100 million Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Two-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first two levels—Price: 100 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 50 million Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: Two-Star Contribution Points)
Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, first level—Price: 50 million Huaxia Currency (full price), 25 million Huaxia Currency (half price; requirement: One-Star Contribution Points)
Looking at the prices, Luo Zhe couldn't help frowning. Even as a new martial artist, he could make his first purchase at the best price without needing any Contribution Points. But he could still only afford the first three levels.
"Should I call Supervisor Zhuge and ask to borrow some money?" Luo Zhe shook his head and swallowed the thought. Although his supervisor had always taken a keen interest in his affairs and had previously told him he could borrow money whenever he was short, that was no reason for him to push his luck.
You had to know how to be grateful!
"Forget it. The first three levels will be enough for a long time. Besides, there's a warning below: 'The Nine-Fold Thunder Blade is an ultimate blade technique, extremely difficult to master, and exceptionally hard to get started with. Countless martial artists around the world have chosen this technique, but many haven't even mastered the first level. Please consider carefully before choosing this technique!'" Luo Zhe shook his head. "There are so many martial artists in the world. Some of them might even be more talented than I am, yet they haven't mastered the first level. What makes me so sure I can succeed?"
"Then it's settled! I'll buy the first three levels. By the time I've mastered them all, I should have saved enough to buy the next level."
After making up his mind, he tapped the touchscreen.
"Please confirm: Do you want to purchase the first three levels of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade? Payment required: 100 million Huaxia Currency!"
"Confirm!" Luo Zhe tapped the screen.
"Please verify your fingerprint to confirm."
Luo Zhe placed his finger on the fingerprint scanner on the wireless keyboard.
"Beep!"
"Fingerprint verified."
"Purchase successful!"
"Payment successful!"
"The first three levels of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade manual will be delivered to your home within 24 hours, Mr. Luo Zhe." Messages appeared on the screen one after another.
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