" A standard skill usually consisted of several components: an Energy Module, a Control Module, a Rule Module, and a Form Module." Juehuo wrote in the post. "Of course, those are just the components of a basic skill. There are other special modules, too."
"Take a close-combat skill like Heavy Strike, for example. Skills of this type are usually made up of the following modules. Thank me later—I'm giving you a skill template for free! Even the simplest skill template costs 100 Game Points."
"The Energy Module for Heavy Strike is usually stamina, battle qi, internal energy, or something similar. If you're a beginner, just pick stamina. After all, you probably don't have battle qi or internal energy yet. Those require a separate cultivation skill to extract. The Energy Module—Stamina draws on your stamina and uses it to power the skill."
"Next is the Control Module. This determines how you control the energy and activate the skill. For Heavy Strike, a physical movement will do. You can also use words, if you don't mind having to say something before activating the skill."
"Now you have energy, and you know how to control it. Next, you need to decide how to turn that energy into a special ability. In the case of Heavy Strike, all it does is increase the force of your attack, so you need the Rule Module—Strength. Your stamina passes through the rule and directly enhances your strength."
"Finally, there's the Form Module. For Heavy Strike, it might seem unnecessary. Some people try to save money by leaving out the Form Module, only to find that their Heavy Strike isn't very powerful. That's because the strength produced by the Rule Module has no form and disperses. So a Form Module is still necessary; it gathers the strength together."
"Then there's the skill's configuration. You can't just put a few modules in the skill frame and call it a day, or you'll blow a fuse! The links between modules need to be set up separately, a bit like programming. Don't worry, it's simple—you can do it with your mind. Here's the configuration data for Heavy Strike: draw 1 unit of stamina; activate it with a charging motion; after a 0.3-second delay, feed it into the Strength Rule Module, then into the Form Module. The Form Module can be anything. After another 0.3–0.5-second delay, release it. The timing depends on the person. Within that range, the longer the delay, the more concentrated the strength and the greater its power. But it also takes longer to activate, making it easier to block or counter. Choose what works for you."
"One word of warning: beginners are better off building their own skills rather than buying someone else's templates. First, other people's skills are easier to see through and counter. Second, relying on them will hinder your future advancement. Also, it's best if your skills complement your basic enhancements."
"That's everything in this post. I'll leave you beginners with one final piece of advice: cherish everything around you. One day, it might be gone!"
The post was followed by a flood of replies. Most people thanked him, while others asked for more detailed information about the Heavy Strike skill. Lu Li skimmed through them, lost interest, and left the post. He kept browsing the forum and noticed that paid posts generally listed their contents up front. Most of it was beyond him. Then he remembered Juehuo's mention of cultivation skills and searched for them, finding a whole bunch:
Grass Three Meters High on Grave: "Internal Energy Extraction skill template, based on the Ten Suns Divine Art. It only needs about 300 modules! Come in and ask for details."
Please Call Me Bishop: "Light Magic cultivation template, suitable for beginners. Only ten blocks needed! This post costs 500 Game Points."
Dead Pigeon Who Should Be Sent Razor Blades: "Cosmic Spamming Sutra, the supreme manual! Those who know what it's worth, come on in..."
Moon Shadow Yifeng: "Beginner Spirit Extraction template, ultra-simplified version, only three modules! Free!"
Lu Li's eyes narrowed. As he browsed, he'd noticed that even beginner cultivation skill templates usually required around ten modules, and they were all ridiculously expensive. He hadn't expected to find something this refreshingly simple—and free. He glanced at the teacher, who was still going on about his "two problems," and figured he might as well take a look. It couldn't hurt, and it would pass the time.
As soon as he clicked into the post, he saw the skill template the original poster had shared: "Rule Module—Soul + Rule Module—Tranquility + Rule Module—Extraction. The parameters are as follows: connect the Soul Module to Tranquility after 9 seconds. To use it, clear your mind and silently count down from 9 to 1. Your soul will then enter a state of tranquility. Set Extraction to begin 60 seconds later. The extraction must take no more than 10 seconds!"
"This skill definitely works, as long as you can keep your mind completely clear when Tranquility kicks in. Please, just tell me the data after you've tried it. I'll do whatever I can to help if there are any problems!" the original poster, Moon Shadow, had written. But the replies that followed were all negative:
"Holy crap, keep your mind clear for nine seconds? That's basically impossible. Anyone who uses this skill is going to die. Is this some kind of attack on society?"
"The person above is right. There aren't any safety measures at all. It just uses a rule to touch your soul directly. If an ordinary person tried it, they'd probably end up an idiot, or get trapped in that tranquil state and never come out."
"Here's a little explanation: Spirit Extraction requires auxiliary measures at the very least. Otherwise, there's a very good chance you'll damage your soul. At best, you'll end up an idiot; at worst, you'll die."
"Thanks for the heads-up. I'm a beginner—I almost tried it."
"Go ahead, go ahead. One less person in the world!"
All the replies after that were much the same. They made a good point: the skill had no safety measures or auxiliary extraction methods. Anyone who used it would die. Lu Li was quite interested, but he still hadn't decided which path to take. He might end up as a close-combat fighter, in which case Spirit Extraction would be useless to him.
He silently bookmarked the post and left the forum. The sun was almost setting, and the teacher at the front of the room had finally finished his "two problems." He picked up a stack of test papers and said, "Class representative, hand these out. Finish them tonight and turn them in tomorrow morning. I'll go over them in class!"
"Oh, no! The fourth test today! Have mercy!" The senior-year students groaned in agony. But the merciless teacher showed no sympathy, wearing an expression that said their suffering now would bring them happiness in the future—the Great Yue Dynasty's sea of practice questions was the best in the world.
When the class representative reached Lu Li, he hesitated for a moment, then handed him a paper anyway. The teacher dismissed the class, and everyone headed home to their families. Lu Li picked up the test, glanced at it, then tore it to pieces in full view of his unsurprised classmates. He slung his empty schoolbag over his shoulder and left the classroom. He wanted to get home early so he could carefully choose his enhancement path and repair his terrifyingly inflexible left hand...
Back in his student days, Xu Ming had wanted to do the same thing, but he hadn't had the guts. A special reminder to all the students reading this: study hard and make progress every day. Don't imitate Lu Li. Just think about how your teachers would react! (Remembering the fear of being ruled by his homeroom teacher, Xu Ming trembled.) Also, many thanks to Pang Dani for the red envelope—I'm truly grateful. But sending red envelopes during a new book's early period isn't good for getting it signed. Your kind thoughts are more than enough to make me happy, so there's no need to send one. Thank you all for your support! Thank you!!! Also, today is May 20. Xu Ming silently swallowed a mouthful of dog food, and his tears wouldn't stop flowing...
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