Wallfacer Yang Ning

Yang Ning went straight to the study as soon as he returned to the dormitory. He spread out a piece of paper, propped up his chin, and began to ponder.

Hobbies shouldn't interfere with cultivation, but this was no longer a matter of interference for Yang Ning; he had completely abandoned cultivation for his hobbies.

Anyone looking at this would say he was slacking off, completely slacking off.

But Yang Ning's Black Tortoise Meditation Method was constantly running, strengthening his spirit, while the breathing technique vibrated his Blood Essence, which in turn generated a Blood Essence field. This field was continuously tempering his body.

So, while he appeared motionless, both his body and spirit were actually growing stronger.

This could be seen from his appetite; he hadn't eaten any less.

This was the charm of methodology.

It was like inventing the light bulb. If you didn't know the principle of generating electricity, you'd have to experiment with one material after another.

But if you knew the principle, you could directly choose the most suitable material from those that could withstand high temperatures, greatly increasing efficiency.

Methodology wasn't about taking shortcuts; it was about clearing away the fog to reach the essence.

Of course, the activation of cells by electric current and the cellular-level control of the Spiritual Realm also provided a little help.

"The Blood Essence of a Fourth Level of Body Refinement Demon Beast can surge through the internal organs, greatly improving digestive ability and causing a leap in strength. At this stage, even a dog's strength would be comparable to an elephant's. The Blood Essence of a Fifth Level of Body Refinement Demon Beast reaches the arms, causing a surge in speed. A turtle at this level could gallop."

"Therefore, to fight against Fierce Beasts of this level, one must focus on dissipating force and restricting their speed."

"Dissipating force can be achieved with a shield and a spear. For restricting speed, cement piles and barbed wire are good choices, as are caltrops and beast traps."

"To counter a significant difference in strength, a weapon that can fully leverage power is needed. A magic sword is clearly unsuitable; it's not conducive to slashing. Three Tang Blades would be better."

"Additionally, equip Ning Rong with a bow and poison the arrows. Let her weaken enemies from a distance before taking them down in close combat!"

Four people were a bit few, but a shield, two spears, and an archer still formed a complete tactical squad.

Humans are human precisely because they are good at using tools. A few ordinary people with spears can hunt beasts several times their size. With perfect coordination, four cultivators should have no problem taking down a Fierce Beast ten times stronger.

Of course, the most stable method would be to build a Gatling Bodhisattva, or to break through to the Fifth Level of Body Refinement within two months. Then, even with coordination errors, there would be no problem.

Yang Ning had stronger control over his body. Others needed their bodies to clearly perceive Blood Essence before they could guide it to their internal organs and limbs. However, Yang Ning could perceive it and actively promote its growth from the moment the Blood Essence field began to form.

In short, others' cultivation went from 1 to 10, while Yang Ning's went from 0 to 10. Reaching the Fifth Level of Body Refinement in two months was not impossible.

For the materials of the two spears, to prevent damage, two spearheads would also be needed.

Hmm, two more spear shafts.

Forget it, not four, let's just make it five spears per person. Look at how Chen, the oil seller, fought with a pile of red-tasseled spears. It's not like he couldn't carry them; at worst, he could just put the extras on the ground during a fight.

Su Bai is 1.54 meters tall, so a 1.40-meter shield would work. Add a stand, and a place to put a magic sword on the shield. If he gets lost, having only a shield won't do; he'll need a weapon to survive.

The material would be meteorite iron essence, 2 centimeters thick. Never mind if it's too heavy to wield; just say the defense is strong!

Hmm, but a shield can only defend one side. What if the Fierce Beasts attack from all directions?

So, a steel shell should be built, with a person inside stabbing out with a spear!

But a steel shell is impossible to carry. So, four wheels need to be added underneath.

What about power? Can't sit inside and walk with your legs, right?

Hmm, a sprocket, chain, and gearbox can be added, and it can be pedaled to move.

They are all cultivators, so they won't be afraid of not being able to pedal.

Yang Ning looked at the finalized blueprint, his mouth twitching. "Excellent, I've built a tank for the cold weapon era."

"Brother Yang?" Ning Rong knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Yang Ning said.

Ning Rong carefully opened the door and looked around curiously.

The living room was clean, and the decorations were untouched, as if no one had ever lived there.

Oh, he had indeed spent a month in the library. That made sense.

"Brother Yang, where are you?"

"In the study!" Yang Ning said softly.

"Oh, oh!" Ning Rong hurried over and opened the door, only to see Yang Ning sitting upright in a chair, dipping his brush in ink and writing.

His handwriting was clean, neat, and square.

This was the Ning Style Font invented by Yang Ning. Because it was often used in woodblock printing, it was also called the printing style.

At first, many scholars dismissed the invention of a new font by a novice. What if he was a genius?

It wasn't until the printing style became widespread with printed books that scholars who couldn't afford calligraphy practice sheets began to imitate it. When the Ning Style Font became mainstream, those scholars realized something was wrong. But by then, the self-proclaimed elegant ones were already a minority; they didn't even know when they had been eliminated.

Ning Rong looked at Yang Ning, who was diligently writing under the candlelight, and her eyes became a little dazed for a moment.

"Can you shoot arrows?" Yang Ning suddenly asked.

"Ah, ah! Oh, yes, yes!" Ning Rong quickly snapped out of her daze and replied, "My father is the General of the Valiant Cavalry. I followed him in martial arts and archery since I was young. I can draw a 2-stone strong bow. My archery may not be a hundred percent accurate, but it's outstanding!"

"That's good!" Yang Ning said, "I've positioned you as a shooter. I'll specifically make a bow and crossbow for you. From now on, you need to practice your archery. Also, you can self-study some poison-making techniques. If your strength isn't enough, poisoning arrows is also a way to increase attack power!"

"Okay!" Ning Rong nodded heavily. She had been uncertain about her future. If you tell me to use a bow, then I'll use a bow.

"That's all!" Yang Ning handed over the paper with the written materials and said, "These are the materials I need. Have Xun Hu send them over!"

Yang Ning felt no guilt spending Xun Hu's money, as Yue Kingdom's national strength had significantly increased thanks to him.

Besides, these were all mortal-grade materials and weren't worth much.

"Alright!" Ning Rong nodded and looked at Yang Ning, who had already begun writing furiously.

After a long while, Yang Ning looked up. "Why are you still here?"

"Hmph!"

Ning Rong gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. Couldn't he spend a little more time chatting with her?

But seeing Yang Ning unfold another piece of paper and start sketching, she could only sigh helplessly.

Her mother was right, boys her age didn't understand romance at all!

Fine, she'd leave!

Yang Ning spent an hour and a half drawing this diagram until Deep Blue's prompt sounded, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This won't do. Being monitored like this makes it impossible to do anything!" Yang Ning didn't need diagrams for refining artifacts, yet the previous surveillance had detected him again!

Staying in the library for a month was not only to change his persona and read, but also because being spied on in the dormitory was too disgusting.

They even spied on him while he slept!

"Deep Blue, who is the dorm supervisor for Kang Jinlong?" Yang Ning asked.

"There are two dorm supervisors: Ma Longjiang and Ma Longhe!" Deep Blue displayed their photos, which Yang Ning had taken when he passed by the entrance.

Both men had triangular eyes, hooked noses, and expressionless faces. One sat by the entrance basking in the sun, while the other used a bamboo pole to knock coconuts from a tree.

Judging by their appearances, they were likely a pair of twins.

The Heavenly Eye of Insight had a limited detection range and was a divine ability that could only be cultivated at the Qi Refining Stage.

There were no Qi Refining Stage cultivators in the dormitory building.

Therefore, this surveillance must have come from the Ma twins.

"Both of them have a cultivation base of the Fifth Level of Body Refinement, Hundred Transformations Realm!"

"So they used a tool, a Spirit Artifact engraved with the Heavenly Eye of Insight? This Hundred Transformations Realm allows for changing one's appearance. Why haven't these two changed? Is it a problem with their aesthetics, or have they not reached the peak of the Hundred Transformations Realm?" Yang Ning guessed.

The "Hundred Transformations" in the Hundred Transformations Realm referred to two aspects: first, the transformation of movement, where Blood Essence strengthened the limbs, greatly increasing speed.

Second, the transformation of appearance, where Blood Essence strengthened the skin, allowing for the adjustment of muscle positions and changes in facial features.

The skin, being outside the muscles, naturally required more powerful Blood Essence to control.

"Perhaps they have seen through the illusion of superficial appearances?" Deep Blue suggested.

"That..." Yang Ning nodded. It was possible.

Few people were indifferent to their own appearance, but not none.

"I just don't know if this surveillance is ordered from above or if it's their own initiative. If it's personal behavior, a reprimand will suffice. If it's ordered from above, then killing them won't help, as their replacements will also monitor me."

Yang Ning suddenly felt the frustration of Earthlings in the world of The Three-Body Problem. No matter what they did, there might be a Sophon watching, leaving them with no secrets.

Wallfacer Yang Ning, indeed?

Next time he passed by, he'd have to see what they were using to spy.

Back to the main topic.

"In a month, I've read a lot of books related to artifact refining!" Yang Ning said. "The people here use the inherent properties of metal materials for refining, rarely using alloys. Their metal ratios are also very rough, using terms like 'about' or 'close enough.' If they're lucky, they get top-grade items, and if they're unlucky, they get subpar ones. It's quite unstable. They believe this is due to variations in flame control and striking force."

"Moreover, they prefer using metallic materials. In reality, as we all know, many non-metallic materials have properties comparable to, and sometimes even better than, metals. For example, carbon fiber, gallium nitride materials, Darwin spider silk, Kevlar fiber, oxide ceramics, and silicon crystals."

"The creation of a perfect alloy requires extensive experimentation, consuming vast amounts of manpower and resources!" Deep Blue said. "And in this world, only a few major powers have the experimental conditions, but they may not be willing to invest so much!!"

"More importantly, they don't know that doing so can be successful!" Yang Ning added.

No one knew that this approach could create an alloy. When the path forward is unclear, few people can persevere.

"There's also the existence of Spirit Minerals!" Deep Blue continued. "As well as the supplementation of materials by Runes and Formations!"

Yang Ning gave a thumbs-up. "Your understanding of this world is already deeper than mine!"

That's right. Mortal Artifacts were only useful in the Body Refinement Realm. By the Qi Refining Stage, everyone used Spirit Artifacts.

And if the material properties weren't enough, there were Runes and Formations to supplement them. If you could engrave a sturdy formation, it would work, so why bother researching harder materials!

Lack of motivation for research naturally led to a scarcity of superior materials.

"Their habitual laziness has given me a huge business opportunity!" Yang Ning murmured.

The effect of the Spiritual Realm was to allow experiments without cost or limit, which was perfect for tasks like finding alloy formulas. Moreover, Yang Ning didn't even need to do it himself; Deep Blue could operate it.

High-strength alloys were beneath the notice of immortals, and mortals couldn't refine them. Wouldn't this make them perfect flagship products to sell externally?

It would also allow him to showcase his artifact refining talent, making others lower their guard against him. Perfect!

"Using a grand plan to conceal one's true objective, isn't that exactly what the Wallfacers are doing?" Yang Ning chuckled inwardly. Fighting against heaven is endlessly enjoyable, fighting against earth is endlessly enjoyable, and fighting against people is endlessly enjoyable!

From today onwards, I am Wallfacer Yang Ning!