Top-Tier Bow Wood, Yellow Muntjac!

Outside Green Mountain City, where farmland met the mountains.

Li Chengfeng carried a bow on his back and arrows at his side, with a long knife, rice balls, and a water gourd hanging from his waist. Under the curious gazes of the guards, he followed the mountain path into the forest.

He chose a different mountain route from yesterday's, crossed another five mountains, and finally left the privately owned forests on the outskirts.

"Those landlords who bought up the forests don't have to do anything. Raising livestock in the mountains or even gathering fallen branches brings in a fortune. Why do I still have to come into the mountains to hunt?"

After passing through these owned mountains, Li Chengfeng looked back at the outermost forest, his expression full of envy. But envy was all he could afford. Shaking his head, he suppressed those thoughts and carefully pressed deeper into the mountains.

The mountains near these private forests were safe, but the forest keepers would often hunt and scour them whenever they had nothing better to do. There was hardly any game left.

If he wanted prey, he had to go farther in.

"As long as I don't go too deep, there shouldn't be any problem."

Li Chengfeng looked at the endless mountain ranges ahead with a clear mind. Tigers, leopards, wolves, and jackals were not fools; they all stayed away from places frequented by humans. As long as he did not venture too far in, there should be no danger.

On the contrary, weaker herbivores of small and medium size would move toward the outer regions to escape being devoured by those fierce beasts.

There had been plenty of prey before the first five mountains, but Li Chengfeng was not especially strong yet. He had not dared venture too deeply into the forest, so he still did not know the exact boundaries of safety.

"Phew~"

After traveling through the mountain forest and crossing another ridge, Li Chengfeng let out a breath. Just as he was about to drink some water and rest, his gaze sharpened. Not far away, he spotted a rabbit grazing with its back to him.

His eyes flickered. He immediately drew his bow softly, took aim, and released.

Whoosh~

The bamboo arrow shot forward, streaking straight toward the rabbit. Before the grazing rabbit could even lift its head, the arrow pierced through its body and nailed it to the ground.

[Skill: Archery]

[Level: Proficient (2/80)]

[Effect: Stability increased by 30%; accuracy increased by 20%]

Thud~

As the information drifted before his eyes, a trace of insight into bow use surged into his heart. Li Chengfeng hurried over and happily picked up the plump rabbit pinned to the ground.

He first poured the rabbit's blood into the gourd he had specially brought for that purpose. Once it had bled dry, he plugged the mouth of the gourd and stuffed the rabbit's carcass into the cloth bag he carried with him, a broad smile on his face.

"The first prey is secured. At least I won't come back empty-handed."

Delighted, Li Chengfeng tied the cloth bag at his waist. Then he cautiously checked his surroundings, took out his water gourd for a drink, and sat down to rest for a while.

Once he had recovered some strength, he drew another bamboo arrow and continued into the forest ahead.

"..."

Game in the mountains was not actually easy to find.

True seasoned hunters had dedicated hunting platforms. Every day, they would wait there like a stump waiting for rabbits, shooting prey once it wandered into their range.

With all sorts of traps to aid them, they could ensure a steady harvest.

But Li Chengfeng was a novice and unfamiliar with the mountains. Naturally, he could not hunt like that. He could only carry his bow around in search of prey while familiarizing himself with and memorizing the forest.

Fortunately, there was plenty of bamboo in the mountains. Whenever Li Chengfeng came across bamboo suitable for making arrows, he would shoot off some of the bamboo arrows on his back and make new ones.

And so, by the time he had emptied his second bundle of arrows and only half of the third bundle remained...

Creak~

The Laminated Bamboo Bow was drawn to its full extent. Li Chengfeng calmly aimed at the second plump wild rabbit he had encountered on the ground ahead and released the arrow in his hand.

Whoosh~

The bamboo arrow shot out like lightning, piercing straight through the rabbit's body.

[Skill: Archery]

[Level: Minor Mastery (0/160)]

[Effect: Stability increased by 40%; accuracy increased by 30%; arrow speed increased by 5%]

The skill information leaped across the panel, and a new effect emerged. An indescribably profound insight rose within Li Chengfeng.

As though blessed by divine inspiration, he understood how to use force to make his arrows fly faster. At the same time, a feeling rose in his heart that he could shoot more accurately, and that the arrows he fired would be steadier.

"Minor Mastery Archery!"

A flash of excitement crossed Li Chengfeng's eyes. Feeling the changes brought by the skill's advancement, he felt incomparably comfortable and could not help stretching his limbs and drawing the bow again.

Only then did he notice the rabbit struggling on the ground. He hurried over, grabbed it, and held its wound over the gourd to let the blood drain out. Once it had bled dry, he tossed it into the cloth bag in satisfaction.

Then, sensing his improved Archery, he continued carefully exploring the forest with gleaming eyes and bow in hand.

"..."

He slowly searched the forest for prey until noon.

What left Li Chengfeng somewhat speechless was that after catching two plump rabbits in a row, it felt as though he had used up all his good luck. He found nothing else all the way until noon.

Left with no choice, he went to try his luck beside a stream on the shaded slope of a mountain forest. Unexpectedly, he had not encountered any prey when a tree beside him made him freeze.

He could not help examining it carefully. Its trunk was straight, and when he tapped the bark, he found it thin and grayish-white, with fine, straight grain.

He broke off a small branch and discovered that the wood was light yet dense, warm and springy beneath his fingers. Looking upward, he saw no warped knots or dead scars. Then he looked around and found that it stood in a damp, shaded place. He was instantly stunned.

"Could this be a Purple Yew Tree?"

Li Chengfeng's heart began to pound. Then, as he looked at the tree before him—a natural, superb material for bow staves—his eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, he selected the section of the main trunk with no branches, the straightest grain, and the most suitable thickness for making a bow. Carefully following the natural direction of the wood grain, he cut along it rather than against it, chopped away the excess branches at both ends, and kept only the entire straight wood blank.

He then shaved off the outer bark while retaining the inner green wood layer. Without finely polishing it, he merely shaped the rough bow blank, thick at the center grip and gradually tapering toward both ends, checking that the left and right sides were symmetrical in thickness.

He harvested five of the finest bow-stave blanks in one go. Then, seeing that this patch of forest was cool, well-ventilated, and moderately humid, he simply suspended the blanks between two trees to dry, keeping them out of the harsh sun and wind. He waited beside them, his eyes shining.

He patiently waited by their side for half the day. Once the bow blanks had lost their surface moisture, the wood had contracted slightly, and their toughness had locked in without cracking or warping, he immediately removed the bowstring from the Laminated Bamboo Bow and fitted it onto one of them for a test.

Whoosh~

An arrow, more than thirty percent more powerful than one fired from the Laminated Bamboo Bow, shot out. Light shone in Li Chengfeng's eyes.

"Even this rough-made bow is over thirty percent stronger than the Laminated Bamboo Bow. It truly is Purple Yew!"

Li Chengfeng was ecstatic. He immediately removed the bowstring, carefully maintained the stave, then looked at the Purple Yew Tree beside him with even greater delight.

"Once I go back and properly craft these three pieces, their power can rise another fifty percent over this. It would fully deserve to be called a divine bow!"

What a fine bow and arrow meant for hunting went without saying. With three excellent bow staves and the two plump rabbits in his hands, Li Chengfeng felt that he had made a killing today. Overflowing with joy, he wrapped up the three pieces of wood, strapped them to his back, and happily headed straight down the mountain.

Rustle, rustle~

By evening, Li Chengfeng hurried down the mountain path. Five top-tier bow staves along with two plump rabbits were already more than enough; he had no interest in continuing to hunt.

But to his surprise, after he had just returned to one mountain, the grass ahead suddenly stirred. He quietly ducked aside and watched.

A small yellow-furred, four-legged beast emerged.

"This is... a Yellow Muntjac?"

Li Chengfeng froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He swiftly fitted the bowstring onto the Purple Yew bow stave he had just tested. Seeing that the Yellow Muntjac had not left, he raised the bow, took aim, and fired at its neck.

Whoosh~