Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Methods to Improve Herb Recognition
Wang Sheng had developed a new “Beast Taming” skill, which added even more to his daily tasks.
Originally, he was figuring out which time slot he could squeeze this skill training into.
But after a second thought, petting “cats” seemed more like a leisure and relaxation activity rather than grinding, so he decided to dedicate his three hours of rest time to this “Beast Taming” skill.
He could both relax and make progress with the skill.
However, the emergence of this skill sparked a new idea in him, wondering if he should tame some other animals?
Birds would be ideal, as they could be released around Qingshan Village as well as used for scouting. Ultimately, he didn’t insist on it, knowing that clever bird species suitable for this purpose were not easy to come by.
“Let nature take its course!”
After entering Qingshan Village, it wasn’t isolated from the world, but it was rare for ordinary people to venture there, greatly increasing its safety.
The only problem was the Green Flood Dragon Gang.
Since the Green Flood Dragon Gang had obtained the geomantic map of Lushui County, they could find the village if they were determined.
He needed to be prepared for this, and currently, the Martial Artists from the village were on guard.
…
Meanwhile, at the Green Flood Dragon Gang headquarters, someone was reporting to the Vice Gang Leader.
“Master Qian, the Iron Chain Squad has completely disappeared; not a single person has come back. I suspect they’ve been killed by other Martial Artists.”
Master Qian was sipping his tea. He remembered the Iron Chain—he was a Third Grade Martial Artist. A Third Grade Martial Artist was not weak within the gang.
“Have we collected all the ‘offerings’ for our hall?”
In the Green Flood Dragon Gang, there were only three halls, all overseen by the Vice Gang Leaders, who also served as hall masters.
The gang member replied respectfully, “Yes, all have been collected, and we’ve even exceeded the estimate.”
“Then leave it be!”
Master Qian made his decision immediately.
A Third Grade Martial Artist, when facing Third or Fourth Grade Martial Artists, might lose, but escaping was still possible—yet there was no news from the Iron Chain.
This only meant that the opponent’s strength overwhelmingly crushed Iron Chain and that they might even be stronger than him.
Since the “offerings” were complete, there was no need to risk an investigation.
As a Vice Gang Leader, he was privy to more information; the Gang Leader had a very important plan in the works.
Once the plan was accomplished, a Third Grade Martial Artist would be the least of their concerns—they could have as many as they wanted.
…
Village Chief Zhou Zhengwen was unaware of the Green Flood Dragon Gang’s affairs, so he continued to assign Martial Artists to stand guard at several places every day.
Wang Sheng didn’t have to worry about these matters at all. Furthermore, the village took care of all his needs.
Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation were all handled by designated people. Initially, Li Wenguang’s family delivered his meals, but later it was someone arranged by the Village Chief.
His house had already been thoroughly repaired and even “renovated.”
The Village Chief had even subtly inquired whether Wang Sheng wanted to take a wife, considering that in the village only Wang Sheng and Li Yongfeng were unmarried young men.
The Village Chief and the officials had already urged this matter a while ago. Although the Great Zhou didn’t have strict laws about marriage by a certain age, they still placed great importance on it.
However, at the time, neither the original body’s owner nor Li Yongfeng had agreed.
The original owner’s reasoning was simple: he wanted to marry a “city” girl and had been saving money for this purpose, but unfortunately, he became a target of the Sun Family before he could use it.
Li Yongfeng claimed to the public that his escorter’s work was unstable. In reality, only Wang Sheng knew that Li Yongfeng had eyes for the daughter of his master, the head of the escort agency, who was five or six years younger than Li Yongfeng. Li Yongfeng, fearing that his master would break his legs, kept delaying it. Without the war, he would have mentioned it by now, but under the current circumstances, the chance was slim.
This time when the Village Chief brought it up again, Wang Sheng still refused outright.
Women would only impede the speed of his Cultivation!
The Village Chief didn’t dare to insist and never brought it up again.
After this, Wang Sheng resumed his cultivation practice, days dedicated to honing his skills, making time fly quickly to the end of December.
There were just two more days until the new year in this world.
Originally, due to the recent relocation, the villagers didn’t have much interest in celebrating the new year, as they were primarily focused on how to sustain life in the coming year.
But the village chief decided to hold a simple new year gathering, firstly to inspire the villagers and secondly to take this opportunity to announce some plans for the next year.
Wang Sheng watched the villagers bustling about, feeling quite emotional about his first new year in this world.
However, his main focus was still on his own skills.
“Qi Rushing to the Disease: reducing the disease (38%)
Blood Qi like Mercury: 36%
Cultivation Technique—Ba Duan Jin: Breakthrough +3 (46%) Inner Core Skill (Hundred Days Foundation Establishment): Breakthrough +3 (35%)
Five Elements Fist: 5 (52%) Yijin Scripture: 4 (20%)
Living—Herb Recognition: Breakthrough +2 (85%) Medicinal Plant Cultivation: Breakthrough +3 (96%) Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pill Production: Breakthrough +1 (10%) Iron Wood Planting… Beast Taming…
Martial Skills—Eight Extreme Fists: Breakthrough +1 (38%) Plum Flower Step: Breakthrough +1 (25%)”
The progression of skills was as expected, “Qi Rushing to the Disease” and “Blood Qi like Mercury” had indeed made notable progress with the enhancement of various skills.
There was one skill that surprised him, not because it was fast, but because it was slow.
The “Herb Recognition” skill was progressing unusually slowly.
Despite the extra time, it had only achieved two breakthroughs and, though still improving, the progress was as slow as a tortoise’s crawl each day.
Wang Sheng knew this was likely related to the availability of books.
After obtaining some books from Old Ji, he had acquired many more medical texts through various means. He improved at a normal rate without having finished them, but once he finished reading, the progress drastically slowed.
Now, obtaining books had become even harder.
Looking at the “Herb Recognition” skill, with just 15% left to achieve a third breakthrough, Wang Sheng thought of a solution.
He went to find Xu Qu.
“Xu Qu, do you have knowledge about medicinal herbs used by Martial Artists?”
The existence of tiger bone herb proved that this world had specific medicinal herbs for Martial Artists, but he didn’t have the means to acquire such books.
But Xu Qu was different, having spent a significant amount of time outside and having reached the level of a Third Grade Martial Artist, he certainly knew something.
“Medicinal herbs for Martial Artists? I actually had a book on that, but lost it during a pursuit. However, if you want, I can write down parts of it from memory for you, and assure at least eighty percent accuracy.”
Resources were one of the most important things for a Martial Artist, and Xu Qu naturally remembered a lot of this information.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you for that, here’s your reward!”
Wang Sheng produced a few Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pills, an item he had already revealed to Xu Qu, so it wasn’t a problem.
Xu Qu looked visibly pleased with the Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pills.
Lately, he had been practicing with his own fortune, managing some progress despite its frustratingly slow pace.
His fortune, combined with resources, would offer the fastest improvement.
Wang Sheng’s pills had long enticed him, but he was well aware of his place in Qingshan Village and never harbored inappropriate desires.
He had even planned to exchange something for these pills from Wang Sheng, and now he had received them this easily.
What a stroke of luck!
Ultimately, Xu Qu accepted Wang Sheng’s Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pills; he spent his days silently writing down information about the medicinal herbs, and at night, he began combining his fortune with the pills to cultivate.
Then he realized… he wanted those pills even more, what could he exchange for them next time?
Sure enough, it seemed he couldn’t escape trading his own fortune for them after all.
Because, receiving the Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pills for the silent recitation of medicinal herbs had turned into “bait”…