Surviving in the chaos of war begins in the wilderness.

Chapter 59 Borrowing Medical Books

To be honest, the Silk-Pulling Hand technique is indeed a top-tier martial art, as verified by the skill panel. That certainly makes it authoritative.

However, its power is not great. It requires a very special weapon, which greatly limits its effectiveness. It's also quite obscure. It's not a commonly used martial art at all.

Firstly, its power is too weak. The main purpose of the silk-pulling hand technique is to utilize this silk-pulling net. However, the fingers are quite flexible, and there are also some finger techniques and grappling applications.

But Zhou Ye had never practiced martial arts techniques like the Vajra Finger. No matter how flexible his fingers were, they were only good for cheating in casinos. To be honest, they weren't very useful in actual combat.

And it has to be a net-type weapon? That must be quite obscure, right? Almost no martial artist would choose it.

Aside from Zhou Ye, a mountain hermit who catches fish and birds, who would bother to equip themselves with a large net?

Ordinary nets are quite fragile and can't withstand the blows of swords and blades. Therefore, a specially made silken net is needed to unleash its full combat potential. However, this potential isn't focused on damage, but rather on control. How to trap opponents or monsters within the silken net?

In other words, it is a special weapon used to capture opponents alive.

After understanding all this, Zhou Ye suddenly realized the truth.

No wonder no one wanted it, no wonder it couldn't be sold, and in the end I managed to snag it at a bargain price.

Never mind all that for now. No matter what, this is a top-tier martial art. Let's show the stats first!

However, given the panel's obsessive-compulsive nature, regardless of the skill's rank, one must start practicing from the basics. Therefore, the final result is—Thread-Pulling Hand (Third-rate): Not yet mastered (0/10)

However, Zhou Ye suddenly realized that this was already the seventh third-rate martial art, so there shouldn't be any entry rewards, right?

So there are no entry-level or max-level rewards? If the Thread-Pulling Hand skill reaches max level, it still requires 2 free attribute points to upgrade to a second-rate martial art? And if it's upgraded to a first-rate martial art later, it still requires 2 free attribute points? Wouldn't I be at a huge loss?

Not only do you not get any free attribute points as a reward, but you actually have to pay for them yourself? This broken interface is shameless!

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Ye roughly guessed the reason—this was actually the purpose of the control panel. To prevent himself from trying to do too much at once, he needed to specialize in a few martial arts techniques. The same applied to cultivation methods and skills; he also needed to specialize in a few.

Because people's time and energy are very limited, it is impossible to be proficient in everything.

Therefore, in terms of basic martial arts skills, it's essential to build a solid foundation; practicing multiple skills is fine. However, once you reach a level above third-rate, it's best to specialize in something. Otherwise, you'll be like a bear trying to pick corn—seemingly dabbling in everything, but mediocre at everything.

Since that's the case...?

Zhou Ye then began to examine his seven third-rate martial arts techniques.

The Wind and Thunder Grappling Technique is used to deal with the martial arts school, and it also represents the identity of a "martial arts school disciple." The other members of the school must not know that one's actual specialty is a different martial art. Furthermore, the martial arts techniques used in combat are completely different.

The Cloud Ladder is for escaping. The Ten Forms of Military Swordsmanship, combined with basic shield techniques, are for close combat.

Furthermore, the Ten Sword Techniques have another advantage: they can effectively conceal one's identity.

After all, this is a military martial art, and a very common one at that. Many soldiers have already practiced it. So how can it mislead others into thinking they have a military background?

The Bull Tempering Technique is also very important. Martial arts techniques like the Tempering Technique are not very useful in the short term. But once mastered, they have a very broad future.

As for Bafang Yeyu Can and his un-upgraded third-rate archery skills, they are ranged attacks, which best suit his survival-oriented fighting style.

Furthermore, both the Eight Directions Night Rain Remnant and this Silk-Pulling Hand technique are top-tier martial arts. And what about the third-rate archery, which might one day be upgraded to first-rate?

They definitely wouldn't want to give it up. After all, it's top-notch!

So, there are indeed quite a few, but they are all genuinely important. Therefore, I won't be learning any new third-rate martial arts techniques in the future. I'll avoid them as much as possible to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed by the choices...

Early the next morning, Zhou Ye had already stepped into the mountain pass and entered the forest.

It should be said that Zhou Ye is generally a person who keeps his promises. He's not one to procrastinate. Since he promised Wang Zhengyu 10 days, he should collect the yellow bell flowers as soon as possible.

Sure enough, yellow bellflowers were everywhere. Perhaps the road to this mountain pass was too rugged for anyone to choose to enter the mountains from here. This, in turn, protected many medicinal herbs, and their numbers were indeed quite substantial.

Before long, Zhou Ye had collected several sacks full of yellow bell flowers. He even collected some more, as well as other herbs he saw along the way.

Finding that the quantity was almost sufficient, Zhou Ye carried his load out of the mountain pass on a shoulder pole and quickly returned to the county town...

Since my Agility is already +10, it wasn't even noon when I returned to the county town.

The only thing I was a little worried about was encountering bandits. However, the mountain pass was such a remote place that even bandits probably wouldn't want to go there. So we didn't see a single ghost.

Upon entering Wang's Pharmacy, Wang Zhengyu quickly received the news and happily took the initiative to greet him.

"Brother Xiaotian, I didn't expect you to be so efficient. This... these yellow bellflowers must weigh over 200 jin, right? Uncle Jian, please quickly count them, and we can offer you a discount."

"No need, no need," Zhou Ye said with a smile, politely declining. "Young Master, I have a favor to ask of you. I'd be so kind as to ask for your help. Would you be so kind as to do me that?"

"Oh? Tell me about it. I'll definitely help if I can."

"Forget about these herbs, don't worry about the price. Consider it a friendly favor."

"Great! I'm honored to have you as a friend."

"That's right. Do you have any medical books here?"

"Medical books?" Wang Zhengyu was completely confused, not knowing why Zhou Ye wanted medical books.

"Medical books or medical texts are fine. They don't need to be expensive, just commonly used medical books. I want to learn them."

"Huh? You want to study medicine?" Wang Zhengyu found it unbelievable. "Really? Brother Xiaotian, you're probably just a hermit from the mountains, right?"

"Yes! Uh... Don't laugh at me. I've had a dream since I was a child: to become a doctor who saves lives. Unfortunately, my family was poor, so I had no choice but to make a living in the mountains."

Wang Zhengyu and the shopkeeper exchanged bewildered glances. Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual. Even the mountain hermits want to study medicine now?

However, since this young man, Xiaotian, has mentioned his dream? Or rather, his childhood dream? There are some things that are harder to say.

"Young Master, I know that it will be difficult for me to practice medicine in this lifetime. But I just want to fulfill this wish and learn as much as possible from medical books."

"..." Wang Zhengyu was speechless. He looked at Zhou Ye with a complicated expression, "Alright then! I have a few introductory medical books here, I'll lend them to you for now."