Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 98: Chapter 4: The Tough Guy’s Carrot

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It was not about individual ability, but rather about establishing one’s own base and developing power—this is what is known as the “farming” strategy.

Of course, this was just Li Yan’s idea. Whether it was right or wrong, the future would surely reveal.

For now, he had to finish checking his purchase authority.

After completing the Renchen event, Li Yan had 5850 Yan Fu points left. After strengthening his weapons and purchasing expertise, he was left with 4350 points.

He had a feeling that within at least the next two or three Yan Fu events, he wouldn’t be able to obtain so many points in one go. Yu Shu might appear unremarkable, but without her help, Li Yan probably would have had a hard time surviving the battlefield.

Under the category of Oddities was the Yinpan Gold!

An ovular gold coin rewarded during the Warring States period, cast by the Goto family in 1588 and widely circulated.

[Golden Koban]

Quality: Fine

Category: Consumable

Summons a skeleton samurai clad in Doudou Hitatare for you to command

Duration of one hour

Each for 100 Yan Fu points, with a limit of twenty.

[Large Golden Koban]

Quality: Fine

Category: Consumable

Summons a skeleton samurai general clad in Doudou Hitatare for you to command

Duration of one hour

Each for 500 Yan Fu points, with a limit of three.

Duration of one hour

[Six Coins]!

Quality: Rare

Category: Oddity

Summons a Black Rider Ghost for you to command, can be charged, comes with two spirit slots, the Ghost Rider occupying one.

Category:

1500 Yan Fu points, only one available.

Under the Banner Category

[Great Ming Black Dragon Banner]

Within a hundred meters of where the banner is planted, all allies receive the “Strong Healing” status, speeding up the healing of wounds and dispelling one negative status from the wearer at regular intervals.

500 Yan Fu points

[Standing Hollyhock Banner]

When carried, grants a 10% bonus to spear techniques, ineffective against those with over 80% expertise in close combat.

[Ground Elm Sparrow Banner]

When carried, grants a 10% bonus to sword techniques, ineffective against those with over 80% expertise in close combat.

…

After flipping through many useless banners, Li Yan finally saw one that caught his interest.

[Kudzu Leaf Banner]

When carried by skeletal and other yin entities, it enhances their autonomous will.

100 Yan Fu points

To Li Yan’s surprise, even though he had already reached the 200% limit of purchase authority evaluation, there were still some items he couldn’t buy. Written above them was the requirement to complete special Yan Fu events to unlock them, which Li Yan hadn’t noticed in his initial browse.

Among these locked authorities, there were even words like “legendary,” and among them was the [Shangxiao Tongbao Purple Gold Nine Divine Flame Talisman] that Fei possessed.

And when he sought more details, Yan Fu only gave two hints.

“Nine States Demon Realm”

“Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master Tao”

Next were the Oddities, talismans.

All were locked down, completely unpurchaseable.

Then there was the Skill Scroll Category

[Minor Iai Slash]

Purchase for 200 points/visualization for 50 points per session

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[Great Iai Slash]

Purchase for 400 points/Visualization for 100 points per attempt

[Twenty Strikes]

Purchase price 125 points/Visualization 25 points per attempt

[Forty Strikes]

Purchase price 250 points/Visualization 50 points per attempt

[Demonic Eighty Strikes]

Purchase 750 points/Visualization 150 points per attempt

[Yazi Provoked Killing]

Purchase 500 points/Visualization 100 points per attempt

Visualization of the above skills requires over 80% specialization in close combat.

As in the previous example of the Qi Healing Technique, Li Yan, lacking the relevant specialization, could only acquire it by purchasing; the option to visualize would not appear.

Please note: Skills purchased directly will occupy a skill slot, and cannot be fused or evolved. They can be forgotten by spending 500 Yan Fu points, and once forgotten, the skill is lost entirely.

Walkers of Ten Cities rank enjoy four skill slots; inheritance skills do not occupy a skill slot.

Current skill slots 3/4

[A Fleeting Glimpse] [Nine Phoenix Divine Talisman] [Killing Intent Attack].

For “visualization,” Yan Fu defines it as a profound entitlement to experience a skill, encompassing aspects such as the skill’s execution, energy usage, burden on bodily functions, and even the pressing sensation of life-and-death moments.

Visualizing a skill could lead to direct comprehension of the skill, or even facilitate a divergent understanding leading to the creation of one’s own skill. Of course, it might also prove fruitless.

Li Yan was not stingy in this regard. In actuality, Honda Tadakatsu’s technique of returning the spear to its raw purity indeed left him feeling dazzled. Moreover, whether it was the Gu Huo Bird’s boost to attack speed or the combination of Green Wave’s real damage with Blood Dip, both matched well with the skill like Demonic Eighty Strikes.

Having visualized Twenty Strikes only once, Li Yan felt a slight electric sensation in his mind, as the memory of his spear fight with Honda Tadakatsu came vividly to life. He stretched out his arm and thrust the Tiger Head Great Spear forward; its shaft punctured the air, tearing through it and leaving behind several bright silver marks, which then faded away like melting snow under a pheasant’s claws as he drew his wrist back.

Li Yan licked his lips, his eyes flashing with irrepressible excitement. He set down the great spear and drew the enhanced Ring Dragon Sword; a series of crisp, tidal-crash like sounds followed swiftly one after another.

Known as the most strenuous grip and strike method in swordsmanship, Li Yan executed nearly twenty sword strikes with a flick of his wrist while employing the last two fingers on the hilt!

Thump!

Unable to help himself, Li Yan stepped back, sweat pouring from his body like syrup. He caught his breath, but was, by and large, none the worse for wear.

Visualization is a matter of grinding effort.

Far from feeling discouraged, Li Yan felt exceptionally invigorated.

To put it bluntly, even before entering Yan Fu, there were few who could offer Li Yan advice on swordsmanship. After achieving the Hook Star state, he had a sense of bewilderment whenever he drew his sword. After all, none of the notable martial arts masters of the older generation had such bizarre experiences as Li Yan.

But visualization pointed out a clear path for Li Yan.

However, to realize something of his own from the four skills available for visualization, Li Yan needed more time and a large amount of Yan Fu points.

As for purchasing, Li Yan did not consider it. Only when the corresponding specialization reached a certain level would the option to visualize a related type of skill become available.

If in the future he found himself in need of skills that he did not have the specialization to visualize, he would wait to use that skill slot.

Finally, the Yan Fu Story Jar.

After being tricked once before by the Yan Fu jar, which supposedly could produce all kinds of dreamlike items, Li Yan didn’t hold too much hope. Yet people are like this—sometimes they need to take a gamble, and 50 points were within Li Yan’s acceptable range.

Could he really obtain something incredible this time?

Still in the shape of an oval tea caddy, Li Yan shattered it open, and a gentle glow expanded before contracting repeatedly. Li Yan felt a heaviness in his hand as a black trenchcoat reminiscent of a raggedy drifter from the streets of 1990s Miami appeared. Checking the lining, Li Yan found a carrot tucked inside the pocket?!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[Smith’s Trenchcoat]

Quality: Fine

The inner pocket produces one Tough Guy’s Carrot per hour, with a maximum of one.

[Tough Guy’s Carrot]

Sharpness: 5

Consumption increases hot weapon specialization by 8% for a short duration.

Note: I…love DQ

“…”

Seems to be a bit better than last time?

As Li Yan was pondering, he noticed a line of small print at the bottom of the light and shadow.

Earned purchase rights through the special Yan Fu event, “Rallying Joseon’s Wild God Troops.”

Li Yan instinctively clicked open, and the first line read:

[Wild God’s Gift]!