Swords, magic, and martial arts

Rhodes yawned as he stood on the deck. It was the third day since he boarded the ship again, and there were still a few days before they arrived in Gulfstream City. He was already feeling unbearable after just a few days on the ship.

A few days ago, I finally taught Baron and Quentin how to play cards, but Rhodes really didn't want to play with the two of them anymore. Rhodes really hadn't lost a single game these past few days, no matter how bad his cards were. Fortunately, Hammer had adapted to life on the ship and was no longer seasick, so he took Rhodes' place.

With nothing to do, Rod watched a few rounds of their card game, then, feeling bored, decided to find a quiet spot to draw a prize.

He originally wanted to save up more money before drawing all at once, but he couldn't resist the urge to draw prizes. It was just like when he played those games where you could draw prizes. In the game, he would save up some money to buy something, but halfway through, he couldn't help but use the money to draw prizes.

After considering it for a moment, Rhodes decided to try his luck with a high-level lottery to draw martial arts techniques. Although his skill slots were already full, if he drew a good technique, he could replace some of his existing skills.

He really wants a movement technique that can enhance his evasion ability in battle. He has the "Treading Snow Without a Trace" movement technique, but he feels that it is somewhat useless.

After a long period of experimentation, he discovered that this movement technique could reduce the speed of his steps and increase the speed of walking or running over long periods, but it didn't offer much enhancement in direct combat. It might have unexpected effects on snow, but before he could try it out, summer arrived.

Furthermore, for long-distance travel, Rhodes would definitely choose transportation, such as a boat or horse, rather than walking. It would be great if he could draw a light-footed movement technique like Lingbo Weibu.

Rhodes pressed the Advanced Lottery option in the System Mall's skill section, then closed his eyes and prayed in his heart that he would draw something good.

When he opened his eyes again, the lottery results appeared before him.

The Divine Illumination Technique Manual: This book details the cultivation methods of the Divine Illumination Technique.

Rod looked at the result in a daze. He had learned the Divine Illumination Skill a long time ago and it was even listed in the system's martial arts skill bar. How did he end up drawing the manual for this martial art again?

This is outrageous!

Rod retrieved the Divine Illumination Technique manual from the system, flipped through a few pages, but couldn't continue reading.

It was written in classical Chinese, something he hadn't encountered since graduating high school. Moreover, it contained many words and phrases he had never seen before, making it as difficult to read as if he were looking at a book written in a foreign language.

However, he still felt that this manual was very valuable. The martial arts listed in the martial arts section could only be used in the way the system would. When he was practicing the Divine Illumination Technique, he only knew how to circulate his internal energy, but he did not know why it should be done that way, nor did he know what the use of circulating it in this way was. This manual explained all of these things in detail.

And most importantly, this can be taught to many people. If Rhodes were to build an army in which everyone possessed profound martial arts skills, that army would surely be able to sweep across the continent and end the chaos. However, how to manage such an army is also a problem.

Previously, Rhodes had taught Weber simple martial arts like the Embracing the Primordial Unity Technique and the White Rainbow Sword Technique. He also wanted to teach Weber the Divine Illumination Technique, but he had no idea how to teach it. He knew how to use it but couldn't pass it on to others. It was like he only had a rudimentary understanding of advanced mathematics, let alone teaching someone who only knew addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

But with the secret manual, things are different. As long as you can translate these classical Chinese texts into a language that is easy for the world to understand, most people can learn them, and then everyone will become a master of martial arts.

This world also has combat techniques similar to martial arts, but they are controlled by nobles and passed down only within their families. Rhode has never seen any mercenaries or adventurers use them.

He had been thinking too far ahead. Rhodes came back to his senses. Even he couldn't understand this manual, so how could others learn it? It seemed he would have to spend a lot of time understanding it by practicing the cultivation methods.

This is somewhat similar to the most successful martial arts game of 2018, where the system can directly give you a martial art, but you still need to spend time practicing and studying the manuals in order to unleash its power.

The manuals produced by the system should not distinguish between genuine manuals and handwritten manuals, right?

After trying the advanced lottery once, Rhodes decided to try the regular lottery to see what kind of cultivation technique he could get.

After Rhodes's devout prayers, another martial arts manual appeared before him.

The Secret Manual of Taizu Changquan: This book details the training methods of Taizu Changquan.

Does this mean the system no longer allows you to directly master martial arts, but instead requires you to study the manuals to learn a martial art?

Rod felt a little panicked after thinking about this. Improving his strength would be much slower this way. However, he thought that he hadn't even mastered his current martial arts skills yet. If he could train his current martial arts skills to the extreme, he would definitely become a first-class master.

However, to verify this idea, he decided to try again.

Just as he expected, another martial arts manual appeared before him, and it was one he hadn't mastered before.

The Secret Manual of Mighty Vajra Legs: This book details the training methods for Mighty Vajra Legs.

Luo De flipped through the two books briefly and found that the manuals for these two martial arts techniques were much simpler than those for the Divine Illumination Technique. With the illustrations and his knowledge of classical Chinese that he had borrowed from his Chinese teacher and hadn't had time to return, he was able to understand most of them. Unlike reading the manual for the Divine Illumination Technique, which was practically like reading a book written in heaven.

Once things settle down, I'll definitely try my luck in the miscellaneous knowledge category a few more times. Maybe I'll be able to win knowledge that can help him understand martial arts manuals.

For example, if he wants to learn Taoist martial arts like Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Chi Sword in the future, he'll definitely need to brush up on his knowledge of Taoism. Since he can't find anyone to ask for guidance in this world, he'll have to rely on the system's lottery system. There are also many martial arts techniques related to meridians and acupoints; to learn about these, he'll also have to rely on the system's lottery system.

Rod is now unsure whether he has opened up his meridians or acupoints.

With two chances left to draw prizes, Rhodes felt he was no longer self-disciplined and couldn't control his desire to draw prizes. He planned to use both chances to draw cultivation techniques.

Iron Shirt Manual: This book details the training methods for Iron Shirt.

Rod picked it up and casually flipped through it. To sum it up in one sentence, it taught you how to get beaten up better.

He clicked the lottery button again, and another manual appeared in front of him. It seemed that the system wouldn't let him directly master martial arts now.

Iron Head Kung Fu Manual: This book details the methods for practicing Iron Head Kung Fu.

Rod nodded in satisfaction. This martial art suited him well, both offensively and defensively. He had always been afraid of being attacked on the head, but he wouldn't be afraid after learning it.

Thinking that there wasn't much to do on the ship, Rod decided to seize the time and start studying the martial arts manual right now.

Starting with the Iron Head Kung Fu that he was interested in, Rhodes spent the entire afternoon studying the Iron Head Kung Fu manual on the deck. The loud sound of Baron and the others playing cards nearby made Rhodes regret that he should have made that deck in the first place.

The cabin is poorly lit, not suitable for reading or playing cards. I'm reading on the deck now, while half the people on the ship are watching Baron and his friends play cards, occasionally shouting happily. I'm just digging my own grave.

While reading, Rod felt like something was missing. After thinking for a while, he realized it was a pen. He was used to writing and drawing while reading, and it seemed that he had rarely seen a pen since he transmigrated.

The pens in this world are still limited to ink-dipped quill pens. There must be something like that on this ship. I need to go find Quentin and get a pen before studying the manual tomorrow.

That's all for today. I won't be able to see anything clearly tonight anyway, I'll continue tomorrow...

……