https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-181-Five-Thunder-Golden-Toad-Roar/12899796/
Chapter 182: Trading Unique Skills
Chapter 182: Trading Unique Skills
For Hu Ma, this was quite a pleasant surprise. However, upon seeing Hu Ma’s reaction, the bald Old Zhang merely smiled, waved his hand, and said, “Just listen to me.”
“I and Old Wu both follow the path of the Age Keepers, but the skills we learned are different. Old Wu has a unique skill called Four Ghosts Bowing at the Gate, while I have a unique skill called Five Thunder Golden Toad Roar.”
“His skill can be used once he refines his limbs, even his hands. My skill, however, requires refining all five viscera before it can be used.”
“This means that neither of our skills can be considered top-notch.”
“He has reached the refinement of the five viscera, but he has no more strength to go further.”
“Me? The apprentices I teach can’t help much unless they refine the five viscera, so I end up doing everything myself.”
“To be honest, a few years ago, Old Wu came to me, wanting to trade his Four Ghosts Bowing at the Gate for my Five Thunder Golden Toad Roar. It would have been beneficial for both of us, but I didn’t agree. After all, my unique skill is one level higher than his. If I had traded, wouldn’t I have been the one at a disadvantage?”
“To be frank, that incident made us two old friends quite unhappy with each other…”
“…”
“…”
Hu Ma understood how important unique skills were in this world. Clearly, these two needed each other, and trading would benefit both. However, each of them was calculating, and it led to an unpleasant situation.
Now, this bald Old Zhang had spoken openly. If Hu Ma wanted to learn this unique skill, how much would he have to pay? The Blood Tai Sui he gave might have to be returned, and perhaps he would need to add the Blood Food Pill the Lady bestowed this time?
He didn’t mind if the bald Old Zhang set conditions. Unique skills were essential for survival, and everyone valued them more than their lives. Even if they were trading skills, Old Zhang’s skill being one level higher, it was normal to ask for extra conditions.
“So, us two old friends…”
Hu Ma, having thought it through, suppressed his excitement and said quietly, “Old Brother, to be clear, if I want to trade for your unique skill, how much more do I need to give?”
The bald Old Zhang laughed, shook his head, and said, “No need, we’ll trade directly, and the extra bit will be a gesture of goodwill.”
“…”
Hu Ma was already quite excited upon hearing this. The bald Old Zhang wasn’t a reincarnated one; he didn’t treat baozi as dry food. They all valued their unique skills more than their lives. Even if he traded a higher-level skill for a lower-level one, it would still be a significant favor.
Seeing Hu Ma’s reaction, the bald Old Zhang nodded and smiled. He had his own thoughts. After all, he saw that Hu Ma, despite being young, had learned skills and entered the path, and had even made a name for himself in the Red Lantern Association. Some even said he had caught the eye of the Red Lantern Lady…
In the eyes of others, Yang Gong was rising rapidly, but in the eyes of other innkeepers, Hu Ma wasn’t far behind, and he was even more worthy of respect than the diligent Red Fragrance.
Now that the Red Lantern Lady was building a temple, there were plenty of opportunities in the Red Lantern Association. Forming a bond with such a young person could be mutually beneficial.
“With that, I thank you, Old Brother…”
Hu Ma, overjoyed, stood up solemnly and bowed to the bald Old Zhang.
It was fortunate that he had severed ties with Mr. Wu Hong earlier, allowing him to trade the Four Ghosts Bowing at the Gate for the other’s unique skill. Otherwise, he would have had to report to Mr. Wu Hong first.
Of course, even now, if he had the chance to meet Mr. Wu Hong again, he could share the traded unique skill with him.
“Don’t be so formal, Little Brother. Let me explain it to you first.”
The bald Old Zhang seemed to be a very open person. He smiled, waved his hand, and explained in detail, “My unique skill is called Five Thunder Golden Toad Roar because it involves using the mouth to cast spells, the tongue splitting like spring thunder, and the sound resembling a toad’s croak, hence the name.”
“The five thunders correspond to the five viscera. Once one viscera is refined, the skill can be used.”
“Additionally, each additional viscera refined adds to the power and versatility of the skill.”
“One viscera adds one unit of power, one viscera adds one unique function. If all five viscera are refined and the skill reaches the level of five voices resonating, even a ghostly palace created by evil spirits can be shattered with a single shout.”
“My master is dead, and his daughter is now my wife. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to share this unique skill with anyone else…”
“…”
Hu Ma listened intently, feeling even more excited. A true master’s words, a simple explanation, and he understood everything.
This was a great deal, truly a great deal.
Hu Ma was extremely happy, but he had one concern: “Does refining this unique skill cause hair loss?”
Of course, even if it did, he would still learn it.
Both were in high spirits and discussed their unique skills in the silent and desolate main hall, one explaining the Four Ghosts Bowing at the Gate, the other explaining the Five Thunder Golden Toad Roar, both being open and honest without hiding anything.
After explaining all the key points and finishing up, they parted ways as the sky brightened.
“Little Hu Shopkeeper, let’s leave it at that. When you have free time, come to my mountain for a drink!”
Early in the morning, the bald Old Zhang packed up his horses and carriage, laughed heartily, and bid farewell to Hu Ma. His disciples, still half-asleep, had no idea what a significant event had just occurred.
“Certainly, certainly!”
Hu Ma also laughed and bid him farewell, thinking that the bond with the bald Old Zhang was truly formed.
This kind of bond, formed by trading unique skills, was far more valuable than bringing a cartload of goods.
"These brothers from the mountain branch cabinet sure can eat and drink a lot..."
After seeing off these people, Li Wa zi and Zhou Datong both sighed, "Don't look at the things they bring; they also eat and drink a lot."
"Even when they sleep at night, they snore..."
"..."
Hu Ma listened and then smiled at them, "Remember these people, treat them as good brothers from now on."
Some things are hard to say. Zhou Datong and the others were not allowed to know that they would benefit from the skills of the bald manager, and they could learn his ultimate techniques.
After seeing off the bald manager, Hu Ma also gained a general understanding of the current situation in Mingzhou Prefecture. His cultivation became even more diligent.
In the past, his motivation for cultivation came from the goal of revitalizing his body and the determination to refine a place. But now, there was an additional pleasure.
The bald manager thought Hu Ma had just started cultivating the Five Viscera and was practicing the ultimate technique for a while.
However, he didn't know that as soon as he left, Hu Ma had already tried out this ultimate technique.
Using his inner strength, he agitated his internal organs. After refining his lungs, an Age Keeper’s technique would make his energy abundant. With the new technique, he could produce a loud Spring Thunder-like sound, just like the breath of a golden toad, and a thunderous voice emerged from his mouth.
Unlike the Four Ghosts Bowing at the Gate, this ultimate technique could generate a subtle effect of dispelling Evil Spirits.
When he secretly cultivated this ultimate technique, even Little Red Apricot didn’t want to stay by his Side.
Hu Ma asked her, but she just shook her little head, "It's too noisy."
"Is it just too noisy?"
Hu Ma thought about catching an evil spirit and trying to yell at it to test the effect. Of course, he couldn’t do this in front of Little Red Apricot, after all, they were family, and he couldn’t bear to.
After several days of diligent practice, he made significant progress, which made him quite Happy. However, Zhou Datong and the others were quite troubled.
From time to time, Zhou Datong would look around the village with a troubled face, "There’s no pond here, so why do I hear frogs croaking at night?"
At least Hu Ma, who heard this, had a black face.
So, to help Zhou Datong and the Others, and to get the village on track, as well as to prepare for the upcoming major changes in the Red Lantern Lady Association, Hu Ma called Zhou Datong and the others over.
"The old shopkeeper has left, and the village is now ours. But there’s no one above to manage us, so we have to take care of things ourselves."
"Earlier, I saw you practicing the Movements quite diligently. Let’s test you. See how much you’ve improved in the village this past year."
"..."
In Hu Ma’s plan, this was inevitable. Although he didn’t know what the Blue Robe Evil Spirit was up to, he couldn’t let it disrupt his own foundation.
Now that he was firmly in the Shopkeeper’s position, the pressure was even greater. It was impossible to shoulder the village alone.
He had to teach these apprentices some skills.
Thinking about the bald manager, why was he willing to use his ultimate technique of the Five Viscera to exchange for a lower-level ultimate technique?
It was to better cultivate his subordinates. After all, he was now the shopkeeper, and it would be foolish to do everything himself instead of cultivating capable disciples to help him.
"Huh?"
But when Zhou Datong and the others heard this, they were instantly stunned.
Earlier, the strict Second Uncle and later the grim old shopkeeper had made them afraid of losing their jobs, so they dared not slack off.
But now, why was Brother Hu Ma also starting to test them?
They could only toughen up and perform the movements they learned from Mr. Wu Hong in front of Hu Ma, one by one, fearing his criticism.
But in the end, Hu Ma was quite satisfied. They had all performed the movements quite well and accurately.
It was just in the advanced techniques that they were still lacking.
But there was no way around it.
They were different from him. He knew the importance of these movements from the beginning, so he practiced each move and stance, thinking about how to apply them every Day.
How to chop a knife on someone most effectively, how to stab into someone’s groin most defensively. Thinking about these things every day, so when he performed the ordinary movements, they carried a killing Aura. But they were forced to practice, so although they were familiar, their power was not up to par.
But no matter what, these half-grown boys were like this. It was already good if they listened. Knowing the importance of learning was rare.
If there were those who practiced diligently without being forced, they would be truly exceptional...
... Hu Ma would have to watch out for them.
Why would you practice so diligently without any illness, disaster, enmity, or resentment? Thinking about killing every day, are you planning to rebel?
(End of Chapter)
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