47: Different paths, no cooperation

“We’re just going in like this?”

Chen Wenya, following behind Yang Dian, seemed a bit nervous:

“Is it really okay?”

A good woman fears a persistent man.

Barely 18, she truly couldn't handle such a scene.

Yang Dian, hearing the nervousness in Chen Wenya’s voice, had no intention of laughing at her.

Having lived two lives, he wasn’t much better than Chen Wenya when he first started.

Gentle, fiery, intellectual, well-behaved… the once unattainable darlings of Heaven, all gathered around you, saying in unison, “Baby, you’re so amazing, I love you so much.”

Who could resist that?

Could you resist that?

Anyway, Yang Dian almost couldn't resist.

He had also been lost for an entire day in their praises and adoring gazes.

But it was only when the night was deep and quiet, and he reflected carefully, that Yang Dian realized.

Did they like his handsome looks?

No.

Which of the readers here isn't more handsome than him?

Did they like his interesting Soul?

Not really.

He wasn't abstract enough either.

Did they like his powerful strength?

Even less so.

He had just undergone Awakening, and his Martial Arts had just begun; he was only considered village-level combat power, and a small pistol could go “biubiubiu” at him.

What they liked was just his genetic factor.

They just wanted to have children with an Awakened or a Martial Artist.

As for who the Awakened or Martial Artist was, it wasn't important.

They just wanted to receive the rewards given by the clan and Family.

Using those rewards to maintain their superior living conditions.

To say they were outwardly splendid but inwardly rotten might be an exaggeration.

But Yang Dian believed that truly self-reliant people wouldn't cling to him like they did.

Of course, Yang Dian didn't deny that there might be good girls among them.

But he was too lazy to pick.

“So, this is what you meant by ‘accept the sugar-coated bullet, but send the cannonball back’?”

Chen Wenya, holding six breakfasts, was a bit confused:

“Is this really okay?”

“Accept the benefits, but only the benefits, without making any response.”

“Then wouldn’t I be like those manipulative women and green tea girls…”

Yang Dian, who was stuffing a crystal steamed dumpling into his mouth, shrugged:

“Otherwise?”

“Don’t accept their breakfast and let them keep bothering you?”

“Or are you saying you not only want to accept the sugar-coated bullet, but you’re also prepared to accept their cannonball?”

Chen Wenya’s small face flushed:

“How can you talk like that?”

Yang Dian glanced at her, “I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re the one who’s thinking crookedly~”

Chewing a few times and swallowing the steamed dumpling, Yang Dian continued to ask:

“Right, have you claimed your newcomer welfare? What Cultivation Technique did you choose? Do you want to exchange notes?”

Chen Wenya was stunned again:

“Aren’t Cultivation Techniques only redeemable with merits? Can they be exchanged with each other?”

“Won’t the higher-ups investigate?”

Yang Dian was a bit surprised:

“You didn’t ask?”

“It’s allowed to be spread in small circles.”

Chen Wenya was a bit confused:

“Didn’t they say that information related to abnormal events is not allowed to be spread?”

Yang Dian smiled and shook his head:

“Abnormal events are abnormal events, Martial Arts are Martial Arts.”

“Abnormal events are supernatural phenomena, Martial Arts are ways to strengthen the body.”

“Besides, even if Cultivation Techniques were widely leaked, without official recognition, how many people would believe it now?”

“Even if someone believed it and practiced for a while without achieving anything, how many people would persist in practicing?”

“If someone truly manages to achieve something, the higher-ups would be happy, wouldn’t they?”

Feeling a bit full, Yang Dian patted his stomach again:

“Things like knowledge and information, unless there’s a massive literary inquisition, where would the means of restriction come from?”

“Rely on self-awareness?”

“If you don’t do it, can you guarantee others won’t?”

“Just like the stock market.”

“If everyone followed the rules, where would all those insider tips come from, and where would all those listed companies falsifying financial statements be?”

“The only thing that can limit a situation from getting out of control is the resources used to improve strength!”

“The higher-ups understand this.”

“So they never restrict the spread of knowledge; they just keep the resources needed for Cultivation Techniques in their hands.”

Chen Wenya was a bit dizzy from what Yang Dian said:

“But… but…”

“But since the higher-ups don’t restrict the spread of Martial Arts Secret Manuals, why do Martial Arts Secret Manuals need merits to be redeemed?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just exchange and learn from each other?”

“The higher-ups didn’t ask for our merits,” Yang Dian pointed at himself:

“The higher-ups gave me a copy of ‘Heaven and Man Unity Skill’ for free.”

Then he pointed at Chen Wenya:

“They also gave you a Cultivation Technique for free.”

“To get more, you need to use merits to exchange, or communicate with others and learn Cultivation Techniques from them.”

At this point, Yang Dian also had an idea:

“The need to exchange with merits might be because they think people don’t cherish things given for free.”

“Just like various free textbooks online, as long as you study diligently, you can master a skill.”

“But how many people actually read and learn from these free textbooks?”

“However, if free textbooks were replaced with paid classes, those who paid, even if they didn’t understand, would probably attend every class.”

“As for exchanging Cultivation Techniques with each other, I think that also makes sense.”

“To learn Cultivation Techniques from others, isn’t the prerequisite to build good relationships?”

“Once relationships are good, won’t they be able to trust each other during combat, and even entrust their backs to each other?”

“Verifying Cultivation Techniques through exchange, knowing a comrade’s Martial Arts progress and strength, doesn’t that mean they can cooperate better during combat?”

At this point, Yang Dian waved his hand again:

“Forget it, no more guessing what the higher-ups are thinking.”

“Anyway, the higher-ups don’t restrict Martial Arts exchanges.”

“Tell me about the Cultivation Technique you chose from the newcomer welfare.”

Chen Wenya secretly glanced at Yang Dian, a little embarrassed:

“I chose the ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’.”

Yang Dian paused, then said with some surprise:

“You mean that ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’ which costs 70 merits, has no combat ability whatsoever, can only be used to maintain fair and supple skin, and is said to keep one’s appearance eternally youthful?”

Chen Wenya put her hands behind her back, bowed her head, and softly argued:

“I joined the Second Brigade, and I’ll be responsible for logistics and information work in the future, so I don’t need to go out and fight.”

Looking back at Chen Wenya, Yang Dian smiled.

People, it’s most taboo to speak too deeply with shallow acquaintances.

Chen Wenya was an independent individual.

She had her own ideas.

Yang Dian couldn't impose his ideas on her.

He wanted to be extraordinary, so he chose the ‘Heaven and Man Unity Skill’, which had the highest value and greatest potential.

Chen Wenya loved beauty and wanted to be beautiful forever, so she chose the ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’ which could keep her eternally youthful.

Both of them were right, neither was wrong.

One could only say that their Dao differed, so they couldn’t plan together.

“The ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’ is pretty good too.”

“If female celebrities knew about this ability to stay eternally youthful, they’d probably go crazy looking for the Secret Manual to Cultivate.”

Yang Dian's agreement was insincere, but Chen Wenya took it seriously:

“You think so too?”

“My sister even said I was foolish, not choosing so many other magical Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals, but instead choosing the ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’.”

“She doesn’t understand what I’m thinking.”

“Skincare must be done while young.”

“Other Cultivation Techniques can be exchanged later once I accumulate merits.”

“But for skin care, I can’t wait a moment.”

“I just don’t know if the ‘Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art’ can really make one eternally youthful…”