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墨書 Inktalez
The next day was class time. At nine in the morning, the sky was still dark as Cui Ming made his way to the classroom. After waiting for a while, he saw Yun'er running in, holding Baor and using Force to propel herself forward. She arrived quickly, like an arrow released from a bow, effortlessly, as easy as taking a sip of water.
The Lich was thin but not unattractive. From Yun'er's perspective, the Lich chose a consort based on looks as well. Yun'er had some beauty, especially since she was still a young girl, quite charming. This was assuming one didn't look at her indifferent expression; she resembled a soulless shell, her face almost devoid of emotion—no joy, no anger, no irritation. When she spoke or acted, there was an air of authority about her. Simply put, when she told her brother to wash his hands, he would feel compelled to do so without any hint of resistance. Yun'er seemed to think that her brother's lack of resistance was perfectly normal.
She was someone who habitually issued commands and possessed an inherent sense of authority. Unfortunately, being a woman made things difficult. Not only did it reduce her power by fifty percent, but there was also no guarantee of producing offspring. Historically, the birth rate among Liches had been low; women faced significant limitations in childbirth compared to men who could labor day and night.
On the surface, this would be Cui Ming's conclusion if he encountered such a woman in the Three Continents. However, on Shadow Island, he wouldn't judge Yuner's character in the same way. Cui Ming believed that Yun'er was inexperienced and lacked social skills; she simply didn't know how to communicate.
For instance, when Yun'er saw Cui Ming, she showed no courtesy and directly said, "Let's start class." The reason was that she didn't understand politeness; the Lich wouldn't teach her manners because she didn't need them. She also didn't require social interactions because if she inherited the Lich's contract, she would become a Demigod—still invincible even with reduced power. Such individuals were not easy to deal with; they were unpredictable since it was hard to discern their true thoughts. Therefore, Cui Ming's first task was to spark Yun'er's curiosity and create a sense of mystery about the outside world to provoke her feelings of inferiority.
Reading? Well, that seemed boring and served no purpose for his plans; let it be as it may. The key point remained this young master, Baor. Even before class started, Cui Ming could already tell what Baor leaned towards. Although only five years old, he was remarkably accurate with a slingshot—hitting Cui Ming's head from over ten meters away required talent.
Many Archers had support systems; for example, Little Lu wielded rune guns with mysterious powers. Wei Wei relied on Eagle Eye while Miss Fortune had a high hit rate with her left hand but not with her right; she adjusted her left-hand pistol based on the shooting errors from her right hand. A naturally gifted practitioner with aiming abilities already possessed the foundational skills to become an excellent Archer and would certainly not be mediocre—at least a hero-level expert.
Literacy was fundamental; this was something Cui Ming could teach him along with mathematics—at least up to third grade should be manageable. As a thief, prioritizing mathematical skills was essential to avoid losses during thefts.
However, this student showed no respect for his teacher; Cui Ming spoke while Baor played on his own. In contrast, Yun'er listened intently and diligently wrote notes. Curious, Cui Ming approached and noticed that Yun'er's grip on the pen was incorrect and that writing seemed laborious for her. He asked, "Haven't you learned this before?" He taught literacy to those below him but noticed that she rarely wrote.
Yun'er shook her head and did not respond.
Cui Ming continued teaching until class ended an hour later. Baor played by himself while Yun'er followed him like a caretaker. Cui Ming trailed behind as well to discover and nurture Baor's potential. In fact, an hour of exploration sufficed; this kid was exceptionally skilled with the slingshot. It was unclear what methods the Lich had used—Baor's physical strength matched that of an eleven or twelve-year-old boy. He could hit shallow fish with his slingshot and even estimate water surface refraction with remarkable accuracy.
Not just flattery—Baor truly had great potential; he possessed shooting awareness that many untrained adults lacked. Most importantly, these instincts would serve him well; twenty years from now, relying solely on his Archer skills would make him extraordinary.
The Lich appeared silently behind Cui Ming, who pretended to be startled: "Uncle He."
The Lich nodded while observing Baor playing by the seaside alongside his caretaker Yun'er and asked Cui Ming, "How is it?"
"An Archer—a born Archer," Cui Ming replied. "His primary focus should certainly be Archery; however, whether it's enhancement or transformation remains uncertain." He continued: "I suggest letting Baor try various shooting weapons like bows and arrows or firearms to see what he enjoys most and excels at. Only then can I guide him into Strategy development—mastering and utilizing his own Force for meditation and mental training. Once he has some vague ideas in mind, I can teach him about the Six Elements."
The Lich inquired, "Is there any issue with the equipment? How long will it take?"
"It won't take long; I estimate that results will come in a little over a month. However, the challenge lies not in the time frame but in the choice between Enhancement and the Transformational System. Theoretically, Strategy allows for dual cultivation, but there are inherent conflicts within the ten systems. Both Enhancement and the Transformational System can be Archers, but no one can fully master both systems. For instance, Energy is quite similar to the Magic System, yet they cannot be cultivated together. I wonder if Uncle He has any advice for his little nephew?"
The Lich replied, "Choosing between Enhancement and the Transformational System seems simple to ordinary practitioners; they tend to lean towards one internally. However, there are cases where someone starts with the Transformational System but then acquires better weapons. At that point, they must switch from the Transformational System to Enhancement. Such individuals often have no future and cannot achieve greatness. Theoretically, Enhancement is superior to the Transformational System because they possess Force Weapons. However, Baor is different; he will become a Demigod, and Enhancement has little effect on Demigods. The power of Transformational System weapons is related to one's own Force, so choosing the Transformational System is advisable."
Cui Ming added, "Entering Enhancement is relatively easy; one simply needs to transform familiar weapons into familiar Force Weapons. However, for someone like Baor at his age, the Transformational System poses a greater challenge." The Transformational System requires constructing a blueprint in one's mind before using Force to bring that blueprint to life. Building a blueprint is incredibly difficult; it requires focus and dedication—one cannot think about handguns today and plan for rifles tomorrow. It is essential to avoid being anxious or restless.
The Lich asked, "If it’s the Transformational System, how long would it take?"
"A child's restlessness can be a flaw, but a calm and pure heart is an advantage. I see that Baor enjoys hunting prey; perhaps we could use a more unconventional method. Let Yun'er hold the weapon to hunt while Baor only thinks about it."
The Lich pondered for a moment and nodded, "That works."
Cui Ming remarked, "But we need to first know what Baor likes."
The Lich nodded and asked, "After the Transformational System, what comes next in cultivating the Six Elements?"
"Then he needs to study, broaden his experiences, and find his innate talents. I believe this shouldn't be a concern; once he gets started, Strategy will help him understand what he wants. My only worry is that he might be too young and mentally immature, which could slow down his progress."
The Lich nodded, "Cui Ming, thank you for your efforts. Please run an errand and inform Flower Aunt about the various weapons we need."
"Understood."
Cui Ming left and headed to the Concubine Tribe where he found Flower Aunt. She asked him to write a list of needed items and then said, "Seven days."
Cui Ming was surprised and asked, "So soon? This round trip will take over ten days."
Flower Aunt smiled mysteriously and replied, "Don't worry."
Cui Ming returned with questions and explained his doubts to the Lich: "Will Flower Aunt delay things?"
The Lich glanced at Cui Ming and said, "Cui Ming, you're a smart person; how could you not understand something so simple? There are boats at the dock equipped with radios. A hundred miles west lies the Arctic research route of Dawn Empire; there are buoys along the way. If we sail nearby, we can use the radio to contact the Three Continents."
Cui Ming smiled wryly; now it made sense—Warden hadn’t mentioned this part. Who would they contact? Cui Ming knew it was Flower Aunt's man. Although Flower Aunt served celestial beings due to her generous salary, she had brought her man into the fold as well. With money and freedom at his disposal while their two children had grown up living carefree lives, Flower Aunt couldn't keep him in check either.
The ally known as Warden, despite his efforts to introduce himself, still missed many details.
Seeing Cui Ming's expression, the Lich chuckled, "It seems that Strategy doesn't need to be very clever."
Can you even talk? A common saying goes that a wise person will inevitably make mistakes. You find joy in mocking my intelligence; do you really think you can be the leader?
Cui Ming thought of a hidden strategy and said, "Uncle He, a foundation in cultural studies is still necessary. But you know my background; I grew up in the Thieves Guild. Aside from the Cult of the Gods and Charity School, I never received formal education. Even at Charity School, I mostly skipped classes."
The Lich nodded lightly. "Who do you think is more suitable?"
"Dr. Lin Bing, perhaps. She's a university student, and then there's that pair of twins; they're middle school students. However, I'm worried she might not strike the right balance and could be too strict with her teacher's attitude."
"Well, what's the point of learning so much? But you do have a point; Strategy requires a broad knowledge base, and first and foremost, one must be literate. Talk to Dr. Lin Bing about arranging the classes. There's no rush; how about one to two hours each day?"
"Literacy is certainly important, but Baor's development relies on play. Literacy won't reveal his characteristics. Uncle He, what do you think about scheduling it for the next holiday? After all, Dr. Lin Bing also needs to gather herbs and sometimes has to travel for several days."
The Lich considered for a moment. "Alright then, from Monday to Thursday, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. You can have meals here while observing and guiding them. Friday to Sunday will be off. Cui Ming, I know Dr. Lin Bing is helping those less fortunate; I think you can assist her with that. Cui Ming, doctors are important; even I have been sick before. I value Dr. Lin Bing highly and always have someone bring her books."
"I understand; I'll help her."
"Cui Ming, it's not just about helping her. Look at her; she's young, and so are you. Since you'll be living on the island long-term, consider it." (To be continued.)
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