15: First-level skill

Early the next morning, before dawn, Chen Linsheng met up with Hunter Zhang and Da Niu Zhang, father and son, and headed into the mountains together.

With the careful guidance of veteran Hunter Zhang, Chen Linsheng's understanding of the mountain forest deepened even further.

Hunter Zhang not only taught him how to find animal trails and distinguish different wild animal droppings and tracks, but also personally showed him how to set various traps using vines, branches, and terrain.

Chen Linsheng learned extremely quickly. His foundation in Tracking (Major Achievement) and Climbing (Major Achievement) made his environmental observation skills and physical execution far superior to ordinary people.

Hunter Zhang only needed to explain once, and he could quickly understand and practice, even extrapolating and making minor optimizations to the traps.

By noon, the three of them returned down the mountain.

Chen Linsheng was conspicuously carrying a rather large stag on his shoulder, with formidable antlers.

Beside him, Da Niu Zhang's honest face was full of admiration. He praised continuously, "Brother Linsheng, you're amazing! That deer shot out like the wind, I couldn't even see it clearly, but you 'whoosh' shot an arrow right into its neck! So accurate!"

Hunter Zhang looked at Chen Linsheng's agile back and the result of that precise shot, filled with emotion, and silently sighed:

"Indeed, the waves behind push the waves ahead... This kid, he's practically born for these mountains."

However, Chen Linsheng's attention was currently focused on two new lines of text that had appeared in the spirit book in his mind:

[Skill: Trapping (Beginner)]

[Progress: (25/100)]

[Divine Effect: Adapt to local conditions, rudimentary understanding of mechanisms. Can create simple traps using on-site Materials and understand basic triggering principles.]

[Skill: Skinning (Beginner)]

[Progress: (10/100)]

[Divine Effect: Complete Removal, familiar with textures. Can basically completely skin a beast and understand the muscle Texture of common wild animals.]

He had gained two new skills!

Chen Linsheng was in high spirits. These skills might seem insignificant, but they were real survival abilities, accumulating little by little, and would eventually become the capital for him to establish himself.

Back in the village, the villagers were once again astounded to see Chen Linsheng carrying back a stag.

Such a large prey was not something even the old Hunter Zhang could catch frequently.

"Incredible! Young Chen has really made something of himself!"

"This deer is so fat! It must sell for a lot of money, right?"

"Linsheng, who taught you your hunting skills? Why don't you teach our boy too?"

Exclamations of awe and envy were endless.

Chen Linsheng merely smiled and nodded in response, carrying the deer back to his own yard.

Su Wan had already heard the commotion and came out to greet him. Seeing Chen Linsheng return safely with such a bountiful harvest, a joyful smile immediately bloomed on her face.

Their relationship had progressed rapidly these two days, and they were in the throes of affection. She instinctively wanted to step forward, but then saw Hunter Zhang and Da Niu Zhang following behind, so she quickly stopped, her cheeks slightly flushed, and reverted to her usual gentle demeanor.

Hunter Zhang was a straightforward man and didn't stand on ceremony. He immediately set up in the yard and began to teach Chen Linsheng on the spot how to skin and butcher the deer.

His technique was practiced. As he worked, he explained the key points of cutting, how to follow the muscle Texture to keep the hide intact, and the characteristics of different cuts of meat and how to slice them.

Chen Linsheng watched carefully. The Divine Effect of Skinning (Beginner) allowed him to understand Hunter Zhang's explanations faster. When he practiced, although a bit unfamiliar, his cuts were precise, barely damaging the valuable deerskin, causing Hunter Zhang to nod secretly once again.

For the next eight days, Chen Linsheng went into the mountains almost every day with Hunter Zhang and his son.

In the mornings, they hunted and set traps. In the afternoons, he used the "Scent Tracking" Divine Effect of Herb Gathering (Major Achievement) to search for herbs in the mountains.

With his current skills and techniques, he had a bountiful harvest. The furs, dried meat, and processed herbs accumulated in his home grew steadily.

Early the next morning, after practicing Cleaver Technique by himself at the edge of the forest, Chen Linsheng slowly finished his training.

With a thought, he looked at the spirit book in his mind, and an excited expression involuntarily appeared on his face.

The Tracking skill entry had undergone a major change:

[Skill: Tracking (Perfection)]

[Divine Effect: Five Senses Clarity, Agile Mind, Photographic Memory

Five Senses Clarity: Perceptual abilities such as sight, hearing, and smell are greatly enhanced. Dynamic vision capture and the ability to discern positions by sound begin to manifest, allowing for quicker insight into opportunities when engaging with enemies.

Agile Mind: Mental Energy is highly concentrated, and reaction speed increases.

Photographic Memory: Memory and Comprehension Ability are significantly enhanced.]

In an instant, Chen Linsheng felt as if the world around him had been polished clean!

The Texture of distant leaves, the subtle insect trails in the dirt, the various scent differences carried by the wind, and even the gurgling sound of a stream far away, all became incredibly clear.

His thoughts were also exceptionally active. Some obscure and difficult-to-understand points in Martial Skills from the past now felt suddenly clear.

"The Perfection Realm... it truly is extraordinary!"

Chen Linsheng suppressed the excitement in his heart, feeling the comprehensive enhancement brought by these three Divine Effects.

This was not only useful for Tracking, but also had immeasurable benefits for combat, learning, and even daily observation!

He calmed his mind, descended the mountain, and, together with Hunter Zhang who was already waiting, took the furs of the prey accumulated over the past few days to the market controlled by the Hunter Gang.

This Hunter Gang market was identical to the Medicine Gang market, also located on a river beach, also requiring a ten-coin entry fee, also patrolled by gang members wearing wooden plaques with the character "Hunter" on their waists, and also taking a thirty percent cut of the profits after a successful transaction.

After selling the deerskin, a few rabbit skins, and some dried meat, and deducting the commission, Chen Linsheng received barely one tael of silver.

Looking at this meager sum of money, earned through several days of hard work and risky trips into the mountains, he once again deeply realized the difficulty of life for the common people in this world.

Just as he was about to leave, the casual chatter of several nearby hunters clearly entered his ears, thanks to the effect of Five Senses Clarity.

"Did you hear? The Medicine Gang took a big tumble a few days ago!"

"What happened? Weren't they acting all high and mighty?"

"Heh, it's said that a 'Crossing River Dragon' in the small woods outside the north gate of the county town killed several of their top fighters, along with a small leader! Clean and decisive!"

"Really? The Medicine Gang Leader is said to be furious, issuing a death order to find that person!"

Chen Linsheng's expression was normal, but he sneered inwardly.

'Crossing River Dragon? Go ahead and investigate, see what you can find.'

He no longer paid attention to these idle rumors, carefully putting away the one tael of silver. At this moment, his thoughts had already flown to tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the day he would report to the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall to begin his Martial Skill training!