"Splash!"
The wind blows and waves crash against the light boat.
Shen Hex stands at the bow, Bai Mudan—no, it should be Bai Qing behind him—looking out to see through the mist a mountain island gradually appearing.
Seeing this scene, Bai Qing couldn't help but voice a question: "Teacher, is this...?"
"Liang Mountain!"
Shen Hex smiled: "Liangshan Marsh!"
"Liangshan Marsh?"
Bai Qing murmured softly: "Teacher's home is here?"
"Yes!"
Shen Hex nodded, steering the boat toward the shore.
It was morning, the winter sun shining warmly, the shore glowed golden, and a group awaited in vigil.
"Teacher, Teacher!"
"Teacher is back, Teacher is back!"
As soon as the boat reached the shore, everyone welcomed him with joy.
Shen Hex stepped forward, while Bai Qing stayed back timidly, observing that most of the people were children, many of whom were disabled and had difficulty moving.
Besides them, there were some teenagers and slightly older women, all coming forward to unload the food, medicines, silk, paper, and other items from the boat.
...
Strength in numbers!
This is not just a platitude, but a real truth—unless one can concentrate immense power in oneself, the force of a group will always outmatch that of an individual.
Professionals are no exception in this regard, as the core of gaining experience and advancing in their professions lies in impacting the world, and the influence of an individual is evidently not on the same level as that of a group.
The Human Empire is the best example, the entire Human Empire, with countless professionals—who is the strongest among them?
The answer, without question, is the Empire's ruler, the supreme Emperor!
Emperor!
This is one of the ultimate professions within the Human Empire, and the most powerful among them, with a saying in the universe: the Empire is the Emperor, the Emperor is the Empire, the existence of the Empire proves the Emperor's achievements and is the source of the Emperor's strength.
Not just the Emperor, all major forces are alike, united by innumerable professionals, forming powerful and cohesive groups—the foundation pillars of the Human Empire.
Although Shen Hex doesn't believe he can achieve the ultimate profession of "Emperor" in this Small Thousand World, it doesn't hinder his efforts and attempts in that direction.
Therefore, he has long planned to establish influence.
But this plan cannot be easily put into action.
While group strength is greater than personal strength, it is also harder to control, requiring consideration in every aspect.
Take resources, for example—so many people with so many mouths, each needs to eat, money is required everywhere; without sufficient resources, establishing influence is impossible.
Additionally, there is a need to understand management, control hearts and minds, and balance all relationships to prevent followers from losing unity and becoming scattered.
In this area, Shen Hex lacks much experience and capital; he cannot rashly establish influence, risking internal and external troubles, even risking life.
Thus, he didn't act impulsively but first accumulated capital, walking the Jianghu as a "Martial Madman," raiding the powerful, and while enhancing martial arts, gathering wealth by robbing from the rich to aid the poor.
Having money allows passage across the world, without it, even a single step is hard; establishing influence is inseparable from money—if without the ability to accumulate or produce, one must compete and economize, leading to Jianghu disputes and enmities.
Shen Hex neither has backing nor force to suppress the world; should disputes arise at the establishment's formative stage, he's likely to be squeezed and attacked from all sides, causing Jianghu strife.
Thus, he chooses to gain wealth in the guise of the Martial Madman, retreating to Liangshan Marsh for secluded development and strength accumulation, akin to his previous mountain retreat for focused cultivation.
This way, with finances secured, manpower is still needed, leading him to roam Jianghu, secretly recruiting troubled women like Bai Qing and children, as his first batch of disciples.
In chaotic times, people are worse off than dogs; although not chaotic times now, the life of ordinary people hasn't improved much, coupled with the acts of Jianghu sects like the Beggar Gang—there are plenty of helpless orphans, abused prostitutes.
These are Shen Hex's sources, the bricks of his influence building.
Though most of them possess average talents, even many are disabled and sick, not quite useful—Shen Hex doesn't mind, his only concern is loyalty.
As long as loyalty is sufficient, ensuring the group doesn't fall apart, talent will be unearthed with influence's growth.
Even so, if no talent is found, Shen Hex can transform them through his teaching and professional powers—by generating a "Teacher"-like profession, he gains the ability to cultivate disciples into talents.
Thus, Shen Hex collects mostly children harvested and maimed by the Beggar Gang and women like Bai Qing who faced tragic fates, maximizing loyalty assurance.
This is most crucial!
For, given his actions, if loyalty can't be guaranteed, the Martial Madman identity might be exposed.
Once exposed, Liangshan Marsh will surely face joint extermination by the Court, Government Office, and Jianghu martial circles.
At that point, he might break through the siege, but his disciples wouldn't be able to follow, inevitably falling into fatal difficulties.
Thus, for himself and everyone at Liangshan Marsh, loyalty is paramount; these tender seedlings, just breaking ground, cannot endure storms.
Returning to the mountain stronghold, Shen Hex first settled the newcomer Bai Qing, then checked the academic and health conditions of the other disciples. He busied himself until evening before getting a moment's respite and returning to his room.
Medicine and martial arts are inseparable. Over the years, as he practiced martial arts, he also studied medical theories. Although he hadn't unlocked a second profession, he had developed a skillful hand in medicine. Combined with the various medical techniques purchased by his true self, treating these disciples' ailments was quite simple.
Finishing everything, he returned to the room and reopened the professional panel.
Martial Madman (Shen Hex)
Profession: Martial Artist.
Professional Rank: Tier One Level Ten.
Professional Talent: Static Posture.
Professional Skill: Xingyi Fist.
Professional Items: None.
Universal Skills: Yuan-Devouring Skill, Herbal Scripture.
...
Over the past year, he roamed the Jianghu under the name of Martial Madman, killing numerous True Qi Masters, gaining a wealth of experience. He had long since broken through bottlenecks and refined Inner Yuan True Qi.
As the foundational martial art of the Human Empire, the Xingyi Fist's level of sophistication was unmatched in this world, surpassing all other martial arts.
Before cultivating True Qi, he could use Inner Strength and Xingyi Fist techniques to strike down True Qi Masters like Longg Jian directly. After refining True Qi, he became even more terrifying. Aside from hidden Gang Qi Grandmasters, almost no one could oppose him.
However, in Shen Hex's view, such power was still insufficient to meet his plans and ambitions.
Therefore, he needed to advance further.
Given his current strength, there were only two paths to advance: either continue rigorous cultivation, transforming True to Gang, or break through by advancing and strengthening his profession.
The former was limited by talent, so hopes for short-term achievement were slim, making the latter almost the only choice.
Shen Hex thought so too, so he directly chose advancement.
"Professional level is full, would you like to advance?"
"Would you like to retain the professional talent—Static Posture?"
"Would you like to retain the professional skill—Xingyi Fist?"
Facing the prompts on the professional panel, Shen Hex hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing to retain them.
The effect of Static Posture need not be elaborated upon. For someone with mediocre talent like him, it was an important aid in cultivation, something not to be abandoned if possible.
As for Xingyi...
Xingyi Fist (Profession)
Skill Profession: Martial Artist.
Skill Rank: Tier One Level Ten.
Skill Effect: Nourishing Form and Intent (Enhances the power of Xingyi Fist through martial combat).
Skill Introduction: Fight!!!
...
Previously, when a universal skill was transformed into a professional skill, it would receive various enhancements based on the profession's characteristics.
The enhancement of Xingyi Fist in the Martial Artist profession was this Nourishing Form and Intent, able to enhance Xingyi Fist's power through combat, and it's permanent. Theoretically, if he fought enough battles and accumulated enough power, it might even be possible to slay gods in one strike.
Although this was just theoretical and difficult to achieve in reality, its current effect was still excellent, so Shen Hex wished to retain it.
With all talents and skills retained, the success rate of advancement might significantly drop.
But Shen Hex was not worried; the influence of his actions over this period was immense. Although he hadn't, as rumors suggested, annihilated households and slaughtered thousands everywhere, nearly a thousand had directly died by his hand, most being skilled Jianghu warriors.
As for why the Jianghu rumors were so exaggerated, it was partly due to the inherent exaggeration of Jianghu rumors, partly because some took advantage amidst the chaos, and partly due to some individuals attempting to drag everyone into a combined effort against him, this martial demon.
With all that said, he was still full of confidence for this advancement.
"Retain professional talent!"
"Retain professional skill!"
"Begin professional advancement!"
"Based on your experiences and actions, you can choose one of the following professions to replace your original Martial Artist profession!"
"Profession One: Martial Madman (A madman of the Martial Dao, roaming the Jianghu, an advanced profession of the Martial Artist. It can gain professional experience through cultivation and martial combat, with a significant increase in experience from combat, and gain a certain amount of Martial Arts Talent with each level-up.)"
"Professional Talent: Martial Arts Celestial Secret (Each combat has a chance to trigger a 'Martial Arts Celestial Secret' state, granting an epiphany effect, enhancing personal cultivation and Martial Dao-related professional skills.)"
"Profession Two: Xingyi Master (Having practiced the Xingyi Fist diligently and profoundly grasped the mysteries of Xingyi through battles with venomous snakes and fierce beasts, you possess the potential to become a Xingyi Grandmaster. You can gain professional experience through cultivation and martial combat, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of Xingyi Fist practice, with each level-up slightly boosting physique and spirit.)"
"Professional Talent: Refining Form and Transforming Intent (Form is the branch, intent is the root. A Xingyi Master practices the essence of Xingyi, able to refine form and transform intent, acquiring the supernatural abilities of dragons, snakes, tigers, and leopards, even transforming into the bodies of various beasts and forms.)"
"Profession Three: Mad Hero (Troubled lands and a city stained with blood are nothing but a single thought to save the people. When evildoers fill the land, someone must travel the celestial path, stopping evil with death, removing injustice. It can gain a large amount of professional experience through aiding the weak and upholding justice, with professional experience possessing a 'Righteous Qi' effect.)
"Professional Talent: Slaying Karma (Slaying life to protect life, slaying karma instead of slaying others; it can sense the karmic force on targets, and self-righteous Qi has a suppressive and damaging effect on those burdened with sin karma. Slaying sin karma allows for gaining a large amount of professional experience, enhancing the Righteous Qi effect.)"