Gu Zhan asked in confusion, "Why?"
The coachman explained, "This martial art, it’s said, was researched by a prominent expert in the Embroidered Uniform Guard many years ago. Back then, there were a lot of people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but very few experts.
The further you advanced in cultivation, the higher the required talent. Yet, in this world, the vast majority are ordinary folks, with little natural talent. So that expert wanted to create a martial art that wouldn’t require extraordinary cultivation talent.
Based on this idea, the expert gathered a group of like-minded great cultivators and, after years of refinement, finally created the Creation Skill. However, when people started cultivating it, it didn’t take long before it was abandoned."
Gu Zhan asked again, confused, "Why—does it still need strong cultivation talent?"
The coachman laughed. "At entry level, it really doesn’t require much talent. As long as you have a little cultivation talent, you can enter after a year or two of practice. But after a few years, two major flaws were discovered.
If it takes one year to reach Ninth Grade, it’ll take two years for Eighth Grade, four years for Seventh Grade, and so on. Every realm takes twice as long as the previous. Many people would spend their whole lives and never become martial arts experts. Plus, the resources needed for each realm double, and no one can afford that—those who can don’t even value this martial art."
Gu Zhan asked again, confused, "Then, wouldn’t this be a good thing for someone with exceptional cultivation talent? If entry takes only a day, couldn’t they quickly become an innate martial artist?"
The coachman chuckled. "That brings us to the second flaw. Experiments showed, the reason cultivation is so easy early on is because it drains your potential. Basically, the easier the early cultivation, the more it depletes your innate talent.
So, for those with good talent, this martial art is like poison; for those with poor talent, it’s useless. That’s why, back then, the experts involved in creating it became a laughingstock in the martial world.
Later, the Embroidered Uniform Guard recalled all copies of that martial art, but lots of places still have rubbings left. Even though the martial art failed, many of its concepts are valuable—especially its insights into innateness and Dao Realm, which are priceless to martial artists,
Also, many people have tried to adapt its theory, and rumors say some have found quick mastery methods. Though it doesn’t reach the Dao Realm envisioned by Creation Skill, it still offers much help for martial arts.
Usually, innate martial artists borrow this Creation Skill from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hoping to gain insight into their martial path. With your talent, Young Master Gu, you have no need to actually cultivate it, but reading its martial concepts is worthwhile since they were developed by a group of great cultivators."
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes,
For others, this martial art might be meaningless and impossible to cultivate, but he was different—so long as the system could record it, he could succeed at cultivation.
The carriage entered Pingyang City,
Gu Zhan lifted a corner of the curtain, watching as they went onward, his brows tightly knit.
All the way, he’d seen that the prosperity in Pingyang Prefecture far surpassed Linjiang County; even some county towns along the way were more bustling than Linjiang County. Yet, oddly, this prefecture city seemed very ordinary.
Still, it wasn’t much worse than Linjiang City,
After all, in Yunzhou, Linjiang City really is the sticks.
But this did not match what he’d seen along the way.
A grand prefecture city, yet not as good as some county towns.
Gu Zhan asked, "Why is Pingyang City not as thriving as those county towns we passed earlier?"
The coachman chuckled and explained, "Young Master Gu, you’ve always stayed in Yundong, so you don’t know much about Yunxi. Yunxi isn’t like Yundong—over there, everything centers around main cities. Here, economic conditions revolve entirely around martial world influences.
Pingyang City, though a prefecture city, has no major families or sects, so naturally it can’t compare with those places. Still, it’s not too bad; for such a large city, plenty of powers are entrenched, all sorts mix here. Young Master Gu, it’s best you listen to Ninth Miss, and go out to Shuixie Manor outside the city more often. That’ll help you avoid much unnecessary trouble."
The two chatted idly,
The carriage sped through the wind and snow.
By evening, they finally arrived at the Hundred Households Office.
Just as he got off the carriage,
Gu Zhan frowned—the Hundred Households Office was in a pitiful state, seriously rundown, even the main gates were tottering, and the stone steps were heaped with snow, no one bothered to clear it.
The coachman clasped his hands. "Young Master Gu, I must now head to Shuixie Manor as ordered, so I’ll take my leave!"
Gu Zhan nodded, then walked toward the office.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gu Zhan stepped to the door and knocked loudly a few times.
There was no response.
Gu Zhan knocked again.
After quite a while, a lazy voice came from inside, "Who is it? Snowy day like this, stop knocking, I’m coming, I’m coming!"
The main gate slowly opened, and a thin old man with a head full of white hair poked his head out, missing two front teeth. He shivered, wrapped his clothes tighter, saying, "What is it? Whatever it is, come back tomorrow. Everyone here’s already off duty today."
"Off duty?"
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes, saying, "According to Embroidered Uniform Guard statutes, the shift ends at the late afternoon, and it’s not even early evening yet—why is everyone off duty? Besides, even at night, the Hundred Households Office should have a battalion on duty; why is there no one?"
The old man studied Gu Zhan, seeing his imposing demeanor wasn’t ordinary, and cautiously asked, "Sir, there are people in the office, but in this cold, who wants to move around? You got business? No point troubling this decrepit old man—I’m just gatekeeper, there’s a few more inside, but they’ve nowhere else to go. If you’ve got real business, truly best wait for tomorrow..."
Gu Zhan took out the Thousand Households Token.
The old man froze for a moment, then hurriedly opened the door, his smile obsequious. "Oh, the new Lord Thousand Households has arrived! We heard you were coming, but never got official notice. Excuse our neglect—please forgive us, and be generous!"
"Enough," Gu Zhan waved his hand. "Cut the nonsense. Who’s supposed to be on duty today? Bring them to me—now."
"Uh..." The old man looked troubled. "Lord, today’s roster is Chief Banner Zhang from the East Courtyard and Advisor Liu from the official records Room. But... but..."
Gu Zhan said coldly, "What, is there a problem in bringing them to see me?"
The old man quickly replied, "Lord, I’m just the gatekeeper—it’d be improper for me to disturb them. How about, how about I lead you in?"
Gu Zhan frowned, sizing up the timid old man, and not interested in making things difficult for him, spoke coldly, "Lead the way!"

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