Chapter 42: Extraordinary Perception: Notes of a Jianjian Gate Foundation Establishment Disciple

「[Extraordinary Perception]: You have awakened a latent sixth sense, gaining a + (1 + Rank) bonus to all perception-related checks.」

With Extraordinary Perception, Fang Shi’s perception bonus is now equivalent to 23 points.

This means Fang Shi has gained the ability to sense impending danger.

He can feel something is wrong before danger arrives.

This greatly enhances Fang Shi’s survivability.

If firearms still exist, Fang Shi can begin dodging the moment an enemy aims at him—before the shot is fired.

Unless the enemy overwhelms Fang Shi’s perception with too many guns, sealing off all escape routes,

Fang Shi can demonstrate what it means to dodge bullets.

It is also exceptionally useful in combat: effortlessly spotting enemies’ openings, effortlessly anticipating their attacks.

Combined with high agility, he can dance on the edge of a blade.

This is merely at unranked level; as his rank increases,

the bonus from Extraordinary Perception will grow ever larger.

At Legendary rank, it will be equivalent to gaining an extra 10 attribute points for free.

This is why Extraordinary Attributes are so rare.

Fang Shi’s breathing technique, theoretically, could reach 20 points in Strength, Constitution, and Agility if trained to the fifth level.

But this is only theory—before his rebirth, Fang Shi had never heard of anyone reaching the fifth level.

The gap between theory and reality is like haggling—you’ll never win.

Fang Shi had even heard a claim:

The best breathing technique in the settlement cannot be trained to the fifth level.

The fifth level is merely a strongman’s guess, a wishful thought.

To achieve Extraordinary Attributes, you must either allocate points yourself or rely on external fortune.

Before his rebirth, Fang Shi’s 21-point Perception came from fortune.

Unfortunately, this fortune arrived too late.

The settlement was destroyed just as he obtained it; Fang Shi had no time to shine before he joined the flight.

“Since I’ve been reborn, that fortune should still exist.”

“When the opportunity opens again, I’ll go back.”

“Although higher attributes become harder to improve, gaining one or two more points should be manageable.”

“But now, due to my reward, I have one free attribute point—should I spend it?”

Fang Shi pondered, then decided to keep it.

He is now completely different from who he was before rebirth.

His high total attributes and specializations grant him formidable power.

The Firewing Birds no longer threaten him.

Fang Shi now has the right to retain his free attribute point.

Save it for future breakthroughs into other Extraordinary Attributes.

Only then will he maximize the value of the free attribute point.

「Name: Fang Shi」

「Race: Human」

「Attributes: Strength 15, Agility 15, Constitution 15, Intelligence 14, Perception 21, Charisma 15」

「Class: Level 4 Martial Artist」

「Health: 45/45」

「Experience: 4709/10000」

「Attribute Points: 1」

「Survival Points: 1480.9」

「Race Specialization: Versatile I」

「Life Skills: Focus 12…」

「Class Skills: Stealth 8…」

「Personal Trait: Extraordinary Perception」

「Personal Specializations: Iron Will I, Athlete I, Excellent Memory I, Resilience I, True Dragon Armor III, Fang Family Breathing Method III, Divine Step I, Lightning Reflex II, Weakness Insight I」

「Class Specializations: Gale Combo I, Unarmed Attack I, Steel Bones I, Shatter Punch I, Reflexive Dodge I, Expert Initiative I, Cannon Punch I, Leap Step I」

Fang Shi sighed inwardly—in just four days, he had risen to Level 4.

Even excluding the secret realm journey, he had reached Level 3.

If this were his former self, he would still be trembling in a building.

He could only kill zombies indoors, scavenge for food, and barely survive until others arrived.

And this was not the end.

Besides the combat boost from leveling up,

Fang Shi also received one Iron Chest and one Silver Chest.

If they contained good items, it would further enhance his combat power.

「Do you wish to open the Iron Chest?」

「Yes.」

「You obtained: Martial Artist Training Garment.」

「Martial Artist Training Garment」

「Durability: 2」

「Sturdiness: 10」

「Weight: 700 grams」

「Evaluation: Clothing worn by Martial Artists during training.」

Well, a bit unlucky.

But the design is decent—similar to Tai Chi training attire.

Not with wide sleeves or overly loose fit.

Instead, it’s a snug garment with tightened cuffs and pant legs.

Entirely black, edged in white—quite attractive.

But its durability is low, only slightly better than ordinary clothing.

「Forget it—use it as padding. Hope the Silver Chest yields something useful.」

Fang Shi had already prepared himself—chests could contain countless items.

Just getting something usable is fine; don’t demand too much.

He only hoped the Silver Chest would also give something practical.

「Do you wish to open the Silver Chest?」

「Yes.」

「You obtained: Notes of a Jianjian Gate Foundation Establishment Disciple.」

「Notes of a Jianjian Gate Foundation Establishment Disciple」

「Durability: 5」

「Sturdiness: 10」

「Weight: 150 grams」

「Evaluation: This is a notebook from a Jianjian Gate Foundation Establishment disciple, recording daily trivialities and cultivation insights.」

What is this?

Which world does Jianjian Gate belong to?

Fang Shi was filled with intense curiosity.

Remember, even the lowest Silver Chest yields a Tier One Curio.

A notebook worth this much must be extraordinary.

Either the book has magical properties,

or the knowledge within is invaluable.

In the apocalypse, knowledge is power is no empty phrase.

Breathing techniques are knowledge; training for specializations and skills is knowledge; magic usage is knowledge.

Records of powerful creatures and deities are priceless.

If a book recorded even a single Legendary spell,

even if its material was ordinary,

its value would rival a Tier Four Curio.

And this is the simplest Legendary spell—some Legendary spells can only be measured by artifacts.

So Fang Shi rose, pulled back the curtain, lit a smokeless lamp, and eagerly began reading the notebook.

…

Two hours passed; Fang Shi had skimmed through the notebook.

The notebook recorded the observations of this Foundation Establishment disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect after joining the sect.

Aside from some minor matters, it primarily documented a story.

A story of two geniuses clashing.

These two geniuses entered the sect at the same time as him, yet their talents were utterly extraordinary.

They mastered the basic sword art in one day.

Then mastered the advanced sword art in seven days.

On the tenth day after joining, they successfully awakened the Sword Intent.

This shocked the sect’s senior leaders.

Less than half a year later, they crossed the Thunder Tribulation and achieved Golden Core.

Two such geniuses appeared simultaneously in the Profound Heaven Sect.

It could be said the sect’s Immortal Ancestors were blessing them.

But unfortunately, the two disliked each other and clashed fiercely within the sect.

For a time, the Profound Heaven Sect began to split internally.

Only when the more powerful one defected and left the sect did the conflict end.

Yet this also caused regret among some sect members.

Had the two cooperated, the Profound Heaven Sect would have become even more glorious.

To be honest, Fang Shi was utterly confused.

This notebook recorded too many fragmented details.

Here and there, with almost no coherent structure.

It was all personal impressions.

The above information was still summarized by Fang Shi after reading it.

As for what the advanced sword art was, what Foundation Establishment meant, or what Golden Core was—

Fang Shi had no idea.

He couldn’t possibly apply the settings from pre-apocalypse novels.

Fang Shi felt it wasn’t like that; after all, before his rebirth, he had heard of Martial Dao Immortals and Legendary Sword Immortals.

Moreover, this notebook was drawn from a Silver Chest.

It must have its own system, corresponding to the attribute panel.

But Fang Shi had heard of Sword Intent.

In simple terms, it was an enhanced version of Legendary-level Sword Weapon Proficiency.

That is, Sword Weapon Proficiency III.

When Fang Shi first read the account of mastering Sword Intent in ten days, he thought he’d misread it.

In ten days, they had awakened a proficiency only Legendary Qiangzhe could achieve.

What an insane talent.

At least Fang Shi believed that even those Qiangzhe who ascended to Legendary status lacked such talent.

These two geniuses’ future achievements would far surpass Legendary.

They very likely would become Immortals like the Profound Heaven Sect’s Ancestors.

But he didn’t know whether they were the same as the Martial Dao Immortals and Legendary Sword Immortals he had heard of before.

Fang Shi believed they were very likely not.

If such geniuses existed on Blue Star, they would have shattered the apocalypse outright.

If Fang Shi had gained an offensive Legendary proficiency after ten days—

He would have slaughtered everything in his path.

This was only one proficiency; the basic and advanced sword arts hadn’t even been counted yet.

In short, the Profound Heaven Sect, this otherworldly cultivation sect, was an immensely powerful force.

Far beyond what any person on Blue Star could hope to match.

After reading this notebook, Fang Shi gained not only knowledge of the story, but also some benefits.

“You have read the notebook of the Profound Heaven Sect’s Foundation Establishment disciple.”

“You have gained insight into the use of longswords.”

“You have unlocked Longsword Weapon Mastery.”

“You have acquired partial information on Longsword Weapon Focus.”

“You have acquired partial information on Longsword Weapon Proficiency.”

“【Longsword Weapon Mastery I】: Through prolonged training, you can better unleash the power of longswords. (Hit +1, Damage +1)”

This was what Fang Shi had realized from studying the cultivation notes in the notebook.

Of course, it was also the result of Fang Shi’s accumulated effort.

After so many battles, he had developed some practical experience using the steel longsword.

The Fang Shi who once wielded a blade in his past life had, through a series of coincidences,

Learned to wield a sword instead—what a twist of fate.

But Fang Shi didn’t mind; in the apocalypse, being stronger was always better.

Besides, he had a plan to walk the Sword Immortal Path.

Now that he had inadvertently stepped onto this path, he would need to carefully manage it by Level 5.

This book was still highly valuable; Fang Shi decided to preserve it well.

He would read it regularly, striving to unlock the other two proficiencies.

Then his combat power would leap again.

It was no surprise—this was a product of the Silver Chest.

Most importantly, it was a book, one that could be shared.

Unlike equipment, which only one person could use.

Fang Shi estimated this notebook was at least as valuable as a Tier-Two Wonder.

If mastering proficiencies did not depend on personal ability, it would have been a Tier-Three Wonder.

PS: Thank you to the Chief of the Dark Peaks for the 200 donation.