“I’ll transfer some more life scales to you.” Edward White said as he prepared to transfer his own life scales over.

“No need.” William Rowe stopped Edward White, speaking calmly: “I no longer wish to go on living. Before I die, there are a few things I want to say to you.”

After a pause, William Rowe continued: “I don’t have many family or friends, and I’m not very well-liked. At the end of my life, having you willing to listen to me is enough for me.”

William Rowe spoke at length, his words scattered and disjointed, mostly about his own past. He rarely mentioned others, only occasionally bringing up his parents, and even then only in passing.

“This is for you, as a keepsake.” William Rowe tossed a book to Edward White, then, dragging his weary body, turned and left.

“Uncle Luo.”

Edward White wanted to say more, but William Rowe stopped him: “I don’t want anyone to see how ugly I look after I die. Just thinking about it disgusts even me. Don’t follow me.”

Watching William Rowe leave, Edward White felt a turmoil in his heart, a sense of helplessness that nearly drove him mad.

“My future absolutely cannot be like this.” Edward White clenched his fists tightly.

Back in his room, Edward White prepared to continue practicing his sword techniques. He could now wield the pure white greatsword one-handed and use the Pain Blade technique, though his accuracy and endurance were still lacking and needed further practice.

Holding the book William Rowe had left behind, he intended to set it aside, but after a moment’s thought, he opened it for a look—and was greatly surprised. It turned out to be a longevity cultivation manual called “The Palm Leaf Sutra.”

The Longevity Technique is a cultivation method in the world of Light and Darkness Martial Arts. Practicing it can increase one’s strength and transform the body; of course, its main function is to increase life scales.

However, not everyone can practice the Longevity Technique, as the method is hard to come by. Usually, only those with noble titles have a chance to obtain it, and it’s rare for ordinary people to possess such a manual. William Rowe unexpectedly had one, though it was unclear what grade it was.

Still, regardless of the grade, for Edward White—who had never practiced the Longevity Technique before—it was a priceless treasure.

Greedily, he memorized every word of “The Palm Leaf Sutra,” and began to cultivate according to its method. At first, he didn’t feel much, but after practicing sword techniques each day and then cultivating for an hour, he found his body felt warm and comfortable, and his fatigue recovered much faster than before.

His strength grew without him noticing. After another half month, Edward White could now accurately perform the Pain Blade technique with the pure white greatsword, swinging it continuously for an hour without stopping.

“It’s time to go out and hunt the undead.” For the past two months, Edward White had been training at home, earning no life income at all, yet spending quite a bit.

This time, Edward White wasn’t going after the Little Blade Demons. After all, they were too agile and not suitable for sword techniques. Now that he had the pure white greatsword and the Pain Blade technique, he wanted to hunt undead that were easier to gain life scales from.

“Head-Cleaver Ghosts are a good choice. They’re not fast, look somewhat human, and are perfect for me to practice the Pain Blade technique on. Plus, there’s a chance to get an Armed Head-Cleaver Axe.” Edward White thought through the undead around Knife Wheel City and quickly settled on his target.

Head-Cleaver Ghosts often haunt the forests, carrying huge axes and chopping off the heads of any living creature they see.

Because the forest terrain is complex, Head-Cleaver Ghosts move quickly and have immense strength—a single swing can fell a tree as thick as a barrel. However, they don’t yield many life scales, so few people are willing to hunt them.

When Edward White arrived in the forest, he found that the usually deserted woods were unusually crowded today.

“Hey brother, what’s going on here? Why are there so many people today?” Edward White stopped someone with a friendly face and asked.

“The Skull-Cleaver Ghost has resurrected from the altar and is roaming these woods. Lots of people are here to try their luck, including quite a few barons. Aren’t you here for the Skull-Cleaver Ghost too?” The man was indeed easy to talk to.

“I just came to hunt Head-Cleaver Ghosts. I didn’t expect the Skull-Cleaver Ghost to have resurrected.” Edward White had heard of the Skull-Cleaver Ghost—it was the leader of the Head-Cleaver Ghosts. Killing it would yield a large amount of life scales, and there was a chance to obtain a baron-level Skull-Cleaver Axe, a favorite among barons who use polearms.

“The Skull-Cleaver Ghost is a baron-level undead. Only baron-level powerhouses can handle it. Why are there so many ordinary people here?” Edward White noticed that many people had no noble titles.

The man replied, “If you kill a baron-level undead, you can obtain a baron title. The Skull-Cleaver Ghost is fierce, but it’s also relatively fragile—not like the Giant Rock Demon, which is nearly impossible for ordinary people to kill. Naturally, lots of people hoping to earn a title have come to try their luck.”

Only then did Edward White remember: killing an undead of a certain rank grants you the corresponding title. If he wanted to become a baron, he’d have to personally kill a baron-level undead.