Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Xiao Chuanzi looked pained. "I just don't want to be functionally illiterate."

The Peddler waved his hand. "Then go learn to read. Find me again after you've learned to recognize characters!"

Xiao Chuanzi felt even more aggrieved. "I can operate a road roller; I'm not useless."

The Peddler chuckled. "Who said you're useless? It's not as if becoming a Literature Cultivator is the only way to be successful. You can operate a road roller, but can you fix it?"

Xiao Chuanzi nodded. "I can fix it!"

The Peddler put on gloves, picked up a shovel, and scooped up some Medicinal Powder. He said to Xiao Chuanzi, "This is Craftsman Cultivation powder, specifically for studying Craftsmanship Methods. The more methods you learn and the more skilled you become, the faster your cultivation level will increase."

Xiao Chuanzi excitedly asked, "What are Craftsmanship Methods?"

"Craftsmanship Methods are..." The Peddler paused, momentarily struggling to find the right words for Xiao Chuanzi. "They involve things like fixing road rollers, trains, and airplanes, or building mechanisms and traps. From small items like bamboo baskets and clay pots to large structures like skyscrapers—all these fall under Craftsmanship Methods. It all depends on how much you can learn!"

Xiao Chuanzi nodded. "I can do this!"

"You can, but the Medicinal Powder isn't cheap. Craftsman Cultivation costs one hundred and ten thousand. No bargaining."

Upon hearing the Medicinal Powder cost one hundred and ten thousand, Xiao Chuanzi nervously glanced at Ma Wu.

Without hesitation, Ma Wu took out one hundred and ten thousand and handed it to the Peddler, taking the powder in exchange.

The Peddler cautioned him, "After learning Craftsman Cultivation, you still need to learn to read, or else you will struggle to make progress in the future."

Xiao Chuanzi agreed. He took the bright silver Medicinal Powder, which had an iron-like smell, endured the intense pain as he slapped it onto his belly, and successfully initiated his Craftsman Cultivation.

Xiao Genzi also wanted Craftsman Cultivation.

But he felt that one hundred and ten thousand was too expensive.

Ma Wu was closer to Xiao Chuanzi, so Xiao Genzi didn't receive such preferential treatment. He worried the Fifth Young Master wouldn't pay for him.

Noticing that the Peddler's attention was entirely on Xiao Chuanzi, Xiao Genzi quietly crept over to the Peddler's cart.

The drawer from which the Peddler had taken the Medicinal Powder was still open. Xiao Genzi secretly put on gloves, grabbed a handful of powder from the drawer, and smeared it on himself.

The Peddler suddenly turned around. Seeing Xiao Genzi, he demanded, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Genzi, enduring the pain, shook his head. "Nothing."

The Peddler said angrily, "You stole my powder!"

Xiao Genzi still shook his head. "No, I didn't."

Ma Wu grew angry. "Genzi, if you've taken his powder, you have to admit it! I'll pay for it. Don't do such shameful things!"

Xiao Genzi lowered his head, not daring to speak.

The Peddler carefully observed Xiao Genzi's face and asked, "What kind of Medicinal Powder did you take just now?"

Xiao Genzi pointed at Xiao Chuanzi. "I took the same Medicinal Powder as him; it came from the same drawer."

The Peddler shook his head. "Powder from the same drawer isn't necessarily the same type. Take a look. Is it this color?"

The Peddler scooped another spoonful of Medicinal Powder from the same drawer. The powder inside was golden, even brighter than the Golden Medicinal Powder used for Home Cultivation.

Everyone was stunned. The powder taken from this drawer just moments ago had been silver. How did it suddenly become golden?

Xiao Genzi, in his haste to steal the powder, hadn't paid attention to the color.

He opened his hand and looked at his palm, noticing Golden Medicinal Foam lingering on the gloves.

The Medicinal Powder he had taken was indeed golden!

The Peddler chuckled. "My young friend, you're in luck. The Medicinal Powder you picked is cheap—only one hundred."

Xiao Genzi's face lit up with joy. "Only one hundred?"

This was great! He wouldn't need the Fifth Young Master to pay; Xiao Genzi could afford it himself!

The Peddler nodded. "One hundred is enough, and you'll even get something extra."

As he spoke, the Peddler took out two slender barrels from the cart. They were about sixteen inches high, with a diameter roughly the size of two fists.

Xiao Genzi asked in surprise, "What are these barrels for?"

"Don't rush, there's more to come." The Peddler then gave Xiao Genzi a spoon with a handle almost a meter long.

"This barrel needs to be used with this spoon."

Xiao Genzi, holding the spoon, asked in confusion, "Why do they need to be used together?"

The Peddler explained, "That barrel is a Golden Barrel, and that spoon is a Golden Spoon. They are for scooping Golden Soup."

Xiao Genzi took another look at the spoon in his hand, a bad feeling rising within him. "What is Golden Soup?"

"It's the Golden Soup from the latrine!"

"Isn't that just... manure?"

"You chose Gold Cultivation; naturally, you have to scoop Golden Soup!"

"This isn't Gold Cultivation, this is Manure Cultivation!" Xiao Genzi immediately burst into tears. "I won't do it! I won't choose this Taoist Sect!"

The Peddler shook his head and sighed. "Once you've chosen a Taoist Sect, there's no medicine for regret."

Xiao Genzi howled, "I'd rather die than choose this Taoist Sect!"

The Peddler sighed. "Try to look on the bright side. In this world, all Taoist Sects interact, both strengthening and constraining one another.

"Poison Cultivation and Medicine Cultivation counter each other; Water Cultivation and Fire Cultivation counter each other; Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation counter each other; Lust Cultivation and Bitter Cultivation counter each other. But your Taoist Sect is formidable—you counter others, and no one can counter you.

"Traveling Cultivators will flee at the sight of you. Literature Cultivators will hold their noses. Home Cultivators will shut their doors. Food Cultivators will feel nauseous. Martial Cultivators will keep a wide berth. Lust Cultivators will go weak at the knees.

"Lost Souls fear filth. Even the Ghost Servants of Nightmare Cultivators wouldn't dare act presumptuously before you. If this Taoist Sect is cultivated to its peak, you will be unstoppable!"

Xiao Genzi continued to wail, "I won't cultivate this, I just won't!"

"Look on the bright side, look on the bright side! You've already joined. From now on, you must carry this manure barrel. Before you advance a layer, you must carry it for five hours every day. It can't be empty; it must have 'contents.' And you must change those contents daily. The more frequently you change them, the faster you'll advance.

"Once you reach the next layer, you'll carry it for eight hours a day. After advancing to the Second Layer, one barrel won't be enough; you'll need to carry two. When that time comes, find me to buy a third barrel in preparation for ascending to the Third Layer."