Chapter 38: Level Three System

After Du Yu left with Li Chunhong and Wang Xiaowei, the previously quiet villagers became lively once again. Many who had previously curried favor with the village chief gathered around.

"What’s going on, Old Zhao? How did this brat become so capable all of a sudden?"

The village chief’s face turned red, and he stiffened his neck, saying, "Du Yu is no longer the down-and-out scholar he used to be. He is now leading everyone toward prosperity. No one is to speak ill of him again; Du Yu is the village’s benefactor!"

He spoke with a tone of great righteousness. The villagers curled their lips in private, but no one dared to show the village chief disrespect, so they each changed the subject and stopped discussing the matter.

Meanwhile, Du Yu was examining his Level 3 system with delight. After parting ways with Wang Xiaowei, he had dived straight into his bedroom upon returning home. Li Chunhong simply assumed he had work to attend to and did not disturb her son.

He opened the system. The refreshed interface made his eyes light up.

{Level 3 System}
[Host: Du Yu]
[Luck Points: 2300]
[Skill Points: 1]
[Level 3 Skill Point Module now unlocked]
[Current Skills:
1. Threatening Presence (5/7): Causes creatures within a 100-meter radius to feel fear and flee!
Note: Effect +100% against aquatic creatures.
2. Combat Proficiency (5/7): Focused on combat techniques, includes dynamic vision, weakness detection, etc., ensuring an invincible position in a fight!
Note: Effect +100% against aquatic creatures.
3. Stamina (5/7): Stamina and Focus have now been merged.
Note: When the host is underwater, Stamina gains an additional +100%.
4. Fishing Proficiency (5/7): Increases fishing success rate, improves techniques, etc.
Derived Skills:
1. Fist Momentum (1/2): Punches carry a deterrent effect, causing enemies to suffer brief disorientation.
Remark: Effect +100% against aquatic creatures.
Note: The maximum level for standard skills in the Level 3 system is seven, and the maximum for derived skills is two.]
[Newly Unlocked Skills:
1. Diving Proficiency (0/7): Extends breath-holding duration underwater and reduces the impact of water resistance. (Detailed description will be unlocked after Diving Proficiency reaches Level 1.)
2. Aquaculture Proficiency (0/7): Improves farming techniques, shortens the growth cycle of fish, and provides techniques to optimize the farming environment. (Detailed description will be unlocked after Aquaculture Proficiency reaches Level 1.)]

Seeing the end, Du Yu scratched his head. The system claimed information was only available at Level 1, but it really boiled down to one thing: "You are my host, but you still have to pay up!"

Du Yu, however, was already accustomed to the system’s antics. After spending 500 Luck Points to redeem one skill point, he chose to add it to [Aquaculture Proficiency] and [Diving Proficiency].

"Diving Proficiency has been upgraded to (1/7)."
"Aquaculture Proficiency has been upgraded to (1/7)."

Du Yu chose to view the attributes.

[Diving Proficiency]
Brief:
1. Extends breath-holding duration underwater; Level 1 proficiency allows for 10 minutes.
2. Grants fish-like swimming techniques, allowing for higher speed underwater. One can open their eyes underwater, though vision is reduced by 50% compared to on land.
3. Level 1 [Diving Proficiency] works in tandem with [Fishing Proficiency], significantly increasing the probability and mastery of underwater fishing.
4. The optimal underwater diving depth for Level 1 is 10 meters.

[Aquaculture Proficiency]
Brief:
1. More fish farming techniques.
2. Increases the vitality of precious fish.
3. Level 1 [Aquaculture Proficiency] allows for the artificial farming of "small yellow croakers," "hairtail," etc.
4. [Bait] combined with [Aquaculture Proficiency] can significantly improve the quality of farmed fish.
5. After containment, Level 1 [Aquaculture Proficiency] can slightly improve the quality of captured sea fish.

Du Yu read through the two new proficiencies word by word. With these, he no longer needed to wait foolishly on the shore or a boat for fish to bite; he could enter the battlefield himself. He recalled the scene of frantically catching fish underwater in the East Sea while wearing a diving suit. It was exhilarating. Now, he could go into the sea without even needing an oxygen mask.

As for [Aquaculture Proficiency], this was interesting. It seemed the system’s definition of "farming" wasn't necessarily about raising artificial fish, but rather enhancing the quality of wild sea fish! He happened to have a fish pond in front of his house. In the future, he could take the sea fish he caught and raise them in his own pond for three to five days before transporting them to the shop. That would elevate the quality of the fish in his shop to a whole new level.

After thinking this through, Du Yu began to browse the Luck Point Mall. He hadn't checked it since returning from the East Sea.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Naturally, it was Li Chunhong who opened it.

"What are you here for?" Li Chunhong’s expression soured when she saw that the visitor was the wife of Du Yu’s eldest brother—her daughter-in-law.

"Hehe, Mom, I’m here to find Du Yu," the sister-in-law said, forcing a smile.

"Du Yu, someone is looking for you!" Li Chunhong shouted. Her words were loaded with meaning; she didn't tell Du Yu it was his sister-in-law, but simply said "someone." This clearly distanced herself from the woman.

Du Yu emerged from his room and, seeing his sister-in-law, his expression didn't change at all. "Is there something you need?" His tone was that of a stranger.

The sister-in-law felt choked up, but she still put on a shameless face. "Xiaoyu, I heard you’ve paid off more than half of the debt owed to the village chief’s family. You must have found some money, right? Could you perhaps..."

"That debt is our family's business. What does it have to do with you? And what does my paying it off have to do with you coming here? If there’s nothing else, please leave." Du Yu issued a blunt eviction notice. He had no interest in hearing what else she had to say.

In truth, the sister-in-law had noticed that Du Yu was thriving again, had paid off the village chief, and was rumored to know important people. She wanted to see if she could find an opportunity to rekindle their "familial ties." But after being rebuffed so many times, Du Yu had become completely desensitized. She had been happier than anyone when they split the family up.

The sister-in-law walked out of Du Yu’s house with a bitter face and ran into Zhao Qinqin, who had just stormed out of her home in a huff. Zhao Qinqin had been scolded by the village chief after being dragged home. She felt extremely frustrated; her father hadn't been this afraid of Du Yu before. Because the village chief cared about his reputation, he couldn't tell her the truth, so he had simply told her that neighbors should get along harmoniously.

Zhao Qinqin didn't buy it for a second. She was sulking when she ran into the sister-in-law.

"Hey, Qinqin, why are you here?" the sister-in-law asked curiously.

"Ugh, I got scolded by my dad. He said Du Yu knows some big shots and told me not to provoke him anymore. How about you, sister-in-law?"

"Sigh, I wanted to ask Du Yu for a favor, to let me work in his shop, but the brat has no sense of kinship and rejected me flat out. Also, don't listen to your dad’s nonsense. How could Du Yu possibly know any big shots?" The sister-in-law lied without batting an eye, never mentioning the family split.

"How could he be like this? It’s too much! To treat his own family like this!" Although Zhao Qinqin despised the sister-in-law, she played along, feigning indignation.

"Qinqin, how about this? Isn't he doing great selling things in the city? Why don't we..."