C6 [soul of the Dead!]

"Awesome!"

Zhao Dong was thrilled beyond words after seeing the reward.

Unexpectedly, he not only secured his first profession but also awakened a skill: Wood Control.

It was almost like being Magneto, except instead of manipulating all things metal, he could command wood products.

Take the boat beneath his feet, for instance.

He had initially intended to row and had even crafted an oar for the task.

But now, with Wood Control at his disposal, he could effortlessly propel the boat forward using his newfound ability.

It was exhilarating, to say the least.

Naturally, mental strength played a crucial role since skill usage would sap his mental energy.

The boat wasn't exactly small, so it would likely require a significant amount of mental power to move.

"Hmm, let's do the lottery draw first and see what treasures it holds."

Zhao Dong tapped the lottery option, and almost instantly, an image materialized before him.

To his surprise, it was the image of a ghost.

Congratulations on obtaining: Spirit's Soul.

Spirit's Soul: A strand of essence that can inhabit a corpse or an item, endowing the latter with sentience and greatly enhancing its functions. Once it acknowledges you as its master, it will serve you with unwavering loyalty.

Zhao Dong grasped the concept.

This essence could imbue certain items with consciousness, bringing them to life.

With this in mind, Zhao Dong entertained a daring thought.

Meanwhile, his attribute panel had undergone a significant transformation.

Survivor: Zhao Dong.

Profession: Master Carpenter.

Level: L3 (0%)

Strength: 65.

Speed: 63.

Constitution: 64.

Defense: 68.

Spirit: 85.

Skills: Critical Hit (40%)

Skills: Flame.

Talent: Attribute Display. Wood Control.

Gold Coins: 9000.

Attribute Points Available: 30.

Equipment: Hammer of Industry. Property Eye.

Special Items: Spirit's Soul.

In that moment, he felt a surge of power like never before.

A single punch sent a whooshing sound through the air.

Subsequently.

He allocated all his Attribute Points to Spirit, boosting it to 115.

Zhao Dong had his reasons for this choice.

His physical attributes were already quite impressive.

And since he was on a ship, the likelihood of encountering wild beasts was slim.

Should he face an adversary, he could simply employ Wood Control to secure victory.

The advantage of a robust Spirit was clear: the stronger it was, the more effortlessly he could wield Wood Control, swiftly and easily resolving battles.

"Now I'm sitting on 9000 gold coins."

Zhao Dong mused, feeling like he might just be the wealthiest man around.

The significance of gold coins wasn't apparent early on, as the marketplace had yet to open.

Once it did, there would be medicines, attribute-boosting foods, and a variety of tools.

But above all else, blueprints were key.

With blueprints in hand, one only needed to gather the required materials to construct the depicted tools.

Such as houses, large vessels, or even machinery.

"I'll craft a wooden mannequin and infuse it with the Spirit's Soul; then I'll have an utterly loyal minion."

Zhao Dong plotted in his mind.

Of course, he had also considered binding the Spirit's Soul to the carcass of a fallen beast.

But while a beast's combat prowess was formidable, it lacked the finesse for more delicate tasks.

Moreover, according to the Spirit's Soul description, a corpse would continue to decay even if inhabited.

He certainly couldn't spend his days surrounded by the stench of decay, could he?

Therefore, he was convinced that a wooden puppet was the ideal choice.

At that moment, Zhao Dong was feeling exhausted and ravenous.

"I need to find a spot to dock and light a fire for roasting meat."

Rubbing his belly, Zhao Dong eyed the nearby crocodile territory.

With the aid of his Property Eye, he spotted some enticing attribute bubbles drifting near the crocodiles.

These bubbles were alluring, like a woman ready for romance, arms outstretched in invitation.

Zhao Dong took a look at his modest fishing boat and opted against taking the chance.

The area was vast, and attribute bubbles were plentiful, available to be collected anytime. There was no need to rush.

But then, unexpectedly, an opportunity arose.

The three crocodiles departed, making their way to a nearby bank, presumably to bask in the sunlight.

"What a perfect chance."

A spark of excitement in his eyes, Zhao Dong hatched a plan.

With the crocodiles gone, several attribute bubbles bobbed on the water's surface, presenting an ideal moment to gather them.

Resolved, Zhao Dong positioned himself at the center of the boat and fitted the two freshly crafted oars into their respective supports on either side.

The oars were crudely made, with numerous splinters along their edges.

Yet, they looked impeccable, a testament to the Hammer of Industry. The hammer's axe was so sharp that with a gentle slice, large chunks of wood were effortlessly removed.

He then replicated the previous oars' design, creating two new ones.

Upon closer inspection, the oars were noticeably mismatched—one larger, one smaller; one longer, one shorter.

But they would suffice.

Installation complete!

Zhao Dong seized the large crab he had just bartered for, flipped open the lid, and began to devour the rich, fatty yellow roe inside.

He couldn't help it—he was simply too famished.

Rowing the boat would soon demand physical exertion, and despite his high attribute points, how could he exert himself on an empty stomach?

Feeling much better after a hearty gulp of roe, Zhao Dong took another swig and then tore into a piece of raw fish meat.

Chewing on the fish, he commenced rowing.

Initially, rowing proved strenuous.

Not because he lacked the strength; the fishing boat's oars were designed to be wielded with ease.

The challenge was unfamiliarity.

Having never even been in a boat before, rowing now felt as awkward as a toddler's first steps.

Thankfully, after a brief adjustment period, he managed to steer the vessel.

"Advance!"

Splash, splash, splash...

The boat rocked gently as it made its way toward the attribute bubbles.

Drawing nearer with each stroke.

Zhao Dong was thrilled, but just then, a speed attribute bubble slowly vanished.

"Gone?"

A thought struck Zhao Dong.

The attributes would fade over time.

With that in mind, he quickened his pace, determined to secure the remaining attributes before they too disappeared.

At last, he reached the bubbles.

Strength +3.

Stamina +4.

He swiftly extended his hand, scooping up the bubbles as if collecting treasures.

To Zhao Dong's surprise, the bubble vanished the instant he touched it, followed swiftly by a notification:

Strength +3.

Stamina +4.

"That was easy!" Zhao Dong chuckled.

With this divine power at his disposal, he believed he could become incredibly strong without even having to hunt vicious beasts.

Announcement: Level 0 Lin Si Si consumed a toxic plant and died.

Zhao Dong paused, taken aback by yet another death.

The death notice was for someone in Beginner Village No.168, his own village.

Each village, delineated by size, housed roughly ten thousand residents.

"How tragic, to die by poison," he mused.

At that moment, Zhao Dong felt a surge of relief. His 'Attribute Display' ability, which he had once considered somewhat trivial, could reveal the presence of poison. It was like having a personal scanner.