0076 failed to penetrate the enemy’s armor?

"Impressive, Fourth! What kind of trick was that?"

"How did you manage to light a match like that?"

Wang Wei and Jiang Zhe were both baffled, their curiosity piqued. They borrowed a few playing cards and matches from Chen Jue, trying to ignite the matches by rubbing them together, but even after nearly scraping off all the red coating from the match heads, they still couldn't get them to light.

Left with no choice, they stared at Chen Jue, waiting for an explanation.

"It’s probably because the card was thrown so fast that the friction generated enough heat to reach the ignition point," Chen Jue explained. "These vintage matches have a lower ignition temperature, so you don't even need the striking paper on the side to light them."

As he spoke, Chen Jue pulled out another match and struck it hard against the heel of his shoe. With a whoosh, it burst into flame.

The elegance of this lighting method left Wang Wei and Jiang Zhe dumbfounded. They hurried to imitate him, and after a few attempts using their shoe soles, finally managed to light a match.

"No wonder the boss said those Panda cigarettes and matches are expensive!"

"I never really noticed before, but they really are different from the matches we used as kids," Wang Wei said, slapping his forehead as a memory surfaced.

Most matches sold nowadays are safety matches; they require the special red phosphorus strip on the matchbox to ignite. But the high-end matches Wang Wei had swiped were clearly made using an older friction match method. The match heads contained potassium chlorate and phosphorus sesquisulfide, so they could ignite by striking against any rough surface, without the need for the special strip.

As for why the rich owner would use these more dangerous vintage matches, it was likely to show off his unique taste and individuality.

After all, nowadays, anything nostalgic—be it matches or anything else—marked as "traditional craft" or "custom-made" can fetch prices dozens or even hundreds of times higher.

...

Having picked up this elegant lighting trick from Chen Jue, the three of them sat on the curb, chatting and reminiscing before heading their separate ways in the night.

Chen Jue drove back to Wangyang Apartments, and immediately placed an online order for a batch of friction matches, spending over two hundred as props for his next video.

Back in his rural childhood, matches were sold everywhere—ten boxes for a yuan at the local store—used mainly for cooking fires. Every household had to keep them on hand. But now, in both cities and villages, everyone uses natural gas and lighters, and matches have all but vanished from daily life. If you want to buy them, you have to rely on the all-powerful Taobao.

As for the high-end matches Wang Wei got from his sponsor, Chen Jue found the same ones online. Imported collector’s editions were selling for hundreds per box, even more expensive than premium cigarettes. Chen Jue could only marvel: "Some people really have money to burn!"

...

After a massage at Jingtanghui, Chen Jue returned home intending to rest early. The Hannibal pull-ups he’d done that afternoon had truly worn him out. That move is notoriously difficult in street fitness—most people can’t even manage one proper rep, let alone several sets.

But just as he lay down, his phone vibrated. It was a message from the Wild Adventurers’ group in Hangzhou, someone tagging him in the chat.

"Master of skills! Meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Wild Map Point 6!"

"We’re organizing a big offline event, over thirty members have signed up. Hope you can join us!"

Guo Shao was stirring up excitement in the group, with a flurry of memes and requests for the master to "carry us" flooding in. The atmosphere was electric—ever since they’d seen Chen Jue’s stunt with the nail and the rat, everyone was eager for a live demonstration.

Chen Jue didn’t refuse. His [Projectile Throwing] skill was only halfway to leveling up, and joining wild events would be a good way to speed up the process. Sending a simple "OJBK" emoji, he set his phone aside and went to sleep.

The next morning, feeling fully recovered, Chen Jue went up to the rooftop to greet the rising sun with his eye exercises and the newly activated [Ear Health Routine].

With the addition of ear exercises, he’d woken up extra early, splitting his time between eye practice and boosting his proficiency in the ear routine. After forty minutes, his ears were flushed red in the sunlight and his proficiency had increased by about ten points. The progress was slow, not as fast as his eyesight improvement, but clearly more efficient than trying to sneak the exercises in during class.

"Patience is a virtue," Chen Jue sighed when the panel showed no improvement in his constitution. With that, he headed downstairs and drove to the park for his morning workout.

It was Saturday, and Teacher Wu arrived later than usual, probably sleeping in after a busy week at school. By coincidence, she and Chen Jue entered the park together.

Noticing Chen Jue empty-handed, Wu Fang greeted him and asked, "Good morning, Jue! Not shooting any videos today?"

"Tomorrow," Chen Jue replied with a smile, not mentioning the wild hunt. "Got something to do this morning."

"If it rains tomorrow, I won’t be able to help you!" Wu Fang winked and went off to join the old men at the chess tables.

Watching her go, Chen Jue mumbled, "She’s getting more direct with me," his mood brightening as he headed into the small grove.

To his surprise, Zhao Jianguo, who had been absent for days, had returned—and brought with him a middle-aged Taoist priest in a black long robe.

This Taoist wore his hair long, his face lean and bearded, a bit unkempt, but his eyes were bright and spirited. He sat calmly at the stone table, sipping hot tea, while quietly observing Zhao Jianguo leading the group in Tai Chi practice.

Curious, Chen Jue glanced at the priest, only to find the man’s reaction lightning-fast—he turned and met Chen Jue’s gaze instantly.

"What reflexes!" Chen Jue thought, quickly averting his eyes and joining the Tai Chi group.

Now that several of his Tai Chi skills had reached Level 2, his movements were smoother and more comfortable. Especially during the thirteen postures, he had mastered the subtle engagement of the pelvic floor and tailbone, his body rising and falling with an indescribable rhythm.

The Taoist couldn’t take his eyes off him.

After two hours, Chen Jue finished his morning practice, gaining a heap of Tai Chi proficiency and even a free attribute point. He left the grove leisurely.

Meanwhile, Zhao Jianguo finished his lesson and joined the Taoist at the stone table. "Brother Zhiqing, what do you think? Is he a good prospect?"

The Taoist nodded. "Definitely a promising one. Not only has he got the foundation, he even grasps the essence of Tai Chi—focusing on intention rather than form."

"But Jianguo, are you sure he’s only been practicing for a month? He doesn’t look like a beginner to me," the Taoist asked, suspicious.

Zhao Jianguo quickly shook his head. "No way! He only signed up for a one-month short course. I taught him the postures myself—everyone here can vouch for it!"

Reassured, the Taoist looked thoughtfully in the direction Chen Jue had gone. "Let’s get to know him better. If he’s willing, maybe we can bring him into the fold. Our Dragon Gate sect is in decline—we’re nothing like the Wudang with their endless supply of disciples. We desperately need new blood!"

...

After his workout, Chen Jue went over to the chess tables to thank Old Wu for recommending him to audit classes at Jiang University. Then he left the park, had breakfast at his usual spot, and set his GPS for the meetup point shared in the Wild Adventurers group.

The location turned out to be beside a small river. The water was murky, and several high-powered pumps were draining the dammed-off section, exposing the black, stinking mud beneath.

The commotion had drawn a crowd of onlookers on the opposite bank.

Guo Shao and Yang Fan were waiting at the river’s edge with a group of wild-hunting enthusiasts, all watching the water recede.

The roadside parking was filled with rugged SUVs—Land Rovers, Prados, Jeep Wranglers—and a few flashy sports cars at the back. Clearly, a bunch of affluent second-generation locals had come out for the thrill.

The gear they brought was eclectic: slingshots, compound bows, traditional bows, even homemade crossbows—going all out, even showing off regulated weapons!

But according to the group chat, Guo Shao had registered the event with the local police, and everyone with regulated gear had the proper permits, so Chen Jue relaxed.

He parked a distance away, donned his face mask from the back seat, and pocketed a box of iron nails and a set of short throwing darts. As soon as he approached the group, he became the most eye-catching presence on site.

Who’d wear such a mask in broad daylight unless they were a bit eccentric or socially anxious?

Of course, Chen Jue was simply protecting his identity. With so many people present, someone was bound to film and post online. The signature ancient warrior mask would both draw traffic and preserve his privacy—a win-win.

"It’s the master!"

"He’s finally here!"

"That mask looks awesome up close—I’m getting one online!"

As soon as they spotted the familiar mask, the group buzzed with excitement. Those with bows and crossbows were especially eager to see if the flying nail technique was as lethal as it had seemed in the rat-hunting video.

"Bro, you made it! Everyone’s waiting for your performance!" Guo Shao and Yang Fan, who knew Chen Jue’s real identity, kept their word and didn’t call him by name. They introduced him to the group and took a group photo.

To Chen Jue’s surprise, he recognized someone among them—Wang Wei, who had been out with him just the night before, was there as well!

Wang Wei was busily assisting a rich couple, unloading items from the back seat of a Lamborghini. Clearly, he was there as a hired hand for his benefactor.

Well, work is work—nothing shameful about it.

Such is adult life; who has it easy?

"Good thing I wore the mask. If Old Five spotted me, I’d be socially dead," Chen Jue thought, resolving to keep a low profile and focus on hunting, speaking as little as possible to avoid being recognized.

...

As the water level dropped, the muddy riverbed was gradually exposed, prompting exclamations from the onlookers.

"There are fish in the water!"

"Look at those fish! Why are they all mottled? They look hideous!"

"Oh my god, what is that?"

The armored catfish—plecostomus—began to emerge in the mud. Their bizarre, pitted appearance triggered waves of disgust in the crowd, more unsettling than the stench of the mud itself.

On the hunters’ side, a live broadcast was already underway, and everyone was itching to show off their gear.

Thanks to the group’s wealthy sponsors, there were cash prizes for the top three hunters—the first place winner would take home 8,888 yuan.

But before anyone made a move, all eyes were on the masked master.

"Why don’t you show us how it’s done, Bro? Kick things off for us!" Guo Shao suggested.

Most of the group had come specifically to see Chen Jue in action. If they didn’t witness his flying nail technique in person, they’d be left unsatisfied.

Chen Jue nodded and pulled out a three-inch round nail, aiming at a plecostomus thrashing five or six meters away in the mud. He threw with all his might.

With a thud, the bright nail struck the armored fish’s tough shell—but instead of piercing through, it bounced off into the mud!

The plecostomus, as if mocking his failure to penetrate its armor, wriggled energetically in the mire.

"What the…?"

"Is that it?"

"So much for the legendary flying nail!"

"Seriously?"

Guo Shao, Yang Fan, and the thirty-odd group members were all stunned. Chen Jue’s aim was perfect, but the nail lacked the power to do real damage. With a thick bony armor, even smashing these fish with a hammer doesn’t always kill them—let alone a light projectile like a nail.

"Bro, want to try again?" Guo Shao whispered. He’d gone to great lengths to organize this event, and after hyping up Chen Jue’s skills in the group, a flop in the opening act would make it hard to rally such a crowd again.

But Chen Jue shook his head. "The nail’s too light—it can’t break through the armor."

As a Level 5 projectile master, he immediately saw the flaw. With his current strength, a nail simply couldn’t penetrate the hard shell of such fish.

He reached into his other pocket for a short throwing dart, borrowed a fishing line from a group member, threaded it through the dart’s tail, and threw it with full force. The silver dart whistled through the air, its deadly sound turning all heads.

The dart struck with a splash of blood, piercing straight through the plecostomus and mixing its red blood with the black mud.

Chen Jue gently retrieved his catch with the fishing line, landing the first trophy on shore.

"Awesome!"

"Unbelievable—these armored fish are hard to pierce even with a crossbow, but he did it in one throw!"

"This is the real deal!"

"Totally worth coming today!"

The thirty-some group members burst into cheers. Some snapped photos, others filmed, and a few tested the fish’s armor themselves.

Aside from custom crossbows and high-poundage compound bows, nothing else could pierce the fish’s tough shell—not even slingshot pellets or traditional bows.

The fact that Chen Jue had managed it barehanded left everyone in awe, and the earlier failed nail attempt was quickly forgiven.

As for Chen Jue, he remained unfazed by the praise, his attention caught by a new notification on his panel:

——————

[Ding~]

[You have completed a perfect projectile demonstration, successfully hunting an exceptionally resilient rare prey.]

[Projectile Throwing Proficiency +300]

——————

"So this thing is basically a mini-boss. No wonder it grants so much proficiency!"