Volume One: The Femme Fatale Chapter 8: The Mountain-Opening Palm

"Abominable! Absolutely abominable!"

"That wicked woman named Ji Yue—how could she be so cold-blooded and venomous?"

"Brother Jiang Hao, from today on, Caiyun will work hard at her cultivation. One day, I will surely take revenge for you, Brother Jiang Hao!"

After listening to Jiang Hao’s account, Fan Caiyun stamped her feet in indignation, her delicate little fists clenched tight, clearly feeling a deep sense of injustice on his behalf.

"You silly girl, don't worry! This blood debt—Brother Jiang Hao will make that woman pay for it sooner or later!" Jiang Hao gently stroked Fan Caiyun’s head, his gaze gradually hardening with resolve.

"Mm, Caiyun believes Brother Jiang Hao will definitely have his revenge!" Fan Caiyun nodded heavily, her eyes filled with unwavering conviction.

Just as Jiang Hao was about to continue their conversation, the impatient voice of Feng Ling’er echoed in his ear: "Boy, instead of wasting time whispering sweet nothings to this little girl, why not properly search the storage bags on those fellows?"

"How did I not think of that? I might find some spirit weapons or spell manuals." Realization dawned on Jiang Hao, and he hurriedly responded: "Master, I shall go search them at once!"

With that, after giving Fan Caiyun a few words of reassurance, Jiang Hao began to meticulously rummage through the storage bags of the Wild Wolf Gang members, searching with the utmost focus.

Under his careful scavenging, it didn't take long for him to empty out all their belongings.

"Three thousand silver coins, one hundred thousand copper coins, fifteen storage bags, a meteor hammer..." Looking at the items before him, Jiang Hao didn't show much excitement.

For an average family in the Central Plains, the annual income was about thirty thousand copper coins, which converted to only three hundred silver coins, or three gold coins.

Jiang Hao’s current net worth had reached four thousand silver coins—a vast difference compared to the income of ordinary people.

If he were to sell all fifteen storage bags, even at half their original value, he would likely net seven or eight thousand silver coins. Combined with the rest, his total wealth would exceed ten thousand silver coins.

However, to a cultivator, these ten thousand silver coins were but a drop in the ocean. In the world of cultivation, even a two-star spirit weapon cost several thousand silver coins, not to mention three-star weapons, which started at tens of thousands.

At this moment, the only thing that caught Jiang Hao’s attention was the two-star spirit weapon meteor hammer used by Feng Ba, the third leader of the Wild Wolf Gang.

In the cultivation world, spirit weapons were categorized into nine grades, from one to nine stars; the higher the grade, the more terrifying the power.

One-to-three-star spirit weapons were common, mostly used by low-level cultivators, and usually sold for anywhere between a few hundred to tens of thousands of silver coins.

Four-to-six-star spirit weapons were rare and powerful, typically wielded by mid-level cultivators, with prices ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of silver coins.

As for seven-to-nine-star spirit weapons, they were treasures of immense rarity and extraordinary power, mastered by high-level cultivators. Their value could no longer be measured in money; they were usually traded through barter and rarely appeared on the open market.

Nine-star spirit weapons, in particular, were encountered perhaps once in a century. A single swing could shatter mountains and rend the heavens. Such weapons were usually the heirlooms of major powers and were exceedingly rare.

"Master, I’ve checked several times, but I still haven't found any spell manuals," Jiang Hao said with a sigh, spreading his hands. "It would have been better if Feng Ba’s storage bag had survived, but unfortunately, he was reduced to nothing but ash."

"Are you blaming your master?" Feng Ling’er asked coldly, for she had used her Nirvana Flames to incinerate Feng Ba when she killed him.

"Disciple would not dare!" The icy tone startled Jiang Hao, and he quickly explained: "I just feel it's a pity. After all, as the third leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, he should have had at least one spell manual on him."

"Do you think everyone is as brainless as you? Take it!" Feng Ling’er snorted coldly, tossing a storage bag into Jiang Hao’s hands.

"Master, is this Feng Ba’s storage bag?" Feeling the weight of the bag, Jiang Hao was overjoyed and said gratefully: "As expected of you, Master! You always have a backup plan!"

"Enough with the flattery! If you weren't so weak, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble for you," Feng Ling’er replied coldly.

In truth, when she killed Feng Ba, she had already seized his storage bag, knowing that Jiang Hao’s current circumstances were somewhat dire.

"Hehe, Master is the best to me!" Jiang Hao could only scratch his head with a bashful smile.

Feng Ling’er did not respond, leaving Jiang Hao to grin to himself.

At this time, the conversation between Feng Ling’er and Jiang Hao relied entirely on that mysterious pendant, so Fan Caiyun was unaware of it.

As for the pendant, although Jiang Hao had his doubts, he knew his master, Feng Ling’er, did not wish to speak of it, so he wisely refrained from asking. For now, improving his own strength was the most important thing.

Jiang Hao impatiently opened Feng Ba’s storage bag. After a detailed search, he finally unearthed a spell manual and couldn't help but shout out: "Found it!"

"Mountain-Splitting Palm," a second-tier spell known for its sheer force and power. The practitioner channels spiritual energy to unleash a devastating palm strike, capable of carving paths through mountains. This technique focused on the condensation and explosive release of spiritual energy, with every move embodying the pursuit of ultimate strength.

Spells were powers that cultivators gradually mastered through practice, allowing them to manipulate the forces of heaven and earth to launch attacks, heal wounds, or even alter forms. Generally, spells could only be learned by studying manuals.

Based on their power, spells were divided into nine tiers.

First-to-third-tier spells were relatively common, yet their power was not to be underestimated; some cultivators used them to slay enemies with higher cultivation levels than their own. These could often be purchased at auctions.

Fourth-to-sixth-tier spells were rare in the cultivation world and usually only appeared within prominent families, cultivation sects, or at large-scale auctions.

Seventh-to-ninth-tier spells were extremely scarce, held mostly by powerful sects and ruling imperial dynasties, and almost never circulated in the market.

Ninth-tier spells, in particular, were considered world-class treasures, so rare they were practically legendary. Such spells could command the forces of nature and were only passed down by a handful of super-sects and peerless dynasties.

"A second-tier spell, and a palm technique at that! As expected of the third leader of the Wild Wolf Gang!" Jiang Hao was ecstatic, feeling a sense of relief.

He hadn't been very keen on the meteor hammer Feng Ba left behind; it felt too cumbersome. This "Mountain-Splitting Palm" was exactly what he needed.

"That’s amazing! Brother Jiang Hao finally found a spell manual!" Fan Caiyun, seeing this, stood on her tiptoes and leaned in excitedly, her face beaming with joy.

"Yes, little one. From today on, Brother Jiang Hao can practice spells too!" Jiang Hao gently stroked her hair, his eyes full of anticipation.

Afterward, Jiang Hao stowed all the gathered wealth and items into his Qiankun Ring, intending to sell them when he eventually visited the city.

Including the wealth from Feng Ba’s bag, Jiang Hao now possessed over thirty thousand silver coins, not counting the value of the sixteen storage bags and the meteor hammer.

With the long-awaited spell manual in his hands, Jiang Hao’s path of cultivation had finally truly begun!

Of course, before beginning his training, Jiang Hao and Fan Caiyun buried the hunters who had been killed by the Wild Wolf Gang one by one.

Looking at the teary-eyed Fan Caiyun, Jiang Hao secretly swore to himself: "The blood feud of this girl... one day, I will surely make the Wild Wolf Gang pay for it!"