Volume One: Beauty as a Source of Calamity Chapter Nine: Harsh Training

The Misty Forest sits quietly in the southern reaches of the Southern Xia Kingdom. Every time night falls, the forest is shrouded in a dense, impenetrable fog. Within this dark expanse of woodland, numerous fearsome demonic beasts lurk, their true forms only visible under the light of day.

"Bang!"

With a deafening crash, another desert wolf collapsed heavily into a pool of blood, gasping its final breaths. The desert wolf, a ferocious and cunning first-rank demonic beast, usually hunts in packs. With their slender frames and desolate, grayish-brown fur that blends into the shadows of the wilderness, they are truly chilling. Their eyes shimmer with a sharp, crafty light, as if they can perceive everything. When night descends, these wolves become particularly active; relying on their agile bodies and keen sense of smell, they can track prey in total silence, making them one of the most dangerous threats in the Misty Forest.

"Three months of grueling practice, and I have finally truly mastered the Mountain-Splitting Palm," Jiang Hao mused, gazing at the dozen or so wolf carcasses scattered around him.

For the past three months, he and Fan Caiyun had been traversing the Misty Forest, hunting first-rank beasts to hone his skills and stabilize his cultivation. From the early days, when it took more than three strikes to kill a single desert wolf, to now, when he could fell one with a single blow—the last three months had witnessed his transformation.

During this time, Jiang Hao had brought the Mountain-Splitting Palm to a state of perfection. Just now, it had taken him less than a teacup's time to slay over ten desert wolves. These beasts were equivalent in strength to a human cultivator at the ninth level of the Spirit Qi Realm.

Cultivators categorize their progress in spell mastery into four stages: Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Peak. Entry involves learning the basic techniques inscribed in the manuals; Minor Accomplishment is the initial mastery of those moves; Major Accomplishment denotes a state of thorough integration; and the Peak stage represents a profound insight, allowing one to unleash the ultimate potential of a technique. Clearly, Jiang Hao had reached the Peak stage of this second-rank spell. He felt confident that even if he were to encounter a low-level second-rank demonic beast, he would have the strength to fight it.

Of course, Jiang Hao always adhered to Feng Ling'er’s instructions, remaining on the fringes of the Misty Forest and never venturing deep into its heart to seek out second-rank beasts. As Feng Ling'er had explained, her primordial spirit was currently too weak and needed to slumber within the mysterious pendant to recover, so she did not wish to be distracted by Jiang Hao’s affairs.

"It has been nearly three months since Master taught me the Mountain-Splitting Palm. I wonder when she will wake up," Jiang Hao whispered, gently clutching the mysterious pendant at his chest, his heart filled with complex emotions. He knew that without Master Feng Ling'er's meticulous guidance, reaching the peak of this second-rank spell in a mere three months would have been impossible.

"Brother Jiang Hao, dinner is ready!"

Just as Jiang Hao was lost in thought, the sweet, clear voice of Fan Caiyun called out from behind him. Jiang Hao snapped back to reality and replied, "Coming, girl!" He quickly began gathering the spoils of the hunt—the beast cores within the wolves.

First-rank demonic beasts are creatures, plants, or animals that have awakened their intelligence, carrying memories and innate talents. They condense solid beast cores within their bodies to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, embarking on the path of cultivation. Every demonic beast possesses a core, but these cores contain wild, violent energy that cannot be directly absorbed by human cultivators. If a human were to swallow one rashly, they would risk their body exploding. Therefore, the cores must be refined into pills, a process that inevitably diminishes some of their inherent energy. In contrast, powerful demonic beasts of the same species can swallow these cores directly, refining and absorbing the energy within their own bodies to avoid waste.

"Three hundred and sixty-nine first-rank beast cores. I wonder how much silver these will fetch." Jiang Hao counted the cores inside his Qiankun Ring, muttered to himself, and then walked quickly toward Fan Caiyun.

...

"Brother Jiang Hao, how is the roasted fish today?" By the campfire, Fan Caiyun looked at Jiang Hao with eager anticipation.

Jiang Hao set down the fish, savored a bite, and smiled. "Caiyun’s cooking is getting better and better. This fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—it’s absolutely delicious!"

"Really, Brother Jiang Hao?" she asked with a giggle.

"Of course! When have I ever lied to you?" Jiang Hao replied with a serious expression, taking several large, hungry bites to prove how tasty it was.

Seeing this, Fan Caiyun beamed, her face flushing with a faint blush. She whispered softly, "As long as you like it, Brother Jiang Hao, I am willing to stay by your side forever and cook delicious meals for you."

Although her voice was soft, Jiang Hao heard her clearly. Looking at the innocent and lovely girl before him, he felt a wave of emotion. Yet, in his eyes, Fan Caiyun’s feelings were those of a deep, sibling-like bond. He believed that at her age, she could not possibly distinguish the complexities of adult affection.

Unbeknownst to them, by the time Jiang Hao finished the fragrant fish, Fan Caiyun had already fallen asleep, resting her head against his shoulder. In the gentle breeze of the night, the campfire flickered, casting a warm, soft glow that illuminated the surrounding tranquility. Fan Caiyun leaned against him, her cheek pressed against his warm skin, her long hair shimmering in the firelight like tiny stars in the night sky. Her breathing was light and steady, as if she were chasing beautiful dreams.

Jiang Hao felt her warmth, a wave of tenderness rising in his heart. He watched her with a gentle gaze, as if time had frozen in that moment.

"This girl really pushes herself too hard." Looking at the sleeping Fan Caiyun, Jiang Hao felt a pang of heartache. Three months ago, he had thought her desire to cultivate was just a passing remark, but she had been entirely serious. While he practiced his techniques, she practiced in silence. Now, she had reached the third level of the Spirit Qi Realm—a rapid pace driven entirely by her wish to help him avenge his past.

The world around them blurred, leaving only the crackling of the fire and the chirping of insects to weave a melodic symphony for their quiet time.

"I must work hard to cultivate and protect this girl. I will never let her suffer again," Jiang Hao vowed inwardly, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, fearing he might disturb her dreams. He knew that this girl had long since come to see him as her only kin.