Chapter 8

C8 – Spicy Palm(2)

Spicy Palm Technique: Submerge your hands in chili-infused water for ten-minute sessions. Persist until your hands adapt, then graduate to chili powder or even spicier herbal concoctions. Striking an enemy, the fiery essence infiltrates their skin, inducing swelling, inflammation, and excruciating pain.

“Have they lost their minds? Who’s the moron that came up with this martial art? And it’s got a bunch of idiots slapping on five-star reviews? Claims of beauty enhancement and fixing a split stream? Ridiculous.”

Zhou Mu ranted furiously, yet despite his tirade, he too left a five-star rating.

He couldn’t be the only one duped; he had to rope others in, or else how could he live up to the legacy of his predecessors’ tall tales?

Dismissing the Spicy Palm Technique as a worthless trick, Zhou Mu pondered its purpose. Was it only good for spicing up dishes without the need for actual chilies?

“The real issue is my lack of soul intensity and the absence of money,” he mused.

His father was pushing for an engagement between Zhou Mu and Qi Xiang, but his heart wasn’t in it.

In a world overrun by fiend beasts, power was the currency of survival.

Without it, wealth could be plundered, loved ones could drift away, and even life itself could slip through one’s fingers.

Thus, Zhou Mu’s priority was to become formidable. Only after achieving strength would he entertain thoughts of career and romance.

“Enough of this. Time to enhance my physique, then head into the wilds to hunt fiend beasts.”

Given his current capabilities, taking down a level three fiend beast was well within reach.

The demise of these creatures sometimes yielded soul fragments, and their carcasses could fetch a good price.

If he hunted prolifically, wealth and prosperity would soon be his.

Upon accessing the system store, Zhou Mu was momentarily taken aback.

“What’s this? New items?”

A semi-transparent list materialized before him, piquing his curiosity.

Soul Fragment, Granule: There’s a slim chance of obtaining this from a fourth rank or higher fiend beast upon its death. Using it boosts soul intensity by 0.2 points, with a maximum increase of 3 points. It requires 500 points to acquire.

Capsaicin: Sourced from the fiery Devil Pepper, it boasts an extreme level of heat. Only 1 point is needed for purchase.

The Soul Fragment, in granule form, is twice as potent as the powder, with the cap increased from 2 points to 3 points.

Yet, in comparison to a total soul intensity of 222 points, these items hardly seem significant.

But there’s no alternative; items that enhance soul intensity are regulated, and even with money, they’re tough to acquire.

The few that do make it to the outside world are only available on the black market, at exorbitant prices.

The Capsaicin, however, is somewhat of a curiosity.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

It’s cheap and highly effective, clearly baiting Zhou Mu to give it a go.

Others might have been tempted, but Zhou Mu? He’s the man who faces the world with unabashed confidence!

Once his Constitution reached 100 points, he’d be capable of withstanding the bloodline shock from a leader-grade spirit animal.

Having committed to this path, he intended to secure only the best.

From now on, any spirit animal he dealt with had to be at least of leader quality.

In battle, Gator would unleash its dragon’s might, a force no enemy could match unless they were leader-grade.

Facing a normal, an elite, and a leader-grade spirit animal, Zhou Mu countered with three leaders of his own, rendering the fight almost trivial.

With his funds depleted, Zhou Mu’s progress had to pause for the time being.

Post-dinner and bath, he lay in bed, planning to visit the Animal Whisperer Union the next day to pick up a few assignments.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon ascended, silence enveloped the darkness, punctuated only by the soft cadence of breathing within the room.

That night, Zhou Mu dreamt of a captivating beauty—a woman with skin like satin, a slender waist, and a cool, stunning visage.

Despite the chill of her touch, her intense ardor ignited a fiery passion within him.

Just as he was about to grab his spear and mount his horse, he abruptly woke from the dream.

“Damn!”

Zhou Mu couldn’t help but let out an exasperated curse, quickly realizing something was amiss.

There was something on him!

Upon this realization, Zhou Mu broke out in a cold sweat.

To avoid startling the creature, he stifled the impulse to roll over and flee, carefully extending his hand to flick the switch.

Click!

The harsh light flooded the room, revealing Gator with its head pressed against his chest, stirring a mix of emotions within Zhou Mu.

He had been dreaming, and just as things were getting interesting, he woke up?

So he was awake, but the smooth object he’d felt in his dream was a snake?

And why was it outside when it should have been in the special space provided by the Soul Contract?

“Hiss hiss!”

Gator seemed to notice Zhou Mu’s awakening, lifting its head and gently licking his chest, its gaze becoming hazy.

Zhou Mu was baffled.

Since when did a snake’s expressions become so rich and hazy?

“If only you were a girl, how great would that be! I’d enhance your bloodline, you’d boost my physical attributes, and we’d support each other. I’d always treat you well, and you’d never betray me.”

Zhou Mu stroked Gator’s head, sighed in resignation, turned off the light, and went back to sleep.