Chapter 3 : 《？？？》

Communicating with the system had taken up quite a bit of time, and Jiang Ke’er wasn’t sure how much time had passed.

In any case… she needed to hurry and prepare.

Death was already on its way.

First, she checked her recent gains: three magic crystal stones, three consumed pill residues, a book titled [???], and a book called Thief Saint’s Notes.

The Thief Saint’s Notes was priced at 800 million.

When Jiang Ke’er focused her gaze on the book, a detailed item description popped up above it:

[Thief Saint’s Notes: Records the lifelong knowledge of the greatest Thief Saint, “Steal · Anduin,” from the ancient Yadel Continent. Opening this book allows one to master the profound techniques of the art of theft. When cultivated to its peak, one could even steal the heavens and change the sun, plundering an enemy’s thoughts and cultivation!]

[The book is divided into seven levels of mastery, requiring multiple uses to advance.]

Steal · Anduin?

It sounded like a pretty impressive name…

Driven by curiosity, Jiang Ke’er tried flipping open the book.

As soon as she lifted a corner of the cover, the entire book turned into a beam of white light and shot into her mind.

Instantly, she felt countless techniques and words imprinting themselves deep in her memory.

It was as if she had become that legendary Thief Saint from ancient times, experiencing everything she had gone through.

In just a fleeting moment, Jiang Ke’er mastered numerous theft techniques she had never heard of before.

These skills became her instincts, and she was confident she could execute them at any time.

[You have unlocked the skill: Divine Theft Technique Lv1 – Please use this skill frequently to increase its level.]

[Current skill proficiency: 0/10]

What a treasure!

Jiang Ke’er could hardly wait to find some targets to practice on!

Still, she restrained herself.

Though there were plenty of passersby on the road perfect for practice, her mobility was limited, and it was best to stay put and conserve energy.

There would be plenty of opportunities later—as long as she survived!

Besides, if the Thief Saint’s Notes, priced at 800 million, was already this incredible, what about the [???] book priced at 1 billion?

This was a very peculiar book.

Its title was just question marks, and its item description was filled with question marks too.

From top to bottom, it was shrouded in mystery, impossible to decipher… but Jiang Ke’er was certain that a book priced at 1 billion had to be something extraordinary!

If it was something extraordinary, learning it wouldn’t be a loss, right?

She had next to nothing now, and with a life-or-death moment approaching, every new skill was another chance to survive!

With that in mind, Jiang Ke’er cautiously lifted a corner of the [???] book’s cover.

Ding!

This time, however, the book didn’t smoothly transform into light and enter her mind as before.

Instead, a massive prompt box suddenly appeared in front of her, accompanied by a blaring system error alert.

[Warning! Before practicing this technique, please confirm that you have chosen a lifelong dual-cultivation partner!]

Huh?

Jiang Ke’er froze.

What was this? Did this technique… discriminate against single foxes?

Or was it one of those bizarre manuals like, “To practice this skill, you must first castrate yourself”? Did it require her to find a partner, have children, and settle all her affairs before she could practice?

No matter how she looked at it, this gave her a bad feeling!

But with a life-or-death moment looming, Jiang Ke’er gritted her teeth and pressed the “Yes” button.

She lied.

She was just a single fox with no dual-cultivation partner, and she had no intention of entrusting her life to anyone.

All she wanted was to survive.

That was it.

Yet, even after she resolutely pressed “Yes,” the book still didn’t turn into white light and enter her mind.

Ding!

Instead, with another blaring alarm, a new system prompt popped up in front of her.

[Warning! Before practicing this technique, please confirm that you possess an Innate Charm Bone of at least Third Grade and a Pure Yin Sacred Body!]

“…”

Jiang Ke’er hesitated.

What kind of bizarre technique was this?

Not only did it require both an Innate Charm Bone and a Pure Yin Sacred Body, but even if she had them, this technique reeked of bad omens!

Still, she clicked “Yes” again.

To survive!

Unfortunately, despite mustering all her courage, the book still didn’t turn into light.

Another prompt appeared before her.

[Before practicing, please confirm that you have thoroughly read The Self-Cultivation of an Unparalleled Female Cauldron… If so, check the box below and click Confirm.]

Bang!

Without hesitation, Jiang Ke’er slammed the book shut and tossed it into the deepest corner of her inventory.

Her resolve had been strong at first, but it waned with each setback, and now it was utterly exhausted.

At last, she understood the true nature of this book—it was a technique for cultivating a cauldron!

What was a cauldron? To put it politely, it was an energy source for others’ benefit.

To put it bluntly, it was a fluffy ball!

“I, Jiang Ke’er, would rather starve to death, die out here, or be skinned, gutted, refined into pills, or roasted by those sanctimonious hypocrites than practice this wretched technique! Be a fluffy ball? Go to hell! In your dreams!”

She swore she would never, ever, touch this technique again!

If she could return it, she’d immediately send it back to the system! Even if she couldn’t, she’d find a desolate place to destroy it completely!

Hmph, making her a fluffy ball? Hmph!

Jiang Ke’er pushed the billion-valued technique out of her mind, closed her eyes, and began quietly awaiting the arrival of the Demon Subjugation Team.

Time to go all out.

At worst, she’d die.

The old servant hadn’t lied—the Demon Subjugation Team arrived quickly.

It was a neatly dressed group, composed of men and women in white robes, styled like heroic warriors.

They had clearly been informed in advance, as they headed straight for the snow pile where Jiang Ke’er was hiding.

“It’s the Demon Subjugation Team!”

“So cool!”

Passersby cast envious glances at the white-robed warriors, as if becoming a sword-wielding member of the Demon Subjugation Team was the ultimate childhood dream.

The team, however, was accustomed to this.

They held their heads high, basking in the crowd’s admiration without responding.

Upon spotting Jiang Ke’er, they drew their weapons and surrounded her.

“That Zhao family servant was right. This dog demon is indeed gravely injured and alone, with no chance of escape,” said the man who seemed to be the team’s captain, standing at the front with a seductive woman in his arms.

The woman stuck out her tongue, and Jiang Ke’er was shocked to see it wasn’t a human tongue but a long, purplish-red snake’s tongue.

The seductive woman stared at Jiang Ke’er, and as if noticing something, her gaze turned venomous and vicious.

She purred, “Do it, Master. Hurry~ Give her a quick end!”