Rain entered the Golden Treasure House, holding the demon tiger skin, while Lian stayed outside to watch over the horse. Inside, the left side of the establishment was lined with shelves displaying various treasures, and women in golden robes moved gracefully among the customers, assisting them with practiced smiles. Observing their movements, Rain surmised they were the attendants of the shop.
Spotting one of the women who was unoccupied, he walked over to her. She noticed him approaching and greeted him warmly. "Welcome, guest. How may I assist you?"
Rain held up the demon tiger skin. "I wish to sell this."
The woman nodded with a polite smile. "May I examine it?"
Rain handed her the skin, and she ran her fingers over its surface with a practiced touch. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. "Ah, this is a half-step monster skin. It would fetch a higher price if it were from a true monster."
Rain's expression remained calm, unfazed. "How much could I sell it for?"
"Please follow me for a full evaluation," she replied, turning to lead him deeper into the shop. Rain followed her past rows of finely displayed items and through a hallway that opened into another section of the building. They arrived at a side room, one of three lined up beside each other. The woman opened the second door and stepped inside, gesturing for Rain to follow.
Inside, the room was simple but functional, with two chairs facing each other across a sturdy table. Rain took one seat as the woman closed the door behind them and settled into the chair opposite him, preparing to assess the tiger skin in detail.The woman looked up at him with a polite smile. "Sir, may I know your name?"
"Rain," he replied evenly. "And yours?"
"Li Yanran," she said with a slight nod. "Sir Rain, may I take a closer look at the tiger skin?"
Rain nodded, passing the folded skin to her. Li Yanran carefully unfolded it and examined the texture, thickness, and any imperfections for several minutes, her keen eyes moving over every detail.
After a thorough inspection, she looked up. "Sir Rain, there are some cuts on certain sections of the skin, and the leg portions are noticeably shorter. We can offer you 100 gold coins for this."
Rain gave a subtle nod, unconcerned with the actual value of the tiger skin. "Agreed. Does the Golden Treasure House sell martial arts manuals?"
Li Yanran's eyes brightened with the prospect of further business. "Yes, sir. We do, but we only have low and middle-rank techniques available. What type of technique are you looking for?"
"I'm interested in palm techniques," Rain said, his tone revealing the true purpose behind his visit.
Li Yanran inclined her head. "Understood, Sir. Please wait for a moment while I fetch them."
Rain gestured with a slight wave. "Go ahead."
Li Yanran stood up, carefully leaving the tiger skin on the table, and exited the room. Rain sat in silence for a couple of minutes, waiting. When she returned, she was holding a stack of small books bound in leather. His eyes drifted to the thin volumes, curiosity flickering as he wondered just how much knowledge each book contained.
Li Yanran set the stack of books on the table. "We have 12 low-rank and 7 middle-rank palm techniques. Each of these introductory books explains the basics of the martial art and the first three moves. Once you select a technique, I'll bring you the complete version."
Rain nodded and began reviewing the books, carefully flipping through each one. He noted that among the low-rank techniques was the *Wave Palm Technique*, which he already possessed. Five of the low-rank techniques required supplementary items to practice, and there first three moves are similar to the other technique something Rain was not interested in. He wanted techniques that would improve his raw palm skills, not ones that depended on external treasures.
After narrowing down his choices, Rain reviewed the six remaining low-rank techniques:
1. Hard Palm – Utilized body weight to deliver powerful, crushing attacks.
2. Dark Bone Palm – Harnessed energy from the bones, channeling it into fierce, defense-breaking strikes.
3. Dual Hand Palm – Focused on simultaneous palm strikes for maximum offensive pressure.
4. Snake Palm – A style known for its unpredictable attack patterns.
5. Force Palm – A defensive technique designed to absorb and redirect force.
6. Palm Knife – Used the edge of the palm as a blade for swift, slicing attacks.
He then turned to the middle-rank palm techniques:
1. Hard and soft Palm – A combination of the *Hard Palm* and a fast, fluid style, blending power with flexibility.
2. Killing Palm – Each move was designed to deliver a lethal strike, ensuring an opponent's defeat in a single blow.
3. 24-Direction Palm – Mastery allowed the user to attack and defend seamlessly from all directions.
4. Evil Spirit Palm – A fragment of a higher-tier palm technique known for its fierce and sinister energy.
5. Fire Palm – Another fragment of a top-tier technique, channeling fire-based energy into devastating strikes.
6. Explosion Palm – A technique with explosive force, also a fragment of a higher-level martial art.
7. Iron Hand Monkey Palm – Imitated the powerful, unpredictable attacks of the Iron Hand Monkey.
Rain contemplated which techniques to purchase. The low-rank *Heavy Palm* was unnecessary, as the *Heavy and Soft Palm* from the middle rank already combined that style with a more adaptable form. His attention then shifted to the three middle-rank techniques marked as fragments of top-rank martial arts. He surmised that someone must have sold these incomplete pieces to the Golden Treasure House.
Rain decided to purchase all 12 techniques and presented the list to Li Yanran. "I want these five low-rank and seven middle-rank techniques. How much will it cost?"
Li Yanran's eyes widened in surprise before her expression shifted to one of joy. This was a significant sale, and securing it would earn her a commendation from the Golden Treasure House. "The price for each low-rank technique is 30 gold coins, so five would total 150 gold coins. The middle-rank techniques are 100 gold coins each, making seven of them 700 gold coins. Altogether, that brings the total to 850 gold coins. Considering the value of the tiger skin and I'll offer a 50 gold coin discount, bringing your total to 700 gold coins."
Rain did a quick mental calculation, adding up his bronze, silver, and gold coins. The sum came to 496 gold coins. He could afford some of the techniques, but he wanted them all. "I don't have 700 gold coins. What if I sell you a top-rank sword technique?"
Li Yanran's initial disappointment shifted to shock. "A top-rank sword technique? Those are valued at a minimum of 1,000 gold coins, and rare ones can go for even more."
Rain nodded. "Yes. Now, please bring me some parchment so I can write the technique down for you."
Li Yanran hesitated for a moment. "Sir, I don't have the authority to handle the acquisition of a top-rank technique. I need to call my manager to proceed with the transaction."
"Then go and call your manager," Rain said firmly. "And bring some parchment and ink so I can start writing."