The fox barely spared the saber a glance.
*Mid-tier Earth-grade… wind-aspected,* it assessed calmly. *Good workmanship. Stable runes. But redundant.*
Its storage pouch was already heavy—too heavy. Spears, glaives, defensive tools, armor. Adding more weapons now would only slow it down, draw unwanted attention, and complicate imprinting later.
*No need to be greedy.*
Around the hall, the atmosphere shifted. Wind qi tugged at sleeves and banners as bidders leaned forward, eyes lit with desire.
"Thirteen hundred!"
"Fourteen!"
"Fourteen-fifty!"
The price climbed fast—far faster than the fox would have been willing to pay.
*Let them fight over it.*
The fox leaned back slightly, tail curling loosely around its side, gaze drifting instead to the crowd. It memorized faces, postures, breathing rhythms—who was eager, who was restrained, who was pretending indifference.
Above its head, unseen, the lizard remained perfectly still, senses stretched outward. No killing intent was directed at them. No sudden fluctuations worth noting.
The saber finally sold at a steep price, the gavel cracking sharply through the hall.
"Sold!"
The formation light dimmed once more.
The host did not pause.
"Next item—"
This time, what rose from the platform was not a weapon.
It was a **small, dark bottle**, sealed with crimson wax. Inside, faint mist coiled as if alive.
The fox's ears perked slightly.
The host's voice lowered, deliberate.
"**Blood-Refining Essence.** Extracted from multiple demonic beasts of the third and fourth layers."
A murmur rippled through the hall.
"Effects," the host continued, "include strengthening of the physique, accelerated recovery, and—under proper refinement—temporary enhancement of qi circulation."
The fox's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
*Interesting…*
A sharp, hungry gleam flickered beneath the illusioned boy's calm face.
*To think they'd auction something like this today… and I just happened to be here.*
A low chuckle echoed only within its own mind.
*The heavens really are favoring me.*
Its gaze locked onto the dark bottle as the crimson mist churned slowly, like something breathing.
*I can't let this slip away. Not this. Not now.*
The fox straightened slightly.
"I bid," it said, voice steady and clear.
A ripple passed through the auction hall.
"Five hundred spirit stones."
Heads turned—some surprised, some annoyed.
The host nodded smoothly. "Five hundred spirit stones from seat forty-six."
Almost immediately—
"Six hundred!"
"Seven hundred!"
The price jumped without hesitation. This was no luxury item. This was something that could change foundations, strengthen bodies, even push breakthroughs.
The fox did not hesitate.
"Eight hundred."
Its voice cut cleanly through the noise.
Above it, the lizard remained silent, but its attention sharpened. It could *smell* the excitement now—heated breath, faint sweat, ambition leaking into the air.
"Nine hundred!"
"One thousand!"
The fox's tail twitched.
*As expected.*
"One thousand two hundred," it said calmly.
The hall grew louder.
Someone cursed under their breath. Another clenched a fist.
At the edge of the room, a cultivator hesitated—then gritted his teeth.
"One thousand three hundred!"
The fox's eyes narrowed, though its expression remained unchanged.
"One thousand five hundred."
That finally gave pause.
Whispers spread.
"That's too high…"
"It's good, but not that good…"
"Blood-refining isn't permanent…"
One by one, voices fell silent.
The host waited, eyes sweeping the room.
"Any higher bids?"
A tense breath passed.
Silence.
The gavel struck.
"Sold. Blood-Refining Essence—seat forty-six, one thousand five hundred spirit stones."
The fox exhaled slowly, satisfaction settling deep in its chest.
*Worth every stone.*
Above it, unseen, the lizard's tongue flicked once, gaze remaining blank.
The fox leaned back slightly, eyes still gleaming.
*Good. Very good.*
And the auction—
was far from over.
The host barely paused before continuing, clearly sensing the momentum in the room.
"Next item," he announced, lifting the cloth from a jade tray, "a **Soul-Severing Needle Set**—twelve needles forged from soul-silver, designed to pierce spiritual defenses and disrupt divine sense. Effective against Foundation Establishment cultivators and below."
A faint chill spread through the hall.
Several people sucked in sharp breaths.
The fox's ears twitched.
*Troublesome item… dangerous, but not what I need right now.*
It remained still, tail wrapped neatly around itself.
"Starting bid—three hundred spirit stones."
Bids rose, but slower this time. This was an assassin's tool—useful, but niche.
The fox watched calmly as the price climbed to five hundred before stopping.
*Let them have it.*
The gavel fell. Another item gone.
Then another.
A mid-grade spirit furnace.
A beast-skin defensive robe.
A vial of bone-tempering liquid.
The fox passed on them all, unmoving, patient.
Time flowed.
Then—
The host's tone subtly shifted.
"For our next item… a rare one."
Attendants carried out a long, narrow box carved with wind patterns. Even before it was opened, faint pressure rippled through the hall.
The fox's eyes sharpened.
The lid slid back.
Inside lay a **feather**, long and slender, its color shifting between pale cyan and silver. Even at rest, it hummed softly, stirring the air.
"A **Skyfall Windfeather**," the host announced. "Harvested from a sixth-layer Ironclaw Eagle. Can be refined into a movement art, a flying tool, or fused into armor. Wind-aspected cultivators will find it invaluable."
A murmur erupted instantly.
The lizard, perched invisibly on the fox's head, froze.
*Wind…*
The fox's fingers tightened slightly.
*Sixth-layer Ironclaw Eagle… only the wing feather? Not the whole beast.*
"Starting bid—eight hundred spirit stones."
Immediately—
"One thousand!"
"One thousand one hundred!"
The bidding exploded.
The fox did not move yet.
*Too early.*
The price surged—thirteen hundred, fifteen hundred, seventeen hundred.
A cultivator in the front row laughed nervously. "This is madness…"
The fox finally spoke.
"Two thousand."
The hall went quiet for a breath.
Heads snapped toward seat forty-six.
The host's eyes gleamed. "Two thousand spirit stones!"
Someone gritted their teeth. "Two thousand two hundred!"
The fox didn't even pause.
"Two thousand five hundred."
The lizard's wings twitched faintly.
The pressure in the room thickened.
Another voice tried—weakly. "Two thousand six hundred…"
The fox's gaze hardened.
"Three thousand."
That did it.
Silence fell like a blade.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The host waited the customary moment, then smiled.
"Sold! Skyfall Windfeather—seat forty-six, three thousand spirit stones!"
The fox relaxed back into its seat, heart steady.
*Perfect.*
The auction did not slow after that—if anything, the air only grew hotter.
The attendants cleared the stage, and the host raised his hand again.
"Next item."
A jade box was brought forward, sealed with three restriction runes. Even before it was opened, faint ripples of spiritual fluctuation leaked out.
The fox's ears twitched.
*That seal… interesting.*
The host broke the runes one by one. The lid opened.
Inside rested a **crystal vial**, filled with deep amber liquid. Threads of light coiled within it like living things.
"**Essence-Reinforcement Elixir**," the host announced. "Refined from high-grade beast blood and spirit marrow. One dose can permanently strengthen the body and meridians of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Limited effect beyond the sixth layer."
A low hum swept through the hall.
This time, even seasoned cultivators leaned forward.
The fox's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Permanent… body and meridians.*
Not bad.
Interesting.
But then it relaxed.
*Not what I'm here for.*
"Starting bid—one thousand spirit stones."
Hands shot up immediately.
"One thousand two hundred!"
"One thousand five hundred!"
The fox remained still.
The price climbed rapidly—two thousand, two thousand three hundred—then stalled.
"Two thousand five hundred!" someone barked.
Silence followed.
The gavel fell.
"Sold!"
The fox flicked its tail once, unimpressed.
*Let them fight over pills.*
The host continued, voice smooth and practiced.
"For the next item…"
The lights in the hall dimmed slightly as attendants wheeled out a **stone pedestal** etched with ancient formation lines.
The fox straightened.
The pedestal pulsed once.
A ripple of spatial distortion spread outward.
"…a **Fragmented Spatial Talisman**," the host said carefully. "One-time use. Allows the bearer to forcibly tear open a short-distance spatial path—effective for escape or pursuit. Range varies based on cultivation, but the minimum guaranteed distance is ten li."
The hall erupted.
"That's a life-saving treasure!"
"Even sect disciples would want that!"
The fox's breathing slowed.
*Escape talisman… spatial at that.*
Its mind raced.
*Night Market. Enemies. Unknown eyes. And a blind sixth-layer lizard.*
This was not luxury.
This was insurance.
"Starting bid—two thousand spirit stones."
Before anyone else could speak, the fox raised its hand.
"Two thousand five hundred."
The hall stilled.
Several people cursed under their breath.
"Three thousand!" someone snapped from the back.
The fox didn't hesitate.
"Three thousand five hundred."
The lizard's claws pressed lightly into the fox's fur.
The pressure in the room thickened, cultivation auras flickering.
"Four thousand!"
The fox's eyes went cold.
*Fine.*
"Five thousand."
Gasps echoed.
That was not a bid—it was a statement.
Silence followed.
No one challenged it.
The host smiled, clearly pleased.
"Sold! Fragmented Spatial Talisman—seat forty-six!"
The fox leaned back, exhaling slowly.
*Good.*
It sent a quiet transmission upward.
> *If something goes south… this gets us out.*
The lizard did not answer aloud, but a single calm thought passed through its mind.
> *A one-time spatial talisman that help one to teleport jump through space. Enough to save a life when everything else fails.*
The auction continued, but for the fox, the mood had shifted.
*Today… really is a lucky day.*
And it wasn't over yet.