MC POV
To be honest, I had absolutely no intention of buying that dangerous item. Still, it was fun to watch it pass from hand to hand, with the price constantly rising.
It became clear that several factions were present at that auction. Not only nobles and members of this country's royal family, but also representatives from other kingdoms and powerful organizations.
It was quite entertaining to observe all of that while stroking my foxes.
In the end, the person who acquired the item truly caught my attention.
Their voice had a firm tone, wrapped in magnetic charm and a sexy aura, yet carried a strong trace of dark energy.
I noticed that the moment this energy was released, the group opposing the item's sale went on high alert. Of course, none of that concerned me.
"The item has been sold! Unfortunately, our auction has come to an end. To clients who haven't received their items directly, please proceed to the delivery sector."
"And may everyone enjoy their treasures..." he added, with a slightly sinister tone, as if secretly wishing for chaos and destruction.
I rolled my eyes and immediately left the premises.
As soon as I exited, I moved at high speed, using my Storm Movement technique, which combined thunder and wind energy. In the blink of an eye, I was between buildings, climbing to the rooftop of one.
There, I quickly moved my fingers, creating runes and complex characters while pulling out some materials and two formation plates.
In a matter of seconds, I formed a concealment and protection formation.
Reinforced by the runes and ingredients I used, it had the resistance equivalent to a Golden Core-level cultivator.
My intention was obvious: to watch the battle spectacle that was about to unfold. Though there was some risk, the distance and the formation should be enough to ensure my safety — and escape, if needed.
To make it even more fun, I pulled out a few snacks from my storage space: strawberry tarts, unique savory treats, and other delights.
My three companions were summoned as well.
Yule and Umbra appeared in their beautiful fox forms, and Artemix emerged right after — but not in his usual human form.
This time, he appeared as a small, brown kitten with honey-colored eyes, unbearably cute.
I held him gently in my arms.
"Why this form, Art? Why not your human one?"
"I think this is better, master. If anyone spots us, it's easier to explain the presence of a common cat than a human boy."
I simply nodded and focused on the upcoming battle... without, of course, forgetting to enjoy my snacks.
...
3rd Person POV
A cold wind blew through the night.
The streets were silent. In the distance, a tool flickered, its light blinking on and off. The shadows of the buildings seemed to hide the unimaginable.
At the center of it all, the auction house stood quiet, discreet — with its guests leaving in an orderly fashion. But soon, unique techniques and abilities began to activate, and the participants vanished swiftly.
However, instead of a calm withdrawal, chaos broke out in mere seconds.
What had once been a peaceful field became a battlefield.
Although most of the fighters were at Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment level, all kinds of elemental energy filled the sky.
Flaming arrows, earthen spikes, water shields, wind blades, clashing weapons — the battle raged on for quite a while.
Yet among them, one battle stood out.
The reason was simple: it involved cultivators at the Golden Core level or higher.
The pressure they released was intense enough to threaten the city's very foundation.
One of them spun his hand and summoned a colossal earth spear, tearing through several streets just to display his power.
Suddenly, a being mounted on a massive creature — dog-like, but clearly more than just a dog — charged across the battlefield.
Among the ones chasing him were two figures who shone brightly, moving like beams of light and launching devastating attacks that lit up the night.
The elder among them radiated overwhelming pressure — clearly beyond Golden Core.
Even so, they couldn't catch the dog and its master.
The elder then seemed to make a decision: he clasped his hands together, and all light around him condensed. A figure resembling a sacred bird appeared.
As he released it, it shone so brightly it resembled a second sun.
But the dog showed no fear. On the contrary, it seemed excited.
It grew larger and faced the bird. A projection of itself — even bigger and more fearsome — appeared behind it. As it stared at the bird, it looked hungry.
It only held back when its master calmly rested a hand on it.
The dog raised its head and barked:
"Wof!"
But it wasn't an ordinary bark. It sounded like the roar of an ancient beast.
With that single sound, a wave of energy surged forth, freezing the pursuers mid-air.
"Wof!" — it barked again.
This time, black flames erupted in the sky, forming a true sea of fire.
The dog's projection advanced, tearing the bird of light apart with its massive jaws.
Then, the dog raised its paw, and a flaming, colossal version of it formed in the sky and came crashing down upon the enemies.
For a moment, it seemed as if the sky itself would split.
Weaker cultivators turned pale with fear, trying to defend themselves with Qi, Daos, and treasures.
One of them, however — the same one seemingly beyond Golden Core — faced the attack head-on.
His body glowed intensely, and waves of energy spread out. A bird even larger than before appeared in front of him, and he didn't hesitate to clash with the dog's assault.
Light and fire collided. The divine bird of light was devoured by black flames, while the flaming paw threatened to crush it.
The clash lasted only three seconds. In the end, both attacks collapsed, exploding into waves of energy.
When everything settled…
The dog and its master had vanished, as if swallowed by the earth.
The elder sighed, exhausted, clearly having gone beyond his limits.
He looked at the lingering flames and forcefully extinguished them using Qi and light.
The young man beside him frowned, clearly annoyed.
He raised his hand, and a small winged figure — resembling a miniature human with wings — emerged. The creature flew off, scanning the area, but returned with a disappointed look.
The young man patted the little being, comforting it, and soon it was flying happily again.
In the end, all the pursuers retreated.
...
MC POV
Honestly, I was quite shocked by everything I witnessed.
The pressure those cultivators emitted was overwhelming. Their energy, their attacks, the sheer scale of destruction… everything was massive.
Any one of those attacks could have destroyed me instantly. Even my formations, reinforced with expensive materials and advanced mastery, wouldn't have lasted a second.
If that divine bird of light or the flaming paw had hit me, I'd be dead.
"It's always good to acknowledge our weaknesses... even with good resources and talents," I muttered, sighing.
Still, the fight was amazing to watch. It gave me insights into Daos and the power of higher cultivation realms.
I took a deep breath, stayed there for a few more moments, and when everything calmed down, I deactivated the formation and left silently.
After all, considering my weak foundation, leaving too early could've been dangerous…
Dying for a "lost martial art" would've been as humiliating as it was tragic.
I turned my head and departed.
....
Elsewhere…
A man and his dog finally emerged, both exhausted, but with satisfied expressions.
In his hands, the item acquired at the auction.
"With this... I can awaken more of my original power. Being stuck in this limited state is annoying," the man murmured.
The large dog enveloped him in shadows, and the two disappeared — heading toward a distant place.