With a sharp whistling sound, a pea-sized ball of light shot from the fingertips and vanished into the cage in a flash of green radiance.
The next moment, a burst of green light erupted from one corner of the cage. A small purple beast suddenly appeared, its limbs curling as it rolled and landed silently on the ground like a wisp of cotton.
Now fully visible, the creature resembled a fox, barely half a foot long, with jet-black eyes that darted about with uncanny intelligence, mirroring the gaze of a human.
The only unusual feature was a few faint silver scales on its nose and ears, each no larger than a fingernail—easy to miss unless examined closely.
“Is this the spirit beast with the bloodline of the human-faced flood dragon? It looks like an ordinary fox,” someone muttered in disappointment.
Many others frowned, equally unimpressed by the creature’s seemingly mundane appearance.
“An ordinary fox? Look closer, fellow Daoists,” the old man sneered, his previously kind expression twisting as he suddenly struck the black cage with a palm.
A thunderous crack echoed as white lightning surged across the cage’s surface, transforming into razor-sharp arcs that lashed toward the small beast.
The fox-like creature reacted with human-like fury, its fur shimmering purple as a faint silver flood dragon phantom emerged from its body, shielding it completely. The phantom absorbed the lightning effortlessly before swelling in size, filling the cage until the black bars groaned under the strain.
The onlookers gasped.
This tiny beast, relying solely on a mere Dharma Form projection, had unleashed such terrifying power—proof of its extraordinary potential.
Satisfied by the stunned reactions, the old man chuckled and flicked his wrist. A golden-silver cord materialized, coiling around the fox effortlessly, ignoring the flood dragon phantom. The beast struggled in vain as the phantom dissipated, and the cage stabilized once more.
“Well? Having witnessed its power, I trust there are no further doubts. This rare beast starts at eighty million spirit stones!” Xiao Buyi declared, seizing the moment.
“Eighty-five million!”
“Ninety million!”
Bidding erupted into a frenzy, the price soaring past one hundred million in moments.
Han Li remained seated, abstaining from the competition.
First, raising such a beast would take too long, and he already had the Soul-Crying Beast, the Leopard-Qilin Beast, and the Gold Devouring Beetles—hardly in need of another.
Second, even if tempted, his dwindling spirit stones made competing futile, especially with third-tier Saint Tribe members now joining the fray.
Yet, as he stared at the bound fox, an odd sense of familiarity struck him.
Its appearance, even the look in its eyes, eerily resembled Silvermoon.
Though Silvermoon’s true form was a silver wolf, she had once possessed a fox’s body in the human realm. Perhaps the resemblance wasn’t so strange.
Still, watching the helpless creature stirred something in him.
Back then, he had noticed the unspoken emotion in Silvermoon’s eyes before she vanished into the Reverse Spirit Passage. But with his limited power, he could only watch her return to the Spirit Realm.
Strangely, the fox’s gaze suddenly locked onto his, its long lashes fluttering with what seemed like recognition and joy.
Han Li frowned, puzzled.
“One hundred and thirty million!” A hoarse voice from the third tier silenced the hall.
No higher bids followed.
“One hundred and thirty million—once!”
“One hundred and thirty million—twice!”
“One hundred and thirty million—thrice!”
Xiao Buyi swiftly concluded, smiling toward the third tier. “Congratulations, Brother Lu! With this beast, your strength will soar.”
He knew the buyer.
“After all these years, you still recognize my voice,” the old man chuckled before a yellow streak shot from a rear chamber, materializing on the stage as a towering, broad-shouldered elder with curly hair and bronze skin.
Xiao Buyi’s eyes flickered with wariness, though his tone remained polite. “Would you like Brother Lan to sedate the beast first? It might resist during the handover.”
“Afraid I can’t handle a mere cub?” The elder tossed a spirit stone pouch to Xiao Buyi. “Count it. I’ll take the beast now. Brother Lan, release the restraints.”
The old man nodded, raising a hand toward the cage.
The fox, sensing danger, bristled and shrieked—a sound that sent weaker cultivators reeling, their qi stagnating.
But to Han Li and other Void Refinement experts, it was negligible. The old man’s fingers glowed green, ready to act.
The Lu elder, though confident, kept his eyes locked on the beast, prepared to restrain it the moment the cage opened.
The audience tensed, all eyes fixed on the stage.
Han Li, watching the terrified fox, suddenly stiffened. A soft *crack* sounded as his grip crushed the jade armrest to dust.
Then—
**BOOM!**
A deafening explosion shattered the grand hall’s doors, sending debris flying.
Silence.
Then chaos.
“What happened?!”
“Guards! Alert!”
Amid the swirling remnants of broken restrictions, no one could see the intruder.
“Calm yourselves!” Xiao Buyi roared, his voice thunderous. “Under the protection of the Four Races, what could possibly threaten us here?”
His words steadied the crowd.
Indeed, with so many high-level cultivators present, what threat could prevail?
“Four Races? How impressive. Do you truly believe I dare not kill here?” A cold male voice echoed from the ruined entrance.
“Who dares disrupt Cloud City’s order?” Xiao Buyi demanded, though unease prickled his spine.
“Since when is Cloud City forbidden to me?” Footsteps approached as a figure strode through the dissipating light.
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