The fox stepped beneath Ironroot Hall's red lanterns, their glow washing her fur in soft crimson.
The two guards at the entrance glanced at her, then at Shen Tu, and finally at the floating white lizard drifting beside her.
Neither stopped them.
Not after the attendant inside stepped forward.
Tall.
Lean.
A horned beast in dark robes embroidered with gold thread.
His smile was polished. Professional.
"Honored guests."
He bowed lightly.
"Are you here to participate in tonight's auction?"
Shen Tu straightened at once, eager to be useful.
"Yes, we are here for—"
The attendant raised a hand gently.
"The next auction has not yet begun."
A brief pause.
"It will begin shortly."
Shen Tu's ears twitched.
A little embarrassed now.
He coughed awkwardly.
"My Lady, I thought—"
The fox cut him off with a flick of her tail.
"It's fine."
Her turquoise eyes rested calmly on the attendant.
"I'm not only here to buy."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I'm here to sell."
That made him pause.
Just slightly.
Enough to matter.
His gaze sharpened.
Evaluating.
"Is that so?"
The fox gave a soft hum.
"That depends."
"Do you buy things worth your time?"
Before the attendant could answer, a clay jar clinked softly nearby.
The lizard had just finished another one.
Without a word, he flicked the empty wine jar over his shoulder.
Shen Tu reacted instantly.
A coil of wind snapped through the air, catching the falling jar before it struck the polished floor.
He snatched it out of the current, hugged it protectively, and stuffed it into his pouch like treasure.
The fox glanced at him.
Then at the lizard.
"…You two are becoming a problem."
Little White did not react.
He simply drifted closer.
Silent.
Expectant.
The fox stared at him.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
Another sealed jar floated out of her pouch.
The lizard caught it without thanks, coiling around it midair before pulling the seal free and drinking again.
The attendant watched the entire exchange without comment.
But the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested amusement.
Then he inclined his head.
"If you wish to consign items…"
"Please come with me."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward a side corridor lined with dark lacquered walls and low red lamps.
"Your items will be assessed privately."
The fox followed without hesitation.
Because if tonight had taught her anything, it was this:
There was never a reason to leave profit lying on the table.
---
The side corridor was quieter than the main hall.
Sound softened here, swallowed by thick carpets and layered soundproofing arrays hidden within the walls.
The attendant led them into a private appraisal chamber.
Wide.
Tasteful.
Dark wood shelves lined the walls.
Spirit lamps glowed low, casting warm light across lacquered surfaces and polished stone.
At the center stood a circular blackstone table etched with faint runes.
A second figure was already waiting there.
An elderly badger beast in layered robes, with small spectacles perched on his muzzle and sharp eyes that missed nothing.
He looked up as they entered.
No greeting.
Only business.
"Consignment?"
The horned attendant nodded.
"This guest wishes to place items."
The badger gestured lazily toward the table.
"Then let's see whether she's wasting my time."
Shen Tu immediately stiffened.
Clearly offended on her behalf.
The fox, however, only smiled faintly.
Then stepped forward.
No flourish.
No hesitation.
Her divine sense brushed her storage pouch.
The first items appeared.
Four jade slips floated into the air, hovering neatly above the blackstone table.
Each one hummed faintly with preserved intent.
Stored techniques.
The badger's eyes sharpened slightly.
Then three more items appeared.
A sword.
A blue blade.
A brown shield.
All Earth-grade spirit tools.
The moment they settled above the table, the chamber's ambient spiritual pressure shifted.
Not violently—
but enough to announce quality.
Even Shen Tu's breath caught.
Because laid out together like this, their value was obvious.
The fox's turquoise eyes gleamed faintly.
Calm.
Certain.
She was not worried.
Not even slightly.
Because she understood something most beasts in this world only learned too late:
Power was never just about bloodline.
It was about methods.
Control.
Precision.
Options.
And what she had laid upon that table—
was exactly the kind of thing beasts would tear each other apart to obtain.
The badger slowly rose.
The laziness was gone.
His sharp eyes moved over the table, measuring, calculating.
He began with the sword.
His paw hovered briefly above the blue blade.
Not touching.
Only sensing.
His eyes narrowed behind his spectacles.
"Low Earth-grade spirit sword."
His tone had changed.
Less bored.
More attentive.
"Good edge retention."
"Stable spiritual channels."
"Minimal wear."
A small nod.
"Usable."
His gaze shifted to the brown shield.
Round.
Layered.
Heavy.
He inhaled faintly through his nose.
"Defensive spirit tool."
"Low Earth grade."
"Solid craftsmanship."
"Better than average for its tier."
A brief pause.
"This would draw buyers."
Then he turned to the second sword.
Unlike the others, this blade seemed to cool the air around it.
The badger stepped closer.
His expression sharpened.
"Mid Earth-grade."
That alone nearly made Shen Tu choke.
The badger continued calmly.
"Affinity blade."
"Water or frost aligned."
"Good spirit resonance."
His whiskers twitched.
"Very desirable."
The fox said nothing.
She simply watched.
Tail low.
Eyes unreadable.
Then the badger turned to the jade slips.
His expression stilled.
More serious now.
He reached out, placing one claw lightly against the first slip.
A pulse of spiritual sense spread from him.
Reading.
Testing.
His eyes widened—
just slightly.
Interesting.
He moved to the second.
Then the third.
Then the fourth.
Each time, his face grew more focused.
By the end, he slowly withdrew his paw.
Then he looked at the fox properly for the first time.
Not as a seller.
But as someone worth remembering.
"These are human cultivation arts."
Shen Tu blinked.
Even the horned attendant's posture straightened.
The badger adjusted his spectacles.
"One movement technique."
"One body reinforcement art."
"One blade technique."
"And…"
He tapped the final jade slip once.
"A mid-tier Earth-grade soul tempering method."
Silence settled over the room.
Heavy.
Even Shen Tu forgot to breathe.
Because everyone there understood what that meant.
Soul methods—
especially ones compatible with beasts—
were rare.
Exceptionally rare.
The badger exhaled slowly.
"This…"
His voice was quieter now.
Measured.
"…is not standard auction stock."
The fox arched a brow.
"That a problem?"
The badger met her gaze.
"No."
A beat.
"It means you came to the right place."
He looked back at the table.
His mind already moving.
"These seven items together…"
He paused.
Then gave his verdict.
"If sold separately…"
"Conservative estimate: two thousand to twenty-five hundred mid-grade spirit stones."
Shen Tu's jaw dropped.
Actually dropped.
Even the horned attendant could not fully conceal the flicker of surprise in his eyes.
The fox only hummed softly.
Not because she was unimpressed—
but because it merely confirmed what she had already begun to suspect.
She possessed far more wealth than she had first realized.
The badger looked at her again.
"If you consign them…"
"Ironroot Hall takes ten percent."
"We handle security, bidders, and secrecy."
"The auction begins within the hour."
His gaze sharpened.
"Do you wish to proceed?"