Chan Wei quickly returned to the room, where he found Xiao Ning'er sitting in her seat, gently stroking little Senko who lay on her lap. He sat beside her with a soft smile, then focused on the scene unfolding below.
The lavish clothing and distinguished emblems of the newcomers clearly marked their eminent status. Among them were members of the Three Major Families and the Six Noble Families, a representative of the Alchemist Association, and ten delegates from the Merchant Guild.
The arrival of such high-profile figures added an air of solemnity to the event, delaying the presentation of the final item by a few precious minutes. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as everyone took their assigned seats, ready to witness the remainder of the auction with a mix of excitement and respect.
Huyan Xing, the elder in charge of the Huyan family's commercial affairs, was a man in his sixties, specializing in the clan's economic management. Upon entering the reserved booth, he was surprised to find a young couple already occupying the space.
Knowing he wasn't yet senile, he chose not to address them directly and simply observed the back of their heads, noting their closeness—an obvious sign of a relationship between them.
A discreet clearing of the throat signaled his presence to the two youths, who turned around to see the old man standing at the door.
"Hum," he uttered, announcing his arrival.
"Elder!" Chan Wei exclaimed quickly, rising to show respect. "Chan Wei greets Elder Huyan Xing," he said politely, with Xiao Ning'er following suit with her own respectful bow.
However, Senko wasn't thrilled by the intrusion and let out a hiss at the one responsible for the disturbance.
"Senko, stop," ordered Chan Wei. The little cub immediately froze and ducked behind his master's legs, laying down in obedience.
A chuckle escaped Huyan Xing, who, despite his stern appearance, was known to be kind to those around him—especially children, as he considered them the future of the city.
Chan Wei had already been introduced to him by Huyan Xiong, and the old man had to admit he was impressed by the young man, who remained humble despite his accomplishments and had chosen to stay with the Huyan clan instead of founding his own noble family.
"Hello, Chan Wei, Xiao Ning'er," the elder finally greeted. "Did Huyan Xiong give you the token for this booth?" he asked casually.
"Yes, Elder," Chan Wei replied simply, though the atmosphere remained slightly awkward.
"No need to keep calling me 'Elder' all the time. You can call me Uncle Xing like the rest of the clan's children," he said with a smile. "I just came to take a peek at the final auction item, but after seeing the Inscriptionist Association and the Alchemists present, I doubt there's any chance I'll walk away with it. I'll leave you two alone." With that, he turned to leave.
"Thank you, Uncle Xing, and have a safe trip home," said Chan Wei, making the old man smile as he exited the auction hall.
Xiao Ning'er picked up Senko, who was sulking behind Chan Wei, and sat back down. "Chan Wei, hurry, it's starting," she said quickly. The young man promptly returned to his seat.
At that precise moment, the auctioneer flashed a charming smile, lighting up her face with a captivating aura. With a graceful motion, her right hand tugged lightly at the purple cloth covering the item, revealing it to the audience. Instantly, the glow of a precious gem radiated in all directions, captivating everyone's attention. A black jade jar, crafted from a mysterious and unknown material, appeared before the stunned eyes of the crowd. Shimmering and translucent, it seemed to possess the brilliance of a rare gem, radiating a divine purity.
"As for the origin and use of this artifact, our Patriarch is uncertain," she announced. "However, one thing is clear: this jar emits an aura that strengthens demon spirits. That alone speaks to its extraordinary nature. Engraved at its base is the word 'Nightmare,' suggesting a connection to Nightmare-type demon spirits."
The auctioneer continued, "Furthermore, according to our Patriarch, the proximity of this jar will lead to a significant increase in a demon spirit's aura. This is why we can affirm it is an absolutely unique treasure! Our Patriarch hopes someone will be able to fully harness its potential!"
"The starting price for this item is eight million demon spirit coins!"
The Patriarch of the Hong Yue Family, unaware of the jar's specific uses, had set a relatively low starting price. Had he known its true potential, he certainly wouldn't have wanted to sell it. Just the effect of enhancing the aura of demon spirits in its vicinity was already worth a high price—let alone any other unknown abilities it might possess.
Sensing the rich and mysterious spiritual aura emanating from the jar, the representatives of the various families were deeply impressed and quickly developed a strong interest in this precious item.
Looking at the jar, Chan Wei knew immediately that it was meant for Nie Li. He took Xiao Ning'er's hand. "Let's go. We neither need it nor can afford such an artifact," declared Chan Wei, gently pulling the girl away from the auction.
The two departed quickly, ignoring the brewing bidding war over the nightmare jar. They soon flew off toward Du Ze's home, who gave them a strange look—it was rare for someone to visit twice in one day.
"Du Ze, let me introduce you to Senko," said Chan Wei, presenting the small demon tiger seated in his outstretched hands.
The two studied each other for a moment, like strangers discreetly evaluating one another, before Senko leapt from Chan Wei's hands with agility straight into Du Ze's arms. Drawn by an invisible bond, the demon tiger nestled itself in Du Ze's embrace, who instinctively held him close, as if they had known each other in a past life. Their contact seemed natural, harmonious—as if their energies were merging into a single entity.
Du Ze, usually reserved and quiet, seemed to come alive in Senko's presence. His usual pride shone through the look he gave the little feline. Senko's purring seemed to soothe any lingering tension in Du Ze, as if the two were communicating on a level deeper than words.
Together, they formed a balanced duo, each subtly complementing the other's personality. Senko, quick and sharp, embodied strength and determination, while Du Ze, calm and thoughtful, represented stability and perseverance.
"He's so adorable," said Xiao Ning'er as she watched the scene, while Chan Wei smiled at the sight.
"I'm entrusting him to you. I hope you'll be able to take care of him since he's still a baby," said Chan Wei, as Du Ze finally looked up from his new companion.
"I will take care of Senko as if he were my own brother," said Du Ze with unshakable determination in his voice.
"Thank you, Du Ze. He can cultivate with you peacefully, since you share nearly the same attributes," said Chan Wei before taking off with his companion on the back of his falcon.
"Thank you, brother," Du Ze murmured softly, watching the silhouette of the beast disappear into the sky.
"Do you want to go anywhere?" Chan Wei asked the girl in his arms.
"Could we fly over the ancestral mountain? I'd love to admire the view from above," Xiao Ning'er asked, giving him puppy eyes.
"Alright, alright," he chuckled, then instructed Yini to fly toward the mountain.
As they soared over the vast ancestral mountain, the view unfolded before them in a breathtaking panorama. Snow-capped peaks shimmered under the sunlight, creating a dazzling spectacle. Verdant valleys stretched below, dotted with crystalline streams winding through lush forests. It was like gazing upon a living painting, where every detail seemed perfectly set within nature's harmony.
Suddenly, a sinister buzzing shattered the calm. A swarm of frost wasps burst forth from the heights, their shimmering wings reflecting sunlight. Their attacks were swift and ferocious, threatening to disrupt their peaceful flight.
Frost wasps weren't particularly strong, rarely exceeding Silver rank, but like hyenas or ants, they relied on group tactics to overwhelm enemies far stronger than themselves.
"Chan Wei, let me handle this," declared Xiao Ning'er without hesitation.
She called upon her elemental power, channeling electricity through her outstretched hands. Bolts of lightning surged forth, illuminating the sky with a brilliant flash. With a precise motion, she unleashed her energy, striking the swarm with a devastating electric blast.
Xiao Ning'er's attack was effective, but not without consequence. A portion of the swarm evaded the strike and hurled itself at Chan Wei. He took the hit bravely, but pain was written across his face as he clenched his teeth to endure the impact.
"Ning'er, cast a lightning dome!" the young man ordered through gritted teeth, swatting down any hornets that came within reach. His movements were precise, each one a testament to his determination to protect her.
Xiao Ning'er drew on her inner strength. The lightning dome materialized around them, forming an electrified barrier. Bolts crackled through the air, illuminating the scene with an otherworldly glow. Disoriented by the surge of energy, the hornets failed to penetrate the protective shield.
The insects, overwhelmed by nature's unleashed fury, began to fall from the sky in a rain of smoldering corpses. The dull thud of their bodies hitting the ground echoed through the silence that followed their defeat.
Despite the victory, Chan Wei felt a sting of regret. He knew that if he had already integrated the dragon spirits into his shadows, he could have repelled the attack more efficiently.
"Yini, descend," he commanded. The falcon quickly lost altitude and landed on the ground now littered with the charred remains of insects.
With remarkable efficiency, Chan Wei harvested the shadows of the roughly 300 frost hornets, bolstering his aerial defenses. He refined the shadows under the watchful eye of his fiancée and Simia, whom he had summoned as a precaution.
But then, Chan Wei felt a strange heaviness settle around them. Though the surroundings appeared calm, he sensed an indescribable presence—as if something or someone was watching from the shadows.
The silence was stifling, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind and the flutter of birds' wings. Chan Wei instinctively tightened his hold on Xiao Ning'er, compelled to shield her from the encroaching sense of dread.
"Xiao Ning'er, something's wrong," he whispered, his gaze scanning the area for any sign of danger. "Stay close to me."
Even Simia, usually calm and composed, appeared nervous. Her heightened senses were picking up something unusual in the air.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the surrounding shadows, cloaked from head to toe in darkness. The man, dressed entirely in black, stepped forward with a sinister gait, his face obscured beneath the hood's shadow.
"Gui Sha, third commander of the Dark Guild," Chan Wei thought, instantly recognizing the man's threatening aura. "Damn, why is someone like him so close to the city?"
Gui Sha approached deliberately, his piercing eyes sweeping the area with disdain. He halted before Chan Wei and Xiao Ning'er, a malicious grin twisting his lips.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Two young fools, wandering unguarded in the mountains. How lucky for you to stumble upon me, little lost birds."
Xiao Ning'er tightened her grip on Chan Wei, the palpable threat emanating from this sinister man sending a shiver down her spine. Yet she stood firm, her gaze defiant despite the fear brewing within her.
Simia let out a furious roar, her powerful voice shaking the air. But Gui Sha, unfazed by the gorilla's challenge, looked at her with utter disdain. With a contemptuous gesture, he lifted his foot and sent her flying with a single kick, smashing her against a nearby tree with brutal force.
The trees trembled from the impact. Though shaken, Simia was far from defeated. She quickly rose to her feet, eyes blazing with fury. Even in her rage, she stood steadfast beside Chan Wei and Xiao Ning'er, ready to defend them from this dark threat.
Suddenly, the thunderous roars of Black Gold-ranked demonic beasts echoed through the valley, shaking the ground with their powerful steps. The sheer intensity of their cries revealed their immense, ancient strength.
Confronted with this overwhelming show of force, Gui Sha paled visibly. Terror flickered in his eyes as he grasped the severity of the situation. Without hesitation, he turned and fled, desperately trying to escape the imminent wrath of the demonic beasts.
A hundred massive gorillas emerged from the shadows of the trees, their piercing eyes fixed on Chan Wei, Xiao Ning'er, and Simia with brutal intensity. Their bristling fur and taut muscles revealed their readiness for battle as they stood motionless, assessing the situation.
Suddenly, a wild-looking man burst forth between the giant gorillas and Chan Wei's group. His appearance was reminiscent of Tarzan—muscular, agile, and feral. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination as he positioned himself to protect those behind him.
The gorillas, confronted with this fearless protector, hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing their options. Then, in a coordinated movement, they stepped back slightly, their defiant posture softened by a flicker of respect for the man standing before them.
"Legend Rank," Chan Wei murmured, sensing the immense power radiating from the man's body.
(Author's Note: So, who is the mysterious stranger? ^^ Here's an image of the giant gorillas!)