"Eh? A bunch of powerful people? Traveler, can you even take them on?"
Paimon turned her head toward Aether, a hint of worry in her voice.
She was in charge of reasoning, sure—but when it came to physics, that was firmly Aether's department.
"What gave you the illusion that I couldn't…? Remember that old man we met when we first arrived?"
Aether looked at Paimon's doubtful eyes, his expression complicated.
Even with his seal still in place, his current strength was more than enough for this continent.
"Old man? You mean the ragged one with the giant hammer?"
"Yeah, him."
"What about him?"
"He could beat everyone here… except me."
"Hehe, then we're fine!" Paimon exhaled in relief.
If the old man could beat everyone, and the Traveler could beat him, then the Traveler could beat everyone, right?
Yep, this one's in the bag!
"Paimon, what old man are you talking about?"
Xue Qinghe's curiosity was piqued at Aether's claim that a hammer-wielding old man could defeat everyone here.
As far as he could recall, the only martial soul matching a giant hammer was the Clear Sky Clan's—ranked first among the Upper Three Sects. But hadn't they sealed themselves off from the world?
Wait… there was still one person, a fugitive long pursued by the Spirit Hall…
Could it be him they ran into?
"An old man we ran into before coming here. He could summon this massive giant and wielded a huge hammer. He looked super scary."
Paimon gestured with both hands, trying to illustrate the scene.
"You mean… Martial Soul Avatar?"
Xue Qinghe's suspicions were all but confirmed.
Based on Paimon's description, he was now fairly certain—the old man she was talking about could only be the one known as the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao.
"Martial Soul Avatar? Sounds cool, but I dunno. All I know is the Traveler smashed it to bits with one strike."
Paimon had no idea what a Martial Soul Avatar was—just that the old man didn't last a single round.
"…!"
Defeated Tang Hao in one move, and even shattered his Martial Soul Avatar?
Xue Qinghe's heart surged like a stormy sea.
Even though the Spirit Hall considered the Clear Sky Douluo an enemy, his strength was universally recognized as one of the most terrifying on the continent.
And yet someone like that couldn't even survive one move from this boy?
So his hunch had been right all along—Aether hadn't cultivated spirit power, but his strength was unfathomable. And this innocent-looking, floating creature named Paimon who could fly freely…
They must be divine beings… from beyond the skies!
…
"Without further ado, let's bring out our final auction item of the night!"
The host's booming voice snapped Xue Qinghe out of his thoughts. Suddenly, Paimon's earlier comment about snatching someone from the auction didn't seem so far-fetched after all.
As the host's voice fell, a few scantily clad maids wheeled out a large crate, its top covered in canvas.
"Surely everyone's curious what our final item is? Ahem, allow me to reveal it personally!"
With all eyes drawn to the center of the stage, the auctioneer stepped to the side and gestured grandly. One of the maids stepped forward, grabbing the canvas and slowly pulling it back.
"A fox girl?!"
"Damn, she's gorgeous! I have to win this one…"
The crowd gasped, while the nobles seated in their private booths exchanged knowing glances. But when their eyes fell on the fox girl inside the transparent crate, their expressions turned lecherous and greedy.
They already knew what was being sold—each of them had received invitations detailing the auction's goods. This was a tactic the auction house used to attract wealthy nobles: preview the merchandise, fuel their anticipation, and get them ready to spend piles of gold spirit coins.
And this fox girl… she had drawn more nobles than anyone expected. To them, money was just numbers—but a rare and exotic toy like her? That was priceless.
"Alright! The auction begins now! Starting bid: 100,000 gold spirit coins! Minimum increment: 10,000!"
The auctioneer slammed down the gavel, ready to start.
"Keke! That's Keke!"
From inside the booth, Paimon recognized the girl the moment the cloth came off.
Her clothes and appearance had changed, and there was even a tail sprouting from her back—but Paimon knew that face. The fox girl in the crate was the one they were here to save: Yu Keke.
Keke sat curled up inside the crate, like an empty shell. Since being captured, she'd known exactly what fate awaited her. Her red, swollen eyes had long run out of tears.
She'd tried to resist at first—only to be met with beatings and threats.
She was just a child. She had never faced anything like this. She could only pray silently that her father would come save her.
But then… she overheard them saying her father had already been killed in the wilderness. There would be no rescue.
That's when her heart died.
Fortunately, her captors knew she was valuable. They didn't beat her anymore. When they brought her here, they even had maids dress her up—just to fetch a better price.
The bidding war over her echoed in the hall, but she felt nothing. Only a towering, seething hatred remained.
She didn't take her own life because a single, burning desire still anchored her to this world.
She would survive. Even with the slimmest chance… she would avenge her father.
"Traveler, Keke looks so pitiful. Let's go save her—now!"
Paimon, hearing the price climb higher and higher, couldn't wait any longer. She darted out of the booth's small window and flew directly over the stage.
"Keke! We're here to save you!"
The entire hall turned to the source of the sound.
"Huh? What's that thing?"
"Look! A flying little person!"
…
Paimon—it was Paimon!
Inside the crate, Yu Keke heard the shout. She lifted her head to see Paimon flying toward her like a tiny angel.
Light pierced the darkness in her lifeless eyes.
"Paimon! Sob sob…!"
She jumped up, pounding on the crate as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Don't cry, Keke! We're here! Heeyah!"
Paimon flew up to the crate, struggling to open it with all her might.
"Who dares disturb my auction?!"
A furious voice rang out. A middle-aged man leapt onto the stage, soul power surging around him as seven spirit rings lit up beneath his feet.
"A Soul Sage?! There's a Soul Sage guarding the auction house?!"
"Wow… talk about overkill. This place must be loaded!"
"Now this I've got to see. Who'd dare cause a scene here?"
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
The Soul Sage launched himself toward the stage, hand outstretched to grab Paimon—
—but just as he was about to seize her, a flash of light swept past his eyes.
His arm suddenly refused to obey. Then came the searing pain, and his body collapsed onto the stage, clutching the stump where his arm used to be.
"You little—what are you?!"
A cold voice rang out as Aether appeared on stage, casually kicking the Soul Sage's body off like garbage. He raised a hand, and the cage around Keke shattered with a single strike.
_
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