The invisibility peeled away.
The fox's form solidified in the quiet room, fur dusted with dried blood and ash, tails slowly unfurling as the door slid shut behind them. The lizard was there too—perched atop its head, visible once more, wings folded, eyes blank and watchful.
The fox let out a long breath.
Then it laughed.
Low.
Satisfied.
"…We really made a killing," it said, eyes gleaming as it gestured toward the pile of spoils. "Not just figuratively."
It nudged one of the corpses stored within the pouch with a claw, then flicked its gaze up toward the lizard.
"Demonic beast corpses. Cores. Enough Yin essence in those bodies to help you recover—*properly* this time." Its smile widened. "Your eyes included."
Then it turned back to the loot, voice gaining momentum.
"And that's not even the best part."
One by one, it began pulling items out, counting them off.
"**Thirteen storage pouches.** Each belonging to a cultivator arrogant enough to think tonight was their lucky night."
"**Eight earth-grade spirit tools.** Mid-tier and low-tier, but earth-grade all the same."
"And a handful of mortal-grade weapons and tools—trash for me, but still sellable."
Its tails swayed slowly, pleased.
"Do you know how ridiculous that is?" the fox said, eyes bright. "People spend decades—*lifetimes*—and never even touch one earth-grade tool."
It glanced upward at the lizard.
"And we harvested eight in one night."
The fox chuckled, a sharp, satisfied sound.
"This," it said quietly, "is what happens when greedy people chase what they don't understand."
Its tone shifted as it looked back at the lizard—still amused, but more measured.
"Eat well," it added. "Recover fast. Because after tonight…"
Its grin returned, sharp and knowing.
"…we're officially dangerous."
The fox waved a claw.
"Wait a moment," it said, glancing up at the lizard still perched on its head. "These corpses still have… valuables."
One by one, bodies were released from the storage pouch and laid out across the room. The space filled with faint pressure as lingering qi bled into the air, the scent of blood thick but controlled.
The fox moved efficiently.
From the eagle's corpse, it carefully removed the **spirit armor core**, fingers precise as it disengaged the bindings.
"Earth-grade," it muttered with approval. "Intact, too. That thing saved its life more than once."
It set the piece aside and moved on.
Masks came next.
One.
Then another.
Different faces. Different ages. Some scarred, some hardened, some already half-twisted by demonic arts. The fox showed no reaction—until it reached the rat-head cultivator.
It grasped the mask.
Pulled.
And froze.
"…Huh."
The illusion was gone.
Beneath it lay a **young woman's face**—sharp features, pale skin, smooth despite death. Too smooth. Too perfect.
The fox tilted its head slightly, studying her.
"So… you weren't a 'he,'" it said slowly. "And not a rat either."
Its eyes narrowed, thoughtful.
"…And you're not ugly," it added bluntly. "Actually—pretty."
A pause.
"Too pretty."
It leaned closer, sniffed once, then snorted.
"Yeah. Pill-enhanced youth. That explains it." The fox straightened. "Inner disciple, maybe. Or an elder using disguise pills."
Its tails swayed once.
"Big background," it concluded calmly.
Then its tone flattened.
"Oh well."
The fox looked down at the corpse without malice or triumph.
"Too bad you came across us."
It turned away, already losing interest, moving on as if the revelation meant nothing.
Above, the lizard remained still—blank-eyed, silent—
watching its partner dismantle not just corpses,
but identities.
The fox straightened and wiped its claws clean with a flick of qi.
"I'm done," it said. "You can do as you please."
The lizard moved.
It leapt from the fox's head, wings snapping open in a smooth, silent arc before landing lightly on the floor. No sound. No wasted motion.
It sniffed.
Once.
Then it began to walk—slow, deliberate—toward the nearest corpse. As it moved, its body **expanded**, bones shifting, muscles rolling beneath scales as it returned to its **normal size**.
The air changed.
Qi stirred.
Not violent.
Not explosive.
But **settled**—dense in a way it hadn't been before.
The fox's ears twitched.
Its gaze sharpened.
Then—
Its head snapped toward the lizard.
Silence fell.
The fox froze mid-step, pupils narrowing as its divine sense fully locked onto the lizard for the first time since the battle.
"…Fourth layer of Foundation Establishment," it muttered slowly.
Its tails stiffened.
"You've broken through," the fox said, disbelief creeping into its voice. "Mid-stage."
A beat.
"…Since when?"
The room remained quiet, broken only by the faint crackle of lingering qi and the lizard's steady breathing as it stood among the corpses—stronger than before.
The fox stared.
Not alarmed.
Not afraid.
But intensely… **curious**.
It didn't speak at first.
Then its eyes narrowed slightly—not in suspicion, but realization.
"…So that's it," it murmured.
Its gaze swept over the lizard again, slower this time, recalculating.
"You'd already broken through," the fox said quietly. "Before the auction."
A soft, humorless chuckle escaped it.
"I was wondering," it continued. "Why everything felt… lighter. Why the pressure never really closed in on us."
Its tails gave a slow sway.
"Even with a fifth-layer cultivator involved," the fox said thoughtfully, "the fight never tipped against us."
Its gaze flicked to the corpse of the rat-headed woman.
"…You parried her," it said. "Not barely. Not desperately. Cleanly."
A pause.
"And killed her."
The fox exhaled, something between amusement and awe flickering across its expression.
"I thought I was just in a good rhythm," it admitted. "Or that they were sloppier than usual."
Its eyes returned to the lizard.
"But no," it said. "You were already fourth layer. Mid-stage."
A beat.
"…That explains a lot."
The fox's lips curved—this time not sharp, not predatory, but **satisfied**.
"Seems I underestimated you," it said lightly. "Again."
It shook its head once, almost laughing.
"And here I was thinking *I* was carrying the night."
The fox straightened, posture relaxed now—confidence settling deeper, steadier.
"Well," it said, tone warm with approval, "good timing. Breaking through right before a massacre tends to work out."
Its eyes glinted.
"Next time," it added, glancing at the pile of corpses, "let me know in advance."
A grin.
"Then I'll come up with something even more outrageous."