Oasis and Daku enjoyed their food until the first light of dawn began to seep through the distant horizon. The tiny eatery, tucked between stone alleys and lit by a flickering lantern, had grown quieter as the night thinned, leaving behind the soft hum of awakening life. The aroma of roasted meat and sweet spice lingered in the cool morning air, mingling with the scent of dew and distant incense burning from the temple district. Outside, the world was stirring back to motion—the kind of life that never truly sleeps, only shifts rhythm. People who hadn’t attended the auction were already starting their day: merchants opening their stalls, bakeries filling the air with the scent of fresh bread, and street hawkers shouting as they rolled out carts of steaming buns and brewed tea. Yet among them, those who had been at the auction carried whispers instead of wares—rumors spilling from mouth to mouth like ripples across a still pond. The auction had ended only hours ago, but already i

The realization sent a quiet chill through Oasis — and yet, his gaze remained steady, calm as ever, the faintest spark of azure light flickering deep within his irises.The air in the courtyard thickened with reverence as Dragon-Phoenix and Qilin met in silent recognition — two ancient bloodlines converging in one still moment.The breeze whispered through the paper doors, carrying the faint scent of blossoms drifting in from the garden beyond.Marcellia’s presence was serene yet mighty — every breath around her seemed to bow in subtle reverence.Even the sunlight pouring through the latticed window seemed to bend, refracted through her golden aura that shimmered like living starlight.“Kid,” she began, her tone both melodic and weighted with age-old wisdom.“There is a lot to talk about with you, for it seems you lack a great deal of knowledge about your situation… and yourself.”She gracefully lowered herself onto a silken cushion before him, her golden hair spilling like molten sun

“Mmh… her aura has been pulsing over and over,” Oasis thought, eyes narrowing slightly as he shifted in his cushion.“Perhaps she’s doing it because of the eyes that are set on the Woods Estate. I’ve been feeling the watchful gazes ever since we returned… so she is also aware. This… this is her way of letting me know she’s here. And ever since she appeared, the gazes have become fewer. Good thing I put a barrier in the rooms where Shiye and Venak are cultivating.”His brows furrowed, eyes blinking slowly as thoughts raced.“But what she’s saying is a bit confusing… Azael didn’t tell me about this. Is it possible he didn’t know? Or he was just unaware? Or maybe he was aware, but chose not to act… since he didn’t force me to return to Phoenix Peak, nor has he come to see me after all these years.”Then Marcellia’s voice — soft, melodic, yet commanding — cut through his thoughts."But you should be glad.You have more years ahead of you. While you are in Aetheria, you should rely mor

The next morning dawned upon Florentis City, painting its rooftops in gold.The Grand Sanctuary of Greatness, a colossal edifice carved from radiant marble and adorned with sacred sigils, shimmered under the soft glow of the rising sun.Light poured through towering crystal arches, scattering across banners that fluttered with the emblem of the Pecunia Merchant Association.Before the Sanctuary’s monumental gates, the heart of the city pulsed with life.The plaza was overflowing—thousands upon thousands of spectators pressed shoulder to shoulder, their voices merging into a sea of vibrant noise.Merchants cried out offers for mana fruits, talismans, and roasted meats; gamblers gathered around wooden stalls where betting tables rattled beneath hands exchanging coins.The air thrummed with excitement, thick with the scent of incense and sun-warmed stone.The sheer magnitude of the crowd dwarfed even that of the famed auction from days prior—this was the grandest event Florentis had seen

High above the battlefield, in the private section where Amon and Marcellia sat, the morning light filtered through the dome, scattering golden rays that danced across the floor.The wind barely touched their robes, the hum of distant mana filling the vast chamber around them.Amon leaned slightly forward, a curious glint in his eyes as he spoke.“Are you sure that the kid is your nephew,” he asked, voice low yet sharp, “or are you just trying to prevent those old farts from recruiting him into their sects and families?”Marcellia’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.“How many times do I have to tell you that he is my nephew?” she replied, her tone even but firm.Amon shrugged, leaning back against the carved marble railing.“I’ll just accept your word, then.But there’s still something I don’t understand—the boy sent a parchment requesting a name change just hours after you visited him.That was right after the participants’ parchments were sent last night. Wh