Chapter 8: A Dangerous Alliance

Chapter 8: A Dangerous Alliance

As the night wind carried away the last traces of Lan Ruo's presence, Feng Rui remained still, his mind racing. A Moonlight Fox King in human form—one of the rarest and most elusive soul beasts—had just expressed interest in working with him. Not out of submission, but because she was intrigued.

That meant two things:

First, she saw potential in him, even though he was still building his power. Second, if he ever stopped being interesting, she wouldn't hesitate to leave—or worse, turn on him.

"Looks like I've just acquired a very dangerous ally," he muttered to himself, his golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight.

Lan Ruo wasn't the kind of person—or beast—to follow orders blindly. If he wanted to keep her on his side, he needed to prove himself. And he intended to do just that.

---

The next morning, Feng Rui stood at the edge of the forest, gazing at the towering walls of the Bai Clan's outer city in the distance. The first step of his plan was about to begin.

The Bai Clan controlled a massive portion of resources, trade routes, and influential figures within this region. More importantly, they were responsible for countless atrocities against soul beasts, using them as tools and materials to create powerful martial techniques. It was no wonder Lan Ruo held such deep hatred for them.

But he wouldn't just rush in recklessly.

The key to victory wasn't brute force alone—it was strategy.

"Before we make our move, I need more information," Feng Rui murmured, his mind calculating the possibilities.

---

As he made his way toward the outskirts of the Bai Clan's territory, he stopped in a small village—a place where merchants, rogue cultivators, and spies often gathered. It was the perfect place to gather intelligence.

He entered a lively tavern, keeping his posture relaxed yet alert. The smell of roasted meat and cheap wine filled the air as rough-looking men exchanged gossip over their drinks.

Feng Rui moved to an empty table, his eyes scanning the room. He wasn't alone for long.

A man in dark robes slid into the seat across from him, his expression unreadable. "You're looking for information," he stated, rather than asked.

Feng Rui smirked. "And you're looking for business. Let's talk."

The man leaned in slightly. "The Bai Clan has been gathering warriors. Something big is coming."

Feng Rui's interest piqued. "Oh? And what would that be?"

"A secret auction," the man whispered. "One where rare treasures—and powerful soul beasts—are being sold."

Feng Rui's eyes darkened. So, the Bai Clan was still engaging in their sick business.

He clenched his fist under the table, suppressing the anger bubbling within him. He had always known the Bai Clan treated soul beasts as nothing more than commodities, but hearing it confirmed made his blood boil.

"What's being auctioned?" he asked, his tone neutral.

The man hesitated before answering. "There are rumors that one of the prizes… is a divine beast cub."

Feng Rui's expression didn't change, but inwardly, his mind was racing. A divine beast cub? If this was true, then the Bai Clan was meddling in something far beyond their control. And it also meant an opportunity.

"I want details," Feng Rui said. "Everything about the auction—location, security, key figures attending."

The man chuckled. "Information isn't free, friend."

Feng Rui tossed a small bag of gold onto the table, the weight of the coins silencing any further argument. The man raised an eyebrow before nodding.

"The auction will be held three nights from now, inside the Bai Clan's private estate. Security will be tight, but most of their strongest warriors will be focused on guarding the high-value items, not the guests."

Feng Rui smirked. A weakness.

"Good." He stood up. "Pleasure doing business with you."

The man chuckled again. "Be careful, stranger. You might be strong, but the Bai Clan doesn't take kindly to those who meddle in their affairs."

Feng Rui turned to leave, his golden eyes flashing. "Neither do I."

---

That night, back in the forest, Lan Ruo lounged on a thick tree branch, watching Feng Rui with an amused expression. "So? What did you learn?"

Feng Rui leaned against a rock, his arms crossed. "The Bai Clan is hosting an underground auction in three days. They're selling rare items, including a divine beast cub."

Lan Ruo's playful smirk vanished instantly, replaced by something colder—fury.

"A divine beast cub?" she repeated, her voice sharp. "Those fools dare to interfere with divine bloodlines?"

Feng Rui nodded. "I thought that might get your attention."

Lan Ruo's nails dug into the tree bark, her usual teasing demeanor completely gone. "Those humans have no idea what kind of disaster they're playing with."

Feng Rui raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Lan Ruo met his gaze, her blue eyes serious. "A divine beast isn't just powerful—it's sacred. If the Bai Clan tries to use it for their experiments or auction it off to some noble bastard, they'll bring destruction upon themselves."

Feng Rui smirked. "Then how about we steal it first?"

Lan Ruo's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Now that… sounds like fun."

Their eyes met in silent agreement. This wasn't just about the Bai Clan anymore. It was about making a statement—that no one could exploit the weak without consequence.

Feng Rui clenched his fist, his system glowing faintly in response to his determination. This would be the first real move toward building his power.

And it was only the beginning.