Lian sat motionless in the underground cave, his blue void eyes fixed on Elara.

He had been watching her for nearly two hours now. The only sounds were the distant drip of water from the cave ceiling and her slow, steady breathing. The medicine tubes and healing pills he had injected and forced into her system were finally showing clear results. Her face had regained some color. The trembling in her alloy limbs had mostly stopped. Her red heart monitor glowed steadily instead of flickering erratically. She was still unconscious, but her body was visibly recovering — the cybernetic systems humming softly as they repaired damage and flushed out the residual killing intent.

Lian allowed himself a small exhale of relief. She was getting better. That was enough for now.

He turned his attention to the large pile of items he had emptied from the storage rings. The cave floor was covered with everything he had scavenged from the dead after the battle. He began sorting through them methodically, his hands moving with cold efficiency.

There were dozens of storage rings of varying quality. Some were basic, others high-grade with much larger internal space. He set them aside in organized piles. Next came the credits — physical chips and data cards totaling a small fortune by frontier standards. He placed them in one of his own rings. Then the pills and medicine tubes — healing elixirs, Qi restoration pills, poison antidotes, and various cultivation aids. He separated them by apparent grade and effect based on the markings.

Artifacts came next. Defensive talismans that could block strikes, small weapons, Qi-conducting gloves, and several unknown precursor items whose functions he would test later. There were also technology pieces — communication devices, scanning tools, and a few encrypted data pads. Money in various galactic currencies. Rare herbs and Qi crystals that glowed faintly in the dim cave light. Even some clothing and survival gear from wealthy merchants.

Lian’s expression remained focused, but a quiet satisfaction burned in his chest. This was real wealth. Real power. Enough to fuel serious training and preparation for the Kharvax Rift in six years.

As he continued sorting, he picked up one particular data pad from a dead black-clad enforcer — one of the representative’s men. It looked different from the others, more secure. Curious, he activated it.

A holographic video began playing.

The recording showed the final moments of the auction before the big fight escalated. Lian watched intently. The video revealed something shocking: while the chaos erupted between Zephyr Kane and the Eternal Veil Syndicate representative, nearly all the VIPs and high officials had escaped. They moved with practiced efficiency, disappearing through hidden exits and private spaceship. Even the host of the auction — the refined Elyssan man — had calmly stored the entire remaining inventory of the auction into a massive storage ring before vanishing.

Lian’s eyes widened in surprise.

He remembered the host’s earlier speech about the Void Ancestor Realm storage ring at the auction — how some rings could contain entire galaxies or even small universes depending on their grade and the cultivator who created them. That explained how the host had taken everything so quickly and cleanly.

The video continued, showing the VIPs and elites fleeing the hall moments before the full-scale destruction began. No wonder Lian hadn’t seen any of them afterward. They had all escaped like rats leaving a sinking ship, leaving the weaker attendees to die in the crossfire.

Lian watched the recording until the end, his mind turning with new calculations. The powerful protected themselves first. They always did. The weak were left to suffer the consequences.

He stored the data pad away safely, adding it to his growing collection of valuable information.

Elara stirred slightly beside him, letting out a soft groan. Lian turned back to her immediately, watching as her breathing grew stronger. She was still unconscious, but clearly improving. He sat beside her, continuing to sort through the remaining items while keeping a close eye on her condition.

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders