Bending over, the fox stared into the now open pouch with gleaming eyes.
Through clenched teeth, it muttered,
"I knew that mid-stage cultivator had some good stuff, but to think he'd possess five mid-grade spirit stones of top quality...
One of these is worth a hundred low-grade spirit stones of the same quality. That's... five hundred top-quality low-grade once.
If I copied this to all the stones I got from the treasury... I never imagined an elder from a mere cultivation clan would be this rich."
Inside, there were also two high-tier wind talismans of mortal grade, five bottles of Earth-grade mid-tier Spirit Gathering Pills, two bottles of Vitality Pills, and three bottles of Recovery Pills—all of the same level.
A couple of mortal-grade defensive talismans and a jade slip inscribed with the high-tier mortal-grade Movement Art Wind Walker.
"All good stuff," the fox chuckled, grinning. "Let's see what's inside the others."
As the pouch closed, the fox set it aside and grabbed another pouch that glowed faintly.
Closing its eyes, the cave grew quiet again, the only sound was of the lizard eating.
----
Five minutes passed before the system announced, "Gained 3000 evolution points."
Lizarius had already begun eating the last corpse when the pouch clicked open.
The fox's gleaming eyes snapped open as it looked inside the storage pouch held in its paw.
A grin spread across its face as it muttered,
"Not bad."
Inside were a piece of Spiritwood and silk, nine bottles of Spirit Ink, some formation flags, three mid-tier talismans—all of mortal grade—and sixty low-grade spirit stones of standard quality.
Though it couldn't compare to the pouch of the mid-stage cultivator,
"Everything is good stuff.
Let's continue."
The fox set the pouch aside and picked up another one.
This was from the four-layer cultivator.
"I remember she had a spirit tool... Ah, just now I remembered—it was an Earth-grade tool.
Can't believe I forgot something like that." The fox sighed.
"Can't be too greedy. Let's see what's inside."
Closing its eyes.
---
Seven minutes passed before the pouch clicked open.
The fox's eyes snapped open, gleaming with anticipation.
But as it peered inside, the gleam slowly faded into disappointment.
It blinked, then turned the pouch upside down, letting its contents spill onto the ground.
There were six spirit stones, two bottles of pills, and a jade slip.
The fox stared down at the meager haul, its gaze heavy with disappointment.
It muttered,
"So I didn't see it wrong..."
Shouting in frustration, it asked aloud,
"How can a cultivator at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment be this poor?
Only two bottles of pills and six low-grade spirit stones of standard quality?
Did she trade all her good stuff for that spirit tool? I should've taken the tool instead of this pouch."
The fox's gaze shifted to the jade slip. Curious, it picked it up delicately with its paws.
"Hmm... Falling Leaf Sword Art, low-tier Earth grade.
A sword technique... I didn't see her use it in battle.
She only attacked with the sword control technique.
Maybe she just recently acquired it and hasn't had time to master it yet."
"That explains why there's so little inside the pouch.
But it's an Earth-grade art—valuable. I'll need to keep this for now."
The fox carefully set the jade slip aside with the other treasures, then picked up another pouch, closing its eyes once more.
---
The system announced, "Gained 3000 evolution points."
Lizarius had just finished devouring the last corpse, standing on the blood-stained ground.
The corpse's torn tattered robes lay scattered around the lizard, soaked in blood, as it licked its maw.
"System, how many points do I have now?"
Lizarius asked.
The system replied, "You have 50,300 evolution points."
Still licking its maw, the lizard muttered, "Huh, that many points..."
Its gaze drifted to its wings, which were healing but not yet fully restored.
Lizarius thought, My wings still aren't fully healthy... they're still Tron.
Glancing over at the fox, who still had its eyes closed, Lizarius turned and slowly walked deeper into the cave.
Soon, it reached the end.
It climbed up the cave wall and stopped.
Swinging its tail, a white silken web shot out from the tip, sticking firmly to the cave wall.
Moving its tail with precision, it attached the web to the wall, hanging as it crept upward, securing its hold.