Winter break came quietly. Snow dusted the roofs of Bo City, and cold wind drifted between the school buildings like a warning. Students laughed as they headed home, but Xu Mang slipped through the gates alone with a small backpack slung over his shoulder.
Inside that backpack rested two important things.
The egg warmed by the Lightning Calamity.
And a small pouch of crystals that would pay for everything he planned next.
It was true, since now that he literally brought over the Lightning Calamity fruit from the summoning plane, he cannot make a dimensional contract with it anymore.
The little spirit can only become his Contracted beast instead of Dimensional beast.
He still have to look for another beast in the summoning plane!
"Sigh... Guess I'll have to rely on Lil Wolfie..."
He got up, wore his jacket over the patient garb and left the room with the IV rod in one hand.
He took the elevator and went to the rooftop!
The rooftop was huge and an open area! It was quite windy today. He sat down in meditative pose while taking the support of the wall.
Now that his Soul was healed up, he casted Dimensional summoning again!
Xu Mang left the city without announcing anything. The train to Magic City was long, but he spent most of it meditating with his hood low. His lightning stars aligned more smoothly each day, but true cultivation required more than natural talent..
By the time he arrived in Magic City, evening lights were glowing across the skyline. Tall buildings crowded together, and the streets were busy with mages and traders who came from all over the world.
He walked toward the heart of the city until he reached a wide street lined with banners and glowing lanterns. The painted characters on the entrance gate read clearly.
Xu mang was thinking ""Which element should suit you... Ice? I mean... Considering I have a lightning Elemental spirit Ice type wolf will be the best choice to go with... But not any Ice Elemental wolf, I want one from Antarctica or from that type of extreme region! And that too.
When Xu mang arrived at Shanghai International Commodity Auction! The largest Auction house of Shanghai!
"Good Afternoon sir, how many I assist you?" the front desk lady with thick make up asked Xu Mang with a business-like smile plastered on her face!
_Looks like a kid who hasn't even graduated yet... but his clothes look expensive the lady thought while looking at Xu mang.
The uniform he was wearing was thrown away a long time ago, the clothes he was now wearing were also a gift to him by the doctor.
"Hey, My name is Xu Mang and I'm here to sell this!" Xu mang removed a Lightning Fundamental Crystal from his Space pocket but made it seem like the thing was in his pocket.
The purple fist sized crystal looked mesmerizing and beautiful.
"Wha...! A Fundamental Crystal of this purity!" The front desk lady was shocked!
"I have 4 more!" Xu mang added.
"What?! Four More?!?" The front desk lady was shocked even more! Just where did this rich kid come from?
"Please sit here for a moment sir, I'll immediately go and call my manager! This is my colleague who'll attend to you, in the meantime please serve sir some refreshments."
5 minutes later a fat man came out with the front desk lady from before.
"Good Afternoon sir, my name is Zhao Wong, I heard you wanted to sell Lightning Element's fundamental crystals to us." The fat man named Zhao Wong asked in an extremely polite way.
_Zhao...! He's from the Zhao family! Xu mang thought to himself. After all, the influential Zhao family was deeply rooted into the magic City! It wasn't really a surprise for a member of the Zhao family to be working here.
"Yes, here." Xu Mang showed him the Fundamental Crystal.
"My my, this is indeed quite pure crystal you have. If I'm not overstepping my boundaries, May I know the source of it?" The Manager shamelessly asked.
Xu Mang's eyes sharpened, "No." He firmly said no to him.
"I see, it's a shame, never mind. Let's discuss the price inside then." The Manager said as he guided Xu Mang to follow him.
"It's fine, I already have a price in mind, just give me this much per crystal." Xu mang didn't beat around the bush and wrote the price on a paper, and he was rather sceptical to go in a room with him.
He was rather defenceless right now, so he went straight to the point!
"Hmm...? The purity of these fundamental crystals could go well up to this much per piece you know. Are you sure, you only want this much?" The Manager was surprised, since Xu Mang asked for 300 million per crystal, and the original price was around 350 million and could easily go up if he auctioned individually.
"This much is fine for the both of us right?" Xu Mang instead smiled in return.
He had basically given 250 million RMB away.
"I see, Hohoho!" The Manager laughed in a cunning way as he took Xu Mang's bribe.
"But I want you to do me a favour." Xu Mang said.
"Oh, what is it, esteemed sir? If it's within our power we will do it!" The Manager clasped his hands and sucked up to Mo Fan.
"I'm looking for a High Level Ruler Class Ice Elemental Wolf's Offspring. A new born infant would be preferable!"
"A High Level Ruler Class Ice Elemental Wolf's Offspring, is it?" The Manager Zhao Wong held his chin in confusion.
Xu Mang's request was quite weird and tricky after all!
"Hmm... It's... Quite tricky. Please give us two-three days of time, we'll get back to you as soon as possible!" Zhao Wong said.
"I prefer it if it's from Antarctica," Xu Mang added.
"I see... I will see to it, esteemed sir!" Zhao Wong said in affirmation.
"Good!" Xu Mang nodded in agreement and shook hands with him.
"Oh right, I want to buy a Ruler class soul remnant!" Xu Mang said as he almost forgot about it!
"Oh! Of what type of beast would you prefer, sir?"
"Any is fine, just bring one"
"Right away, Sir!"
He signalled the front desk lady to lead the way.
"Yes sir!" She nodded and guided them!
...
"Welcome to our collection of souls, sir" Zhao Wong said as he stood in front of the entrance.
"We thought, you might like it if you get to choose which you want to buy!"
"That... Well I suppose it's fine" Xu Mang replied!
The little loach around his neck had already started vibrating incessantly like a hungry beast!
_Calm Down ancestor! If you ate everything then we both will be buried deep into the ground!_
Xu Mang thought wryly, while keeping a poker face.
The little loach seemed to have understood Xu Mang and settled down.
_Just choose which one you like the most! Xu Mang said.
Zhao Wong guided Xu Mang inside the room!
The room was a little cold, and the souls were kept inside their soul vessels!
Xu Mang was basically given a free rein to roam around inside!
"These are our best Ruler Class Soul Remnants which may cost you up to 400 Million RMB, but we'll give you a 20% Special discount" Zhao Wong said with a smile.
"Is that so..." Xu Mang said with an indifferent gaze, but he was basically waiting for Little Loach to have a reaction!
After all, his little pendant ate only sophisticated things all the time! So it won't be hard for it to find things that it likes!
"This one seems nice!" Xu Mang said as he looked at a soul remnant which was placed in a corner, as if it was forgotten!
"Oh... That one is..." Zhao Wong suddenly made an awkward expression.
"Is there a problem with this one?"
"No! There's no problem! We'll sell it you for 150 Million!" Zhao Wong said while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Oh! Why is the price for this so less compared to others?" Xu Mang asked.
"That's because it was from a monster which was particularly weaker compared to a ruler class monster. It barely classified as a ruler class, that's why the glow of its soul was also quite dull, we were planning to auction it away, sooner or later"
_Bullshit! That soul is clearly the most valuable soul here out of everyone! Little loach literally wants to jump out of my neck and devour it right this instant!_
Little Loach had the most intense reaction for it out of all the remnants present there.
Little Loach cannot possibly be wrong about his food! It never has!
"I'll still buy it!"
"A.. as you wish."
...
He stepped out into the cold night. Snowflakes drifted across the street, dissolving on impact with the warm lantern lights. The city was loud, bright, and full of ambition. But Xu Mang felt only the steady pulse of the pendant.
Inside, the path he had chosen was becoming clearer.
Strengthening the pendant would accelerate his Summoning foundation.
The wolf cub would be his first true summon, a partner that would grow with him.
And once he returned to Bo City, he would begin preparing Mu Bai, Mo Fan, and Zhang Xiaohou for their own futures.
He walked toward the quiet edge of the city, the vial of Ruler essence cold against his side.
Winter had only just begun.
And Xu Mang's real path was opening.