The Incomplete Map

Roar—!

The Heaven-Shaking Demon Bear Puppet threw back its head inside the iron cage and let out a deafening roar. That roar did not come from its throat, but exploded from the depths of its puppet core, turning into a ring of black sound waves visible to the naked eye that spread madly in every direction. Dozens of martial cultivators in the front rows had their eardrums stabbed with pain by the sound wave, their qi and blood churning. Some toppled backward from their seats on the spot, while others clamped both hands over their ears, fine beads of blood already seeping through the gaps between their fingers.

The terrifying pressure of a Third-Rank Martial Venerable spread from the demon bear's body like something solid. Beneath its pitch-black, steel-needle-like fur, one could faintly see lines of dark gold puppet inscriptions flowing and pulsing, and in its scarlet eyes there seemed to be no warmth that belonged to a living creature at all.

Before this suddenly awakened Martial Venerable-level demon puppet, the entire auction hall fell into a brief panic. The rogue cultivators in the front rows rose one after another, wanting to retreat, while the sect disciples in the back could not help tightening their grips on their weapons.

"Honored guests, there is no need to panic. The control core of this Heaven-Shaking Demon Bear Puppet has already been branded with master-recognition spirit runes by Tianya Sea Pavilion's puppet-refining grandmaster through a secret art. Before recognizing a master, it will absolutely not take the initiative to attack anyone." Xue Fei slowly walked to the side of the iron cage and rested one slender jade hand on the slightly protruding black iron bars. Her voice was calm and assured as she continued, "This is precisely the seventh treasure of tonight's auction—a