My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world

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The landscape around the volcano was otherworldly—charred trees, basalt columns, and rivers of flowing lava intertwined to form a hellish vista. Kent's heart pounded in his chest. This was no place for idle pranks; here, every step could be his last.

As he approached the base of the volcano, Kent took a moment to survey the scene. "Alright, final guardian," he murmured to himself. "Let's see if you can handle the heat of my Hellfire." His eyes sparkled with mischief and anticipation.

The heat was oppressive, and the air shimmered with the power of the volcano. Kent's mind flashed back to his earlier victories, to the time he had bested the Earthbound Sentinel and others, and to the new companions now safely stored in his Void Domain. With those thoughts fueling him, he began his ascent up the rugged slopes of the volcano, each step bringing him closer to the heart of the fiery mountain.

It wasn't long before he reached a plateau where the air was thick with smoke and the ground was a mosaic of molten rock. And there, in the center of this hellish landscape, loomed the final guardian—a Lava Guardian, ancient and terrible. The guardian's massive form was forged of molten rock and seething lava, its eyes burning with the fury of a thousand volcanic eruptions. Its presence radiated heat and ancient power, and its roar echoed like the sound of an entire mountain crumbling.

Kent's lips curled into a determined smile. "Time to see what you're made of, old-timer."

With a burst of energy, he stepped forward into the volcanic arena, his mind set on victory and his heart pounding with the thrill of battle. The final guardian roared a challenge that sent tremors through the very ground, and the duel was about to begin.

Meanwhile, Auri's wings fluttered as he soared above the ruins' shattered remains, his keen eyes scanning every nook for hidden treasures.

The little bird, already a legend among those who are other people, who saw a fat crow flying the ruin. Many talked about catching the bird.

Gifted with enchanted claws by Kent long ago, Auri was not any ordinary pet—he was a treasure-hunting dynamo, and he was looking for an opportunity to show off his skills.

The ancient corridors of the Azure Forest Ruin were a labyrinth of crumbling stone and moss-draped relics. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the broken ceiling, casting whimsical patterns on piles of useless and forgotten artifacts.

Auri darted from shadow to shadow, his tiny claws clicking on the cool stone as he expertly pried open a crevice between two weathered columns. There, half-buried in layers of decay and sediment, he spotted a glimmering object.

"Chip, chip!"

He chirped excitedly. With a few delicate scrapes, he freed a small, intricately carved silver coin. The coin's surface was etched with mysterious symbols that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light—a treasure no human had managed to find in ages.

Auri gripped the coin firmly in his claws and flew upward. At his side, a small, magical device, a spatial ring gifted by Kent, which rested like a tiny treasure bag around his neck.

The ring's surface shimmered with soft iridescence, its secret power allowing him to store anything he collected without adding weight to his already nimble frame. With practiced precision, Auri tapped the coin against the ring's surface, and in a flash, it vanished from sight, safely stored away.

As Auri continued his treasure hunt, he discovered more hidden caches: a faded medallion encrusted with tiny jewels, a fragment of an ancient statue that still bore the face of a long-forgotten deity, and even a delicate, crystalline orb that glowed with an inner light. Each new find was met with gleeful chirps, and every time he deposited a treasure into his spatial ring, the ring pulsed with quiet satisfaction.

Soon, his quiet exploration caught the attention of a small group of treasure hunters who had gathered in a clearing amid the ruins. They were a motley crew of low-level cultivators, their faces smudged with dirt and their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Their conversation came to a halt as they noticed the little bird flitting about with surprising determination.

One wiry young man, his cloak patched and worn, stepped forward and squinted at Auri. "Is that… a bird?" he asked incredulously. "Look at him go—he's picking up treasures better than any of us could manage!"

A plump woman with a bright, infectious laugh joined in, "I swear, that tiny creature's got more hustle than a merchant on market day. I'd pay good coin to have him around on my next expedition!"

A particularly gruff, older cultivator leaned on his sword and said, "You'd think a bird would be too small to matter, but here he is—outsmarting us all with those claws of his. I think that's an artifact." The others chuckled, and soon a light, playful banter filled the air.

Auri, unaware of the human audience, continued to work with laser focus. With a rapid flap of his wings, he swooped down onto a pile of rubble where a glistening, ruby-like stone lay partially hidden beneath a blanket of ivy. He pecked gently at the stone, testing its solidity with his claws, then deftly pried it loose.

"Chip-chirp!" he sang, as if congratulating himself. With a swift turn, he deposited the stone into his spatial ring; the ring's surface pulsed happily as the treasure was absorbed.

One of the treasure seeking cultivator, a lanky fellow with a mischievous glint in his eyes, couldn't contain his wonder. "I've never seen anything like it," he declared. "That little bird's got the touch of a seasoned prospector!" His voice rang out with genuine admiration, and even the skeptical among the group began to smile.

The plump woman clapped her hands and teased, "Maybe he'll become the guardian of our treasures someday! Imagine—Auri, the Feathered Fortune Hunter, leading the charge while we all follow his shiny trail!"

The group laughed heartily, and Auri, hearing the excitement, fluttered higher in the sky, performing an impromptu loop as if acknowledging his newfound fame.

Between bouts of playful banter and friendly teasing, the guy began to ask questions about his abilities. "How do you find these treasures so easily?" one asked, curiosity lacing his tone.

Auri chirped a series of melodic notes, his eyes bright with mischief. Though he couldn't speak human, his animated expressions and confident flights said it all: he was a born treasure hunter, blessed with a knack for uncovering hidden riches in the ruins.

At one point, a burly man stepped forward and offered a challenge, "Hey, little fat bird, bet you can't even carry a coin this big!" With a swift dive, Auri snatched a particularly large coin from a narrow crevice and returned it to his spatial ring in one graceful motion. The man's jaw dropped, and the group erupted in laughter and applause.

"Look at him go! That's more finesse than I have with both hands!" the burly man exclaimed, clapping his thick palm. "Maybe we should all take notes."

Auri's antics became the highlight of the day. As he flitted from one treasure trove to another, the spatial ring around his neck buzzed with each new deposit.

But not everyone was impressed by Auri's skill. Hidden behind a crumbling column, a few pairs of dark eyes narrowed in greed. An evil cultivator, gaunt, with a scar slicing through his left cheek and a sneer permanently etched onto his face, stepped forward.

His voice dripped with malice as he called to his cronies, "That little bird's got something we want. I say we snatch his ring and artifact claws and claim his treasures for ourselves!"

At first, Auri, blissfully unaware of the sinister plan, continued his treasure hunt. He fluttered high above the clearing, his heart light and his chirps merry.

Yet a nagging sensation prickled at the back of his mind. He remembered the advice Kent had given him: "Don't fight unless you're sure you can win." The thought made him hesitate for a moment, but before he could act on it, the evil cultivators struck.

"Hand over your spatial ring, you insignificant pest!" the scarred cultivator bellowed as he leaped from the shadows. His cronies surged forward, their hands reaching greedily for the glimmering device and the enchanted claws that made Auri so unique.

Auri's eyes widened in alarm. "Chip, chip!" he chirped in alarm, his tiny voice trembling with uncertainty. For an instant, he considered retreating—flying away to avoid a fight. But the cultivators were too quick; their outstretched hands brushed against his feathers, and he felt their malicious intent like a cold gust of wind.

The leader sneered, "You think you can escape? (Laughing) Hek Hek Hek! Look at that flapping fat crow!" His mocking tone echoed in the air, sending ripples of cruel laughter among his cohorts.

Auri's heart sank at the insult. I'm a sparrow, not a fat crow! he thought fiercely, though all that emerged were rapid, indignant chirps: "Chip! CHIP!"