Chapter 53: The Competition for Pills

Under Ya Fei's guidance, Yun Tianming and Nalan Yanran entered the auction house.

The first thing that caught their eyes was the dimming of the bright lights, and from all around the spectator seats, there came a noisy commotion. This made Nalan Yanran frown and couldn't help but complain, "This auction is almost as noisy as the one in the Imperial Capital." 

"They excel at creating an atmosphere; it's a specialty of the Miteer Auction House."

Yun Tianming calmly chose a secluded spot to sit down.

"Deng Deng Deng~"

Under the illumination of multiple spotlights, at the central position of the auction house, Ya Fei, dressed in a red long skirt, attracted the attention of everyone in the venue. At this moment, she was using her charming and bone-tinglingly sweet voice to explain the details of the auction items. In the crisp and numbingly sweet voice of Ya Fei, the price of the seemingly ordinary weapon on the display platform was rising considerably.

"Are these people all crazy?"

"A wrought-iron sword embedded with a first-grade magic core, actually sold for six thousand gold!"

Nalan Yanran complained again.

"This is Ya Fei's ability; her business skill points are maxed out."

Yun Tianming commented.

"I think this is judging by appearances, isn't it?"

"Hmph~ Men!"

Nalan Yanran looked towards the platform, gazing at the enchanting curves wrapped in the red skirt, and a hint of jealousy flashed across her face. One had to admit that in terms of feminine charm, she was far behind Ya Fei. Fortunately, Senior Tianming is not a shallow man who only looks at appearances!

"Huh?"

Yun Tianming keenly sensed an unusual gaze focusing on him. He subconsciously turned his head and saw a mysterious figure sitting at the other end of the spectator seats, wrapped in a black robe.

"Little Yan, don't look around recklessly!"

Old Yao reminded, simultaneously enveloping Xiao Yan's body with Soul Power.

"I understand, teacher."

Xiao Yan lowered his hood and averted his gaze.

"Soul Perception can't penetrate; it seems they are the master and disciple."

Yun Tianming retracted his gaze, already having an answer in his mind.

The atmosphere in the auction house reached a climax. As a chief auctioneer, Ya Fei's talent was commendable. Her every expression could excite cheers from the buying audience, elevating the prices of the auctioned items.

"Hehe, my friends, the auction house has just received something new. I believe you all will be interested."

With her signature charming smile, Ya Fei waved her delicate hand, and a serving girl brought a silver tray with a white jade bottle on it.

"This has been appraised as a Second Grade Pill by our Master Gu Ni."

As Ya Fei introduced the item in the bottle, the eyes of the audience focused on it. In the Dou Qi Continent, the most sought-after things were various Pills concocted by Alchemists.

"This item is called Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid, effective only for those below Dou Practitioner. Immersing oneself in this spiritual liquid during cultivation can accelerate the training of Dou Disciples. If you want your descendants to become geniuses, don't miss this opportunity." With enticing red lips slightly parted, Ya Fei skillfully employed marketing techniques.

"Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid? Can it really enhance the training speed of Dou Disciples?"

"I remember at this stage, the meridians in a person's body are quite fragile and may not withstand the impact of Pills, right?" Nalan Yanran pondered. Misty Cloud Sect is vast and prosperous, naturally not lacking in Pills, but before she advanced to Dou Practitioner, she rarely took Pills.

"Not necessarily. If the Alchemist's skill level is high enough, they can separate impurities from the Pill, retaining the purest energy," Yun Tianming said meaningfully.

"But isn't that difficult? It seems even Master Gu He can't do it," Nalan Yanran frowned.

"A Sixth Grade Alchemist may not achieve it, but if it's an Eighth Grade Alchemist, it's more than enough," Yun Tianming glanced in Xiao Yan's direction.

Who would have thought that in this small Wu Tan City, there would be a Medicine Sovereign, an Eighth Grade Alchemist Master?

"The starting bid for Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid is eight thousand gold, and the bidding begins!" Ya Fei chuckled, looking towards the front row of the audience where the heads of the three major families of Wu Tan City sat.

"Eight thousand five!"

"Nine thousand!"

"Ten thousand!"

The bidding voices echoed one after another, quickly surpassing the ten thousand mark.

"Twenty thousand!"

Doubling the price with his opening bid, the person calling out was Jia Lie Bi, the patriarch of the Jia Lie family.

The independent cultivators in the audience immediately showed disappointed expressions. They didn't have the courage to compete with the Jia Lie family for items.

"Hmph! Jia Lie Bi, hasn't your son already advanced to Dou Practitioner? Why are you still eyeing this Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid?" Ao Ba Pa said with a wry smile.

"Can't I buy it for my future grandson?" Jia Lie Bi retorted. After all, which family didn't have young descendants?

"I bid twenty-five thousand!"

Ao Ba Pa, seeing the situation, didn't waste any words and directly joined the bidding.

"You old dog, twenty-six thousand!"

In less than five minutes, much to the astonishment of everyone present, the two of them, like hungry wolves fighting over prey, raised the price to the thirty-thousand mark.

This left the behind-the-scenes seller, Xiao Yan, astonished, muttering to himself, "My goodness! Thirty thousand gold, isn't this far beyond the normal value of a Second Grade Pill?"

"Hehe~ Don't you see who crafted it? The formula for this Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid is my unique invention. Its value is certainly not comparable to ordinary Pills!" Pride echoed in Old Yao's voice.

Just then, a familiar voice made Xiao Yan's expression stiffen.

"Forty thousand!"

The person making the bid was Xiao Zhan. Faced with this unexpected interloper, Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa, both flushed with embarrassment from their intense competition, couldn't help but cast dark glances in his direction.

"President Xiao, it seems you are determined to obtain this Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid!" Jia Lie Bi said with a sneer.

"If you have the guts, compete with me. I'll let you have it," Xiao Zhan glanced expressionlessly at the other party.

"You!"

Jia Lie Bi's eyelids twitched, and he furrowed his brows. It seemed like he was weighing something, but in the end, he chose to concede. After all, his primary goal for this trip was the Black Rank High-level Qi Method, and it wasn't wise to prematurely deplete his funds.

Seeing this, Ao Ba Pa on the side also refrained from further bidding. If Xiao Zhan suddenly decided not to compete, he would suffer a significant loss.

"President Xiao bids forty thousand gold coins. Is there anyone else looking to raise the bid?" Ya Fei scanned the surroundings, judging that this price was likely the final one.

"How could it be father?"

Xiao Yan suddenly felt both amused and exasperated. He sold the Pill to raise money and never expected to end up profiting from his own family.

Just when everyone thought it was a done deal, an unexpected bidding voice suddenly emerged.

"I bid forty-one thousand."

"Damn, who's so bold to interfere in the bidding of the three major families of Wu Tan City?"

"That voice sounds quite young."

People turned their curious gazes toward the bidder, even Ya Fei showed a hint of surprise.

"Senior Tianming? Why are you buying this Pill?" Nalan Yanran asked, puzzled.

"I'm interested in the composition of this Pill and want to buy it for research," Yun Tianming said with a faint smile.

This Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid only works for those below Dou Practitioner, but what if it's reinforced with the system? Could it be useful for Dou Practitioners? Yun Tianming was curious!

"Teacher! This is not good!"

"Misty Cloud Sect's two individuals bought this Pill. Won't their cultivation receive a significant boost?" Xiao Yan's face changed drastically.

The other party's level was already higher than his. If their cultivation was accelerated by the effects of the Pill, he would be in a tough spot within the three-year agreement.

"Calm down, why the panic?"

"This Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid only enhances the cultivation of Dou Disciples; it has no effect on those Dou Practitioners," explained Old Yao.

"Oh, I see. Then it's not a problem," Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh dear~ President Xiao's determined Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid has been snatched away. What to do now?" Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa immediately cast mocking glances.

Xiao Zhan sighed deeply, but contrary to the expected anger, he gestured a hand towards Yun Tianming, indicating his concession.

After all, he had already obtained a Black Rank High-level Qi Method from the other party. How could he compete for the Pill as well?

Xiao Zhan's concession left Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa stunned. They curiously looked in Yun Tianming's direction, speculating about his intentions.

"Forty-one thousand, sold!"

"Congratulations to this handsome gentleman for acquiring the Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid."

Ya Fei struck the gavel, deliberately throwing a flirtatious glance in Yun Tianming's direction, stirring jealousy among the onlookers.

"Tsk~ Enchantress!"

Nalan Yanran muttered a curse at Ya Fei. Seeing Yun Tianming sitting next to her with an upright and virtuous demeanor, she felt even more delighted.

"Next, we have the grand finale of this auction!"

Ya Fei clapped her hands, and the lights on the stage dimmed. She then took out an ancient scroll with a green hue from the platform. It emitted a faint glow in the darkness, indicating its extraordinary nature.

"Black Rank High-level Qi Method: Wind Whirl Mantra!"

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