Outrage

The fervor and greed of the audience could no longer be restrained, as fiery lights danced within everyone's eyes. Even Wan Xue's eyes flickered with greed before changing into despondence as she quickly realized that with her family's current financial ability, she wouldn't even be able to see the appearance of the pill from a close distance. Perhaps only a select few among the private rooms could ever afford such a treasure.

Everyone in Blue Flame World knew about the legendary Filial Piety Pill, the divine restorative pill ever created by the medicinal genius, Li Shao Qing. Made of a complex combination of over ten thousand herbs and minor medicines, the Filial Piety Pill was rumored to regrow any missing limb, eliminate any chronic illness, and restore a significant portion of one's lifespan.

In fact, many people bore witness to Nan Qing's Old Emperor consume the pill thirty years ago, and he was among the healthiest at one hundred and eighty years old! Such a panacea, who wouldn't want it!? This was the first auction that any pills or medicines with similar effects were to be sold, they had to buy it, even if it costed their entire fortune!

No matter how many times Su Zhen Zhen banged the auctioneer's hammer to restore order in the auditorium, the chaos continued to spiral out of control. People could be viewed rambunctiously discussing on their terminals without pause, and many waiters and waitresses could be seen scurrying out as they attempted to satiate the audience's attempts to increase their bidding ability.

With Li Mo Shang's enhanced senses, he could easily hear many attempting to buy the pill via credit, only to be responded by a smattering of polite refusals. Letting an amused chuckle, Li Mo Shang returned his gaze to the still kneeling Wan Xue, before asking once more, his mood somehow satisfied.

"Miss Wan," he spoke, "why don't we talk about the issue of repayment?"

Wan Xue shivered, before looking at Li Mo Shang with a confused lint in her eyes. Within those handsome and devastatingly captivating eyes, she could see hints of amusement running through, almost like a sadistic loan shark gently tormenting its prey. Combined with the ruckus in the auditorium due to the Heaven's Grace Pill, her mind slipped in and out of focus, only snapping back when Li Mo Shang tapped her forehead with his index finger.

"Miss Wan?"

"Huh? Student Li, did you ask me something?" Wan Xue blinked her large eyes at Li Mo Shang, her mind partly trapped in a mix of mental hallucinations of her sister, embedded greed, and fear. During her struggle to completely wake up, Li Mo Shang's voice aided by spiritual qi caused dread to wash over her heart, thoroughly exterminating her foolish thoughts.

"Repayment. Did I just not spend three hundred and seventy billion for your sister? Why are you so confused?"

Hearing his words, Wan Xue could not help but tremble in terror. Three hundred and sixty-seven billion, she remembered this price very clearly, for it was the value of the Yin Restoration Pill that Wan Ning required so much. However, it was also the largest mountain barring her path to a satisfactory life with her family, for it was practically an unrepayable debt!

"Uh…Student Li, can we…not talk about repayment?" Wan Xue pleaded, attempting to display her misty eyes to curry favor with Li Mo Shang. Vestiges of humiliation rose within her heart, for a professor was currying favor with her student, how immoral! However, it was practically the only decision she could possibly think of right now, slightly deluded by Li Mo Shang's bewitching appearance and the frightening gleam within his eyes.

"No, I think it's best to strike the iron while it's hot. Don't tell me you want to renege on your debt, Miss Wan?"

Immediately, Li Mo Shang's indifferent reply caused her physical strength to weaken as she slumped onto the floor, completely devoid of any strength as she piteously gazed at him. In response, Li Mo Shang intentionally displayed her a mirror of her trademark supercilious smirk, before pacing around her figure.

Adopting a light tone, she noticed that Li Mo Shang's voice was filled with emotion for the first time, but instead of reveling at her discovery, she was completely scared of this Demon King of a seventeen-year-old youth.

"Miss Wan, since the auction house released news of the Heaven's Grace Pill, I took the time to carefully browse your family's assets. As a research family, truly impressive for a family without a very effective background or financial power! Wan Tianhui and Tang Xiuyan, a framework design of a compact particle accelerator the size of a ring accessory. Wan Tianhui, a thesis on the concept and actualization of time travel. Wan Xie, possessing several small-scale businesses related to transportation services comparable to general public transit networks. Mhm, pretty impressive indeed! The works the Wan Family could be regarded as a comparative total of seventy billion…except that the first two were directly sold to the government, meaning that the debt can't be paid off! Oh no, should I renege as well and not provide the pill?"

"No…you can't!"

Unable to restrain herself, Wan Xue suddenly let out a soft shriek as she heard Li Mo Shang speaking of withholding the Yin Restoration Pill. Each word he spoke were akin to verbal knives stabbing at her weakness, relegating her shrill cry into nothing more than a kitten's mew.

Even her outstretched arm twitched, unable to lift from the ground and cling to Li Mo Shang's leg. Li Mo Shang silently mused to himself before speaking once more, dealing a massive blow to Wan Xue's psyche.

"But I bought the access to the private room, so it's listed under my identity. I also bought the pill, hence isn't it mine?"

"B-but you promised…you can't!" Wan Xue softly wailed. Any dignity had been forsaken as she tried pleading once more. She was so close to achieving her goal of restoring her little sister's spirit, but the damnable debt was like an unsurpassable Heavenly Tribulation!

Not to mention that the one tossing the lightning was a sadistic Demon King! Wan Xue could only grit her teeth and ignore the burning shame on her face as she piteously begged for Li Mo Shang to transfer ownership of the Yin Restoration Pill.

"I did promise…but a promise is of a mutual assurance of either physical or abstract exchange. Miss Wan, if I were to give the pill to you under our agreement, shouldn't you give repayment equal in value? Why would I give the pill after spending my precious money if there's no guarantee of repayment? Losing deals are not a hobby of mine."

Li Mo Shang softly spoke, observing a haze of despair cloud Wan Xue's eyes. Sighing lightly, he guessed it was time to stop this farce, as the excitement faded away, no longer giving him that odd but enjoyable sensation. Just then, Su Zhen Zhen's voice rang throughout the auction hall's audio system, finally restoring tranquility to the auditorium.

Li Mo Shang lifted Wan Xue back onto her recliner, where she stared at him listlessly with helplessness. Turning around, he was just in time to observe the beginning of the Heavenly Grace Pill's auction.

"Zhen Zhen shares your sentiment and excitement, but Zhen Zhen really needs to go home soon! Then, let the auction begin for the final item presented by our Treasure Pavilion, the Heavenly Grace Pill!"

With a loud bang, the auctioneer's hammer slammed onto the podium, signaling the beginning of the final auction. Instantly, a swarm of voices rampaged throughout the auditorium, each filled with desire and greed.

"Five billion!"

"Eight billion!"

"Eighty billion! You fools, do you think you can buy such a treasure with such meagre wealth!?"

"Ninety billion!"

The moment the bidding price surpassed a hundred billion RMB, the cacophony within the auditorium began to lessen as more members of the public seating zone were unable to compete any further. Soon, it was only the private rooms making bids, their lights flashing continuously. Su Zhen Zhen trembled with excitement at the continuously rising bids; tonight, she was making it rich, ah!

"Three hundred billion!"

"Four hundred and fifty billion!"

"Six hundred billion!"

Gradually, the sledge of automated voices decreased until only a few were calling out bids. With each bidding increment becoming increasingly smaller, it didn't take long before a bidder abandoned the anonymous feature of the private rooms, directly using his voice to call out and express his frustration.

"Nine hundred and thirty billion! The Huo Imperial Family will purchase the Heavenly Grace Pill! Who dares go against my Bei Yan Long!?"

"So it's Second Prince Huo! It seems like we should have a teatime chat sometime soon as it's been many years since our last parting. Nine hundred and forty billion."

In response to the Second Prince Huo's furious outburst, a gentle yet odd voice rang out from an adjacent room. Containing traces of both feminine and masculine traits within the inflections, Li Mo Shang's brows shot up as he continued to observe the auction. Without much prompting, all of the other bidders had gone silent, leaving only the Second Prince Huo and the unidentifiable person as final competitors.

"Nine hundred and seventy billion!"

"Nine hundred and seventy five billion!"

"…"

"Nine hundred and eighty billion!"

"Nine hundred and ninety billion."

"One trillion!!!"

The rough and indeterminable voice contrasted each other in the vast auditorium as everyone else refused to make a sound for fear of offending either of these identities. The odd and rough voices formed a perplexing melody in the still auditorium, blasting out astronomical figures that caused palpitations and agitated heartbeat within even the richest of people. Suddenly, Second Prince Huo directly called out one trillion, causing Su Zhen Zhen to stumble and support herself using the pedestal, legs limp from astonishment.

"…one trillion? Second Prince Huo, this one shall bid one trillion three hundred billion. The Heavenly Grace Pill goes to this Gong!"

"Gong Caiwei, don't think this is over!"

Suddenly, the unidentified voice increased the price by three hundred billion, causing even the Second Prince to hesitate, before bitterly relinquishing the pill. His angry voice resounded throughout the auditorium, but within the anger was a mix of fear and awe. With the mysterious Gong Caiwei as the highest bidder for the Heavenly Grace pill, the audience began to adjourn, still giddy from the intense excitement by the surprise items.

Li Mo Shang departed for the second floor of the auction house, where he met Appraiser Wu staring at a spreadsheet in pure joy, trembling with excitement. Within his eyes were indistinct symbols of money, causing Li Mo Shang to lightly cough to gain his attention.

"Oh? Who is it, disturbing my precious accounting…it's you, young man?"

Initially crying out with a loud berating tone, Appraiser Wu stiffened in surprise when he saw the formally dressed Li Mo Shang, before rushing forward to guide him to a seat. Sitting down, Appraiser Wu shifted his eyes before tentatively leaning forward and speaking with a low tone.

"Young man, our manager Tang was constantly asking for you…he wanted to know if you had another divine sword for us to auction…"

Unable to help himself, Li Mo Shang gave a slight smile before looking at Appraiser Wu's expectant gaze. Deciding to earn a little painless pocket money for himself, he rested his chin on his palm, before spinning out a light story, blatantly forming a provider for his "mystical" weapons.

"I did contact my friend just earlier during the auction. He told me there were no swords…but there was a mention of a spear of consecrated gold dated from over two thousand years ago and other miscellaneous antiques. Perhaps Appraiser Wu is interested in these trivial items?"

"I do! I do! The Treasure Pavilion will accept everything you give us!"

Unable to contain his joy, Appraiser Wu directly jumped into the air, his sleeve shaking as he struggled to remain calm. Slamming on his newly replaced cast iron desk, he quickly manipulated his terminal, of which five minutes later Su Zhen Zhen walked into the room. Exhausted and curious, she directed an inquisitive gaze towards the smiling Li Mo Shang, of which Appraiser Wu nearly pulled his hair out in anger.

"Quickly, ah! What are you doing, quickly give the young lord his winnings!"