Intense Competition

"Who is this guy?"

"Being so high-profile, could he be from the Nalan Family or the Mu Family?"

As Mite'er Tushan finalized the result, everyone looked toward Gu He's private room, their faces filled with shock.

In their eyes, aside from the top families of the imperial capital, no one else would dare act so ostentatiously.

Nalan Jie and Mu Chen also looked toward Gu He's private room, guessing which family the bidder came from.

The reason neither of them had bid was naturally because they wanted to conserve their strength and prepare to compete for the final Dou Ling Pill.

The excitement stirred up by the Fifth-grade Demonic Beast Egg gradually subsided after lasting for quite some time.

Not long afterward, Gu He, who had been idly curled up in his chair, was suddenly drawn to a medicinal herb displayed by Mite'er Tushan on a small silver tray atop the crystal platform.

The herb was crimson all over, as though it had been bathed in blood. It was roughly the size of a palm and resembled a ganoderma at first glance. As soon as it appeared, a faint fragrance spread out, refreshing the minds of those near the crystal platform.

"It really is Fire Spirit Ganoderma. This auction hasn't been a wasted trip after all."

Looking at the fiery-red ganoderma in Mite'er Tushan's hand, Gu He could not help smiling.

Fire Spirit Ganoderma was merely a Fifth-Grade Spirit Medicine. Logically speaking, it was of little use to Gu He.

However, it was one of the main ingredients for a Fifth-Grade Pill.

The Resurrection Purple Spirit Pill!

That was right. Fire Spirit Ganoderma was a main ingredient in refining the Resurrection Purple Spirit Pill.

The Resurrection Purple Spirit Pill could completely restore strength that had declined due to seals or lingering internal injuries.

Gu He was preparing this Resurrection Purple Spirit Pill for none other than the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong.

The current Hai Bodong had fallen to the Dou Ling realm because of Queen Medusa's Serpent Seal and was living in seclusion in Desert City within the Tagor Desert.

Since Gu He intended to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame, he naturally had to obtain from Hai Bodong the map recording its location.

Moreover, Hai Bodong also possessed a fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map.

Gu He intended to get all of those things.

To obtain them from Hai Bodong, he would probably have to help refine a Po E Pill for him, just as Xiao Yan had done in the original story.

Thinking of the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, a smile appeared on Gu He's lips.

Speaking of which, he and Hai Bodong could be considered old acquaintances.

Back when he had won first place in the alchemist competition, it had been Hai Bodong who represented the Mittel Family in recruiting him.

Although he had later declined Hai Bodong's invitation and joined the Misty Cloud Sect, the two had remained on good terms.

When he headed to the Tagor Desert later, he would have to pay this old friend a proper visit.

The Resurrection Purple Spirit Pill he was preparing now was meant to make Hai Bodong owe him a favor.

"Fire Spirit Ganoderma only grows at the bottom of volcanoes, absorbing volcanic energy and the fire of the earth's core as it matures. It is exceedingly difficult for ordinary people to collect. Moreover, even Dou Ling or Dou Wang experts would not dare venture carelessly into a volcano." On the crystal platform, Mite'er Tushan was explaining matters to the crowd below.

Afterward, Mite'er Tushan gave a detailed account of the Fire Spirit Ganoderma's effects and origins. Under his explanation, the response in the venue was fairly enthusiastic. It seemed that many people were interested in it.

"Hehe, according to the appraisal, the starting price for this Fire Spirit Ganoderma is set at seven hundred thousand. Everyone, let the bidding begin." After announcing the price, Mite'er Tushan smiled as he looked over the venue.

Once such a high price was announced, some of those who had initially been interested immediately lost heart.

It was not as though they could not afford seven hundred thousand, but with so many people competing, it would be perfectly normal for the price of this damned thing to double. Their funds were not particularly abundant, so they naturally had to act within their means in such bidding wars.

"Seven hundred and twenty thousand!"

Of course, aside from those who intended to withdraw, there were still quite a few people who wanted to compete for it.

"Seven hundred and forty thousand!"

"..."

Gu He sat quietly in his chair, listening to the steadily rising price without rushing to join the bidding.

As time slowly passed, the number of bidders gradually dwindled due to the increasing price. In the end, only two remained, and the price had already risen to around one million and seventy thousand.

"One million two hundred thousand!"

Just as the price in the venue was climbing at a stalemate, a lazy voice finally rang out. Countless gazes followed the sound before settling on Gu He's private room.

The sudden surge in price caused everyone present to turn their heads in surprise.

When Mite'er Tushan saw that the bidder was Gu He again, another trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes.

In his view, there should not have been anything at this auction that Gu He would fancy.

Yet unexpectedly, this Dan Emperor was so active?

He had already made two consecutive bids, and both had been astonishingly generous.

The price of one million two hundred thousand instantly suppressed the final two competitors. Though he felt the gazes directed at him from all sides, Gu He paid them no mind.

After recovering from his surprise, Mite'er Tushan asked the audience below three times, then brought down his auction hammer heavily.

"This guy got it again?"

"Which family is he from? His funds are actually this abundant?"

"He must be from one of the three great families, right?"

Nalan Jie and Mu Chen both wore expressions of disbelief.

Gu He had made two consecutive moves, and both had been extraordinarily lavish. The two began to question his identity.

"Could he be from the imperial family?"

A thought suddenly surfaced in both their minds.

However, they quickly dismissed it.

If someone from the imperial family had attended this auction, their target would surely have been the final Dou Ling Pill.

Why would they spend such a large sum on those two items?

With that thought, both of them became even more confused.

Then, thinking of the Dou Ling Pill that was about to be auctioned, a flash of insight suddenly struck them.

Where had the Mittel Auction House obtained a Dou Ling Pill?

And why had there been no advance notice?

Logically speaking, if the Mittel Auction House had a Dou Ling Pill for auction, it should have publicized it extensively.

That would have allowed those attending the auction to make sufficient preparations.

The level of this auction could even have been raised to the heavenly tier.

Yet the Mittel Auction House had done none of that.

Unless the Mittel Auction House had acquired the Dou Ling Pill suddenly and had not yet had time to send out notifications.

And this Dou Ling Pill was a Sixth-Grade Pill. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only one person could refine it.

In an instant, Nalan Jie and Mu Chen had their answer.

Dan Emperor Gu He had attended this auction and had even provided this Sixth-Grade Pill, the Dou Ling Pill.

Thinking of the person who had made two high-profile bids in succession, Nalan Jie and Mu Chen were nearly certain that he was Dan Emperor Gu He.

But Dan Emperor Gu He did not seem to need those things.

Thinking of the Fifth-grade Demonic Beast Egg and Fire Spirit Ganoderma that man had just bought, the two fell into confusion.

"Everyone, the next item to be auctioned is the final item of this auction, as well as the final grand prize."

"I believe that the next item absolutely will not disappoint any of you."

At that moment, Mite'er Tushan's slightly excited voice came from the crystal auction platform.

Hearing his voice, Gu He could not help raising his head toward the crystal platform. When he saw Mite'er Tushan's flushed face, his expression froze for a moment before he murmured, "Looks like the Dou Ling Pill is about to appear."

"Looks like the item at the bottom of the chest is finally coming out."

Quite a few people noticed the change in Mite'er Tushan's expression and seemed to have realized something from it. Their whispers immediately stopped, and countless gazes waited fixedly for the main event of the auction to appear.

"So it's finally coming out..."

Hearing Mite'er Tushan's words, a flush appeared on Nalan Jie's aged face. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he muttered.

Nearby, Mu Chen, the head of the Mu Family, also put away some of the smile on his face. His previously indifferent gaze became sharp as an eagle's.

"Clap, clap..."

On the crystal platform, Mite'er Tushan solemnly clapped his hands.

As his applause sounded, a series of clicking noises suddenly came from the edge of the crystal platform. Then, a ring of black metal bars slowly rose, eventually encircling the platform in a circle. Even the space above the crystal platform was tightly sealed by extending metal bars.

"Hehe, please do not be too concerned. These are merely some precautions we have taken to ensure the safety of the auction item." After the cage-like bars had been fully constructed, Mite'er Tushan smiled at the crowd and explained.

"This cage is forged from Cold Iron. Even a Dou Wang expert would find it difficult to break through in a short period of time."

As he spoke, the auctioneer's eyes deliberately swept across the private rooms, and the meaning behind his words was obvious.

The representatives of the various families merely smiled faintly at his pointed remark and did not pay it much mind. In past auctions, there had been no shortage of people attempting to seize auction items by force.

Thus, it was only natural for the Mittel Auction House to be so cautious. Otherwise, if their goods were forcibly taken within their own territory, how could they still show their faces in the Jia Ma Empire?

Gu He was also briefly stunned by the Mittel Auction House's excessive caution, but he quickly recovered.

The Dou Ling Pill was simply too tempting for Dou Wang experts. It was entirely possible that certain people might take desperate risks.

Furthermore, Gu He could sense several hidden auras on the second floor of the Mittel Auction House.

One of those auras was exceptionally powerful and should belong to a Dou Wang.

Gu He guessed that it belonged to the Mittel Family's patriarch, Mite'er Tengshan.

"Looks like even Mite'er Tengshan is quite uneasy about this Dou Ling Pill." Gu He smiled faintly.

Gu He continued looking toward the crystal platform. At that moment, the auctioneer was carefully bending down to retrieve a half-foot-wide purple-gold tray from a cabinet below. On the tray stood a palm-sized small box made of cold jade.

The box was pale white. Though they were far away, the people below could still clearly see the faint white chill radiating from the cold jade box. Only the finest cold jade possessed such preservation properties.

As the cold jade box appeared, every major family at the auction abruptly straightened up. Their eyes filled with undisguised greed as they stared fixedly at the box.

Ignoring the greedy gazes outside the iron cage, Mite'er Tushan's hand trembled slightly as he gently placed the purple-gold tray on the auction platform. His withered fingers carefully lifted the lid of the box, and a burst of yellow light suddenly shot forth.

As the yellow light burst out, waves of energy rippled through the air.

The sudden radiance illuminated the entire auction house. Some people who had been caught off guard instinctively shut their eyes.

After adapting to the light, they fixed their gazes firmly on the cold jade box atop the crystal platform.

Inside lay a golden pill the size of a longan, resting quietly within. The pill's surface was exceptionally smooth.

The pill aura caused intense energy tremors—an anomaly possessed only by Sixth-Grade Pills and higher!

The entire auction house fell into deathly silence beneath that faintly flickering golden light.

Though many people in the venue did not know the precise details of the pill, they could vaguely sense its extraordinary nature from the earlier burst of golden light. Their faces could not help revealing longing.

Compared to those who did not understand the pill's effects, the higher-ups of the great families inside the private rooms suddenly became agitated. Some experts even allowed Dou Qi to spill uncontrollably from their bodies because of their emotional fluctuations.

On the crystal platform, Mite'er Tushan slowly swept his gaze over the shocked faces throughout the hall. Only then did he smile in satisfaction, pointing at the golden pill as he said with a smile, "Everyone, this is the main attraction of our auction: a Sixth-Grade Pill, the Dou Ling Pill!"

As Mite'er Tushan's words fell, the entire venue went silent. Then, deafening uproar and terrified gasps filled the auction house.

Countless bloodshot eyes, accompanied by hurried breathing, stared fixedly at the golden pill. A Sixth-Grade Pill?

Among those present, more than half would never have been qualified to see a pill of this grade in their entire lives. Yet now, the high-grade pill that had existed only in legends was right before their eyes. How could they not be excited beyond control?

On the crystal platform, Mite'er Tushan smiled in satisfaction at the atmosphere created by the Dou Ling Pill. His gaze then turned toward the forces seated in the private rooms. He knew that they were the true contenders for the Dou Ling Pill.

"Enough nonsense. Name the price." Impatient voices from the higher-ups of several families came from the private rooms in response to Mite'er Tushan's long-winded speech.

Nalan Jie and Mu Chen stared at the Dou Ling Pill in Mite'er Tushan's hand, their eyes burning with desire.

"Hehe." Nodding with a smile, the auctioneer cleared his throat and said solemnly, "I trust everyone understands the value of this Dou Ling Pill. I will not set a starting price. Bid freely, and the highest bidder shall receive it."

With the appearance of the Dou Ling Pill, the atmosphere in the auction house entered its most explosive peak. The higher-ups of the great families in the private rooms finally began the fierce, red-faced bidding that left countless people dumbfounded.

Although no initial price had been set for the Dou Ling Pill, the instant Mite'er Tushan's auction hammer fell, the price soared directly to two million.

Moreover, it continued to climb.

"Two million one hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Two million three hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Two million five hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Three million gold coins!"

Within a few breaths, the price of the Dou Ling Pill had already risen to three million gold coins.

The sight left most of the people present dumbfounded and unable to believe their eyes.

Such a terrifying rate of increase was something they had never seen in all their lives.

The various forces displayed their extravagance and boldness to the fullest before the temptation of this Sixth-Grade Dou Ling Pill.

The steadily rising price kept the auction house filled with excited shouts without pause. Even though many people knew they no longer had any right to set their sights on the item, witnessing such a breathtaking contest of wealth still made the trip worthwhile.

After nearly half an hour of brutal competition, the rapidly increasing price finally began to approach its end. By then, the price of the Dou Ling Pill had risen to a staggering five million two hundred thousand...

More than five million... Such an enormous sum was equivalent to the Mittel Family's total annual income in the Jia Ma Empire.

Even in the entire Jia Ma Empire, probably few forces could casually produce such a vast sum without concern.

Once the price reached this point, some of the weaker forces finally began to withdraw. After this unceasing elimination through rising prices, ten minutes later, a ruthless glint flashed in Nalan Jie's eyes. His face twitching, he finally called out the astronomical price of six million, stunning the entire auction house into silence.

A Sixth-Grade Pill, at the sky-high price of six million!

After the silent auction house remained still for several minutes, it gradually recovered. Gazes met one another, all shaken to the core and filled with boiling blood by that terrifying price.

Six million—how long would a great family need to accumulate such an enormous sum?

Nalan Jie's bid had clearly caught Mu Chen and the other families off guard. After exchanging looks, they all withdrew the bids that had reached their lips with ugly expressions.

"Why aren't you bringing down the hammer?"

Seeing that no one else was bidding, Nalan Jie could not help urging the stunned Mite'er Tushan on the crystal platform.

Only then did Mite'er Tushan recover. After symbolically asking the audience below three times, he immediately brought down the hammer to finalize the sale.

(End of Chapter)