Gu He slowly walked out of the private room and stood at the entrance. Looking up at the slightly dim sky, he let out a long breath before turning toward one of the auction house's reception rooms.
"I should collect the auction money and the items I bought first," Gu He muttered as he walked.
Upon entering the reception room, Gu He handed his VIP card to a maid. After explaining his purpose, he was respectfully invited inside.
"Sir, please wait a moment. The auction will end shortly, and the person in charge will settle the auctioned items for you then." The maid placed a cup of warm tea on the table beside Gu He, then withdrew with a smile.
Gu He nodded slightly, picked up the teacup, and took a light sip.
With his eyes half-closed, Gu He's fingers slowly tapped against the tabletop. After a long while, footsteps suddenly approached from afar and entered the hall, and his fingers gradually came to a stop.
Gu He opened his eyes and looked toward the lifted curtain. Mittel Teng Shan was walking in with two maids, smiling warmly.
Gu He nodded faintly and asked softly, "Has the auction ended?"
"Hehe, it concluded perfectly." Mittel Teng Shan smiled and nodded. His gaze swept over Gu He without leaving a trace, and he waved his hand. One of the maids behind him hurriedly raised the silver tray in her hands. On it lay a purple-gold card decorated with seven ripples of different colors.
The Seven-patterned Purple Gold Card—across the Dou Qi Continent, only Dou Wang experts were qualified to obtain and carry one.
Of course, there were exceptions. Under normal circumstances, a Fifth-Grade Alchemist also possessed the necessary qualifications.
"Dan Emperor, your Dou Ling Pill sold for a total of six million gold coins. After deducting the auction house's ten percent fee, five million four hundred thousand gold coins remain."
Mittel Teng Shan's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. "That Fire Spirit Ganoderma cost one million two hundred thousand, while the Fifth-grade Demonic Beast Egg cost two million gold coins. Your final earnings are therefore two million two hundred thousand gold coins... The remaining money is on this Purple Gold Card, while the items you purchased are in this Storage Ring."
With a wave of Mittel Teng Shan's hand, the maid presented the silver tray to Gu He. It held a Seven-patterned Purple Gold Card and an ordinary Storage Ring.
Gu He reached out and took the card and Storage Ring. After carefully inspecting the Earth Core Fire Ganoderma and Eight-Sided Bright Flame Cauldron inside, he took them out and placed them in his own Storage Ring.
"Since I have received the items, I shall not disturb you any longer. Farewell."
Having received what he needed, Gu He did not hesitate further. He cupped his hands toward Mittel Teng Shan and prepared to leave.
"Please wait, Dan Emperor."
"Hehe, Dan Emperor, please wait a moment. My clan leader has something to ask of you. If you do not mind, would you be willing to meet with him for a chat?" Seeing that Gu He was about to leave, Mittel Teng Shan suddenly said with a smile.
Hearing this, Gu He frowned slightly. The Mittel Family's clan leader? What does Mittel Teng Shan want with me?
After hesitating for a moment, Gu He finally turned around and returned to his seat.
Seeing this, Mittel Teng Shan understood that Gu He had agreed to his request. Delight appeared on his face as he bowed to Gu He. "Please wait a moment, Dan Emperor. I will summon my clan leader at once."
With that, Mittel Teng Shan turned and left the room.
A moment later, soft footsteps sounded, followed by an elderly man with graying hair entering the room.
"Mittel Teng Shan greets the Dan Emperor."
As soon as he entered, the old man smiled and addressed Gu He, his tone extremely respectful.
Gu He glanced up at him and went straight to the point. "Why have you asked Gu to stay?"
Mittel Teng Shan hesitated before slowly speaking. "May I ask whether the Dan Emperor can refine pills that extend one's lifespan?"
Pills that extended one's lifespan?
Gu He was slightly startled. Could this fellow be nearing the end of his life?
Mittel Teng Shan looked at Gu He, a trace of unease visible in his expression.
After pondering for a moment, Gu He slowly said, "There are naturally pills that can extend one's lifespan."
Hearing this, Mittel Teng Shan was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Dan Emperor, what is this pill called? Could you help refine one for me?"
Gu He hesitated briefly before calmly replying, "Gu does know of a pill called the Azure Nether Longevity Pill. After taking it, one's lifespan can be extended."
"Azure Nether Longevity Pill..."
Mittel Teng Shan murmured the name before asking again, "May I ask what grade this Azure Nether Longevity Pill is?"
Gu He looked up at him and replied, "A Sixth-Grade Pill."
A Sixth-Grade Pill!
Mittel Teng Shan's face flashed with astonishment. He then struggled inwardly for a moment before cautiously asking, "Then may I ask how much lifespan can be gained after taking this Azure Nether Longevity Pill?"
Gu He replied indifferently, "After taking it, one can gain ten years of lifespan."
"Ten years!"
Hearing Gu He's words, Mittel Teng Shan was shocked once more, before a trace of delight flashed through his eyes.
"Could the Dan Emperor refine an Azure Nether Longevity Pill for me?" Mittel Teng Shan looked at Gu He expectantly, his tone carrying a faint hint of pleading.
Ever since the Mittel Family's supreme elder, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, had vanished, the Mittel Family had fallen into an extremely awkward situation.
Since its founding, the Mittel Family had specialized in commerce.
Over the years, it had accumulated immeasurable wealth and was known as the wealthiest family in the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Yet despite possessing such enormous wealth, the Mittel Family did not have a truly powerful expert to guard it.
A common man was innocent, but possessing a treasure invited trouble.
The current Mittel Family was like a slab of fat meat, watched greedily by every faction.
The imperial family in particular had long coveted the Mittel Family's wealth.
While the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong had yet to disappear, no one had dared set their sights on the Mittel Family with him guarding it.
But after the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong vanished, the Mittel Family lost its strongest backing. Naturally, a family possessing such wealth became a thorn in the eyes of every faction.
Many cities had even begun excluding the Mittel Family from establishing branches of the Mittel Auction House.
For this reason, the Mittel Family could only set its sights on remote cities.
Even the tiny Wutan City had become one of the Mittel Family's options.
Now, the entire Mittel Family relied solely on Mittel Teng Shan to barely hold things together.
Although he was also ranked among the Jia Ma Empire's ten strongest experts, his strength was merely at the bottom among the ten.
Furthermore, he was already advanced in years and possessed limited talent. He was destined to remain at the Dou Wang realm for the rest of his life.
On top of that, the Mittel Family had produced no promising younger talents.
This left Mittel Teng Shan with no choice but to make plans early for the Mittel Family's future.
Before you continue