Azure Blue Crystal

As the ring of energy spread upward, the floor of the auction platform slowly split open amid the low grinding of metal shafts, revealing a stairway passage that extended deep underground before the countless gazes in the auction hall.

"Hehe, everyone, I'm sure you've grown tired of waiting. Since that's the case, I won't bore you with any formalities."

As the stairs emerged, an elderly man in a pitch-black robe appeared before the crowd with a hearty laugh.

The old man in black smiled as he looked over the sea of heads below, his gaze subtly sweeping toward the private rooms on the second floor. His resounding voice echoed throughout the hall.

As an experienced auctioneer, he naturally knew why these people had come today. Rather than waste words, he simply waved his hand and announced loudly, "You should all be familiar with our Black Rock Auction House's premium auctions, so I won't waste any more breath. The Black Rock Premium Auction officially begins!"

As the old man spoke, the platform before him suddenly began to tremble, and a silver tray abruptly rose into view.

Resting quietly atop the silver tray was a pale green medicinal pill.

The moment the pill appeared, it drew countless gazes. Many people even began breathing heavily.

After all, on the Dou Qi Continent, medicinal pills were heavyweight resources comparable to Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques. Pills capable of directly increasing one's strength were coveted by countless people.

It was not unusual for medicinal pills to appear at a premium auction, but under normal circumstances, pills of this grade would only be brought out during the grand finale.

Yet they had produced such a pill right at the start. This auction truly seemed to have something special in store!

"This pill is called the Azure Spirit Pill. I'm sure many of you have heard of it. It can help those who have lingered at the peak of the Dou Shi realm for years break through their barrier in one stroke. Furthermore, this Azure Spirit Pill was personally refined by Master Otto, vice president of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild. Its quality is exceptional, and if you're lucky after taking it, your strength may even soar by two stars!"

The auctioneer in black pointed at the pill on the silver tray and spoke with a smile.

The instant his words fell, waves of commotion erupted throughout the auction hall.

Countless people stared feverishly at the jade bottle on the silver tray.

Medicinal pills that could help one break through the barrier between realms were utterly priceless and almost impossible to come by. Although Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi differed by only one word, only after entering the latter could one truly be considered to have reached the threshold of proper cultivation on the path of Dou Qi.

This was a leap close to a qualitative transformation. Thus, countless people remained stuck at the peak of the Dou Shi realm, unable to take that final step.

Yet all those problems could be easily resolved by a single Azure Spirit Pill. Therefore, once this pill appeared, even the major factions and great families in the second-floor private rooms were greatly interested.

After all, in Black Rock City, Dou Ling were already considered peak-level combatants, while Da Dou Shi were undoubtedly the backbone of every major family and faction.

A single Azure Spirit Pill could produce one Da Dou Shi. In the long run, it was undoubtedly a worthwhile investment.

"It seems everyone has heard of the Azure Spirit Pill. In that case, I won't waste any more words."

The auctioneer in black spoke with a smile, a sly glint flashing through his eyes. He had deliberately neglected to explain the side effects of the Azure Spirit Pill in detail.

It was true that this Azure Spirit Pill had been refined by Otto, but it had no Pill Pattern.

In other words, it was merely an ordinary fourth-rank pill. It could help a Dou Shi break through into the Da Dou Shi realm, but the chance of failure was extremely high. And once it failed, the backlash of the pill would not only prevent a breakthrough, but also cause a drastic decline in one's strength.

But how could he possibly mention such value-damaging details at an auction?

The auctioneer in black waved his hand and called out directly.

"The starting bid is two hundred thousand!"

"Two hundred and thirty thousand!"

The moment the auctioneer's words fell, someone in the back rows shouted out a bid.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand!"

There were clearly quite a few people interested in the Azure Spirit Pill. With Master Otto's reputation behind it as well, bids came one after another. In only a few breaths, the price had been pushed to three hundred thousand.

However, after reaching three hundred thousand, the number of bidders gradually dwindled.

No one was stupid. Though the Azure Spirit Pill was indeed good and carried Otto's name, it was still only an ordinary Azure Spirit Pill.

A little over three hundred thousand was already a reasonable price for an ordinary fourth-rank pill.

After several more rounds of bidding, the fourth-rank Azure Spirit Pill was ultimately sold for three hundred and ninety thousand.

With such a strong opening, the atmosphere within the auction hall was gradually stirred into a frenzy.

Taking advantage of the heated mood, the auctioneer in black brought out one auction item after another. Thanks to their excellent quality, coupled with the old man's highly persuasive praise, each of them sold for a fine price.

Second-floor private room.

The auction below was in full swing, but inside the Black Rock City Lord's private room, there was utter silence.

The two top Alchemists of Black Rock City had risen to their feet, staring fixedly at Xue Mei and Lin Fei with obvious loss of composure.

"You're saying that pill was refined by that young man himself, not by the Alchemist behind him?!"

"That's impossible. That young man looked to be only seventeen or eighteen. How could he possibly refine a Spirit Dou Pill comparable to a sixth-rank pill?" The Black Rock City Lord wore a grave expression as well. "Master Otto, you and I both know that it is absolutely impossible for a seventeen-year-old to be a fifth-rank or Sixth-Rank Alchemist. Alchemy is not a Dou Technique. No matter how talented he may be, alchemy still requires the accumulation of time and experience."

"What the City Lord says is true. My first reaction was disbelief as well. Even Pill King Gu He had already reached middle age when he became a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."

Xue Mei gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "But that young man said he could give us a chance to observe him refining pills."

"What?!"

The moment those words were spoken, the three most powerful figures in all of Black Rock City nearly rose to their feet at once.

Observe him refining pills?

Wasn't that the same as throwing his identity as an Alchemist directly in their faces?

"Did that young man truly say that?"

Otto's breathing became hurried. Since that young man was confident enough to let them observe his pill refinement, the conclusion they had dismissed with utter scorn suddenly seemed unbelievably fantastic.

Could he truly be a fifth-rank, or even Sixth-Rank Alchemist?!

"As long as we provide the things he requested in the Treasure Appraisal Room this morning, he will allow us to observe his pill refinement."

Lin Fei said softly, "But he will be leaving tomorrow, so he hasn't given us much time to consider."

"Consider my ass!"

Frank suddenly burst out with a curse, slamming his rough palm heavily onto the table.

"Give it to him! We must give it to him!"

"Xue Mei, take my token and go to the storeroom. Bring out one Azure Blue Crystal!"

"What?!"