An Unexpected Windfall

As Lin Ran pondered, the black-robed auctioneer gave a detailed account of the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum's effects and origins. The response from the crowd was fairly enthusiastic; it seemed many people were interested in it.

They might not know how to refine the Adamantine Dragon Bone Pill with the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum, but its medicinal properties were exceptionally potent. Even if it was not used for alchemy and simply eaten, it would still be highly effective.

"Everyone, I believe you all understand the effects of this Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum, especially after men take it. Hehehe..."

The black-robed alchemist chuckled, revealing a smile every man understood. "According to the appraisal, the starting price for this Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum is two hundred thousand. Everyone, let the bidding begin."

The price of two hundred thousand was clearly rather high, and those who had been interested immediately deflated.

Two hundred thousand was no small sum. To them, the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum was merely an herb that strengthened the body and let them charge forth like a dragon. There were plenty of substitutes for such medicinal herbs.

Spending two hundred thousand on one was clearly not cost-effective.

"Two hundred and ten thousand!"

Naturally, there were also wealthy young masters who did not lack money. To people like them, prowess in that regard represented their dignity.

"Two hundred and forty thousand!"

"Two hundred and eighty thousand!"

"..."

As time passed and the price climbed higher, fewer and fewer parties remained in the bidding. In the end, only a handful were still competing, and the price had already risen to three hundred and eighty thousand.

Those few were all spoiled young masters from Black Rock City. Their faces were pale, dark bags hung beneath their eyes, and they looked utterly drained of vitality.

Yet they were now fighting over a single Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum until their faces turned red, their mouths twisted, and their necks bulged.

"Five hundred thousand."

Just as those young masters were competing most fiercely, an indifferent voice directly raised the price of the herb to a height beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The sudden surge in price drew countless gazes. The spoiled young masters who had been bidding moments ago were stunned on the spot, and several of them angrily shouted toward the source of the voice.

"Which bastard dares steal this young master's prize?!"

However, when their gazes fell upon the private rooms on the second floor, their words abruptly stopped, like ducks with their throats seized, unable to make a single sound.

Those capable of spending hundreds of thousands or even millions at an auction were no ordinary people. Almost as soon as today's auction began, they had received a warning.

Do not provoke the distinguished guest in Private Room One on the second floor. Violators would bear the consequences themselves!

Had it been an ordinary warning, these spoiled second-generation playboys who were used to throwing their weight around would naturally not have taken it seriously. But this warning had been personally relayed by the Black Rock City Lord to the heads of their families, so they had no choice but to obey it.

Without question, after Lin Ran spoke, all the spoiled young masters shut their mouths and waited for the auctioneer's hammer to fall.

With a dong, the ownership of the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum was decided.

After the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum was sold, the auction truly entered its climax. Over the following period, all kinds of treasures and rare curios appeared one after another: various Cultivation Methods, Dou Skills, medicinal herbs, and even pill formulas.

Though these things were nothing much to Lin Ran, to everyone present, they were extraordinary treasures.

For a time, excited shouts of bids rang throughout the venue without end.

If not for the numerous guards around the auction house, as well as major figures such as the City Lord on the second floor, those people bidding until their faces were red would likely have already come to blows!

Lin Ran also made a few modest bids, taking several interesting little items for himself.

For example, rare medicinal herbs, as well as the venom of the Fifth-tier Monster Beast, the Heavenly Poison Wolf Spider...

However, though the auction was in full swing, the major clients in the second-floor private rooms rarely made any moves, as though they were waiting for something.

As the auction neared its conclusion, the auctioneer brought out a treasure that caused the entire venue to erupt and even made Lin Ran reveal a surprised expression.

It was a jade bottle of blood—a bottle of dark green blood, glittering like a gemstone!

"This is the second-to-last auction item of this premium auction: the essence blood of the Sixth-tier Monster Beast, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor!"

"What?!"

"Essence blood from a Sixth-tier Monster Beast?!"

"Since when did our Black Rock Auction House possess such resources? It actually has essence blood from a Sixth-tier Monster Beast?!"

At the auctioneer's words, the entire venue fell into brief silence before erupting into an uproar.

A Sixth-tier Monster Beast was a terrifying existence comparable to a Dou Emperor. How could its essence blood appear in a tiny place like Black Rock City? It was simply unbelievable.

"What is going on here?!"

Inside Private Room Two, the Black Rock City Lord suddenly stood. The terrifying aura of a Dou Ling spread outward, and everyone in the room instantly felt immense pressure.

The staff member from the Black Rock Auction House standing to one side was especially affected, his legs trembling as sweat soaked his back.

"I need a reasonable explanation."

The Black Rock City Lord's gaze settled on the staff member. "This item was not on the auction list you gave me."

"Spare me, City Lord! Spare me!"

With a thud, the staff member dropped to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face as he cried, "It was added at the last minute! It was added at the last minute! The president forbade all of us from revealing it, so I did not tell you!"

"Added at the last minute?"

The Black Rock City Lord frowned slightly. Looking at the wailing staff member, he knew there was no point making things difficult for him. He immediately snorted coldly. "Bring your president here."

"Yes, City Lord."

The staff member hurriedly nodded and fled the private room as though escaping for his life, while the City Lord's gaze swept across the private rooms on the second floor.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before his eyes.

The figure had a voluptuous body and a tall, graceful frame. Her soft waist was as alluring as a water snake.

At merely one glance, her seductive figure shook the City Lord's mind.

It was not because the City Lord was some lecher, but because he had actually sensed an overwhelming and terrifying pressure from that exquisite figure.

"A... a Dou Wang?!"

The Black Rock City Lord's expression changed drastically. He seemed to understand why the president of the Black Rock Auction House, who had always obeyed his every word, had concealed news of such an auction item.

Under the lights of the auction house, the dark green Monster Beast essence blood gleamed with an eerie radiance, drawing countless eyes.

Yet the auctioneer's next words directly extinguished their hopes.

"I need not elaborate on the value of the essence blood of this Sixth-tier Monster Beast, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor. I trust everyone understands it well enough. Furthermore, the seller has stated that she does not want money. Instead, she requires the buyer to do one thing for her."

"Refine a sixth-grade pill!"

The entire venue fell silent once more.

Inside Private Room One, Lin Ran smiled faintly, his gaze settling upon the graceful figure.

Interesting.

Was she here for me?