Pill King Gu He's Brother

It was obvious this flirtatious harlot had come for her young master!

Xiao Yi Xian glared indignantly at the enchanting woman and muttered softly to Lin Ran, "Young Master, that woman doesn't look like anything good. You mustn't fall for her tricks."

"I've heard there are plenty of evil people on the continent who love studying human organs. Young Master, you're precious and noble—be careful not to get captured by people like that and have your heart and lungs dug out!"

"..."

The corner of Lin Ran's mouth twitched. Where had she even learned all this nonsense? Although Qingshan Town was located by the Monster Beast Mountain Range and all sorts of people passed through it, it should not have taught her so much random rubbish.

"What nonsense are you thinking?"

Lin Ran lightly tapped Xiao Yi Xian on the head, then spoke calmly. His composed voice echoed through the auction hall.

"There are many things I want. What matters is what else you can offer me. But if this is all you have, then I'm afraid your Monster Beast blood essence will fail to sell today."

"Please don't be hasty, sir. I believe there is no transaction in this world that cannot be completed. If a deal fails, it is only because one has not produced something tempting enough in exchange."

Her peach-blossom eyes, as lovely as spring water, fell upon the private room where Lin Ran was seated. The woman smiled sweetly. "We understand an alchemist's rules. Let this Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's blood essence serve as this little woman's calling gift. What do you think, sir?"

"..."

Private Room One fell silent for a moment. Several minutes later, a calm voice sounded from within.

"Very well. Since you are so sincere, come over after the auction ends."

The moment those words were spoken, many people in the hall revealed disappointed expressions.

So they were going to make a private deal. It concerned a Sixth-Rank Alchemist—failing to witness such a high-level transaction in detail was truly one of life's great regrets.

Yet even more people were deeply shocked.

Using the blood essence of a Sixth-tier Monster Beast as a knocking gift—just who was that woman, to possess such wealth?

And did Private Room One truly contain a Sixth-Rank Alchemist?!

"Sir, if your transaction succeeds, would you permit this old man to observe your alchemy?"

Suddenly, an abrupt voice rang out from a private room on the other side. The crowd saw a slovenly dressed old man emerge from one of the rooms and bow deeply toward Private Room One from afar.

"This old man is willing to offer a Fifth-tier Monster Beast Magic Core, along with three treasures from my medicine vault, for you to choose from, in exchange for this opportunity."

"Who is that? He actually has such resources?"

"He offered a Fifth-tier Monster Beast Magic Core right away just to exchange for a chance to observe alchemy. This fellow is seriously wealthy."

"You can tell you're not from Black Rock City. You don't even know Master Gute."

"Master Gute? Is he also a high-level alchemist?"

"Master Gute is a third-rank alchemist and holds a lofty position in our Black Rock City. More importantly, there are rumors that Master Gute has some connection to the Pill King."

"The Pill King? Is that true?!"

"Hehe, what is the Pill King's surname?"

"Pill King Gu He. Who in the Jia Ma Empire hasn't heard of him... Wait, his surname is Gu?!"

"That's right!"

"But that doesn't make sense. If he is related to Pill King Gu He, wouldn't he just go watch the Pill King refine pills? Why pay such a price to seek out an unknown person?"

"Who knows? I heard their relationship isn't very good..."

The chattering continued without end, arousing immense curiosity among those from outside Black Rock City. But Gute, the person in question, was becoming increasingly embarrassed and impatient, the veins at his temples throbbing wildly.

He was indeed Pill King Gu He's biological older brother. However, Gute was extremely proud by nature, and what he hated most was being compared with his younger brother.

Under ordinary circumstances, if people discussed his identity like this, he would have acted long ago. But now, he endured it and silently waited for Private Room One's response.

"Fine."

The wait had not actually been long—only several dozen seconds—but it had left Gute fidgeting in frustration.

Only when that calm voice sounded did Pill King Gu He's biological older brother finally breathe a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands toward the auctioneer. "Please continue the auction."

"Of course, of course."

Seeing that the big shots had settled their matters, the black-robed auctioneer finally came back to his senses and hurriedly smiled. After asking the customary three times, he finally brought down the auction hammer heavily.

With that strike, the blood essence of the Sixth-tier Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor, which had practically nothing to do with anyone present, was considered to have fallen into Lin Ran's hands.

"Everyone, the final item in today's auction..."

At the auctioneer's words, nearly everyone in the hall straightened up, their faces solemn. Countless gazes waited without blinking for the main attraction of this auction to appear.

"It's finally here—the pill item reserved for last."

"It's definitely a fifth-grade pill. I heard Black Rock Auction House would be presenting three fifth-grade pills today. So far, only one Fifth-grade Recovery Pill has been auctioned. This final item will most likely be two pills together."

"Two fifth-grade pills? Who could possibly afford that?"

"Otherwise, why do you think those big shots on the second floor have rarely made any moves until now? They've all been waiting for this!"

"So that's how it is..."

Amid the low, chaotic murmurs, the black-robed auctioneer on stage carefully bent down and took out a half-foot-wide purple-gold tray from the cabinet below. Two jade-green pills lay quietly upon it, releasing a rich medicinal fragrance.

The instant the two pills appeared, everyone in the hall abruptly straightened, their eyes filled with undisguised greed as they stared fixedly at them. Several cries of astonishment even rang out from the private rooms on the second floor.

"These are...!"

"With such a rich medicinal fragrance, are these pills really only fifth-grade pills?!"

"Treasure! These are true treasures!"

The dense pill fragrance spread throughout the auction hall. Nearly everyone's eyes widened, their faces full of longing. The people on the second floor were even more excited, their emotions fluctuating so intensely that the Dou Qi within their bodies overflowed uncontrollably.

They recognized these pills. They also understood their value to them, which was why they were so stirred.

On the high platform, the black-robed auctioneer took a deep breath. His gaze swept across the crowd, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face before he spoke loudly.

"Everyone, these two pills are the final items of today's auction."

"Top-grade pills capable of directly raising a Dou Wang expert's strength by one star after consumption."

"Spirit Dou Pills!"