Auction House

Amid the youth's exceptionally smooth breathing, wisps of airflow tinged with faint green slowly seeped out from the wooden tub. At last, following the youth's breaths, they poured into his body.

After days of arduous cultivation, Xiao Xie's cultivation had finally broken through to a Three Star Dou Zhe. Xiao Xie took out a Six-Pattern Dou Zhe Pill and swallowed it. His Dou Qi steadily increased, and the aura around him began to grow stronger and stronger. Sitting cross-legged in the wooden tub, Xiao Xie strove to absorb the medicinal power perfectly. Half an hour later, his aura gradually stabilized.

"Nine Star Dou Zhe!" Xiao Xie exhaled a long stream of white vapor that remained condensed without dispersing. A gleam flashed through his eyes and vanished. Feeling the powerful Dou Qi within him, Xiao Xie smiled in satisfaction.

"Display the Attribute Panel!" With a thought, Xiao Xie summoned his Attribute Panel:

Name: Xiao Xie

Age: Fifteen

Bloodline: Human

Cultivation: Nine Star Dou Zhe

Profession: Second Grade Alchemist

Cultivation Method: Flame Mantra

Dou Skills: Eight Extremes Collapse, Multiple Shadow Step

Equipment: Special Combat Terminator, Super Infinite Shotgun, Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, Custom Titanium Alloy Greatsword...

Pet: None

Items: Stuffed Bear, Small Revitalizing Pill, Solar Powered Apple Phone, Flashlight...

Worship Points: 237

Points: 2251

"I'm only short a few medicinal ingredients before I can refine the Barrier Breaking Pill. Once I do, I'll be able to break through to a One Star Dou Shi. I hope the auction house has them!" After checking his Attribute Panel, Xiao Xie examined his medicinal ingredients and found that he was still missing a few. Those ingredients were not sold in the pharmacies, so he could only try his luck at the auction house.

"Arno! Let's go!" With Arno in tow, Xiao Xie strode swiftly toward the largest auction house in Utan City.

The Mite'er Auction House was the largest auction venue in Utan City. At the same time, it belonged to the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire: the Miteer Clan.

Within the Jia Ma Empire, if one spoke of wealth, the Miteer Clan was undoubtedly second to none.

The Miteer Clan had a long history and had developed within the Jia Ma Empire for several centuries. Its connections were exceedingly intricate. According to certain rumors, this extravagantly wealthy clan seemed to have some ties to the Jia Ma Empire's royal family as well.

Within the empire, the Miteer Clan, the Nalan Family, and the Mu Family were collectively known as the Gama Three Giants. The three great families had their hands in the empire's commercial, military, and other spheres, and their influence was immense.

Therefore, with the Miteer Clan's formidable backing, no one dared set their sights on the auction house, no matter how tempting its profits might be.

Not far from the Mite'er Auction House stood two Black Robed Men dressed in large black robes. The somewhat smaller Black Robed Man said to the one behind him, "Arno, once you put on the black robe, I'll call you Schwarzenegger. You are to address me as Master Clinton."

"Understood, Master Clinton!" Arno replied respectfully.

Xiao Xie's current strength was still too weak. This time, he needed to sell some Rank 2 Pills he had refined at the auction house. To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, concealing his true identity was absolutely necessary.

Under the vigilant gazes of several fully armed guards at the entrance, Xiao Xie and Arno walked straight into the Mite'er Auction House without slowing down.

The moment they entered the hall, the scorching sensation seemed to be stripped from their bodies. The refreshing coolness gave them the strange feeling of having stepped from one world into another.

His gaze sweeping across the spacious, resplendent hall, Xiao Yan walked toward a room to the side. The words "Treasure Appraisal Room" gleamed in gold upon its door.

Pushing the door open, he found the room somewhat empty. Only a middle-aged man sat rather boredly in a chair beside a table. Hearing the door open, the man raised his head and looked at the two figures entirely wrapped in black robes. His brows furrowed imperceptibly, but a professional smile quickly spread across his face as he asked the leading Black Robed Man, "Sir, are you here to have a treasure appraised?"

"Yes." A somewhat dry and hoarse voice came from beneath the black robe. It was a voice Xiao Xie had deliberately altered.

Xiao Xie took a Jade Bottle from his robes and gently placed it on the table.

"This is?" The middle-aged man blinked in confusion, carefully picked up the Jade Bottle, and sniffed lightly at its mouth. A moment later, his expression changed slightly. When he looked at Xiao Xie again, there was an added trace of reverence in his eyes. "My lord is an alchemist?"

"Yes." The hoarse voice sounded again.

"May I ask what kind of pill this bottle contains... and what its effects are?" Hearing this, the middle-aged man respectfully inquired again.

"A Rank 2 Pill, the Dou Zhe Pill. It can raise a Dou Zhe by one star, but only the first pill taken by each person will have an effect."

"Raise one star directly!" The middle-aged man was astonished. Dou Qi could only be cultivated steadily and conventionally—this had practically become common knowledge. Moreover, cultivators at this stage had extremely fragile meridians. If the medicinal power was too fierce, the result would be the miserable fate of shattered meridians and death...

"My pill has no side effects, and its medicinal power is extremely mild. It will not cause such an outcome. You may rest assured." As though he understood the middle-aged man's thoughts, the hoarse voice slowly explained.

The middle-aged man carefully placed the Jade Bottle back on the table and respectfully said, "My lord, could you please wait a moment? I need to invite Master Gu Ni of our auction house to appraise the pill!"

"Yes. Be quick." Xiao Xie waved a hand and, without ceremony, sat down in a nearby chair and closed his eyes to rest. Arno stood beside him like an iron tower.

The middle-aged man hurriedly nodded, then rushed out of the room.

After staying in the room for a while, the middle-aged man returned. This time, however, he had brought an elderly man in green robes with somewhat graying hair.

Xiao Xie's gaze swept over the old man before finally stopping at his chest. There were no golden stars embroidered there. Instead, there was a symbol resembling a pill furnace. Two silver ripples gleamed with noble radiance upon its surface.

"My lord, this is Master Gu Ni from our auction house. He is a Three Star Great Dou Shi! At the same time, he is also a Second Grade Alchemist!" the middle-aged man respectfully introduced.

Hearing the latter identity of the old man, Xiao Xie's brows beneath his hood instinctively rose. This was the first alchemist he had encountered. (Yao Lao did not count. Before Yao Lao's soul had even awakened, Xiao Xie had already reclaimed him.) Xiao Xie could not help scrutinizing the old man carefully.

The old man's face was ruddy, and though his green robes appeared ordinary, a faint glow flowed over them. Clearly, the garments had been enhanced with some kind of Magic Crystal protection. There was an unmistakable pride on his plain old face, something every alchemist possessed.

While Xiao Xie was assessing him, Gu Ni was also discreetly studying Xiao Xie. Alchemists were not like Dou Zhes. Every single one would be eagerly recruited by any faction. Thus, as Gu Ni observed him, he secretly guessed at Xiao Xie's identity. As for Arno, Gu Ni did not pay him much attention. It was perfectly normal for an alchemist to have guards by his side.

The middle-aged man carefully picked up the Jade Bottle from the table and handed it to Gu Ni...

Taking the Jade Bottle, Gu Ni lightly sniffed its fragrant scent. His old eyes narrowed, and his pupils flickered slightly. He poured out a pill, then a faint layer of Dou Qi emerged over his hand and wrapped around the Dou Zhe Pill. Gu Ni's expression gradually shifted from calm to solemn. After a while, he placed the Dou Zhe Pill back into the Jade Bottle. When his gaze swept toward Xiao Xie again, a measure of respect had appeared on his proud face. Turning to the middle-aged man, he said in a deep voice, "This pill has reached the rank of a Rank 2 Pill."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man greatly relaxed. He smiled eagerly at Xiao Xie and said, "My lord, do you intend to auction this pill?"

"Yes. Can you arrange the soonest possible auction time for me?"

"Hehe, of course that won't be a problem. My lord, take this to Auction Room Number One. An auction is being held there right now, and your spiritual liquid will be sold shortly!" The middle-aged man smiled as he handed over a pitch-black iron badge.

"Yes." Xiao Xie casually accepted the iron badge. Without lingering, he left the room with Arno under the gazes of the two men.

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