Treasure Medicine

The steward, Steward Wu, smiled faintly and said, "Esteemed guest, you may not know, but Linglong Pavilion has a rule: anyone spending over a thousand gold coins is exempt from the deposit for items under a hundred gold. Since you've already shown gold coins worth a thousand, the thirty gold deposit for the medicinal herbs we agreed upon is automatically waived. Here is Linglong Pavilion's letter of commitment for proxy purchasing. Please keep it safe!" With that, he took out a document from his robes and handed it over.

"Thank you, Steward Wu."

Xu Yi was not surprised. Even in later generations, didn't the wealthy have more privileges?

Steward Wu bowed slightly. "It is our duty, Young Master. There is no need for thanks. Is there anything else you require?"

Yuan Qinghua said, "Our employer also needs a well-made defensive leather armor and a heavy weapon."

Everything Xu Yi did upon entering the city was preparation for the imminent life-or-death arena battle.

If he thought about it carefully, he had already been in several life-or-death battles. He had realized that in such battles, weapons and cultivation techniques played a significant role.

It could be said that when the combatants were evenly matched, the superiority of weapons and cultivation techniques was enough to change the course of the battle.

With time being short, it was likely too late to cultivate a new technique. Xu Yi could only focus on his weapons.

Since it was a fight, it involved offense and defense. Xu Yi decided to acquire items for both.

Just as the brown-haired woman was about to speak, Steward Wu interjected, "Young Master Yi is a distinguished guest. Let's not bring common items before him." He then turned to Xu Yi and said, "Young Master Yi, it's better to arrive early than just in time. In half an hour, this establishment will be holding a small auction. All items sold at the auction are extraordinary. Would you be interested in attending?"

"An auction?"

Xu Yi was slightly taken aback, then understood. "Since Steward Wu is so kind, I would be honored to accept."

With money houses already existing, an auction didn't seem too unbelievable.

Moreover, he genuinely wanted to purchase high-quality items this time. How could items at an auction be subpar?

After settling the details for attending the auction, Steward Wu politely took his leave. Shortly after, the brown-haired woman delivered a set of black cloaks and a double-sided red token with no markings. She smiled and said, "Young Master, this is a special measure Linglong Pavilion has introduced to ensure the privacy of transactions and protect our VIP guests. The black cloak conceals your appearance, and the red token is your auction number. Once you enter the room through the secret passage and the auction begins, the token will automatically display a number. This number is randomly generated, so even we do not know which esteemed guest has purchased which treasure. This guarantees the privacy of all our guests."

Xu Yi secretly marveled. No wonder Linglong Pavilion had achieved such success. By always anticipating their customers' needs, how could they not prosper?

After the brown-haired woman finished her explanation, she instructed a servant to bring fresh tea and then politely withdrew.

Having tasted the refreshments, Xu Yi lost interest in the snacks on the table. However, he thought of Qiu Wa at home, who was at an age where she loved to eat. He instructed the attendant outside the door to find a gift box and pack the fruits and pastries from the table. Then, he leaned back in the soft chair and closed his eyes to rest.

While Xu Yi was at ease, Yuan Qinghua was pacing the hall like a rat in a bellows.

"Alright, stop pacing and sit down to rest your feet. You won't be shortchanged!"

Xu Yi knew what Yuan Qinghua was worried about. Once he entered the auction, Yuan Qinghua's role would diminish, as auctions typically didn't allow for haggling.

If there was no haggling, where would Yuan Qinghua earn his commission?

"Here, take this sword to Linglong Pavilion and sell it for me."

A flash of green light appeared, and a green blade, gleaming sharply, materialized in Yuan Qinghua's hand. It was the blade Xu Yi had taken from the black-robed youth.

Xu Yi had tested this blade. It was extremely sharp and incredibly hard, clearly not an ordinary item.

Although the green blade was good, it wasn't suitable for Xu Yi. He knew neither sword nor saber techniques. In close combat, he was confident that the power of his fists far surpassed this green blade.

Since it was a redundant item, he might as well sell it for money.

Yuan Qinghua took the green blade and rubbed it for a moment, a smile spreading across his face. His discerning eye recognized that this green blade was no ordinary item and could fetch a good price.

As for how much he would earn from this transaction, he no longer cared. After spending some time together, he had come to understand that his new employer was a straightforward person, not one for complicated schemes.

"Just you watch, I'll get a great price for this green blade!"

With that declaration, Yuan Qinghua eagerly ran out of the room, cradling the green blade.

As soon as Yuan Qinghua left, the brown-haired woman returned, smiling. "Young Master Yi, it's time for the auction. Please follow me."

About fifteen minutes later, Xu Yi, clad in a black cloak that covered him from head to toe, appeared in a simple, elegant private room.

The room, about half a mu in size, was designed with extreme minimalism. Apart from over thirty widely spaced soft chairs, there was a long table at the front and nothing else.

Perhaps the designer intended for everyone's attention to be focused on the auction items, as the entire room was pure white. Upon entering, it was almost impossible to find a focal point.

As Xu Yi settled into a chair towards the back, the room was almost full. The thirty-odd attendees were all dressed similarly to him, sitting quietly.

However, Xu Yi's senses were more focused than ever. He could distinctly smell the presence of powerful individuals – a feeling of abundant vitality and impending eruption, as if the very air was filled with heat and the scent of blood.

What surprised Xu Yi even more was that six or seven people in the room gave him the same feeling as facing Zhou Shirong.

Just looking at the assembled powerhouses, Xu Yi's heart filled with fervent hope. He was eager to see what treasures would be presented on the long table.

He didn't have to wait long. After the last two guests entered, the back door was closed, and the front door opened. A silver-robed elder walked in slowly, followed by over ten shop assistants dressed like the brown-haired woman. Each carried an item covered by a dark, thick curtain, clearly the items to be auctioned.

The silver-robed elder, having hosted many auctions, was skilled and experienced. After a brief opening speech, he called for the first item.

On the pure white table lay a dark brown wooden carving. The carving was in human form, complete with limbs and facial features, long beard and hair, and a round, baby-like face, making it quite adorable.

As soon as Xu Yi clearly saw its appearance, exclamations arose from the room, "Ginseng Baby!"