Half Black Token

While Lin Ming was lost in thought, the second auction item was brought up.

"The second auction item: a Profound Tier Mid-grade Earth Attribute Cultivation Method—Dark Earth Art."

Once her words ended, the somewhat calmed venue stirred up once more. On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation methods had always ranked first in importance.

Cultivation methods were divided into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow. Yet the Xuan Tier cultivation method appearing now was only second from the bottom. Heaven Tier Cultivation Methods were basically held by the Ancient Clans, and perhaps the top few families in the Middle Continent. Earth Tier cultivation methods were likewise controlled by those Top Factions.

For those outside the Top Factions, Xuan Tier cultivation methods were the highest level they could access. Lin Ming dared to say that the vast majority of people present were still using Yellow Tier cultivation methods.

So when a Profound Tier Mid-grade cultivation method appeared as the second auction item, how could they not be excited? Even if they failed to obtain it, simply seeing it was better than never having seen one at all.

After seeing the atmosphere in the venue rise again, Jiu Jiu spoke once more. "Profound Tier Mid-grade Earth Attribute Cultivation Method—Dark Earth Art. The starting bid is one hundred and twenty thousand Gold Coin. Each increase must be no less than one hundred Gold Coin. The auction begins now."

"One hundred and twenty-five thousand."

"One hundred and thirty thousand."

"One hundred and forty thousand."

The auction price of the Dark Earth Art cultivation method rose even faster than the Soft Water Silk from the first round. It broke through the two-hundred-thousand mark in no time, and its momentum showed no signs of slowing.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

As soon as that shout rang out, the bidding throughout the auction hall stopped.

Seeing that no one was raising the price, Jiu Jiu began the count.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coin, going once!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coin, going twice!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coin, going three times!"

Bang!

"Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman for obtaining the Dark Earth Art cultivation method!"

With the fall of Jiu Jiu's auction hammer, the second auction item was sold.

"The third auction item: a 4th Grade Wind Attribute Magic Core. The starting bid is two hundred thousand, and each increase must be no less than one hundred. The auction begins now."

"Two hundred and twenty thousand."

"Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman for purchasing this 4th Grade Wind Attribute Magic Core for four hundred and thirty thousand Gold Coin."

"Next, the fourth auction item..."

Lin Ming watched as item after item was sold, but none of them were anything he needed. Thinking it over, he realized that there really was not much he currently needed.

He could not change his cultivation method. As for Dou Techniques, he had not even mastered the Blazing Sun Saber Technique yet. Unless something rare like a Flying Fighting Skill appeared, Lin Ming would not learn any other Dou Techniques. As for pills, he had only just finished taking the Liquid Energy Pill to raise his cultivation, and there were no other pills he wanted.

After thinking it over, Lin Ming decided that unless a Medicinal Cauldron higher-grade than the Three-Mouth Bronze Cauldron he was currently using appeared, or some rare item like a Spirit Absorption vessel for storing Heavenly Flames after absorbing them showed up, he would not bid on any ordinary items.

"The next five auction items are the same thing." After Jiu Jiu spoke, a woman carrying a tray stepped onto the stage.

Jiu Jiu lifted the cloth covering the tray once more, revealing five Jade Bottles resting on it.

"Seeing these Jade Bottles, I imagine everyone can guess what is inside. That's right, pills."

"I believe the effect of these pills is what every martial practitioner cultivating Dou Qi desires most: raising one's cultivation. After taking one, a Dou Master can raise his cultivation by one star within half a month. Furthermore, after an interval of three months, he can take another and raise his cultivation by another one star."

"If anyone doubts the efficacy of these pills, please put those doubts aside. These pills were refined by the Alchemists of the Jia Nan Academy Alchemy Department, and they have entrusted us with auctioning them. Therefore, any guests who doubt the pills' effects or origins may rest assured."

After hearing the introduction, Lin Ming knew that these were Liquid Energy Pills refined from the pill formula he had provided. Bringing them out for auction now was likely meant to use this auction to promote the Liquid Energy Pill, letting all the teachers and students know about it so it could be conveniently sold within the academy later.

"Alright, Jiu Jiu will stop keeping everyone in suspense. The pills in these Jade Bottles are called—Liquid Energy Pills. They are Third-Grade Pills."

"Jiu Jiu has already explained their effects, so I will not repeat them. The starting price for each Liquid Energy Pill is fifty thousand Gold Coin. The auction for the first pill begins now." As soon as Jiu Jiu finished speaking, someone called out a bid.

"Fifty-five thousand Gold Coin."

"Fifty-eight thousand Gold Coin."

"One hundred thousand Gold Coin."

"Alright. This guest from Jia Nan Academy has bid one hundred thousand Gold Coin. Is anyone willing to bid higher? If not, Jiu Jiu will begin the count."

"One hundred thousand Gold Coin, going once!"

"One hundred thousand Gold Coin, going twice!"

"One hundred thousand Gold Coin, going three times!"

Bang!

"Sold! Congratulations to this guest from Jia Nan Academy for winning the first Liquid Energy Pill!"

"Next is the second Liquid Energy Pill. The starting price is also fifty thousand Gold Coin. Everyone may begin bidding."

"Ninety-five thousand Gold Coin."

The second Liquid Energy Pill was immediately called up to the high price of ninety-five thousand Gold Coin, leaving those who wanted to bid speechless. They thought, Brother, do you even know how to play? The previous round only sold for one hundred thousand Gold Coin, yet you jump straight to ninety-five thousand. How are we supposed to play this?

It was like fighting the landlord. You came out swinging with four twos. Should I use my rocket to blow you up, or not?

If I used it and failed to finish my cards before you took control again, I would have no high cards left to play. If I did not use it, judging by how ruthless you looked, maybe you would finish all your cards immediately.

That was exactly how everyone felt now. They did not know whether to bid or not.

"Ninety-five thousand Gold Coin, going once!"

"Ninety-five thousand Gold Coin, going twice!"

"Ninety-five thousand Gold Coin, going three times!"

Bang!

"Sold! Congratulations to this guest for winning the second Liquid Energy Pill!"

"Next, the third Liquid Energy Pill will be auctioned."

"Class Leader, you're also a Dou Master now. You can use the Liquid Energy Pill too, so why haven't I seen you bid?" Han Yue's voice sounded beside Lin Ming as she asked why he was not bidding.

At Han Yue's question, Lin Ming thought, I'd have to be crazy to bid on it. Refining one Liquid Energy Pill cost no more than twenty thousand Gold Coin in Medicinal Materials alone. Early on, the failure rate might be higher because of unfamiliarity, but even then, the cost of the Medicinal Materials for each pill would not exceed thirty thousand Gold Coin.

Yet these were being auctioned for one hundred thousand Gold Coin. Lin Ming would not waste money like that. So he replied to Han Yue, "If I want to take Liquid Energy Pills, I can simply refine them myself. There's no need to compete with these people."

"Hehe, Class Leader! So there are things even you don't know! Only an Alchemist can successfully refine pills. Ordinary people like us can't refine pills." Han Yue laughed after hearing Lin Ming's reply.

In their class, the Class Leader seemed capable of everything, yet he had something he did not know. Suddenly, she found him more approachable. He no longer felt like someone impossibly distant, like a god.

"Oh! But I am an Alchemist." Lin Ming looked at Han Yue and spoke calmly.

"Cough, cough, cough. Class Leader, what did you say? I choked while laughing just now and didn't hear you." After hearing Lin Ming say that he was an Alchemist, Han Yue held her breath and choked herself into coughing.

After she finished coughing, she felt that she must have misheard and wanted Lin Ming to say it again.

Lin Ming naturally understood her little thoughts, so he said irritably, "You didn't hear wrong. I said that I'm an Alchemist."

After receiving Lin Ming's confirmation again, Han Yue opened her mouth wide enough to fit a fist inside. At that moment, she completely forgot whether this would damage her image in the academy.

After a long while, Han Yue asked Lin Ming with a serious expression, "Class Leader, were you adopted by your family?"

Lin Ming looked at her serious expression as she asked that question, and countless question marks floated through his mind. He had no idea what she was trying to do. Unable to figure it out, he asked Han Yue in confusion, "Why would you ask that?"

"Class Leader! Because I think you're the biological child of some Dou Di. You were sealed inside a Secret Realm from birth, and only emerged into the world at this point in time." Han Yue spoke in all seriousness.

"What do you even think about all day?" After hearing Han Yue's words, Lin Ming rolled his eyes at her.

"Then tell me yourself, Class Leader. We're all the same age. It would be fine if your cultivation were one major tier above ours, since that could be explained as extraordinary talent."

"But now you're saying that while your cultivation is one tier above ours, you're also an Alchemist. And according to you, you can refine Liquid Energy Pills yourself. That means you must at least be a Third-Grade Alchemist."

"From when we first came into contact with Dou Qi at four or five years old until now, when we're fourteen or fifteen, only ten short years have passed. Yet you've pulled so far ahead of us. Other than calling you the child of a Dou Di, I truly can't think of any other way to describe you, Class Leader."

Lin Ming watched Han Yue's analysis, which sounded perfectly logical. If she were not talking about him, he might have believed it too. But she was talking about him.

Naturally, he knew exactly what his own situation was like, so he felt there was no need to dwell on it. He simply said, "Enough. Stop making wild guesses. Cultivate diligently as usual, and your cultivation will improve too."

While Lin Ming and Han Yue were talking, the remaining three Liquid Energy Pills were auctioned off as well. Their prices all exceeded one hundred thousand, and the last one in particular sold for the high price of one hundred and twenty thousand.

Next, more auction items that Lin Ming had no use for were sold.

"The next auction item is somewhat special. First, it is incomplete, with only half remaining. Second, the only function we have discovered so far is that it can somewhat improve Spiritual Strength. However, it has no effect on anyone whose Spiritual Strength Intensity exceeds that of a Second-Grade Alchemist."

After Jiu Jiu spoke, a Half Black Token was placed on the auction platform.

When Lin Ming heard that the Half Black Token could help improve Spiritual Strength, he became interested. However, when Jiu Jiu added that it had no effect on anyone whose Spiritual Strength exceeded the second grade, he was greatly disappointed. After all, his current Spiritual Strength was no weaker than that of a 4th Grade Alchemist.

The others were not particularly interested after hearing this either. Ordinary martial practitioners had little need for it, while the Alchemists who needed it wanted to use it to raise their Spiritual Strength beyond the third grade, allowing them to cross the bottleneck from Third-Grade Alchemist to 4th Grade Alchemist. But since it could not improve their Spiritual Strength, they immediately lost interest.

"Of course, it is incomplete now, so its functions are limited to this. But if someone can find the other half of this Black Token and restore it, perhaps it may be able to improve even higher levels of Spiritual Strength."

"And judging by its token-like appearance, it may be a key to opening certain specific items or secret realms. This world does not lack such secret realm locations. If your fortune is sufficient, maybe you could obtain the inheritance of a great expert."

"Therefore, the starting price for this half token is fifty thousand Gold Coin. Any interested guests may now bid."