Black Rock City's Financial Suppression!

"Dad, look!"

Lin Fei pointed at the stage.

"That pill sounds incredible! Let's buy it, okay? If it can really help someone break through to the Da Dou Shi realm, we could give it to Uncle Li and the others!"

Lin Ang sighed and affectionately rubbed his daughter's head.

"Fine, fine, we'll buy it. You little girl, all you know is how to raid your father's secret stash."

Though he said that, a sharp glint flashed through Lin Ang's eyes.

As the lord of Black Rock City, his judgment was naturally far keener than that of Wutan City's local nouveau riche.

If this pill was genuine, its strategic value would be enormous.

Meanwhile, in another private room,

the atmosphere was far colder.

A young girl in a silver robe sat quietly by the window. She had rare silver hair and an icy, aloof bearing, like a block of ice that would never melt.

"Father." Xue Mei's voice was soft but clear. "Whether the Yuan-Coagulating Pill is real or not, we must obtain it."

The middle-aged man beside her, the head of Black Rock City's Xue Clan, nodded slightly.

"Indeed. If three pills can truly create a Da Dou Shi, then it is worth the price. Even if we do not need such a strategic resource, we cannot allow it to fall into our rivals' hands."

Frank and Otto exchanged glances, both seeing the burning interest in the other's eyes.

"This is getting lively." Otto chuckled. "This tiny Wutan City is going to be drowned in money today."

"Two hundred thousand!"

Before Ya Fei could announce the starting price, Xiao Zhan had already shouted impatiently.

That single shout immediately silenced the smaller factions that had hoped to snatch a bargain.

"Two hundred and twenty thousand!" Jia Lie Bi followed.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand!" Ao Ba Pa's eyes had turned red as well.

At a time like this, who cared about the starting price? Who cared about their family's liquid funds?

This was a ticket to becoming a Da Dou Shi! Even if they had to bankrupt themselves, they had to seize one!

The price soared all the way past three hundred thousand in the blink of an eye.

That was already equal to the combined annual net income of many of Wutan City's three great families.

The independent Dou Masters in the hall, who had originally wanted to join the shouting, all fell silent. They hunched their necks, their eyes filled with nothing but envy and despair. This was not an auction—it was money being burned.

Lu Heng remained seated in that inconspicuous corner.

Watching others fight until their heads bled over his own work... well, it really did feel rather good.

Just then, he suddenly felt a gaze settle on him.

Lu Heng turned his head, his eyes passing through the crowd and meeting a pair of eyes that were almost excessively clear.

At a seat near the edge of the main hall, Xiao Yi Xian was tilting her head as she looked at him.

She wore a simple white dress today. Amid that crowd of vulgar men flushed with greed for gold and pills, she seemed utterly out of place, like a lotus blooming from a muddy pond.

When she saw Lu Heng looking over, Xiao Yi Xian did not avert her gaze.

She pressed her lips together in a smile, her eyes curving into crescents. Then she raised her hand and gave him a gentle wave.

Lu Heng froze for a moment, then returned her smile.

That silent exchange lasted only an instant, but it was brief and beautiful.

But it was only an instant.

The next second, a deep voice shattered the fresh little moment.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand."

The one who spoke was Lin Ang, lord of Black Rock City.

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable confidence—the pressure of a powerful figure from a great city.

The "three hundred and thirty thousand" that Xiao Zhan had been about to shout was forcibly choked back in his throat. He glared at that private room, his face turning extremely ugly.

The people of Black Rock City had entered the bidding.

"Three hundred and eighty thousand."

The Xue Clan head followed immediately, his tone as calm as if he were buying cabbages.

"Four hundred thousand."

Master Otto could not hold back any longer. Smiling pleasantly, he raised his bidding plaque.

The Alchemist Guild was not lacking in pills, but if they bought this thing and fully researched it, its value would be far greater than a few hundred thousand.

The moment those three behemoths entered the fray, Wutan City's three great families instantly became mere supporting players.

Xiao Zhan gripped the railing so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Four hundred thousand!

The Xiao Family could afford it, but it would seriously drain them! And judging by the attitudes of those outsiders, this was nowhere near their limit.

"Four hundred and twenty thousand." Jia Lie Bi was still making a final struggle, his voice trembling.

"Four hundred and fifty thousand."

Lin Ang spoke again, and there was even a trace of impatience in his tone.

"I say, everyone, can't you be more decisive? I want this first pill. Give Lin Ang of Black Rock City some face, will you?"

Four hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!

The entire venue fell deathly silent.

This was simply an astronomical price!

Ya Fei stood on the stage, and even the hand gripping the auction hammer trembled slightly.

She had expected the price to be high, but she had never imagined it would reach such an outrageous figure.

Four hundred and fifty thousand each—three pills meant one million three hundred and fifty thousand!

Adding in the earlier items, this wave alone had brought in over two million gold coins, nearly three million!

"Four hundred and fifty thousand, going once... sold!"

Ya Fei decisively brought down the hammer. The crisp sound struck everyone's hearts, making their scalps tingle.

The remaining two Yuan-Coagulating Pills became entirely a one-man show between Black Rock City's three major forces.

The Xue Clan took one for four hundred and forty thousand.

Frank and Otto joined forces to take the final one for the staggering price of four hundred and ninety thousand.

Wutan City's three great families could only watch from beginning to end.

Though they ground their teeth in hatred, before absolute financial power, their so-called family foundations were nothing but a joke.

By the time the auction ended, everyone in the hall was somewhat dazed.

In just half an hour, millions of gold coins had flowed before their eyes. The shock was so great that many had even forgotten to leave.

Backstage office.

Ya Fei slumped limply into her chair, utterly drained after the excitement.

She stared at the bill covered in numbers, feeling as though she were dreaming.

The door opened, and Lu Heng sauntered in with half a bag of unfinished sunflower seeds in his hand.

"Well? Didn't I tell you this money was easy to make?"

Lu Heng tossed the bag of seeds onto the table, then casually pinched Ya Fei's still-flushed cheek.

"Tsk, tsk. Look at how red that little face is. Sister Ya Fei, your composure isn't good enough."

Ya Fei shot him an annoyed glare, but she truly had no strength left to bicker with him.

She grabbed Lu Heng's hand and slapped the bill against his chest.

"You little monster... are you planning to suck Wutan City dry?"

Even Ya Fei's voice trembled.

"After commissions and costs, this time... you made a net profit of two million eight hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Only a little over two million?"

Lu Heng curled his lip, looking dissatisfied. "Looks like Wutan City doesn't have enough money to squeeze out. If I'm short on cash later, I'll have to go fleece the big cities."

Ya Fei: "..."

She really wanted to beat this insufferable bastard to death, but as she looked at Lu Heng's punchable smile, an indescribable sense of pride rose in her heart.

This is the man I chose.

However, before Ya Fei could rest, a maid knocked on the office door.