The Growth of the Cauldron, Obtaining the Earth Core Fire!

Ye Yan looked at the flame on the display platform and thought of his Life Fire Seed, which was still being nurtured. He began to consider acquiring it.

This trip to the auction would be complete if he could obtain the Earth Core Fire.

After all, the cauldron in his dantian was already crying out to be fed.

During this period, he had continuously supplied the Wood Qi within the cauldron.

After constant nurturing, he could even sense a trace of spirituality emanating from within the cauldron.

If the Wood Qi completely extracted from a single Green Spirit Flower was counted as one strand,

then ten strands would make one wisp.

The cauldron's absorption speed had already changed from absorbing one strand every two days at the start to one strand per day now.

Furthermore, the Life Fire Seed could also absorb one strand a day.

That meant it absorbed two strands a day, equivalent to two second-tier Evergreen Flowers, or two hundred gold coins.

Looking at a single day, that was not much considering the Ye Family's status. But after one year, it would amount to over seventy thousand gold coins.

That did not even account for the cauldron and the fire seed requiring even more absorption later on.

Of course, the price did not matter. The main issue was that this consumed too much time.

After this trade fair, he still needed to find medicinal herbs capable of extracting more Wood Qi.

Extracting it through Evergreen Flowers was simply too slow.

His time was precious.

On the display platform.

After the seductive auctioneer revealed that the Earth Core Fire lacked its origin source, the descendants of the various families who had initially been interested immediately lost their desire to bid.

If it had been a complete Earth Core Fire, it could indeed have served as an alchemical flame for their younger generations.

But if it was incomplete, it was not worth it.

"Considering the consignor's request, this Earth Core Fire will begin at one fourth-grade medicinal pill!"

The alluring, enchanting voice rang out again. As she moved with graceful steps, the atmosphere in the hall became even more heated.

Anyone able to enter this auction was at least a fifth-grade alchemist. A fourth-grade medicinal pill was child's play to them.

It was clear that this was merely an opening item meant to warm up the crowd!

Still, Ye Yan looked at the tempting gaze on the stage and the burning desire in the alchemists' eyes below.

He had to admit that the auction house's methods were indeed impressive.

At an auction filled entirely with alchemists, most of them did not bother concealing their desires.

And since alchemists were wealthy, rash acts committed for the sake of beauty often occurred under such circumstances.

Just as the auctioneer's voice fell from the stage.

"One fourth-grade Beast Strength Pill."

A voice immediately rang out from below.

Then, more voices followed.

"Two Beast Strength Pills."

The bids continued without pause.

"Don't you want it? I'll help you bid for it."

Watching the lively auction, Ye Jingheng spoke to Ye Yan.

"No rush. It is still a flame comparable to a sixth-grade Beast Fire. Even with part of its origin source missing, it is not something a fourth-grade medicinal pill can obtain."

Ye Yan stared at the flame on the display platform and spoke softly.

At the same time.

Inside a private room on the second floor.

There were two people in the room, one dressed in black and the other in white.

Both were exceptionally handsome.

The black-clad man looked at the gloomy expression of the white-clad man and could not help smiling. "Brother Bai Li, you have finally been released recently."

"Cao Ge, if you called me out just to mock me, then there was no need."

Bai Li's face turned livid. "President Xuan Yi finally showed some interest in taking a disciple. If I could not become one, do you think your Cao Family can?"

Cao Ge merely smiled without replying.

As Cao Ying's cousin, he naturally knew of his cousin's talent.

He was not being modest. If anyone in the entire Pill Region was most qualified to become President Xuan Yi's disciple, it was likely only his cousin.

Only his cousin.

It was simply a pity that she was too young.

"Hmph."

Bai Li snorted coldly and said slowly, "I know that a genius has appeared in your Cao Family, and even the Ye Family has produced one. Your two families have even begun cooperating."

"But so what? Sheng Yao openly favored one side. Who knows whether several presidents instructed him to do so, or whether Han Li had some means of winning over the elders."

"Both your families are already too late."

Bai Li delivered his conclusion.

"Let's not talk about that."

Cao Ge's smile faded as he lowered his head to look at the display platform below.

The price of the Earth Core Fire had already reached one low-grade fifth-grade medicinal pill.

"Doesn't your Bai Clan also have a genius named Bai Ying? Hasn't he been looking for a high-grade Beast Fire recently? You have no interest in this Earth Core Fire?"

"An incomplete flame is useless to him!"

Bai Li lowered his gaze to the flickering Heavenly Flame and spoke slowly.

His gaze then wandered casually beneath the display platform before finally stopping on a handsome young man.

The man's eyes gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity, yet he was certain he had never seen that figure or face before.

"Did you run into someone you know?" Cao Ge asked.

"One Qi Cultivation Pill."

At that moment, seeing that the bidding for the Earth Core Fire had begun to slow, Ye Yan finally named his price.

The Qi Cultivation Pill could restore the Dou Qi within the human body in a short period of time. It could even be useful to Dou Emperors and Dou Zongs.

Therefore, the Qi Cultivation Pill was worth considerably more than ordinary fifth-grade medicinal pills.

"This gentleman bids one Qi Cultivation Pill. Is there a higher offer?"

A crisp, soul-stirring voice rang out from the stage.

"One Qi Cultivation Pill, going twice."

Inside the room.

"You know that man?" Cao Ge asked again when Bai Li did not answer.

"I have never seen him."

Bai Li frowned. He took another look and found that the familiar feeling had vanished. In the end, he could only shake his head.

"Is that so?"

Cao Ge was puzzled, but he made another bid for the Earth Core Fire below.

"One fifth-grade medicinal pill, plus one fifth-grade medicinal herb."

"Very well, Private Room Number Three upstairs has offered one medicinal pill and one fifth-grade medicinal herb."

The red-clothed auctioneer's smile did not fade. "Any higher bids?"

Ye Yan raised his head toward the direction from which the voice had come.

He had never heard that voice before. Why had someone suddenly stepped in to interfere?

Ye Yan turned and signaled Ye Jingheng.

Ye Jingheng nodded and raised his hand. "Two Qi Cultivation Pills."

"Very well, two Qi Cultivation Pills, going once."

The auctioneer pointed in Ye Jingheng's direction, then looked around the hall, her eyes filled with seduction.

"Two Qi Cultivation Pills is about enough. It depends on whether the people in that private room will continue bidding."

"Most likely not. This is only the first auction item, and the major families of Sacred Pill City do not lack flames like this."

"..."

Ignoring her seductive gaze, the crowd quietly discussed the matter with their friends.

Inside the room.

"You truly do not know that man?" Cao Ge asked once more.

"I do not."

Bai Li lowered his head and looked again, only to find that the inexplicable familiarity had vanished as though it had been an illusion.

"If you want it, bid for it yourself."

"Forget it."

Cao Ge understood and shook his head. "The Qi Cultivation Pill is considered a high-grade pill among fifth-grade pills. An overly incomplete sixth-grade flame is not worth it! My Cao Family does not lack such things either!"

Below the display platform.

"Sold for two Qi Cultivation Pills!"

Seeing that no further bid came from the private rooms, the auctioneer did not hesitate and struck the final decision.

Ye Yan leaned back in his chair and let out a breath.

If someone had continued competing with him, then this incomplete Earth Core Fire would have been far too costly.

On the display platform, the auctioneer smiled. With a wave of her jade-like hand, an attendant removed the Earth Core Fire, while another attendant carried out a jade tray from behind her. A white jade box rested upon it.

Inside the jade box was a palm-sized ganoderma, entirely crimson as if it had been soaked in blood.

"Next, let us look at the second auction item, the Earth Core Fire Ganoderma."

"Are we bidding again?" Ye Jingheng asked.

"We will not participate in the later items. We only need to obtain this Earth Core Fire Ganoderma."

Ye Yan pondered.

He recalled that the Earth Core Fire Ganoderma was one of the main ingredients for refining the Earth Spirit Pill.

Although he did not currently possess the Earth Spirit Pill formula, it would still be good to obtain it first.