The clear chime of a bell rang slowly through the auction hall. As it sounded, the deafening din gradually faded, and countless gazes turned toward the crystal platform, their eyes burning with anticipation.
"Heh heh, everyone must be getting a little impatient. In that case, I won't bore you with any official pleasantries." The white-haired old man in splendid robes smiled as he looked over the packed hall. His gaze swept discreetly across the factions seated in the front rows, and his booming voice echoed through the venue.
As an experienced auctioneer, the old man knew exactly what the people below wanted to see—and what they didn't. So he skipped the usual empty opening remarks. And indeed, this move earned him a hall full of applause.
"As this is our annual auction, I'm sure this one hosted by the Eight-Fan Sect won't disappoint you." The old man clapped his hands lightly and announced, "I hereby declare the Black Seal City Auction open!"
As his voice rang out, the enormous crystal platform burst into dazzling light. After a long moment, the radiance faded, revealing a blood-red medicinal herb on the auction block before the white-haired old man.
"A fourth-grade Blood-Shatter Ginseng. If a skilled alchemist removes its baleful energy and refines it into a pill with other medicinal ingredients, even Dou Ling experts would covet the pure energy it contains."
Seeing the crowd's excitement rise, the old man narrowed his eyes.
"The bidding starts at one hundred thousand gold coins."
"Just an herb..." Xiao Li murmured as he looked at the Blood-Shatter Ginseng.
"What, do you need it?" Elder Qian asked.
"If I can get it, sure, but it isn't essential. Better to save the money for something I really need later," Xiao Li replied.
Elder Qian nodded and silently marked down the person who won the Blood-Shatter Ginseng. When he saw that the man clearly wasn't a good person, he had already added him to his kill list.
After a few minutes of bidding, the first item was successfully bought by a thin man, who looked thrilled to have won it for one hundred and eighty thousand gold coins.
After the first auction went smoothly, all sorts of dazzling treasures began appearing on the auction block: armor, Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, medicinal ingredients, and more.
At one point, Xiao Li even stared in surprise at a petite beauty brought onto the stage. She looked only twelve or thirteen, yet her figure was astonishingly developed.
After a fierce bidding war, she sold for the high price of one hundred thousand. The old man onstage was grinning from ear to ear.
After witnessing the darkness of the Black-Corner Region once again, Xiao Li shook his head. He had killed people here; forget punishment—even if Heaven didn't send down merit for it, that would be proof the heavens were blind.
Sitting in a soft chair, Xiao Li gazed coolly at the ugly scenes around him. He closed his eyes slightly and waited for something that could stir his interest.
Nothing particularly sensational appeared in the early stages of the auction. The bidders were all seated toward the back, while the powerful factions with vast wealth in the front rows had yet to make a single bid.
"Ding~"
Another clear chime rang from the crystal platform. The white-haired auctioneer smiled as he looked at the item being brought onto the stage.
Xiao Li narrowed his eyes. It was a medicine cauldron.
"Everyone, this is the Spirit-Rising Cauldron, a fifth-tier medicine cauldron. It significantly enhances the refining of fifth-tier pills and below. Our tests have shown that even Fifth-grade Pills can have their effects enhanced by ten to twenty percent. The boost is smaller for higher-grade pills, but it's still there."
A crafty smile spread across the old man's face. Highlighting the advantages and glossing over the flaws had always been one of their auction house's specialties.
"Everyone, this is a rare treasure. The bidding starts at five hundred thousand gold coins."
The Black-Corner Region had no shortage of alchemists, and alchemists were notoriously wealthy. Though the medicine cauldron appealed to a limited audience, competition for it would be fierce.
"I bid five hundred and fifty thousand. I hope everyone will do Old Man Wan a favor." An old man seated in the front row spoke up. He was determined to get his hands on this item.
But alchemists were mostly proud and high-minded. How could they back down just because he'd said that?
"Hmph. I, Zhang Qiong, would also like to see what this cauldron can do. Six hundred and fifty thousand!"
The alchemist surnamed Wan's face darkened. "Damn Zhang Qiong, competing with me again. Seven hundred thousand!"
The price had jumped by two hundred thousand in one go, making Xiao Li's breath catch. Good grief, these people really didn't treat money like money. His entire fortune couldn't even cover the starting bid, yet they were casually throwing around fifty or a hundred thousand at a time. It was staggering.
"Do you need it?" Elder Qian turned to Xiao Li.
"My younger brother is an alchemist, but... I can't keep troubling you, Elder Qian. This is a family matter, after all."
Xiao Li scratched his head awkwardly. He'd had enough. He could accept help for his own needs, since he was a student at Jia Nan Academy, but to keep asking for things while thinking of his family too would be a bit much.
"It's nothing. Just a small favor." Elder Qian closed his eyes and silently marked down another person.
"Sold for nine hundred and fifty thousand!"
The old man on the auction block brought down his hammer. The medicine cauldron's new owner was provisionally the alchemist surnamed Zhang.
One item after another came and went. As the Black-Corner Region's annual grand event, the auction's quality was beyond question; not a single item went unsold. Some of them even made Xiao Li's eyes burn with envy.
Elder Qian took note of his reactions and kept adding names to his kill list. This was the perfect opportunity to reduce the number of scum in the Black-Corner Region.
The old man seemed quite pleased with today's results. He announced loudly, "Thank you all for coming. The final treasure, the crowning item of this auction, is a sixth-grade pill—the Dou-Spirit Pill!"
As he spoke, the old man took out a jade bottle. The pill inside shimmered brilliantly, drawing every eye in the hall.
The old man chuckled. "The pill's creator chose to remain anonymous, so I'm afraid I can't reveal their identity. Everyone knows what the Dou-Spirit Pill does: it can help a Dou Wang advance by one star. It's a rare opportunity indeed! The bidding starts at five hundred thousand gold coins!"
As soon as the old man finished speaking, the crowd erupted. Among those present were major Black-Corner Region factions like the Blood Sect and the Black-Skull Tomb. Their sects had Dou Wang and Dou Emperor experts, making them extremely eager to get their hands on the Dou-Spirit Pill.
"Six hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred thousand!"
Xiao Yan's Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pills had sold for one million five hundred thousand. Xiao Li estimated that the Dou-Spirit Pill would fetch no less than two million.
"This pill is quite effective. I can save it for you to use when you reach Dou Wang," Elder Qian murmured. His words made Xiao Li's mouth twitch.
As expected of Elder Qian. He'd come to the auction without spending a single coin, yet wanted to take everything home.
"Thank you, Elder Qian." A smile tugged at Xiao Li's lips. So this was what it felt like to have someone powerful backing you. It was incredible.
In the end, the Dou-Spirit Pill sold for two million three hundred thousand, and the Blood Sect got its hands on it.
"All right, kid. You've had your fill of the excitement. Go collect your things. I'm going to collect the things I left in someone else's hands."
Elder Qian rose to his feet and pulled the black hood over his head a little lower. A bloodthirsty glint shone in his eyes.
It was the perfect time to clean house. That would make the Black-Corner Region a little more peaceful and keep so many bored fools from trying to make a name for themselves by picking on Jia Nan Academy.