The Auction Begins

Within half an hour after Xiao Yan and the others entered the VIP room, the arriving guests had filled the entire grand auction hall.

Seeing the crowd outside, Xiao Yan could not help clicking his tongue in amazement. He had never seen such a spectacle in either the Gama Empire or the Black-Corner Region. Xu Yingwu had personally led them inside, so they encountered no trouble. In fact, one needed to prove they possessed at least ten thousand gold coins and items of corresponding value to qualify for entry into the grand auction hall.

Such a requirement was naturally nothing to Xiao Yan and the others, but ordinary people still made up the majority on the continent. Yet the grand auction hall was now nearly full, which was enough to show just how astonishing the influence of today's auction was.

Suddenly, the entire grand auction hall went dark as all the prearranged lighting briefly failed. The noise throughout the hall abruptly died down. More than a hundred illumination stones surrounding the central auction platform suddenly lit up, turning the platform into the sole focal point of the enormous building.

A graceful, tall woman dressed in crimson palace robes strode unhurriedly to the center of the auction platform. The moment she appeared, many gazes turned scorching. Even Xiao Yan was secretly startled when he saw her. He had seen quite a few beauties, but among all the women he had met, this woman's beauty was enough to rank among the top three. Even Xun Er might not necessarily surpass her in beauty.

"What do you think, Little Martial Uncle? Is she pretty?" Xu Yingwu asked maliciously.

"This woman has cultivated some sort of charm technique. It can subtly influence people's emotions, though only very slightly," Xiao Yan said calmly.

Xu Yingwu was stunned upon hearing this. He had clearly wanted to make Xiao Yan embarrass himself a little, but he had not expected Xiao Yan to react so quickly. Even Xu Chengzze gave Xiao Yan a meaningful glance.

"Her name is Xue Ningyi. She is a renowned beauty in Tianlan City and the public face of the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce. Don't be fooled by her peerless looks—her methods are even more forceful. She may not host even one auction in an entire year," Xu Yingwu explained.

Xiao Yan nodded. Before she had even spoken, she had already elevated the atmosphere throughout the auction hall. She was definitely no mere ornamental beauty.

Xu Yingwu added, "She also has a nickname: Never Unsold."

Xiao Yan smiled as well. He did not doubt the truth of that nickname in the slightest. With such an unparalleled beauty before them, she surely had no shortage of admirers willing to spend fortunes just for a smile from her.

"Welcome, everyone, to this auction. I am today's host, Xue Ningyi." Xiao Yan had to admit that Xue Ningyi's voice was exceptionally pleasant—ethereal and beautiful, yet crisp and efficient.

Xue Ningyi smiled faintly and continued, "This auction is jointly organized by the Gold Alliance Chamber of Commerce and the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion. Even Ningyi was greatly surprised by the rarity of the auction items. I hope everyone will find what they seek and leave satisfied today."

"All right, enough small talk. The first auction items are definitely what most of our distinguished guests have been eagerly awaiting."

Several dozen jade boxes were brought from backstage and placed in the center of the auction platform. Each box was only palm-sized, yet the scent wafting from them could be smelled by more than half the people present.

"These are all works by masters with Medicine Ranking Nominations, supplied by the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion. Every single one is a fourth-tier pill or above!"

The moment Xue Ningyi finished speaking, many people drew sharp breaths. Pills were unquestionably the most practical auction items. Any high-tier pill held a terrifying allure for experts, not to mention that the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly was drawing near. No one knew what might happen, making pills all the more precious. Fourth-tier pills were already extremely valuable and would count as heavyweight auction items at other auction houses. Yet here, they could only be considered appetizers—and there were dozens of them.

"Get on with it!"

"Who wouldn't want fourth-tier pills?"

Impatient cries rose one after another. Xue Ningyi merely smiled faintly from atop the auction platform. Placing the pills collected through Medicine Ranking Nominations first was precisely meant to create this effect.

"The first item is a fourth-tier pill, the Earth Skin Pill. It can harden the entire body for one hour and ignore any attack below the Dou Ling realm. It is unquestionably a supreme item for improving one's defenses! The starting bid is two hundred thousand gold coins."

"Two hundred and twenty thousand!"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!"

Bids rang out one after another, and Xiao Yan could not help shaking his head. Alchemists truly worked in an outrageously profitable profession. This fourth-tier pill clearly had flaws, yet its price was still around seven to eight hundred thousand gold coins, while the cost of refining it might not even be one-twentieth of that.

Before long, the price had already been pushed to nine hundred thousand gold coins.

Watching the bidding gradually slow, Xue Ningyi added with a smile, "As far as Ningyi knows, many secret realms in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly are places where danger accompanies opportunity. Improving your defenses may greatly increase your chances of surviving within those secret realms."

"Nine hundred and fifty thousand gold coins! How could I let President Xue's recommendation go to waste?"

Xue Ningyi's addition proved quite effective. After another round of bidding, the Earth Skin Pill was pushed to the high price of one million fifty thousand gold coins. Clearly, her charm had greatly increased the item's value.

"All right, congratulations to this friend! The next item is a fourth-tier pill, the Soul Soothing Pill. It is exceptionally effective at temporarily raising one's spiritual strength. The starting price is one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins..."

The auction proceeded in an orderly fashion, but none of the more than ten VIP rooms made any move. Xiao Yan sat with Su Zhang and Xu Yingwu, discussing the merits and flaws of each pill.

Xiao Yan had grown all the way under Yao Lao's guidance. There were probably only a few orthodox alchemists on the entire continent whose path of growth had been smoother than his. Su Zhang, meanwhile, had immersed himself in the Dao of alchemy for decades and possessed his own unique insights. Thus, time passed quite quickly.

"All right, Master Su Zhang's Imperial Extreme Pill has been purchased by Guest No. 674 for six million five hundred thousand gold coins."

"What a pity, Senior Brother. If it had been another pill, the price might have been even better," Xiao Yan said with a sigh.

Su Zhang waved his hand unconcernedly. The Imperial Extreme Pill was important, but its effectiveness was relatively less dependent on the alchemist, so the premium was generally not too severe. Therefore, even though it had been refined by Su Zhang, it could only sell for around six million gold coins.

"The next pill can be called one of the most important auction items of this entire auction. Its refinement is exceedingly perfect, and it ultimately claimed the top spot among the Medicine Ranking Nominations. Yet its medicinal effect is exceptionally gentle, so no one need worry about absorbing it. Moreover, it acts directly upon its user. Winning it would be equivalent to adding another layer of security for this Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly."

Such coy, evasive introductions had always been a common tactic of auction hosts, yet they were effective every single time.

"What is it? Just tell us directly, President Xue!"

"To surpass Master Su Zhang, just what kind of extraordinary person refined it?"

"Could it be a seventh-tier pill?"

Xue Ningyi smiled gently as she opened the final pill box and introduced it, "A pinnacle sixth-tier pill, the Qi Sea Spirit Returning Pill! It can continuously replenish one's expended Dou Qi for an entire day. Its medicinal effect is gentle, and it is a masterwork! The starting bid is three million gold coins!"