After a while, Wan'er on the stage said, "Everyone present, the auction house received a new item for auction two days ago. I believe all of you will be interested in it."
After saying that, she waved her right hand. A servant hurriedly brought up a jade tray holding two small white jade bottles.
"These are Third-Grade Pills." Her slender hand carefully picked up one of the white jade bottles. Her crisp, pleasant voice spread through the hall, causing the auction house to fall briefly silent. A moment later, a commotion erupted. On the Battle Qi Continent, aside from Dou Techniques and cultivation methods, the most sought-after items were the various pills refined by Alchemists.
"This item is called the Fighter Pill. As the name suggests, it allows cultivators at the Dou Zhe realm to increase their strength by one star with a hundred percent certainty. Those with exceptional talent may even rise by two stars. This pill can only be used by Dou Zhe, so those who want it must not miss this opportunity."
"Is that true? It can really guarantee a one-star increase? There won't be any side effects, right?" someone below the stage asked.
"Hehe, these pills were personally appraised by Master Gu Ni of our auction house. Their quality is indeed Third-Grade, and there will absolutely be no problems. Everyone may rest assured."
Upon hearing that they had been personally appraised by Master Gu Ni, the crowd instantly quieted down. No one had any doubts.
"The starting price for these two bottles of pills is set at one hundred thousand gold coins. Each bid must increase by no less than ten thousand gold coins. Please begin bidding!" Wan'er said with a smile.
"One hundred and ten thousand!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand!" Another bid immediately followed.
The price in the hall continued to climb. In only a short while, it had reached three hundred thousand.
At this moment, Jia Lie Bi shouted, "Three hundred and ten thousand!"
Ao Ba Pa, the patriarch of another major clan, called out, "Three hundred and twenty thousand!"
Then Xiao Zhan spoke. "Four hundred thousand!"
The hall fell abruptly silent. Every gaze immediately shifted to Xiao Zhan. Even the other two clan patriarchs were stunned by his sudden high bid.
"Hehe, it seems Clan Leader Xiao is determined to obtain these two bottles of pills," Jia Lie Bi said with a smile.
Xiao Zhan said calmly, "If you want them, then keep bidding. Let's see who has more money to spend."
Jia Lie Bi's face twitched as he cursed inwardly, If your Xiao Clan hadn't suddenly started selling so many First-Grade Pills these past few years, stealing away so much business... After thinking for a moment, he remembered that there were still things he wanted later. He could not squander his funds recklessly, so he stopped bidding.
Ao Ba Pa, who was nearby, saw Jia Lie Bi withdraw and merely shrugged. Though the pills were good, they were not something he particularly wanted. He therefore fell silent and said nothing more.
Seeing that no one else was bidding, Wan'er said from the auction stage, "If there are no further bids, these two bottles of pills will be purchased by Clan Leader Xiao Zhan!" After waiting a moment without receiving any response, she immediately struck the small hammer in her hand against the table, confirming the buyer.
Wan'er put away the jade bottles and clapped her hands. At that moment, three maidservants emerged from behind the auction platform, each carrying a bottle of pills. Walking in front, Wan'er extended her slender, snow-white hand and picked up one bottle. When she opened it, a rich and mellow medicinal fragrance spread throughout the auction hall, allowing everyone to smell it.
Seeing this, Wan'er said, "The final three pills to be auctioned are all superior Third-Grade Pills, known as Qi Gathering Pills. These pills can immediately restore fifty percent of one's battle qi when it has been exhausted. They are limited to use by those below the Dou Ling realm." Wan'er's voice was clear and powerful, every word striking the hearts of those present like a heavy hammer.
"The three bottles will be auctioned separately. The starting price for each bottle is one hundred thousand gold coins, with each increase no less than ten thousand gold coins. The auction for the first bottle begins now."
"One hundred and ten thousand!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand!" Another bid immediately followed.
"Three hundred thousand!" shouted the leader of a wealthy mercenary group.
"Three hundred and twenty thousand!" another mercenary group leader competed.
"Three hundred and twenty thousand, going once. Three hundred and twenty thousand, going twice..." As Wan'er's voice gradually rose, the atmosphere in the auction house also reached its peak. Everyone's eyes were fixed on that bottle of Qi Gathering Pills.
"Three hundred and thirty thousand!" A middle-aged man suddenly shouted. His voice was filled with determination and confidence. He was a major medicine merchant from Wutan City and possessed considerable wealth.
In the end, one bottle was successfully purchased by that major medicine merchant.
"The auction for the second bottle begins." As soon as she finished speaking, an old man forcefully called out, "One hundred and ten thousand!"
"One hundred and twenty thousand!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand!"
As the price soared, scattered bids rang out across the hall. At this moment, Jia Lie Bi, seated in the front row, finally spoke coldly. "Three hundred thousand!"
Seeing Jia Lie Bi begin to bid, Ao Ba Pa immediately competed. "Three hundred and thirty thousand."
"Three hundred and fifty thousand!" After shouting his bid, Jia Lie Bi cast Ao Ba Pa a cold glance and said, "Ao Ba Pa, there is still another bottle to be auctioned later. Don't compete with me for this one."
Ao Ba Pa replied with a smile, "Jia Lie Bi, I should be the one saying that. You can have the next bottle. I want this one—three hundred and seventy thousand."
Faced with Ao Ba Pa's continued bids, Jia Lie Bi followed without hesitation. In the end, the price reached four hundred thousand gold coins, and Jia Lie Bi obtained it.
Wan'er said with a sweet smile, "The auction for the final bottle of Qi Gathering Pills begins. Everyone present may start bidding."
"One hundred and fifty thousand!"
"Two hundred thousand!"
After looking at the final bottle of Qi Gathering Pills on the stage, Ao Ba Pa glanced at Jia Lie Bi and said, "Jia Lie Bi, you won't compete with me for this final bottle, will you? You already have one."
Jia Lie Bi merely smiled and did not answer.
Seeing this, Ao Ba Pa called toward the stage, "Three hundred and fifty thousand." His voice was filled with confidence and anticipation, as though he could already see himself successfully obtaining the pill.
At this moment, Xiao Zhan called out calmly, "Three hundred and seventy thousand."
Upon hearing Xiao Zhan's bid, Ao Ba Pa frowned, then suddenly looked at Xiao Zhan with a smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, didn't you just buy two bottles of Fighter Pills? Do you still have spare funds to buy Qi Gathering Pills now?"
His voice carried a hint of mockery and provocation, trying to shake Xiao Zhan's resolve.
Xiao Zhan stroked his beard and said to Ao Ba Pa, "You need not worry about that. I still have surplus funds to compete."
Ao Ba Pa cursed inwardly, The auction house has finally put Third-Grade Pills up for auction. No, I can't give in. I must get it. He then called out, "Three hundred and eighty thousand!"
Xiao Zhan continued to raise the price. "Three hundred and ninety thousand."
Ao Ba Pa gritted his teeth, his face becoming even darker as he shouted, "Four hundred thousand! Xiao Zhan, if you raise the price again, this bottle is yours. I don't want it anymore."
Xiao Zhan smiled faintly. "Ao Ba Pa, since you want it so badly, then I'll let you have it. I won't bid any further."
Seeing that no one else was raising the price, Wan'er said, "Since there are no further bids, the final bottle of pills goes to Ao Ba Pa."
Watching the auction come to an end, Xiao Yao smiled and said to Xun'er, "Xun'er, the auction is over. I have something to take care of outside. Later, go back with the clan leader and the others."
Seeing Xiao Yao like this, Xun'er understood what he wanted to do. She smiled slightly and said, "Go ahead, Xiao Yao. I'll keep it secret for you."
Xiao Yao left the auction hall first. When he reached an unoccupied corner, he put on a black cloak and then donned the Disguise Mask, changing back into his previous appearance.
After finishing, Xiao Yao entered the hall and headed toward the appraisal room from earlier. Once inside, under the middle-aged man's respectful gaze, Xiao Yao walked over, sat down to one side, and asked, "The auction is over. Have the items I put up for auction and the things I wanted been settled?"
The middle-aged man respectfully replied, "Please wait a little longer, my lord. It will be ready soon." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yao quietly closed his eyes and rested.
Before you continue