Eighteen: Auctioning Pills

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Xiao Dongchen often went to the back mountain to watch Yao Lao train Xiao Yan. Even he found those lashes from the Dou Qi whip somewhat perverse.

However, for the sake of practicing the Eight Extremes Collapse, Xiao Yan endured pain and pleasure alike. Xiao Dongchen was also generous with his support, providing medicinal ingredients for Yao Lao to refine Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid for Xiao Yan to soak in.

In short, after several days of tempering, Xiao Yan had gained quite a bit more muscle.

When he threw a punch, it now carried a fierce gust of wind. When he struck a tree, he could even shake down a few leaves.

Upon arriving at the Mite'er Auction House, Xiao Dongchen immediately experienced the treatment reserved for distinguished guests after the guards announced his arrival.

Accompanied by two graceful maids, he arrived at the business seats in the very front row, where tea, pastries, and several spiritual fruits had already been prepared.

Two Huang Rank sound-dampening conch Dou Weapons hung on either side of the seats to reduce noise. The service was exceptionally thoughtful.

"Guest, if you need anything, just let us know at any time."

One lively-eyed maid gave a sweet smile and spoke respectfully.

"Really? Anything at all?"

The corners of Xiao Dongchen's mouth curled up slightly, his face teasing. His aged, dry voice echoed out from beneath his cloak.

"Uh—"

Hearing words that sounded even older than her grandfather's voice, the curvaceous maid fell silent at once. She unconsciously took a step back, then after a long pause nodded heavily with an aggrieved expression.

"Don't worry. At my age, I won't have any improper thoughts."

Seeing that both maids seemed frightened by his gaze, Xiao Dongchen stopped teasing them. He took a bite from a fruit, ignored the commotion behind him, and looked toward the center of the auction house.

There, Ya Fei wore a red dress, mature and seductive. Her sultry mature voice had countless men utterly infatuated. Compared to her, the two maids seemed rather immature.

Catching sight of the black-robed Xiao Dongchen, Ya Fei tossed him a coquettish glance while explaining the items. Then she swayed her waist alluringly and continued stirring up the atmosphere.

Xiao Dongchen could not help but smile bitterly at the sight. This woman really had guts. Wasn't she afraid he was truly eighty years old, with an old pear tree pressing down on a begonia blossom?

He twitched the corner of his mouth helplessly. A casual glance revealed that the patriarchs of the three great families were seated behind him, all waiting calmly for something.

The Wind Scroll Technique? How boring.

Time slowly passed. Every smile and frown from Ya Fei on the stage drew waves of cheers, while the auction items in her hands sold for extremely high prices.

"Hehe, everyone, three days ago, our auction house received an item that I believe will greatly interest you all."

As the auction entered its finale, Ya Fei suddenly smiled seductively, raising her voice with a mysterious expression.

She clapped her hands, and an attendant hurried over carrying a jade bottle. A jade box rested in the center of the tray.

Ya Fei lifted her slender hand and opened the jade box, revealing a pill that was pure white throughout.

"Shh, this is a Third-Grade Pill~"

Ya Fei placed a jade hand by her lips and made a silencing gesture.

In an instant, the previously noisy venue fell deathly quiet. More than a hundred bidders stared feverishly at the pill, with some becoming so excited that their breathing quickened.

One had to know that on this continent, pills were genuinely rare commodities and were highly sought after by Dou Zhes. Over the years, Wu Tan City had auctioned Third-Grade Pills only a handful of times.

"This pill is the famed Spirit-Nourishing Pill. I don't need to explain its effects, do I? It can nourish a Dou Zhe's Dou Qi and improve its quality!"

"And this pill has been appraised as top-grade, making its effects even stronger. If you wish to take it yourself or cultivate a talented child, then I advise you all not to miss this opportunity."

Ya Fei's cherry lips parted slightly as she spoke in a soft, alluring voice. She was exceptionally captivating.

"A Spirit-Nourishing Pill, and a top-grade one at that! If my pockets weren't so empty, I'd definitely bid for it!"

A high-star Dou Zhe clenched his fists, clearly tempted. Yet when he saw the three great patriarchs gathered here, he ultimately shook his head with a sigh.

"A top-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pill? The one capable of refining this must be at least a Fourth-Grade Pill Refiner, surely. Tsk, tsk!"

A wealthy fat man was more knowledgeable. His hand, adorned with a jade thumb ring, continuously tapped against his knee as he exclaimed in amazement.

"That's right. Even the talented descendants of the great families in the imperial capital can hardly obtain a top-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pill. Everyone is truly fortunate today!"

Licking her red lips, Ya Fei's sweetly seductive voice rang out again, adding more fuel to the auction. Then, after scanning the room and seeing that the atmosphere was about right, she lightly covered her lips and smiled.

"The top-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pill will start at one hundred thousand gold coins. Each bid must increase by no less than ten thousand gold coins. Please begin."

The moment that astronomical price was announced, the entire venue fell quiet for a moment. Then, people whose hearts burned with desire began calling out bids.

"One hundred ten thousand!"

"One hundred twenty thousand!" Another bid immediately followed.

In just a short while, the price had risen to a staggering one hundred eighty thousand gold coins. At this level, however, only a scattered few could continue bidding, as it had already exceeded most people's limits.

Surprisingly, the patriarchs of the three great families seemed entirely uninterested in the pill. They remained composed, while Xiao Zhan had even crossed his arms and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing such a strange scene, Xiao Dongchen's eyes shifted, and he more or less grasped the whole situation.

The Mite'er Auction House truly deserved its reputation as a den of profiteers. He had clearly counted five Spirit-Nourishing Pills in that bottle, but only one had been brought out for auction. The plan was obvious.

The auction house had leaked insider information to the three great families, but used the first pill to test the waters. That was why the three patriarchs were not worried in the slightest.

"Everyone, why have you stopped? Can't go on anymore?"

At that moment, Ya Fei still did not forget to raise her brows and smile as she stoked the flames.

Upon hearing those words, the venue that had just quieted down erupted again. The pot-bellied fat man was the first to lose his composure, trembling as he called out a bid of two hundred thousand. That price was nearly his limit.

"Two hundred ten thousand!"

An old man in purple robes calmly followed with another bid.

He was Wu Tan City's largest medicinal herb merchant and the biggest intermediary for magic crystal trading. His capital was fairly substantial.

"Two hundred thirty thousand! I'm going all in!"

The fat man gritted his teeth, shot the old man a vicious glare, and shouted another bid.

"Hehe, in that case, this old man will take this pill."

Glancing at the pale-faced fat man who was gritting his teeth, then sweeping his gaze over the three great patriarchs, the old man raised his hand and spoke confidently. "This old man bids two hundred forty thousand!"

At those words, the fat on the man's body trembled violently. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and collapse back into his seat.

The entire venue fell silent. After a moment, Ya Fei swept her gaze around. Seeing that no one else was bidding, she struck her small hammer and said with a radiant smile, "This top-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pill has been successfully auctioned to Mister Murong Yunhai. Congratulations!"

From the business seats, Xiao Dongchen looked at the fervent gazes of the guests and could not help curling his lip slightly. So the pills he once ate like candy were this popular. Sigh, he really had wronged the system a little.

It couldn't be helped. The difference in perspective was right there!