Danger! The Secret Was Discovered!

As she spoke, Ya Fei took out another wooden box. When she opened it, a forearm-length blood-coagulating herb appeared before everyone.

The blood-coagulating herb was as long as an adult's forearm. Its leaves were blood-red, with unusual patterns covering their surfaces, and its stem was as thick as a human finger.

"Is that... a blood-coagulating herb?"

"How is it so big?"

"Exactly! I've never seen a blood-coagulating herb this big before."

Seeing that she had achieved the desired effect, Ya Fei's lips curved slightly.

"I imagine you've all guessed by now? That's right, this is a blood-coagulating herb.

"I'm sure none of you have ever seen one this large. After appraisal by our Mittel Auction House, we have confirmed that this is a millennium blood-coagulating herb.

"You're all familiar with the uses of blood-coagulating herbs, and a millennium blood-coagulating herb surpasses them in every respect. Whether you use it to refine pills, keep it as a family heirloom, or give it to an alchemist whose favor you wish to win, it is an unparalleled choice.

"Without further ado, the millennium blood-coagulating herb starts at three hundred thousand gold coins. Each bid must increase by at least ten thousand."

"Three hundred and ten thousand."

"Three hundred and twenty thousand."

A millennium blood-coagulating herb was utterly unheard of on the Dou Qi Continent. For a time, everyone bid fiercely, all drawn by the last use Ya Fei had mentioned.

An herb like this could not have been more suitable as a gift to win an alchemist's favor.

Yao Ye's eyes also lit up when she saw the blood-coagulating herb from her private box.

Blood-coagulating herbs were medicinal herbs used to treat injuries, capable of stopping bleeding and closing wounds.

The Jia Ma Imperial Family's hold over such a vast territory relied on more than its powerful experts and armies.

It also had its guardian beast, a Peak Sixth Tier Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast! It was thanks to this beast that the Jia Ma Empire had eventually come into being.

But that battle had also left the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast gravely wounded, with lingering internal injuries. Not only could its strength no longer advance, even its life hung by a thread. Now, it was barely clinging to life.

This had always been a closely guarded secret of the Imperial Family. Yao Ye had only learned of it after gradually taking over imperial affairs over the past few years.

To heal it, they needed a Sixth-Grade Pill, the Primordial Bone-Shaping Pill. But revealing that need would be as good as announcing that something was wrong with the Imperial Family's guardian beast.

So they had kept it hidden. This blood-coagulating herb could put out the fire burning at their brows. Although it could not completely heal the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast's injuries, it could at least ease them somewhat. After all, a thousand-year-old blood-coagulating herb was bound to have some effect.

Since Xiao Yan had bought the Foundation Establishment Pill, she had not spent any of her money. She had more than enough to purchase this blood-coagulating herb.

As expected, Yao Ye ultimately won the Blood-Coagulating Herb.

Watching the auction seats gradually empty, Han Chen stood up. Before he could open the door, however, a graceful figure pushed it open.

Ya Fei opened the door and saw Han Chen standing, and a coquettish pout appeared on her face.

"Little brother Fei Yu, I've been busy all this time and only just got here, yet you're already leaving? You really don't know how to cherish a delicate flower."

"Miss Ya Fei, is there something you need?"

Han Chen did not take the bait. Right now, he only wanted to leave as quickly as possible. With so many important figures present today, this truly was not a place to linger.

Seeing Han Chen like this, Ya Fei said nothing more. Mainly, she was exhausted herself today; the auction had consumed a great deal of her energy.

She stepped forward and handed Han Chen the two Black Cards she held.

"These are the Mittel Auction House's Gold-Patterned Black Cards. Each can hold up to one million gold coins, and you can use them directly at any Mittel Auction House."

Han Chen stepped forward to accept the Black Cards and tucked them into his Ring of Holding, then looked at Ya Fei.

"By the way, Sister Ya Fei, has anyone been buying medicinal ingredients in large quantities lately?"

Hearing Han Chen switch forms of address so seamlessly, she immediately rolled her eyes at him.

"So now that you want something from me, I'm Sister Ya Fei? You slippery thing."

As she spoke, Ya Fei sank into thought. After considering it for a while, she slowly answered.

"But... medicinal ingredients, yes, there has been someone. I don't know what's gotten into the Jia Lie Family lately, but they've been buying them in bulk. Why? What are you asking about that for?"

Han Chen nodded at her answer.

"It's nothing. I just got curious and thought I'd ask. Since you're so tired, Sister Ya Fei, get some rest. We can meet another day."

"All right. But I even went against the clan leader's wishes for you today. You'll have to make it up to me properly the next time we meet~"

"Of course. I'll be going now."

The strange look on Ya Fei's face sent a shiver through Han Chen, and he hurriedly pushed the door open and left the auction house.

By the time he had turned left and right along the way and shaken off all the tails behind him, the sky was beginning to brighten.

Looking at the wooden door before him, Han Chen raised an eyebrow. He picked up a broken strand of spider silk by the entrance and narrowed his eyes at the space beyond the door. Emerald Sword Light flickered in his hand, and the Light Sword Talisman Treasure appeared in his palm, which he held behind his back.

The wooden door slowly swung open with a piercing creak. That normally unremarkable sound made his heart beat faster in the silence of the night.

Han Chen carefully surveyed the courtyard. Seeing the overturned stone table and the crawling tracks on the ground, he brought a hand to his lips and whistled.

A rustle came from inside the house. A figure slammed the door open with a bang, then charged straight toward Han Chen.

At the sight of the two white figures, Han Chen smiled and beckoned.

"Little White, Little Jade, are you all right? Where's the intruder?"

"Brother Han! Brother Han, is that you? It's me, Xiao Yan! I'm in the back courtyard! Hurry and save me!"

Before Little White and Little Jade could report, Han Chen heard Xiao Yan's voice coming from the back courtyard. It was truly enough to grieve anyone who heard it and bring tears to their eyes.

After closing the courtyard gate, Han Chen leisurely walked into the back courtyard. Looking at the white rice dumpling dangling in the bamboo grove, he teased him.

"Who's this? Isn't this the illustrious young master of the Xiao Clan? When did you become a thief who breaks into people's homes?"

As he spoke, Han Chen tore an opening in the Spider Cocoon before him, exposing Xiao Yan's head.

"Heh heh, Brother Han."

When the Spider Cocoon was torn open, Xiao Yan hurriedly gulped down a couple of breaths. Then, faced with Han Chen's dead-fish stare, he gave an awkward chuckle, guilt written all over his face.

"Start talking, or you can spend the whole night hanging from that tree."

"Well... didn't you say it yourself? That I could come over if I was interested?"

"That doesn't mean you can trespass. I never said you could just walk in. Besides, does this look like you came over for a visit? You know better than I do what you saw that you shouldn't have!"

At Han Chen's words, Xiao Yan fell silent.

Han Chen was right. At first, he had only intended to trade for that Iron Fragment, but when he arrived, Han Chen was nowhere to be found.

Then Yao Lao had detected unusually dense energy fluctuations in the back courtyard, so they had decided to take a look and see whether there was something valuable there.

They had never expected to find two magical beasts in the back courtyard. And these were no ordinary magical beasts, either. The instant they entangled Xiao Yan, Yao Lao had intervened.

Yet, to his surprise, these two spiders-whatever species they were-were actually unafraid of his bone spirit cold flame!