I'll vouch for Yu Bu'e!

Great Xia's officials naturally hoped that every martial artist in the country would become a powerhouse and be able to study any martial arts technique freely.

But they also had a deeper consideration.

Only by protecting the rights of martial arts creators and securing the greatest possible benefits for them could they encourage more "new martial arts" to emerge.

Without strict copyright protection, fewer and fewer people would be willing to devote themselves to developing new martial arts, creating a vicious cycle.

Of course, besides conducting its own research, Great Xia's Martial Arts Bureau also spent enormous sums every year buying out outstanding martial arts techniques and making them available for public instruction at the Martial Arts Academy.

It was precisely because of copyright protection that Luo Feixuan couldn't teach Yu Bu'e her Body Tempering Martial Arts directly, even though she had some.

In the end, the Mountain-Crushing Saber sold for four million.

Yu Bu'e was starting to lose his composure.

"Any old martial arts manual... costs that much?"

He was beginning to worry that he wouldn't have enough money.

Although Luo Feixuan had said earlier that he could also barter with Meridian-Opening Pills.

That still depended on whether the Brilliant Star Pavilion would agree.

Seemingly noticing Yu Bu'e's unease, Luo Feixuan whispered, "Don't worry. You've got me."

Yu Bu'e instinctively shook his head.

Items at this auction easily cost millions or even tens of millions. Who did he think he was, letting Luo Feixuan foot his bill?

"Next is our third lot, a fifth-grade spiritual pill, the Lesser Soul-Returning Pill! The starting bid is eight hundred thousand..."

In the end, Cheng Ruxin stepped in and won it for two million.

Quite a few people in the auction hall grumbled about it.

"It's only a fifth-grade Lesser Soul-Returning Pill. The Brilliant Star Pavilion's auctions are getting less and less interesting."

"Exactly! A Greater Soul-Returning Pill would be more like it..."

Yu Bu'e asked Luo Feixuan curiously, "What does a Lesser Soul-Returning Pill do? Is it very different from a Greater Soul-Returning Pill?"

He really didn't know much about pills.

"Simply put, if you're badly injured, swallowing a Lesser Soul-Returning Pill will let you recover completely in a short time."

Luo Feixuan continued, "A Greater Soul-Returning Pill is different. As long as someone isn't dead and still has a breath left, a single pill can instantly restore them to peak condition. It can also cure all kinds of poison."

Yu Bu'e practically drooled just listening.

Such treasures actually existed in this world!

"But Greater Soul-Returning Pills already fall into the category of immortal pills. You definitely won't see one here," Luo Feixuan said with a smile.

"Next is our second magical artifact of the evening, the Spirit-Gathering Wonder Pill Furnace! This, too, was crafted by Master An Yihe. Reportedly, using this furnace to refine pills can increase the success rate by three percent!

"The starting bid is three million, with minimum increments of five hundred thousand!"

Hearing An Yihe's name again, Yu Bu'e thought, Why is this master like that famous brand that licenses its label, Beijiren? He's everywhere...

Luo Feixuan seemed very interested in the pill furnace and immediately raised her paddle.

"Number three, Miss Luo, three million five hundred thousand!"

Yu Bu'e was a little surprised. "You're planning to refine pills?"

"No." Luo Feixuan shook her head, then heard Zhai Zhili's voice from behind them.

"Four million!"

Yu Bu'e turned to look back and happened to meet Zhai Zhili's eyes.

Zhai Zhili's gaze was provocative, and he deliberately raised his voice.

"Xuanxuan, since you like it, how about I win it and give it to you?"

Luo Feixuan frowned, disgust written all over her face, and spoke again.

"Five million."

"Five million five hundred thousand!"

"Seven million!" Cheng Ruxin suddenly shouted.

Zhai Zhili froze for a moment, then looked at Cheng Ruxin with obvious displeasure.

"Cheng Ruxin, you're still in school, aren't you? Does your dad give you that much money?" he asked mockingly.

"If even an illegitimate son like you has money, how could I have less?" Cheng Ruxin sneered.

Zhai Zhili's expression instantly darkened. He gritted his teeth and raised his paddle again.

"Seven million five hundred thousand! Mr. Zhai, number eighteen, seven million five hundred thousand!"

Everyone in the auction hall found this rather unbelievable.

Most of them had no interest in pill furnaces. They weren't alchemists, after all.

They simply couldn't understand how the bidding for this furnace had been driven up to seven million five hundred thousand.

Cheng Ruxin had also intended to win the furnace and give it to Luo Feixuan.

After all, this was the first time she had raised her paddle tonight.

He did have a decent amount of money at his disposal, but while he was still hesitating, the auctioneer brought down the hammer.

"Congratulations to Mr. Zhai, number eighteen, on winning the Spirit-Gathering Wonder Pill Furnace!"

Yu Bu'e looked at Luo Feixuan.

She wasn't angry. Instead, a smile lingered at the corners of her mouth.

As he puzzled over it, Luo Feixuan said, "Now he probably won't have any money left to cause trouble for you."

Yu Bu'e blinked, an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

Next, Luo Feixuan used the same trick again. This time, Cheng Ruxin spent six million to snatch up a talisman.

Yu Bu'e could only sigh inwardly.

"What? Did I touch your heart?" Luo Feixuan asked with a smile.

"No... I was wondering whether you and I use different currencies."

Luo Feixuan couldn't help laughing.

Finally, when the eighth lot came up, the Body Tempering Martial Arts Yu Bu'e had been longing for arrived!

"Next is the eighth lot of tonight's auction, Hundred Demons Frolic! Martial arts master Xia Chengzhi developed this new Body Tempering Martial Arts technique by observing dozens of species of Demon Beasts and incorporating the Five-Animal Frolic!

"This is also a four-star martial arts technique, classified as confidential. The starting bid is three million!"

Yu Bu'e's expression stiffened slightly.

He hadn't expected even the starting bid to exceed his budget...

Noticing his expression, Luo Feixuan was about to raise her hand, but Yu Bu'e raised his paddle first.

"Three million five hundred thousand! Mr. Yu, number four, three million five hundred thousand, going once!"

Zhai Zhili looked a little surprised and immediately raised his paddle.

"Number eighteen, Young Master Zhai, four million!"

Lin Yuan's expression shifted slightly. "Young Master Zhai, do you still have any money?"

Hearing that, Zhai Zhili looked embarrassed.

"You can just lend me some later. What, are you afraid I won't pay you back?"

Lin Yuan gave an awkward smile. "Of course not. No problem, no problem..."

Cheng Ruxin looked at Yu Bu'e, then at the paddle in his hand, and ultimately gave up.

Just as Yu Bu'e was about to raise his paddle again, Zhai Zhili suddenly spoke.

"Wait! Mr. Zhang, do you let just anyone bid at your auctions? At the very least, shouldn't you verify whether this person has the money?"

Zhang Qiaosheng was a little surprised. He cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Surely you're joking, Young Master Zhai. Mr. Yu is Miss Luo's friend. How could he..."

Before he could finish, Zhai Zhili interrupted him.

"Just because Luo Feixuan has money doesn't mean he does! Why don't you check?"

Luo Feixuan finally glanced at Zhai Zhili, her eyes filled with icy hostility.

Chen Sinian suddenly stood up and cleared his throat.

"Mr. Zhang, Yu Bu'e is my classmate. I can vouch for him."

Vouching for someone at an auction meant that no matter how high Yu Bu'e's final bid was, if he won and couldn't pay, Chen Sinian would be responsible for the bill.

Yu Bu'e was a little surprised. Before he could speak, Cheng Ruxin, sitting behind Chen Sinian, also raised an arm.

"I admit, I find this guy really annoying. But what can I do? He's my classmate too.

"Don't you need three guarantors? Chen Sinian, Xuanxuan, and me. Hehe!"

After saying that, he cocked an eyebrow at Zhai Zhili.

For a moment, Zhai Zhili felt as though the whole world was against him...

Yu Bu'e cleared his throat and said, "Sorry, but he's actually right-I really don't have the money."

The auction hall fell so silent that a pin drop could have been heard. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, most of them unable to understand.