A Segment of Black Vine

Qin Ming was startled instinctively.

He knew the force behind Juxuan Pavilion was no simple one, but he had never imagined that the Pavilion Master before him would be so young.

And a woman, at that.

"Mm."

The Pavilion Master merely replied faintly, her voice clear and cool.

Then she prepared to continue downstairs.

"Brother Qin? What are you doing here?"

At that moment.

Su Yuqing beside her suddenly spoke.

"Brother Su, I'm handling some matters here." A smile appeared on Qin Ming's face as he replied to Su Yuqing.

The Juxuan Pavilion Master asked Su Yuqing in confusion, "Alchemist Su, you know each other?"

Su Yuqing nodded and introduced him to her. "This is my good friend, Fellow Daoist Qin Ming."

He then introduced her to Qin Ming. "This is the Juxuan Pavilion Master, Gu Qingzhao."

Qin Ming gave a cupped fist salute. "Pavilion Master Gu."

"Since Fellow Daoist Qin is Alchemist Su's friend, there is no need for such formality. Just call me Fellow Daoist Gu."

For Alchemist Su to use the words "good friend" was enough to show that Qin Ming had earned his recognition.

Compared to before, Gu Qingzhao's attitude had changed as well.

"Come to think of it, part of the credit for those three Marrow Cleansing Pills I entrusted your pavilion to auction goes to Brother Qin."

As soon as Su Yuqing said this.

Gu Qingzhao could not help but be greatly surprised. "There's such a thing?"

She looked at Qin Ming and asked, "Could Fellow Daoist Qin also be an alchemist?"

"No. One of the spirit herbs used to refine the Marrow Cleansing Pills was something I entrusted Fellow Daoist Qin to cultivate." Su Yuqing said with a smile.

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, Fellow Daoist Qin is a First-rank Spirit Planter. He came this time to discuss Beast Fang Rice, and the two of us have just finished signing the agreement."

Manager Liao was also deeply shocked. He had never imagined that Fellow Daoist Qin had dealings with Alchemist Su.

And judging by the look of things, their relationship was far from shallow.

One had to know that the Pavilion Master had invited Alchemist Su before her to serve as a guest elder many times, yet he had remained unmoved.

"Oh, so that's how it is." Gu Qingzhao smiled faintly at Qin Ming.

Qin Ming cupped his fists toward the two of them and said, "Then you two carry on. I'll take my leave first."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, we're about to attend an auction. If you have nothing else to do, why not come along and join us for the excitement?" Su Yuqing suddenly invited him.

"An auction?" Qin Ming was surprised.

He hesitated for a moment, then decided to go and take a look.

Qin Ming had been in Qingyang Market for so long, yet he had never visited an auction house.

Thus.

The three left the shop under Manager Liao's respectful escort.

Manager Liao carefully wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.

"It seems I'll have to make even greater efforts to befriend Fellow Daoist Qin in the future."

"Without showing a single mountain or revealing a drop of water, he's actually acquainted with such a figure."

After leaving Juxuan Pavilion.

Half an incense stick later.

The three arrived at the entrance of the auction house.

Treasured Auction House, one of Juxuan Pavilion's businesses.

"Pavilion Master."

"Alchemist Su."

Several auction house staff stood respectfully at the entrance, clearly there to welcome Gu Qingzhao.

Afterward.

Qin Ming followed the two of them into the auction house without obstruction.

The circular venue within was exceptionally spacious.

At its center stood a stage for displaying auction items.

Gu Qingzhao brought the two into a private room with an excellent view.

She also ordered someone to bring superior spirit tea and pastries.

Qin Ming and Su Yuqing began drinking tea.

"Brother Qin, do you have anything you need auctioned? You can entrust Fellow Daoist Gu to auction it for you." Su Yuqing took a sip of tea and spoke to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming smiled. "What could I possibly have to auction? Watching is enough."

Before long.

The auction house gradually filled with cultivators.

Most were in the middle or late Qi Refining Stage, and four or five had reached the perfection of the Qi Refining Stage.

Very soon.

The auction began.

After an old man in golden robes took the stage and delivered some opening remarks.

The first auction item was brought onto the display platform.

The old man in golden robes removed the red cloth.

An exquisite silver Dharma Sword appeared before everyone.

"A Superior-Grade Magic Item, the Water-Repelling Sword, crafted by the master artificer Fang Yezi."

"I need not say more."

"The starting bid is eight hundred Spirit Stones."

Whoosh!

The very first auction item directly ignited the passion of the cultivators present.

"It was personally crafted by Master Fang Yezi! I must have it!"

"I bid one thousand Spirit Stones!"

A voice rang out.

"Damn, are you a shill? How are the rest of us supposed to keep raising the price?"

"One thousand five hundred!"

"!!!"

"Two thousand!"

"Two thousand five hundred!"

"..."

Qin Ming stared at the fervent auction scene, dumbfounded.

He still had two thousand Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag and had thought he was well-off, only to discover upon arriving here.

That he was still far short.

In the end, the Superior-Grade Dharma Sword was won by a burly man in the Late Qi Refining stage.

For two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones.

The old man in golden robes smiled at him and said, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. Please proceed backstage later to complete the transaction."

He was very satisfied with the crowd's reaction.

Good items had to be brought out right from the beginning to create a wave of spending frenzy.

"Next, the second auction item."

"A Superior-Grade talisman, the Blazing Sun Talisman."

"The starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones."

"I bid six hundred!"

"Eight hundred!"

"Eight hundred fifty!"

"One thousand!"

Qin Ming also felt his heart stir as he looked at the talisman on the central stage, but unfortunately, his strength did not permit it.

As time passed.

One auction item after another was sold at high prices.

Qin Ming sighed inwardly.

It truly deserved the name "Treasured Auction House"; everything sold was a treasure.

"This next auction item is something even This Old Man cannot quite determine."

"It was brought out of a secret realm by a cultivator."

"Everyone, please take a look."

After saying this, the old man in golden robes removed the red cloth.

A segment of thumb-thick Black Vine appeared before everyone.

Unfortunately, it was very short, only two inches long.

The cultivators present looked at one another, clearly none of them recognized the object.

"I have tested it before. This item is quite strange and wondrous—impervious to water and fire, and even hacking at it with magic-item blades and axes could not damage it in the slightest."

"Thinking that perhaps someone might have use for it when refining something, it has been brought out."

"The starting bid is one hundred Spirit Stones."

After the old man in golden robes finished speaking, there was no movement below.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

"No one is bidding? Then it will go unsold."

Before his words had even faded.

Someone began bidding.

"One hundred fifty!"

"Two hundred!"

"Two hundred fifty!"

"Any higher bids?"

"Two hundred fifty, once!"

"Two hundred fifty, twice!"

Just as the old man in golden robes was about to call it for the third time.

"Three hundred!" Qin Ming called out from the private room.

Su Yuqing looked at Qin Ming in considerable surprise and asked, "Could Fellow Daoist Qin recognize this item?"

Qin Ming smiled awkwardly. "I don't recognize it either. I was simply curious about it and wanted to buy it for some research."

In truth, he had already begun making calculations in his heart.

He wanted to try using the Rebirth Spirit Seed affix to revive this segment of Black Vine.

Of course, if the price exceeded his expectations, then he would let it go.

"Three hundred, once!"

"Three hundred, twice!"

"Three hundred, three times!"

"Sold! Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"

Joy appeared on Qin Ming's face. He had not expected to obtain it so easily.

Perhaps the cultivators present felt that the withered vine was too short to be of any use even for refining artifacts.

"Next is the final and centerpiece auction item of this auction."

The old man in golden robes removed the red cloth, revealing three exquisite porcelain bottles before everyone.

"A breakthrough pill—Marrow Cleansing Pills!"

"Refined by the Superior-Grade Alchemist, Alchemist Su Yuqing."