Ultimately, thanks to the old man's intervention, Xu Songming, despite his immense reluctance, sat down with a heart full of anger. In addition to the ten Spirit Stone needed to purchase the Fire Plume Flower, the other ten Spirit Stone he offered also belonged to Xiao Yan. He had promised that if Xiao Yan could produce eleven Spirit Stone, both the Fire Plume Flower and the Spirit Stone would be given to Xiao Yan. Xu Songming had personally made this promise in front of so many people, so he couldn't go back on his word. Of course, the most important reason was the old man on the auction stage.
Just as the old man said, he had the authority to manage any affairs within this Void Auction House. With just one word from him, Xu Songming would never be able to participate in the Void Auction again. Xu Songming had no doubt about this.
After the fierce competition, Xu Songming was even more aware of the immense power contained within the Void Auction. He would definitely not miss the opportunity if he had the chance in the future. Therefore, if he wanted to have another chance to participate in the Void Auction, he must not offend the people of the Void Auction. Although he, Xu Songming, was now Third-Tier Alchemist, he also understood that his status as Third-Tier Alchemist was not worth as much attention as these guys.
As for Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan was already satisfied after obtaining the Fire Plume Flower. He then donated the remaining ten Spirit Stone to the Void Auction in his own name. The latter certainly wouldn't be short of Spirit Stone, but Xiao Yan 'Xiao Yan actions would earn them their favor. At least, he wouldn't be disliked like Xu Songming.
On the auction stage, the old man collected the twenty Spirit Stone that flew toward him. His aged face was even more amiable with a smile, but all of them were for Xiao Yan. Although Xu Songming was the owner of these Spirit Stone, he was the "former" owner.
Twenty Spirit Stone is neither a lot nor a little in the context of the Void Auction House.
For them, twenty Spirit Stone were insignificant, but for ordinary people, it might be more than they had saved up over many years. Its value could not be judged by the number alone.
On the stands, Xiao Yan Xiao Yan back down, placed the Fire Plume Flower into the jade box he had prepared beforehand, and then put it into his Storage Ring ring. With a wave of his hand, the eleven Spirit Stone that had been floating around him flashed into his Storage Ring.
Xiao Yan didn't consider himself a stingy person, but he was far from generous either. The reason he handed over the ten Spirit Stone to the old man on the auction stage was simply because, in Xiao Yan's eyes, these Spirit Stone didn't belong to him. What he had won from Xu Songming was merely the right to use those ten Spirit Stone. The inherent value of the Spirit Stone was no longer in Xiao Yan's eyes. Rather than keeping them, he might as well do a favor.
To put it bluntly, Xiao Yan didn't need Xu Songming's gift of Spirit Stone at all. In Xiao Yan's eyes, the latter's Spirit Stone were just like ordinary stones, utterly worthless.
With his thoughts returning to normal, Xiao Yan's heart finally calmed down. Having obtained the Fire Plume Flower meant that he had basically gathered all the medicinal materials needed to refine the Ice Spirit Pill. Now he was just waiting for the right opportunity to begin refining the Ice Spirit Pill!
However, this "east wind" does not refer to the Ice Spirit Cold Liquid, but rather to the Bodhi Restoration Pill!
The medicinal herbs needed to refine the Bodhi Restoration Pill have been gathered. According to Xiao Yan's current reserves, there are enough for four pills. This means that Xiao Yan only has three chances to fail in refining the Bodhi Restoration Pill. If he fails even on the fourth attempt, then the Ice Spirit Pill will probably be out of reach.
As for the Ice Spirit Pill...
Even if Xiao Yan were to be conservative and try his best to control the dosage within a reasonable range, a single Fire Plume Flower could only be used twice at most. The same goes for the other medicinal herbs. Therefore, Xiao Yan would only have two chances to refine the Ice Spirit Pill. If he failed, it would probably be impossible to gather all the medicinal herbs for refining the Ice Spirit Pill again.
On the other side, Xu Songming watched Xiao Yan hiding under the black robe from afar, and a surging killing intent gradually gathered in the depths of his cloudy old eyes.
The person before him had repeatedly humiliated him, and how could he ever face others again after such a disgrace? Once the Spatial Auction over and he returned to the Alchemist Alliance, this matter would likely spread quickly, and he would be ridiculed once more. How could Xu Songming swallow this insult?
"Boy, I will avenge this humiliation!"
The other three families, the Bai Clan, the Huo Clan, and the Lin Clan, were also observing the situation on the field. The Bai Clan and the Huo Clan seemed indifferent, but the atmosphere on the Lin Clan's side was rather somber.
They had originally planned to win the Fire Plume Flower at the auction and gift it to Xu Songming, hoping to quickly improve the relationship between their two families. However, not only did they suffer a humiliating defeat at the Fire Plume Flower, but Xu Songming must now be extremely dissatisfied with them. Who knows what that old man will do to the Lin Clan after this incident...
Fortunately, as an affiliated force of the two major families, the Lin Clan doesn't need to worry about being targeted by people hired by Xu Songming.
After this brief interlude, the old man calmly took out another item for auction. Regardless of the emotions of the families on stage, once the auction began, no one could stop it until the very end.
Soon, the atmosphere on the auction stage was stirred up again, with cheers rising. These people wished they could rush onto the stage and snatch the auction items from the old man's hands.
In the auction hall, almost everyone's eyes were once again drawn to the items up for auction, including those from the two major families. Only Xiao Yan, leaning back lazily in his chair, had his eyes slightly closed beneath his black robe, waiting for the auction to end.
With the Fire Plume Flower in hand, Xiao Yan had achieved his main objective in coming to Xuan City. As for the others, Xiao Yan had no interest in them; let those madmen fight over them.
As time went on, the auction became increasingly popular, and the value of the auction items increased rapidly. In the end, they even became related to Spirit Stone. A few precious auction items reached the point where they could only be auctioned with Spirit Stone. This made most of the people present feel very regretful, but their expressions became even more fervent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's not that you haven't noticed, but this auction is already drawing to a close. I imagine most of you are still feeling a bit unsatisfied! Don't worry, our auction will be held elsewhere as well, and those who are interested are welcome to attend!"
On the auction stage, the old man's smile grew even brighter with each high bid, and only at this moment did he finally show a warm smile to everyone present.
Immediately afterwards, the old man, who had been standing at the edge of the auction stage, slowly retreated to the center of the stage. His gaze swept across the entire room once more before he raised his hands and clapped three times in succession with a smile on his face.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
The auction platform beneath the old man's feet suddenly trembled. At the same time, the people on the platform saw that, apart from the spot where the old man was standing, the auction platform around him suddenly separated.
The original auction platform was divided into four pieces, plus the one the old man was standing on, making a total of five pieces.
The gap that separated them was like a bottomless abyss, a pitch-black void. Then, four beams of light shot out from the crack, like four walls of light, quickly enveloping the entire auction stage. The old man was also surrounded by those walls of light.
This scene startled most of the people present, their eyes filled with astonishment. The old man's words did not mean that the auction was over. Judging from the current state of the room, the items to be auctioned next seemed to be quite unusual!
Judging from this light barrier alone, the Dou Di powerhouses present dared not underestimate it. Even Bai Ying and Huo Ting, as representatives of the two major families, were not confident that they could break through it.
"Is it finally time for them to make their appearance?"
Beneath Huo Ting's wide sleeves, his withered hands slowly clenched into fists. Huo Yuning, standing beside him, was also focused intently, her gaze fixed on the old man on the stage.
The same was true for the Bai Clan father and son on the other side.
As for the others, although their eyes were still burning with excitement, they knew nothing about the next item to be auctioned. Apart from curiosity, they dared not have any other thoughts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the final item of this year's Spatial Auction, and also the highlight of our auction."
Within the stone platform enveloped by a barrier of light, the old man's expression gradually turned solemn. His gaze slowly swept across the entire area, his sharp eyes causing everyone who saw him to involuntarily tense up slightly.
Sensing the change in atmosphere at the auction, Xiao Yan, who had been resting with his eyes closed and waiting for the auction to end, slowly opened his eyes and looked at the auction hall with surprise.
Immediately, as everyone's gazes converged on him, the old man withdrew his eyes, his powerful Dou Qi slowly surging within him, and then, his calm and aged voice slowly uttered from his mouth.
"As you all have seen, these rising light barriers on all four sides are not easily broken even by a Dou Di expert. Therefore, if there are any people here with ulterior motives, it's best not to think about it!"
Although everyone present was in the Endless Void, the old man still spoke up to warn them, in order to eliminate any unnecessary trouble.
Seeing the bewildered looks on everyone's faces, the old man swept his gaze across the entire area again, then withdrew his eyes, paused slightly, and then lightly stomped his feet three times on the ground beneath him. Immediately afterward, another beam of light shot out from the crack in front of him, instantly transforming into a completely black scroll with an ancient and simple design.
"The grand finale auction item: Saint Class cultivation technique!"