At the very center of the auction stage, Manager Shopkeeper Qian, the chief auctioneer of Heaven Dou Auction House, was already in place.
He is fifty-six years old this year and has been the manager of the Heaven Dou Auction House for a full thirty years.
Starting as a lowly servant who poured tea for bidders, he has worked his way up to become the chief auctioneer, capable of independently presiding over an entire auction.
No one in the entire Heaven Dou City knew better than him how to ignite the bidding desires of a group of VIPs.
He wore a crisp, deep red robe embroidered with the gold-edged emblem of the Heaven Dou Auction House, and held an ebony auction hammer in his hand.
He knew that today's auction would be a day that would be remembered in history, both for him personally and for the Heaven Dou Auction House.
Shopkeeper Qian cleared his throat and gestured for silence from the audience.
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, carrying the composure characteristic of an experienced auctioneer.
Each word seemed to have been meticulously calculated, sliding perfectly from the tip of the tongue:
"Distinguished guests, welcome to the Heaven Dou Auction."
This auction is exclusively authorized by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and all the elixirs auctioned are provided by the Dark Hall.
Every single pill undergoes the strictest quality control. Those of you present here are surely already aware of the effectiveness of the pills from the Dark Hall.
The Blood Coagulation Powder bleeding in three breaths, and the Qi Gathering Pill can help Soul Elder break through a bottleneck. These are not rumors, but facts that have been personally verified by countless people.
Without further ado, let's get to the main topic. The first item up for auction Blood Coagulation Powder.
The curtain behind him slowly opened, and two young assistants dressed in the uniforms of the Heaven Dou Auction House gently pushed an exquisite trolley onto the auction stage.
Ten crystal trays were neatly stacked on the cart, each containing ten small white jade bottles.
Each bottle is engraved with the unique seven-layered Herta mark of the Dark Hall.
" Blood Coagulation Powder. It stops bleeding from external injuries within three breaths; it causes scabs to form within one day from knife or sword wounds."
Its effect is at least twice as strong as the Hemostatic Spirit Powder from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, but it only costs six Silver Soul Coin per bottle.
Each person is limited to purchasing ten bottles. There are a total of five hundred bottles in this auction, which will be auctioned in batches of ten bottles each.
Gentlemen, please raise your placards.
As soon as Shopkeeper Qian finished speaking, the people holding up their number plates below the stage all raised theirs.
The shouts of bidders echoed throughout the hall like a pot of boiling water.
Eight!
Ten!
"Twelve!"
"Fifteen bottles!" The first batch of ten bottles of Blood Coagulation Powder were sold out in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Two assistants quickly pushed the next batch up, and another round of bidding began.
In the second, third, fourth, and fifth rounds, the transaction price steadily increased in each round.
From the initial eight coins per bottle, to the later fifteen coins per bottle, and finally to the twenty-five coins per bottle.
Those guests who failed to snag a bargain were so anxious they were slapping their thighs in frustration. Several impatient mercenary captains even tried to rush to the auction stage to bid higher prices and snatch the items, but were stopped in time by the surrounding royal guards.
Immediately afterwards, the Qi Gathering Pill was put on the auction stage.
This time, the tray on the cart contained half the amount of Blood Coagulation Powder.
There were only five, with three Qi Gathering Pill on each tray.
The elixir was contained in a transparent jade bottle, the bottle also bearing the seven-layered Herta mark.
The Qi Gathering Pill is light blue in color and radiates a warm, jade-like luster within the jade bottle.
" The Qi Gathering Pill can directly break through bottlenecks and improve cultivation level when taken by Soul Elder."
For a peak Soul Elder, a Qi Gathering Pill is the key to breaking through to the Soul Ancestor.
The starting bid is 15 Silver Soul Coin per coin, with a limit of three coins per person.
This auction contains only one hundred pieces, to be auctioned in batches of one piece each.
This price is almost ten times cheaper than any similar pills on the market, yet the effect is just as good.
This time, even the VIPs in the private rooms on the second floor couldn't sit still.
The jade token was revealed first in the private room of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and a eunuch's shrill voice came from inside:
" Heaven Dou Imperial Family, 30 Silver Soul Coin, minimum order of 3."
" Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, thirty-five pieces, three pieces."
Representative Xu's voice rang out from the opposite compartment.
" Elephant Armor Sect, forty pieces!"
Huyan Lie voice. He leaned out of the private room window, his fleshy face full of excitement.
" Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, fifty pieces."
Ning Fengzhi's voice remained gentle and composed, but the price he offered was a full ten Silver Soul Coin higher than the second-place bidder.
His move was not just an auction, but also a signal to everyone present.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is determined to obtain the elixirs from the Dark Hall.
After all, everyone knows that it is extremely difficult for support-type Soul Master to break through.
For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which possesses the number one auxiliary Martial Soul on the continent, this pill means that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will soon have dozens more Soul Ancestor disciples.
This would have an extremely terrifying effect on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Actually, Xiao Yan originally planned to take a more approachable route with this pill.
That's why the price is set so low.
However, in today's auction, the various forces naturally don't mind having dozens more Soul Ancestor under their command.
So, apart from the initial Blood Coagulation Powder which could still be filmed, the people in the hall now seem more like spectators.
He could only look at the group of VIPs on the second floor and speak.
The first batch of Qi Gathering Pill was acquired by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for fifty Silver Soul Coin.
The second batch was acquired by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family at the same price.
The third and fourth batches were respectively auctioned off to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Elephant Armor Sect at higher prices.
Each faction seemed to have a tacit understanding; after securing the bid, they refrained from further action.
After all, they were well aware that their purpose in coming here was not for low-level pills like Blood Coagulation Powder and Qi Gathering Pill.
It was for the Mysterious Yang Pill!
When the Mysterious Yang Pill was brought to the auction stage as the final item, the atmosphere in the entire hall finally reached its peak.
There was only one crystal tray on the cart, and in the center of the tray lay a crimson pill the size of a longan.
The surface of the Mysterious Yang Pill has faint flame patterns flowing around it. These patterns are not decorations, but rather Pill Pattern that are naturally formed after the medicinal power resonates with the energy of heaven and earth.
Each of the Pill Pattern emitted an extremely faint reddish-brown light.
The entire crystal tray was enveloped in a soft red light.
The scorching heat emanating from the elixir caused several guests near the auction stage to involuntarily lean back, and a thin layer of sweat even appeared on their skin.
" Mysterious Yang Pill."
Shopkeeper Qian's voice was extremely low and slow at this moment, as if he were reciting a list of some extremely precious treasures.
His lips moved slightly, each syllable pronounced with extreme clarity, as if afraid that mispronouncing a single word would desecrate the elixir.
"If Soul Ancestor takes this, their Soul Power will increase by at least two levels."
"If Soul King takes this, their Soul Power will increase by at least one level. It can only be taken once in a lifetime, and there are no side effects."
The audience was already starting to stir.
Soul King can gain at least one level after consuming this item—what does this mean?
There were many Soul King present; they themselves were Soul King.
Some of them were stuck at the Soul King realm for three, five, or even ten years.
For Soul Master with poor talent, each level advancement requires years of arduous training.
Now, all that's needed is one pill.
Some people started rummaging through their wallets, some ordered their subordinates to immediately return to their base to gather funds, and others were already plotting how to secretly contact the people from the Dark Hall after the auction.
The entire hall was like a pot of water about to boil; on the surface, it was still maintaining order, but beneath the surface, turbulent currents were already surging.
Ignoring the commotion below the stage, Shopkeeper Qian paused and slowly glanced at the silent guests.
He continued, "Only three pieces will be sold in this auction. Each piece will be auctioned individually, and the highest bidder wins."
After a brief silence, the entire auction hall erupted in chaos, as if a bomb had been dropped on it.
This time, however, it wasn't the VIPs in the second-floor private room who spoke first, but Shopkeeper Qian himself.
He raised his hand to signal for silence from the audience, and then said something that surprised everyone.
"But--"
He deliberately dragged out the word, slowly scanning the audience before changing the subject.
"Before the auction begins, I would like to invite two highly respected seniors to conduct an impartial appraisal of this elixir."
This also reassures everyone present during the bidding, assuring them that every gold coin they spend is worthwhile.
After all, words are no proof. No matter how eloquently I describe it, it's not as effective as all of you here witnessing a Titled Douluo personally verify the authenticity of this pill."
His gaze fell on Dugu Bo, and he bowed slightly, his waist bending deeper than ever before.
That wasn't just polite formality; it was a heartfelt reverence for a Titled Douluo.
After all, Titled Douluo Titled Douluo at the very top of the pyramid on the entire continent, and no auctioneer dares to show the slightest disrespect in front of them.
"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, I have long admired your name."
Senior Dugu unparalleled in poison skills across the continent, and naturally also possessed profound knowledge of medicinal properties and pharmacology.
Everyone knows that Poison Douluo is skilled in using poison, but few people know that using poison and refining medicine are two sides of the same coin.
He who can recognize all poisons can also distinguish all medicines.
"Senior, would you do me the honor of coming up on stage and verify the authenticity of this Mysterious Yang Pill for everyone here?"
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes slightly, a playful smile flashing in his eagle-like eyes.
Although Shopkeeper Qian's words had a hint of flattery, they weren't entirely just polite formalities.
The use of poison and the making of medicine are indeed inextricably linked; the line between poison and medicine is sometimes very thin.
He had noticed this elixir long ago.
From the moment it was pushed onto the auction stage, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul within his body generated an extremely faint resonance.
That resonance was extremely peculiar.
It's not a reaction between toxins; the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's potent venom has an instinctive rejection of other toxins, much like two ferocious beasts roaring and threatening each other when they meet on a narrow path.
But this pill was different. It was the attraction of some higher-level energy source to his Martial Soul.
It's like a snake sensing the warmth of the sun and instinctively wanting to get closer.
This pill is no ordinary item. He realized this earlier than anyone else present.
He stood up, his dark green robe gleaming coldly in the lamplight, the hem swaying gently with his movements, releasing a faint, bitter herbal scent.
That bitter fragrance was the scent that clung to his robes from years of dealing with poisonous substances.
For ordinary people, just one whiff of it would make them dizzy, but in the rich aroma of medicine at the auction, it became a unique identifier.
This caused those around him to instinctively make way for him, creating a wider path.
Dugu Yan, standing beside him, gently tugged at his sleeve, her emerald green eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and worry.
She hadn't seen her grandfather show such interest in a pill in a long time.
The last time was when Tang San detoxified her. At that time, Dugu Bo received the antidote prescription from Tang San, and he had the same expression—surprised, excited, and somewhat incredulous.
"Grandpa, is this pill more potent than the Poison Pill you concocted?"
Dugu Yan lowered her voice and asked, her tone filled with the curiosity unique to a young girl.
She grew up by Dugu Bo's side and witnessed countless Poison Pill being produced by her grandfather. Some were as green as jade, some were as black as ink, and some were colorless and odorless but could take a person's life in an instant.
But she had never seen her grandfather show such an expression when looking at a pill.
Dugu Bo gently patted his granddaughter's hand, a rare gentle smile appearing on his face.
He was usually Bingbing to everyone, but he could never bring himself to be stern with this granddaughter.
" Yan'er, Poison Pill and elixirs are two different things."
Grandpa's Poison Pill were unparalleled in their toxicity; one pill could render an entire town barren.
However, this Mysterious Yang Pill does not follow the path of poison, but rather the pure power of the fire element.
The person who created it is probably no less skilled in alchemy than I am.
She didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded and watched her grandfather walk onto the auction stage.
Yu Tianheng sat beside her, a hint of curiosity flashing in his usually calm eyes.
Dugu Bo walked slowly onto the auction stage, each step unhurried. The pale green aura of poison around him rippled slightly with his movements, forming faint green ripples under the lights.
Like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
That halo was the highly poisonous aura emanating from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's Martial Soul; if an ordinary person got too close, their skin would immediately break out in rashes and ulcers.
However, Dugu Bo had long since mastered the control of his poison gas. He simply allowed the halo to circulate within a few feet around him, without spreading it to the area below the auction stage.
The guests sitting in the front row unconsciously held their breath and shrank back even further.
Although they knew that Poison Douluo wouldn't attack anyone in this situation, the oppressive aura of Titled Douluo couldn't be eliminated by reason alone.
It's an instinct ingrained in our bones, like a rabbit instinctively perking up its ears when it smells a wolf.
Dugu Bo ignored all of this and went straight to the auction stage to pick up the Mysterious Yang Pill.