Critical hit! Critical hit! Critical hit!
Top-grade fifth-tier!
Fortune Golden Pill!
The system's voice filled Gu Fan's face with delighted surprise!
A fifth-tier pill-what did that mean?
Even after living in the royal capital for eighteen years, Gu Fan had never even heard of a pill of this grade!
That meant such pills were extraordinarily precious even in the royal capital, with even a single one difficult to find!
And this was a top-grade fifth-tier Fortune Golden Pill, approaching the sixth tier!
Yet he had obtained it with nothing more than a high-grade first-tier Four Symbols Pill!
Gu Fan focused his mind inward.
Sure enough, he saw a pill gleaming with golden light slowly revolving.
This... was the Fortune Golden Pill!
Just one look made Gu Fan feel as though sweet rain had fallen from heaven onto his body, whose oil had run dry and lamp was guttering out. His entire body felt comfortable.
Moreover.
He could even sense an intense greed coming from his body!
As though... it desperately longed to devour this Fortune Golden Pill!
This further strengthened Gu Fan's confidence that he possessed the God-Devouring Physique.
However.
Now was not the time to devour the Fortune Golden Pill.
Awakening a divine physique would surely cause a great disturbance. He decided to wait until the auction ended, then return to the secluded chamber to awaken his God-Devouring Physique.
While Gu Fan basked in the joy of obtaining the Fortune Golden Pill.
The auction house's first sale had also concluded.
The head of the Huang Lineage, one of the three great Lineages, was brimming with satisfaction. With this Four Symbols Pill, he had a little more confidence in breaking through to the Spirit Sea Realm.
It was all thanks to his usual frugality that he had narrowly prevailed, winning this pill for thirteen thousand low-grade spirit stones!
But compared with his excitement.
The other bidders looked far less pleased.
Wealth!
Wealth!
It all came down to wealth!
Their lack of wealth had allowed the Huang Lineage head to seize this opportunity!
If their own finances had been sufficient, how could they have let him snatch the opportunity away?
"Lineage Head! There's no need to be angry! The Profound Heaven Auction House's very first item was so precious. The four items after it will surely be even more precious. With our resources, securing one won't be a problem!"
"You're right. Auction House Master Gu hasn't so much as changed his expression even now. In my view, the most precious treasure should be saved for last. Hmph! Let him enjoy himself for a while!"
A hushed discussion arose from Lineage Head Miao's seating area.
Similar discussions arose from time to time among the other factions as well.
In their eyes.
The real competition would only begin later!
With such thoughts in mind.
The auction of the second item, which everyone in the auction house eagerly awaited, began.
"Next is our second item, a low-grade first-tier demonic beast core entrusted to the Profound Heaven Auction House by an anonymous guest-the core of a Yellow Tiger!"
"The starting bid is... ten low-grade spirit stones, with each increase no less than one low-grade spirit stone!"
Though Xiang Yin's voice remained pleasant, some sharp-eared listeners still detected a trace of embarrassment.
But unexpectedly.
The instant her words fell, a bid rang out!
"Eleven... low-grade spirit stones!"
Lineage Head Miao had started his bid with great boldness, but halfway through, he looked toward the stage in confusion.
His eyes... seemed to be asking, a low-grade first-tier demonic beast core?
Meeting his puzzled gaze, Xiang Yin gave a slight nod, her expression stiff.
An uproar erupted!
For a moment, voices rose throughout the auction house!
"Is this a mistake?! A low-grade first-tier demonic beast core?!!"
"Did I hear that wrong? We just had a high-grade first-tier pill. How did the second item turn into a low-grade first-tier demonic beast core?"
"You heard correctly! Perhaps... there's more to it than meets the eye?!"
"..."
Discussion ran rampant!
Everyone looked at Xiang Yin in disbelief.
The prominent figures in particular believed that someone from the royal capital surely would not toy with them like this!
The most plausible explanation was that there was more to it than met the eye!
At that thought, the bidding immediately grew lively.
"I bid two hundred spirit stones!"
"Two hundred and one! I'll join in the fun too!"
"Hahaha, I bid three hundred!"
"..."
In the end, Lineage Head Miao won the first-tier Yellow Tiger core for three thousand low-grade spirit stones!
"Lineage Head! We did it!"
"Mm! Don't make such a fuss!"
Lineage Head Miao's face remained unruffled, though inwardly he was extremely excited.
However.
Why did Xiang Yin's expression look so strange to him?
The way she looked at him... was like she was looking at a fool...
"Then congratulations to Lineage Head Miao for winning this low-grade first-tier demonic beast core-the Yellow Tiger core-for three thousand spirit stones!"
Shortly after Xiang Yin's embarrassed words fell.
The maid holding the Yellow Tiger core onstage opened the box.
Inside lay the core of an utterly ordinary demonic beast-a Yellow Tiger!
Nothing remarkable...
A dime a dozen...
These were everyone's first thoughts upon seeing the core.
Lineage Head Miao's eyes widened even further.
With his wealth of experience, he immediately recognized that this was, in fact, nothing more than an ordinary Yellow Tiger core!
Even if he encountered an actual Yellow Tiger, he would only have to wave his hand for the beast to flee with its tail between its legs!
But!
This wasn't right!
"May I ask, Miss Xiang, is this merely a Yellow Tiger core?"
Left with no choice, Lineage Head Miao stood and asked.
"Yes, Lineage Head Miao. This is merely a Yellow Tiger core."
Xiang Yin nodded awkwardly.
At this exchange, boos filled the entire venue!
Even the masters of the other two major auction houses failed to restrain themselves and snorted with laughter.
That was it?
They had thought the Profound Heaven Auction House was going to put on quite a show!
In the end, it was nothing but a silver spear with a wax tip!
"Hmph!"
At the mockery, Lineage Head Miao snorted coldly, then sat back down expressionlessly.
This time... he had truly made an enormous fool of himself!
By tomorrow, probably everyone in the city would be talking about his blunder!
He had bought a Yellow Tiger core worth no more than ten low-grade spirit stones for the outrageous price of three thousand!
What an utter fool!
While the entire venue was in an uproar.
The system's voice also rang out in Gu Fan's mind.
"Low-grade first-tier demonic beast Yellow Tiger core successfully auctioned. Congratulations, host, on triggering a twentyfold critical-hit return. Obtained..." "Low-grade second-tier-Violent Strange Tiger core!"
"Now, let us proceed with the auction of the third item..."
Xiang Yin continued, "A low-grade first-tier Clear Feather Flower! The starting bid is ten low-grade spirit stones, with each increase no less than one low-grade spirit stone!"
As these words fell.
The auction house immediately sank into an eerie silence.
The Clear Feather Flower, a low-grade first-tier natural treasure, could refresh the spirit and clear the mind, offering marvelous benefits when practicing martial techniques...
However, although the Clear Feather Flower was a natural treasure.
But... who would come to an auction house to bid on this thing for no reason?!
Wouldn't it be better to buy a whole handful out on the street for a hundred low-grade spirit stones?
And amid this eerie atmosphere.
This Clear Feather Flower was finally won by a guest for ten low-grade spirit stones.
"Low-grade first-tier Clear Feather Flower auction complete. Congratulations, host, on triggering a twentyfold critical-hit return. Obtained..." "Low-grade second-tier natural treasure-Clear Feather Strange Flower!"
At that moment.
That exciting voice rang out in Gu Fan's mind once again.