As soon as the words "Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill" were uttered, the previously hushed breathing in the hall suddenly became heavy.
Inside the jade box, a pale gold pill the size of a thumb lay quietly. Six light-colored patterns were on the surface of the pill, and pale white mist slowly swirled around it, vaguely condensing into several tiny vortexes.
The mere fragrance emanating from the pill was enough to clear the minds of many.
Seating on the second floor.
Han Kui leaned forward slightly, temporarily suppressing the anger that had been building up due to the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine.
That's his real goal tonight.
That Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine was merely an auxiliary material for refining the Poison Corpse Puppet.
The Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill was related to his cultivation, which had stagnated for many years.
When crafting high-level puppets, the Puppet Sect often needs to allocate a portion of their divine consciousness to nurture the puppet's core over a long period.
Han Kui suffered a backlash when he refined his natal puppet in his early years, leaving hidden injuries in his sea of consciousness and causing his cultivation to stagnate for many years.
If he could obtain this pill, he could not only repair his hidden injuries, but might even have the opportunity to break through to a higher realm.
He even borrowed a lot of spirit stones from several familiar elders within the sect to prepare for tonight's event.
On the auction stage.
Su Mei took in everyone's reactions but did not rush to announce the bidding.
She raised her hand and released a burst of spiritual energy.
The remaining two layers of sealing array patterns on the outside of the jade box then dispersed.
An even richer fragrance of cinnamon filled the venue.
Several martial artists with damaged souls only needed to inhale a wisp of the substance, and their tense expressions eased somewhat.
" Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill, Grade 6, Medium Quality."
Su Mei's voice carried clearly throughout the three-story venue.
"This pill can nourish the soul and repair hidden injuries to the sea of consciousness."
"If the soul is not damaged, consuming it can also enhance the strength of the soul, which is also of great benefit to experts at the Divine Sea Realm."
The client requests payment in mid-grade spirit stones.
Su Mei glanced at the private rooms on the third floor and raised the auction gavel in her hand.
"Starting price: 300,000 mid-grade spirit stones."
"Each increase in price must be no less than ten thousand."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone in the front row on the first floor spoke up.
Three hundred and twenty thousand!
"A mere Heavenly Origin Realm cultivator dares to compete for a sixth-grade pill?"
Another aged voice followed closely behind.
"I'll offer 350,000!"
The person making the offer was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit. Although his aura was deliberately suppressed, a trace of the pressure of the Divine Sea Realm still lingered around him.
On the other side, an old woman in a white robe spoke up.
"Four hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
"My soul has been injured for many years, and I am determined to obtain this elixir. If you are willing to do me a favor, I will surely repay you in the future."
The old man in black sneered, "In an auction, only spirit stones matter. You think you can get everyone to back down with just a promise of future repayment? You're overestimating your own worth."
After saying that, he immediately raised the price.
Four hundred and fifty thousand!
The bidding process in the venue did not stop as a result.
Four hundred and eighty thousand!
"Five hundred thousand!"
In a short time, the price rose from 300,000 to 500,000 mid-grade spirit stones.
Several elders from second-rate sects had previously wanted to give it a try.
Once the price surpassed 500,000, these people fell silent.
Five hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones are equivalent to five million low-grade spirit stones.
For a second-rate sect with limited resources, this is already a significant expense that could cripple them.
If the sect were to exhaust its resources for the sake of a single pill, it would face a shortage of resources for years to come.
In the front row of the hall, an elderly man with a white beard opened his mouth, but ultimately did not make any further offers.
His disciple whispered, "Master, your old soul injury has been lingering for ten years. If you miss this pill, who knows how long you'll have to wait to find another one. The sect's treasury still has some spirit stones; perhaps we can try to get one more."
The white-bearded old man shook his head, his gaze bitter.
"Five hundred thousand is not the end, it's just the entry ticket."
"Those people on the second and third floors haven't spoken yet; they're waiting for this pill."
It seemed to confirm his words.
An aged voice soon rang out from the second-floor seating area.
Five hundred and fifty thousand.
The number of bids being made in the hall suddenly decreased by more than half.
Several strong contenders on the second floor, who had initially intended to bid, also frowned.
Inside a private room on the third floor.
Ling Xueyao kept her eyes fixed on the Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill on the stage.
She had already placed the teacup back on the table, her fingertips pressing against the edge, her clear phoenix eyes not moving an inch.
Chu Yunfei was observing the six patterns on the surface of the pill.
Judging from its color, aroma, and the fluctuations in medicinal power, there is nothing wrong with this Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill.
While it wasn't enough to restore Ling Zhantian's soul to its peak, it was sufficient to awaken his consciousness.
As long as Ling Zhantian can awaken and regain his cultivation at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level, and with the help of royal resources, the remaining damage to his soul can be slowly healed.
"The pills are fine."
Chu Yunfei withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, "Moreover, the medicinal properties are well preserved, and the time it took to refine it should not have been more than three months. As long as we get our hands on it, we can give it to your father tonight."
Ling Xueyao's fingers, which were pressing against the edge of the table, loosened slightly.
Her biggest worry was that the quality of the pills was insufficient.
Now that Chu Yunfei has confirmed it, she has no more worries.
"Seven hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
A cool, clear female voice came from a private room on the third floor.
The bidding in the venue immediately stopped.
The previous price was 550,000, but Ling Xueyao raised the price by 150,000 the first time she spoke.
Inside the hall, all eyes turned to the third floor.
Although the array in the private room blocked sight and divine sense, the sound when Chu Yunfei bid for the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine also came from that private room.
"It's them again."
"The young man previously spent two million low-grade spirit stones to buy the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine, and now a woman has directly offered seven hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
Who exactly was sitting in that private room?
"To be able to get into a private room on the third floor, they're no ordinary force. Didn't you see that when they faced Han Kui earlier, they didn't even back down an inch?"
The whispers were kept low, but they couldn't escape the notice of the high-ranking martial artists present.
Han Kui looked up at the private room on the third floor, his face darkening again.
Previously, Chu Yunfei had fought with him for the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine, which was one thing.
Now, a young woman has come to steal the Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill that he truly needs.
The people in that private room seemed to be deliberately trying to antagonize him.
A disciple behind Han Kui whispered, "Elder, the people we sent out haven't returned yet. The identity of the person in that private room hasn't been confirmed. If we continue arguing now, will it...?"
"Shut up."
Han Kui coldly interrupted him.
" The Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill is crucial to whether I can repair the hidden injuries to my soul."
"Even if the other party's identity is unknown, and even if the elders of the seven sects came in person, they would still have to bid according to the auction rules."
After he finished speaking, he looked up at the third floor.
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
Chu Yunfei was not surprised.
Han Kui was willing to offer 1.7 million low-grade spirit stones for the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine, so his net worth is naturally not low.
Now that they've switched to a more precious Rank 6 elixir, their opponent won't easily back down.
Su Mei gripped the auction gavel, her smile deepening.
The Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill began to be advertised a month ago.
The Pill Pavilion naturally knew that this pill would attract a true powerhouse.
Now that someone has finally entered the fray on the third floor, the real battle for this auction has begun.
Before Su Mei could confirm, a soft, feminine male voice suddenly came from another quiet private room on the third floor.
"Eight hundred thousand."