"Esteemed Guests! We present the First item for today's auction!" A middle-aged man in luxurious robes, stood on the auction stage, his voice booming loud enough to reach every corner.
Behind that man, rows of attendants stood in neat formation, each holding a tray covered with red silk.
The grand hall was filled with cultivators of every type—young cultivators of sects, clan elders, wandering cultivators, and even a few veiled whose presence carried a faint oppressive aura.
Then, a lady in blue robes stepped forward, carrying a jade tray. Resting on it was a small crimson fruit, glowing softly.
"The Scarlet Spirit Fruit!"
"Formed after absorbing earth essence for a hundred years. Starting bid—Twenty thousand Gold coins!"
"Twenty thousand five hundred!" someone from the front rows shouted, the first bid cut through the still air like a sword.
Almost instantly, another voice countered, "Twenty one thousand!"
"Twenty two thousand five hundred!"
"Twenty three thousand"
And just like that, the bidding began—voices rose one after another, filling the Grand hall with heat and chaos.
At this moment, most powerful figures didn't even think of joining in—everyone knew the early items in the auction weren't worth much.
And so, Yuan also decided to bide his time. He clearly knew that many powerful cultivators were present among the guests, acting rashly would only invite trouble. And the true goal they sought was the third-tier pill recipe.
Besides, there was an another idea moving in mind, with his current cultivation base still shallow, he could use Ying'er's card to purchase some rare resources for his future breakthrough.
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After a few rounds, the auction had already sold a few items, and now there was a monster core currently displayed on the stage.
This was a third-tier beast core of Flame Lion. Excellent for enhancing fire type qi.
"Bid start—thirty-thousand Gold coins!"
"Fifty thousand!" A clear voice came out from the fifth VIP room, it was Zhao Ying.
Inside, Yuan on the couch his head tilted back, a faint yawn escaping his lips. "Sister Ying'er, we can't just waste money on useless things."
"Young Master, this fire-attributed beast core is most suitable for Young Miss, as she cultivates fire-type techniques." Gui Sheng spoke in a soft tone, from the side.
Before the conversation could continue, another voice boomed from across the hall—
"Sixty thousand!"
A murmur spread through the lower seats like wildfire.
"Ahh, it's from another VIP room again, no chance for us." someone whispered bitterly.
"Yeah, might as well bid on that old man's ass—it's cheaper."
"Seventy thousand!"
"Eighty thousand!"
However this time Ying'er just stopped bidding further, but Yuan suddenly leaned forward and shouted, "Ninety thousand!"
"Twenty low-grade spirit stones!"
The crowd gasped.
"What else! they must be from powerful families"
"Twenty?! That's over two million gold coins!"
"Fuck! I hate these rich people!"
Then Zhao Ying sighed and leaned back, folding her arms. "Forget it, it's not worth that much. I was just bidding out of boredom. Don't waste money."
"But…" Yuan hesitated a bit, it has just started to get interesting. He just wanted to show off a bit of his newly acquired wealth.
"My father already must've kept one for me."
With that, Yuan restrained himself, leaning back with a sigh of defeat.
Meanwhile, in another VIP room across the hall, a young man in lavish robes was sprawled on a couch, swirling a cup of wine. A lazy smirk tugged at his lips. "Hmph! How boring… Who was that?"
An old servant beside him bowed slightly. "Young Master, we couldn't find their identity. The Pavilion is keeping their details hidden."
"Ha~!" The young man's smile deepened. "Now this is interesting."
Below, the auctioneer's voice boomed, "Twenty low-grade spirit stones! Going once—twice—sold to the esteemed guest from VIP room three!"
Moments later, another lady stepped onto the stage, her smile elegant and practiced. A tray in her hand on which there is a small box.
"The next item—Spirit Root Enhancing Pill, third tier!"
"Starting bid—thirty thousand gold coins!"
"Thirty-one thousand!" called a veiled youth from among the ants.
But from VIP room, Hong Yize's composed voice swiftly outbid them, securing the pill with ease.
…
Treasure after treasure appeared and clashes between rich cultivators in the crowd and VIP rooms.
Yuan also secured a mysterious jade within one million coins but curiously, none of the major powers had shown interest, except a few common veiled guests who participated in that bid.
Yuan thought it could be some kind of mysterious key of ancient ruins or something like that. He wondered why such a valuable item they don't actually value.
And soon after, the atmosphere inside the Grand Hall turned heavy as the auctioneer's voice echoed once more.
"Esteemed guests, this is what many of you have been waiting for—a rare-grade third-tier pill recipe, Golden Vein Enhancement pill!"
"Starting bid—twenty low-grade spirit stones!"
A common-grade third tier pill recipe is actually precious even people from Great sects would bid but this was a rare-grade, so competing for it definitely wouldn't be easy.
But before anyone could move, a melodic yet cold voice rang out from the other side.
"Fifteen spirit stones."
Every head turned toward the direction of VIP Room Two at the second floor, a sudden rumors rippled among crowd.
"I heard that room belongs to someone from Imperial Family."
"That's probably the Third Princess, I saw her at the entrance!"
"She's terrifyingly gorgeous and her big as—"
"I heard she once froze a sect master for talking too loudly near her."
Meanwhile inside the Yuan's room, though they couldn't hear this gossip. But Hong Yize told them that this second room belongs to Xia Moyin, the third imperial princess and her nature is also not normal, she's just kind of freaky women. So they should not act recklessly.
But even though she was a princess or the person who gave Yuan admiration points, still Yuan had no choice. They have to win this bid even if this is worth their entire fortune.
"Sixteen spirit stones!" Another voice came from a young cultivator in veiled robes.
"Sevente—"
"Twenty!" Yuan shouted, cutting through a bid.
"Twenty-five!" the voice again rose from room second.
Everyone in Yuan's room felt stiffened. Even Zhao Ying's lips parted in disbelief. Competing against other rich alchemists or cultivators was one thing—but against the Imperial Princess? It's too difficult to win.
But more than anyone Yuan was shocked, she is giving him admiration points and also bidding against him at the same time. But then clenching his fist Yuan shouted again—
"Twenty-six!"
"Thirty."
Yuan in his room greeted his teeth. 'Damn it… she's just playing around. Even if I go near seventy-eighty, she won't stop and just bid more and more and even take this near hundred.'
Even other VIP's would not throw that much money at recipes, that worth not even top grade.
Also this third tier pill was actually precious but not for a princess like herself who could easily have a third-grade alchemist at stake.
He exhaled through his nose, eyes narrowing, his voice rose again,
"Thirty-one spirit stones!"
The whole grand hall fell in a deathly silence. Everyone's ear gaze turned toward the second VIP room, even nobles in other VIP rooms—waiting, wondering. Yet there was no further bid.
The auctioneer, after a long pause, raised her voice once more. "Thirty-one low-grade spirit stones! Going once—going twice—sold to the esteemed guest from the fifth VIP room!"
Meanwhile, Inside the fifth VIP room Yuan and his companions sat frozen, disbelief etched across their faces. The fact they had actually won—against an Imperial Princess is a bit unrealistic.
And the Auction went further with the last twelve remaining treasures to be auctioned. Yuan and peers didn't bid further since their goal had already been achieved.