Inside one of the secluded VIP rooms of the Hundred Flowers Auction House sat an old man dressed in plain grey robes.
His back was slightly hunched.
His face was lined with wrinkles.
White hair had already overtaken most of his scalp.
At first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary elderly cultivator nearing the end of his lifespan.
Yet the spiritual pressure surrounding him revealed a completely different story.
Qi Refining Perfection.
Peak Ninth Layer.
Only a single step away from Foundation Establishment.
Unfortunately—
That single step was also the greatest chasm in the cultivation world.
His name was Shen Xiuyong.
A cultivator who had spent over sixty years pursuing immortality.
A cultivator who had almost given up.
His cloudy eyes stared fixedly at the auction platform below.
For a long moment, he remained silent.
Then memories slowly surfaced.
...
More than sixty years ago.
He had been born in a remote mortal village located near several mortal kingdoms.
The area was poor.
Ordinary.
Forget immortal cultivators.
Even Acquired Realm martial artists were considered legendary figures there.
Growing up, Shen Xiuyong had never imagined immortality existed.
He spent his youth helping his parents farm.
Working from sunrise until sunset.
Living an ordinary life.
Until one day—
Everything changed.
At twenty years old, he encountered a wandering Daoist.
The old cultivator had merely stopped by the village to rest.
Yet after noticing Shen Xiuyong's spiritual roots, the Daoist's expression changed.
That was when Shen Xiuyong learned a shocking truth.
Immortals existed.
And he possessed Medium Grade Spiritual Roots.
A talent considered quite decent.
Not a genius.
But certainly not mediocre.
Under normal circumstances, someone with Medium Grade Spiritual Roots who began cultivating around the age of twelve could typically reach Foundation Establishment between forty and fifty years old.
They would still have a decade or more before bodily decline began.
Enough time to prepare thoroughly.
Enough time to attempt several breakthroughs.
Enough time to pursue immortality.
Unfortunately—
Shen Xiuyong started far too late.
By the time he entered cultivation...
He was already twenty.
Ten years later, after wandering through mortal kingdoms and struggling to find cultivation resources, he finally arrived at a true spiritual environment.
Another decade had passed.
Thirty years old.
Qi Refining First Layer.
An age where many cultivators with similar talent had already reached Qi Refining Mid Stage.
His foundation was already lagging behind.
When he finally reached Cloud Mist Market decades ago—
He was merely a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator.
Poor.
Weak.
Unknown.
Without any cultivation skills, no sect backing, and no family support, he could only survive through odd jobs.
Transporting goods.
Cleaning alchemy rooms.
Helping gather herbs.
Anything that earned spirit stones.
Years passed.
Then opportunity finally arrived.
He discovered an unusual talent.
Alchemy.
His cultivation speed might have been average.
But his talent in alchemy was exceptional.
Thus he devoted himself entirely to the Dao of Pills.
Years turned into decades.
Eventually, he became a Rank-1 Peak Grade Alchemist.
Only a single step away from Rank-2.
Many cultivators respected him.
Many sought his pills.
He accumulated wealth.
Influence.
Status.
Everything except—
Time.
By the time he realized it—
He was already old.
Too old.
His Qi and Blood had begun declining.
His internal organs had started weakening.
The body that once supported his cultivation was gradually failing.
Foundation Establishment.
The dream that once seemed within reach.
Had become nearly impossible.
Several years ago he had already accepted reality.
Perhaps this was his limit.
Perhaps he simply wasn't destined for immortality.
Until—
The Dragon Lock Pill appeared.
The moment news spread through the market, Shen Xiuyong personally investigated it.
The more he learned—
The more shocked he became.
Several Rank-2 Alchemists had attempted to reverse engineer the pill.
All had failed.
The formula was unlike anything currently known.
It appeared to be a completely reconstructed medicinal formula.
As if someone had walked an entirely new path.
That alone was enough to shock countless alchemists.
And now—
The pill was finally being auctioned.
...
On the platform below.
Auctioneer Qing Yue stood smiling gracefully.
The atmosphere inside the hall had become incredibly tense.
Every cultivator understood one thing.
The true battle was about to begin.
Qing Yue slowly raised a jade box.
"The next treasure."
"Premium Grade Dragon Lock Pill."
The hall immediately fell silent.
Not a single voice sounded.
Everyone stared at the jade box.
Especially the elderly cultivators.
Many were breathing heavily.
Several Qi Refining Peak cultivators even clenched their fists unconsciously.
Because they understood better than anyone.
This pill represented hope.
Hope they thought they had already lost.
Qing Yue slowly opened the box.
The moment the Dragon Lock Pill appeared—
A rich medicinal fragrance spread throughout the hall.
The white pill rested quietly within the box.
Faint pill patterns covered its surface.
The quality was visibly extraordinary.
Even cultivators unfamiliar with alchemy could tell it wasn't ordinary.
Qing Yue smiled.
"The Dragon Lock Pill."
"Capable of delaying bodily decline."
"Preserving one's essence and vitality."
"A Premium Grade pill can extend one's peak state by approximately ten years."
Boom!
The entire hall erupted.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
Even though everyone already knew its effects—
Hearing them confirmed directly still caused excitement.
Ten years.
For a Qi Refining Peak cultivator—
Ten years could determine whether one became Foundation Establishment or died regretting their entire life.
Qing Yue allowed the excitement to build before continuing.
"The starting bid."
"Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones."
The moment the words fell—
A voice immediately rang out from one of the VIP rooms.
"Fifteen thousand."
Silence.
The entire auction hall froze.
Everyone stared upward.
An increase of five thousand spirit stones immediately.
Many cultivators felt their scalps go numb.
That wasn't a bid.
That was a declaration.
A declaration that this pill was worth fighting over.
A declaration meant to scare away weaker competitors.
Several breaths later—
Another voice sounded.
"Sixteen thousand."
"Seventeen thousand."
"Eighteen thousand."
The prices rose rapidly.
Within minutes—
The first Dragon Lock Pill sold for eighteen thousand three hundred spirit stones.
The entire hall buzzed with excitement.
Yet nobody panicked.
Because Qing Yue quickly revealed the second pill.
Only one pill was being auctioned at a time.
There were still eleven remaining.
Everyone still had opportunities.
Thus the second pill sold for slightly less.
Fourteen thousand spirit stones.
The third sold for fifteen thousand.
The fourth sold for sixteen thousand.
The fifth sold for sixteen thousand eight hundred.
The auction progressed steadily.
Cultivators began calculating carefully.
Nobody wanted to overpay.
Everyone believed they still had chances.
Meanwhile, inside his seat among the crowd, Lin Sheng quietly observed.
His expression remained calm.
Yet inwardly he was extremely satisfied.
Every pill sold represented enormous wealth.
Even he hadn't expected such explosive demand.
As expected—
Nothing attracted cultivators more than extending their path to immortality.
...
As the auction continued—
The atmosphere gradually changed.
By the eighth pill, many people realized something.
Everyone was thinking the same thing.
Everyone was trying to save spirit stones for later.
Which created a problem.
The remaining pills were becoming fewer.
Competition was becoming fiercer.
Thus when the ninth pill appeared—
The bidding exploded.
"Eighteen thousand!"
"Nineteen thousand!"
"Nineteen thousand five hundred!"
"Twenty thousand!"
The entire hall shook.
Many cultivators no longer cared about conserving resources.
Because only four pills remained.
Fear began spreading.
Fear of missing their opportunity forever.
Shen Xiuyong's hands trembled slightly.
He still hadn't bid.
Not because he lacked spirit stones.
But because he only had enough for one pill.
One chance.
One opportunity.
He couldn't afford mistakes.
Thus he waited.
Patiently.
Silently.
Watching.
...
Eventually—
The final pill appeared.
The twelfth Dragon Lock Pill.
The entire hall became deathly quiet.
Every remaining bidder revealed their true determination.
"Twenty thousand."
"Twenty-one thousand."
"Twenty-one thousand five hundred."
"Twenty-two thousand."
The final voice came from a VIP room.
No one challenged it.
The last Dragon Lock Pill sold for twenty-two thousand spirit stones.
Qing Yue smiled brightly.
"The auction for the Dragon Lock Pill is concluded."
Applause erupted throughout the hall.
The auction itself soon came to an end afterward.
Yet many cultivators remained seated.
Especially those hidden within the VIP rooms.
Their eyes flickered with dangerous thoughts.
Because everyone knew.
A pill this miraculous didn't appear without a creator.
Someone had invented it.
Someone possessed the formula.
Someone knew how to refine it.
And that person...
Was worth more than the pills themselves.
Outside the auction house.
Several Foundation Establishment experts quietly remained nearby.
Waiting.
Watching.
Like vultures circling prey.
If they could find the alchemist...
Countless benefits awaited them.
Unfortunately—
Their plans were destined to fail.
...
Inside a private reception room.
Lin Sheng sat calmly across from the auction house manager.
His appearance remained concealed.
More importantly—
His Mental Field spread throughout the room.
A faint suppressive pressure filled the surroundings.
The manager's expression remained polite.
Yet inwardly he was shocked.
Because the pressure emitted by this mysterious figure resembled Divine Sense.
Not ordinary Divine Sense.
Late Foundation Establishment Divine Sense.
The manager naturally didn't know that Lin Sheng was merely using his Mental Field to imitate such an effect.
To him—
The mysterious alchemist before him was a terrifying senior.
Someone not to be offended.
Someone capable of protecting their own secrets.
Which immediately eliminated any thoughts of investigating further.
Soon.
A storage pouch was placed before Lin Sheng.
"The proceeds from the Dragon Lock Pill auction, Senior."
Lin Sheng checked briefly.
His heart stirred slightly.
An enormous fortune.
Enough to support his cultivation for a very long time.
The manager smiled professionally.
Then produced a silver token.
"This is a Silver Auction Card."
"Our auction house grants them only to distinguished clients."
"The hierarchy consists of Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum."
"A Silver Card holder may auction valuable Rank-2 and Rank-3 treasures."
"It also grants a ten percent discount on purchases."
Lin Sheng accepted the card.
A pleasant surprise.
It would be useful in the future.
"Thank you."
His voice remained calm and deep.
The manager smiled respectfully.
"It is our honor."
...
Moments later.
Lin Sheng departed quietly.
Outside the auction house, numerous hidden cultivators still searched for traces of the mysterious alchemist.
Unfortunately for them—
Lin Sheng's Mental Field spread continuously through the surroundings.
Every hidden observer.
Every suspicious cultivator.
Every possible danger.
Appeared clearly within his perception.
Like fish swimming inside a transparent pond.
Moving calmly through Bing Region.
Turning through crowded streets.
Avoiding multiple hidden surveillance points.
Lin Sheng gradually made his way back toward the Lin Training Centre.
By the time the Foundation Establishment cultivators realized something was wrong—
Their target had already disappeared completely.
Leaving behind nothing but frustration.
And a mystery that would continue troubling Cloud Mist Market for a long time.