Lin Huanhuan spoke again, “This auction often features things that are deliberately made to look mysterious, but most of them are fakes. I happen to have quite good eyesight. Since you helped me this time, Sister Bai, I’ll definitely make sure you get some ‘leftovers’ to eat.”
Bai Sixuan was somewhat puzzled. “Eat leftovers? We shouldn’t be that hungry, right?”
Lin Huanhuan hurried to explain, “It’s not literal. It means finding hidden gems that others missed.”
Although it sounded like boasting, Bai Sixuan actually believed her. “Then I’ll be counting on you in a moment.”
“Leave it to me.” Lin Huanhuan smiled confidently.
Based on her previous tests, the Inner Demon actually came with an appraisal function that could identify the general value of an item. It was precisely because of this that she was so certain she would be able to obtain that specific item today.
Bai Sixuan seemed quite naive and easy to fool, so it wouldn’t hurt to do her a favor now to make her easier to use later.
Dong—
The heavy sound of a bell rang out from the center of the auction hall, ripples of sound vibrating through the air and spreading throughout the entire venue.
Lin Huanhuan and Bai Sixuan stopped their conversation. Like everyone else in the auction, they turned their gaze toward that spot.
This auction, organized by the Only Immortal Merchant Alliance, had officially begun.
After a staff member gave a brief introduction, a dignified middle-aged man walked out from behind the scenes. He was the auctioneer in charge of this event.
“I am very happy to see everyone here. You all should have heard my name, Jiu Zhu. It sounds quite similar to the words for being ‘drunk and full,’ and I hope that brings you all some amusement. Alright, without further ado, I hope everyone can bid on the items they desire.”
Lin Huanhuan watched this scene, her eyes flickering as she introduced him to the person beside her.
“This Jiu Zhu is quite impressive. Not only is he an extremely skilled appraiser and auctioneer, but he also possesses a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.”
“The Only Immortal Merchant Alliance has only just expanded here. The reason they sent him is likely to intimidate any petty thugs who might try to cause trouble. It’s a way of flexing their muscles.”
Bai Sixuan nodded, though the point she focused on was a bit strange. “Since he has a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he must be very strong, right?”
Lin Huanhuan gave her a strange look and explained, “To us, he would certainly be almost invincible. However, compared to others with the same cultivation level, he’s not much to look at. After all, his main profession is being an auctioneer.”
“I see. Alright then.” Bai Sixuan nodded with a hint of disappointment.
Lin Huanhuan’s expression turned odd. ‘What’s with that look? This girl didn’t actually plan on challenging Jiu Zhu, did she? She couldn’t be that stupid, right?’
*****
“Then, without further ado, let us welcome today’s first auction item: a bottle of high-grade Body Tempering Pills.”
As Jiu Zhu spoke, an attendant walked up carrying a tray with a white porcelain bottle on it.
“I presume everyone knows what Body Tempering Pills are, right? They are perfect for those in the Qi Refining stage to increase physical strength, strengthen meridians, and absorb spiritual energy faster. They also provide benefits for casting a Dao Foundation when breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.”
As he spoke, the reaction from the crowd was mediocre. After all, there was nothing particularly special about Body Tempering Pills; they could be bought normally.
Jiu Zhu had anticipated this result and immediately gave a mysterious smile. “You all likely don’t know where these Body Tempering Pills came from yet. That’s right—they come from the Valley of the Medicine Sage!”
“As they say, anything from the Valley of the Medicine Sage must be a masterpiece. This bottle of Body Tempering Pills was crafted by a true disciple of the Valley. If it weren’t for the experts of our Only Immortal Auction House going to request them personally, we wouldn’t have been able to get them.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd finally became interested. If they were from the Valley of the Medicine Sage, then they were indeed different.
“Naturally, these Body Tempering Pills are more effective than ordinary ones. The boost is approximately thirty percent!”
The moment these words were spoken, the people at the auction could no longer sit still. The room instantly reached a boiling point.
One had to know that there was a limit to how many pills of the same type one could consume. Eventually, drug resistance would build up, making them less effective, and one would also need to expel pill toxins. If these pills were more effective than the standard version, wouldn’t that mean one could directly pull ahead of everyone else?
In the long run, one could even rival those with innate divine strength while possessing an ordinary body. How could people not yearn for that?
Even Bai Sixuan became interested. “This item does seem quite good.”
Lin Huanhuan, however, smiled and shook her head. “Sister Bai, I advise you not to get involved in this. It’s not worth it.”
“Why?” Bai Sixuan was puzzled. “Could it be a fake? For something that has been explicitly stated to come from a certain place, the auction house shouldn’t be able to pull any tricks, right?”
“I didn’t say it was fake. It’s real.”
“It’s just that with these Body Tempering Pills being placed in an auction, so many people will be competing that they’ll inevitably get caught up in the heat of the moment. The price will often exceed the actual value. These pills are just a bit rare, unlike other truly unique items in the auction. That’s why I say it’s not worth it.”
“This item is most likely being used just to warm up the crowd.”
“Is that so?” Bai Sixuan nodded. After Lin Huanhuan’s explanation, her desire to bid vanished. ‘I don’t have many spirit stones; I have to save them for what I truly need.’
“Huanhuan, thank you so much.”
“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do.”
While they were talking, the bidding had already begun, and the competition was fierce.
“100!”
“110.”
“120.”
“125! Big brother, stop competing with me! Let your little brother have it, I really need this!”
“130! Who talks about such things during the struggle for the Great Dao? Even if I have to go bankrupt today, I’m getting it!”
“Damn it! Have you forgotten our brotherhood? If I had known, I would have reported you back when you were peeking at Widow Wang taking a bath!”
“You bastard! Who told you to say that out loud?”
In the circular auction hall, some displays of “brotherly affection” even broke out, leaving many people clicking their tongues in amazement.
But this was indeed normal. The path of cultivation was one where one either progressed or regressed. For a few cultivation resources, it was common to see fathers and sons or mothers and daughters turn against each other.
At the weaker stages, one could still maintain basic benevolence and morality. But as cultivation continued to rise and the gap in power expanded, the strong could no longer empathize with their former weak selves, so what talk was there of morality?
Lin Huanhuan keenly noticed that Chen Feng, who was in the neighboring area, was also excitedly participating in the bidding. He had already taken the upper hand, looking as though he was determined to win.
A thought suddenly occurred to her: ‘Since it looks like Chen Feng is definitely going to cause trouble later anyway, I might as well take this chance to drain some of his spirit stones.’
“200!” Lin Huanhuan called out a bid.
Chen Feng had seen that no one was bidding against him anymore and thought the pills were about to be his. Suddenly, someone intercepted him. Following the voice, he saw it was actually his enemy. He was instantly fuming; there was no way he would let the other side win the bid.
“210!”
“220.”
“230.”
“240.”
Chen Feng was about to call out again when the guard beside him grabbed him. “Young Master, you can’t bid anymore. This price is already far too inflated. We still have to bid for the Fire Quenching Pearl later!”
Chen Feng actually felt the price was a bit too high as well, but then he thought, ‘If I keep bidding, the other side will surely follow. Once they follow, I’ll stop immediately. I’ll make them pay through the nose; wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?’
With this thought, he waved his hand dismissively, looking as if he had everything under control. “No need for your big mouth, I know what I’m doing!”
“250!”
After he shouted his bid, no further shouting came from the side. He only heard a crisp female voice laughing, “Since you want to be a ‘250’ so badly, then I’ll let you have it.”
Boom!
Chen Feng’s mind instantly exploded. How could he not realize by now that he had been played? He kicked the table in front of him over. Feeling that wasn’t enough to vent his anger, he kicked the guard who had just advised him to the ground.
“You useless trash! Why didn’t you keep advising me just now? If you had kept advising me, I wouldn’t have called out! It’s all your fault, you waste!”
Chen Feng punched and kicked while shouting curses.
The guard said nothing, merely curling up to protect his vital organs.