Chapter Forty-Seven: At the Auction

"I offer five hundred spirit stones," the disciple from the Violet Robe Sect in the corner raised her paddle once again, announcing the new bid.

A buzz of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Five hundred spirit stones—that's a bit steep, Senior Brother," an elder from a first-tier sect remarked to another elder.

"Senior Brother, let's wait for the next one. This pill's quality is not as good as the next. If we buy this, the Sect Leader might not be pleased," a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, wearing a green mask, whispered to the eighth-level cultivator beside him.

"Five hundred spirit stones..." Weng Xinan shot a fierce glance at the mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, then at the other Bone-Altering Pill on display. Anxiety gnawed at his heart; if he won this mid-grade Bone-Altering Pill at such a price, he might miss out on the other one entirely. Frustrated, he glared at the women of the Violet Robe Sect, then closed his eyes in silence.

"Five hundred spirit stones." Lu Xiya of Tianshan cast a mocking look at the disciples of the Violet Robe Sect. Well, let the Violet Robe Sect have it, she thought. In the end, it would still fall into Tianshan's hands.

"Five hundred?" The elder of the Golden Flame Sect glanced at Xu Shi beside him, as if seeking his opinion. Xu Shi shook his head slightly, and the elder closed his eyes as well.

"Five hundred going once, five hundred going twice..." Manager Gu, holding the auction gavel, looked down at the disciples with evident disappointment. How could it fetch just five hundred spirit stones? The conservative estimate from within the Pavilion was that this elixir should reach at least six hundred and fifty.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that from the crowd's demeanor, there was little hope for a higher bid.

The disciples of the Violet Robe Sect were visibly excited. Ding Ning had unconsciously stood up, her gaze fixed urgently on the spirit pill on stage. The other disciples were equally restless, silently praying, "Let no one else bid, let no one else bid..."

"Five hundred, third and final call—sold!" Manager Gu struck the gavel. "The spirit pill goes to Buyer Number Nine."

"Ah, Senior Sister, we got it!" Duo'er exclaimed in delight. The young girls of the Violet Robe Sect clapped each other's hands in celebration for having secured the mid-grade Bone-Altering Pill.

Zisu glanced at her jubilant junior sisters and deliberately put on a stern face. "Enough. The auction isn't over yet. Quiet down, everyone."

The disciples clearly held Zisu in great respect; at her words, they immediately fell silent. Still, Duo'er edged closer to Zisu and whispered, "Eldest Sister, when we return, will Second Sister be able to resume her cultivation after taking the Bone-Altering Pill? Will our sect be able to retain its second-tier status?"

The icy beauty on Zisu's face softened a little, and a gentle light flickered in her eyes. "It should be possible."

...

"Now, we begin the auction of the final Bone-Altering Pill." Manager Gu's goatee twitched with every word, betraying his dejection.

This was his first time presiding over such an auction; the role had always belonged to Ding Yuan before. But thanks to that young master, he now had this opportunity. Ding Yuan had even said the young master would be watching this auction; if he failed to secure enough profit for him, Manager Gu feared he might lose his position.

"At the request of a certain mysterious patron, our auction house sets the starting price of this pill at five hundred spirit stones, with no further increment restrictions. Bidding starts now." Manager Gu weighed the reserve price Ding Yuan had set, anxiety tightening his chest, for his future at the counter hinged on this very moment.

...

Silence. A silence so deep that even a falling pin would ring clear. The cultivators of every sect in the hall stared intently at the Bone-Altering Pill on the auction stage, yet none dared be the first to speak.

Jiang Yan's heart sank. Was his top-grade Bone-Altering Pill truly worth less than the mid-grade one just sold?

Miss Yi, veiled in black, frowned in surprise at the hall's cultivators. What was happening? Was no one willing to bid?

Sweat beaded instantly on Manager Gu's forehead as he lamented, "Is my time in the Pavilion truly at an end?"

Xu Shi sat in the front row, casting a puzzled glance around. What was going on today? Why was no sect willing to open the bidding? It seemed everyone was wary, reluctant to make the first move. Well, that honor should fall to the Golden Flame Sect.

With that thought, Xu Shi waved his hand nonchalantly and declared, "Since no one else dares to start, I, Xu, will make the opening bid. Five hundred and fifty spirit stones."

No sooner had he spoken than a chorus of voices erupted through the hall.

"I offer six hundred spirit stones!"

"Six hundred and thirty!"

...

"Seven hundred and twenty spirit stones," Weng Xinan of the Western Hills Sect announced in a calm tone, his spirit power amplifying his voice above the clamor.

"Seven hundred and fifty spirit stones," the elder in the green mask echoed, also using spirit power to make his voice heard.

Their contest instantly silenced the hall. All the cultivators, even those cursing moments before, turned their attention to Weng Xinan and the elder in green.

"Seven hundred and sixty spirit stones," Lu Xiya patted her treasure pouch at her waist and called out her bid with full vigor.

...

Manager Gu was nearly beside himself with excitement, his small eyes darting between the contenders. He admired Ding Yuan's foresight—seven hundred and fifty spirit stones, just as expected.

"It seems the young master's pill is indeed of high grade. This will fetch an excellent price," Miss Yi suddenly remarked to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"

Standing beside him, Miss Yi gestured subtly toward Weng Xinan. "That old man, Weng Xinan, is the Western Hills Sect's foremost alchemist. His rank may not surpass mine, but his skill in appraising pills is not inferior. For him to bid seven hundred and twenty, he must have recognized the value of your Bone-Altering Pill."

Jiang Yan was surprised; he hadn't expected there to be alchemists among these cultivators, especially one cultivating the Earth Mastery Technique. He couldn't help but wonder how such an alchemist refined spirit pills.

"I offer seven hundred and eighty spirit stones," Xu Shi's voice rang out again.

This time, the alchemist beside Xu Shi had confirmed: this top-grade Bone-Altering Pill was far more potent than the mid-grade one sold earlier—perhaps even twice as effective. Properly absorbed, its power might elevate a cultivator directly from the third to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. With the alchemist's assurance, Xu Shi's resolve was set. Even if he himself was not the sect's next Foundation Establishment expert, the honor must go to one of his own. Securing this pill was essential.

"Eight hundred and twenty spirit stones," Lu Xiya of Tianshan replied, uneasily fingering her treasure pouch. If the bidding continued like this, her spirit stones would soon run dry.

"Eight hundred and fifty." Weng Xinan raised his bid without hesitation. As an alchemist, he was already wealthy, and with the Sect Leader's permission to allocate extra funds, he was determined to win this pill.

"Eight hundred and eighty." Xu Shi continued to bid at his own measured pace. Though several hundred spirit stones was no small sum, to the mighty Golden Flame Sect, it was a mere trifle.

"Nine hundred spirit stones." The elder with the green mask instantly raised Xu Shi's bid.

Manager Gu was overjoyed. Nine hundred spirit stones—far beyond Ding Yuan's estimate! The price for this Bone-Altering Pill more than made up for the loss incurred on the first.

Xu Shi's handsome face betrayed his surprise as he glanced at the green-masked elder, cursing inwardly. Why was this old man always competing with him?

"Nine hundred and thirty," Weng Xinan added another thirty stones to his bid.

Lu Xiya looked regretfully at the pill on stage, a sigh escaping her lips. She touched her treasure pouch one last time, but did not bid further. Still, her gaze occasionally swept toward the disciples of the Violet Robe Sect sitting in the corner.

"Nine hundred and eighty," Xu Shi resumed his contest with the green-masked elder and Weng Xinan.

"One thousand spirit stones." This time, before Weng Xinan could speak, the green-masked elder had already raised the bid.

"One thousand three hundred spirit stones!" Weng Xinan shouted, as if afraid that a moment's hesitation would let the old man snatch the pill away.

...

"The situation is getting tricky," Ding Yuan remarked, appearing suddenly behind Jiang Yan and Miss Yi.

Miss Yi echoed his concern, "Indeed. The price for this pill is becoming inflated."

Jiang Yan only smiled. "A pill that not only transforms a cultivator's spiritual roots, but also boosts them from the third to the fourth level of Qi Refinement—is such a price really too high?"

Miss Yi frowned in skepticism. "Young Master, do you mean you advanced an entire level after taking this pill?"

Ding Yuan scoffed at Jiang Yan's claim. "Surely you jest. To leap a full stage from third to fourth just by taking this pill? That would be miraculous indeed."

Jiang Yan merely smiled, declining to argue further, and kept his eyes on the auction floor.

Miss Yi seemed lost in thought and did not reply, while Ding Yuan, seeing he was ignored, turned his attention back to the bidding as well.

...

PS: Special thanks to Lingren for the reward. Too much overtime these past days and the updates have suffered, but at least there have been no interruptions—thank you all for your understanding.