Chapter 170: The Auction Begins

The Miter Tianjie Auction House is located on the fifth floor of the Miter Chamber of Commerce in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng; the entire floor is the auction hall.

The Miter Tianjie Auction House is not simply the largest auction hall in the Chamber of Commerce; it is also the one that holds the fewest people.

The Heavenly-Class Auction Hall has only ninety-nine private boxes, and every bidder who enters the Heavenly-Class Auction Hall has an independent private box, the ultimate in luxury.

Being able to enter the Heavenly-Class Auction Hall is itself a symbol of status; only clients with over a million Gold Coins or those whose strength has reached Dou Wang are qualified to enter.

The entire auction hall is circular, with the Auction Stage in the middle, surrounded on all sides by the private boxes of the participating bidders, allowing an almost unobstructed view of the items displayed on the Auction Stage.

"Truly a lavish move—twelve types of Fourth-Rank mid-grade or above Elixirs, and not just one of each."

"If it were only ordinary Fourth-Rank Pills, even the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill would not be enough to make Miter open the Heavenly-Class Auction Hall, but since the person is Xiao Yan, that's a different story."

Early in the morning, quite a few clans and high-ranking dignitaries of Jia Ma Sheng Cheng had already entered the auction hall to wait.

"Miter's Heavenly-Class Auction Hall being opened for a single person—seems like it's the first time in all these years, doesn't it?" The auction had not yet begun, and some clans that knew each other were chatting in the corridors.

"Just think about it—who else could single-handedly support all the Auction Items for the entire Heavenly-Class Auction Hall? Even Dantian Alchemist Gu He and Guild Leader Fa Ma probably don't have the drawing power that Master Xiao Yan has now."

"That's true. Look, at least half of the private boxes belong to Alchemists who came to attend the Alchemist Convention. The reason this one was organized in such a hurry is probably because Master Xiao Yan has made it famous that the Elixir auction only exchanges for Medicinal Materials."

"The remaining Mu Clan and Nan Lan Clan of the Three Great Families have both come, and even the Jia Ma Royal Family has come, as well as Guild Leader Fa Ma of the Alchemist Guild. Tsk tsk tsk, the competition this time is going to be fierce."

"I heard Yun Lan Sect has also come—they're in the Nan Lan Clan's private box."

"Not surprising. I heard Nalan Yanran has already reached Great Dou Master; she's probably after a Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill or even that Four-Striped White Spirit Pill."

"Look, isn't that one of the former Ten Great Powerhouses, Fu Zhan? What is he doing here?"

"Heh, he has a grandson who's also almost a Great Dou Master, what do you think he's here for?"

"Hu Yuan, Yu Feng—these last-generation Ten Great Powerhouses have all shown up?!"

When Xiao Yan, clad in a black robe, entered the auction hall through the back door, waves of discussion had already risen in the auction hall. Countless Family Heads of great clans and powerful Cultivators were already seated in their private boxes, quietly waiting for the auction to begin.

From the host's private box at the back, Xiao Yan could take in all the private boxes at a glance; this was also arranged for Registered Item consignors like Xiao Yan.

The more precious something is, the less it can be measured in Gold Coins; for Fourth-Rank Pills and above, Exchange Offer is often required.

That is why the Nan Lan Clan had collected so many precious Medicinal Materials back then. Exchanging precious Medicinal Materials for Pills is not unique to Xiao Yan; many Alchemists do the same.

"Quite a few old-timers have come this time—Peak Dou Ling, even Low-Level Dou Wang." At this moment, Hai Bodong beside Xiao Yan couldn't help but glance up at the private boxes and murmured.

The Ten Great Powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire are all High-Level or Peak Dou Wang and above, but that doesn't mean the Jia Ma Empire only has ten Dou Wangs.

Those seated in the bidding positions of the private boxes are all existences above Dou Ling; most of them are important figures of great status, all coming from dominant powers of their regions.

Apart from these, the most numerous are Third-Rank Alchemists. Don't think the entire Jia Ma Empire only has the thirty-plus Third-Rank Alchemists who entered the final round; that's only because the convention restricts the age to under thirty.

Xiao Yan's auction this time has even attracted some old-brand Third-Rank Peak and Fourth-Rank Alchemists, all with the goal of obtaining a Pill to take back for research.

One can imagine how those old-brand Alchemists struggling at Third-Rank Peak will fight over one of Xiao Yan's Pills. And the precious Medicinal Materials these Alchemists have accumulated are absolutely not few.

"That's even better. The older the antique, the more precious the things they have collected." Xiao Yan smiled faintly; this auction could make his path to Five-Grade even smoother.

Hai Bodong couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan strangely; the more he looked, the more he felt Xiao Yan was a freak.

How could an ordinary Alchemist possibly bring out so many Pills for auction? That success rate is truly terrifying.

Many Alchemists need the support of great clans. Gu He has the support of Yun Lan Sect, Fa Ma has the support of the Alchemist Guild, but they are both essentially selling themselves and being tied down.

Only this monster Xiao Yan refines his own Fourth-Rank Pills to exchange for Five-Grade Medicinal Materials for practice.

Self-sufficient!

Of course, Xiao Yan doesn't produce Medicinal Materials either. If he hadn't dug up a little in the Small Valley, added a bit contributed by Yao Li, and casually taken a tiny bit from Mei Du Sha's home, Xiao Yan wouldn't have had so many Medicinal Materials to refine Pills.

Xiao Yan glanced at the sky and smiled lightly: "It's about time. Let's begin the auction."

The Miter Clan Elder beside him slowly nodded and stepped out.

Before long, the sound of clang clang clang was heard. After a while, the sound of a gong rang out on the Auction Stage. At this moment, Ya Fei, wearing an elegant white cheongsam, stepped gracefully onto the stage with a slender, charming figure.

Changing her usual demeanor, Ya Fei pinned up her hair with a wooden hairpin. Every frown and smile appeared elegant and otherworldly; her coquettish bearing had actually vanished!

In the eyes of those familiar with Ya Fei, seeing her in a completely different look could be said to have captivated their souls, involuntarily stirring up an irrepressible restlessness in their hearts.

"Honored guests, the auction of Pills provided by the Alchemist Grand Meeting Champion, Master Xiao Yan, now begins." Ya Fei's voice was full of magnetism, brimming with charm, and unexpectedly carried a touch of freshness. Many people, upon hearing her voice, felt an irresistible itch in their hearts.

They wanted even more to know how many unknown sides this woman still had.

"Then let us welcome the first Auction Item." Ya Fei gently raised her brow, charming yet not vulgar, and gestured with her palm, causing many to feel their hearts skip a beat.

A wooden box was slowly pushed onto the stage. Ya Fei smiled: "This first Auction Item was not refined by Master Xiao Yan; it was temporarily added by Master Xiao Yan."

"Not refined by Master Xiao Yan?" Upon hearing this, many people couldn't help but frown. The purpose of many Alchemists coming was for Xiao Yan's Pills; other people's Pills held no meaning at all.

"But I believe there will still be many who need it." Ya Fei slowly opened the box, and a faint purple Pill Fragrance drifted out from the wooden box.

"Purple Heart Obstacle-Breaking Pill!!!" Some who recognized it couldn't help but cry out. This was a legendary Pill of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Guild, and many had heard of its fame.

"So that's how it is. This should be the Purple Heart Obstacle-Breaking Pill refined at the convention."

Opening with a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill like the Purple Heart Obstacle-Breaking Pill instantly raised the bar; worthy of a Heavenly-Class auction indeed.

For many clans, a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill is already a Pill only the Family Head is qualified to use; there are even quite a few Family Heads of clans who have never used a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill.

"Starting bid: a Rare Fifth-Rank Medicinal Material. Please place your bids; Master Xiao Yan is in the backstage, and he will make his own choice."

(End of this chapter)