Chapter 173

When the Mu Clan announced they were offering one set of medicinal materials for a Dou Wang Pill, many frowned deeply.

The first person to eat the crab not only tasted its delicacy but also set its price—meaning the Mu Clan had already assigned a value to this "crab," making people believe the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill was worth no more than one set of Dou Wang Pill medicinal materials.

If you offered less than this value, the Mu Clan might keep bidding—and even leave Xiao Yan with a very bad impression. They've bid one full set of Dou Wang Pill materials; are you bidding just one Dou Wang herb? Are you mocking me?

"The Mu Clan has quietly done you a small favor," Hai Bodong said slowly from beside him.

"Yes, even though I used the Mystic Flame Cultivation Technique, the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill's value truly doesn't match one full set of Fifth-Rank High-Level Medicine materials for a Dou Wang Pill," Xiao Yan nodded slowly—he knew exactly how valuable the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill was.

Even though he used the Mystic Flame Cultivation Technique, its effects hadn't changed much.

The difference in efficacy between a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill and a Fifth-Rank Low-Level Pill is already tenfold; how much greater then is the gap between a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill and a Fifth-Rank High-Level Dou Wang Pill? The value difference is likely dozens or even hundreds of times.

Even though this was only one set of medicinal materials and not a complete pill, it was still heavily overpriced.

"The Mu Clan's actions are clearly a quiet gesture of goodwill—an apology for Mu Zhan's incident. Your current status, I'm sure the Mu Clan dares not harbor any ill intentions toward you," Hai Bodong, an old hand at worldly affairs, said with keen insight—he'd weathered too many storms to miss such subtleties.

"Do I look like a stingy person?" Xiao Yan said slowly.

"You look like one," Hai Bodong laughed and scolded.

After the brief shock from the Mu Clan's bid, the Pai Mai Chang fell silent—then quickly, others began bidding again. This time, the bids were far more aggressive; though still below the Mu Clan's, even the lowest were more valuable than Dou Wang herbs—each reached the rarity level of a Fifth-Rank Peak Pill's main medicinal ingredient.

Someone even bid two Dou Wang herbs.

"One Imperial Ultimate Fruit," came a familiar female voice from the topmost private booth—Yao Ye, dressed casually, sat beside Jia Xingtian, still clad in his sackcloth robe.

"Holy shit, Imperial Ultimate Fruit!! That's the main ingredient for a Sixth-Rank High-Level Pill—the Imperial Ultimate Pill!"

"Damn, are you serious? Even the Jia Ma Royal Family isn't that rich to waste like this! Even if Master Xiao Yan used the Mystic Flame Cultivation Technique, it's still just a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill—why bid an Imperial Ultimate Fruit? Are you insane?!"

The lively Pai Mai Chang fell silent once more—clearly, the Imperial Ultimate Fruit had stunned all other bidders.

Everyone thought one full set of Dou Wang Pill materials was already astronomical—yet now they'd gone to an Imperial Ultimate Fruit! Even more extravagant than the Mu Clan's move.

"You don't understand. You don't really think this Heavenly Rank auction attracted so many big shots just for the pills, do you? The Imperial Family, the Alchemist Guild, the Three Great Families—they could just send someone to bid on pills. Why come in person?"

"These big shots came here solely because of Master Xiao Yan's reputation. When Gu He won the championship, the Imperial Family gifted him a Fourth-Rank Peak Pill. The first Purple Heart Obstacle-Breaking Pill was probably from them. Now, the Imperial Ultimate Fruit shows the Imperial Family sees greater potential and future in Master Xiao Yan than they ever did in Gu He."

In the backstage, when Yao Ye bid the Imperial Ultimate Fruit, Hai Bodong sighed and shook his head. That Imperial Ultimate Fruit alone could buy all four pills—even enough for the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill.

How much human sentiment was wrapped up in this!

Upon hearing the Imperial Ultimate Fruit, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she stared at Yao Ye—confirming whether the bid was real.

Yao Ye smiled slightly and said, "Miss Ya Fei, this is the price of one Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill."

Ya Fei nodded slowly. "I think Master Xiao Yan can hear."

Xiao Yan couldn't help pinching the bridge of his nose, growing weary—he was finally beginning to understand the weight his father bore as Clan Leader. Should he accept this Imperial Ultimate Fruit or not?

The meaning behind such a lavish gift was obvious.

If he refused, it would be a terrible loss—this was an Imperial Ultimate Fruit! Xiao Yan would reach Sixth-Rank Alchemist eventually, and one Imperial Ultimate Pill could drive a Dou Huang to madness, even make them risk their lives to protect him in perilous places.

Xiao Yan chose to proceed with the transaction—he truly needed the Imperial Ultimate Fruit, and the pill formula for the Imperial Ultimate Pill was already in his storage ring.

In the end, Xiao Yan accepted: one full set of Dou Wang Pill medicinal materials from the Mu Clan, the Imperial Ultimate Fruit from Yao Ye, two remaining main medicinal ingredients of the Spirit Replenishing Purple Pill from the Alchemist Guild, and one Sixth-Rank Low-Level main medicinal ingredient from a reclusive Dou Wang.

At present, Xiao Yan had gathered over a dozen complete sets of Fifth-Rank Pill materials—enough to fully enter the Fifth-Rank Alchemist realm.

He'd even acquired three Dou Wang herbs—truly a windfall—and many Fifth-Rank Pill formulas now had their main ingredients complete, missing only some auxiliary ones.

This auction had already paved over half the road from Fifth-Rank to Sixth-Rank Alchemist for Xiao Yan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the sky is growing late, and I'm sure everyone is tired. Let's not delay further—we'll auction the final pill: the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill!" Ya Fei took the wooden box containing the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill from her maid and held it up for all to see.

Nalan Yanran's delicate brows furrowed—her Nalan Clan had also bid on the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill, but they simply lacked the resources.

Over the past few years, the medicinal materials used to refine pills for Gu He had come entirely from the Nalan Clan, and the expenses for Elder Nalan Jie's detoxification had drained them—now they couldn't even afford a single Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill.

"One Zisu Seed!"

"Three liang of Aster and Stemona!"

"One piece of Xia Ku Niu Huang!"

Despite so many bidding rounds, the intensity in the hall remained fierce—even Fa Ma, the Guild Master, and Yao Ye joined the bidding.

For Fa Ma, if he wished to break through to Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Xiao Yan's Four-Striped White Spirit Pill might grant him Spiritual Perception.

For the Jia Ma Royal Family, which already controlled the entire empire, any precious pill was worth acquiring.

Even Yao Ye bid again with the Imperial Ultimate Fruit—demonstrating the Jia Ma Royal Family's staggering depth. Fa Ma, unwilling to yield, countered with two Sixth-Rank Mid-Level Pill main ingredients, doubling the market value!

Others had decent Sixth-Rank medicinal materials, but the highest bids were unquestionably from Yao Ye and Fa Ma.

This bidding had no sentiment behind it—it was purely within the normal range for the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill.

"Looks like you'll have to choose between old Fa Ma and that girl Yao Ye," Hai Bodong said.

"Hmm, I'd still pick Guild Master Fa Ma—I already have one Imperial Ultimate Fruit… Huh?!" Suddenly, a powerful Dou Huang aura shot in from afar.

A figure in green flashed across the horizon—and in the next instant, appeared inside the Pai Mai Chang.

Seeing the beautiful silhouette suddenly appear in the Nalan Clan's private booth, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with surprise.

"Master!" Nalan Yanran rushed forward and hugged Yun Yun's waist.

"I was delayed by a small matter at the Sect—didn't arrive too late, did I?" Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran's head, speaking softly.

"Yun Sect Master!!" Seeing Yun Yun appear, many stood up instantly!

Even Jia Xingtian of the Imperial Family showed a tense expression—Yun Yun's strength was only Three Star Dou Huang, but she represented the Yun Lan Sect!

Years ago, Yun Lan Sect's former Sect Master, Yun Shan, reached Nine Star Dou Huang. Though Yun Shan had vanished for many years, Jia Xingtian knew he was not dead—meaning the Yun Lan Sect had at least two Dou Huangs.

"Not at all. We're just about to auction the Fifth-Rank Four-Striped White Spirit Pill," Nalan Yanran smiled.

The Nalan Clan's resources had been drained by Xiao Yan—but the Yun Lan Sect still had plenty!

Remember, the Yun Lan Sect had supported Gu He to Sixth-Rank Alchemist—imagine how terrifying their resources were!

Yun Yun gazed at the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill in Ya Fei's hands. The two mature women exchanged glances—Yun Yun's unique aura, cultivated through years of devotion to Cultivation, matched Ya Fei's charm perfectly.

"Indeed, a fine pill," Yun Yun's Soul Force swept over it and confirmed the Four-Striped White Spirit Pill possessed the Shen Mi Zhi Yi Nalan Yanran described.

Ya Fei whispered, "Yun Sect Master, the starting bid is precious medicinal materials above Fifth-Rank. The current highest bids are Guild Master Fa Ma's two Sixth-Rank main ingredients and Princess Yao Ye's Imperial Ultimate Fruit."

"It is indeed worth this price." Yun Yun gave a slight nod, paused in thought, then said in a flat tone, "I bid one Transformation Grass."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of Chapter)