Chapter 80: The little fox snatches my mask!

No one at the auction could announce such an unprecedented price with such calm.

Ye Qingran did it!

Even the rich-as-oil Xiao family was stunned by Ye Qingran's terrifying bid.

Two hundred million?

"Ye Qingran, aren't you afraid we won't want it? Even though you have the great legacy left by General Dingyuan, you've surely used most of it by now, leaving less than two hundred million, right?"

Xiao Feng, however, calmed down, narrowing his eyes with a half-smile.

"No need for the Xiao family patriarch to worry about this!"

Xiao Bing narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing as he locked his gaze like a hawk onto Ye Qingran, trying to see even a trace of fear in her calm expression.

But he failed.

She seemed as if victory were already in her grasp, utterly unafraid.

What is Ye Qingran afraid of?

She really has nothing to fear!

The Medicine King Pavilion is hers, the pills are hers—she could casually bid twenty billion, let alone two hundred million; it's just a number!

"Xiao Bai, this five‑grade purifying pill looks good—want to eat it?"

Everyone: "……"

"Miss, please act like a decent person!"

Our poor hearts can't take your antics!

Spend two hundred million on a pill for a cat to eat?

Even a seven‑star bloodline spirit beast doesn't get this treatment, does it?

This cat of yours might just be ancient pureblood!

"Two hundred million, once!"

"Two hundred million, twice!"

"Two hundred million plus one hundred thousand!"

Finally, before Zhuang Xian could call out the third bid, Xiao Bing gave in!

Two hundred million for the Xiao family patriarch's life—worth it!

But thinking that the matter could have been settled for just a few tens of millions, yet he spent two hundred million, he will surely be scolded by the elders when he returns.

"Ye Qingran, the Xiao family will remember this!"

Xiao Bing snorted coldly, then slowly said to Ye Qingran, his words laced with a chilling killing intent.

The messenger who had gone to the Xiao family to deliver news, hearing this, curled his lip in disdain, thinking the Xiao family were stubborn and senseless—then don't blame the Medicine King Valley for being impolite!

"Oh? The Xiao family patriarch is being polite!"

Ye Qingran gave a slight nod, neither humble nor arrogant.

Everyone was speechless.

Ye Qingran is simply impervious to persuasion!

"Miss, just letting the Xiao family off like this—isn't that too cheap for them?"

Ye Qingran looked at Leng Yue in surprise.

Two hundred million—is that enough?

"Yue Er, your appetite isn't small!"

After saying that, she added with a light smile: "Knowing balance, practicing restraint—only then can we last long. The Xiao family are our major clients; harming them at the root would also affect us. Rather than slaughter them in one blow, wouldn't it be better to reap them slowly like leeks, wouldn't that be fragrant?"

Han Xing and Leng Yue nodded repeatedly.

In the private box, the Xiao family soon received the purifying pill.

However, their expressions were no different from having eaten feces.

Just when everyone thought the auction was over, Zhuang Xian went back on stage.

"There is still one last item to auction today."

As Zhuang Xian's words fell, the black jade box opened, five‑colored light spilling out in the dim auction hall, radiant and colorful, revealing a flower whose form was like jade.

"Five‑colored Emperor Flower!"

A moment of silence, then someone exclaimed.

In everyone's eyes, five‑colored light flowed.

"Not bad, it is indeed the Five‑colored Emperor Flower; this auction item is not owned by the Medicine King Pavilion but is a consignment, so bid carefully. The starting bid is fifty thousand taels of gold."

For items consigned by the Medicine King Pavilion, they are announced in advance. Although the Pavilion strictly controls auction quality, it cannot fully eliminate risk, so it reminds buyers to think twice before acting.

As soon as Zhuang Xian finished speaking, bids rose and fell, with no hesitation despite the Five‑colored Emperor Flower being a consignment.

After all, the Five‑colored Emperor Flower is exceedingly rare!

Ye Qingran looked down at the Emperor Flower below, her eyes dark and unfathomable.

Who exactly poisoned the Emperor Flower?

Could it really be the National Master himself?

Reason tells her it isn't, yet emotionally she feels it isn't impossible.

If not the National Master, then who could it be?

Such obvious targeting must be aimed at her.

Who else knows she is gathering herbs to forge a pill for rebuilding her spiritual root?

"Ten million taels…"

Ye Qingran's wandering thoughts were pulled back by the bidding voice.

As time passed, the price kept rising, and the bidders began to dwindle, until eventually only a few scattered people remained.

That cold‑filled private room remained completely silent from start to finish.

Ye Qingran naturally would not think they were just here for the fun.

Since they hadn't bid on anything earlier, it's most likely they came for that Imperial Flower!

Sure enough, just before the final deal, a woman's voice came from that private room.

"Twenty million!"

Everyone still thought Ye Qingran was stirring trouble again, but on closer listening, it wasn't— the voice came from the private room opposite Ye Qingran's.

The windows were tightly shut, preventing any glimpse inside, yet it gave off a very mysterious feeling.

Everyone gasped at the high price.

What started as just over ten million was forced up to twenty million— quite in Ye Qingran's style!

Undoubtedly, the Imperial Flower was snapped up by a mysterious buyer for twenty million!

When the auction ended, the crowd remained unsatisfied, discussing as they gradually filed out of Medicine King Pavilion.

One could say that today's auction was the most spectacular in Medicine King Pavilion's history!

Mu Qingrou put on her veil, and before leaving the private room, she glared fiercely at Ye Qingran's private room for a while; in those beautiful eyes gathered a frosty haze of vicious jealousy, as if laced with poison.

"Ye Qingran, the grudge over the stolen pill will not be reconciled! You wait for me; later, I will repay a hundredfold!"

……

Zhao Tian, holding the Huanfeng Herb he had obtained, felt it was as light as a cicada's wing yet as valuable as a thousand gold.

The Zhao family, to acquire this herb, even requisitioned Zhao Yan's private savings. Zhao Yan watched helplessly as the hard‑earned money was taken by Medicine King Pavilion's staff, and a sour‑sweet taste rose in her throat.

I will not settle this grudge; I swear I will not become a mortal!

Ye Residence

Ting Yu Xuan

"Any progress on the investigation into the Imperial Flower?"

"Zhuang Xian reported that the person who delivered the Imperial Flower that day was a man wearing a mask; his features couldn't be seen, and he stood about 1.9 meters tall. Moreover, his aura was unfathomable— he is a deeply powerful expert!"

"A masked expert?"

Ye Qingran couldn't help but think of the National Master.

However, in this world, appearances can be easily altered, and relying solely on those tells you nothing.

"What about the rest?"

"That's all for now. That day Zhuang Shopkeeper kept his guard up and followed the man, but he was quickly discovered. So far his trail hasn't been found! However, it seems the man has been to Lin Jiang Ge!"

"Lin Jiang Ge?"

Besides Qin Ge, the most renowned wine house in Xiliang City is booming with explosive business.

"Let Zhuang Xian continue the investigation there; if necessary, mobilize the Dark Night forces!"

Han Xing's eyes flashed.

Dark Night is a faction dedicated to gathering intelligence, spread throughout the Central Region.

After Han Xing gave the order, he left.

In the courtyard, the voices of Mo Xiaohu and Fu Qianchen arguing could be heard.

Ye Qingran stood up and walked out.

"Pretty Sister, Mo Xiaohu took my mask!"