"Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng, it’s actually Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng. This is the main ingredient for refining the Breakthrough Pill. The Treasure Pavilion is truly remarkable for being able to acquire something ."
"What is a Breakthrough Pill?"
"Who is this country bumpkin who doesn’t even know about Breakthrough Pills? It’s an elixir that helps people overcome bottlenecks. For example, if you’re currently in the Seventh Grade Bone Forging Realm, a Breakthrough Pill can help you condense your qi and blood and break through to the Middle Third Grades Martial Artist."
"Whew! That’s amazing."
The surrounding people gasped upon hearing this.
"Although that’s true, you must understand that the Breakthrough Pill is a Fourth Grade Elixir, and this Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng is merely one of its main ingredients. To refine it, you not only need a Fourth Grade Alchemist but also a large amount of spiritual medicine. Even so, a batch might not necessarily succeed, which shows its preciousness."
This single statement doused a cold bucket of water over the fiery hearts of the onlookers.
Setting aside other factors, just the presence of a Fourth Grade Alchemist is enough to make them shy away.
What’s a Fourth Grade Alchemist?
It’s an entity rarer than an Upper Third Grades Martial Artist, a distinguished guest of any powerful faction, renowned across the land.
Inviting them to refine pills is hardly within the reach of ordinary people.
In his box, Zhong Lin straightened up and said to the maid Qing Yi, "I want it, thirty thousand silver."
Just as Zhong Lin was making his bid, a voice came from another box.
"Fifty thousand silver, I want it."
"Sixty thousand silver."
Given its importance to his master’s refinement of the Breakthrough Pill, Zhong Lin was determined to acquire the Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng and had no intention of giving up.
"Seventy thousand silver."
The voice from the other box was also unyielding, calm and indifferent with its bid.
Zhong Lin’s face darkened; he took a deep breath and signaled Qing Yi to continue the bidding.
"Eighty thousand silver."
"One hundred thousand silver."
The business persisted without a shred of emotion.
Just as Zhong Lin was about to raise his bid again, Mei Weixuan stopped him: "That’s too much. Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng is precious, but it’s not worth a hundred thousand silver. Don’t get carried away."
Zhong Lin shook his head: "It’s not about being carried away; this is something my master wants."
"Master Yin? Do you have enough money? I have more here."
Hearing that Master Yin wanted to buy it, Mei Weixuan’s attitude immediately changed, and he took out a large stack of banknotes from his chest and handed them over.
Zhong Lin pondered for a moment and said to the maid Qing Yi, "Go over there and tell them I’m willing to exchange this elixir to make a friend."
Third Grade Elixir: Returning to Origin Pill.
A pill that can help severely injured individuals quickly recover to their peak state, at the cost of significantly reducing their lifespan after use.
Although the pill has significant side effects, it is a life-saving medicine at critical moments and is of great value.
Qing Yi looked troubled: "Master, this isn’t according to the rules."
"Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you. Here’s another one, give it to your manager."
"Yes, I will do it right away."
Qing Yi took the two porcelain bottles handed over by Zhong Lin and quickly retreated.
Mei Weixuan frowned slightly: "Zhong Lin, isn’t this a loss? You’re just giving away two Third Grade Elixirs like that?"
Zhong Lin shook his head: "The Breakthrough Pill is very important to my master, and there can’t be any mistakes. It’s all worth it. Moreover, those two Third Grade Elixirs were just something I casually made."
"Damn, being a Pill Master is amazing, huh?"
Mei Weixuan’s face darkened, muttering a curse.
Qing Yi returned shortly after.
"Master, that gentleman agreed, but he said he’d like to invite you for a drink afterward."
On the stage, the auctioneer continued to speak loudly.
"One hundred thousand and one hundred silver."
Zhong Lin bid again, and as expected, the opposing box did not further contest.
In a short while, a maid delivered the Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng along with a jade box to Zhong Lin’s presence.
Zhong Lin obediently took out a hundred thousand silver notes and handed them over.
Mei Weixuan also leaned over, peering at the humanoid ginseng within the jade box.
Seven ounces is ginseng, eight ounces is treasure, and this Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng is a full ten inches long and has taken on a humanoid form, making it the best spiritual material for alchemy.
With a look of delight on his face, Zhong Lin thought that the mission to Wuyun City was finally completed.
"The next auction item, the Heavenly Yin Pearl,"
"In the southernmost sea of Great Chen, there are clams in the sea that can produce pearls. Occasionally, these pearls evolve into a mutant beast known as tiger clams. The pearls they nurture are called ’Heavenly Yin Pearls,’ also known as Blood Exchange Pearls. Brewing and consuming one can transform bones and exchange blood, allowing a Fifth Grade Martial Artist to leap into Fourth Grade Perfection, saving decades of time, and is thus an unparalleled treasure."
"Starting bid at one hundred thousand silver."
Zhong Lin was momentarily stunned, never expecting that the Treasure Pavilion’s auction would also have a Heavenly Yin Pearl.
With the appearance of the Heavenly Yin Pearl, the entire auction site instantly boiled over. Even the Nine Curved Spirit Ginseng pales in comparison, as it is merely one of the main ingredients for refining the Breakthrough Pill and requires a Fourth Grade Alchemist to utilize it properly.
However, the Heavenly Yin Pearl can directly enhance martial cultivation, helping a Fifth Grade Martial Artist ascend to be a Fourth Grade Martial Artist, making its value immeasurable.
Mei Weixuan was also extraordinarily excited and rushed to shout out a high bid of one hundred twenty thousand silver, only for it to be quickly drowned in the tumultuous bidding that soared to one million silver in just a moment.
One million silver is a lot, but obtaining a Fourth Grade Peak Martial Artist would certainly be worth it.
Mei Weixuan looked at the flurry of bids around him, dumbfounded.
"It’s crazy. Seeing this, I feel like my Mei family is just a bunch of paupers!"
Zhong Lin patted Mei Weixuan on the shoulder, smiling: "We’re still young. The Heavenly Yin Pearl, though precious, is merely the icing on the cake."
"You’re right; it’s just the icing on the cake. Without the Heavenly Yin Pearl, it just means spending a little more time."
"Then stop drooling."
Mei Weixuan blushed and hurriedly wiped his mouth, but then in a fit of pique grabbed a handful of seeds from the fruit platter to throw at Zhong Lin.
"Haha, just joking, just joking."
The Heavenly Yin Pearl was finally purchased for three million silver by the box located diagonally from Zhong Lin, and after obtaining the pearl, they promptly left the auction.
"Dare to bet that this person will be robbed and killed. I’ll bet a thousand silver," Mei Weixuan said with a raised eyebrow and amusement.
Following his gaze, one would notice some people seated below, who disappeared soon after the occupant of the box left.
If there was nothing fishy about this situation, Zhong Lin wouldn’t believe it.
"Zhong Lin, should we get involved?"
Mei Weixuan rubbed his hands together, reluctant to let go of the Heavenly Yin Pearl.
Zhong Lin gave Mei Weixuan a sidelong look,
"If you want to die, don’t drag me along."
The auction continued, with many rare spiritual medicines, divine weapons, Third Grade, and Fourth Grade Elixirs that, for some factions or martial artists, weren’t necessarily all treasures.
Zhong Lin, however, was rather uninterested, making only a few bids intermittently, but if the price exceeded the value of the items, he simply stopped bidding. In the end, he only acquired a few stalking herbs and a lightweight secret technique named "Cloud Dragon Triple Stacking."
Just as they left the auction house, two Black Armored Guards approached.
"Greetings, Sir. My master invites you to gather at the Taiqing Building."
"Inform your master that I, Zhong, will arrive by noon."
Mei Weixuan stroked his chin, watching the backs of the two Black Armored Guards, and said, "Guards at the Sixth Grade Qi-Blood Realm. It seems this person is no ordinary individual either, Zhong Lin!"