Chapter 8: auction house
ꟷHello, how can I help you?ꟷ commented a young woman, elegantly dressed.
ꟷI want to auction something,ꟷ said Nie Feng, followed by Ning'er.
ꟷOh… what do you wish to auction?ꟷ she asked again, not paying much attention to what a child might say. Xiao Ning'er, on her part, was a bit surprised, curious about what he wanted to auction.
ꟷThis is a Silver Star Pill. It allows any Silver-level Demon Spiritualist to advance by one level without any side effects,ꟷ explained Nie Feng. As he spoke, he took out a small porcelain bottle containing a silver pill the size of a thumb. ꟷIf you have doubts, you can have an alchemist or a senior verify it.
The receptionist tried to discern any signs of deception on Nie Feng's face but, finding none, decided to verify it. Years of working here had made her astute; even if the possibility was small, it wasn't zero.
ꟷAlright, please wait a moment,ꟷ she said, then headed to a certain room.
ꟷNie Feng, does that pill really have that function?ꟷ Xiao Ning'er asked, surprised. If so, the pill's value was enormous, not to mention the significant impact it could have.
ꟷYou'll find out soon,ꟷ he replied, while sitting in the waiting area.
After about 10 minutes, several people hurried out of a room.
ꟷYoung Master, are you the one who brought this pill?ꟷ one of them asked.
ꟷYes, will it be possible to auction it?ꟷ Nie Feng asked knowingly, not surprised by their reaction, as he had expected it.
ꟷAhem... Yes, don't worry. Please follow me,ꟷ commented the auctioneer.
Nie Feng and Xiao Ning'er followed him. They arrived at the second floor of the auction house, overlooking all the people below. The lighting was dim, but the bright lights highlighted the artworks on the walls and the elegant furniture. The air carried a scent of wood and fresh flowers. The people were dressed elegantly and in various styles.
In the center, a beautiful woman stood on a stage with an auction book and a gavel, ready to introduce the next item.
ꟷIt seems they're doing well,ꟷ Nie Feng commented, seeing several people representing important places in Glory City, such as the Alchemy Hall, the Sacred Family, the Ye Family, and more.
ꟷNext, we will present a last-minute item,ꟷ the auctioneer said, causing many murmurs in the room. ꟷThis pill is called the 'Silver Star Pill'. It allows any Silver-level cultivator to advance by one star without side effects.
ꟷDoes it really work?ꟷ asked someone from the audience, doubtful, as something like this had never appeared in Glory City before.
ꟷYou don't need to worry about that. Our auction house has already tested its efficacy, and an alchemist master has corroborated it, so there's no need for concern,ꟷ the presenter said patiently.
ꟷIt really can raise a Silver rank by one star without any side effects...
ꟷI wish I could get it…
There were many comments of surprise and regret in the room, as everyone was quite clear that one of the great families would obtain this pill.
...
ꟷAlright, without further ado, the starting price for this bottle of pills is 100,000 spiritual coins,ꟷ the presenter announced. There was a moment of silence as no one expected the price to be so high.
ꟷ200,000
ꟷThe Huyuan family doesn't hold back, directly increasing by 100,000 coins.
ꟷ250,000…
ꟷThe Chen family doesn't want to fall behind either.
ꟷ500,000….
ꟷ800,000….
ꟷ1 millionꟷ When the voice called out, everyone turned their gaze to a certain section on the second floor to see who the big player was that dared to bid so much for a pill.
ꟷMiss Yang Xin, it seems you really want this pill, but by chance, my family wants it too. I offer 1.1 million,ꟷ Shen Fei commented.
ꟷHmm, don't think my Alchemist Association fears you. 1.5 million,ꟷ Yang Xin said, showing no sign of backing down.
ꟷIt seems you're forgetting about us, the Ye family. We offer 2 million,ꟷ Ye Xiu commented.
In the next instant, the three notable figures of the prestigious Glory City entered into a fierce bidding war for the coveted pill. Although their initial desire was sincere, over time, their ambition grew, and they began to raise the price more as an act of vanity before the other families than out of genuine interest in the pill.
However, among the contenders, only Yang Xin showed a genuine desire for the pill. She was a prominent member of the influential Alchemy Hall and fully understood the potential that this pill held.
Possessing it would not only open doors to new formulas and alchemical creations based on its essence but could also lead to the creation of ascension pills for those at the bronze, gold, and black gold ranks.
The acquisition and study of this pill could greatly strengthen the power and influence of the Alchemy Hall, giving it unparalleled status in Glory City. The struggle for this elixir was, in reality, a struggle for the future of the Alchemy Hall.
ꟷ12 million spiritual stones,ꟷ declared Yang Xin without hesitation, with firmness in her voice.
A momentary silence fell over the audience, as everyone recognized that this amount was considerably high for a single bottle of pills.
ꟷIf Miss Yang Xin has a sincere desire to acquire these pills, I will not intervene further,ꟷ commented Ye Xiu courteously, but with a satisfied smile on his face.
On the other hand, Shen Fei from the influential Sacred Family adopted a disdainful attitude, stating, ꟷOur distinguished family will not stand in your way either.
ꟷCongratulations to Miss Yang Xin for obtaining the Silver Star Pill!ꟷ the auctioneer said excitedly.
Yang Xin breathed a sigh of relief at being able to buy the pill, though the price was a bit high, it didn't matter much.
….
ꟷIt really sold for 12 million!ꟷ exclaimed Xiao Ning'er, her eyes shining with surprise.
Nie Feng, always calm and observant, commented serenely, while his gaze rested on Yang Xin: ꟷTruly unexpected.
Shortly after, he headed to the auction room to complete the transaction and receive the money.
The auction director, showing a respectful air, approached Nie Feng and said, ꟷYoung man, the director of the Alchemy Hall has requested to meet with you. She seems to have an important matter to discuss.
Nie Feng nodded courteously, considering the potential advantages this meeting could bring him.
ꟷNing'er, wait for me a moment,ꟷ Nie Feng said, as he headed towards a certain room.
When he entered the room, he was surprised to see Yang Xin, as she was exactly as he had read about. 'She is a tall and sexy woman with a curvy and voluptuous body and large, soft breasts.'
ꟷPeople from my previous world would die of envy seeing that I can interact with her,ꟷ thought Nie Feng, shaking his head slightly, momentarily pushing those thoughts aside.
ꟷI never thought the person behind this elixir would be a handsome young man,ꟷ joked Yang Xin. She was genuinely surprised by Nie Feng's good looks, regretting only that he seemed to be just 15 years old. (Although Nie Feng is 13, his cultivation method makes him look a few years older.)
ꟷIt seems the director of the Alchemy Hall is as beautiful as the rumors say,ꟷ he responded calmly, while sipping some tea.
ꟷWhat an interesting boy,ꟷ thought Yang Xin.
ꟷI suppose you want to know more about the Silver Star Pill,ꟷ said Nie Feng, looking at Yang Xin, having a clear idea of her intentions for bringing him here.
ꟷSuch a perceptive young man,ꟷ she remarked. ꟷIndeed, my Alchemy Hall is interested in the formula of that pill,ꟷ she admitted frankly.
ꟷMy master taught me this pill, so I don't have the authority to sell it without his consent,ꟷ explained Nie Feng.
Yang Xin couldn't help but notice the term "master" in the conversation and decided to seize the opportunity. Before she could formulate her question, Nie Feng continued, anticipating her intentions.
ꟷI'm sorry I can't offer much information about my master. He is a solitary hermit, without name or fame, who prefers to live in seclusion. At this moment, I have no means of contacting him,ꟷ declared Nie Feng with composure, knowing that, like Nie Li in the original story, he had created a fictitious character to protect his true identity.
Although it felt uncomfortable to resort to such a crude deception, he understood that sometimes it was necessary to avoid future problems with inquisitive people.
But suddenly, a question came to his mind: Could Qiu Bai be considered his master? Even though he hadn't taught him anything, he left him his legacy and important memories about alchemy and some cultivation tricks. So, inadvertently, he found himself pondering that question for a while.
Upon hearing his response, Yang Xin's spirits momentarily dropped. Had her interest been that obvious? She wondered, feeling disheartened.
ꟷNevertheless, if you have any questions regarding this pill, I will be happy to answer them,ꟷ added Nie Feng, steering the conversation back to the main topic.
Yang Xin looked at him again, this time with a spark of curiosity in her eyes. ꟷAre you an alchemist?ꟷ she asked involuntarily.
ꟷI admit I have some knowledge in the alchemical arts, though I would feel uncomfortable claiming the title of alchemist, especially when there are true masters like my mentor,ꟷ responded Nie Feng with humility, his gaze fixed on the tea leaves dancing in his cup.
ꟷIf that's the case, I would like to extend an invitation to our Alchemy Hall,ꟷ commented Yang Xin respectfully. She was not willing to make any mistakes, as if Nie Feng's master was as remarkable as he claimed, he should be at least a great alchemist, or perhaps something much greater.
ꟷI plan to visit the Alchemy Hall tomorrow, as I am somewhat busy today,ꟷ concluded Nie Feng.
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