บท 168: Chapter 168: The Auction Begins

The Tian Class Auction Hall was located on the fifth floor of the Miteer Auction House in Jia Ma Sacred City. The entire floor was dedicated to this auction hall.

Not only was the Tian Class Auction the largest auction hall in the auction house, but it was also the one accommodating the fewest people.

The Tian Class Auction Hall had only ninety-nine private rooms. Each bidder who could enter the auction hall had their own exclusive, lavishly furnished private room.

Being able to enter the Tian Class Auction Hall was, in itself, a symbol of status. Only clients possessing more than a million gold coins or those whose strength had reached the Dou King realm were qualified to enter.

The entire auction hall was ring-shaped, with the auction stage in the center. Surrounding it were the private rooms for guests participating in the auction, providing an unobstructed view of the items displayed on the stage from almost every angle.

"What an impressive lineup! Twelve types of middle-grade tier 4 pills and above, and in quantities greater than just one."

"If they were only ordinary tier 4 pills, even the Three Lines Green Spirit Pills wouldn't be enough for the Miteer Clan to open the Tian Class Auction Hall. But since it's Xiao Yan, that's a different matter."

Early in the morning, many clans, high-ranking officials, and prominent figures from Jia Ma Sacred City had already entered the auction hall and were waiting.

"This seems to be the first time in many years that the Tian Class Auction Hall has been opened for a single person." Before the auction began, some clans who knew each other were chatting in the corridor.

"Just think about it, who else has the capability to single-handedly provide all the auction items for the entire Tian Class Auction? Not even Pill King Gu He or Chairman Fa Ma have as much influence as Grandmaster Xiao Yan does now."

"That's true. Look, at least half of the private rooms are filled with alchemists who came to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. This auction was organized so hastily; I guess it's because Grandmaster Xiao Yan specified that the bidding for the pills would only be in exchange for medicinal ingredients."

"The remaining two of the three major clans, the Mu Clan and the Nalan Clan, have both come. Even the Jia Ma Imperial Family is here, as well as Chairman Fa Ma of the Alchemist Association. Tsk tsk, the competition will be fierce this time."

"I heard the Misty Cloud Sect has also come and is in the Nalan Clan's private room."

"It's not surprising. I heard Nalan Yanran has already reached the Dou Grandmaster realm. She's probably aiming for a Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill or even that Four Lines White Spirit Pill."

"Look, isn't that Fu Zhan, one of the former Ten Strong? What's he doing here?"

"Heh, he has a grandson who is said to be close to reaching the Dou Grandmaster realm. Why do you think he's here?"

"Hu Yuan, Yu Feng... Even these experts from the previous generation's Ten Strong have shown up?!"

By the time Xiao Yan, dressed in a black robe, entered the auction hall through the back door, the auction floor was already abuzz with discussions. Countless clan heads and powerful cultivators were seated in their private rooms, patiently waiting for the auction to commence.

Xiao Yan could take in all the private rooms at once from the organizer's private room at the back. This was set up for consignors like him.

The more precious an item, the harder it was to measure its value in gold coins. Many times, pills above tier 4 required bartering item for item.

This was precisely why the Nalan Clan had amassed so many precious medicinal ingredients in their collection. Exchanging rare ingredients for pills was not a practice unique to Xiao Yan; many alchemists did the same.

"Quite a few old fellows have shown up this time, peak Dou Spirits and even low-star Dou Kings." At this moment, Hai Bodong beside Xiao Yan couldn't help but glance at the private rooms and mutter.

The Jia Ma Empire's Ten Strong were all high-star or even peak Dou Kings and above, but that didn't mean the empire only had ten Dou Kings in total.

Those seated in the bidding positions of the private rooms were all existences at the Dou Spirit realm and above. Most of these people were influential figures with status, dominant regional leaders.

Aside from them, the most numerous attendees were 3rd-tier alchemists. One shouldn't assume that the entire Jia Ma Empire had only the thirty-something 3rd-tier alchemists who made it to the final round. That was because the tournament had an age limit of under thirty.

Xiao Yan's auction this time had even attracted some seasoned veteran alchemists at peak tier 3 and tier 4, all aiming to obtain one of his pills to study.

One could imagine how fiercely those veteran alchemists, who had been struggling at the peak of tier 3, would compete for one of Xiao Yan's pills. Moreover, these alchemists had undoubtedly accumulated a considerable number of precious medicinal ingredients.

"All the better. The older the relic, the more valuable the collection." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. This auction would make his path to becoming a 5th-tier alchemist much smoother.

Hai Bodong could not help but look at Xiao Yan strangely, and the more he looked, the more he felt that Xiao Yan was a freak.

How could an ordinary alchemist possibly take out so many pills to auction? The success rate was truly frightening.

Many alchemists needed the support of major clans. Gu He had the support of the Misty Cloud Sect, and Fa Ma had the support of the Alchemist Association, but they had essentially sold themselves and were bound by obligations.

Only this freak Xiao Yan could refine tier 4 pills on his own to exchange for tier 5 medicinal ingredients to practice with.

Self-sufficient!

Of course, Xiao Yan couldn't produce medicinal ingredients himself. If not for digging up some in the small valley, receiving a bit of contribution from Yao Li, and casually taking a smidgen from Medusa's place, he wouldn't have had enough ingredients to refine so many pills.

Xiao Yan glanced at the sky and said with a faint smile, "It's about time. Let's start the auction."

The elder from the Miteer Clan beside him nodded slowly and withdrew.

Before long, the clanging sound of a bell rang out. After a while, a copper gong sounded from the auction stage. At this moment, Ya Fei, dressed in an elegant white cheongsam, gracefully stepped onto the stage.

Changing her usual demeanor, Ya Fei had her hair coiled up with a wooden hairpin. Every frown and smile appeared elegant and refined, and her seductive demeanor had vanished without a trace!

In the eyes of those familiar with Ya Fei, seeing her with a completely different look captivated their souls and stirred up an irrepressible agitation in their hearts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the auction of pills provided by the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Grandmaster Xiao Yan, will now commence." Ya Fei's voice was full of magnetism and charm, yet also carrying a hint of freshness. Quite a few people felt their hearts itch upon hearing her voice.

They grew even more curious about what other little-known sides this woman possessed.

"Now, let's welcome the first item up for auction." Ya Fei lightly raised an eyebrow, charming yet refined, and gently clapped her hands, causing many hearts to flutter.

A wooden box was slowly pushed onto the stage. Ya Fei smiled and said, "This first auction item was not refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan himself, but rather a last-minute addition he provided."

"Not refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan?" Many people couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. Many alchemists had come solely for Xiao Yan's pills; pills made by others held little meaning to them.

"But I believe there will still be quite a few people who need it." Ya Fei slowly opened the wooden box, and a faint purple medicinal fragrance gradually wafted out from within.

"The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill!!!" Some who recognized it couldn't help but exclaim. This was the legendary pill of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association. Many had heard of its reputation.

"So that's it; this should be the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill refined during the tournament."

Starting the auction with a peak tier 4 Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill immediately raised the bar; truly befitting a Tian Class Auction.

For many clans, a peak tier 4 pill was something only the clan head was qualified to use. There were even quite a few clans whose clan heads had never used a peak tier 4 pill before.

"The starting bid is a rare main ingredient for a tier 5 pill. Please bid as you see fit. Grandmaster Xiao Yan is backstage and will make his own selection."