บท 169: Chapter 169: Frenzied Bidding

Even though this wasn't a pill refined by Xiao Yan, the reputation of the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill still caused the eyes of many major clans present to light up with eagerness.

"One stalk of Desolate Star Grass!" a clan leader immediately called out.

For major clans, pills that could directly enhance strength were what they valued most. Just like the three major clans of Wu Tan City back then; their overall strengths were roughly the same, with only a one or two-star difference between their experts.

Pills that could directly increase cultivation had always been the most sought-after by these clans.

"One bottle of Lilong Blossom Nectar!" another prominent figure quickly offered.

"Crimson Stamen Stone!" someone else shouted as soon as the previous bid ended.

"One tael of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome!"

...

Because the auction rules stipulated that only medicinal ingredients could be used for bartering, this was also a test of Xiao Yan's knowledge of medicinal herbs. He not only needed to identify the various precious herbs amidst the clamorous bidding accurately but also had to mentally calculate the specific value of the quantities each bidder offered.

"Many people are just bidding recklessly." Chairman Fa Ma's sharp eyes flashed within the Alchemist Association's private room. He could tell that more than half of the bids were just trying their luck.

Because many bids either concealed the specific quantity or offered amounts that didn't match the value.

For example, Szechuan Lovage Rhizome was indeed an important main ingredient for tier 5 pills, but refining such a pill required seven taels of it for a complete portion. Bidding only one tael was clearly just trying their luck, betting Xiao Yan would not notice the discrepancy.

As if deliberately trying to make things difficult for Xiao Yan, the bidding proceeded at an extremely rapid pace. In just one minute, there were over thirty bids, with the names of various precious medicinal ingredients emerging one after another.

Onstage, Ya Fei couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Xiao Yan. She had no way to assess the value of the medicinal ingredients for him; he could only rely on himself.

Soon, the pace of bidding gradually slowed down. Xiao Yan, sitting backstage, let out a cold laugh. Play these little tricks with him?

Did they really think his alchemy skills were based on pure luck? Since the age of four, he had diligently studied the knowledge of various medicinal ingredients in his storage ring. He knew exactly which herbs could produce which effects and what tier of pills they could be used to refine.

His storage ring contained numerous tier 5 pill recipes. He was crystal clear about how much of each ingredient was needed for a single portion of those pills.

"Seven taels of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome can be accepted for the trade," Xiao Yan's calm voice came from backstage, directly exposing the issue.

Szechuan Lovage Rhizome was the main ingredient for refining the peak tier 5 Emperor Breaking Pill. The effect of the Emperor Breaking Pill was very simple—it increased the chance of breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm by 20%. It was one of the most sought-after tier 5 pills.

The old man who had bid one tael of Szechuan Lovage Rhizome heard this and clearly hesitated. He had been hoping that Xiao Yan wouldn't notice.

"Apologies, Grandmaster Xiao Yan, I can only offer up to four taels," the old man still declined.

Xiao Yan's voice transmitted out again after hearing his refusal: "Then the Crimson Stamen Stone it is."

In an auction, as long as someone bid above the base price, Xiao Yan had to make a choice regardless of whether he was willing. He couldn't simply say there were no suitable offers and refuse to pick one.

Ya Fei received his instructions and asked with a smile, "The Crimson Stamen Stone, going once. Are there any other bidders?"

All the older generation alchemists present put away their condescending attitudes upon hearing Xiao Yan name the Crimson Stamen Stone. It was indeed the most valuable among all the previous bids.

It was clear that Xiao Yan's knowledge of medicinal herbs was no less than that of those old fellows who were several decades his senior.

"The Crimson Stamen Stone, going twice."

Just as Ya Fei was about to call out the third time, from the previously silent private room of the Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran resolutely raised her paddle and said, "One stalk of Dou King Grass."

'This girl...' When Nalan Yanran raised her paddle, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.

She intended to use his own pills to surpass him!

Eat the pills he sold to come and challenge him?

The audacity!

Xiao Yan knew what Nalan Yanran was planning. She wanted to rely on the tempering from the Gate of Life and Death to solidify her foundation through actual combat while using pills to elevate her cultivation as much as possible.

In fact, Xiao Yan could also use the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill himself, as its effects didn't conflict with the Four Lines White Spirit Pill. However, using pills to increase one's strength inevitably led to unstable Dou Qi, requiring a period of cultivation to consolidate and stabilize.

He didn't have the advantage of a secret realm like the Gate of Life and Death to assist him. Directly increasing his cultivation by four stars would be somewhat troublesome.

"I'll choose the Dou King Grass then." Xiao Yan did not deliberately avoid choosing the highest value item out of fear of Nalan Yanran increasing her strength.

The Dou King Grass was, of course, the main ingredient for refining the Dou King Pill. In fact, it wasn't even originally called Dou King Grass, but because the Dou King Pill became so renowned, people stopped using its original name and directly referred to it as Dou King Grass.

"He actually didn't intentionally suppress the price. Perhaps he doesn't know about the assistance from the Gate of Life and Death. Yanran, aren't you worried about the issue of unstable Dou Qi from using pills to elevate your strength?" Ge Ye beside her said with some surprise.

Nalan Yanran calmly replied, "Even if he knew, he wouldn't deliberately refuse to sell it to me. He's never been someone who fears others becoming stronger."

Nalan Jie smiled bitterly and said, "But this way, I'm afraid we won't have enough capital to compete for the Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill."

The Nalan Clan did indeed have deep reserves, but they didn't possess many tier 5 medicinal ingredients in their collection.

The Three-Lined Green Spirit Pill refined by Xiao Yan was definitely worth over twice as much as the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. It would likely require the main ingredient of a tier 6 pill to have a chance of obtaining it.

Their most precious Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva had already been given to Xiao Yan, and now even their only Dou King Grass used for refining the Dou King Pill had been given to him. Bluntly put, Xiao Yan had already emptied out their Nalan Clan's coffers!

Nalan Jie's expression became somewhat strange thinking of this. They were clearly planning to annul the engagement with Xiao Yan, so how did it end up with the dowry he prepared for Nalan Yanran all going to him?

The bride didn't marry over, but the dowry went to the groom.

With a resounding clang, Ya Fei struck the copper gong and announced with a smile, "The second item up for auction is a middle-grade tier 4 healing pill—the Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pill."

She deliberately paused for a few seconds before continuing, "It was refined by Grandmaster Xiao Yan using a Heavenly Flame."

! ! ! ! ! ! !

At these words, many alchemists couldn't help but sit up straight!

Healing-type pills could be considered the least valuable among these pills, but precisely because of their lower value, for alchemists who simply wanted to bid on a pill refined with a Heavenly Flame to take back for research, this was the best auction item.

It could be said, the only reason a pill like the Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pill qualified for auction in the Tian Class Auction House was entirely due to those two words: Xiao Yan.

Ya Fei gave a slight smile and said, "Everyone, there's no need to rush. I'm sure you're all aware of Grandmaster Xiao Yan's exceptional alchemy skills. There are a total of three Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pills; the one being auctioned now is the first."

In an instant, the veteran alchemists present could no longer remain seated. They began calling out bids one after another, and the competition grew incredibly fierce. In the end, all three Blood Replenishing Bone Mending Pills were purchased at prices far exceeding their market value.

One of them was even acquired by Qie Mi Er, the Deputy Chairman of the Alchemist Association, who exchanged it for the Purple Spirit Flower Nectar, the main ingredient of the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill.