The Heavenly Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill had heaven-defying effects and was notoriously difficult to refine. Its ingredients were rare and precious beyond compare.
Song Wanníng wasn't injured or poisoned, but simply to spite her master, she had forcefully consumed the pill.
Now, the rest of them had no choice but to fight for a new one at auction, enduring the smug superiority of others. No wonder it was so infuriating.
At those words, Bai Yang's expression darkened slightly. His thoughts drifted back to the day he had stolen the pill.
It was that very Heavenly Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill that had driven a wedge between him and his master. He clenched his hands quietly but said nothing.
The air in the room grew stifling, tension thick enough to choke on.
Ye Chuxue quickly called out a bid. She held back, tried to ignore it, but in the end she couldn't keep the question down any longer.
"Senior Brother Bai, why have you changed? You used to despise everything Senior Aunt Song did. Why do you always take her side now?" She had been turning this over in her mind constantly these days.
The unease sat like a rock in her chest. She feared that her master and Bai Yang might abandon her and return to Song Wanníng.
In the twenty-plus years since she entered the cultivation world, her master and Bai Yang had become the most important people in her life. She couldn't stand the thought of losing them.
But before Bai Yang could reply, Yun Jinyue raised the bid again.
Ye Chuxue gritted her teeth and immediately followed, refusing to let the pill fall into the enemy's hands.
The price quickly soared to five hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones.
Gasps echoed through the entire hall.
"Five hundred thousand!"
With that kind of money, what couldn't you buy?
Yet both parties had their eyes locked on the Heavenly Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill, each desperate to save a life.
"Damn, comparing yourself to others will drive you mad! That's half a million middle-grade spirit stones!"
"I've never seen so many stones in my life…"
"The seller hit the jackpot. These two fools are locked in a dogfight, and neither of them's willing to let go."
"Who do you think will win in the end?"
"Has to be Xiangyun City. They've got the power and the wealth."
"Eh, I'm not so sure. That mystery bidder might be a hidden heavyweight from some powerful clan."
"Hiss…"
None of them had expected the fiercest bidding war wouldn't be over some ancient treasure, but a single pill. Now everyone was waiting to see which side had the deeper pockets.
Inside the private room, a servant bowed and leaned in beside Yun Jinyue. "Young Mistress, the people in that suite are two core disciples from Wentiān Sect."
"Oh?" Yun Jinyue raised her eyebrows, surprised her people had uncovered the identity so easily.
The servant sensed her thoughts and quickly added, "I didn't find out from the staff. I was heading back when I overheard two attendants gossiping about it."
The auction house kept customer identities strictly confidential. He had tried going through the proper channels but hit a wall.
Luckily, he'd caught two loose-tongued attendants on his way out.
"I see." Yun Jinyue gave a small smile but didn't raise her bid. "If they want it that badly, let them have it."
"Young Mistress? But the City Lord still needs that pill!" The servant's face changed, clearly panicked. If the City Lord didn't wake up soon, the Vice City Lord would make his move, and they wouldn't be able to hold the city.
But Yun Jinyue only gave a cold chuckle.
"Pass down my order. Lock down all exits, especially the route back to Wentiān Sect."
Any more bidding would just be a waste of stones.
Better to take a faster route. After all, things like this happened all the time.
"Yes!" The servant immediately understood and withdrew swiftly.
If those two didn't know how to appreciate kindness, they couldn't blame Xiangyun City for being ruthless.
"Five hundred thousand, going once!"
"Five hundred thousand, going twice!"
"Five hundred thousand, going three times!"
"SOLD!"
Mo Yuan's voice rang out as he struck the hammer, his hand trembling slightly. Watching the pill being taken away was like a knife to the gut. He clenched his fists and quickly called out to stop the attendant.
"This pill is extremely valuable. I'll deliver it personally."
He forced his expression to remain neutral, took the black jade tray from the disciple, and walked it up to the second floor himself. Though the crowd was surprised, they found it reasonable enough. After all, the pill was priceless.
Inside the private room, Ye Chuxue waited with excitement and anxiety. Her spirit stones were completely drained. She still owed the sect three hundred thousand, and just thinking about it made her heart ache.
But then she remembered that once her master woke up, he would likely help repay some of the debt. That thought made it easier to bear. If it could save her master, then any price was worth it.
Mo Yuan knocked, then stepped inside with the tray. He glanced at them quickly before lowering his head again. As expected, guests in private rooms often removed their disguises. He quietly memorized their faces, then respectfully presented the pill.
Ye Chuxue didn't suspect a thing. She accepted the tray with bright eyes, checked the pill carefully, then placed a storage pouch on the table. Inside was the full five hundred thousand in middle-grade spirit stones.
The transaction was completed quickly. Mo Yuan took the empty tray and backed out of the room.
Bai Yang watched him go, frowning slightly.
There was something odd about that man... but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The auction resumed soon after.
Mo Yuan's heart was still racing. He took a moment to steady himself before introducing the next item.
"The next lot is a pearl retrieved from the Western Qin Sea. It carries a unique Dao presence and is shrouded in mystery. We are seeking its destined master."
As the red silk was lifted, it revealed a black-and-white pearl.
It shimmered with shifting halos, and threads of Dao intent flickered across its surface. The aura it emitted was ancient and unknowable.
"This is a consignment item from a fellow cultivator. Starting bid: one hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones."
Anyone could see the pearl was extraordinary. But the fact that its owner had brought it to auction meant it likely chose its own master.
For those not fated, even a lifetime of ownership would yield no insight into its mysteries.
But who could say they weren't the one?
A new bid rang out from one of the private rooms.
Ye Chuxue had just set the pill aside when she looked up at the pearl. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her cheeks flushed red. There was a powerful pull coming from the pearl, as though something unseen was calling to her.
This treasure... it belonged to her.
She was the one fated for it!
Ye Chuxue's eyes sparkled with emotion. She hadn't expected a second stroke of fortune today.
But her joy faded quickly.
The price of the pearl shot up, soon reaching three hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones.
For her, that was an astronomical number.
No, this pearl was meant for her!
"Senior Brother Bai, do you still have any spirit stones? Can I borrow some? I promise I'll repay you as soon as I get back." She looked at Bai Yang with pleading eyes, completely forgetting the argument from earlier.
Bai Yang frowned and glanced at his storage ring.
"I only have a hundred thousand left."
"Only a hundred thousand?"
Ye Chuxue blinked, stunned. "But doesn't Senior Aunt Song give you spirit stones all the time?"