Lan Rui watched as the jade box was carried away by the maid, disappearing beyond view. He turned his gaze toward Wei Xin, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Sis Wei, why didn't you bid on it?" he asked.
He was certain she could afford the pill if she truly wanted it.
She gave a soft shake of her head, her expression calm.
"I could afford it, yes, but it's still too early. I only just broke through to the 8th Layer of Qi Refining. I'm still far from reaching Qi Refining Completion. I'll need at least a decade more to get there. It's better to wait for the next auction."
Lan Rui nodded in understanding. She'd mentioned back at the teahouse that this auction only occurred once every ten years. Her plan made sense it would be more practical to wait for a time when she could immediately benefit from the pill.
As several more items were auctioned off, Lan Rui's brow furrowed slightly.
'Where's the second Foundation Establishment Pill?' he wondered silently.
Almost as if in answer, the old man on stage retrieved another jade box from his storage bag, identical to the previous one.
"As you can see, this is another Foundation Establishment Pill..." the old man announced, repeating his earlier explanation with practiced precision, as if the crowd hadn't already heard it. Perhaps it was for those who had just arrived, or simply a ritualistic habit.
He paused, scanning the audience once more. His gaze eventually rested on the private rooms on the second floor.
"The starting price remains ten thousand spirit stones. Minimum increments of one hundred. Let the bidding begin."
Silence blanketed the hall for a brief moment. Most of those on the ground floor late-stage Qi Refining cultivators knew better than to rashly bid. Though not a formal rule, it was well understood that going against the dominant factions in such auctions was sheer folly.
After a few breaths, a bid finally came.
"Ten thousand!" called someone from a private room.
Almost immediately, another voice followed.
"Eleven thousand!"
A tense hush returned, settling like a fog. Just as the auctioneer prepared to begin the count, the competition reignited.
"Twelve thousand!"
"Thirteen thousand!"
In one of the private rooms, Mu Renlong clenched his fists, face darkening as the price crept up.
He inhaled sharply and called out,
"Fourteen..."
But before he could finish the word, he was interrupted.
"Fifteen thousand!"
He ground his teeth and snapped toward the source.
"Wu Sheng! If you want it, just say so. I'll give up."
From across the way, Wu Sheng chuckled but offered no reply.
Mu Renlong exhaled heavily and stared at the jade box on the stage. After a few moments of contemplation, he tapped his finger against the armrest and called again.
"Sixteen thousand!"
This time, silence.
No one countered, not even Wu Sheng bid against him.
The old man raised his hand, preparing to finalize the deal.
"Sixteen thousand going once!"
"Going twice!"
"Going..."
"Seventeen thousand!" Wu Sheng called with a casual confidence.
At first, Mu Renlong dismissed it, thinking perhaps Wu Sheng had just made a late decision. But then he did it again. And again.
It became clear.
Mu Renlong's face twitched. Veins bulged along his forehead, and dark lines crept across his face. If not for the market rules, he might've shattered the table before him in fury.
"Twenty thousand going once!"
"Going twice!"
"Going thrice!"
"Twenty one thousand!" Wu Sheng chimed in again.
Mu Renlong's fury simmered beneath the surface. He nearly released his spirit pressure out of sheer anger, but restrained himself at the last second. If he let out even a wisp, he'd be forcibly removed.
"Damn you, Wu Sheng..." he muttered under his breath.
But aloud, he spoke with forced politeness.
"If Fellow Daoist truly desires the pill, I will yield."
Wu Sheng gave a long sigh. He knew his petty game had reached its end, but he'd enjoyed every moment.
"Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist Mu."
Once again, the old man handed the jade box to the maid, who bowed and exited with graceful precision before the next item was prepared.
A few minutes later, a soft knock echoed from the door of Wu Sheng's private room. A maid entered, tray in hand. On it rested the jade box containing the prized pill.
Seven individuals were inside the room six men and one woman. The maid approached Wu Sheng and respectfully presented the box.
He accepted it, opened it briefly, and allowed the fragrance to wash over them. The room was instantly filled with the rich medicinal aroma.
He smiled in satisfaction and closed the box, placing it inside his storage bag. With a wave of his hand, a gleaming pile of spirit stones materialized on the table.
The maid glanced at them, carefully counting without speaking. After ensuring the amount was correct, she bowed slightly.
"Thank you Senior, for your purchase." With that, she turned and left the room.
As the door closed, Wu Sheng noticed several of his subordinates casting longing glances at his storage bag.
He smirked.
"If you want this, you'll need to earn it. Work hard and build your merit. It's not impossible to exchange it."
Everyone in the room knew, however, that the pill would ultimately go to Mo Yuchen. His contributions both in the spirit stone mine skirmishes and during the recent beast tide were unmatched. Still, the hope in their eyes remained.
Wu Sheng appreciated their ambition and gave a satisfied nod. Then he turned toward the lone woman in the room.
"Qing Nu, how much can we still afford to spend?"
She adjusted her robe slightly and responded with composure.
"Including the forty two thousand six hundred spirit stones Chief Wu has spent so far, we still have a balance of around sixty thousand. While the spirit stone mine has brought us significant wealth, it will take years to fully extract its potential. There is also..."
Wu Sheng frowned.
'Right… I forgot she's like this. I wouldn't have asked if I remembered.'
"Alright, stop. Sixty thousand, right?"
She nodded immediately.
"Yes, but I strongly advise Chief Wu not to waste more resources just to provoke True Cultivator Mu."
Wu Sheng waved a hand in defeat.
"Alright, alright. I won't."
Anyone witnessing the exchange might think Wu Sheng feared her. In truth, that wasn't far from reality. But it was less fear and more respect.
Qing Nu had been one of his closest friends even before he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. The others in the room simply smiled, treating the moment as a familiar routine.
.....