The Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill was miraculously potent, but it was also extremely difficult to concoct, requiring precious and rare materials.

Song Wanning hadn’t been injured or poisoned, yet she’d consumed the Elixir Pill just to spite Master Qi.

As a result, they were now forced to come here and bid on an Elixir Pill, all while enduring their rival’s condescending superiority. How could it not be infuriating?

Bai Yang’s expression darkened at her words, his thoughts turning to the time he had stolen an Elixir Pill.

It was because of a Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill that he and his Master had become completely estranged.

He silently clenched his fist and said nothing.

The atmosphere suddenly grew strange, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Ye Chuxue quickly placed a bid. She tried to hold her tongue, but in the end, she couldn’t stop herself from voicing the doubt in her heart.

"Brother Bai, why have you changed? You used to disapprove of everything Uncle Song did!"

"Why are you always taking her side now?"

This was all she had been thinking about lately.

It made her heart race with panic, terrified that her Master and Bai Yang would abandon her and return to Song Wanning’s side.

She had been in the Cultivation World for over twenty years; her Master and Bai Yang had long since become the most important people in her life.

She couldn’t bear the thought of them betraying her.

However, before Bai Yang could answer, Yun Jin Yue placed another bid.

Ye Chuxue immediately countered, refusing to let him win the Elixir Pill.

Soon, the price soared to five hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

That was five hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones!

With that kind of money, what couldn’t you buy?

Yet here were two parties, both eyeing the Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill like hungry tigers, both needing it to save a life!

"Comparisons will be the death of you! Damn it, that’s five hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones!"

"I’ve never seen so many Spirit Stones in my entire life..."

"The owner of this Elixir Pill really hit the jackpot. They’ve got two rich fools in a dogfight, and neither is willing to back down!"

"Who do you think will get it in the end?"

"It has to be Yunxiang City! They represent a City Lord; their pockets are deep!"

"Tsk, I’m not so sure. The mysterious person in that other room must be no slouch either. Maybe they’re a big shot from some major clan!"

"Hsss..."

No one had expected that the most intense bidding war wouldn’t be over some ultimate treasure, but over a single Elixir Pill.

Now, everyone was waiting to see who had the deeper pockets.

Inside their private room, a servant bowed and approached Yun Jin Yue. "Reporting to the Young Master, the occupants of that room are two True Disciples from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect."

"Oh?"

Yun Jin Yue raised an eyebrow, surprised that his subordinate had discovered their identities so easily.

The servant knew what he was thinking and quickly explained, "This lowly one was unable to find out their identities at first. But on my way back, I happened to overhear two of the auction house staff gossiping, and that’s how I learned who they are."

The auction house was supposed to keep its clients’ identities confidential. He had gone to ask the Shopkeeper but was politely rebuffed.

Fortunately, he had run into those two gossiping attendants on his way back.

"I see."

Yun Jin Yue’s lips curved into a smile, and he held off on placing another bid.

"Since they want it so badly, let’s let them have it."

"Young Master? The City Lord is waiting for that Elixir Pill to save his life!"

The servant was shocked, his expression turning anxious.

If the City Lord didn’t wake up soon, the Deputy City Lord would revolt, and the Young Master wouldn’t be able to hold out! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

But Yun Jin Yue only sneered. "Give the order. Have our men guard all the exits, especially the road back to the Heavenly Inquiry Sect!"

’Continuing to bid would just be a waste of money.’

’Better to take a more direct route... Besides, it’s not like this kind of thing is uncommon!’

"Yes!"

The servant understood immediately and quickly withdrew.

’Since those two refused to back down gracefully, they can’t blame us for being ruthless!’

"Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, going once!"

"Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, going twice!"

"Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, going three times!"

"SOLD!!!"

Mo Yuan’s gavel fell, his hand trembling slightly.

Watching as an attendant was about to carry the Elixir Pill away, his heart seized, and he quickly stopped the man.

"This Elixir Pill is too valuable. I’ll deliver it personally."

He did his best to keep his expression neutral as he took the jade plate from the attendant and personally delivered it to the second-floor room.

The crowd was a little surprised but found it reasonable. After all, the Elixir Pill’s value was extraordinary.

In their room, Ye Chuxue waited for the Elixir Pill, feeling both excited and conflicted.

All of her Spirit Stones were gone, and she now owed the Sect three hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones. The loss was a palpable ache.

But the thought that her Master would repay some of the Spirit Stones after he woke up eased the pain considerably.

’As long as Master wakes up, any amount of Spirit Stones is worth it!’

Mo Yuan knocked on the door, then entered carrying the jade plate. He shot a quick glance at the pair before hastily lowering his head again.

’Important guests in the private rooms usually remove their disguises. Just as I thought.’

He committed their faces to memory and respectfully presented the jade plate.

Unsuspecting, Ye Chuxue happily accepted the Elixir Pill and inspected it. Then, she placed a Storage Bag on the plate, which contained exactly five hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

They completed the transaction swiftly, and Mo Yuan retreated with the jade plate.

Bai Yang couldn’t help but look at him a second time. ’Something about that man seems odd... but I can’t quite put my finger on it...’

The auction quickly resumed.

Mo Yuan’s heart was still pounding. He forced himself to calm down before introducing the next item.

"Our next item for auction is a pearl from the West Qin Sea. It is suffused with Tao Essence, mysterious and unfathomable, and it seeks its fated owner."

The red silk was lifted, revealing a black and white mottled pearl.

A halo of light rippled across its surface, as if Tao Essence flickered within, filling it with a mysterious aura.

"This item was consigned for auction by a fellow cultivator. The starting bid is one hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones."

The pearl was obviously a treasure, but the fact that its owner had put it up for auction suggested that such items chose their masters on their own.

If one was not its fated owner, they could possess the treasure for a hundred years and never unlock its secrets.

But who could be certain they weren’t that fated person?

Soon, someone in one of the private rooms placed a bid.

Ye Chuxue set the Elixir Pill aside. As she stared at the pearl, her heart began to pound, and her cheeks flushed.

An intense pull emanated from the pearl, as if it were calling to her from some unseen place...

’This treasure is meant to be mine!!!!’

’I am its fated owner!!!’

Ye Chuxue’s eyes lit up with excitement; she hadn’t expected such a wonderful surprise at this auction.

But her joy was short-lived.

The price of the pearl rose steadily, soon approaching three hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

To her, in her current state, that was an astronomical sum!

’No!’

’This pearl has to be mine!’

"Brother Bai, do you have any Spirit Stones on you? Could you lend them to me?"

"I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as we get back!"

Ye Chuxue looked at Bai Yang with pleading eyes, their earlier unpleasantness completely forgotten.

At her words, Bai Yang’s brow furrowed, and he glanced at his Storage Ring.

"I only have one hundred thousand..."

"Only one hundred thousand?"

Ye Chuxue froze, her face a mask of disbelief. "Doesn’t Uncle Song give you Spirit Stones all the time?"