Chapter 13

C13 – Purchase

“The first item up for auction is a medicinal pill, a first-grade Acquired Essence Gathering Pill.”

“This pill possesses several times the potency of the Element Gathering Powder and won’t impact one’s bone root with impurities, making it ideal for the Acquired Warriors of Icefair.”The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

The auctioneer unveiled a pale yellow pill beneath the red cloth on the tray.

For Lang Shen, the Innate Stage Castellan of Icefair, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill was of no use.

But for the others, it was undoubtedly a wondrous medicine, especially for the many warriors in Icefair who had never before laid eyes on such a legendary pill.

“Bidding starts at one hundred taels of silver. Please place your bids,” announced the auctioneer.

No sooner had he spoken than bids began to fly. “Two hundred taels of silver!” called out a voice.

“Three hundred taels of silver!” came another.

The bidding was a cacophony of competing offers until, moments later, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill sold for eight hundred taels of silver.

Zhou Chulang, ever the well-informed, shared some insights with Zhou Jibo and the others.

“Typically, this Acquired Essence Gathering Pill retails for no more than three to four hundred taels of silver in the capital’s pill shops. The fact that it fetched eight hundred taels here is a testament to the auction’s fervor and the novelty of the pill to many in Icefair...”

“The recent bids were from the Yu family’s Third Elder and a steward from the Zheng family. Though both families are present at the auction, their Patriarchs did not attend.”

Zhou Jibo listened intently, his eyes scanning the Zheng and Yu families.

The Great Elder had tasked Kong Chuyang with watching him, his ill intentions clear as day. The Zheng family was a confirmed adversary, and the Yu family’s stance was still unclear, but likely also hostile.

It was clear to him that he needed to utilize his 100,000 attribute points soon to bolster his strength.

“Coming up next, we have a mental cultivation method, the top-grade Yellow Rank Fallen Leaf Technique!”

The auctioneer’s voice boomed, stirring up a fresh wave of excitement across all three floors of the Glorious House.

Yan Yuanlu nodded in understanding. “That’s a reasonable request and not hard to fulfill.”

“Since we don’t have a Myriad Treasure Auction House branch here, I’m unable to provide a selection of various cultivation treasures on short notice. Therefore, your choices are limited to the items I’ve brought with me this time.”

“Within the eight items up for auction, there are a couple that should meet your criteria. The Cool Breeze Sword Technique, a Yellow Rank medium-grade martial skill, and the Blood Stripe Sword, a Yellow Rank low-grade weapon, are collectively valued at forty thousand taels of silver. Would you be willing to trade your mental cultivation method and martial skill for these two items plus thirty thousand taels of silver?”

Are you referring to the sword technique?

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Jibo agreed, “Yes, that exchange works for me.”

“Then we have an agreement.”

Yan Yuanlu summoned a scribe and secured a private room. Zhou Jibo recited the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Splitting Palm, which the scribe diligently transcribed.

Simultaneously, he instructed his staff to deliver two items shrouded in red cloth to the room.

This move instantly drew the gaze of all those gathered.

Lang Shen, the Castellan of Icefair, inquired, “Mr. Yan, the Myriad Treasure Auction House has prepared ten treasures for our bidding. With only the second item sold and the third yet to start, why are you withdrawing two items so abruptly?”

“Aren’t you planning to auction off these two treasures anymore?”

Yan Yuanlu responded, “These two items have already been purchased for a hefty sum in advance, so I’ve had to withdraw them from the auction. Today, we’ve auctioned off two treasures and sold two others. That leaves us with just six treasures remaining. Please, everyone, continue to place your bids.”

He then respectfully bowed to Lang Shen and added, “Please don’t be offended, I’m simply conducting business and didn’t mean to dampen your spirits.”

Lang Shen replied, “I’m not upset. I’m merely curious about who in Icefair City offered a price that even the Myriad Treasure Auction House couldn’t turn down. And what exactly was that price?”

Yan Yuanlu smiled and said, “In our line of work, we must respect the privacy of our clients. That’s a rule we cannot break.”

Just then, someone stood up and called out, “Mr. Yan, is the bidder you’re referring to Zhou Jibo from the Zhou family?”

The crowd on the third floor was puzzled upon hearing the name Zhou Jibo. Zhou Chulang, Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and the rest of the Zhou family rose to their feet to see who had spoken.

Upon identifying the shouter, Zhou Chulang couldn’t help but curse, “What a despicable character.”