Why? Qian Jin suddenly understood that being in the private box of the Torrent War Fortress, in the eyes of others, made them look like a group of straightforward warriors who only understood fighting and nothing else.

Since that was the case... Qian Jin’s mind raced, and he said with a smile, "That large ruby, I could buy it to make a big necklace for my fiancée."

The young apothecary was clearly stunned. He had never expected such an answer. It seemed the Torrent War Fortress, desperate to raise funds, had managed to associate with some rich kid from somewhere.

"What? Buying it for a woman?" Jielatata fell silent. If this offer had come from the Mages' Guild or somewhere else, he absolutely wouldn't have believed such an answer.

Yet, this answer came from those brutes of the Torrent War Fortress—a group of roughnecks who only knew how to charge into battle against the demons with their blades. What would they know about the Blood Demon Heart?

Still willing to buy? Jielatata was uncertain. Was this really a Blood Demon Heart? From the way his subordinates described it, the rich kid was quite arrogant, acting as if he dared to spend a million.

A million. If he bought it and it turned out to be just an ordinary ruby... Jielatata gently closed his eyes. If so, his position as Vice-President would likely be snatched away by that person from the Lei family. Forget it! There was no fault in not buying it, but if he bought it and it wasn't genuine, that would be a huge problem.

The Blood Demon Heart, purchased for two hundred thousand, ended up in Qian Jin's hands. Fabredis looked completely baffled. Even if he wanted to buy a ruby to give to Gu Yuejiaying or Luo Qingqing, shouldn't he buy one of better quality? What was the use of such a gemstone?

"The Blood Demon Heart, this is the Blood Demon Heart." Qian Jin licked his tongue over the ruby, sensing the faint, bloody aroma, which further confirmed it was the Blood Demon Heart, containing the essence of the Blood Demon!

Eternal Giant Strength Potion! Qian Jin carefully put away the Blood Demon Heart. A string of formulas for a mysterious potion flashed in his mind—the latest concoction researched by Oulala, rumored to permanently increase one's brute strength by a thousand catties upon consumption!

Not a temporary boost, but a permanent increase, locking in that extra thousand catties for the rest of his life.

Strength—no warrior would ever complain about having more! Qian Jin kept recalling that the Blood Demon Heart could supposedly be used to brew other wondrous, secret potions.

"Blood Demon Heart? What's that?" Fabredis was extremely curious. "Do Blood Demons even have hearts?"

"Of course, the Blood Demon's heart can be used to make the Eternal Giant Strength Potion." Qian Jin lowered his voice. "Simply put, drinking that potion can grant an increase of a thousand catties of brute strength out of thin air."

Fabredis and Mugui Wuxin were stunned speechless for a long time, staring blankly at Qian Jin, completely unconcerned about their image. A thousand catties of strength!

"It still needs a few more ingredients. Once I gather them, I'll try making it. If I succeed, everyone gets a share." Qian Jin looked down at the items being auctioned with a smile. "This heart can really make quite a few things."

Mugui Wuxin poked Fabredis in the ribs with his thick finger and murmured to Qian Jin, staring blankly, "Where did you find this little monster? Are you trying to scare me to death? Did he make the Spirit Shock Potion too? Is he a mysterious alchemist?"

"I'll scare you into insomnia sooner or later," Fabredis replied, the shock still lingering on his face, though his eyes were already yielding to a smug smile. "He said he was an apprentice of secret potion-making, but I think he knows more than the actual mysterious alchemists."

Mugui Wuxin glared fiercely at Fabredis and grumbled, "I’ll probably be sleepless all week. Thanks a lot, buddy!"

"You're welcome," Fabredis said, his eyes also turning toward the auction below. "When I first met him, I was also startled sleepless every day. Good things like this, brothers should share."

"Excellent!" Mugui Wuxin nodded repeatedly. "I am proud to have a partner like you."

"Take your time being proud; I won't be modest," Fabredis replied.

While Fabredis was speaking, Qian Jin had already bid the price for those two pieces of Mithril up to three hundred thousand gold coins, silencing all other bidders. Even the Blacksmiths' Guild gave up on bidding.

Mithril was a fine material, but its price had a ceiling. Two pieces of Mithril were worth a maximum of a hundred thousand gold coins; thirty thousand? Where did such a lunatic come from?

"Next up, the auction for these two pieces of Gold Essence..."

"Five hundred thousand!" From the Torrent War Fortress's room, a sky-high price was shouted, instantly changing the expressions of the presidents of the Blacksmiths' Guild and the Inscription Guild. Was the Torrent War Fortress planning to disband immediately after today? Why else would they bid so high? And snatching items from the Blacksmiths' Guild and the Inscription Guild? This was almost an act of provocation.

"Qian Jin, listen..." Mugui Wuxin was startled by Qian Jin's extravagance. "Those things aren't worth that much."

"Today, I intend to sweep up all the good things in this auction and claim them as my own," Qian Jin said with a smile, looking at the Gold Essence and Mithril being delivered. "The value of materials depends entirely on who possesses them. Mithril and Gold Essence only appear at auctions; if I don't seize the opportunity to buy some now, when will I get another chance?"

Gold Essence and Mithril were essential materials for inscriptions. Having spent so long in the Endless World, Qian Jin knew better than anyone that when encountering good materials, if one had the capability to acquire them, one absolutely must. Otherwise, when one truly needed them later, tracking them down would be a hassle.

Item after item was sold, and finally, the last item—the blood of the Blazing Demon Tiger—was officially presented as the grand finale.

Fabredis's eyes immediately lit up. Mugui Wuxin even felt a sudden urge to pin Fabredis down to prevent his long-time friend from impulsively snatching something—the consequences of that would be truly disastrous.

"Qian Jin, you must buy it." Fabredis stared at the Blazing Demon Tiger blood, completely unable to look away. If Mugui Wuxin hadn't grabbed his arm, it was hard to say if he could have restrained himself from lunging forward.

Ascending to Sainthood! For any ordinary warrior, this was an immense draw, a desire far more intoxicating than the bards' tales of dragons loving shiny objects.

For an expert perpetually hovering on the edge of Sainthood, the pull of this desire was amplified a thousandfold, a hundred thousand times.

For the first time, Qian Jin felt a genuine tension. The moment Du Yidu announced the starting price for the first bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood, he immediately shouted, "Fifty!"

Almost everyone in the auction hall turned around in surprise, looking towards the Torrent War Fortress's room where the price originated. Shouting fifty right at the start—what did that mean? Was he insane? The Blazing Demon Tiger blood surely wasn't worth that much!

Personnel from various factions in the other luxurious boxes poked their heads out, looking towards the most unexpected box at this auction.

Buying a worthless ruby for two hundred thousand, bidding three hundred thousand for two pieces of Mithril, calling out five hundred thousand for two pieces of Gold Essence, and now, for a bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood, shouting fifty thousand?

"Fifty, first time... Fifty, second time... Fifty, third time..."

Du Yidu banged the gavel, securing the first bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood without any competition.

"Was that too high?" Mugui Wuxin asked curiously, yet slightly worried, looking at Qian Jin. He truly couldn't fathom why the young man was buying blood for.

"Not high..." Qian Jin shook his head. "I figured it out just now. When bidding starts, you have to come in strong, using momentum to suppress everyone, giving them the feeling that I will buy this regardless of the cost! Otherwise, if the price creeps up slowly, that will be the real trouble. Whether I can get it for fifty later is uncertain."

The second bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood was placed on the auction block. Qian Jin spoke without hesitation, "Five hundred thousand!"

Jielatata stared blankly at the Blazing Demon Tiger blood on the stage. Had the people from the Torrent War Fortress gone mad? Why were they buying this stuff? This item was only useful to their Apothecary Guild, or perhaps to those insane mysterious alchemists. Yongliu City didn't have a Mysterious Alchemists' Guild! This should only interest our Apothecary Guild! The starting price was only a hundred thousand; we probably could have secured a bottle for thirty thousand, but now... [Handwritten update in progress!]

The third bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood was placed on the stage. As soon as Du Yidu called the starting price, Qian Jin again shouted the generous price of five hundred thousand.

One and a half million! Had they lost their minds? Three bottles of Blazing Demon Tiger blood cost a full million and a half! Jielatata sighed. "I don't believe he can buy any more."

Qian Jin retrieved the third bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood, showing a helpless, bitter smile. He couldn't help it; his proficiency in brewing mysterious potions was only at the apprentice level. The success rate for actual brewing was far, far too low. Now, the only way to succeed was to acquire as much Blazing Demon Tiger blood as possible.

The moment the fourth bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood was displayed on the stage, Qian Jin once again shouted the price of five hundred thousand.

Fifth time... Sixth time...

Jielatata could no longer stand it. He felt like the young man in the Torrent War Fortress's box possessed the legendary treasure hoard of a dragon. Bidding five hundred thousand repeatedly—at this rate, the Apothecary Guild wouldn't be able to buy a single bottle of Blazing Demon Tiger blood.

Seventh time... Jielatata placed a bid. Qian Jin threw out all the remaining gold coins he had, finally repelling Jielatata.

Eighth time, ninth time, tenth time. Qian Jin stopped bidding, clutching the seven bottles of Blazing Demon Tiger blood, constantly calculating the probability of successfully brewing what was called the Blood of the Flame Demon.

"Three bottles..." Jielatata looked at the blood in his hands and smiled bitterly. At this auction, apart from the first item whose spotlight was stolen by Li Deyork, everyone else had been a supporting character. They watched the Torrent War Fortress repeatedly display its madness.