Spurred on by the escalating bids, Mo Xingtu became utterly absorbed in his role as auctioneer, his face flushed with excitement.

After handing the "Guiding Gold Bead" to his assistant, Mo Xingtu wasted no time. He immediately retrieved the second wooden box, exclaiming with surging energy, "Esteemed guests, this vial also contains a fifth-grade spirit medicine, 'Azure Sea Blue Sky'! Just two drops can rapidly restore a Water-element Spirit Master whose spiritual power is completely depleted. It is incredibly practical during combat. As long as you are not facing an adversary far stronger than yourself, possessing this ensures you remain invincible."

As he spoke, Mo Xingtu withdrew a cyan jade bottle from the box. The bottle was pitifully small, about the size of a thumb, likely only enough for two or three doses. However, since this was a life-saving spirit medicine for crucial moments, it naturally wouldn't be presented in a large container.

"This vial of 'Azure Sea Blue Sky' has an eighty-one percent potency fusion rate. Bidding starts again at one million, with minimum increments of fifty thousand. Ladies and gentlemen, opportunity knocks but once! Possessing this 'Azure Sea Blue Sky' is tantamount to gaining several extra lives!" Mo Xingtu cajoled with passionate fervor.

"One million two hundred thousand!"

"One million three hundred fifty thousand!"

"..."

This time, it was the smaller families tentatively raising the bids, and the price quickly soared to one million five hundred thousand.

However, since this bottle of "Azure Sea Blue Sky" was only applicable to Water Spirit Masters and served only to restore spiritual power, the major families and sects showed little interest and mostly refrained from participating. Only Qu Tingyun made a token bid of one million four hundred thousand before being instantly overpowered.

"One million seven hundred thousand!"

A resolute voice suddenly rang out, abruptly pushing the price up by two hundred thousand. Nie Kong glanced over and saw that the bidder was the middle-aged man standing beside Bai Yuqing. Since the auction began, this man had remained completely silent, only exerting his force when the event was nearing its close.

"That is Bai Yujing, the head of the Bai family," Mu Xiaoling reminded him quietly.

Nie Kong nodded. Bai Yanjing was indeed Bai Yuqing's father. He had glanced over a few times previously; Bai Yanjing had maintained a perpetually icy, expressionless demeanor. Not only did Bai Yuqing share some facial resemblance with him, but their expressions seemed almost carved from the same mold—truly, the daughter was the spitting image of the father.

"One million seven hundred thousand! Head of the Bai family bids one million seven hundred thousand! Are there any other bids? Any others?" Mo Xingtu’s voice was already growing hoarse, but the crowd's interest in this type of spirit medicine wasn't very high. Despite his hysterical coaxing, it took a considerable while before someone spoke again.

"One million eight hundred thousand!"

The voice was very hesitant; it was likely their absolute limit.

"Two million!"

Bai Yanjing's clipped tone decisively shattered any remaining hope the smaller families had of competing for the "Azure Sea Blue Sky." They all shook their heads silently.

A fifth-grade spirit medicine fetching a mere two million, Mo Xingtu felt a touch of frustration. Still unwilling to give up, he continued to shout, trying to stir up enthusiasm, but it was in vain. In the end, he had no choice but to announce the sale: the fifth-grade spirit medicine "Azure Sea Blue Sky" was acquired by Bai Yanjing for two million gold coins.

Seeing Mo Xingtu's expression on the stage, Mu Xiaoling pursed her lips and chuckled, "'Azure Sea Blue Sky' fetching two million is already quite good. Master is being a bit greedy. But the real show-stopping spirit medicine is coming next; Master’s mood will likely pick up right away."

Nie Kong inclined his head slightly. He too was eagerly awaiting the final spirit medicine. Being the finale, it should at least be a sixth-grade medicine, shouldn't it?

"Ah-yah-yah, ah-yah-yah..."

Suddenly, the little fellow twisted its roots and stems, bouncing up and down with excitement.

Nie Kong was already intimately familiar with the subconscious emotions displayed by Xiangxiang. It was the same when he sensed that medicinal fragrance in the Illusionary Realm, and the same when he saw the "Electric Light Vine" behind the alchemy chamber. Could it be that the final wooden box didn't contain a finished spirit medicine, but rather a rare, exotic herb?

Nie Kong reached into his robes and retrieved the bag containing the "Gold Jade Gourd Seeds" from his pet satchel. He poured out one seed, placed it directly into his mouth, and chewed a few times. The juice burst forth, a thick, sweet essence flowing down his throat, making Nie Kong’s heart feel as if it were melting from sweetness.

The little fellow devoured the "Gold Jade Gourd Seed" without hesitation regarding its medicinal properties. However, its cries did not cease; in fact, the agitation emanating from its sounds grew even more intense, surpassing even the discovery of the medicinal scent of the "Serpent Coiling Blood Lotus" or the "Electric Light Vine." This indicated that the herb the little one was sensing now must be even more precious than the "Serpent Coiling Blood Lotus" and the "Electric Light Vine." It was a pity that such an herb was beyond his current means, so he could only try to soothe the little one's emotions, assuring it that it would quiet down after the auction ended.

Mu Xiaoling was long accustomed to Nie Kong’s ability to eat herbs raw, but seeing him consume a "Gold Jade Gourd Seed" like that still gave the young girl a pang of vicarious pain. She rolled her eyes in exasperation, then glanced around, murmuring in confusion, "Huh? Why did my grandfather leave?"

Nie Kong followed her gaze and saw that Mu Zisi was indeed being led out of the side door of the hall by a young man. Nie Kong paid it no mind; compared to Mu Zisi's departure, he was far more focused on the last remaining box on the high platform... no, rather, on the herb inside that box!

"Esteemed guests, what is the final item for auction? Let us see..."

Mo Xingtu had adjusted his mood, taking the final wooden box with a mysteriously secretive air. Under the expectant gazes of everyone, he deliberately and slowly lifted the lid. Just as the audience felt an urge to take off their shoes and throw them at him, Mo Xingtu feigned a dramatic gasp and extracted a small white jade box, only palm-sized, from within. "Oh dear, still a box? Let's keep opening..."

The jade box opened to reveal a white sphere, about the size of a baby's fist. A wooden box hid a jade box, which hid a sphere, and what was hidden inside the sphere? It must be admitted that this method successfully piqued everyone's interest and curiosity.

Mo Xingtu smiled like a cunning fox: "What lies inside? Please open your eyes wide..."

"Crack!"

Mo Xingtu pinched his fingers, and the sphere split into two halves. Embedded in one half was a finger-sized spirit medicine, crimson as blood, its smooth surface faintly enveloped by an ethereal glow. Mo Xingtu held the medicine aloft, turning it a few times, the magnificent coloration radiating from it, dazzling the eyes.

"Crimson Floating Pill!"

Exclamations erupted one after another, clearly indicating that many in the hall recognized the origin of that spirit medicine. However, Nie Kong was deeply confused. According to the little one's vocal cues, the finale should have been an herb; how could it be a finished spirit medicine? Could the spirit medicine the little one sensed not be on the stage, but carried by someone nearby? Nie Kong subconsciously turned his head, surveying the surroundings...

... P: What did Mu Zisi go out to do? This is important, ah... Still begging for votes. Also, the new QQ group number: 75105980. (∩_∩)~.. ...

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