Mu Zisi handed the large wooden chest over to Mo Xingtu, his voice trembling with excitement. "Today, the 'Spiritual Treasure Pavilion' will be adding one more item to the auction! This herb was just delivered by a patron for public auction; it is exceedingly rare, likely the only one of its kind on the entire continent."

"Oh?"

Sensing Mu Zisi’s unusual demeanor, the assembled crowd’s interest was instantly piqued. Even those who had risen to leave settled back into their seats, fixing their eyes on Mu Zisi at the circular platform without blinking. A herb unique to the entire Tianling Continent, capable of stirring such excitement in a Fifth-Rank Spiritual Alchemist—it must be extraordinary.

"What is Old Man Mu up to?"

Nie Xingyun stroked his beard in surprise. Lian Tianxin, Nie Xinghai, Que Yu, and the others beside him remained silent, their eyes equally filled with curiosity.

Nie Kong’s heart couldn't help but pound a few times as well. Judging by the intense reaction of the young fellow, the herb inside that wooden chest must far surpass the 'Serpent Coil Blood Lotus' and the 'Lightning Vine.'

Mu Xiaoling’s pure, beautiful eyes were clouded with confusion. In her memory, even when her grandfather first became a Fifth-Rank Spiritual Alchemist, he had never been so beside himself with joy.

Cheng Feiliu laughed heartily, "Brother Zisi, stop teasing us! Hurry up and open the chest, show us what this herb, unique to the Tianling Continent, truly is, so we may broaden our horizons."

"Very well, I shall dispense with pleasantries! Everyone, behold—"

Mu Zisi chuckled and slapped his palm onto the large wooden chest. With a loud crack, the box instantly shattered into fragments, and a dazzling crimson light burst forth. Instantly, everyone subconsciously clamped their mouths shut. The circular hall fell completely silent, save for the sounds of heartbeats and breathing—the stillness was absolute.

The herb stood barely half a meter tall, currently planted in a jade basin. Its branches were lush and dense; both leaves and stem were the color of vivid, flowing blood. From a distance, the herb resembled a conical, crimson sun, making the entire hall seem enveloped in the magnificent glow of an evening sunset. The bloody, ethereal light seeping from the foliage appeared to contain some sort of soul-capturing, magical power, compelling viewers to gaze upon it without fail.

"Fire Tree Silver Flower! Fire Tree Silver Flower!"

After an unknowable span of time, a rapid voice suddenly crashed into the silence of the hall. The attendees awoke as if from a dream, rising to their feet involuntarily, some awestruck, others mesmerized. They looked like lustful admirers beholding a peerless beauty, their eyes involuntarily revealing raw, unmasked greed and possessiveness.

"Fire Tree Silver Flower… for this old man to see the Fire Tree Silver Flower in my lifetime! Even if it is just a seedling, I can die without regret…"

"The legendary Fire Tree Silver Flower, appearing at this auction!"

"This herb truly deserves the title of priceless treasure, but alas, such an extraordinary rarity is not something the average person can possess. Even if one managed to obtain it, it might only bring about great disaster…"

"..."

Exclamations of wonder continued without end, and several old men burst into unrestrained, sobbing cries of excitement.

Nie Kong couldn't help but let out a long breath, leaning back against his chair, his mind frantically searching. He recalled Nie Xingyun mentioning this name when explaining medicinal properties, though without much detail, leaving Nie Kong uninformed.

Yet, even without full knowledge, observing Xiangxiang’s reaction and the expressions of everyone around him made it clear how priceless the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' must be. Otherwise, it wouldn't have left Fifth-Rank Spiritual Alchemists like Nie Xingyun, Cheng Feiliu, Qu Tingyun, Que Yu, and Fu Erong utterly dumbfounded.

"Fire Tree Silver Flower, Nightless Sky, Dragon Tamer, God Devourer dancing lightly…" Mu Xiaoling stared blankly at the vibrant red herb on the platform, her beautiful eyes vacant, murmuring to herself.

"What does that mean?" Nie Kong subconsciously asked.

Hearing the voice, Mu Xiaoling looked at Nie Kong in a daze. After a moment, she seemed to recall his question. "Those two phrases speak of the five most precious herbs on the Tianling Continent: Fire Tree Silver Flower, Nightless Sky, Dragon Taming Grass, God Devouring Flower, and the Light-Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring!"

As she spoke, the young girl's delicate face flushed with a drunken blush. "Nie Kong, do you know that among these five herbs, the 'Light-Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring' is the most miraculous? Legend says that thousands of years ago, a 'Light-Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring' absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, shedding its floral form to finally attain a human body. It even married and had children, whose descendants still live on the Tianling Continent today!"

"Is that real?"

Nie Kong asked, astonished.

On the Tianling Continent, anything living could instinctively absorb spiritual energy, like spirit beasts and medicinal herbs, but achieving a human form seemed utterly fantastical. Nie Kong had no corresponding information in his memory—though this might just be due to his predecessor's profound ignorance.

Seeing Nie Kong’s disbelief, the young girl immediately grew anxious, lifting her rosy little face. "Of course it's true! Let me tell you…"

Just then, Cheng Feiliu's slightly trembling voice rang out, interrupting her explanation. "Brother Zisi, are you truly planning to auction off this 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' just like that?"

"Yes, Old Man Mu, this 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' is one of the five great miraculous herbs of the world; this is no small matter!" Nie Xingyun said solemnly.

"Indeed, if news of this spreads, it will absolutely shake the entire world!"

"..."

Qu Tingyun, Que Yu, and Fu Erong spoke up one after another. Even the envoys from the smaller families in the back rows couldn't help but chatter amongst themselves. The few Fifth-Rank Spiritual Alchemists were right; news of a 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' seedling being auctioned would certainly cause an earthquake across the Tianling Continent.

Mu Zisi gave a wry smile. "Everyone need not doubt. Since this 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' has been presented, it will naturally be auctioned today, as was the wish of the patron. However, I offer this reminder: friends whose family strength is too weak should refrain from bidding later."

In truth, Mu Zisi did not need to remind them. Apart from the Five Great Clans and the Luoxia Sect, no other families, even if they possessed the financial means, would dare to bid on the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower.' After all, the herb was too precious; lacking the strength to guard it would most likely lead to the destruction of their clan, ending in bitterness and regret.

"Little Sister Ling, you still haven't told me what the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' is used for?" Nie Kong whispered.

Mu Xiaoling shot him a side-eye but still offered an explanation. "I only know the most common use for the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower.' I hear that once it fully matures and blooms, if a single silver flower is added when refining a spiritual medicine, it can increase the success rate of the alchemy process by at least fifty percent, and this boost applies regardless of the spiritual medicine's rank!"

Regardless of the spiritual medicine's rank!

Looking at the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' on the platform, shaped like a miniature Metasequoia, Nie Kong sucked in a sharp breath. This meant that if a highly skilled Spiritual Alchemist used this 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' when crafting Seventh or Eighth-Rank spiritual medicines, even if they couldn't reach a one hundred percent success rate, they could still hit seventy or eighty percent—a shockingly high probability. The young fellow truly was remarkable; this person hadn't even seen the herb yet, and he had already sensed its presence!

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