Nie Kong stood before the circular platform, picking up a page, setting it down, picking it up, setting it down again and again...

The room was utterly silent, and even the Heavenly Spirit realm experts couldn't help but feel a touch of tension, especially Eighth-Grade Medicine Kings like You Li and Hua Zhan. To them, the importance of the "Ruyi Fire Lotus" far outweighed the Seventh-Grade spiritual medicine with a perfect fusion rate they had previously acquired from Nie Kong.

Soon, dozens of pages were flipped through.

Nie Kong pondered for a moment, then selected four sheets from the pile, examining them closely once more. It was clear that the owner of the "Ruyi Fire Lotus" would emerge from among these four.

A moment later, two of the sheets were set aside.

Nie Kong's gaze flickered between the final two pages, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. Seeing this, the hearts of everyone present grew taut.

After several minutes, Nie Kong's brow finally relaxed. Another page was put down, and a faint smile touched Nie Kong's lips.

Almost simultaneously, soft sighs echoed throughout the room.

"The result is finally out. I wonder who will obtain this 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'."

"This spiritual medicine is probably beyond my reach..."

"If this waiting continues, my throat is going to catch fire."

"..."

In contrast to the apprehension and yearning of the crowd, only Ye Haoran, Zhan Tianfeng from the Spirit God Hall, and a select few others remained seated with composed ease, seemingly confident of victory.

Nie Kong surveyed the room and chuckled loudly, "Esteemed guests, the final herb left is called the 'Azure Sparrow Pearl'."

"'Azure Sparrow Pearl'?"

Exclamations erupted one after another, followed by sighs, murmurs of regret, gasps of astonishment, and, most predominantly, confusion.

"How is that possible?"

The smile on Ye Haoran’s face froze instantly. He spoke in a deep voice, "The Azure Sparrow Pearl is indeed an extremely precious herb, certainly capable of serving as the primary ingredient for an Eighth-Grade spiritual medicine. However, in this setting today, the Azure Sparrow Pearl is unlikely to eclipse every other herb, is it?"

Hearing this, even You Li and Hua Zhan couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Zhan Tianfeng chimed in with a genial smile, "Does everyone know which herb our Spirit God Hall has offered? A seedling of the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower'."

"'Fire Tree Silver Flower'? Could it be the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower,' one of the Five Great Marvels!"

"When the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' was auctioned in Jiyang City, it was acquired by the Imperial Family of Cheng, but it was later stolen. Could it have fallen into the hands of the Spirit God Hall?"

"What 'return'? I heard that the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' was originally put up for auction by the Spirit God Hall."

"..."

Zhan Tianfeng's words were like a massive stone dropped into a placid lake, causing violent splashes. The crowd began to murmur excitedly, utterly astounded, especially Cheng Feixing, the Grand Supreme Emperor of the Great Cheng Empire, who found it almost unbelievable.

After the "Fire Tree Silver Flower" was lost years ago, Cheng Feixing had paid a considerable price to learn from the Mu family that the Spirit God Hall expert who had been outbid by Duke Nie Shen was precisely the one who had put the "Fire Tree Silver Flower" up for auction. Yet, now, the Spirit God Hall was offering it up for the bidding of a spiritual medicine!

"There is no need for wild speculation, everyone."

Zhan Tianfeng smiled smoothly, "My nephew was young and ignorant back then. Not only did he leave the Spirit God Hall without permission, but he also stole the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' to auction it off. He has already received severe punishment. Over the years, the Spirit God Hall has been searching for the whereabouts of that 'Fire Tree Silver Flower,' but regrettably, without success. However, within the Spirit God Hall, we possess three seedlings of the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower.' Excluding the one auctioned three years ago, we still have two remaining."

Three 'Fire Tree Silver Flowers'...

Everyone let out a collective sharp intake of breath. The Five Great Marvels were rare and could only be encountered by chance. Putting aside the 'Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring,' the 'Nightless Sky,' the 'Dragon Taming Grass,' and the 'God Devouring Flower' were now mere names whispered in legends, rarely seen by anyone. Yet, who would have thought the Spirit God Hall possessed three seedlings of the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower.'

If the herb the Spirit God Hall had written down was indeed the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower,' no other herb, not even the 'Azure Sparrow Pearl,' could compete with it.

The confusion in everyone's minds multiplied. Was there some trickery afoot?

Observing the expressions of those around him, Ye Haoran sneered, "Nie Kong, what else do you have to say? Surely, a seedling of the Fire Tree Silver Flower is worth one of your 'Ruyi Fire Lotuses,' isn't it?"

"It is worth it, of course it is, but..." Nie Kong said with a smile, "Ye Haoran, how many years old is the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' seedling from your Spirit God Hall?"

Ye Haoran stated grimly, "Six years!"

Nie Kong pressed immediately, "How many more years will it take for this 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' seedling to grow to the point of flowering and fruiting?"

Ye Haoran flushed with annoyance, "Nie Kong, you yourself are an Eighth-Grade Medicine King. Why ask me such a simple question? Surely you are aware yourself?"

Nie Kong offered no words, simply fixing him with a steady gaze.

Ye Haoran could only reply stiffly, "One hundred to one hundred and fifty years!"

"Since you know the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' requires over a century to bear fruit, why would you offer it up for auction?" Nie Kong scoffed, "'The Fire Tree Silver Flower' is a marvel of the world, but it only gains value after it matures. A six-year-old seedling of the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' is utterly useless right now. Ye Haoran, you call yourself a Spirit Alchemist, yet you need me to teach you such a simple principle?"

"..." The crowd was left dumbfounded by the audacity.

Nie Kong truly possessed immense courage to reprimand Ye Haoran in this manner. However, deep down, they couldn't help but faintly agree with Nie Kong's assessment. The 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' was precious, yes, but a mere six-year-old seedling could not be used for alchemy; it required careful cultivation. It was reasonable for Nie Kong not to choose it.

"You... Insolence!"

Ye Haoran was so enraged his orifices threatened to smoke. He bellowed fiercely. Although the smile on Zhan Tianfeng's face remained, his eyes narrowed into thin slits.

Nie Kong waved a hand dismissively, "Enough. You don't need to flaunt your Spirit God Hall Medicine King authority in front of me. I didn't even fear Kou Xi, let alone a mere nobody like you who hasn't even reached the Ninth Grade of the Heavenly Spirit realm?"

"Good, good, very good!"

Ye Haoran laughed through his fury, glaring darkly at Nie Kong. "Nie Kong, I won't waste breath arguing semantics with you. Even if the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' is a seedling, if it were put up for auction, forget twenty billion—even thirty billion would be offered for it. Do you dare deny that?"

Nie Kong stated calmly, "It seems your hearing is impaired. Didn't I already say that your 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' is completely worth one 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'? But worthiness is one thing; unfortunately, you forgot something my woman said. Xue Chan, what did you say before the auction began?"

Upon hearing Nie Kong utter the words "my woman," Long Xuechan couldn't help but glance at him sideways, though her heart felt as sweet as honey, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face. "This auction accepts no gold coins, only herbs. Whoever offers the most precious herb will obtain the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus'."

... ...RO

For more novels, visit storyread.net.