With the debacle of the spendthrift's battle royale serving as a baseline, the subsequent rounds of the auction, though concluding with substantial prices, lacked any significant fluctuation and thus generated little buzz. [] Finally, the stage was set for the item Jun Moxie had been eagerly awaiting: the Burning Scripture Lotus.

"The Burning Scripture Lotus, a highly toxic herb. Also known as Bone-Melting Smoke, even a slight touch can bring about the disaster of the soul scattering. However, for specific groups, it is an invaluable treasure capable of bringing the dead back to life! Especially if one is gravely poisoned, ingesting this substance can counteract the poison with remarkable, almost instantaneous effect. If a high-level Xuan Practitioner is nearby to guide the detoxification process, channeling the herb's toxicity throughout the limbs and body, it can reverse misfortune and forge a body impervious to all poisons! Starting bid, twenty thousand taels of silver! Each subsequent bid must be no less than one thousand taels."

The elder in the purple robe presented a white jade box. Opening the lid, a pitch-black, leafy lotus stood silently within, emitting a hue that was both demonic and dangerous.

"No wonder it was saved for last; it has turned black. Judging by its ashen color, this specimen must be over five hundred years old! Its efficacy will be far superior to the common variety. It truly is a fine item; even in my previous life, a five-hundred-year specimen was rarely seen." Jun Moxie sighed in relief and murmured, "Fatty, this one is mine!" He then raised three fingers.

He thought to himself that while the explanation was detailed, it completely omitted another crucial use for the Burning Scripture Lotus. However, if they truly knew, they likely wouldn't have put it up for auction at all!

The Burning Scripture Lotus is the name used on the Xuanxuan Continent. On Earth, any Burning Scripture Lotus exceeding two hundred years of age gains an additional name—the Heaven and Earth Bridge! This transforms it into something all martial artists dream of. By using special methods to purge its toxicity and then consuming it, one can instantly unblock stagnant meridians, opening the Heaven and Earth Bridge, capable of boosting a practitioner's cultivation by over twenty years!

As for a five-hundred-year-old Burning Scripture Lotus, it is the absolute apex of rarities. With this, Jun Wuyi’s chances of recovery jump to over ninety percent! And that was Jun Moxie being conservative in his estimate!

As Jun Moxie finished speaking, simultaneously with the purple-robed elder on stage, Tang Fatty’s voice suddenly boomed out: "I bid three hundred thousand taels!"

At this declaration, the corners of everyone’s mouths twitched: the prodigal had reappeared. Although this time he only increased the bid by one hundred thousand taels, compared to the standard minimum increment of ten thousand taels, this was tenfold! They cautioned themselves not to contest him; if they drove the price up and the fatty decided he no longer wanted it, leaving it sitting unsold, they would truly weep. Hadn’t they just seen Young Master Meng from the Meng family spit blood on the spot?

Thus, after Tang Fatty spoke, the entire hall instantly fell silent! Not a single person dared to reply for a long moment.

Truthfully, even the purple-robed elder was momentarily dumbfounded. Was this Burning Scripture Lotus, which could easily fetch at least eight hundred thousand taels, about to sell for a mere three hundred thousand? However, Sheng Bao Hall had its rules. After a slight pause, the elder raised the gavel again and stated solemnly, "Young Master Tang bids three hundred thousand taels. Are there any higher offers?" He paused, then continued, "Three hundred thousand taels, first call..."

"Three hundred thousand taels, second call..."

Suddenly, a hoarse voice viciously cut in: "This old man bids three million taels!"

The one who offered this astronomical sum was none other than Li Zhen.

Tang Yuan, seeing his victory snatched away by Li Zhen's sudden intervention, erupted in fury. He leaped to the edge of his private box and roared, "Damn it all! You dare compete with me? I bid five hun—" His mouth was instantly covered, held shut by Jun Moxie. Though the word was cut short, it was enough to make everyone in the hall break out in a cold sweat. Everyone guessed what the fatty was about to shout: "Five million taels!"

Madness! This fatty must be insane!

Jun Moxie twisted his neck and swaggered out, his sickly appearance still lingering, yet his domineering arrogance already fully displayed. He hitched up his robe, planting one foot with a "thud" onto the railing outside his box. With a careless flick, he snatched the hat from his head, letting his robe fall open at the front. His eyes askew and malicious, he bellowed, "Li Zhen! You bastard! Was that you just now making a bid? Are you courting death?!"

"It was this young master, so what if it was? This is an auction house. If you can bid, can I not? Bite me!" Li Zhen jumped out without hesitation, matching the scoundrel’s aggressive posture.

"What am I going to do? Ptooey!" Jun Moxie perfectly embodied the image of a dissolute, wasteful young master, his mouth twisted as he yelled, "Damn it, with your pockets just emptied, you think you can produce three million taels of silver? Li surname, it’s not that I look down on you! Show me three million taels right now? If you can produce it, this damn grass is yours! If you can't, then damn it, I want to ask: why have your two families been making trouble for Fatty time and again? Do you have a grudge against the Tang family?! Or against Old Master Tang?!"

Across the way, Dugu Xiaoyi smiled sweetly, chuckling, "Looking at this fellow, he's truly detestable! A fine Black Lotus, and he dares call it a blade of grass. So ignorant, hee hee..."

Princess Ling Meng, standing beside her, gave her a surprised look and reached out to touch her forehead: Has this lady caught a fever today? Just moments ago she was brooding, but now she's instantly transformed?

These past few days, the Dugu family had been in turmoil because of Dugu Xiaoyi. The little ancestor's once cheerful and lively personality had inexplicably vanished. She frequently burst into tears, then sat staring blankly, often refusing to eat. This had caused General Dugu Wudi immense heartache. He and his wives had taken turns trying to question her to no avail, only able to watch their daughter grow thinner day by day. Unable to scold or hit her, Dugu Wudi had vented his frustration by beating up his sons and nephews.

It was Madam Dugu who found a solution, persuading Princess Ling Meng to accompany Dugu Xiaoyi, which brought about a slight improvement. When they received the Sheng Bao Hall auction notice, they rushed the two young ladies here for a change of scenery. Dugu Xiaoyi had come along with extreme reluctance, yet the moment she arrived here, all her ailments seemed to vanish! How could this not astonish everyone? Could Sheng Bao Hall possess some secret elixir?

Li Zhen and his companions exchanged uneasy glances. Right now, forget three million taels; if they pooled their resources together, ten thousand taels would be a good haul. Where could they possibly scrape together such a massive sum as three million? Their faces grew troubled.

"A bunch of poor wretches! I really can't be bothered with you lot." Jun Moxie let out a disdainful scoff, then dusted off his backside. "My flatulence is worth more than anything you say! What sort of thing are you, pretending to be important when you have no silver?"

Then, with an air of arrogant defiance, Jun Moxie turned to the general audience, displaying the look of someone who cared little for money not his own. "Who else wants it? Don't be shy, come on." He snapped his fingers. "It’s only a few million taels of silver."

The crowd turned away, pretending not to hear. They treated his words as if he had just farted. Several million taels for a medicinal herb? Did he think it was an immortal herb that could resurrect the dead and regrow flesh? What sane person would commit such folly?

Two immense waves of spiritual pressure, originating from unknown sources, suddenly bore down upon Jun Moxie. His face paled, his mind racing. With a sharp shiver, he cursed, "What dreadful weather, why is it suddenly so cold?" The two waves of pressure circled him once, found nothing amiss, and instantly vanished.

Jun Moxie inwardly let out two cold laughs. If you manage to probe my secrets, then this grandmaster won't need to walk the martial world anymore.