CHAPTER 198: CHAPTER 198: ACQUIRED AND DESTINATION

In the auction hall, the light of the Moonlight Stone seemed to dim slightly again.

The scene everyone saw was not as vivid as before.

They only felt shadows, hazy and indistinct.

Yet, the bidding prices reached a new crescendo at this moment.

Apart from two people bidding on the second floor, there were also cultivators in the partitions on the first floor and in the seats for loose cultivators starting to bid.

Ye Jingcheng also joined in the bidding.

However, he bid more casually, as this was the task set by Ye Xinghe.

He didn’t need to bid to the very end, but he had to drive the price up.

This wine recipe had clearly been promoted beforehand. Previously, Ye Jingcheng didn’t sense it, but now he noticed that there were quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators among those wearing Spirit-Blocking Robes in the loose cultivator seating.

In the partitions owned by Foundation Establishment cultivators, there were several whom Ye Jingcheng didn’t recognize.

Having spent several years in Taihang Market, he was extremely familiar with the notable families of Taihang Commandery.

That included their geniuses, their Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even their Clan Mountains, subordinate counties and towns, and mortal situations.

"Thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones!" Finally, after a series of chaotic bidding, a majestic voice emerged from the Mo Family’s box on the second floor.

The voice held no threatening tone, but no one dared to ignore the identity of the person.

After all, this was the voice many clan cultivators mandated their juniors to memorize.

This was precisely the Mo Family’s old patriarch, currently the only Purple Mansion Cultivator of the Mo Family on the surface, who had witnessed countless tumultuous years in Taihang Commandery over his three hundred-year lifespan.

The price had reached thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones.

For a regular wine recipe, the price was around twenty thousand Spirit Stones. What made it so coveted was that this wine recipe could also slightly extend one’s lifespan.

Even though the extension was minuscule, for a cultivator, even one more day was priceless.

Not to mention, this wine could enhance cultivation, a dual enhancement.

"Thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones!" Another increase of a thousand, this time, was also expectedly the Xu Family’s old patriarch.

The two patriarchs spoke calmly, seemingly without any threat, but their mere voices were an awe-inspiring force.

"Thirty-four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" The Mo Family’s old patriarch continued to raise the bid.

As the Xu Family’s old patriarch was about to continue bidding, a voice emerged from a box on the first floor.

"Forty thousand Spirit Stones!" This time, the bid increased by almost five thousand Spirit Stones.

This prompted everyone to look over curiously.

The Xu Family and Mo Family fell silent, evidently not expecting anyone on the first floor to bid.

And to bid so high.

But after a moment of silence, the Mo Family’s old patriarch bid again.

"Forty thousand and five hundred Spirit Stones!" His voice carried a hint of anger.

"Forty-one thousand Spirit Stones!" The Xu Family’s old patriarch was not to be outdone.

"Forty-five thousand Spirit Stones!" An untimely voice sounded once more from the first floor.

Everyone wished to see through the partition and the Spirit-Blocking Robe, to find out if it was a decoy from the great Purple Mansion Clans on either side.

Or the original consigner.

After all, this seemed very much like a price manipulation.

However, this price was remarkably high, comparable to an Upper-grade Spiritual Artifact of Tier Two High-grade.

Bear in mind, the auction takes a 20% commission, so even as the consigner, the Spirit Stones to be received at this point were no less.

Even though the entire auction hall was gathered, there was no voice, it even appeared slightly silent.

"No one else is bidding, I suppose it’s mine, Auctioneer!" After a while, that cultivator spoke up.

This scene even made Silver Moon on the stage a bit embarrassed, as the auctioneer, she had actually forgotten to declare the results.

However, this was not her mistake, but a goodwill gesture for the Xu and Mo families.

"Forty-five thousand Spirit Stones once!"

"Forty-five thousand Spirit Stones twice!"

"Forty-five thousand Spirit Stones thrice!"

"Sold!" It was not until the deal was made that people seemed to regain their senses from the auction.

The figure in the compartment had already entered the backstage to begin exchanging treasure and transferring Spirit Stones.

Ye Jingcheng also headed backstage.

He had purchased the Three Qian Taihe Furnace and sold the Fire Heart Pill, so he needed to make arrangements backstage as well.

"It’s just a facade, either the Xu Family or the Mo Family must be behind it!" Ye Xinghe shook his head.

He had observed such tricks before and understood the principle behind them.

But this time, the Li Family’s plans were doomed to fail.

Once the Three Qian Taihe Furnace fell into Ye Jingcheng’s hands, the Li Family’s Alchemy Dao practically announced its end.

"Congratulations, senior. You still need to make up for ten thousand and two hundred Spirit Stones, the forty is waived!" The person responsible for the exchange backstage was a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, a close aide of Master Jiang.

He was quite corpulent, with some resemblance to Ye Xinghe, and their conversations and behavior were well-matched, there was even a faint sense of camaraderie between them.

However, despite this, the additional Spirit Stones required were not lessened.

In fact, under normal circumstances, Ye Jingcheng only needed to make up about nine thousand Spirit Stones, but unfortunately, the Fire Heart Pill had a 20% cut taken.

Leaving only over six thousand Spirit Stones behind.

In Taihang Market, ordinary treasures and regular featured treasures are subject to a 10% commission, but for someone like Ye Jingcheng who forcibly promoted an ordinary item to a featured treasure, the commission increased by another 10%.

Ye Jingcheng received the Three Qian Taihe Furnace. Compared to the Cyan Elephant Furnace, this Pill Furnace was made of superior material.

From the feel and the sensation of the array patterns, it was significantly better, making Ye Jingcheng reluctant to part with it.

If a Sword Cultivator’s sword is their life, then the Pill Furnace is just as vital for an Alchemy Master.

"Go back and try refining a Purple Wood Pill!" Ye Jingcheng made a decision in his heart, disregarding matters regarding the wine recipe.

Moreover, he still had the Jade Soul Pill, which could be prepared to break through the Divine Sense, and then refine the Spirit Pill, considering the enhancement of the Pill Furnace, by then, he might truly manage to refine a Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Pill.

While Ye Jingcheng remained calm, the entire Taihang Market was anything but. Everyone was searching for that cultivator.

Some dared to follow the Spirit-Blocking Robe Cultivator from behind.

However, it wasn’t long before most cultivators lost track.

...

At the Mo Family Shop, numerous cultivators had also vanished, seemingly following orders to search the market.

Meanwhile, in the brightly lit basement of the shop, the Mo Family’s old patriarch had settled in early.

He sat solemnly in a nanmu Master’s Chair, lost in thought. After a long pause, a Spirit-Blocking Robe Cultivator entered.

The Mo Family’s old patriarch looked at the Spirit-Blocking Robe Cultivator before him, removed the hood, and handed over a Jade Talisman.

Immediately, the Mo Family’s old patriarch was extremely pleased.

"This Jade Talisman is indeed the recipe for Supreme Profound Turtle Wine!" After examining it for a while, the Mo Family’s old patriarch remarked thoughtfully.

"Patriarch, but in recent years, there has been a continuous demand for Jade Wave Wine from some cultivators. This time, there’s a marketing stunt around the Supreme Profound Wine recipe..."

"Although it appears to have a three-month gap, it is an uncanny coincidence!"

"It may be forcing our Mo Family’s hand!"

"No matter, continue selling the wine as usual; if he sends over Spirit Stones, we’ll accept them. However, this wine recipe shouldn’t be circulated here, let the family cultivators consume it..."

"In Taihang Commandery, it’s best if these recipes don’t get circulated broadly, reserving them for the family’s use is best..."

"Yes, exactly, the Ye Family is also buying Jade Wave Wine?" The Mo Family’s old patriarch added as a question.

After speaking, he inquired again.

It’s merely for show, either the Mo Family or Xu Family must be the ones stirring things up behind the scenes!" Ye Xinghe nodded, knowing who was really pulling the strings.

However, this time, the Li Family’s plans were bound to fail.

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