Li Sheng turned in confusion to Bai Ye, who was clutching his sleeve, her eyes glistening with tears as she gazed at Liu Hongfeng.
"Junior Sister?" He waved a hand in front of her.
Bai Ye didn’t respond, her gaze fixed, seemingly lost in thought.
Finally, she murmured, "I miss my mother."
"If you miss her, you can visit her sometime. Let’s go; the auction is about to start."
"My mother is gone."
"..."
"After the capital city competition, we can pay our respects together."
"Brother... her voice sounds just like my mother's, always so gentle." Bai Ye watched Liu Hongfeng leave, sorrowful.
"Looks like you see your mother’s shadow in her. You’re impossible," Li Sheng muttered, quickly catching up with Liu Hongfeng and her daughter.
"Leader Liu, you rushed off before I finished speaking."
"Leader Li, I’m listening." Liu Hongfeng turned, surprised.
"Prepare the herbs; just send them to Qingling Sect when ready." Li Sheng scratched his head.
"Are you really willing to help us?"
"It’s not me, it’s my junior sister. The one hundred spirit stones are non-negotiable." He pointed to Bai Ye, who was now happily following him toward Baibao Pavilion.
"What are you waiting for? The auction is starting!" he urged Bai Ye, who perked up, skipping along.
This left Liu Hongfeng and her daughter astonished.
"Hong Ying, send some disciples to gather the needed herbs around the city."
"But mother, don’t we have enough herbs in our sect?" Hong Ying questioned.
"Just do it," Liu Hongfeng replied, shaking her head.
Inside the main hall, Li Sheng and Bai Ye followed Manager Liu through a narrow passage, emerging into a spacious area bustling with activity. An elderly man animatedly engaged the crowd, while a line of women presented items on red-covered trays.
The circular seating around the stage was filled, with VIP rooms above, the noise making Li Sheng frown.
"Young Master Li, this way please; I’ll take you to the VIP room," Manager Liu urged.
Once inside the room, the noise faded. After instructing a maid, Manager Liu took his leave.
At that moment, the auctioneer presented a black sword, glimmering ominously under the lights.
"This is a sixth-grade sword forged from obsidian, weighing three hundred thirty-three pounds, starting at eighty spirit stones, with bids increasing by at least five."
Excitement surged in the crowd.
"I bid ninety!"
"I bid a hundred; no one else better compete!"
"One hundred and ten!"
"One hundred and fifteen!"
After fierce competition, the sword sold for one hundred sixty-five spirit stones.
The auction continued with a sixth-grade inner armor fetching two hundred eighty spirit stones. Li Sheng participated as well, acquiring three books of seventh-grade martial arts and one sixth-grade book for a total of two hundred fifty spirit stones.
"Next up are two lower-grade detoxification pills, known to effectively dispel demonic energy."
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"Mother, look! Detoxification pills! Too bad they’re only lower-grade," Liu Hong Ying lamented from her box.
"Let’s bid on one; if Leader Li fails to refine..." she quickly corrected herself, "He’ll definitely succeed."
"For me, lower-grade pills won’t help much. Only medium or higher-grade can dispel the lingering demonic energy."
"The first detoxification pill starts at fifteen spirit stones, with increments of one."
"Sixteen!"
"Seventeen!"
"Twenty-two!"
"Thirty!"
"Thirty? Detoxification pills are only worth twenty-seven; anything more is ridiculous!"
"Hong Ying, don’t..." Liu Hongfeng sighed, recognizing her daughter's concern.
"Thirty-five!"
"Crazy!"
"Is there spirit stones to waste?"
"That voice belongs to Tian Qingfeng, it’s certainly the Elders’ doing!" anger flashed on Liu Hong Ying's face.
"Forty!"
"Hong Ying, don’t be reckless..." Liu Hongfeng warned, her brow furrowing.
"Forty-five!"
"Humph!" Liu Hong Ying sat down, fuming.
"The second detoxification pill starts at fifteen spirit stones!"
Before the auctioneer finished, a confident voice declared,
"Forty-five spirit stones!"
The audience quickly recognized the rivalry brewing between the bidders.
In another box, Tian Qingfeng grinned, "Grandpa, Liu Hongfeng still hopes a lower-grade pill can dispel her demonic energy; she must be desperate."
"Liu Hongfeng is a sixth-grade master; I heard her disciples are gathering materials for the pills?" an old man beside him shook his head.
"Just a futile struggle," Tian Qingfeng dismissed.
"Don’t underestimate her; the appearance of high-grade pills at this auction seems suspicious. Inform the Wolf Pack that plans may have changed."
"Is that necessary?"
"Go!" The old man's tone grew stern, prompting Tian Qingfeng to hurry out.
"Next is one of our key items, a high-grade body-refining pill, starting at one hundred spirit stones, with increments of at least ten."
"One hundred spirit stones? Highway robbery!"
"Sure, it’s high-grade, but it’s only ninth-grade; selling it for this much is a scam!"
"You have no idea!"
"Fools!"
"High-grade pills not only possess immense medicinal power, but they also contain a hint of spiritual essence, aiding in breakthroughs."
"One hundred ten!"
"One hundred twenty!"
"..." "Two hundred thirty!"
As this bid rang out, the atmosphere grew tense.
"Two hundred thirty, once!"
"Twice!"
"Sold! Congratulations to VIP Room Three for winning the first high-grade pill."
"Insane," Li Sheng chuckled wryly; a high-grade pill fetching such a price was absurd, especially when a top-grade pill could go for much more.
"Brother, you finally understand how precious your pills are," Bai Ye teased, covering her mouth.
High-grade body-refining pills continued to sell, with the last fetching two hundred eighty spirit stones.
When the eighth-grade vitality pill was auctioned, the already heated atmosphere skyrocketed.
The first sold for five hundred spirit stones.
The second reached five hundred thirty spirit stones.
...
As the auction concluded, Manager Hua sent in four boxes filled with spirit stones, totaling over five thousand eight hundred spirit stones.