"Wh-What's going on?"
Hongyan's eyes widened. He stormed up to the Underground Alliance expert responsible for verifying identities and roared, "What do you think you're doing? How can you just let anyone into the Underground Alliance's auction house?"
It was no wonder Hongyan was furious!
A single entry ticket to the Underground Alliance's auction cost at least five hundred Gold Coins, equivalent to a normal family of five's entire yearly expenses. He had only gotten the chance to come and broaden his horizons by riding on Hong Lin's coattails.
But now Hong Yu, a guy who in his eyes was from the lowliest side branch, had also managed to get in. What's more, the expert had been even more respectful to Hong Yu than he had been to him. How could Hongyan possibly accept this?
Even after witnessing Hong Yu's terrifying strength and his talent that seemed even more monstrous than Hong Lin's, he still couldn't believe that Hong Yu had clout in the Underground Alliance.
The Underground Alliance was famous for its high barrier to entry; people of ordinary status couldn't get in. Hongyan simply couldn't figure out what other identity Hong Yu was hiding.
What Hongyan didn't know was that any Hunter of silver rank or higher could receive a membership card for the auction house. To the Underground Alliance, which prized strength and profit above all else, Hong Yu with his VIP Card was naturally more worthy of respect than a freeloader like Hongyan who relied on connections.
"Are you going in or not? If not, then get lost!" Facing Hongyan, the Underground Alliance expert's smile vanished, replaced by a cold tone.
"You..."
Hongyan felt deeply insulted and was about to stamp his feet and argue further.
Hong Luàn, who was standing to the side, couldn't watch any longer. He snorted coldly, "That's enough. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough already?"
Like a defeated rooster, Hongyan immediately backed down, timid and fearful.
His face grim, Hong Luàn led Hong Lin and Hongyan into the auction house.
From beginning to end, Hong Lin hadn't said a single word.
But his gaze never left Hong Yu. Deep within his eyes, a well-concealed, cold glint flickered like an insidious viper searching for a chance to strike.
Ever since that crushing defeat at Hong Yu's home, he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. He had become more patient and reserved, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before.
But this didn't mean Hong Lin would forget that day's humiliation. He could never forget the person who had mercilessly shattered more than a decade of his pride.
However, Hong Tiande had once warned him that Hong Yu had the Shelter of Tiger Instructor Hu Tianwei. Appropriately suppressing and sidelining Hong Yu to prevent him from being discovered and valued by other higher-ups, thereby stopping him from becoming a key prospect for the family to cultivate, was the most they could do.
If Hong Tiande were to move against Hong Yu directly, it would be a public slap in the Tiger Instructor's face. Everyone in the Hong Family knew that the Tiger Instructor had a very unique status. Even the Patriarch had to show him some respect and was unwilling to offend him.
Combined with the Tiger Instructor's unfathomable strength, his position in the Hong Family was by no means weak.
Once they made an enemy of the Tiger Instructor, if he were to join a rival faction in a fit of anger, the resulting impact was not something Hong Tiande's faction was willing to bear!
Because of this, Hong Lin chose to bide his time.
'I've already got a plan,' he thought. 'The day I break through to the Earth Soul Realm will be the day I kill Hong Yu with my own hands and avenge myself!'
"Don't worry, that guy's days are numbered!"
Seeing his silent brother, Hong Luàn knew exactly what he was thinking. He spoke lightly, then added, "Lin, the items at this Underground Alliance auction are all extremely valuable, and some are quite interesting. If you see anything you like later, just tell me. I'll buy it for you as a reward for your promotion to the Seventh Layer of the Essence Realm!"
"Mm-hmm."
Hong Lin nodded.
A short while later, the enchanting Sister Qin appeared on the auction stage, and the auction officially began. One had to admit, Sister Qin's skill at manipulating the crowd was truly formidable. With just a few of her words, seemingly ordinary items would often trigger a frantic bidding war, selling for astronomical prices.
The appearance of a young woman from the Charm Spirit Race truly pushed the auction to its first climax!
"As you all know, the men of the Charm Spirit Race are handsome, and the women are beautiful. But more importantly, every young woman of the Charm Spirit Race possesses a unique innate ability: a remarkable restorative power."
Clad in a Fire Red Cheongsam, Sister Qin glanced at the somber, aloof Charm Spirit Race girl in the cage, a trace of apology and pity in her lovely eyes. She continued, "I'm sure everyone here knows what this restorative power means, don't you?"
"Heh heh, who doesn't know that Charm Spirit Race women make the best maids! Tsk tsk, I've wanted to get my hands on one to play with for a long time..."
"I've heard that a Charm Spirit Race girl's virginity is eternal; she's restored to her original state by the next day. This young master must have such a priceless treasure!"
Hearing the crowd's shameless discussion, a flicker of gloom and despair passed through the aloof girl's azure eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.
Sister Qin sighed softly. She couldn't bear it, but she had a job to do. "Everyone knows the value of a Charm Spirit Race maiden. Her starting price is fifty thousand Gold Coins, and each bid must be an increment of at least five thousand Gold Coins!"
The moment she finished speaking, a fierce bidding war erupted.
"Lin, are you interested?" Hong Luàn asked.
Hong Lin lifted his eyelids slightly, only to shake his head.
"Hahaha, then I'll take her for myself!" Hong Luàn laughed, directly bidding one hundred thousand.
In a corner of the auction house, the masked Hong Yu watched with cold detachment. He let the glamorous, high-and-mighty figures of Shishui City spend money like water, acting as if it all had nothing to do with him.
The auctioning of Martial Skills, Profound Skills, Spirit Pills, and even living beings had nothing to do with him. He didn't have the energy to feel sorry for the world.
The strong prey on the weak; that was the most fundamental law of survival!
In the end, the Charm Spirit Race girl was bought by Hong Luàn for one hundred fifty thousand Gold Coins. The financial power of Shishui City's number one Noble Family was no joke.
The auction unknowingly reached its final stages. At this moment, even Hong Yu, who had been watching with cold detachment, couldn't help but feel a little tense.
Sister Qin's eyes were full of charm as she cast a subtle glance in Hong Yu's direction, her sweet, alluring voice like music from the heavens. "The next item up for auction is rather special. This is a bottle of Pills called Yunyuan Pills, a First-Grade Spirit Pill. But according to the appraisal of the Alliance's chief authenticator, its value far exceeds that of an ordinary First-Grade Spirit Pill!"
"This bottle of Yunyuan Pills has the miraculous effect of nourishing the Primordial Vein. Furthermore, its efficacy is ten times that of a Nourishing Essence Pill," Sister Qin said slowly.
To a Martial Artist, the Primordial Vein was equivalent to a second life!
Although the Nourishing Essence Pill was not a Grade-Entering Spirit Pill, it was known as a Pseudo-Spirit Pill because of its ability to nourish the Primordial Vein. A single Nourishing Essence Pill could easily sell for over a thousand Gold Coins. Since this Yunyuan Pill was ten times more effective, it was worth at least ten to twenty thousand.
But that alone wasn't enough to make it the finale item.
Everyone present was sharp, and they all waited for Sister Qin's explanation.
Sister Qin smiled faintly and dropped another bombshell. "I'm sure everyone is wondering, if it only nourishes the Primordial Vein, this Yunyuan Pill would only be worth tens of thousands of Gold Coins. Why would the Alliance place so much importance on it? Hehe, that's because this bottle of Yunyuan Pills has another effect..."
"It has the effect of helping to condense a Primordial Spirit. According to the Alliance's chief authenticator, a Ninth-level Essence Element Powerhouse who takes this bottle of Yunyuan Pills will have an eighty percent chance of condensing their Primordial Spirit and breaking through to the Earth Soul Realm. Even for those who are not at the Ninth Layer of the Essence Realm, any expert within the Essence Realm can break through one or two minor realms after taking this Pill."
After saying all this, Sister Qin stood demurely on the stage, a smile playing on her lips.
"What? An eighty percent chance to break through to the Earth Soul Realm?"
"That's an effect that surpasses even ordinary First-Grade Spirit Pills!"
"With the guarantee of the Underground Alliance's chief authenticator, the effects of the Yunyuan Pill can't be fake. I must have it! I absolutely must have it!"
Her words undoubtedly caused a huge stir, and the crowd below erupted in discussion.
"Condense a Primordial Spirit, advance to the Earth Soul Realm, and break through minor realms?"
Hong Lin, who had been looking down the whole time, suddenly snapped his head up. He stared at the crystal bottle, his voice a little hoarse. "Brother, I want that."
"Alright!"
Hong Luàn was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently hyped, Sister Qin waved her hand. "The starting price is zero! Let the bidding begin!"
"Ten thousand!"
"Thirty thousand!"
"This item is mine! Fifty thousand..."
The price soared higher and higher.
In the corner, Hong Yu's expression remained as calm as ever.
'Go on, bid,' he thought. 'The higher the price, the better. As long as I have money, what do I have to fear? I can get even better Pills.'
'With enough money, I can buy some Grade-Entering Spirit Medicine to bribe Little One. Forget Yunyuan Pills; even higher-level Spirit Pills won't be a problem.'
'Since I have Little One and the Profound Celestial Tower, I certainly won't be satisfied with becoming an ordinary Earth Soul Realm cultivator!'
'My goals are far grander and greater!'
Before anyone knew it, the price had risen to ninety thousand. The bidder was a moderately famous Advanced Apprentice Craftsman from Shishui City. He said arrogantly, "I'll be taking this Yunyuan Pill. I hope you will all do me the favor!"
Spiritual Craftsmen held a special status. Even an Advanced Apprentice Craftsman who was just on the verge of becoming a Tier One Spiritual Craftsman had considerable standing. As soon as he spoke, several eager bidders backed down.
But Hong Luàn just snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Just because you say you want it, we should give it to you? Hmph, I, Hong Luàn, am determined to have this bottle of Yunyuan Pills... One hundred thousand!"
Hong Luàn shot the Apprentice Craftsman a disdainful glance, thinking, 'If you were a real Spiritual Craftsman, this young master would buy this Pill and gift it to you. But a mere Apprentice Craftsman? Who do you think you are?'
"The Hong Family's genius, Hong Luàn?"
"So rich and overbearing!"
The Apprentice Craftsman's face went pale, but the Hong Family was a behemoth he couldn't possibly shake. In the end, he could only grit his teeth resentfully, snort, and stop bidding.
Seeing this, everyone sighed inwardly. It seemed this bottle of Yunyuan Pills was most likely going to fall into Hong Luàn's hands.
However... just as Sister Qin was preparing for One Strike Decides the Tune, an indifferent voice echoed through the auction hall, causing the smug and excited expressions on Hong Luàn and Hong Lin's faces to freeze.
"Hong Luàn is jack squat. Just because you want it, you think you can have it? Hmph, I'm determined to have this Yunyuan Pill, too—One hundred and fifty thousand!"