28: auction

Ya Fei's face was extremely beautiful, her willow-like eyebrows were like ink, sweeping up towards her temples. Her pair of narrow phoenix eyes seemed to hold two pools of spring water, and as her gaze shifted, they shone brightly, exuding a charm that seemed capable of seeing into people's hearts, yet deep within, there was a hint of the sharpness and shrewdness of a business elite.

Below her upturned nose were two full, luscious cherry lips, their color an inviting rose red. The corners of her lips naturally curved slightly upwards, giving her a subtle, captivating, lazy smile even when she wasn't laughing.

Her raven-black hair, like a waterfall, was loosely gathered into an elegant bun at the back of her head, with a few unruly strands falling gracefully along the side of her smooth neck and rounded shoulders, adding an air of effortless charm.

At this moment, this graceful red lotus, with a warm smile capable of melting any distance, approached Mo Yuhan and the other two.

Her gaze lingered slightly on Mo Yuhan, carrying a perfectly calibrated hint of surprise and admiration. Clearly, the commotion at the market entrance had reached her ears like the wind.

Then, her gaze subtly swept over the mysterious figure shrouded in a large gray cloak beside Mo Yuhan, and the delicate and gentle Little Fairy Doctor next to her.

"Distinguished guests have arrived; Ya Fei is honored to welcome you."

Her voice was like honey-dipped silk, carrying a strange magnetism that was bone-numbingly sweet yet never felt frivolous. "This young gentleman, I presume, is the one who just... well, rose to fame in the market?"

She smiled charmingly, not explicitly stating what happened, but the meaning in her words was clear: "Please come in quickly, the auction is about to begin. Ya Fei has already reserved the best VIP seats for you."

Her enthusiasm was like a tangible warm current, instantly enveloping the three.

She turned slightly, making a gesture of invitation, and as she moved, her vibrant cheongsam outlined an even more breathtaking side profile.

As she walked, the occasional glimpse of startling white skin from the slit and the crisp 'thud-thud' sound of her high heels on the mirror-smooth cloud-patterned stone floor intertwined into a silent invitation, making one unconsciously follow her steps into the luxurious doorway.

In the air, only the unique scent of top-grade spices mixed with the mature female fragrance lingered from her, dissipating slowly.

"Foxy seductress."

Bibi Dong squeezed Mo Yuhan's hand. "Han'er, don't be misled by women like her. The prettier a woman is, the more dangerous she is."

"Then Aunt and Little Fairy Doctor Sister are even more dangerous," Mo Yuhan said with a laugh.

Ya Fei's intelligence was indeed sharp; she knew about the conflict that had just occurred.

However, Mo Yuhan had not expected Ya Fei to personally greet them and arrange for them to sit in the VIP section.

Inside the Mittel Auction House, the high domed ceiling and the golden sand-like light from the crystal chandeliers illuminated the central auction platform, draped in deep red velvet, making it appear luxurious and mysterious.

The air was filled with the elegant and lingering scent of expensive incense, mixed with the faint aroma of tea and cosmetics from the VIP seats below.

Mo Yuhan and the two others sat in the VIP seats specially arranged by Ya Fei, which offered an excellent view. Soon, the auction began.

The wide velvet seats were soft and comfortable, but they did not relax Bibi Dong's body, which was taut as a bowstring.

Little Fairy Doctor sat close to her, her slender fingers, through the cloak fabric, gently pressing on Bibi Dong's wrist pulse.

Extremely faint but pure and gentle light green Dou Qi lingered at her fingertips, flowing like the smallest stream, carefully tracing and soothing the chaotic and depleted meridians and Qi Sea within Bibi Dong's body.

Mo Yuhan sat on the outermost side, his small body held perfectly straight, like a young pine tree growing on a cliff.

He appeared calm as he watched the glittering auction platform, but deep within his ink-black eyes, like a bottomless cold pool, every subtle Dou Qi fluctuation and every gaze in the venue was clearly reflected, calmly analyzing everything.

The auction proceeded in an orderly fashion, accompanied by Ya Fei's honey-sweet and charming voice.

Rare medicinal herbs, uncommon minerals, and even occasional low-tier Dou Skills scrolls saw their prices steadily climb under the auctioneer's highly persuasive words and Ya Fei's perfectly timed shifting gaze, captivating the hearts of countless people.

When Ya Fei's voice suddenly rose, carrying a deliberately created excitement, the previously somewhat relaxed atmosphere in the hall instantly tensed. "Hehe, esteemed guests, our auction house has just received a new item for auction, and I believe everyone will be interested."

After auctioning the item in her hand, Ya Fei suddenly smiled charmingly, and with a gentle wave of her jade hand, an auction house attendant quickly brought up a jade tray, on which sat a small white jade bottle.

An ancient-looking jade bottle was carefully placed on the display stand.

The bottle was translucent, filled with a viscous, emerald-like liquid that swirled with captivating vitality and mysterious luster under the brilliant lights.

"This is a second-grade medicinal pill, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Its miraculous effect is only valid for those below the Dou Zhe stage. Cultivating by soaking the body in this spirit liquid can accelerate the cultivation speed for those below the Dou Zhe stage!"

"It can help those in the Dou Qi stage lay the most solid foundation and shorten the long accumulation period required to break through to Dou Zhe. The value of such a pill... the starting bid is eight thousand gold coins!"

Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, each word seeming to carry magic, but her gaze, like a precise probe, instantly swept over the three private rooms on the second floor, representing the top powers of Wutan City—the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie family, and the Oba family.

The bidding instantly erupted like sparks hitting hot oil.

Ouba Pa's slightly hoarse voice was the first to break the silence: "Eight thousand five hundred!" carrying the Oba family's usual steady probing.

"Nine thousand!" Jia Lie Bi's slightly sharp voice followed closely, not hiding his determination to win, his gaze provocatively sweeping towards the Xiao Family's private room.

"Ten thousand!" Xiao Zhan's steady, deep voice rang out, like a rock hitting the ground, decisive and crisp, directly pushing the price to a small peak.

The price soared like a runaway wild horse, escalating wildly in the overt and covert competition between the three patriarchs!

Twelve thousand! Fifteen thousand! Eighteen thousand!

Each increase in bid drew gasps of suppressed surprise from the hall.

Ouba Pa's facial muscles twitched a few times when the price broke thirty thousand, and he finally chose to remain silent, unwillingly, his eyes gloomy.

Jia Lie Bi's chubby face also trembled slightly from excitement and pain, but when the price was raised to thirty thousand gold coins, a clear hint of hesitation and calculation flashed in his eyes.

Just as he gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffed out, preparing to raise the bid again, attempting to crush the Xiao Family's momentum—

"Forty thousand gold coins!" Xiao Zhan's steady voice rang out again, like a clap of thunder! This price had far exceeded the actual value of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and even surpassed the psychological expectations of most people.

Ultimately, the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was still won by Xiao Zhan.

Although Mo Yuhan was no longer short of gold coins, he did not want to buy it at a high price at this time, especially since this was Xiao Yan's first auction.

Mo Yuhan's attention did not linger too much on the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

His targets were clear: the several 'Coagulating Meridian Grass' that appeared later, which had miraculous effects on nourishing and repairing damaged meridians, their leaf veins resembling naturally formed energy circuits, emitting a soft light blue halo;

And several special poisonous herbs whose core formulas Little Fairy Doctor had seen in the Seven-Colored Poison Manual, such as the entirely black 'Bone-Corroding Ghost Orchid' which emitted a strangely sweet and cloying scent, its petals edged with tiny serrations.

There was also the 'Ghost Hand Vine', shaped like a withered claw and cold to the touch.

He bid precisely and decisively, each increment not large, but always managing to hit the crucial point before the auctioneer's hammer fell, ultimately acquiring all the desired items at relatively reasonable prices.

This also made Ya Fei look at him with a hint of surprise.

When the exquisite jade box was presented, Little Fairy Doctor looked at the strangely shaped and uniquely scented poisonous herbs inside, her eyes sparkling with uncontrollable excitement. Her fingers gently caressed the cool surface of the jade box, as if she could already see the possibility of realizing those complex formulas in the poison manual.

Finally, at the end of the auction, there was a scroll of a high-tier Xuan-level Dou Skills, the Wind Scroll Technique.

As in the original story, Xiao Zhan continuously raised bids, ultimately severely tricking the Jia Lie Family.

Jia Lie Bi's chubby face instantly twisted, his teeth grinding audibly. Fifty-five thousand gold coins for this cultivation technique scroll; the price was still too high.

He wasn't a fool; Xiao Zhan wasn't bidding, he was openly inflating the price. A surge of furious rage at being played instantly rushed to his head, almost making him lose composure on the spot.

Finally, under Jia Lie Bi's venomous gaze, which seemed to shoot fire, Ya Fei's eyes sparkled, and she smiled charmingly, extremely satisfied with the transaction price that far exceeded expectations.

In the end, the auction concluded perfectly.