Finish

As the auctioneer announced the start of the bidding for that old fragment, the atmosphere in the hall was not enthusiastic; most people had no interest in it.

"One hundred and ten thousand," Xiao Yan was the first to speak, his voice deliberately lowered as he tried not to attract too much attention.

"One hundred and twenty thousand," Fan Ling, the Young Lord of the Blood Sect, glanced at Xiao Yan's side and casually followed with a bid, seemingly thinking that since someone wanted it, he might as well raise the price.

"One hundred and thirty thousand," Xiao Yan continued.

"One hundred and fifty thousand," Fan Ling increased the price, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.

The two of them slowly pushed the price higher, one or twenty thousand at a time.

When Xiao Yan called out "One hundred and eighty thousand," Fan Ling was already somewhat impatient, squinting in Xiao Yan's direction.

Although he couldn't see the face clearly, he could sense the other party's persistence for this item.

"Two hundred thousand!" Fan Ling directly raised it by twenty thousand, announcing a price that he believed was enough to make this hiding fellow back down.

He folded his arms, waiting leisurely for Xiao Yan to give up.

Spending two hundred thousand gold coins on a broken map fragment?

Something was wrong with his head.

Xiao Yan's heart sank slightly. Two hundred thousand gold coins was already close to the upper limit of his psychological price, but he could never give up on the incomplete map of the pure lotus demonic flame.

Just as he grit his teeth, preparing to call out a higher price—

"Three hundred thousand."

That hoarse, low metallic rasping voice rang out once again from the corner where the Black Robed Man was located.

It directly raised the price by a full one hundred thousand gold coins!

It was crisp and decisive, even carrying a bit of nonchalance.

The entire venue fell silent, followed by a low uproar. Three hundred thousand gold coins for a piece of broken leather with an unknown use?

Was this Black Robed Man crazy? Or did he have too much money to spend?

The playfulness on Fan Ling's face instantly froze, then turned into shame and anger.

He stood up abruptly and looked toward the Black Robed Man, his face flushing red: "What is the meaning of this, Your Excellency? Are you deliberately making things difficult for my Blood Sect?"

The leading Black Robed Man in the middle remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard.

The Black Robed Man who had bid earlier tilted his head slightly, and a hoarse voice came out: "The highest bidder wins in an auction. What is inappropriate about that?"

The tone was extremely flat, lacking even a trace of emotion.

"You!" Fan Ling's chest heaved with anger. Being so ignored in front of everyone made him feel deeply humiliated. "I am the Young Sect Leader of the Blood Sect, Fan Ling! Your Excellency had better weigh the consequences!"

This time, even the bidding Black Robed Man couldn't be bothered to respond, turning his head back and remaining silent.

This complete disregard was more insulting than any verbal retort.

Fan Ling's fists clenched until they creaked, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, but under the rules of the auction house and the other party's unfathomable and eerie atmosphere...

In the end, he didn't dare to do anything more out of line and could only sit back down resentfully, whispering instructions to his subordinates while his cold gaze swept back and forth between the Black Robed Man and Xiao Yan.

The auctioneer didn't care about these undercurrents. After asking three times, he struck the gavel: "Three hundred thousand gold coins! This old map fragment belongs to this gentleman!"

Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief in secret, while also feeling somewhat startled.

This Black Robed Man seemed interested in both the flying Dou Technique and this fragment, and he was generous and clear in his purpose.

Who exactly were they?

Why were they also interested in the incomplete map of the pure lotus demonic flame?

Yao Lao also gave a solemn reminder in his heart, telling him to be absolutely careful.

For the next few auction items, that mysterious group of Black Robed Men did not bid again, as if they had only come for those two things.

Xiao Yan seized the Opportunity and, with the funds in his hand, successfully bid for an "Earth Core Fire Ganoderma," which was of great benefit to cultivating fire-attribute Dou Qi, as well as the Movement Dou Technique that made his heart race, "Three Thousand Lightning Movement"!

These two gains made him quite excited, slightly diluting the depression and vigilance caused by the mysterious person snatching the fragment.

Finally, the auction reached its final grand finale item.

When a maid held a cold jade box onto the high stage, the auctioneer announced with an excited voice: "Next is the final treasure of this auction, and also a true rare treasure of the world.

The seventh-grade pill, Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill!"

The entire venue instantly boiled over!

A seventh-grade pill!

In the Black-Corner Region, this was almost a legendary item!

Countless burning, greedy gazes stared fixedly at that cold jade box.

Even the six Black Robed Men who had been sitting in the corner like clay statues seemed to show a slight ripple of interest.

To be precise, the leader in the middle very slightly twitched an eyebrow.

Under the black robes, it was naturally Shen Wen and his group.

They used a special method to conceal their appearance and aura, and Shen Wen had even used the power of space to set up an extremely hidden soundproof barrier around them, ensuring their conversation would not be overheard by the outside world.

"Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill?" Cao Ying's slightly surprised voice rang out within the barrier, carrying a hint of curiosity. "This remote Black-Corner Region auction can actually produce this kind of Medicinal Pill? Although it's only a seventh-grade Elementary pill, the refining technique seems to have some skill behind it."

Cai Lin's cold voice followed: "Could it have been refined by Han Feng?"

Shen Wen shook his head slightly, his voice coming through the disguise calmly: "It wasn't necessarily refined by Han Feng, but he certainly had it in his hands, or at least knew the Pill Formula.

Don't forget, Venerable Yao was famous for this pill back then. Its appearance in the Black-Corner Region is most likely related to Han Feng."

Cao Ying was puzzled: "But isn't Han Feng already dead? His things..."

"It should have been brought out by the Eight Gates," Shen Wen analyzed. "Preparing for this auction takes time; this Medicinal Pill was likely delivered to the Eight Gates long ago as the finale item. Now that Han Feng is dead, the Eight Gates instead didn't dare to pocket it privately."

A trace of realization flashed in Cai Lin's purple eyes: "They are afraid we would find out about the existence of this pill and worry that we would come looking for them to investigate its source. By putting it up for public auction, no matter who buys it, they can be considered to have washed their hands of it."

"Exactly so," Shen Wen nodded. "They've certainly made a good calculation."

During their low conversation, the competition for the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill outside had already reached a fever pitch.

The price soared all the way, reaching staggering levels.

Fan Ling of the Blood Sect, Elder Qing of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, and several other wealthy major factions all made their moves, and the scene was exceptionally heated.

Finally, when Elder Qing of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion called out a shocking price that stunned the entire venue, the other competitors were finally unable to follow.

They could only watch as that seventh-grade pill, which could help one Breakthrough a Bottleneck and even contained a hint of the "destruction before creation" Opportunity, fell into the hands of that charming and moving woman.

"It's reasonable," Shen Wen glanced at Elder Qing, who was surrounded by envious gazes. "Excluding those who came from the Central Plains or hidden forces like the Hall of Souls, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion is indeed considered second to none here in the Northwest Continent, with abundant financial resources."

However, a faint trace of doubt crossed his mind.

For a seventh-grade pill sufficient to attract the competition of a Dou Huang or even a Dou Zong, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion only sent someone of the Dou Wang level like Elder Qing to escort and bid for it?

Although Elder Qing's status in the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was not low, in this chaotic and dangerous Black-Corner Region, the strength of a Dou Wang... seemed somewhat insufficient.

The auction came to an end, with some happy and others worried. The crowd began to noisily exit.

Under the black robe, Shen Wen slowly stood up, and the spatial soundproof barrier was quietly withdrawn. "The fragment is in hand, and the goal has been achieved. Let's go and see if that 'Young Sect Leader' or someone else will provide us with some 'extra entertainment'."

His voice, through the disguise, was still hoarse and low, but it carried a trace of playfulness that was hard to detect.