Chapter 394 - 348: Treasures Abound, Bidding Is Fierce

So, overall, the threat was still limited. Against ordinary opponents, however, it was an exceptionally deadly weapon.

It still drew bids from many guests in the private stalls and rooms, and each item ultimately found a buyer.

By the latter half of the third day, the value of the auctioned items had risen another notch. Items like Fine Treasure Artifacts were now appearing frequently.

Sabers, spears, staves, and clubs; axes, swords, battle-axes, and hammers; halberds, maces, whips, and claws—all sorts of weapon categories made an appearance.

The threshold for bidding was also raised to a certain level. By this point, the bidders were primarily from the private stalls and rooms. For some of the better items, even the distinguished guests in the top-floor rooms would occasionally make a bid.

Item after item was presented, each one sending a new wave of excitement through the venue from time to time.

"Alright, congratulations to the distinguished guest in private room 025 for winning the Flying Eagle Hundred Refinements Rope! Now, let us present the seven hundred and twenty-first item of this auction: the Ten Thousand Marvels Dispersing Smoke!"

"The Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke, created by condensing Earth Evil Poison and blending it with a variety of rare toxins. It is colorless and odorless and can be released using True Qi. Upon inhalation, one’s muscles and bones will initially grow weak and sore, and their True Qi will stagnate. Within ten breaths, their flesh will begin to fester..."

Li Dongshan’s vivid and emotional introduction to the effects of the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke reignited the atmosphere in the auction hall, setting off continuous waves of clamorous discussion.

When it came to a Heavy Treasure of this caliber, guests in the common seats or even the individual private stalls could no longer participate. But with their sheer numbers, they were more than capable of serving as the hype squad.

"Even an Absolute Master would have difficulty defending against it!?"

"Even an Absolute Master could perish under this poisonous smoke! Unless they carry an Antitoxic Holy Medicine to temporarily suppress the poison. Then, they must use their powerful Profound Light Spirituality to slowly force the poison out! However, even if they succeed, they would likely suffer severe long-term effects! Unless... their Profound Light Spirituality is so abundant that they have already reached the realm of a Top Level Absolute Master! Only then could they use their potent Spiritual Energy to expel it completely."

"Such terrifyingly potent poison!"

"..."

The Absolute Masters in the private rooms, especially the ordinary ones, listened with gleaming eyes. If they could win this item, it would mean possessing an intangible strategic deterrent.

If they were to encounter a hostile Top Level Absolute Master or an expert from the Dragon and Tiger Chart, even if their combat power was inferior, having this poison on hand would be enough to save their own lives!

"The Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke comes with a matching Antidote! Bidding starts at one hundred Yuan Crystals, with each increment no less than five Yuan Crystals!"

Li Dongshan stood on the central circular stage, his expression energized as he announced loudly.

"One hundred and twenty Yuan Crystals!"

A voice rang out impatiently from a private room on the eighth floor. But before his voice had even faded, the voice of a guest from another room on the same floor, vibrating with True Qi, echoed through the hall.

"One hundred and twenty-five Yuan Crystals!"

"One hundred and thirty Yuan Crystals!"

"I am determined to have this item! One hundred and fifty Yuan Crystals!"

"One hundred and fifty-five Yuan Crystals!"

In just a few moments, the price of the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke began to skyrocket.

’Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke!’ Chen Ping’an was also tempted. ’A poison of this quality, if used correctly, could even pose a threat to a Grandmaster. At the very least, it would be enough to seize the initiative in a fight.’

But after some consideration, Chen Ping’an ultimately decided not to bid.

’Winning the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke would give me another trump card, increasing my strength to a certain extent. But the overall improvement isn’t significant enough to shake my determination to bid for the Divine Skill.’

’The item I want most from this auction is the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique. I need to concentrate my funds, not squander them on something like this.’

’Fight over it! Go on, fight! The fiercer the bidding, the better!’

’In a way, all the guests bidding for the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke are my potential future rivals. Since they’re rivals, the more of their wealth they spend, the better.’

’When the time comes to bid on the real Heavy Treasure, I’ll be well-rested and waiting. With their funds diverted, the outcome will be a happy one for me.’

After a round of fierce bidding, the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke was finally won by a distinguished guest in a top-floor private room for the high price of two hundred and ninety-five Yuan Crystals!

’Two hundred and ninety-five Yuan Crystals!’ The price made Chen Ping’an slightly worried.

’The final seven major items of the auction haven’t even been presented yet, and the bidding has already reached this level. Doesn’t that mean the prices for the later items will be even higher!?’

Fortunately, as it turned out, Chen Ping’an’s worries were unnecessary.

After Li Dongshan’s intensely worded hype, the true main event of the auction began.

A major item: the Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill, the Three Yang Nourishing Spirit Pill!

A Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill that could increase the chance of breaking into the Profound Light High Realm by fifty percent!

As soon as this item appeared, it naturally triggered a flurry of bids.

In the end, it was sold for two hundred and twenty-five Yuan Crystals to a guest in a private room on the eighth floor.

The price of this Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill was actually a bit lower than the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke, which made Chen Ping’an breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed the poison smoke was a special case and couldn’t be used as a benchmark for the value of subsequent items.

’A mixed poison smoke that can pose a fatal threat to an Absolute Master and even affect a Grandmaster is really expensive!’ Chen Ping’an mused upon comparing the two.

At first glance, it seemed completely unreasonable. One was a Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill that could help one advance their Realm, while the other was a consumable poison smoke that would be used up after a few uses. Why would the former be worth less than the latter?

But on closer thought, there was a certain logic to it. The former was useless to true Absolute Masters; they would only bid on it for the sake of their family or descendants. The latter, however, was directly related to one’s own life and death, and even the foundation of one’s clan. With this poison smoke in hand, one could speak with more confidence and might even secure greater benefits for their family.

Compared this way, the value of the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke was naturally superior.

Recalling the effects of the Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke, Chen Ping’an had a nagging suspicion. ’Could this poison smoke have been put up for auction by Lan Yingying of the Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm?’

’Besides being an expert on the Dragon and Tiger Chart, Lan Yingying is also a master of poisons. And she cultivates the Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm!’

’All the signs indicate a high probability that it was Lan Yingying.’

’A single portion of poison smoke sold for such a high price. Even if the production cost was high, the profit margin must be huge! This is a much easier way to make money than fighting and killing!’

’Sure enough, fighting and killing is just a side path. Making a living with a skill is the King’s Dao!’

’The value of a Poison Dao Master is truly immense!’

As he was thinking, Chen Ping’an’s train of thought drifted to Lan Yingjun.

’With a master like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun is a rich little lady! I wonder... just how generous is that "bountiful dowry" she mentioned!?’

...

「In a top-floor private room of the auction hall.」

After the final price for the Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill was announced, Lan Yingjun seemed quite cheerful. The silver bells on her wrist jingled, JINGLE JINGLE, as if playing a little melody.

"Mother, look! The Ten Thousand Marvels Poisonous Smoke you made sold for a higher price than the Three Yang Nourishing Spirit Pill!"

Lan Yingying looked at Lan Yingjun and smiled without speaking, the very picture of a loving mother.

It wasn’t that this was her natural disposition; rather, when it came to Lan Yingjun, she simply had no reason to be stern.

People said that having a photographic memory made one clever. To be able to infer many things from a single example was to be exceptionally clever. But Lan Yingjun only needed a hint or two to grasp the whole picture, and could even innovate on what she learned. Such talent was rare in this world. With a disciple like this, no matter who the master was, it would be impossible to be strict with her.

"Mother, that’s two hundred and ninety-five Yuan Crystals! Why don’t you look happy at all?" Lan Yingjun said with a giggle.

"No matter how many Yuan Crystals there are, they’re not Mother’s. They will all be part of your dowry, Ying’er. Of course Ying’er is happy, but why should Mother be so happy?" Lan Yingying replied, making a rare joke.

"Mother~" Lan Yingjun pouted. "There you go again! I was complimenting you on how amazing you are, and you’re teasing me!"

Hearing this, Lan Yingying’s expression turned serious. She stroked Lan Yingjun’s beautiful hair. "Ying’er, what Mother has achieved is nothing. With your talent, you will surpass me sooner or later! When that day comes, you will truly know what it means to be amazing!"

Perhaps it was because of the solemnity in Lan Yingying’s words, or perhaps because no one else was around, but Lan Yingjun did not shy away. Her eyes, sparkling and full of life, watched Li Dongshan speaking eloquently on the circular stage.

Lan Yingying stroked Lan Yingjun’s head without speaking, lost in thought.

’What I said was no empty boast.’ Her thoughts turned inward. ’The Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm is profound and vast. In my early years, I blindly pursued Palm Power and went down the wrong path. In the end, I only managed to enter the Pseudo-Master Realm, failing to become a true Grandmaster!’

’But Lan Yingjun’s talent is even greater than mine! Her comprehension is stronger! And from the very beginning, she has walked the correct path of Cultivation!’

’As long as she continues down this path, it’s truly only a matter of time before she surpasses me!’

’A Jade Balance Grandmaster...’

Lan Yingying’s gaze was profound, countless thoughts flashing through her mind.