Inside the private room, the noise from the main hall was sealed out.
“Please wait a moment.”
The attendant led Feng Hao to a chair cushioned with thick animal hide, then swayed up the stairs.
Feng Hao exhaled and leaned back.
The Elegant Auction House was the largest in the Xilan Kingdom, said to be founded by a family of immense influence.
Its reputation for trustworthiness was excellent.
That was why Feng Hao had chosen it.
Outside, chaos had already broken out.
A mysterious person was auctioning a Profound-rank martial technique at the Elegant Auction House.
Within half an incense stick’s time, the news had spread through every corner of Yulan City.
Every power, large or small, was shaken.
A Profound-rank technique—in a small city like Yulan, it was unprecedented!
Everyone speculated about who this mysterious figure could be.
Who would casually auction off a Profound-rank martial technique?
One thing was certain: whoever it was, no power in Yulan would dare cross them.
No one spoke openly, but every faction had sent spies to wait inside the auction house.
A hearty laugh rang out.
Ouyang Peng, the Yulan City branch manager of the Elegant Auction House, descended the stairs.
As the branch manager, his status was equal to—if not higher than—the four family heads.
“A distinguished guest honors us.
Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”
He clasped his hands toward the black-hooded figure with a broad smile.
He knew exactly what kind of storm this Profound-rank technique would stir.
If this happened a few more times, he might even earn a promotion.
The thought made his smile even warmer.
Feng Hao sat silently.
“My friend, you wish to auction a Profound-rank martial technique?”
Ouyang Peng’s tone grew more deferential, not less, despite the lack of response.
An expert had their own way of doing things.
“That’s right.”
A raspy voice came from beneath the black robe.
Ouyang Peng’s brow twitched slightly at the indeterminate age of the speaker.
“You can rest assured, my friend.
The Elegant Auction House will secure a price that satisfies you.”
He gave his guarantee.
“Three days for promotion.
The auction will be held three days from now.
What do you think?”
With proper promotion, families from neighboring cities would come.
The competition would be fierce.
Feng Hao frowned.
He didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Is something wrong?”
Ouyang Peng caught the reluctance in his voice.
“Are you in urgent need of funds?”
“Yes.”
Feng Hao admitted directly.
“I see.”
Ouyang Peng thought for a moment.
“I can advance you some gold from my personal funds.”
He had already decided to win this mysterious person’s favor.
“Ten thousand gold.”
Feng Hao didn’t hold back.
He knew the true value of that Profound-rank technique.
Ten thousand was a fraction.
“Agreed.”
Ouyang Peng produced a ten-thousand-gold note and handed it over.
“Thank you.”
The black robe shifted as Feng Hao accepted it.
He placed the Scattering Sand Palm scroll on the table and stood.
“By the way—does your establishment sell herbs?”
He turned back.
“Herbs?
Yes.
What kind do you need?”
Ouyang Peng’s heart stirred.
A suspicion formed in his mind.
His breathing quickened.
A medicine refiner.
Only a medicine refiner would casually produce a Profound-rank technique and then ask about herbs.
But what would a medicine refiner be doing in a small city like Yulan?
“Could I see your inventory list?
I need quite a large quantity.”
Feng Hao had suddenly thought of an excellent approach.
Tens of thousands of herbs—searching for them on his own would take years.
But an organization like the Elegant Auction House could source them far more easily.
“A large quantity?”
Ouyang Peng’s heart skipped.
He turned.
“Little Hua.
Bring the inventory.”
“Yes.”
The pretty attendant headed upstairs. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Please, have a seat, sir.”
Imperceptibly, Ouyang Peng’s address had shifted from “friend” to “sir.”
The more herbs one needed, the higher one’s rank as a medicine refiner.
In his eyes, the mysterious black-robed figure seemed to grow larger with every passing moment.
Soon, Little Hua brought down the inventory ledger.
Feng Hao took a brush and flipped through page after page, marking every herb listed in the Divine Farmer’s Canon.
After going through a dozen pages, he had marked over a hundred varieties.
“Is this all you have?”
Feng Hao was slightly disappointed.
Ouyang Peng was speechless.
He had watched the man mark over a hundred eighty herbs.
If he marked more, it would exceed two hundred!
That would mean the mysterious medicine refiner was at least Profound-rankfirst-grade!
A Profound-rank medicine refiner—even in the Xilan Kingdom’s royal capital, such a person commanded immense respect.
“If you need more, sir, I can keep an eye out for you.
Please trust in the Elegant Auction House’s capabilities.”
He could already imagine the contribution points if he secured this Profound-rank refiner’s goodwill.
Feng Hao thought for a moment.
“Alright.”
He picked up the brush and wrote down another three hundred herb names.
“That’s all for now.”
Ouyang Peng stared at the list, speechless.
Over five hundred types of herbs!
Over a hundred indicated Profound-rank.
Over a thousand indicated Earth-rank.
An Earth-rank medicine refiner was someone who commanded respect even on the entire Tianwu Continent.
This meant the person before him was definitely a Profound-rank mid-grade refiner!
“Rest assured, sir.
The Elegant Auction House will source every last herb for you.”
He gave the guarantee without hesitation, determined to earn this great figure’s favor.
He could already foresee the shockwaves this news would cause when reported up the chain.
The entire Xilan Kingdom had only one Profound-rank mid-grade medicine refiner—and he was a royal familycourt alchemist.
“Thank you.
For now, use this ten thousand gold to purchase the herbs I’ve selected.”
Feng Hao had no idea what a storm his careless actions would stir.
“Please wait here, sir.”
Ouyang Peng took the list and hurried into the storeroom.
He would personally select the best specimens.
A figure like this had to be treated like royalty.
Offending him with inferior herbs would be a loss beyond measure.