“Everyone, please be quiet!” The auctioneer on stage was a woman, quite pretty, and her voice was quite pleasant! As soon as she spoke, the chattering people quieted down. “Everyone, the Pills will be here today! But good things come to those who wait! We will auction these Pills last! Additionally! There will also be some precious medicinal materials! Please wait patiently!”
After speaking, she began introducing the auction items on the trays. “The first item we are auctioning today is this pair of earrings! It is…”
“Enough, enough, how much silver for me to buy them!” The Man who had first clamored to buy the Pills interrupted before the auctioneer could even finish the introduction. He said directly.
“Starting bid is five hundred taels of silver!” The auctioneer didn't dawdle, as the earrings were quite nice, so the starting price was high.
This price would be difficult to sell at normally, but today, it would certainly be easy, because the Pills coming later were attracting everyone.
“Five hundred and ten taels!” The Man bid.
Silence reigned below; no one else bid.
The auctioneer had anticipated this scene and immediately spoke with a smile.
“Five hundred and ten taels, once!”
“Five hundred and ten taels, twice!”
“Five hundred and ten taels, thrice!”
“Sold!”
Next, several more items, such as Jewelry and Antiques and Calligraphy Paintings, were brought out for auction, and they were all bought by people who were anxiously waiting for the Pills.
The Auction House opens every three days, but there are at most ten or so auction items each time. However, today there were already thirteen, and the Pills still hadn't appeared, causing murmurs below.
“Madam Yan, are those Pills actually here or not? We’ve waited so long! Why haven't they come out yet?” Some impatient people, unable to wait any longer, started shouting.
“They are, they are! They will be out shortly! The next item is the last medicinal material! After that will be the Pills! Don't worry!” The auctioneer, addressed as Yan Niangzi, placated them good-naturedly.
Previously, they had already auctioned a 500-year-old Ginseng, Hundred-Year Ginseng root, and a Hundred-Year Lingzhi mushroom. These were not common medicinal materials either, so people were still enthusiastic about bidding. But since only these items kept appearing and there was no sign of the Pills, everyone started getting anxious again.
“Don’t lie to us! If the next item isn't a Pill, I’m never coming to your Auction House again!” The Man next to Ye Qingcheng shouted again.
“Everyone quiet down! The next auction item is also a rare and excellent medicinal material! Our Auction House rarely has it!” Yan Niangzi was unaffected by the crowd below and had someone bring out the tray, which was covered with a red cloth. This mysterious appearance indeed attracted everyone's attention.
Everyone focused their gazes, just waiting for Yan Niangzi to lift the red cloth and introduce it to them.
Ye Qingcheng, however, was rather bored. She had plenty of those precious medicinal materials, and as for the Jewelry, never mind that she didn't like it, even if she did, she couldn't afford it. Now another precious medicinal material was appearing, and she didn't even know what it was yet.
“What we are auctioning next is this Ice Muscle Fruit! It is one of the main medicinal materials for refining the Muscle Regeneration Pill, and it is very hard to acquire! Starting bid is one hundred taels!” Yan Niangzi stopped building suspense and lifted the red cloth.
When Ye Qingcheng heard it was an Ice Muscle Fruit, she glanced over with slight interest. Indeed, she saw an Ice Muscle Fruit identical to the one she used up yesterday lying quietly on the tray.
Although the Ice Muscle Fruit was precious, Alchemists were so scarce that if they bought it, they wouldn't know how to refine it, so buying the Ice Muscle Fruit was useless. Consequently, very few people bid.
Only a handful of people bid, increasing the price by only one or two taels at a time.
Seeing this, Ye Qingcheng thought she could afford this. Judging by the popularity of the Pills, her own Pills should sell well. Why not buy this and refine another batch of Muscle Regeneration Pills to sell?
Think of it—money she didn't have to spend, and Taoran Residence overflowing with food!
Thinking this, she raised her hand to bid, “One hundred and fifty taels!”
Her bid startled those few who were bidding.
Although the Ice Muscle Fruit was rare, it wouldn't usually fetch such a high price, one hundred and twenty taels at most. Who was this person?
Yan Niangzi was delighted. Today’s earnings were quite substantial, considering that ten percent of the auction price was taken as commission.
“One hundred and fifty taels, once… One hundred and fifty taels, twice… One hundred and fifty taels, thrice! Sold!” It was concluded almost without pause.
Ye Qingcheng patted her purse, which had shrunk considerably again. She still needed to buy meat later.
As the Ice Muscle Fruit was sold, everyone sat up straight, fully focused.
Ye Qingcheng noticed that Liang Zongyao also looked extremely serious, his eyes vigilant.
Soon, Yan Niangzi had someone bring up the Pills and began the introduction.
“The Pill we are auctioning today is the Muscle Regeneration Pill! One Muscle Regeneration Pill! Starting bid is five thousand taels!”
“What?” Before anyone could bid, Ye Qingcheng jumped up abruptly and asked loudly.
She realized belatedly that everyone’s gaze had turned toward her. She quickly covered her face and sat down, realizing she had made a scene.
“What’s wrong with this girl? Didn't she just bid on the Ice Muscle Fruit? How could she not even know the starting bid for a Muscle Regeneration Pill?” The quiet discussions from below reached Ye Qingcheng’s ears.
“Never mind her, she’s probably sent by some pharmacy to snatch the Pill and medicinal materials! Hurry up and bid!” another person whispered.
“Alright! One Muscle Regeneration Pill! Starting bid five thousand taels! Hurry up and bid!” Yan Niangzi controlled the situation.
“Six thousand taels!” Ye Qingcheng hadn't expected Liang Zongyao to be the first to bid, but then she realized it made sense. His Madam had just undergone a Cesarean section and had an abdominal wound; this Muscle Regeneration Pill was exactly what she needed.
A man who loved his wife so much would surely try every means to bid for it.
“Six thousand five hundred taels!” The Man next to Ye Qingcheng was not to be outdone.
“Seven thousand taels!” Someone in the front row bid.
“Seven thousand five hundred taels!” Liang Zongyao.
“Eight thousand taels!” The Man next to Ye Qingcheng glared at Liang Zongyao with an ugly expression. This was his absolute limit; he couldn't go higher, or he wouldn't be able to afford it. He had bought two items earlier just to rush the Pill auction.
In truth, for just one Muscle Regeneration Pill, this was already the highest possible price! But the scarcity of the Pill made it valuable! Encountering an auction where the Auction House sold Pills was a rare event.
Perhaps once a year, maybe once every six months. The last time they auctioned Pills was five months ago.
“Eight thousand one hundred taels!” The person in the front row.
Liang Zongyao was secretly delighted. Since everyone else seemed to have reached their limit, this Pill should be his, so he bid excitedly.
“Eight thousand five hundred taels!”
At these words, the Man next to Ye Qingcheng glared fiercely, then helplessly lowered his head.
It was just one Muscle Regeneration Pill. His Son needed both the Muscle Regeneration Pill and the Bone Regeneration Pill to treat his condition; otherwise, it would be useless! He couldn't spend all his savings on just this one Muscle Regeneration Pill and would have to wait for another chance.
“Eight thousand five hundred taels, once!”
“Eight thousand five hundred taels, twice!”
Yan Niangzi began to call out slowly, making Liang Zongyao so anxious he wanted to rush onto the stage and snatch it.
Just as Yan Niangzi was about to call out "Eight thousand five hundred taels, thrice," Mo Li, sitting behind Ye Qingcheng, spoke up.
“Ten thousand taels!”
He hadn't intended to speak, but this was a rare opportunity. Although Divine Doctor Xue was also an Alchemist, refining Pills consumed too much time and energy, preventing him from focusing on serving the Master and treating Bai Si. So, he decided to take a risk and bid for this Muscle Regeneration Pill.