Word Count: 2,419 Words
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"Hehe, five tier 8 pills with eight-colored Pill Lightning plus one nine-colored Pill Beast, going once."
Old Man Bao Shan began the countdown, though everyone present understood it was directed at Xiao Yan. All eyes remained fixed on him, eager to see if he had anything left in reserve.
"Young Master…" Qing Lin's face tightened with concern as she glanced toward him.
Cai Lin and Little Fairy Doctor had already begun circulating their Dou Qi in secret. If necessary, they would seize the fragment by force.
Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment. This map fragment was non-negotiable. He had to obtain it no matter what. Even if someone else purchased it, he would find another way, even if that meant resorting to less honorable methods.
With his early Heavenly State Spiritual Strength, the black robe provided by the Ancient Treasure Pavilion offered no protection against his perception. He had already locked firmly onto the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons.
He simply disliked unexpected complications. If by some chance these Three Ghost Scorpion Demons possessed an escape method and managed to flee, then went into hiding, or worse, destroyed the map fragment in desperation, he would be left utterly helpless.
The safest approach was clearly to secure the map fragment first.
"Going twice…"
As Bao Shan's voice rang out, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. 'No choice. If I must lose face, so be it.'
He slowly rose to his feet and turned toward Bao Shan. The moment he stood, the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons' hearts nearly leaped from their chests.
"Auctioneer, I wish to add one more item to my previous offer." Xiao Yan's low voice carried throughout the hall.
Delight flickered in Bao Shan's eyes. The more intense the bidding, the better!
"Please speak, Grandmaster." By addressing him directly as 'Grandmaster,' Bao Shan made it clear he had already recognized Xiao Yan as an alchemist.
A sharp glint flashed through Xiao Yan's obsidian eyes beneath the hood. His voice carried grave resolve. "I'll add an alchemy promise. One time, I will refine any pill below tier 9."
!!!
His words crashed through the hall like a thunderclap. Everyone stared at him, breathing raggedly.
Even Bao Shan's eyes narrowed, his own breathing growing slightly hurried.
"Any?!"
"Could he be a Treasure Pill Guru?!"
"Impossible! Treasure Pill Gurus only exist in those two places, and every one of them is an ancient monster. This person gives me a very young feeling. How could he possibly be a Treasure Pill Guru?"
Among tier 8 pills, the most precious was naturally not the Venerate Ascension Spirit Pill. Even the Nine Revolutions Heaven-Changing Pill that had been traded with Third Tianzun Gui Ming was more valuable, yet even that could only raise cultivation by one change. Among tier 8 pills, there existed a type known as uncategorized tier 9 pills; those that couldn't attract Black Demon Lightning!
The Three Ghost Scorpion Demons truly began to panic. This is cheating!!
"Bao Shan! The Ancient Treasure Pavilion's auctions have no such rule!" Tian He Zi bellowed. He couldn't allow Xiao Yan to win with such an empty promise.
If this precedent stood, how could future auctions proceed? Wouldn't alchemists possess infinite wealth?
Though in truth, alchemists did possess near-infinite wealth.
Bao Shan raised his hand, silencing Tian He Zi's protest. Under normal circumstances, he would have rejected Xiao Yan's proposal, as such promises weren't always enforceable, and the fragment's owner might refuse the terms.
His sharp eyes fixed intently on Xiao Yan. "Sir, are you certain you mean any tier 8 pill?"
An alchemist's promise was extraordinarily precious. Some of the most elite alchemists could exchange a single promise for the services of numerous Dou Venerates. Even though seeking an alchemist's help required providing one's own medicinal ingredients and sometimes even the pill recipe, countless people would still flock to them for just one chance at their expertise.
The pills being bid now were finished products with fixed effects: healing pills for healing, Venerate Ascension Spirit Pills for raising cultivation. If you had different needs, you would have to find an alchemist all over again.
There were many ways to obtain a tier 8 pill, but to get a specific tier 8 pill, one could only seek out an alchemist.
More importantly were that crucial word: 'any'!
As this auction's overseer, Bao Shan naturally knew what the final auction item was. At any other time, he might have dismissed Xiao Yan's alchemy promise, but with the final auction item in consideration, he had little choice but to reconsider.
Because that final item truly required a top-tier alchemist!
Xiao Yan nodded. "Any. Even a Bodhisattva Pill, if needed."
Gulp!
The sound of countless people swallowing echoed throughout the hall.
The instant those three words left his lips, both Bao Shan and the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons swallowed unconsciously, their lips suddenly dry.
The Bodhisattva Pill, also known as the Saint Breaking Pill, earned its name because its main ingredient was the Bodhisattva Seed. Its effect was straightforward: it increased a peak Nine-Change Dou Venerate's chances of breaking through to Dou Saint by twenty percent.
Among tier 8 pills, very few could match its refinement difficulty.
Nine changes to become Saint was merely a cultivation method. After reaching peak Nine-Change Dou Venerate, one could condense that nine-change cultivation for a single opportunity to break through to Dou Saint. But there was only one chance. Once it failed, other methods were needed, such as using a Bodhisattva Pill.
Moreover, even if the nine-change breakthrough succeeded, one wouldn't necessarily become a true Dou Saint. It might only result in reaching the Half-Saint level, as the gap between Dou Venerate and Dou Saint was simply too vast to cross in a single leap.
But with a Bodhisattva Pill, even if one couldn't break through to Dou Saint, they would at minimum advance to the Half-Saint level. One could imagine the Bodhisattva Pill's attraction for those at the Nine-Change Dou Venerate stage.
"Hmph, as far as I know, even Pill Tower giants have less than a twenty percent success rate refining Bodhisattva Pills. What guarantee can you offer?" The Three Ghost Scorpion Demons naturally couldn't let Xiao Yan win the auction so easily.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and slowly raised his hand. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he pulled back his hood to reveal his true appearance. Light laughter escaped his lips. "Is my name—Xiao Yan—guarantee enough?"
"Xiao Yan!!"
"Holy shit, it's Xiao Yan!"
"I knew it, I knew it was him!" In a corner, that 'junior' Li Yong, who had crossed paths with Xiao Yan once before, cried out in excitement.
"No wonder! I heard that half a year ago, Xiao Yan could already refine a nine-colored Pill Lightning Pill Beast. His alchemy skills have probably already surpassed those of the Pill Tower giants!"
"He indeed has the confidence and qualifications to make such a guarantee."
At Xiao Yan's level, his reputation alone constituted a form of currency and resource. It was a guarantee and value in itself.
No further words were needed. Even just an alchemy promise from him held extraordinary value.
However, Xiao Yan couldn't possibly sell favors indefinitely. When you owed only one favor, that first favor commanded the highest price.
After a moment of silence, Bao Shan understood that no one else would place a bid.
He bowed slightly before speaking. "After unanimous discussion among our three parties, we have reached this careful and solemn decision: this Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map fragment has been won by Grandmaster Xiao Yan. From this moment forward, this treasure has found its rightful owner."
At these words, many important figures exchanged glances while numerous reclusive experts began discussing in low voices. Some found it extremely surprising. After all, the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons had offered a genuine ancient Pill Beast, yet lost to what seemed like an empty promise?
Other prominent figures weren't so astonished. While a well-nurtured ancient nine-colored Pill Beast did have a chance of reaching the Dou Saint level, it was only a chance. The financial and material resources required were beyond ordinary imagination. But if one needed alchemy services, or even sold this alchemy promise to someone else, that was completely feasible.
Moreover, Xiao Yan had also included a nine-colored Venerate Ascension Spirit Pill, so the difference wasn't that great to begin with.
Though Bodhisattva Seeds were no longer available on the market and couldn't be found, it wasn't impossible that someone had hidden some away, waiting to find a powerful alchemist to refine a Bodhisattva Pill.
Those who needed Bodhisattva Pills were definitely peak Nine-Change Dou Venerates, and these ancient monsters never spent resources carelessly.
The expressions of the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons, however, painted an entirely different picture. Their faces cycled through a myriad of colors, turning red one moment and green the next. One could imagine just how complex and furious their emotions were.
The three had emptied their coffers, even producing an ancient nine-colored Pill Lightning Pill Beast plus five eight-colored pills, yet still lost to Xiao Yan!
"Xiao Yan… there's likely to be a battle ahead." Little Fairy Doctor's beautiful eyes held a trace of worry. By revealing his identity so publicly, Xiao Yan would easily attract desperate opportunists.
Even with his deep background and connections to the Gu Clan, others didn't necessarily need to kill him; simply robbing him would suffice.
Everyone had witnessed how much Xiao Yan had purchased during this trip. Right now, he was like a succulent morsel. Even one bite would be incredible. Who wouldn't want a taste?
"It's fine. I'm hardly some inexperienced youth anymore. They might not dare rob me," Xiao Yan replied softly.
Though Cai Lin didn't speak, her eyes had already conveyed to Xiao Yan that she would fight alongside him to the bitter end!
The transaction proceeded smoothly. Naturally, Xiao Yan's promise couldn't be mere empty words. Bao Shan and Xiao Yan signed a soul contract stipulating that he would unconditionally help refine one medicinal pill below tier 9, one time.
Many present coveted this soul contract.
"The value of just this soul contract probably isn't less than a Low Tian Class Qi Method."
"It wouldn't be much lower… But I suspect this is the only time he'll owe such a favor. To commission him for alchemy, I'm afraid even a Low Tian Class Qi Method might not suffice."
There was good reason why Xiao Yan could sweep up goods at the spatial trade fair. With his current strength and status, Low Tian Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods truly no longer caught his eye. If not for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map fragment, he wouldn't even have attended this spatial trade fair. It would have been a complete waste of his time. Collecting those Tian Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods was merely something he did in passing.
He was simply enjoying the pleasure of shopping.
Just as 9th-tier alchemists wouldn't come to such places at all. A complete demon flame map might attract a 9th-tier alchemist, but a fragment? Impossible.
Time slowly passed, and the hall gradually quieted. Everyone recalled that this map fragment was only the penultimate item. One final treasure remained yet to be revealed.
"Bao Shan, bring out the last item!"
"Yes, if it's suitable we'll bid; if not, don't waste everyone's time."
"Come on, let us broaden our horizons."
Old Man Bao Shan smiled at the crowd's urging. "Hehe, the final item of our spatial trade fair is not an object, but rather intelligence. Though this information might sweep across the Central Plains soon, ours should still be first-hand news."
Many frowned upon hearing it was intelligence. Information could be extremely valuable or completely worthless; its worth was difficult to measure.
"Hehe, I understand your concerns, but please rest assured. This intelligence will not be auctioned. It's a free gift to everyone present."
Bao Shan sensed the numerous doubtful gazes and smiled slightly. Then his soft voice slowly resonated throughout the great hall.
"The legendary Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, which can allow a person to become a Saint instantly, has appeared again after a ten-thousand-year absence."
Both Xiao Yan's and Little Fairy Doctor's eyes sharpened at those words. They had once obtained Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, and Xiao Yan still possessed a shriveled, energy-depleted Bodhisattva Seed.
"What! The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree is finally appearing?!"
Bao Shan's announcement caused many to leap to their feet. If Xiao Yan's ability to refine Bodhisattva Pills made Nine-Change Dou Venerates' eyes light up, then the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree made all Dou Venerates reveal fierce, predatory gazes. Some even wanted to rush forward and force Bao Shan to reveal its location.
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, known in some ancient texts as the Wisdom Samsara Tree, grew one ring every thousand years. When it possessed a hundred rings, it would mature. Legend claimed the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree was as ancient as the Dou Qi Continent itself.
When the Dou Qi Continent existed, so did the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Such ancient years were sufficient for time to corrode anything, yet the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree existed outside of time. It could almost be considered one of the continent's most ancient species.
It was said that the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree appeared once every thousand years. Each emergence brought tremendous upheaval to the continent. Throughout history's long river, there were even instances of Dou Saint-level experts perishing while competing for the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree!
But strangely, at some unknown point, the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree seemed to vanish. What should have appeared once every thousand years had not emerged for several millennia—nearly ten thousand years.
And now Bao Shan suddenly announced that the long-vanished Bodhisattva Ancient Tree would emerge. How could this not shock everyone present?
After all, the main ingredient for Bodhisattva Pills was the Bodhisattva Seed. Without the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's appearance, the entire Dou Qi Continent lacked Bodhisattva Seeds, let alone Bodhisattva Pills. This made Dou Saints nearly impossible to find now, as if the Dou Qi Continent had experienced a generational break.
According to ancient text records, there seemed to be only one Bodhisattva Ancient Tree growing in this world. It possessed its own wisdom. After each appearance, it would hide deep within the earth's core where no one could find it. However, when the time for its next emergence arrived, it would once again appear in the world.
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, become a Saint on the spot. This was no mere legend!