"Hm?!"
Mu Jinyu was slightly startled, then instantly became excited, "Are you serious?"
It's no wonder he was excited, for while spiritual medicines were good, they were somewhat troublesome to refine and absorb—it was far less efficient than taking elixirs, which were easier to assimilate. Over the past half month, Mu Jinyu had hardly consumed any spiritual medicines.
There were still countless spiritual medicines in the medicine field waiting for him to harvest.
If he learned alchemy, and could turn these spiritual medicines into elixirs, then his absorption rate would far exceed his current one, he might even quickly enter the Mid Stage of Divine Realm!
The comfortable life of the past half month hadn't made Mu Jinyu forget the threat posed by Ye Wushuang!
Although there had been no movement from the other party during this period, Mu Jinyu believed that he must be fiercely advancing his own strength in this grand era.
Ye Wushuang lived inside Shennongjia, a place Mu Jinyu believed to certainly contain many heavenly materials and earthly treasures. With the revival of spiritual energy, there would surely be even more valuable items. He was afraid that Ye Wushuang was engaged in closed-door cultivation after finding some treasures, hence unaware of the news of Ye Chen's death!
He didn't dare to take it lightly.
"Yes, alchemy has emerged."
Yao Liangbi's tone was also filled with excitement as he explained, "A few days ago, a tomb was unearthed near Luo City. After related personnel investigated, they found a book on alchemy and an alchemy furnace. Our Medicine Alliance, along with other medicine refining experts, went over and confirmed that the various pill formulas described in the book are likely to be authentic..."
"Hmm? There's also an alchemy furnace?" Mu Jinyu was even happier upon hearing this.
With just alchemy techniques and pill formulas but no alchemy furnace, Mu Jinyu estimated that he would not be able to refine elixirs himself. But since both the alchemy techniques and the alchemy furnace had appeared together, he felt as if heaven was truly helping him!
However, after his initial delight, Mu Jinyu also thought of a problem.
"Judging by what you said, does that mean the alchemy techniques and the alchemy furnace have fallen into someone else's hands?"
Mu Jinyu asked.
If the alchemy furnace had ended up in the hands of relevant departments in Luo City, they would certainly leave the research to archaeologists and not let the Medicine Alliance's people go over. From this, Mu Jinyu guessed that both the alchemy techniques and the pill furnace must have fallen into the hands of a prominent family in Luo City.
"Yes," Yao Liangbi answered, "The alchemy techniques and the alchemy furnace have ended up with the Luo Family in Luo City. However, there is good news. It seems that the various pharmacists they invited couldn't successfully produce elixirs according to the pill formula and the furnace. Believing it to be too much of a loss, they are preparing to auction off both the pill furnace and the alchemy book!"
"Oh, really?!"
Mu Jinyu raised an eyebrow at this news.
He had just been thinking that the forces in Luo City were quite arrogant to claim the relics for themselves and was about to call Mu Hongchen over to deal with them.
Now that he heard Yao Liangbi's explanation, he thought it over—since they were planning to sell it, then he might as well; purchasing it would also serve as a reward for their discovery of the alchemy book and furnace.
"Where will the auction take place? In Luo City?"
Mu Jinyu asked.
"No," answered Yao Liangbi, "It was initially in Luo City. The Luo Family had planned to hand it over to someone else, but due to certain reasons, they couldn't reach an agreement. Later, because of our Medicine Alliance's involvement, they decided to hold the auction in Jiangnan Province, starting tomorrow evening."
"Is that so?" Mu Jinyu didn't care why they hadn't come to an agreement. Regardless, he was set on acquiring the alchemy techniques and the alchemy furnace.
"So, what's the starting bid?" Mu Jinyu asked casually.
He was not short of money by now—Beauty Pills had earned him an uncountable amount. No matter how he spent it, he never seemed to run out. Even if the starting bid for the pill furnace and alchemy techniques was one billion, he wouldn't mind.
But he might as well ask in advance, just to be prepared.
Yao Liangbi answered, "It's not like that, master. This auction specified no use of money but instead trade with top-grade jade and various spirit plants and herbs."
"Hmm? Is that so?" When Mu Jinyu heard Yao Liangbi's words, she also understood the Luo Family's intention.
After all, having lived through dark turmoil, they truly believed that the influence of money wasn't that great anymore. Instead, things that could save one's life and enhance one's strength were more important!
"All right then, send me the address of the auction later, and I'll be there on time tomorrow," Mu Jinyu replied.
"Mhm, okay..." Yao Liangbi spoke a few more words, then waited for Mu Jinyu to hang up the phone.
After ending the call, Mu Jinyu sent a message to Mu Hongchen, asking her to send over the various spirit grasses collected by Dragon King Hall during this period to Yinlong Mountain.
To use spiritual medicine as currency to bid at the auction, there naturally had to be a standard.
Mu Jinyu had just inquired, and the Luo Family's appetite was indeed big—the starting bid for the alchemy furnace and alchemy was twenty stalks of third-level top-grade spirit medicine each.
Spiritual medicines were also simply divided into levels nowadays: first-level spiritual medicine was suited for Mingjin Martial Artists, second-level for Dark Energy Martial Artists, and third-level for Energy Transformation Martial Artists.
And third-level top-grade spirit medicine was suitable for Peak Energy Transformation Martial Artists.
If those who had been stuck at the peak of Energy Transformation for many years and were just one step away took one stalk of third-level top-grade spirit medicine, they could almost certainly break through to the Divine Realm!
Even just a regular Peak Energy Transformation Martial Artist, after taking three to five stalks of third-level top-grade spirit medicine, could make a breakthrough to the Divine Realm.
It could be said that with a starting bid of twenty stalks of third-level top-grade spirit medicine for alchemy and the alchemy furnace, the Luo Family's appetite was indeed not small!
If they got their hands on them, they could at least cultivate four or five Divine Realm Martial Artists!
Ordinary martial artists, or minor families and powers, really didn't have the qualifications to bid at this auction!
The reason Mu Jinyu asked Mu Hongchen to bring over the spiritual medicine was because the spirit medicines in the medicine fields of Yinlong Mountain, although numerous, were special in their medicinal properties and would be too big a loss to directly exchange.
It was better to exchange those slightly more ordinary third-level top-grade spirit medicines, as it would be more cost-effective.
Half a day later, Mu Hongchen brought Mu Jinyu the spiritual medicines and top-quality jade he asked for.
Mu Jinyu picked and chose, eventually taking sixty stalks of third-level top-grade spirit medicine and five pieces of Green Emperor Jadeite!
These spirit medicines and jade could be sold for tens of billions if put on the market.
Mu Jinyu felt somewhat pained by this.
But just to be safe, Mu Jinyu additionally picked another forty stalks of third-level top-grade spirit medicine from his own medicine field.
The next day.
At seven o'clock in the evening.
Mu Jinyu, accompanied by Wen Rou, appeared at the entrance of the largest auction in Jiangnan Province.
He only brought Wen Rou because Gu Xiyan and the others were eagerly trying to break through to the Divine Realm, and Lin Qiaoxia and her group were immersed in intense cultivation, striving to catch up with the majority; only Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan were relatively free.
But Jian Ruyan was not coming with Mu Jinyu, so naturally, he only brought Wen Rou.
Just as Mu Jinyu arrived at the entrance.
An anxiously waiting Yao Liangbi approached with Yao Bilian and respectfully said, "Master, you've finally arrived; the auction is about to start."
Before Mu Jinyu could speak, a group of people who had just arrived at the entrance couldn't help but sneer, "Wow, Old Master Yao, what did you just call that youngster? Master? I didn't mishear that, did I?"