"Esteemed guests, the auction is about to commence. I shall be your humble auctioneer for this event," a buxom woman in a fiery red, high-slit dress declared, her slender waist swaying as she spoke.
She was Hong Niang, the manager of the Ying Tian Auction House.
"Let us unveil the first item of today's auction!" Hong Niang declared, whisking away the red cloth covering the item before her.
"This is a set of third-grade armor, capable of withstanding extreme cold and heat, and deflecting attacks from those below the Qi Condensation third stage. It also adapts to the wearer's physique. The starting bid is ten thousand gold coins!"
"Twenty thousand!"
"Forty thousand!"
...
As more items were auctioned off, fewer people bid. Finally, it was Bai Ran's turn.
She lifted the red covering, revealing, "Three fourth-grade superior pills! Barrier-Breaking Pills!"
Silence fell over the audience, followed by an uproar.
"Heavens! Fourth-grade superior pills!"
"Thank goodness, I brought enough gold coins this time!"
"Fourth-grade superior Barrier-Breaking Pills, capable of helping cultivators break through bottlenecks and also enabling those unable to cultivate to condense spiritual energy! The starting bid is two million gold coins!" Hong Niang announced with a clap of her hands.
"Three million!"
"Three point five million!"
"Four million!"
...
"Six point five million! Are there any higher bids?"
"Six point five million once! Six point five million twice! Six point five million..."
"Seven million!" Suddenly, the door burst open, and a young man gasped for breath as he shouted. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
A familiar voice rang out – it was her second brother, Bai Qingyu! Bai Ran stared at the handsome man, panting heavily.
However, wasn't her second brother recruited by the Star-Plucking Academy a few years ago? How could he be here?
As if afraid his voice hadn't carried, Bai Qingyu shouted again, "Seven million!"
Bai Qingyu's clear eyes fell upon the Barrier-Breaking Pill. If Ran Ran had this, she could cultivate! He had to win it!
The crowd fell silent, no one daring to bid higher.
"Seven million once! Seven million twice! Seven million thrice! Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the fourth-grade superior Barrier-Breaking Pills!"
Bai Qingyu's gaze was fervent, his excitement palpable.
"Ran Ran, wait for me! Even if I have to travel across the world to find the most renowned physicians, I will make sure you can cultivate!"
A sentence from his memory surfaced.
Bai Ran lowered her head, her expression complex.
Over the years, Bai Qingyu was the only one who didn't look down on her, always staying by her side. His large, calloused hands, covered in thick calluses, would always appear dusty and worn as he excitedly told Bai Ran about the herbs he had acquired.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at the Barrier-Breaking Pill was filled with such fervor and hope that it burned Bai Ran's heart.
But her Ran Ran, was no longer here.
Gradually, her expression returned to calm.
The other two pills were sold for eight point five million and ten point five million respectively, and the three Jade Marrow Ganoderma mushrooms fetched a total of twenty-two million.
"Next is the final item of today's auction, the guardian divine beast of Vermillion Bird Kingdom, the egg of the ancient divine beast, Vermillion Bird!"
"A Vermillion Bird egg! This is actually the egg of an ancient divine beast!"
"Quick, pinch me, am I dreaming?"
The appearance of the ancient Vermillion Bird egg sent the crowd's emotions soaring once more, erupting in continuous cheers.
Legend had it that when the Myriad Beast Continent first appeared, the four ancient divine beasts – Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise – each took residence in a cardinal direction, giving rise to four kingdoms named after them.
It was said that if one was recognized by an ancient divine beast and formed a contract, they would become the guardian of that nation. Such a guardian would possess immense power, capable of changing dynasties, but the responsibility would also be enough to crush a person.
However, legends were just legends. Since ancient times, no one had ever successfully contracted any of the four ancient divine beasts.
"However, according to the appraisal master, this is a dead egg. It has existed for ten thousand years, and no one has ever successfully hatched this Vermillion Bird egg," Hong Niang said regretfully, looking at the egg.
As soon as she finished speaking, a hush fell over the crowd. The excitement that had just ignited was instantly doused, leaving no spark behind. A ten-thousand-year-old dead egg.
"Master, bid for this Vermillion Bird egg," Shi Tian transmitted from within the spatial realm.
For some reason, even though Shi Tian was seeing the Vermillion Bird egg for the first time, he felt an unusual sense of familiarity.
Bai Ran looked at the lifeless, dead egg and nodded.
"Therefore, the starting bid for this Vermillion Bird egg is three million gold coins."
"Five million!" a resonant voice boomed from the fourth floor. A few who had intended to bid slowly withdrew their hands upon seeing it was from a private box on the fourth floor.
"Five point five million!" Bai Ran's clear voice flowed out.
Below, the crowd began to murmur.
Suddenly, a wave of divine sense swept through the room, carrying a faint pressure. The voice from the fourth floor then echoed, "Seven million."
Bai Ran narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly unfazed by the incoming divine sense. "Seven point five million."
Bai Ran played with her lustrous black hair and slowly spoke again, "Presumably, Your Excellency wishes to purchase this Vermillion Bird egg to treat a cold ailment. Let us strike a deal. I will help treat Your Excellency's cold ailment, and in return, you will cede this Vermillion Bird egg to me, how about it?"
In her past life, Bai Ran was not only proficient in alchemy but also in medicine and poisons. Her brother knew her abilities well and thus spared no expense in creating an unprecedented new poison.
It was colorless and odorless, instantly fatal upon contact. Coupled with Bai Ran's inherent trust in her brother, her skills would have allowed her to calmly detoxify herself even if covered in hundreds of poisons.
The man's handsome brows furrowed upon hearing this.
In this lower realm, where spiritual energy was scarce, how could someone know the secret of the Vermillion Bird egg?
The man sitting on the tiger-skin sofa relaxed his brows, then curved his lips into a smile, a faint glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Your Excellency, are we not bidding higher?" Jing Yun whispered to inquire.
"No more bids," Long Jinhan picked up the jade teacup beside him and took a sip. The aroma of tea filled the air. If that woman lacked the capability, killing her and reclaiming the Vermillion Bird egg would not be too late.
Although Jing Yun was puzzled, he silently obeyed the order.
"Seven point five million once! Seven point five million twice! Seven point five million thrice! Congratulations to the distinguished guest from the Heaven-tier private box for winning the Vermillion Bird egg!"
Hong Niang looked at the Vermillion Bird egg with regret.
If it were a live egg, it would fetch at least a hundred, perhaps even a thousand times this price. It was truly a pity. Hong Niang shook her head.
After the auction concluded, a tall, sturdy man stood outside Bai Ran's private box, having seemingly been there for some time.
"Miss, my master requests your presence," Jing Yun bowed slightly and spoke in a calm tone.
He wasn't afraid she would escape.
Inside the fourth-floor private box.
Bai Ran sat opposite Long Jinhan, leisurely popping candied fruits into her mouth, her demeanor relaxed and unrestrained, occasionally glancing at the person opposite her.
To be honest, even after living two lives, she had never seen such breathtaking beauty. His face was clean and fair, with sharp, angular features; his thick eyebrows were rebelliously arched upwards, and beneath his long, slightly curled eyelashes, his dark, deep, icy eyes held a wild, unrestrained, devilishly sexy charm.
His nose was well-defined, his lips as tender and pink as rose petals. His three-dimensional features were sculpted handsomely, and he exuded an aura of a king who could shake the world. A dangerous smile played on his handsome face.
"What should I call you?" Bai Ran inquired after glancing at Long Jinhan.
Jing Yun beside him could barely suppress the urge to draw his broadsword from dozens of feet away. How could this woman be so arrogant and ill-mannered? Veins bulged on his forehead, yet he forcibly restrained himself.
As long as his master gave the word, he would immediately chop off the woman's head.
"Long," Long Jinhan's devilish eyes held a hint of amusement as he appraised the seemingly ordinary woman before him. Was she not afraid? The little girl was even eating with gusto.
The mere mention of his title as "Emperor Venerable" was enough to make young children cry themselves to sleep.
In truth, since entering the room, every nerve in Bai Ran's body had tensed. This person was powerful, and his aura felt like that of someone accustomed to being in supreme authority. If he wanted to kill her, she would likely turn to dust with a mere wave of his hand.
"Young Master Long, I can attempt to treat the cold ailment. Consider it a return for the Vermillion Bird egg. However, I would like to examine the patient's pulse first."
Long Jinhan did not hesitate and extended his hand.
"Treat it? Do you think His Excellency's illness is so easily cured? Aren't you afraid of boasting too much?" Jing Yun was extremely displeased.
Her soft, small hand rested on his wrist. After a moment, her delicate brows furrowed. "It can be treated, but I do not have the corresponding medicinal ingredients, nor has my strength reached that level yet."
She took out a piece of paper and nonchalantly wrote a full page. "These are the medicinal ingredients. You can start collecting them."
"It can be treated?" Long Jinhan stared fixedly at the person opposite him, a hint of coldness in his eyes. So many alchemists and physicians in the Nine Heavens, even those of ninth-grade or emperor-grade, could only suppress it, not cure it. Yet this little girl before him suddenly declared she could cure it?
"How long will it take for you to reach that level?"
"I'm not sure, but it won't be long," Bai Ran replied, her head lowered.
"Five years," Long Jinhan gave a deadline.
"Agreed," Bai Ran said, then stood up and left, her pace unhurried.
"Your Excellency! She is merely an ant from the lower realm. How can her words be trusted? Even people from the Nine Heavens are helpless. How could she, a mere girl, possibly cure it!" Jing Yun was deeply worried.
"Jing Yun, you have overstepped," Long Jinhan's icy gaze swept over him.
Jing Yun trembled and lowered his head. "Your subordinate admits his mistake."
"Send Jing Feng to follow her."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
She first went to the Ni Chang Tower and bought many clothes and accessories, then proceeded to the Herb Pavilion, sweeping away all the herbs required for refining second and third-grade pills. The shopkeeper happily saw off this wealthy customer.
Finally, she arrived at the slave market.
"Step right up, come and see! Strong male slaves! Sweet and lovely female slaves! We have everything!" a middle-aged, scruffy man shouted.
Bai Ran looked at the slaves confined in cages. They were covered in bloodstains, huddled in corners, trembling. Some were beggars from the streets, others were abandoned by their masters.
Bai Ran walked along the cages, looking at each one. She stopped before a particular cage containing only four people. However, these four had clearly suffered the most severe beatings. Each had wounds deep enough to see bone, their simple clothes soaked in blood.
Yet, at first glance, what caught her eye was not their wounds, but the unyielding, determined gaze in their eyes.