Chapter 152: The Bidding

Huangfu Huijing smiled triumphantly and said, "Alright, it's a deal!"

Beside them, seeing that Huangfu Huijing had managed to cut the price of the Tier 3 Saint-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill in half with just a single bid, Huangfu Shaoqi wanted to speak but hesitated. He rubbed his hands together and whispered to Xin Lang, "Master Xin, that..."

Xin Lang glared fiercely at Huangfu Shaoqi and scolded, "If you dare to place a bid as well, I'll slap you to death!"

Seeing the ferocious look on Xin Lang's face, Huangfu Shaoqi immediately swallowed back whatever he was about to say.

Finally, Xin Lang successfully won the rare Essence Stone at the price of twenty-one thousand gold coins.

Having acquired the Essence Stone for virtually nothing, the hanging stone in Xin Lang's heart finally dropped. "With this Essence Stone, I might be able to advance to the peak Grandmaster level even without the upgrade device!"

In high spirits, Xin Lang said to Huangfu Huijing, Shangguan Ningyu, and Huangfu Shaoqi, "I'll give all three of you a thirty percent discount on the Tier 3 Saint-grade Marrow Cleansing Pills!"

"Ah!" Huangfu Shaoqi was overjoyed. "Then many thanks, Master Xin!"

However, a doubt arose in Huangfu Shaoqi's mind: "Could that crystal stone really be more valuable than a Tier 3 Saint-grade elixir?"

The same doubt appeared in the minds of Huangfu Huijing and Shangguan Ningyu, but neither of them voiced it. They knew that even if they asked, Xin Lang wouldn't tell them right now. They would simply have to figure out this secret from Xin Lang on their own over time.

"Next, we will auction the final item of today—a Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill refined by a mysterious grandmaster alchemist!" The host continued with an inciting tone, "This Marrow Cleansing Pill not only enhances beauty and rejuvenates the skin, but it also cleanses the meridians, marrow, and prolongs life. It is an extremely rare and precious medicinal treasure!"

"Tier 9 Treasure-grade! Did I hear that right?"

"When did a Tier 9 alchemist grandmaster ever appear in the Great Xia Dynasty? Why haven't I heard of it?"

"A Tier 9 alchemist grandmaster! He is already on the verge of qualifying to challenge the title of Medicine Saint!"

"Earlier, that Tier 7 Treasure-grade Seven-Turn Rejuvenation Pill only sold for thirty thousand gold coins because everyone wanted to save face for the Crown Prince. Otherwise, that pill would have fetched at least one hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Indeed! For Treasure-grade elixirs, the price doubles with every increase in tier! This Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill can easily sell for at least four hundred thousand gold coins!"

The host continued, "The starting bid for the Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill is one hundred thousand gold coins, with a minimum increment of five thousand gold coins per bid!"

"I bid one hundred and fifty thousand!" Just as the host's voice trailed off, Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong stood up and shouted. At the same time, he swept his gaze across everyone in the auction hall, his meaning abundantly clear: "Let's see who dares to place a higher bid. Whoever bids is picking a fight with this prince!"

The host of the Jiuzhou Auction House frowned, thoroughly displeased with Huangfu Shaoxiong's behavior. Earlier, Huangfu Shaoxiong's meddling had caused the auction house to lose a significant amount of commission on the Tier 7 Treasure-grade Seven-Turn Rejuvenation Pill. Now he was interfering again—wasn't this going directly against the Jiuzhou Auction House? However, the auction house could do nothing against Huangfu Shaoxiong; after all, he had merely raised his voice a bit and cast a sharp look, leaving them no fault to pick on.

After dragging it out for quite a while, the host finally announced, "Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill, one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins for the first time! Will any interested bidders please make your offers promptly? The minimum increment is five thousand gold coins!"

Huangfu Shaoxiong had raised the price by fifty thousand gold coins in a single breath, causing many buyers in the hall to gasp! Huangfu Shaoxiong's imposing manner clearly demonstrated his determination to win the item at all costs!

"Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill, one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins for the second time!" The host waited for a long time, and with no one else bidding, had no choice but to call out the second price.

Xin Lang now experienced the exact same feeling Ouyang Feiyun had felt earlier, thinking to himself, "Had I known it would turn out like this, I should have brought that fat guy along to help drive up the price!"

Just as Xin Lang was feeling a hint of regret, an elegant and refined voice came from another private box, calmly calling out, "Sixteen thousand gold coins!"

Xin Lang looked at Huangfu Shaoqi and asked, "Who is that person?"

Huangfu Shaoqi smiled bitterly and replied, "That is the Second Prince, Huangfu Shaoxian!"

"I see..." Xin Lang nodded.

Naturally, Huangfu Shaoqi and Huangfu Huijing did not want this Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill to fetch too high a price, so neither of them would participate in the bidding. However, Second Prince Huangfu Shaoxian was different; he was not afraid of the Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong, and he desperately wanted to obtain this Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Seeing that Second Prince Huangfu Shaoxian had joined the bidding, both Huangfu Shaoqi and Huangfu Huijing smiled wryly and shook their heads. They knew that the final price of this Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill would definitely be no less than four hundred thousand gold coins!

Once Huangfu Shaoxian took the lead in breaking the Crown Prince's price suppression, others immediately jumped into the bidding. Many people clung to a glimmer of hope, wishing to acquire this Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Those with wealth and power were afraid to die and hoped to use this pill to buy themselves a few extra years of life.

"Seventeen thousand gold coins!"

"Eighteen thousand gold coins!"

"Nineteen thousand gold coins!"

"Twenty thousand gold coins!"

In an instant, the price of the Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill surged by fifty thousand gold coins. Furious, Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong turned around, glared angrily at Second Prince Huangfu Shaoxian, and snapped, "Second Brother, what is the meaning of this?"

From the neighboring private box, Huangfu Shaoxian also stood up, radiating an air of scholarly refinement. He shrugged and said, "Eldest Brother, I too wish to win this Marrow Cleansing Pill and present it to our Imperial Father to win his favor!"

"Hmph!" Huangfu Shaoxiong flicked his sleeve and shouted loudly, "Twenty-five thousand gold coins!"

Huangfu Shaoxiong had once again increased the bid by fifty thousand gold coins in one go, displaying an extremely aggressive attitude! Several dignitaries who had initially intended to join in completely shrank back upon seeing the murderous glare in the Crown Prince's eyes!

"Twenty-six thousand gold coins!" Others might have retreated, but Huangfu Shaoxian did not.

"Thirty thousand gold coins!" Wealthy and imposing, Huangfu Shaoxiong pushed the price straight up to a round number.

"Thirty-one thousand gold coins!" Huangfu Shaoxian countered.

"Thirty-five thousand gold coins!" Huangfu Shaoxiong raised the bid once more.

"Thirty-six thousand gold coins!"

"Forty thousand gold coins!"

"Forty-one thousand gold coins!"

"Forty-five thousand gold coins!"

"Forty-six thousand gold coins!"

The Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong and the Second Prince Huangfu Shaoxian went back and forth, driving the price of the Marrow Cleansing Pill up to forty-six thousand gold coins in no time.

Seeing that Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong showed no intention of giving up whatsoever, Huangfu Shaoxian began to ponder in his heart.

"Fifty thousand..."

Before Huangfu Shaoxiong could finish calling out his price, the Second Prince suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Eldest Brother, wait a moment!"

With that, Huangfu Shaoxian walked over to Huangfu Shaoxiong's private box.

"Hmph, what do you want?" Because Huangfu Shaoxian had driven up the price of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Huangfu Shaoxiong was extremely displeased.

"Eldest Brother, look, we are both doing this for our Imperial Father's sake, which is why we want to buy this Marrow Cleansing Pill! How about this: I will provide the funds to win the bid for this pill, and then you can present it to our Imperial Father as a gift from yourself, as long as you count me in on it," Huangfu Shaoxian suggested.

To Xin Lang, Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong gave the impression of a reckless brute; although he possessed a commanding presence, he lacked cunning strategy. In contrast, Huangfu Shaoxian was clearly much smarter than Huangfu Shaoxiong. This move of his was brilliant—not only did it win the Emperor's favor, but it also bestowed a massive favor upon the Crown Prince.

Hearing his younger brother's words, Crown Prince Huangfu Shaoxiong's previous anger instantly vanished.

"Haha, since Second Brother has such filial piety toward our Imperial Father, as your older brother, I will naturally fulfill your wish!" Huangfu Shaoxiong laughed triumphantly. Not having to spend a single coin while still gaining the Emperor's favor—of course he was happy with such a bargain.

"Forty-six thousand gold coins for the first time!" the host announced.

Now that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had formed a united front, no one else dared to participate in the bidding.

"Forty-six thousand gold coins for the second time!"

"Forty-six thousand gold coins for the third time!"

Thud! The hammer in the host's hand came down firmly on the table. The Marrow Cleansing Pill now officially belonged to the two princes.

With the Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill safely secured, smiles blossomed across the faces of both Huangfu Shaoxiong and Huangfu Shaoxian.

Seeing this final price, Xin Lang chuckled inwardly, "A single Tier 9 Treasure-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill auctioned for forty-six thousand gold coins. I wonder how much I'd make if I took out all the dozens of Tier 3 Saint-grade Marrow Cleansing Pills sitting in my upgrade device's storage grid and put them up for auction?"