The Stem Lotus was a peerless medicinal material that could stimulate muscle activity. For someone with damaged muscles and internal organs, consuming it would lead to rapid healing and a full recovery. Of course, consuming it directly like that would waste a great deal of its medicinal efficacy. If it were instead concocted into a special medicinal liquid, one could cultivate the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique—which would normally take a year just to reach the first layer—all the way to the Great Success Level in less than a week!
A Stem Lotus was extremely difficult to find, especially a thousand-year-old one, which was even more precious. In his past life, even as an old antique, Nie Yun had found it very hard to acquire one, let alone now!
That was why he hadn't even considered using this medicinal material when he was planning to concoct the Body Tempering Medicine Liquid. He never expected it to suddenly show up at today's auction!
'In my past life, I watched the entire auction, but I don't remember there being a Stem Lotus. Could it be that because of my rebirth, many things have subtly changed?'
Nie Yun's greatest shock wasn't the Stem Lotus itself, but the fact that he had also attended this same auction in his past life and had never heard of this medicinal material. Why had it abruptly appeared in this life?
'It seems that because my rebirth changed the certain fate of my sister and mother, many other things have subtly changed as well. There are now some discrepancies with my memories!'
He let out a breath, forcibly suppressing his shock. 'I must buy this medicinal material!' Nie Yun looked toward the center of the auction house, at the giant jade tablet that displayed the bids from the private rooms.
The bidding for the Stem Lotus started at 30,000 taels of silver and quickly rose to 50,000. After 50,000, however, the pace of bidding slowed. It seemed that many were unwilling to take a risk without understanding the true value of this medicinal material.
"Sixty thousand!"
Although Nie Yun knew this medicinal material was no less valuable than the Pengxin Snow Lotus, he suppressed his excitement and raised the bid incrementally.
"The guest in Room Seventeen of the second row bids sixty thousand! Are there any more bids? If not, this thousand-year-old medicinal material will be his! Going once, going twice... Ah, excellent! Room Four in the first row has bid eighty thousand..."
Just as the auctioneer was counting down, the jade tablet flickered and displayed the number 80,000.
"They raised it by twenty thousand in one go! It looks like Room Four in the first row is determined to win it!"
"You can say that again. To add so much... what exactly does this Stem Lotus do? Why is it so valuable!"
There were still some bidders in the stands who weren't in private rooms. Most of them were here to watch the show or look for bargains. Now, seeing Room Four in the first row suddenly add so much money, they all started discussing in shock.
20,000 taels of silver was enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family branch for several years. For a common person, it was a fortune they could never earn in a lifetime.
...
A young man sat upright on a seat inside Room Four of the first row.
This young man was around twenty years old, with sharp, sword-like brows slanting upwards. He was dressed in clean, tidy yellow robes that exuded a noble majesty. His breathing was steady, and with every movement, powerful surges of pure, potent True Qi emanated from his body. He was, shockingly, a master of the Qi Sea Fifth Layer Body Emergence Realm!
Two servants in green robes stood behind the young man. Though not old, they possessed the strength of the Peak of Qi Sea Fourth Layer. They stood as straight as javelins, their eyes fixed on the auction stage with an air of unparalleled arrogance, as if they looked down upon the entire world.
"What exactly is the effect of this Stem Lotus that makes it worthy of the Young Master's attention?"
Seeing his usually calm and quiet Young Master suddenly bid 80,000, the servant on the left asked curiously.
"Anyone else would surely mistake this Stem Lotus for an ordinary Healing Medicine. In fact, few in all of Luoshui City know the true value of this medicinal material!" The young man on the seat tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his words laced with an uncommon pride. "But I know it very well! A thousand-year-old Stem Lotus can stimulate muscle activity, enhancing a person's reflexes and strength. If I consume it, my power will absolutely double. At that point, never mind the younger generation of the clan—I'll surely be ranked even among the older generation!"
"It can stimulate muscle activity? Such a powerful effect? No wonder the Young Master raised the bid by twenty thousand at once. Hearing such a high price, everyone will know the Young Master is determined to have it, and no one will dare compete with you anymore!"
"But of course. The Young Master's plans are always flawless. Just like last time with that bastard Yangg Yan. With just a small scheme, you made him leave the family on his own, never daring to return. Daring to compete for the position of first heir... ten of him would be no match for you!"
Hearing the yellow-robed youth's words, the two servants chimed in with flattery.
If Yangg Yan were here, he would have surely recognized this young man as his own half-brother, Yangg Jun!
"Is there anyone who will go higher than our guest in Room Four of the first row... Excellent! Room Seventeen of the second row bids one hundred thousand!"
Just as the two were speaking, the auctioneer's voice rang out.
"Hm? Someone dares to keep bidding even knowing the Young Master wants to buy it? What an insolent fool! Young Master, should I go investigate and give them a warning?"
The servant on the left asked Yangg Jun, his eyebrows raised.
"It's fine. He's probably just after the 'thousand-year-old medicinal material' title and doesn't know its true significance. As long as we keep raising the price, he'll surely back down!" Yangg Jun waved his hand dismissively, projecting an aura as steady as a mountain. "Raise it to one hundred and twenty thousand for me!"
Hearing the command, the servant on the right tapped the Price Increase Jade Token. The number 120,000 immediately appeared in the main hall.
"One hundred thousand taels of silver is the absolute limit for a thousand-year-old medicinal material. Now that the Young Master has raised it to one hundred and twenty thousand, I doubt anyone in Luoshui City will dare to compete with you!"
"That's for sure. Besides the Four Great Families and the wealthiest man, Li Fu, you could count on one hand the number of people in Luoshui City who could produce one hundred and twenty thousand. And even if they could, they would never spend it all on a single medicinal material!"
Seeing the bid of 120,000 posted, both servants laughed.
"It doesn't really matter if someone bids against me. At worst, after the auction ends, I'll find out who it is and teach them a good lesson. I'll make them understand the consequences of daring to compete with me!" Yangg Jun lightly swiped his finger across the tabletop. His externalized True Qi, sharp as a knife, carved a deep gouge into the stone table.
He could pierce stone. One could only imagine what that finger would do to a person's body—it would undoubtedly leave a bloody hole!
"Room Seventeen of the second row, one hundred and forty thousand!"
The moment his words fell, the auctioneer on the stage shouted excitedly once more, announcing a price that surpassed his own.
"Hm? Who the hell is in Room Seventeen of the second row? Daring to compete with me?" Yangg Jun hadn't expected the other party to raise the bid right after he'd made his boast. His eyes narrowed. "Yangg Lin, input a message for me. Say that the person in Room Four of the first row is me, the first heir of the Yangg Family! If he doesn't come crawling over to apologize and offer compensation after seeing my name, I will absolutely kill him after the auction!"
"Write out your name? Young Master, that's... not quite according to the rules..." The servant on the right, Yangg Lin, was taken aback.
"Not according to the rules? Hmph. In Luoshui City, we, the Four Great Families, *are* the rules! I, the future heir of the Yangg Family, *am* the rules!"
Yangg Jun stood up, and the aura of one long accustomed to a high position swept through the room, putting so much pressure on the two servants that sweat beaded on their foreheads.
"Yes!" Hearing his Young Master's confirmation, Yangg Lin reached for the Price Increase Jade Token. A moment later, a line of text appeared on the main hall's jade tablet: "Room Four, first row. Yangg Jun, first heir of the Yangg Family. One hundred fifty thousand!"
"Look! The person in Room Four of the first row actually wrote his name! The first heir of the Yangg Family!"
"Room Seventeen has really hit a snag. I've long heard that this heir of the Yangg Family is ruthless and cruel. Daring to compete with him... I'm afraid they'll face retaliation the moment they step out of here!"
"Before, he didn't know who he was bidding against since they were in private rooms. Now that Yangg Jun has revealed his name, if the person in Room Seventeen knows what's good for them, they'll stop bidding immediately. Then they'll deliver one hundred thousand taels of silver to his room as compensation. Maybe then they can avoid disaster. Otherwise, they're truly doomed!"
"Anyone who can bid this high can't be an idiot. Let's just watch and see!"
The auction hall erupted in an uproar upon seeing the buyer's information suddenly appear on the jade tablet.
As long as you weren't a fool, you could understand. Since the person in Room Four of the first row dared to write his name, he was clearly telling his competitor that he was determined to have this Stem Lotus and that they had better not bring trouble upon themselves.
In Luoshui City, offending the Four Great Families was the same as courting death!
"One hundred fifty thousand taels of silver! Are there any more bids?" Seeing that Yangg Jun had written his name, the auctioneer's expression turned ugly.
An auction was an auction—the highest bidder wins. By writing his name, he was making a clear threat. The first heir of the Yangg Family was determined to have it; who would dare to continue bidding?
Although he hoped the person in Room Seventeen of the second row would continue to bid, the auctioneer also knew that the Stem Lotus was certain to be sold at this price. Shouting this out now was merely going through the motions.
"If there are no further bids, then this Stem Lotus will be sold to Mr. Yangg Jun for one hundred and fifty thousand taels! Going three, two... Ah!"
In the middle of his shout, the auctioneer sensed a change on the jade tablet behind him. He glanced at it, and his expression immediately changed dramatically!
A new price had appeared on the jade tablet—and with it, a new line of text!
"Room Seventeen of the second row, Two Hundred Thousand! If you have money, bid. If you're broke, get lost. Stop posturing, you pauper!"