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Chapter 226: The Auction 3
The box is unique, adorned with beautiful engravings that make it luxurious and mysterious. People can only speculate about the kind of pill it holds. Murmurs ripple through the hall, creating a noisy atmosphere, but the auctioneer merely smiles. This is the reaction and tension he wants to evoke.
After the box reached his hand, he held it up for the attendees to see.
"Behold the pill of the six stripes!"
When the auctioneer opened the box, the attendees gasped at the sight of a yellow-white pill with six stripes on its surface. The murmurs grew louder as they took in the extraordinary sight. Even the alchemists stood up, straining to get a closer look at the pill with intense focus.
A group of alchemists also focused their senses on the pill. Those who saw them immediately recognized their identity—they were alchemists from the Vindas Empire’s Alchemist Group, the prestigious Vindas Alchemist Family’s Association. Typically, individuals of their status would occupy the private rooms above. However, today they stood among the general attendees, mingling with those of "lesser" privilege.
However, they understood why they were seated here among the other alchemists who had gathered. It was because they could observe and sense the pill more accurately from outside the private rooms. The formations within the rooms restricted their senses, preventing them from properly examining the authenticity of the six-striped pill on the platform.
They wanted to ensure it was truly the real deal and that the Alchemist Association wasn’t trying to scam anyone. Although they trusted that the Association wouldn’t do something as outrageous as scamming people, the existence of a six-striped pill was too extraordinary to believe. Thus, they needed to see it for themselves.
That’s why, as soon as the box was opened and the pill became visible, all the alchemists present didn’t hesitate to examine it with their sense. Even before their senses could reach the pill, they were already mesmerized by its appearance. The yellowish-white hue and the six distinct white stripes on its surface unmistakably confirmed it as the six-striped pill the Alchemist Association had announced.
From its appearance, there seemed to be nothing amiss. The strong herbal fragrance was so potent that they believed this pill could even affect an Emperor-stage cultivator. They eagerly awaited the auctioneer’s announcement to reveal exactly what kind of pill it was.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the King-stage Energy Replenishment Pill!" the auctioneer declared.
The hall fell silent. For several seconds, no one made a sound, as if questioning whether they had misheard.
"What?"
The auctioneer smiled and repeated, "Yes, that’s correct. This is the six-striped Energy Replenishment Pill for King-stage cultivators."
"Are you kidding me? This is just an Energy Replenishment Pill!" someone shouted.
Only after that did many others begin voicing their displeasure. Even some high-status attendees frowned at the scene.
Despite being a six-striped pill, it was still just an Energy Replenishment Pill, and there was nothing particularly special about it. They had expected something far more extraordinary, something that would create a sensation for years to come, based on how the Association had announced it.
The groups of alchemists from all around frowned at the Energy Replenishment Pill, but for a different reason. They knew exactly what kind of pill this was for King-stage cultivators and could easily concoct it themselves. However, the pill before them was so different from those on the market that they had initially thought it was something entirely unknown. The only indication that this was indeed a King-stage Energy Replenishment Pill was the yellow hue of one of the herbs used—the essence of a thousand-year-old ginseng.
They wanted to learn more about what made it different, so they refrained from commenting when they first heard it was just a King-stage Energy Replenishment Pill.
The auctioneer merely smiled at the commotion from the crowd. He understood how they felt, as it was just an Energy Replenishment Pill—something that many alchemists could easily concoct. However, after seeing and experiencing its effects firsthand, he felt as though he should kowtow to the alchemist who had created it. This was truly a masterpiece. When he learned that it was made with the same ingredients as a normal Energy Replenishment Pill, his mind was blown.
A true genius had appeared, and another 10-star badge alchemist had joined the ranks of the Alchemist Association. He felt proud and eager to meet this genius, but the grandmasters had said he could only meet the person if he wished to. Though it was a pity, he still admired the genius.
Now, he had a job to do.
"Now, now, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for a moment?" the auctioneer said, using his technique to ensure he had everyone’s focus. "I understand your reaction, but once you see what this pill is capable of, I guarantee you will no longer underestimate it."
"What kind of effect do you expect from it, besides replenishing the energy of a King-stage cultivator?" someone at the King stage asked.
"Well, that is true," the auctioneer replied, "but what if I told you this pill won’t just replenish some of your energy—it will restore all of it? What if I told you that even after your energy is fully replenished, there will still be remnants that can aid you in your cultivation? This pill goes beyond its original purpose as an energy replenishment pill and can actually assist in cultivation. Do you understand what that means?"
After hearing the auctioneer’s words, the crowd fell silent, but their faces quickly turned to shock.
"Are you serious?"
"I know it sounds absurd, which is why we’ve brought in a pill tester who is willing to demonstrate the effects of the pill." The auctioneer replied.
The auctioneer then glanced backstage, and a man with a tired, pale face stepped onto the platform.
"As you can see, this person here is a peak King-stage cultivator who has already exhausted his energy. His dantian is nearly empty, and his meridians are like a dry desert, with no flow of energy due to the severe depletion. In short, he is in a state of lacking the energy of heaven and earth. Now, to authenticate this, I will allow some of the attendees to come forward and check if this man truly has drained his energy."
"Alright, let me do it," someone said, and the crowd recognized him as an alchemist from the Vindas Alchemist Family Association. They thought that, because he was from a rival association, he would offer an unbiased assessment and wouldn’t be working together with the Alchemist Association.
The man appeared middle-aged, with a cultivation level at the low Emperor stage. He stepped onto the platform and approached the pill tester, extending his hand to touch his wrist.
After checking for a few seconds, he looked around and nodded.
"His energy is truly almost depleted. Inside his dantian, there’s only about 5% of his energy left, so he is indeed in a state of lacking the energy of heaven and earth," the alchemist said.
The people finally agreed that the man was genuinely in a state of lacking the energy of heaven and earth, where his body was in its weakest state—especially if he hadn’t trained his body. This was the most fatal weakness for cultivators who focused purely on inner cultivation without body cultivation. Once your energy is drained, you can’t do anything, especially if you find yourself in a dire situation.
"Is there anyone who wants to check again? If you still have doubts, feel free to examine this person," the auctioneer asked, sweeping his gaze across the entire hall.
After a few seconds of silence, no one stepped forward to follow the alchemist.
"Alright, if there is no one else, then I will give this pill to this man, and you will see the effects directly. Thanks to the grandmasters, especially the one who concocted it, who, with his gracious heart, allowed one of the pills to be used for this demonstration."
The auctioneer then handed the pill to the pill tester.
The pill tester stared at the pill for a moment before swallowing it. The instant the pill reached his intestines, his eyes widened. The crowd watched closely, not wanting to miss a single detail of the effect.
Suddenly, the pill tester’s body, which had appeared sickly, became rejuvenated. His skin, once like a dry branch, grew healthier, and his pale face disappeared, replaced by a fresh complexion full of vigor. But that wasn’t all—an intense surge of energy erupted from his body. The pill tester was momentarily shocked, but he quickly seated himself in meditation.
The people who witnessed this were shocked by the sudden transformation of the pill tester. The change was so rapid and stark compared to his earlier condition. He was now a peak King-stage cultivator, full of life, unlike the lifeless, withered figure he had been just moments before.
After waiting for a few moments, the pill tester stood up and examined his own body. The alchemist, who had been standing nearby, approached him to check his condition again. After a few seconds, the alchemist was shocked by what he found. His body staggered, nearly slipping.
"How is that possible?" he muttered in disbelief.
