The 1st-tier Heaven Turning Pills were sold off one by one to various parties mostly in the gallery.

The 2nd-tier pill went to the Crimson Arrow Manor, who lost hope of winning the main prize and thus went all-in on the 2nd-tier pill.

After all, Heaven Turning Pill of any tier was able to help someone to advance into a Major Realm, the efficacy was just varied in correspondence to the Major Realm, so a 2nd-tier pill still could help the Crimson Arrow Manor’s Patriarch to advance into Essence Ignition Realm, it was just not a 100% guarantee anymore as would have been with a 3rd-tier pill, but the added probability of success was still high enough for it to be extremely valuable even for someone trying to advance into Essence Ignition Realm instead of Essence Gathering Realm.

With Wei Yuanjie out of the picture for the main prize because of the painting, the 3rd-tier Heaven Turning Pill went into Wei Liheng’s hands with relatively no struggle, although the Ember Palm Pavilion did join hands with Wei Yuanjie to at least try competing, hiking up the price for him as much as it was possible.

"This is... Your Highness, this is extremely problematic...", the Inner Court Elder of the Ember Palm Pavilion spoke to Wei Yuanjie with a troubled expression as he watched Wei Liheng celebrating his victory.

"Do not worry about it, that pill is useless anyway", suddenly, another voice came from behind them, and as they turned around, they saw the masked Talisman Master along with three other men, two of whom were masked and one without a mask, enter the balcony. It was the only man with a bare face, an elder man with while hair and beard whom they did not recognize, who spoke to them.

"And you are...?", one of the three Elders asked tentatively while Kwon Qianhong was making the final speech behind him. At the same time, the Inner Court Elder of the Ember Palm Pavilion suddenly had a guess, widening his eyes in shock.

"My name is Chu Ren, I represent the Eternal Duality Valley", Chu Ren replied with a smile.

"You are... our mysterious partners...", the Inner Court Elder spoke, causing the other two to sharply turn to him in shock, and then turn back to look at Chu Ren more closely.

They collectively gulped, as the two masked men behind Chu Ren were in Essence Ignition Realm and Essence Gathering Realm, thus crushing the fantasy of the three that their mysterious partners were helpless in front of them.

"Yes", Chu Ren nodded with a smile, "It is nice to finally talk face to face, as you so wished all this time. My apologies for this late timing, we had our own circumstances which caused us to delay this direct meeting"

"But... why now?", the Inner Court Elder asked.

"H-how is it possible?", at the exact same time, one of the Outer Court Elders who didn’t speak yet, asked in bewilderment. They only ascended from a lower world around 2 years ago, it was too short of a time to make advancements into such high cultivation realms as the two in masks.

"I believe your primary, and rightfully far more urgent, concern for now was with the Heaven Turning Pill going into the hands of the 5th prince, meaning the ones to get it will be the Seven Extreme Swords Sect", Chu Ren chuckled.

"Y-yes! What did you mean by the pill being useless... wait, don’t tell me... is there something wrong with the pill?", the Inner Court Elder asked anxiously, and then had a sudden look of enlightenment which brought him a glimmer of hope and even joy.

"I got it! Did you switch out that pill long ago, giving us the real one, is that how you got it?!", another Outer Court Elder exclaimed with realization, the two others showing faces seemingly saying ’that must be it!’.

"Of course not, you think the Soaring Feather Trading Company wouldn’t have noticed we submitted a fake up for auction? No, the pill going up for the auction is real, almost identical to the one we gave you", this guess was quickly shot down, and then anticipating the natural question, Chu Ren added, "But it still is a liability for whoever owns it. Think about it, if you haven’t made a deal with me, and the one who won that pill from an auction? Would you be able to make use of it?"

The three Elders paused in confusion, but gradually, understanding started appearing in their eyes.

Seeing that, Chu Ren added a bit more to accelerate the process, "If the pill’s ownership was a secret, like with you, it would be another deal. You had time to go into seclusion to take the pill. But this one, owned publicly, is just placing a target on your back. How would anyone have any opportunity to use it under constant scrutiny of the other two Sects, in this case, you and the Crystal Wood Sect will ambush the Seven Extreme Swords Sect as soon as their Elder tries to take the pill and go into seclusion, no?"

A sudden look of realization appeared on the faces of the three Elders, who exchanged glances, baffled at the fact they all collectively overlooked this crucial, but very obvious detail. Indeed, the pill was useless if there was constant threat that did not allow the Elder to go into seclusion - being interrupted in the middle of attempting to advance would risk Qi Deviation, and certain death. With this, the pill became a very expensive and valuable prop that could only be owned but not used.

They all had smiles raising the corners of their lips, and laughter was about to break out of them when, behind their backs, Kwon Qianhong finished thanking all the participants of the auction and congratulating the winners, and then added one last announcement reminding everyone about the tournament - a sort of advertisement.