I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 78 - 77: Auction (Part 2)

Li Xing picked up the champagne in front of Cui Tianxiao, took a graceful sip, and said, "It’s okay."

"If there’s anything you like, go ahead and bid. I’ll cover the cost for you!"

Li Xing smiled. If there was something she truly liked, she wouldn’t be polite about it. If she didn’t have enough money, she’d naturally borrow from the wealthy young masters, and she could offset it with elixirs; after all, she wouldn’t let them suffer a loss.

Ye Qingting observed Li Xing’s calm demeanor and couldn’t help but ask, "Ah Xing, have you been to the Red Hall before?"

"No."

Though Li Xing hadn’t been to the Red Hall, she had attended plenty of auctions on Blue Star. This was merely an old bottle with new wine, nothing extraordinary.

Ye Qingting and Qi Ming exchanged a glance, each noticing the other’s surprise and curiosity.

Most people, upon entering a magnificent place like the Red Hall, would have an emotional response—either excitement or nervousness.

Li Xing’s composure was almost too natural, as if she had experienced similar scenes countless times, making her seem oddly out of place.

Orphaned from a young age, and raised by ordinary foster parents, her family conditions were average. Although she often worried about money, she never appeared destitute. On the contrary, she occasionally displayed an elegance beyond her status. Even when meticulously earning crystal stones, she didn’t come off as unlikable.

Due to the Element Testing Instrument incident, the Elder Council had thoroughly investigated Li Xing’s background, confirming she was just a commoner from the Lower Town. Otherwise, Ye Qingting would really suspect she was a mole cultivated by some prestigious family.

There were underlying tensions between Ye Qingting and Qi Ming, which the thick-skinned Cui Tianxiao didn’t notice at all.

"Qingting, do you think the Chu God will come today?"

"I don’t know."

Cui Tianxiao: "It’d be great if Chu God came. Today’s main highlight is the priceless healing medicine, the Divine Return Drink, perfect for those with Spirit Sea injuries. If Chu God bids on it, he won’t have to rely on Spirit Fruits anymore."

Ye Qingting took a sip of champagne and said, "Knowing my cousin, even if he comes, he won’t bid on the Divine Return Drink."

Cui Tianxiao: "Why?"

"Idiot, dummy! If he bids, it’s like announcing to everyone that his Spirit Sea is injured, isn’t it?" Qi Ming stuttered as he spoke, but his intuition was spot on, seeing the problem more comprehensively than Cui Tianxiao did.

Cui Tianxiao curled his lips, "With anonymous bidding, who can tell it’s Chu God buying it!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ye Qingting: "There’s no wall that totally blocks the wind. Even anonymous bids can leave traces. If someone wants to investigate, they’ll find out. Not just my cousin, but you and I can’t bid either." The well-known family ties meant that if they bid, it would be no different from Chu Yunyi bidding.

"You people with all your convoluted thoughts!" Cui Tianxiao huffed and grabbed the berry milk Li Xing had abandoned, gulping it down in one shot.

Hmm? This tastes pretty good. How about... another cup?

Meanwhile, not far from them in another private room, they were also discussing the Divine Return Drink.

A striking young woman with a fiery figure and twin black hair strands twirled a lock of wavy hair around her finger, staring at the last line of the auction catalog and remarked:

"The Divine Return Drink is a patented medicine by Ning Yu, a Heaven Rank Healing Master. It’s already rare, and ever since Master Ning Yu retired, it’s become extinct. Surely this isn’t a counterfeit?"

"There are absolutely no counterfeits among the items auctioned at the Red Hall." A handsome young man with narrow, phoenix-like eyes gently swirled his wine glass and replied nonchalantly:

"Internal sources say the consignor is a minor noble from the Middle Town who once bought a bottle of Divine Return Drink at a high price for his son with a Spirit Sea injury. Unfortunately, his son died in a rampage before receiving the medicine, leaving this bottle behind. Recently, the minor noble’s business ran into trouble, urgently needing funds, which led to the decision to auction the Divine Return Drink at the Red Hall as a last resort. This might just be the only remaining bottle of Divine Return Drink in existence."

Another twin black-haired young man sighed from the corner, "Truly, rarity makes it precious. If it weren’t for Master Ning Yu’s rank falling, making it impossible for him to produce more medicine, this Divine Return Drink wouldn’t qualify as a main highlight!"

"Brother Yun, do you want it?" Lin Caier turned to ask the silent Chu Yunyi, her eyes filled with affection.

Chu Yunyi: "Who wouldn’t want a medicine that can repair spiritual power?"

"Then I’ll bid on it for you?"

Chu Yunyi smiled, "Having a girl gift me something so valuable would hurt my pride. Cai Er, you should save your money for something you like. If I want it, I’ll bid myself."

"Alright then." Lin Caier’s expression showed some disappointment.

"Yun Yi, people are saying that after the backlash from setting up the Sky Wind Annihilation Array, your Spirit Sea suffered severe damage, and your spiritual power is only half of what it used to be. Is that true?" The young man with narrow eyes asked in a low voice. Lin Caier and An Qing also turned their attention to Chu Yunyi, awaiting his response.

"Yuesheng, don’t you know more about my injuries than anyone else?"

Jiang Yuesheng’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. He had been present the entire time Chu Yunyi set up the Sky Wind Annihilation Array. Observing him afterward, he found that Chu Yunyi’s spiritual power had indeed diminished significantly but still managed to remain clear-headed and mobile.

The following day, he personally visited, and Chu Yunyi was entirely as usual.

Based on his speculation, the degree to which Chu Yunyi used the Primordial Spirit was considerable, and a pseudo-demotion was entirely possible, but it wasn’t as severe as rumors suggested.

Jiang Yuesheng hadn’t originally intended to ask, but before leaving, his father had specifically tasked him with finding out the truth, so he had decided to come clean and ask Chu Yunyi directly.

However, when faced with Chu Yunyi’s clear gaze, a sense of guilt arose within him. If it weren’t for his impure motives and constant persuasion to drag Yunyi to the second fortress, Yunyi wouldn’t have suffered this unwarranted disaster.

Jiang Yuesheng: "Yun Yi, there’s no one else here. If you really need something but find it inconvenient to bid personally, we can all do it for you."

With his ever-gentle smile, Chu Yunyi replied, "For medicines that repair the Spirit Sea, every Elemental Spirit with spiritual power on the Qianyuan Continent would store a few, if feasible, for healing needs."

"Even when Master Ning Yu could continuously produce them, the Divine Return Drink was already a rare commodity, fetching no set price. Now, with only one left in the world, naturally everyone will compete for it. I too, fall within this common desire. Why would I need to discreetly find someone to bid on it for me?"

Jiang Yuesheng nodded, indeed.

The main highlight must be something everyone wants, but the rumors about Chu Yunyi were excessive. Regardless of their truth, his participation in the auction would undoubtedly stir gossip. But since Chu Yunyi was unconcerned, he saw no reason to worry.

No one spoke among the four, creating a somewhat somber atmosphere in the private room until, thankfully, the auction officially began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to have you as distinguished guests at the Red Hall auction. I am the auctioneer for this event, Dai Wei."

The large screen in the auction hall displayed Dai Wei’s personal profile.

Li Xing was surprised to find that although this unassuming middle-aged man had a Primordial Spirit of Grade C, his spiritual power unexpectedly reached the Heavenly Armor level.