Page: Auction at Merchant City

Two mysterious man covered with long robe entered the merchant's pavilion, one tall and one at the tall man's chest level. These two identified themselves as wanderers and had chanced upon this city after a long travel. Now that they reached the heart of the city, they claimed the need if some some form of currency to live in the city for a while. Because they hold some mysterious vibe in them, the merchant pavilion took them seriously.

"Dear gentlemen, I am the manager of this auction room. Please have a sit and drink some tea." Being clever as he can be, the manager tries to act in any way that would give some clues about the identity of the two. The shorter robed man noticed the hidden agenda and warmed the older robed man.

"No need for pleasantries, Mr manager. We're here to auction some pills you might find valuable. We just want shards or cores if possible."

The tall robed man took out a small pill box. Upon opening it, the strong but pleasant aroma waft into the room and almost intoxicated the manager. The glistening golden color and the embroidery of exquisite pill veins can't easily be shaken as seen in the face of the manager.

"What kind of pill are these? They don't look like the usual pills."

"You're right. This pill can't be compared to those graded pills since this is the highest form of pill quality."

The manager had his eyes open wide with the revelation. 'If what he said is true, then this pill.. this is the mystic grade?' Wanting to check the truth, there is no choice but to call the merchant's alchemist.

"Sir, if its not being rude, may I ask our personal alchemist to appraise this pill? Its just the auction's way of dealing things. We don't mean any disrespect."

"Mr manager, you do what is written on your book. As long as we can proceed quickly, the better."

A minute later, an old alchemist came rushing from the door. It was apparent that he came in a hurry since he was catching his breath. For such pill to appear in a small city, he must confirm it.

"Manager, where is it? Where is the pill?" The old alchemist hurriedly asked while trying to stand properly from exhaustion.

The manager pointed out the red pill box on the table while the alchemist followed the direction with his old eyes. He approached the small box then opened it slowly.

"Ohh. Magnificent! This is a genuine pill vein. It is indeed the mystic grade, the highest quality there is. May I know the origin of this pill?"

The mysterious man in front of him replied with cold voice "You don't need to know the origin of that pill. Are you perhaps adamant in putting this at the auction?"

The alchemist was alarmed by the threatening reply, threat that the pill will not be sold in this very place. He needs to appease the man. "No sir, I didn't mean it that way. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I was just curious how many of these do you have?"

"Mr alchemist, appraise the pill first then we will present you how many we would want to auction."

The room became quiet as the alchemist started his work. After a few couple of minutes, the alchemist gave his appraisal. "This is a grade 2 mystic quality, the essence gathering pill. In terms of efficiency, this is four times more better than the essence gathering pill that is sold in the market. If one will take this pill, the person would be able to cultivate a month's worth of practice in just a week. If this is auctioned, the price may be raised atleast to a thousand red shards, or at least 100 yellow shards. That's a month worth of resources from a well defined household. How is it sir?"

The tall, mysterious man put down another three pill box on the table. "I want to auction four of them. You may auction them in any way you want as long as we get its worth."

The manager took the initiative to reply. With such precious item, it would require time for people to prepare. With such, he propose a scenario. "If sir will allow, please give us three days to advertise. This way, the people who can afford it will be able to prepare."

"In three days then, we will return and attend the auction. If there's nothing more, we will be on our way."

"We'll see you out."

The two mysterious men took off and disappeared. According to the merchant alchemist, the two must have come from a different place, probably even from the mainland.

"Alchemist Wu, should I send someone to watch on the two?"

"No, we can't make a risk. They might be someone of high background. To be able to hold such quality of pills means that they know someone who can create it. Over my years of experience, Only high grade alchemists and grandmaster alchemists can make such. Let's focus on the advertisement instead. If we can take a favorable impression, we might be able to see and benefit from something even better. "

The day of its announcement rattled the entire city. Heads of major households, together with the sect elders even sent their men to verify the content of the news. There were four mystic grade essence gathering pill to be auctioned at the merchant pavillion's auction house.

This was an opportunity for those who can afford it. If they can gift this to their predecessors, they can gain a lot of advantage over the others. Another thing, anyone who can purchase the product is a testimony of their own wealth. One day, two days, and finally three days passed away. The auction boxes were fully booked and even the stage beneath were fully packed.

Right now, the two mysterious men arrived from the back door and handed the four pills. They were brought to the only balcony area where they can watch the auction as it happens. Just below them were some few members of each household scrutinizing each other, assessing the amount each have brought. On the lowest area, just close to the podium were individuals who were able to avail the expensive entrance fee.

Just as the pretty auctioneer confirmed the arrival of the two important guest, the auction was officially started. The first objects auctioned were spiritual herbs and some Earth grade martial skill books. The majority who made bids were mostly common cultivators who most likely require ingredients for a certain pill they require. While it was heating up on that side, the different members of each household were patiently waiting for the main show, well, most of them.

"Old Li, your thinking of chancing on one of the pills aren't you? Hahaha! You must have squeezed a lot today."

The head of the Feng household was so boisterous, his laughter echoed all throughout the room. Even the onlookers can't keep a straight face listening to his antics.

"Old Feng, shut that loud embarrassing trap of yours. If you just came here to make noise, why don't you do it on the streets? Can't you see the "

The other heads and elders from the other household who came at the auction have already known that something like this will happen. They are the definition of 'oil and water', a pair that is never meant to be on the same place.

Cheers erupted inside the hall. Even though most of the people knew they won't be able to get the pill in question, many are satisfied with the notion of just witnessing it's splendor. As the auctioneer opens the table, the manager and the merchant alchemist came in holding a red pill box.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your patience. Since we have reached the highlight of this event, I will introduce you the pill in question. This pill was assessed by our merchant alchemist and determined the pill to be the grade two essence gathering pill. For its authenticity, we are putting our house at stake in case you still have doubts. Just like what is written in the announcement, you must have researched about the characteristics of a mystic quality pill. If in case you want to learn the origin of the pill, I'm afraid the owner of chose not to disclose any about it. For everyone's eye, let me show the grade 2 pill."

The manager placed the pill box on the table and slowly revealed the pill. Everyone's eyes was following the Manager's moves until theirs saw the golden pill with distinctive patterns. Gasps and sounds of amazement echoed inside the hall.

Just as many were astounded, one brave soul disrupted their bliss and asked to tell the characteristics of the pill.

"Gentleman, compared to the common essence gathering pill out there, this is four times more efficient. A low grade essence pill can double the amount of essence you absorb but then you know that the medicine leftovers in the body stops you from taking another pill on the same week or the efficiency of the succeeding take will significantly decrease until taking it is useless. For this pill, being in the mystic grade, the amount you can gather is worth one month in just a single week. If your sons and daughters will take this, they will definitely get ahead of others in no time. For those who are aged and suffers bottlenecks at minor realms. Say you're at the junction from the flesh tempering to the visceral tempering, using this pill provide the necessary force to break through."

Hearing its wonders, there was no way that a commotion will not erupt. People started to become impatient in taking it.

"Now, let us start the bid. We will begin at five times the price of a regular essence gathering pill. The increment can't go lower than 10 yellow shards. The base price is fifty yellow shards!"

"I bid 60!"

"70 here!"

"150!"

The last shout shut the small fries in front. The one who made the bid was from the Feng household. Everyone understood that this was now the time for the big shots.

"200 on the Li household!"

The two tried to increase the bid each time until it reached 300 yellow shards. Such increase was unpresidented even by the auction manager.

"450 yellow essence shards!" An imposing voice originating from the side made everyone quiet. It was the Chen's. From that moment, no one added more bid. For such an important event, there could be more than one pill. That was the thought of most bigbshots from every household.

"Going once! twice! trice! Sold to number 3. Everyone looked at the person and they saw an old man whose expression was stoic.

"Now everyone, we still have 3 more. Were having the same rate as the first. Let is begin!"

As the auction continued, the two mysterious men on the veranda were stiff from the amounts of shards being spent in the pills. Long Bai calculated and they are going to have 3 or 4 times the estimated amount. Alchemist Mo on the other hand had another reason. He was stiff with the reason that a precious pill is going to someone's hands. Although they have different reasons, they both have similar expression on them.