Chapter 45: I plan to auction it as the finale

Hearing the subtle implication in Mittel Tushan's words, Gu He was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded and said, "Then, please proceed with testing the pill."

Mittel Tushan smiled lightly and replied, "How could a pill presented by Your Excellency possibly be fake?"

"Since you have identified it as the Dou Spirit Pill, I will naturally follow the specifications for auctioning a Dou Spirit Pill."

Gu He was slightly stunned, secretly impressed by Mittel Tushan's tactful words. This man truly lived up to the reputation of the Mittel family—his words were both reassuring and diplomatic.

"In that case, what is the estimated price for this Dou Spirit Pill?" Gu He continued to inquire.

"The Dou Spirit Pill is a sixth-tier pill, making it the most valuable item in this auction. I plan to auction it as the finale," Mittel Tushan explained with a smile. "As for the price, it will ultimately be determined by the heads of the major families."

The Family Head of the top aristocratic families in the imperial capital were all at the Dou King level.

For them, the Dou Spirit Pill, which could directly elevate their cultivation by one level, was undoubtedly a priceless treasure.

Once the pill was revealed, these Family Head would undoubtedly engage in a fierce bidding war. Under such circumstances, Mittel Tushan was confident that the final price would be astronomical.

Gu He naturally understood Mittel Tushan's reasoning and nodded slightly in agreement.

"Your Excellency, Pill King, here is your private room number. Please take your seat according to the number once the auction begins," Mittel Tushan said, handing Gu He a card made of green jadeite.

Gu He accepted the card casually and then asked, "By the way, could you provide me with a list of the items being auctioned today?"

Mittel Tushan was momentarily surprised but quickly responded, "Of course." With a swift motion of his hand, a list materialized in his palm. "Your Excellency, Pill King, here you go."

"Thank you," Gu He said, taking the list with a nod before slowly exiting the treasure appraisal room.

After Gu He left, the elderly appraiser who had been present earlier reentered the room. "Elder Supervisor, was that man truly Pill King Gu He?" he asked, his expression filled with awe.

"Yes," Mittel Tushan replied, shaking his head slightly. "I never expected someone of Pill King Gu He's stature to appear at this auction. I fear the quality of this auction might disappoint him."

As he spoke, Mittel Tushan instructed the old man, "Once the auction begins, immediately notify the heads of the major families about the sixth-tier Dou Spirit Pill. Ensure they are fully prepared to bid."

The old man bowed respectfully. "Understood, Elder."

…

Using the green jade card, Gu He easily located his private room and took his seat. Outside, the auction hall was already packed with people, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

"The Mittel Auction House truly lives up to its reputation as the premier auction house in the Jia Ma Empire. The turnout is impressive," Gu He remarked, sighing softly as he observed the scene.

Seeing that the auction had yet to begin, Gu He took out the list Mittel Tushan had given him and began to skim through it. After a while, he closed the list with a look of disappointment.

Among the items listed, only one herb caught his interest. The rest were, in his eyes, rather ordinary. However, this was to be expected. This auction was merely a mid-tier event.

The Mittel family's auction houses were strictly divided into four levels, much like the grading system for cultivation techniques, with the "Heaven" level being the highest. However, Heaven-level auctions were rare, sometimes occurring only once every year or two.

When they did take place, the items auctioned were always of immense value, attracting the most powerful figures and leaders from across the Jia Ma Empire.

Gu He's memories recalled a time when his predecessor had attended such an auction.

Back then, the item up for bid had been the egg of a Rank 6 Firescale Crocodile.

Once hatched, the creature would be born as a Dou King-level powerhouse and, with proper nurturing, could eventually reach the Dou Emperor level. For the Jia Ma Empire, such an item was truly priceless.

Now, as he looked at the list in his hand, Gu He couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment.

Having advanced to the rank of a seventh-tier alchemist, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find seventh-tier medicinal herbs within the Jia Ma Empire. Eighth-tier herbs were even rarer.

"It's hard to cook a meal without rice," Gu He thought to himself, feeling a sense of helplessness.

Without access to eighth-tier medicinal ingredients, how could he hope to advance to the rank of an eighth-tier alchemist?

On the continent, alchemists were indeed a rare and prestigious profession, but it was also an incredibly expensive one.

While talent played a significant role in alchemy, without a steady supply of medicinal materials, even the most gifted alchemist would struggle to improve their skills quickly.

However, with the backing of a powerful faction that could provide a continuous supply of resources, an alchemist could focus entirely on their alchemy, saving time that would otherwise be spent searching for materials.

This concentration of effort naturally yielded greater results compared to independent alchemists who had to fend for themselves.

This was why many alchemists sought to align themselves with wealthy backing who could support their alchemy.

Gu He himself had been the dark horse of the last Alchemist Conference. Before that, few had heard of his name.

But after making a name for himself, he had been recruited by the previous sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and appointed as an elder.

At the time, Gu He had only been a fourth-tier alchemist. Over the years, with the Misty Cloud Sect's substantial financial backing, he had advanced two ranks, transforming from an unknown figure into the revered Pill King.

Without the support of the Misty Cloud Sect, it would have taken him at least two more decades to reach his current level of alchemy level.

This was the advantage of having a powerful backing—it eliminated the need to waste time searching for resources. However, at his current level as a seventh-tier alchemist, even the Misty Cloud Sect could no longer fully support his needs.

"Perhaps I need to find a more powerful faction to align with," Gu He mused to himself.

For a seventh-tier alchemist, there were few forces in the entire northwest region capable of providing the necessary resources. Only the major factions in the Central Plains possessed such capabilities.

Even in the Central Plains, a seventh-tier alchemist like Gu He would be highly sought after by various factions. However, the thought of aligning himself with a new power was not a decision to be taken lightly.

Sighing, Gu He shook his head and smiled wryly. "For now, I'll take it one step at a time. A seventh-tier alchemist is sufficient for the time being."

…

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