Chapter 131 Going to the Auction

Gu Qingli rolled her eyes in exasperation—this fellow was truly impossible to reason with.

"I'm just surprised you came. The Youth Tournament is fast approaching. Shouldn't you be preparing at home instead of turning up at the Gu residence?"

Si Kongran smiled mysteriously.

"Of course I came bearing good news. The moment I heard it, I thought of you—naturally."

Gu Qingli raised her brows ever so slightly, signaling her curiosity.

When Si Kongran finally revealed his purpose, Gu Qingli realized he had come to invite her to an auction.

The idea did pique her interest. Since arriving on the Divine Ancient Continent, her activities had largely been confined to the vicinity of Loulan City. She hadn't even explored much of the city itself. An auction would certainly be worth seeing.

Thus, she agreed readily.

When the Patriarch learned she would be attending, he personally prepared a substantial sum of money for her.

"Qingli, buy whatever you fancy. If it's not enough, send word and we'll send more!"

On Gu Yifeng's usually stern face, there was now a rare warmth. At present, the Gu family granted Gu Qingli nearly anything she wished.

Gu Qingli did not stand on ceremony. Since she was going, it was only natural to make a few purchases.

"So, tell me," she said, crossing her arms as soon as they stepped out the door, her eyes narrowed slightly, "Why did you insist on dragging me along to this particular auction?"

Si Kongran and He Zhongyi exchanged glances, both startled—was she a mind reader?

"Qingli, how did you guess?" Si Kongran scratched his nose sheepishly.

"It wasn't hard. You've been acting strange all morning. And given the timing, I highly doubt you'd come here for no reason."

"You see right through me, huh."

Si Kongran leaned in and whispered near her ear.

"You've heard of the royal-tier alchemist affiliated with our City Lord's estate, haven't you? He isn't officially part of our household, though most of his pills end up in our hands. Occasionally, however, he auctions one. This time, there'll be one such pill at the auction."

A royal-grade pill—undoubtedly a potent and rare treasure.

"So?" Gu Qingli's mind moved quickly. Even if Li Ke'er were to acquire it, the effects shouldn't be immediate, right? Power couldn't be increased overnight.

"This particular pill temporarily boosts one's strength during battle. Though the effects wear off with time, it grants an instant surge in power. If the Li family obtains it, it may put you at a severe disadvantage."

Gu Qingli's eyes narrowed further. That was indeed a potential threat.

A pill that granted a sudden, temporary surge in strength was far more dangerous than one that nurtured long-term growth.

Her expression turned solemn.

"I've never heard of such a pill before."

Though she was now a second-tier alchemist, she was still but a novice in the vast world of alchemy. Her spiritual strength and skill were impressive, but her knowledge of pill formulas remained limited.

"There are countless kinds of pills, but this formula is newly refined—only a few days old. There's only one, and my father had planned to buy it for you. But that old man insisted it go to auction instead, claiming it would stir up demand ahead of the tournament. Greedy old fossil!"

Si Kongran gritted his teeth as he spoke.

"Do you know how much of a boost it gives? And how long it lasts?"

"I heard that regardless of one's level, it raises your strength by at least three stars!"

Three stars.

Even Gu Qingli was taken aback. That was no trivial enhancement.

"Even if the effect is brief, it could change the tide of a match."

After a moment of silence, He Zhongyi finally spoke.

"We've also received word that a few days ago, Li Ke'er advanced to a First-Star Grand Spiritualist using a Grand Warrior Pill. Though she's no match for you in direct combat, she's a Spiritual Illusionist—with a contracted magical beast no one has yet seen."

This was precisely Gu Qingli's concern.

The true terror of Spiritual Illusionists lay in their beasts, whose power scaled with their master's strength.

"So even if she's weaker, the moment she acquires that pill, her magical beast could pose a serious threat."

Gu Qingli knew He Zhongyi wasn't exaggerating.

"I suspect her beast is of the fourth tier. Otherwise, the Li family wouldn't have gone to such lengths to conceal it."

Si Kongran added, and Gu Qingli silently agreed.

If Li Ke'er truly obtained the pill, her beast's strength might reach terrifying heights. Gu Qingli would be forced to face a creature whose power rivaled—if not exceeded—that of a King-tier warrior.

Compared to humans, magical beasts boasted terrifying physical prowess. In speed and lethality, they were unmatched.

Gu Qingli's expression grew grim.

Even stronger than Deputy Commander Biqi… a King-tier beast whose strength surpassed most humans.

"Qingli, do you have confidence?"

That was why Si Kongran had brought her out. If the Li family succeeded, at least she would be forewarned.

"Confidence?"

Gu Qingli squinted slightly. In truth, she didn't. Beasts were far more formidable than human opponents. On a regulated dueling stage, she couldn't even rely on poison. And even if she could, poisoning a massive beast was a challenge in itself.

"I won't claim victory. But I will not die. She will."

Though known for her arrogance, Gu Qingli was never blindly confident. She had never faced a truly powerful beast in single combat.

But she dared make such a declaration for one reason alone—she possessed a secret trump card.

Her master, Dongfang Kunlun, had left her a life-saving jade slip. Once crushed, it would unleash a surge of power equivalent to that of a Sovereign.

Even a fourth-tier beast was nothing before a Sovereign. In their eyes, such a creature was little more than a kitten to be crushed effortlessly.

Still, Gu Qingli would not use her master's gift lightly. Beyond Loulan City lay a far broader world—squandering such a powerful tool here would be a grave waste.