Just as all had ceased to outbid the Li family, Gu Qingli spoke with unhurried calmness.
"Eighty-one thousand gold coins."
Her voice was not the usual coquettish and crystalline tone of an ordinary woman; instead, it carried a subtle languor, tinged with a faint smile, and was remarkably enchanting.
The moment Gu Qingli's voice rang out, the vast hall fell into stunned silence—no one had anticipated such a modest increment from her.
After all, those seated in the VIP section were typically powerful and distinguished figures; who would dare raise the bid by a mere thousand gold coins?
Whispers swirled below, pondering how the voice of a woman could be heard from the City Lord's Mansion's VIP suite.
"Gu Qingli! It's you again! How dare you raise by only a thousand? If you lack the funds, don't come to the auction!"
A sharp, biting voice erupted from the Li family's private room—it was Li Ke'er, teeth clenched in fury.
At this moment, Li Ke'er harbored nothing but hatred for Gu Qingli. Once a goddess-like figure in Loulan City, she had become a laughingstock after conspiring with Gu Qinglin to harm Gu Qingli.
Though the Divine Ancient Continent thrived on the survival of the fittest, openly hiring others to sabotage rivals was met with disdain.
Thus, Li Ke'er had utterly disgraced herself. Former admirers, even if constrained by the Li family's influence and unwilling to openly express their contempt, gradually distanced themselves from her.
Li Ke'er's sharp voice instantly revealed to all present the identity of the occupants of the City Lord's VIP suite—
It was none other than the Sixth Miss of the Gu family, Gu Qingli.
Now a renowned figure in Loulan City, she had transformed from a once-dismissed wastrel into an unrivaled prodigy.
"Mr. Chen, may I ask if your auction house forbids raising bids by only one thousand gold coins?"
Gu Qingli did not respond directly to Li Ke'er, but instead addressed Chen Yihan.
Surprise flickered in Chen Yihan's gentle eyes as he glanced toward the City Lord's VIP suite.
"So this is the Sixth Miss of the Gu family—long have I heard your name. Miss Li, it's quite all right. Whether the increment is one thousand or five thousand, our auction house has no explicit rule against it."
As Chen Yihan spoke, his mind involuntarily recalled information about Gu Qingli.
Though he had not visited Loulan City for some time, he remained well-informed of its affairs.
This Sixth Miss of the Gu family had become a legend; reportedly, she had reached the rank of nine-star Grand Warrior and was a skilled alchemist by the tender age of twelve.
The Starshine Auction House was situated in Loulan City, naturally requiring command over local intelligence. As the manager, Chen Yihan had immediately taken note of Gu Qingli.
He had placed her among those never to be offended, recalling his initial impression upon seeing her dossier.
This young woman was no mere triviality—a genius who had endured years of slander as a worthless fool, her endurance and resolve extraordinary. With a venerable master guiding her, though she was only a nine-star Grand Warrior now, no one dared underestimate her.
"Then, I shall raise eighty-one thousand gold coins. Do you have any objections, Miss Li Ke'er?"
The derision in Gu Qingli's tone was unmistakable to all.
"No objections!"
Li Ke'er's words were squeezed out through clenched teeth; though unseen, one could easily imagine her face contorted with fury.
"Heh heh, Qingli, you're truly cruel—Li Ke'er is going to be infuriated to death."
Sikong Ran wore a mischievous grin, as if surprised by Gu Qingli's spite yet secretly delighted.
Gu Qingli's lips curved into a faint smile as she glanced at Sikong Ran but said nothing.
"Eighty-five thousand gold coins!"
From the Li family's VIP suite, Li Ke'er retorted, her tone dripping with vexation.
After a moment, Gu Qingli replied leisurely.
"Eighty-six thousand gold coins."
"Gu Qingli! You—"
"Ninety thousand gold coins!"
Li Ke'er clenched her fists, her once-beautiful face now ashen and harsh.
"Ke'er, this vile girl from the Gu family is deliberately ruining your plans!"
Beside Li Ke'er sat the head of the Li family, her grandfather.
"Hmph, she knows that if I obtain this pill, her demise is certain!"
A flicker of malevolence flashed in Li Ke'er's eyes.
"Hmph, fear not, grandfather will surely secure this pill for you. Rest assured, Ke'er!"
A similarly cold gleam shone in the family patriarch's tiger-like eyes.
Li Ke'er regarded Gu Qingli as a thorn in her side, and the Li family patriarch saw the Gu family as a formidable adversary. The emergence of such a genius as Gu Qingli was intolerable to him.
"When the time comes, Ke'er, all you must do is eliminate that wretched girl."
"Grandfather, rest assured. With my magical beasts at my side, how could Gu Qingli stand a chance?"
"Ninety-one thousand gold coins."
Gu Qingli spoke slowly and deliberately, her calm demeanor leading many to suspect she was toying with the Li family.
This pill had now become the battleground between the Li and Gu families.
"One hundred thousand gold coins!"
Li Ke'er ground her teeth in rage; the hall fell utterly silent as all eyes fixed on the two young women.
"One hundred and one thousand gold coins."
Gu Qingli's deliberate tone rang out once more, nearly causing Li Ke'er to swoon with fury.
"Gu Qingli, what do you mean by this?"
"Nothing at all. If you don't wish to raise further, that's entirely your choice."
Gu Qingli's words were maddening beyond measure; Sikong Ran chuckled quietly by her side.
"One hundred and ten thousand gold coins!"
No sooner had Li Ke'er finished biting her teeth, He Zhongyi entered, followed by an elderly man—stooped and diminutive, his face furrowed like a chrysanthemum worn by the passage of time.
Upon entering, the old man broke into a leering smile.
Gu Qingli noticed that though aged, his eyes sparkled with sharp brilliance.
"Heh, what's this? A little girl called for me?"
"Hmph."
Sikong Ran snorted disdainfully; unexpectedly, the old man mirrored the contempt, their mutual dislike palpable.
Gu Qingli gestured subtly to Sikong Ran, signaling him to bid on her behalf.
"Greetings, Mr. Tian."
Sikong Ran had told Gu Qingli that their family's sovereign alchemist—rescued by his father from the Demonic Forest—did not belong to the City Lord's Mansion but supplied most of its pills.
Consequently, little was known of Mr. Tian's background beyond his surname.
"The little girl says you have a formula to alter one's appearance?"
"To be precise, not merely a formula, but a pill I can provide."
A flicker of surprise crossed the old man's eyes.
"Oh, right, little girl, you are an alchemist as well!"