Soul Emperor Martial God

"Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, a total of nine roots. Starting bid 150,000 taels, each increment must be no less than 10,000 taels."

The auctioneer's resonant voice filled the entire auction house.

He did not say more, nor did he further embellish.

The mere mention of 'Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng' was enough to drive everyone present into a frenzy.

"160,000 taels."

Someone had immediately placed a bid.

"170,000 taels."

"..."

The bidding voices continued incessantly.

In the second floor VIP seats, Xiao Yi did not bid for the moment.

"Starting at 150,000 taels, it seems that the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng will fetch a sky-high price," Xiao Yi frowned.

He had anticipated this.

The Six Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, a Holy Fruit for Cultivation, could increase one's Cultivation by a layer when taken in the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

The Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng now being auctioned had an even stronger effect, capable of increasing one's Cultivation by two layers.

Such a precious treasure would naturally cause a scramble.

Before long, the bidding on the first floor had already reached 230,000 taels.

At this point, the frenzied bidding momentarily paused.

230,000 taels was already a considerable fortune for the ordinary guests on the first floor.

"250,000 taels."

At this time, someone from the VIP seats took the lead with a bid; it was Bai Family Head.

"Uh?" Xiao Yi looked at Bai Family Head in confusion.

Bai Family Head smiled, "Why do you look at me so, young brother Yi Xiao? I didn't promise to merely fetch you information, but to find and gift it to you."

"Although the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng is not cheap, I, Bai, always keep my word and will naturally bid for you."

Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Family Head Bai."

Xiao Yi smiled and continued, "In the later part of the auction, there must be items that you need, Family Head Bai, and it's not even certain you could win them in bidding."

"So, perhaps you should not waste money at this juncture."

"Oh? How do you know?" Bai Family Head, surprised, asked with a smile.

Xiao Yi shrugged, "Since the start of the auction, almost no one in the five VIP seats on the second floor has made a bid."

"I can't imagine you great powers have come here today just to spectate for fun."

"That means, there must be items coming up that you need, and you will surely vie for them."

"The items that could make you great powers all compete will surely be frighteningly expensive."

Xiao Yi added, "I'll pay for this Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng myself."

"This..." Bai Family Master pondered. Clearly, as Xiao Yi had said, there were very important items he intended to bid for coming up.

"Alright." after a moment, Bai Family Head nodded, "After this auction ends, I, Bai, will thank young brother Yi Xiao separately."

At this point, the bidding below had stopped.

After all, with Bai Family Head personally bidding, no one wanted to compete disrespectfully.

Moreover, there were still eight roots left, so the attendees were not overly concerned about the ownership of the first root.

Most importantly, regardless of whether it was the Six Treasures or Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, their effects could only be used once.

If a Martial Artist consumed it a second time, it would have no effect.

Any person could only use one root, buying more was useless.

It was rumored that only the Nine Treasures Exquisite Ginseng could be consumed without limits by Martial Artists, endlessly increasing their Cultivation.

However, Nine Treasures Exquisite Ginseng was almost mythical.

Even in the Demon Hunting Hall, Xiao Yi had never seen it.

The first root of the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng had been sold for 250,000 taels to Bai Family Head.

The auction house staff delivered the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng to Xiao Yi in the second-floor VIP seats, and he paid for it himself.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

At this time, the auctioneer called out loudly, "It has been years since the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng appeared at an auction. Who knows when it will be available again? Please seize this opportunity."

"Now that the first root has been sold for 250,000 taels; let the bidding for the second root officially begin."

The auctioneer's voice had barely fallen when the bidding noises started up incessantly again.

"160,000 taels."

"170,000 taels."

"..."

"250,000 taels." This time, it was Xiao Yi bidding.

"Uh?" The guests on the first floor looked over.

"What's going on, it's the VIP seat of the Bai Family bidding again. Hasn't the Bai Family already acquired one root?"

"No, it's that young man next to Family Head Bai placing the bid."

"That guy.... Yes, he's Purple Flame."

At first, the guests were puzzled, but their expressions cleared when they saw that Xiao Yi was the one bidding.

"Rumor has it that Purple Flame Yi Xiao, at such a young age, is already a Mysterious Profundity Realm Warrior, he probably wants to purchase the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng to consume for himself."

"However, he's got quite the nerve. The people from Shengbao Trading House are after him, and he still dares to attend this auction?"

"What are you afraid of? Have you forgotten? He was the one who successfully refined the Snow Soul Pill for the Bai Family Master. With the Bai Family Master protecting him, how would the people from Shengbao Trading House dare to touch him?"

The guests on the first floor discussed animatedly but all stopped bidding.

The second ginseng was again won by Xiao Yi for 250,000 taels.

Unlike others who could only consume it once, he needed it to refine the Five Elements Pill, hence he naturally had to buy all of them.

The third ginseng… the fourth… the fifth, Xiao Yi bid each time, winning every one for 250,000 taels. Vi+si+t^ My Virtu*al Librar*y! E$m*pi@re% (.M_+V@L^E$MPY.R$) for m@o-r^e.@

By the sixth ginseng, when Xiao Yi bid again, the guests on the first floor erupted.

"Purple Flame, what do you mean?"

"Is this the sixth already? Are you intending to buy them all?"

"Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng is only effective the first time it is consumed; by buying so many alone, aren't you depriving us of the opportunity to enhance our Cultivation?"

Many guests stood up, looking towards Xiao Yi with angry expressions.

These people were mostly Mysterious Profundity Third Layer martial artists, and also Family Heads of some major clans from the nearby areas.

"Sorry," Xiao Yi stood up and bowed with his hands clasped, saying loudly, "I have many friends who need this Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng. Entrusted by my friends, it's natural for me to bid."

"You..." In fact, everyone suspected since Xiao Yi bid for the third ginseng that he was buying it for someone else.

A genius like Purple Flame Yi Xiao would definitely have many friends of outstanding talents around him, like Bai Bingxue from the Bai Family.

After all, this is an auction where the highest bidder wins, so no one said anything further.

On the second floor in the VIP seats, Xiao Yi smiled faintly. He knew the guests had guessed wrong. But since he intended to buy all the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, this unusual behavior required an excuse.

For the sixth ginseng, Xiao Yi bid 250,000 taels, but no one stopped bidding.

The price slowly soared to 300,000 taels, and still, no one gave up.

"350,000 taels," Xiao Yi directly increased the bid by 50,000 taels.

"Damn it." Many people stopped their bidding with frustrated expressions.

350,000 taels was already a sky-high price for many guests on the first floor.

"360,000 taels," a few Family Heads from major clans gritted their teeth and still bid.

"400,000 taels," Xiao Yi bid again, convinced that this time it would be the final blow.

Indeed, no one else in the first floor bid anymore.

400,000 taels, those Family Heads could afford it, but they couldn't possibly spend so much of their family's wealth for one Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng.

Moreover, this price had exceeded the inherent value of the Eight Treasures Exquisite Ginseng, and no one wanted to be the sucker.

Most importantly, they knew that even if the bidding continued, Yi Xiao would surely bid.

And if the price reached over 450,000 and Yi Xiao suddenly stopped bidding, they would be at a huge loss.

It was a psychological game.

"Purple Flame, you're rich alright, a genius alchemist as reputed," some Family Heads cursed resentfully and did not bid any further.

Alchemists, as one of the rarest professions across the continent, were famously wealthy.

In reality, however, Xiao Yi's money did not come from refining but was obtained through battles.

When he was with the Xiao Family in Purple Cloud City, he got about 200,000 taels just from defeating the Murong Family Deacon and rewards given by the family elders.

After leaving the Xiao Family, he had many battles and earned much, especially from bandit dens, each of which had over a hundred thousand taels.

There were also rewards from the Demon Hunting Hall tasks.

The Bai Family previously gave him 500,000 taels.

Added together, these amounted to more than two million taels, and he hadn't spent any of it.

If nothing went wrong, it would be enough for him to buy the remaining three ginsengs.

"The seventh ginseng, let the bidding begin," the auctioneer said with a smile, clearly, the 400,000 taels for the sixth were an unexpected delightful price.

Just as the guests on the first floor were about to bid,

a domineering voice suddenly resounded from the second-floor VIP seats.

"The seventh and eighth ginsengs, my Guu Family will take them. I hope everyone will show some respect to the Guu Family."

The speaker was none other than the Guu Family Head from Baiwu City, who was also a Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer Martial Artist.

"What?" The guests were shocked, their expressions immediately turned sour.

If the seventh and eighth were taken, that would leave only the ninth.

The competition for the last one would undoubtedly be fierce, and they lacked the confidence to win it.

However, they dared not say much.

In Baiwu City, the Guu Family was one of the tyrants.

On the second-floor VIP seats, the Guu Family Head laughed smugly, confident that no one would dare to offend him.

Just then, a scoff rang out.

"Is the Guu Family always this overbearing?"

"Hmm?" The Guu Family Head's face chilled as he followed the sound, and it was Purple Flame Yi Xiao.

"The seventh and eighth, I'm taking them. If you have the ability, Family Head Guu, just keep bidding," Xiao Yi scoffed.

"Slam." The Guu Family Head slammed the table and stood up, giving Xiao Yi a cold stare, "Purple Flame, what do you mean?"