"Then, it shall go to the highest bidder!"
Who was afraid here?
Was there a person present who wasn't a prime disciple, a personal disciple or a high-ranked disciple of various sects?
Who could not afford to bargain?
It was the Ideal Refined Void Pellet, please! Divine Separation-pinnacles would soon ascend to Refined Void after consumption without side effects, how precious is that?!
What? Why would Divine Separation-pinnacles still want the Ideal Refined Void Pellet? Have you not seen the Saintess being stuck at Divine Separation-pinnacle? And if it had been them, who knows how long they would have been stuck?
If they were stuck for several years, would that not be a pure waste of life?
As such, with there being one Ideal Refined Void Pellet available for trade with mere worldly possessions right now, who would not want to trade for it?
Once obtained, it meant that you would save a lot of time compared to others… when that happens, would you not become a superior sovereign?
The path of cultivation was utterly mystical, and there was no clear path.
Still, one universally acknowledged fact was that the younger and stronger an individual was, their luck would be better…
With better luck, accomplishing anything would become much smoother.
As such, how could they give up now?
"That's a good idea. No matter who wins or loses, no one would have the right to renege!"
"Let's go with that. Dan Chengzi, would you preside?"
Many of the prime disciples were shouting over each other, with all of them rubbing palms and cracking knuckles. There were even a number of them leering at Dan Chengzi, as if threatening him that he would never get to keep the Ideal Refined Void Pellet for himself.
"Dear brothers and sisters."
Flowers had long since bloomed in Dan Chengzi's heart, although he looked to be smiling bitterly and reluctantly in appearance. "Actually, I've cooked this Ideal Refined Void Pellet for myself…"
"Dan Chengzi, you just have to address me as senior brother once and I shall instruct you well. You are just Golden Cinnabar-advanced and still far from Divine Separation-pinnacle—you have all the time in the world!"
"That's right, Senior Brother Dan. Since there is such a long period in between, who would know if you could concoct an even better pellet? You should part with this Ideal Refined Void Pellet for now."
"Oh!"
Dan Chengzi breathed a long sigh in the face of the crowd's 'advise' with a helpless look. "Well, looks like that's the only way."
"Even so, I shall put this out there. My pellet might be extraordinary, but it is in no way divine—it would not promote an ascension by a hundred percent, only fifty."
"However, even if you did not ascend immediately, the lingering effect of the medicine would continue to condition the consumer's body, allowing them to easily ascend in a shorter time."
"If everyone could accept such conditions, come again tomorrow morning. I still have certain matters to attend to for now."
"Why tomorrow morning?"
The prime disciples were upset now.
After all, who would be pleased with that?
What if someone contact Dan Chengzi in private within that time, or steal the Ideal Refined Void Pellet?
On the other hand, they seemed to consider the fifty-fifty chance of ascension normal.
Only fifty percent? That was normal!
After all, it had no side effects. They would be suspicious instead if the chance of ascension was a hundred percent.
What? What if it fails? Haven't you heard?! There were benefits in failure—and you're not losing out if you hastened your cultivation and ascension!
Therefore, in that very moment, there were anxious looks on every face in the crowd of disciples. None of them would miss this chance, in fear that someone would abscond with the pellet and that competition might get fiercer.
***
Once again, Dan Chengzi almost laughed out loud at the sight of his fellow disciples' impatient and troubled gazes.
But why next morning?
It was the Saintess's arrangement, of course!
Come to think of it, nothing else could be expected of Her Grace. Her methods are far beyond what Dan Chengzi could conceive, and she actually had long since familiarized herself with the hearts of others.
There was much, much more for Dan Chengzi to learn, and he was absolutely awestruck inside.
He remembered the Saintess' words then…
"Not only should you limit yourself to selling one pellet, you have to auction it. Moreover, they have to suggest that idea themselves, not you."
"But… what if they don't suggest it, Your Grace?"
"They will. When the time comes, all you have to do is tell them that the auction will be held tomorrow morning."
"After that, you should send out your people to spread the word, so that every disciple within the sect knows about the Ideal Refined Void Pellet, and become dissatisfied with the others who were competing for the pellet…"
"Eh? But why?"
"There's no helping you, is there… Anyway, when you voice that dissatisfaction, leak the word that you're about to open your pellet cauldron again in a few days…"
***
Dan Chengzi only understood the deeper meaning of that last part now!
What does 'open your pellet cauldron again in a few days' mean?
It meant that I would start cooking pellets again and soon. If you people want it, you would have to act friendly around me.
Even curry my favor, as a way of reserving a spot!
As for how much it would take to curry my favor…
Hohoho.
***
Everyone, I bid thee leave for I have other affairs to attend to. The auction for the Ideal Refined Void Pellet shall be conducted here tomorrow morning, and I, Dan Chengzi is a man of my word!"
With that, Dan Chengzi left.
Of course, he was not lying—he did have work to see to.
The pellet recipe that the Saintess asked for was incomplete. How could he not seize the moment?
Right now, Dan Chengzi had utterly submitted to 'Qi Zixiao'. From his perspective, he should be riding her coattails, and as firmly as he could at that.
After all, there were many Spirit Stones to be earned if he held on tight!
Uncountable at that, you know?
Even after Dan Chengzi left nonchalantly, the Snow Maiden and the other disciples were unwilling to leave…
"I am not leaving!"
"Yes, let's wait here until tomorrow morning…"
"This would avoid someone beating us to the punch. Still, I wonder if my finances would hold up…"
Though they had not interacted much before, who amongst them was a dimwit after having accomplished as much as the other?
Almost everyone thought of that problem, and began to busy themselves with preparations!
In a nutshell… gathering funds!
***
On the other hand, Dan Chengzi summoned his many junior disciples in the pellet refinery to vent his dissatisfaction.
No one noticed that aside from Dan Chengzi's cronies, there were some disciples who were at odds against him too…
"Hmph!"
"Those bullies!"
Dan Chengzi's pudgy face was choked full-red. "They are so despicable! Am I, the one and only Dan Chengzi supposed to be pushed around as they liked?"
"Absolutely preposterous! I, Dan Chengzi, shall never surrender!"
He seethed through clenched teeth.
The many junior disciples were exchanging glances without sharing a word.
Then, after a long silence, Dan Chengzi barked furiously, "Whatever. I'm going to open my pellet cauldron again soon enough… ahem."
He cleared his throat then, as if he had let spill a secret. "I'm not letting them off so easily. Did they think coveting my medicinal pellets would be that simple?!"
"All of you, go out for a moment and spread the news about the Ideal Refined Void Pellet to our many brethren, especially the well-to-do ones…"
"I may not be able to keep this pellet, but I could sell it to someone I prefer…"