"Old Coot, you seem quite familiar with this place. Where should we go next?" Li Yi asked in his mind. Elder Snake laughed and said, "Well, missions are only available in the early morning, and now it's noon, so there's no chance of heading into the mountains today. Why not wander around and join a suitable team tomorrow?"
"What's there to wander about here..." Li Yi muttered to himself. Unlike Wanchao City, which offered many activities, Najia Town didn't have much to interest him. He had no desire to find a place to cultivate here, so he decided to roam around aimlessly. The town was filled with various shops, not only selling weapons and equipment but also an array of medicinal pills. Li Yi found the weapons and equipment somewhat interesting but didn't find anything he wanted after looking around. However, the medicinal pills seemed to be the hottest selling items in town. After asking around, Li Yi learned about Qi Recovery Pills for rapidly restoring fighting spirit, Springback Powder for quick wound healing, and Gather Yuan Liquid for temporarily boosting strength. However, he was not very interested in them. Unlike mercenaries who relied on pills, Li Yi understood that long-term use of medicinal pills, though beneficial in the short term, could lead to side effects and hinder one's cultivation progress and achievements. Therefore, real powerhouses rarely used such items carelessly.
Just as Li Yi was about to leave the stalls he wasn't interested in, Elder Snake's voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Kid, buy some Qi Recovery Pills and Springback Powder, bring a bit of each..."
Li Yi hesitated for a moment before responding, "Better not. If I rely on these during critical moments, it won't be beneficial for my cultivation."
Elder Snake coldly chuckled, "Kid, the Najia Mountain Range isn't as simple as you think. Even with a caravan, a slight misstep could lead to annihilation. So, buy some for emergencies... Otherwise, if you need them and don't have any, you're finished."
After pondering for a moment, Li Yi agreed, "Alright then, but let's buy some high-quality goods. I've heard the higher the quality, the lesser the side effects. I just don't know if such quality is available here..."
Elder Snake seemed to think for a moment and then said, "Troublesome kid. If you want good stuff, there's a small auction house in the center of Najia Town, if I remember correctly. You'll only find such quality items there. But, you should be cautious in such a place. Though no one in town might bother you, flaunting wealth can attract unwanted attention."
Li Yi nodded slightly and moved away from the crowd to a shadowy corner. He carefully cloaked himself with his black cape before heading towards the auction house following Elder Snake's guidance. The town center was less noisy compared to other areas, with large residences standing on both sides of the road. These houses, ordinary in Wanchao City, looked imposing in Najia Town. Li Yi chuckled as he noticed the symbols on the doors and the guards, realizing these must be the headquarters of the mercenary groups. It seemed the mercenary groups in Najia Town were not very formidable.
At the end of the road, he turned slightly, and a relatively open small square appeared in Li Yi's view. In the center of the square was a half-man-high platform, where a gaudily dressed woman was holding a box and loudly introducing it, while various mercenaries in the crowd cast their eyes on the stage. However, it was clear that many were more interested in the woman than the items. Li Yi could only sigh inwardly at the sight of this "auction house" that had no more than a platform and no chairs. He looked around and felt several powerful auras enveloping the square, likely the guards of the auction house. This explained why the typically unruly mercenaries were calmly participating in the auction. It seemed the auction house either had significant power or substantial backing.
However, all this had little to do with Li Yi. He found a spot in a corner, standing like an ordinary mercenary, while keeping an eye on the stage, hoping to find something of interest. Once he settled, the woman on the stage had already auctioned off her current item. She clapped her hands, and soon two scantily clad maids brought a jade tray to her. The woman laughed and, with a slight gesture, uncovered one of the items on the tray. Immediately, an ancient scroll appeared in front of everyone, causing all to inhale sharply.
The woman on the stage gently smiled, and after capturing everyone's attention, she playfully said in a seductive voice, "Gentlemen... Gentlemen... This is one of the finest items we acquired today... This high-tier Xuanwu combat technique scroll, sold by a supposedly fallen noble young master, needs no introduction from me, right? As for what this combat technique actually is, according to the rules, our auction house won't disclose it. So, if anyone is interested, feel free to bid... But I can share a secret with you all... I'm personally quite interested in this item!" She then announced, "Let's start! The starting bid! Ten thousand gold coins!"
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd at the mention of ten thousand gold coins. Although the amount wasn't high for some, it was more than many could save in a lifetime. The once enthusiastic mercenaries suddenly lost their vigor. However, the woman on the stage glanced slyly toward a corner of the room. Li Yi followed her gaze and saw several stern-looking individuals sitting on some rare chairs, each backed by mercenaries, recognizable by the emblems on their chests. "So, these are the so-called strong ones of Najia Town?" Li Yi murmured, slightly frowning. He could sense a dangerous vibe from these individuals, unrelated to their strength, indicating they were not easy to deal with.
"These can be considered the upper echelons of Najia Town," Elder Snake commented indifferently. "It's only them who have the means to fight for that item. Are you interested?"
"No," Li Yi replied simply. "Even if I were, I wouldn't do something so attention-grabbing."
"Heh, then just watch..." Elder Snake said casually.
"Bid thirteen thousand!" Suddenly, a voice from that group rang out. Li Yi moved closer and identified the bidder as a middle-aged burly man with a lion head emblem, known as Iron Lion. Opposite him was a woman in her forties or fifties, flamboyantly dressed and oozing charisma. She flirtatiously blew a kiss and said, "Oh my, Iron Lion has such boldness, starting with thirteen thousand. Seems the Iron Lion Mercenary Group has been doing well lately... But Iron Lion, you don't think you can win with just that, do you?"
Iron Lion scoffed, "Madam Feng, if you want to bid, then bid. Stop with the nonsense... It's not like you're choosing a son-in-law, or else I might actually banter with you!"
"Oh my, Iron Lion, if you want to be my special guest, I might consider it, but as my son-in-law, you're not quite there yet!" said Madam Feng. After a pause, she declared confidently, "Let's make it twenty thousand gold coins!"
"Twenty-five thousand!" Iron Lion quickly countered.
"Thirty thousand!" Madam Feng shot back.
"Thirty-two thousand!"
"Forty thousand!!"
With a slam, Iron Lion angrily hit the table beside him, breaking it to pieces. He glared at Madam Feng and coldly said, "A whore always makes easy money, just spread your legs, and the cash flows in... You win! The item is yours! We're leaving!" He then stood up and marched out, followed by his mercenaries. Madam Feng's mercenaries glared angrily back, clearly provoked by his last remark. Madam Feng, however, continued to laugh, taunting Iron Lion as he left, eliciting laughter from the crowd. Iron Lion glanced back fiercely at her before leaving with a cold sneer.
Those seated around Madam Feng showed mocking expressions, familiar with such scenes. And the high-tier Xuanwu scroll was not worth offending these two for them. Li Yi, listening from the side, couldn't help but sweat at the boldness of the people in Najia Town. "Looks like the two biggest forces in Najia Town are these two mercenary groups. It might be a good idea to have some connection with them if I plan to go into the mountains tomorrow," Elder Snake observed.
Li Yi chuckled, "Understood. Though I don't particularly like either group, priorities matter." The woman on the stage, somewhat dissatisfied with the final price for the Xuanwu scroll, eventually had no choice but to hand it over to Madam Feng. She then unveiled another item on the tray, a few neatly arranged porcelain bottles, faintly emitting a medicinal fragrance. She introduced them as special elixirs from the Imperial City's Wanyao Pharmacy, including Qi Recovery Pills, Springback Powder, and Flesh Regeneration Ointment, all made from over a hundred-year-old medicinal herbs.
Hearing the staggering starting price of two thousand gold coins for these items, Li Yi gasped and reluctantly focused his attention on the bottles...