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Disguising himself once again as an ordinary old man, Xiao Yan quietly made his way to the market.
At that moment, the auction at Jubao Pavilion was in full swing, drawing many strong members of the three great families of Wutan City—the Xiao family, the Oba family, and the Galle family.
"This auction is lively, with even the strongest members of the three great families attending," Xiao Yan thought to himself, secretly anticipating that his Foundation Elixir would fetch a satisfying price.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped toward the pavilion, eager to find out what was happening.
Outside the pavilion, the crowd buzzed with chatter and excitement.
"Have you heard? Jubao Pavilion is auctioning off a rare Foundation Elixir this time! The strongest members of the families are already prepared to compete fiercely for it."
"The Foundation Elixir is a rare treasure! It's rumored to have incredible effects on cultivation, and it's bound to spark intense bidding!"
"My family has sent several elites this time—we must secure that elixir!"
Xiao Yan listened to the crowd's discussions, feeling a wave of surprise. He hadn't expected his Foundation Elixir to cause such a stir. He even spotted his father, Xiao Zhan, in the crowd.
"Father is here as well..." Xiao Yan thought to himself, surprised. Not wanting to be recognized, he decided to avoid the front entrance and instead slipped in through the back of the pavilion.
Carefully maneuvering through the crowd, he walked along a narrow path leading to the back door of the pavilion.
As soon as he stepped inside, the staff of Jubao Pavilion immediately recognized him.
They had been informed in advance by the lady boss about Xiao Yan's arrival, so they didn't mistake his identity.
"Esteemed Elder, are you here to attend the auction as requested by our lady boss?" A servant approached him respectfully, with a mix of reverence and awe in his expression.
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's correct. Is there something you need?"
"Please, follow me, Elder. Our lady boss instructed that if you arrived, we should escort you to a private room for your comfort."
The servant respectfully led Xiao Yan upstairs to a spacious private room.
The room was elegantly furnished with refined furniture and luxurious decorations.
Xiao Yan settled into a soft chair, waiting for the auction to begin.
"Esteemed Elder, please be patient. The auction will start shortly," the servant said before politely withdrawing, leaving Xiao Yan alone.
He looked around the room, quietly anticipating what would unfold.
He was curious to see how much his Foundation Elixir would sell for, while also pondering how to keep a low profile during the auction, avoiding unnecessary attention and conflicts.
As he sat there, the staff of Jubao Pavilion served him tea and snacks, treating him with the utmost respect—an experience Xiao Yan had never enjoyed before.
Inside the private room, the peaceful atmosphere was interrupted when Yao Lao appeared from Xiao Yan's ring.
He remarked, "Kid, you wouldn't be getting this kind of treatment if it weren't for me!"
Xiao Yan, filled with gratitude, immediately replied, "Thank you, Master Yao Lao. It's because of your guidance and help that I've achieved what I have today."
Yao Lao waved it off and continued, "Don't just thank me. The more important figure is that senior."
Xiao Yan looked puzzled. "That senior? Is he awake now?"
Just then, Shui Wuya emerged from the ring, appearing in the private room.
Xiao Yan immediately bowed and greeted him, "Master, you're awake!"
Shui Wuya nodded in acknowledgment. He gazed out of the window at the lively scene unfolding inside Jubao Pavilion and said to Xiao Yan, "I want to witness this auction myself and learn more about this world."
Standing respectfully by Shui Wuya's side, Xiao Yan accompanied him as they watched the grand spectacle of the auction.
Shui Wuyai's expression remained calm, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
Soon, the auction began. It started with several insignificant pills, auctioned off one after another. Then, the lady boss took the stage herself, signaling the main event.
Shui Wuya, Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao stood by the window of the private room, observing the intense bidding below.
With a solemn expression and a loud, clear voice, the lady boss held up a bottle of the rare Foundation Elixir and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, next is the highlight of Jubao Pavilion's auction—this rare bottle of Foundation Elixir!"
As soon as the elixir appeared, it immediately caused an uproar in the crowd.
The elixir radiated a faint glow, resembling a crystal-clear liquid brimming with profound spiritual energy and a sense of invaluable rarity.
The powerful members of the three great families of Wutan City were visibly moved, and they quickly engaged in the bidding war.
First to step forward was Xiao Zhan, the representative of the Xiao family. His gaze was resolute and calm.
As the patriarch of the Xiao family, he fully understood the significance and value of the Foundation Elixir.
Xiao Zhan raised his head, fixing his eyes on the elixir atop the platform, and declared with a firm voice, "On behalf of the Xiao family, I offer 800,000 gold coins."
Immediately, a strong middle-aged man from the Galle family stood up, accompanied by several members of his clan.
He glanced at Xiao Zhan and coolly said, "I represent the Galle family—we offer 1,000,000 gold coins."
Not to be outdone, the representative of the Oba family, an imposing elderly man with a dignified bearing, walked steadily forward and added, "The Oba family bids 1,200,000 gold coins."
Hearing his father Xiao Zhan's voice stirred complex emotions in Xiao Yan's heart.
He knew well the expectations his father had for him, as well as his standing within the family.
However, his father still believed Xiao Yan to be crippled, thinking that he needed the Foundation Elixir to restore his cultivation.
Xiao Yan's eyes glimmered with determination as he silently vowed to train hard, revitalize the family, and never let his father's expectations or trust go unmet.
In the end, after fierce competition at the Jubao Pavilion, the Oba family secured the rare Foundation Elixir with a winning bid of 2,000,000 gold coins.
As soon as the auctioneer announced the end of the bidding, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of chatter and excitement, filling the entire hall with noise.
The members of the Oba family wore triumphant smiles, while the representatives of the other families appeared regretful, knowing the auction had exceeded their financial limits.
"Xiao Yan, did you auction the Foundation Elixir just to make some money?" Shui Wuya's voice was calm and deep.
Xiao Yan nodded. "Yes, I wanted to accumulate some wealth this way."
However, Shui Wuya shook his head, offering a different perspective. "You're going about it too slowly."
Yao Lao, overhearing this conversation, was somewhat puzzled.
As an experienced alchemist, he considered refining medicine to be one of the quickest ways to make money, so he couldn't quite grasp Shui Wuya's view.
"Senior, what do you think is the fastest way to make money?" Yao Lao asked.
Shui Wuya replied casually, "Rather than creating, plundering is the quickest way to accumulate wealth. Which clan—whether the Ancient Clan or the Soul Clan—isn't wealthier than the Medicine Clan?"
Hearing this, both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan were visibly startled, but they had to admit that Shui Wuya had a point.
"So tonight, Xiao Yan, you should pay a visit to the Galle and Oba families," Shui Wuya continued.
"Senior... Why would I go to those two families?" Xiao Yan asked, completely baffled.
"Why else? To explore their treasuries, of course," Shui Wuya replied with a faint smile.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were both shocked and rendered speechless.
(End of Chapter)