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By the riverbank, flowers bloomed and willow trees swayed, creating a lush, green landscape. Birds flitted and danced among the foliage, making for a picturesque scene against the evening glow. The snow had melted, and everything was coming back to life. The peach trees near the Heaven Ascending Pavilion were in full bloom and would soon bear fruit. The lake's surface rippled gently, reflecting the shimmering light of the setting sun.
Li Xiao sipped his tea leisurely as he watched the serene scenery.
At that moment, Gu He arrived and, upon seeing Li Xiao, immediately clasped his hands in respect. "Pill King Gu He greets Pavilion Master Li Xiao."
Yan Shi and Feng Li, though somewhat reluctant, also bowed and greeted, "Feng Li/Yan Shi greet Pavilion Master Li."
Li Xiao gently set down his teacup, turned to the three Dou Kings behind him, and said calmly, "No need for formalities. Pill King Gu He, you must be here about the Green Lotus Core Flame."
Pill King Gu He forced a bitter smile. As expected of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion Master, his insight was indeed sharp. It was clear that Li Xiao already knew the purpose of his visit.
"Pavilion Master Li, I have managed to obtain a fifth-tier pill, the Blood Lotus Pill. However, I have yet to find the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain or the Acceptance Soul that can only be found inside the highest-grade Storage Stones," Gu He said, his expression heavy. "So, I have come with the intention to purchase the remaining materials to absorb the Heavenly Flame, regardless of the cost."
Gu He was eager to refine the Heavenly Flame. He had spent a lifetime striving to become a seventh-tier alchemist, and now that he was on the brink of success, he could not afford to give up.
Seeing Gu He's sincere attitude, Li Xiao glanced at the system store. Ice Crystal Cold Fountain was priced at three system points, and Acceptance Soul was even cheaper at two system points. In terms of gold coins, this would be just around fifty thousand.
However, he wasn't foolish enough to sell it for a meager margin.
Feigning reluctance, Li Xiao said, "Pill King Gu He, you should know the value of these two items. Each is a rare treasure, and obtaining them is no easy feat."
Gu He knew well the value of these treasures. For alchemists, these items were essential for refining the Heavenly Flame. Without them, any attempt to absorb the flame would end in death.
Trying to negotiate, Gu He weakly asked, "How much are you willing to offer, Pavilion Master Li Xiao?"
Li Xiao dipped his finger in the tea and wrote "five million" on the table.
Seeing this, Yan Shi immediately protested, "Pavilion Master Li, you're demanding an exorbitant price! Five million gold coins is outrageous!"
"Shut up!" Gu He snapped, turning his head to scold Yan Shi. "Yan Shi, don't be rude!"
Yan Shi's lips twitched in frustration, but under Gu He's authority, he could only remain silent, glaring at Li Xiao with resentment.
After a moment of contemplation, Gu He said, "Fine, no matter the cost, I will pay it."
With that, Gu He took out a card worth five million gold coins from his ring and placed it on the table. The allure of the Heavenly Flame was beyond mere monetary value for him. If he succeeded in absorbing it, his alchemy skills would soar, and becoming a seventh-tier alchemist would be within reach.
With the opportunity before him, he would not let it slip away. Once he became a seventh-tier alchemist, five million gold coins would be the value of just a few pills.
Seeing the card with five million gold coins on the table, Li Xiao chuckled. Since Gu He was so straightforward, he wouldn't dawdle either. With a wave of his hand, the rare treasures Ice Crystal Cold Fountain and Acceptance Soul appeared before Gu He.
Gu He's eyes lit up. As expected, Pavilion Master Li Xiao indeed possessed these rare treasures.
"Thank you, Pavilion Master," Gu He said, as happy as a child.
Li Xiao stood up and offered a gentle reminder, "Pill King Gu He, I hope this private transaction will be the last. Our pavilion has its own rules. If everyone does as you did, how will Heaven Ascending Pavilion continue its auctions in the future?"
Pill King Gu He smiled and said, "I understand, Pavilion Master Li. I am really grateful for your help this time. I will remember this favor and repay it in the future if I have the chance."
"No need for such courtesy," Li Xiao replied calmly.
Having obtained what he needed, Gu He knew it was time to leave. He turned and left with Yan Shi and Feng Li in tow, looking visibly pleased. Obtaining the Ice Crystal Cold Fountain and Acceptance Soul meant he now had the prerequisites to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame. However, whether he could succeed remained uncertain. The excruciating pain from the flame could easily consume someone without a strong will, leading to their demise.
Li Xiao watched Gu He's retreating figure and smiled inwardly, wondering to himself, "Will the Jia Ma Empire welcome its first alchemist with a Heavenly Flame soon? It's something to look forward to."
In the following months, the name of Heaven Ascending Pavilion resounded throughout the northern continent. Many strong individuals came to investigate its rumored power. Meanwhile, Pill King Gu He focused entirely on refining the Heavenly Flame, enduring immense pain and the brink of giving up several times. But giving up meant destruction, so Gu He pushed through and ultimately succeeded in absorbing the Green Lotus Core Flame, albeit barely surviving the ordeal.
Half a year quickly passed.
The valley surrounding Heaven Ascending Pavilion was now filled with dozens of high-level experts, ranging from Dou Kings to Dou Emperors. While there were no Dou Ancestors among them, their combined power was formidable enough to give any Dou Ancestor a headache.
Jia Ma Empire's Emperor Jia Xingtian shrugged and smiled, "The auction is still two months away, yet so many Dou Kings and Dou Emperors have already gathered. It seems the fame of Heaven Ascending Pavilion has truly spread far and wide."
"Tier-8 Green Fungus Pill, Heavenly Flame, Deep Sea Blue Heart—each one is a priceless treasure," the Alchemist Association's President Fa Ma commented lightly and then sighed, "If there's a Dou Ancestor making an appearance, it'll be more exciting, alas."
"Don't be so sure," Jia Xingtian adjusted his glasses. "The auction hasn't started yet, so it's too early to draw conclusions. Don't forget, the Medicine Emperor Han Feng visited not long ago. There are many Dou Ancestors in the Black-Corner Region."
The Black-Corner Region was a lawless area, except for the presence of Canaan Academy. It was filled with bloodthirsty experts where people died daily, leading to the emergence of numerous Dou Emperors and several Dou Ancestors.
Curious about the upcoming auction items, these powerhouses speculated if they would be as spectacular as the previous ones. If so, they were in for a big show.