Beside him, Zilin watched the old man in purple robes with a vigilant expression.
Clearly, she couldn't discern the old man's strength either.
The old man felt too dangerous, and strangely, the people sitting around Zhang Ergou seemed oblivious to their conversation.
They were still watching the heated scene in the auction hall with fervent eyes.
"Does the cultivation suppression in the black market not affect you?" Zilin seemed to realize that the old man had isolated them, creating a barrier between them.
"Haha, this little girl has good comprehension. It is indeed this old man. Although the restrictions in this black market suppress cultivators below the Golden Core stage,"
"their effect on those at the Nascent Soul stage is much smaller," the old man in purple robes explained with a smile.
"Nascent Soul stage!" Zhang Ergou looked at the old man in purple robes in disbelief. This benevolent-looking old man was actually a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator.
No wonder Elder Yang, who didn't give face to any sect or aristocratic family, was so polite to the old man in purple robes.
It wasn't just because the old man came from a hidden family, but also because of his own strength.
"I'll explain to you youngsters later. Let's first see who gets the Five Beasts Coagulation Blood Pill recipe."
As he spoke, the old man in purple robes withdrew the barrier.
The cultivators around didn't feel the slightest abnormality, only Elder Yang on the high platform cast a subtle glance.
"Five million low-grade spirit stones." Having failed to secure the Divine Wood Tune, the aristocratic families and sects in the private rooms set their sights on the Five Beasts Coagulation Blood Pill recipe.
"Six million low-grade spirit stones." The aristocratic families and sects were now locked in a heated competition. Resentments had already been sown amongst them during the bidding for the Divine Wood Tune.
Although they all failed to obtain the Divine Wood Tune in the end, the families and sects seemed determined to one-up each other.
Each bid increased by a million low-grade spirit stones.
"These aristocratic families and sects are practically throwing spirit stones around," Zhang Ergou remarked, clicking his tongue repeatedly.
"Ten million low-grade spirit stones. Esteemed sirs, I ask for your favor. This recipe is of great use to me, and I would be immensely grateful."
From the private room of the Misty Sect, a gruff voice emerged. It was clearly Shi Wuhen making his move.
"Since Brother Shi is set on acquiring it, my Flowing Sea Sect will not compete."
Liu Chuan from the Flowing Sea Sect's private room announced.
"My Qi family also withdraws."
"My Murong family naturally wants to give the Misty Sect some face."
"Since everyone has withdrawn from the competition, it would be inappropriate for my Hua family not to give Brother Shi some face."
In an instant, the major aristocratic families from the Eastern Domain, Western Peaks, and Southern Border, as well as the Flowing Sea Sect, declared their willingness to accommodate Shi Wuhen.
"Great favors are beyond words. I, Shi, am grateful to all of you. I pledge that I owe each of you a favor."
In the Misty Sect's private room, Shi Wuhen bowed deeply towards the void with a grateful expression.
"Heh heh, what a touching scene of camaraderie. My Poison Sect, however, will not give your Misty Sect any face."
From the Poison Sect's private room, the sharp, piercing voice echoed again.
"Twelve million two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"Hmph! Wu Haichun, don't think that just because you are in the north, you can dominate everything. My Misty Sect hasn't been idling about these past years either."
Shi Wuhen said coldly from within the private room.
"Fifteen million low-grade spirit stones."
"The rules of this auction are naturally that the highest bidder wins. Is the Misty Sect acting so domineering that you no longer give Black Xuan Pavilion face?"
A sarcastic voice came from the Sima family's private room, which had a good relationship with the Poison Sect.
"My Sima family is willing to offer twenty million low-grade spirit stones, purely to uphold the rules of this auction."
"You!"
Hmph!
A cold snort escaped, and Shi Wuhen immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Clearly, the powerful figures lurking in Black Xuan Pavilion were already displeased with Shi Wuhen's performance.
Seeing that order was restored to the auction, the hidden oppressive aura also receded.
"Twenty-one million low-grade spirit stones," Shi Wuhen stated. Although he was determined to obtain the Five Beasts Coagulation Blood Pill recipe,
he would save some spirit stones if he could, as spirit stones weren't easily acquired by anyone.
"Twenty-five million low-grade spirit stones." A voice from the Poison Sect's private room sounded again.
It was evident that to prevent Shi Wuhen from obtaining the recipe, the Sima family and the Poison Sect were coordinating their efforts.
"Twenty-five million one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones." Shi Wuhen, though appearing rough, was meticulous. He had heard Elder Yang mention earlier that the bid increment should not be less than one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
"Twenty-six million low-grade spirit stones." As expected, with Shi Wuhen's reduced bidding increment, the Sima family no longer increased the price by millions of spirit stones at a time.
"Twenty-six million one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones." Shi Wuhen said calmly, as before.
By now, he had regained his composure.
"Twenty-six million five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Heh heh, Shi Wuhen, have you run out of spirit stones? Your bids are so stingy now."
Wu Haichun from the Poison Sect's private room said with a mocking grin.
"That's not for people of the Poison Sect to worry about. As long as my bid exceeds yours, that's all that matters."
Shi Wuhen replied indifferently, unfazed by Wu Haichun's provocation.
"Twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."
A period of silence followed, and the people from the Poison Sect and the Sima family seemed to have given up bidding.
"Twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Are there any further bids?"
Elder Yang scanned the crowd in the hall and asked.
No one responded.
"Twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, first call."
"Twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, second call."
"Twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, third call."
*Bang!*
The auctioneer's hammer fell heavily on the table. "Congratulations to fellow Daoist Shi of the Misty Sect for acquiring the fourth-grade upper-tier pill recipe, the Five Beasts Coagulation Blood Pill recipe, for twenty-six million six hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"Thank you, Elder Yang." From the private room, Shi Wuhen's trembling voice emerged.
Clearly, obtaining the recipe had somewhat excited him.
The auction continued, but it consisted of various pills that were of no use to Zhang Ergou at his current stage.
However, the rogue cultivators in the hall seemed to have been waiting for this moment.
They eagerly bid, and although the highest price did not exceed one million low-grade spirit stones, people still competed fiercely.
For rogue cultivators, alchemists were practically a godsend, a rare encounter.
This was because alchemists were inherently rare and were already monopolized by the major aristocratic families and sects.
Therefore, being able to bid for even a single pill at this auction was more exciting than breaking through a small cultivation realm.
The subsequent auction did not see any more climaxes like the Heavenly-grade cultivation technique, the Divine Wood Tune, or the fourth-grade pill recipe, the Five Beasts Coagulation Blood Pill recipe.
However, Elder Yang was all smiles, as this auction had made Black Xuan Pavilion a considerable profit.
Finally, with a small climax where a fourth-grade pill was auctioned for three million low-grade spirit stones, the auction came to a close.
"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your patronage. Today's auction has concluded successfully. The next one will be held in three years."
Bowing to the hall, Elder Yang stepped back and returned backstage.
The cultivators in the hall began to surge towards the exit.
Zhang Ergou, Zilin, and Xiong Bao also stood up, preparing to follow the crowd out.
"Three young friends, please wait a moment." Just as the three were about to leave, the old man in purple robes, who had been sitting beside them, spoke up to stop them.