Human Clan Defender

Under Shen Changqing's watchful eyes, someone had already appeared on the auction stage below. As soon as the person appeared, Ji Qu began to speak almost simultaneously.

"That person is the Number Two Steward of the Yuanyang Auction House. Normally, the auction house has professional auctioneers presiding over the proceedings; only for significant auctions would a Steward take charge. In the Yuanyang Auction House, Stewards are addressed by numbers, and the lower the number, the higher the status. The Number One Steward we saw earlier is actually the publicly recognized head of the Yuanyang Auction House."

"I see." Shen Changqing nodded.

A powerful Martial Artist in the late Grandmaster Realm was only the publicly recognized head of the Yuanyang Auction House. This meant that behind the scenes, there were still more powerful figures in the Yuanyang Auction House.

Grandmaster Peak? This thought crossed his mind, but he wasn't too shocked by it.

Establishing a foothold in the black market without ample strength was simply impossible. However, if the Yuanyang Auction House did indeed have a Grandmaster Peak expert, then such strength would be comparable to that of the top major sects.

"Is there a Grandmaster Peak behind the Yuanyang Auction House?" he asked, voicing whatever came to mind.

Ji Qu shook his head. "Currently, it's unclear, but the Yuanyang Auction House has stood unshaken in the black market for over a hundred years. Nearly every black market within Great Qin has the presence of the Yuanyang Auction House. If it were on the overt side of the Jianghu, this would be equivalent to the power held by a top major sect. It's not impossible that there's a Grandmaster Peak supporting the auction house."

After a pause, Ji Qu spoke again. "There was once a Grandmaster who caused trouble inside the Yuanyang Auction House and afterward completely disappeared. Some believe that Grandmaster perished at the hands of the Yuanyang Auction House, although there's no evidence. Yet in the Jianghu, it's an open secret."

Shen Changqing picked up his teacup and took a small sip. There was nothing questionable about Ji Qu's words.

A faction capable of standing tall in the black market for over a hundred years, and growing ever larger, couldn't possibly do so without sufficient strength.

The waters of the Jianghu were deep indeed. Nonetheless, they were not deep enough to drown him.

Once he collected another substantial amount of Slaughter Value, Shen Changqing was confident he could advance himself to the Great Sun Furnace Realm. By then, his Physical System would be stepping onto the threshold of the peak.

However, to elevate his Flesh to such a Realm, he would need more than just a few dozen or hundred points of Slaughter Value. At the very least, he would need a few hundred points for a chance of improvement.

When dealing with Resentment Level Strange Monsters, he would need to slay dozens of them. As for Fiend Level Strange Monsters, Shen Changqing had yet to encounter any but had heard that they were equivalent to the Grandmaster Realm. He wasn't very clear on the specifics, though. In the Demon-Subduing Prison, no Fiend Level Strange Monsters were detained.

At this moment, the Number Two Steward from the auction stage below cleared his throat, his solemn voice spreading out.

"Ladies and gentlemen, gracing our Yuanyang Auction House with your presence is a tribute to us. However, let me say something unpleasant upfront: auctions respect financial means, not martial prowess. Anyone who threatens with words or resorts to physical violence during the auction will receive no leniency from the Yuanyang Auction House."

After a brief pause, the seriousness faded from the Number Two Steward's face, replaced by a warm smile. "Moreover, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Number Two Steward of the Yuanyang Auction House, and due to the significance of this event, I will personally oversee the auction. Well then, I won't say much more. Let us begin the auction now."

With these words, a woman with a graceful figure and appearance came up, holding a wooden box in her hands, and placed it on the table. Forthwith, the Number Two Steward opened the box, revealing its contents.

It was a jade-green bottle, its contents unknown.

"Our first auction item is an elixir refined by the Pill Sect, known as the Innate Pill. Consuming one Innate Pill can increase a Martial Artist's chances of breaking through the governor and conception vessels, ascending to the Innate Realm. As appraised by our Yuanyang Auction House, the Innate Pill can enhance the probability of a Martial Artist breaking through to the Innate Realm by thirty percent. However, only one can be consumed at a time, and each person can consume it no more than three times in their lifetime; any more than that will have no effect. Each bottle contains three Innate Pills. With decent luck, one could typically achieve a breakthrough. If lucky enough, three Innate Pills might even create three Innate Martial Artists."

The Number Two Steward's voice, bolstered by True Qi, directly reached everyone's ears.

In the three to four-story auction house, although there were private rooms, their number was clearly insufficient to accommodate everyone. Therefore, chairs were arranged in front of the auction stage for those unable to secure a private room.

It was evident that as he introduced the Innate Pill, many faces showed excitement. But no one spoke out to hurry the process, waiting for what was to follow.

Seeing how a few simple words had stirred the emotions of many, the smile on the Number Two Steward's face became even more pronounced.

"Three Innate Pills, starting bid of 50,000 taels of silver, and each increment must be no less than 1,000 taels of silver. Let the auction begin now!"

"I bid 51,000 taels of silver!"

"52,000 taels of silver!"

"55,000 taels of silver!"

"Sixty thousand taels of silver—"

In just a short time, numerous people eagerly bid.

「In a private room.」

Shen Changqing was drinking tea, silently watching the fierce competition below, with no intention of participating.

According to the Number Two Steward's description, the Innate Pill was indeed remarkable. It increased the chance of breakthrough by thirty percent. In other words, any normal person who consumed three Innate Pills, making three breakthrough attempts, would almost certainly succeed. Unless their talent and luck were extraordinarily poor, then failure to break through was an unavoidable matter.

The Pill Sect can actually refine such elixirs? Quite extraordinary indeed! Shen Changqing's eyebrows raised slightly, a strange expression on his face.

Ji Qu, who was beside him, also showed a trace of emotion upon hearing this. "The Pill Sect's strength in the Jianghu isn't considered very high. Although they have a Grandmaster in residence, they still lack a Grandmaster Peak expert. In terms of strength alone, they aren't considered a top major sect, but their alchemy skills are superb, unmatched in the Jianghu. Many alchemy techniques in the Demon-Subduing Division were obtained from the Pill Sect. Although the Demon-Subduing Division also has powerful Alchemists, compared to the Pill Sect, they still fall slightly short."

"The Demon-Subduing Division has Alchemists?" Shen Changqing heard of this for the first time. Having been in the Demon-Subduing Division for so long, he had never heard of any place for alchemy within the Division.

Ji Qu smiled and said, "With so many people in the Demon-Subduing Division, the demand for elixirs is inexhaustible, so they must cultivate their own Alchemists. Otherwise, the expense of purchasing solely from outside would be significant. The Alchemists of the Demon-Subduing Division are actually not within the Division itself, but in the Imperial Palace. Moreover, alchemy depends on talent, unlike the Martial Dao. Those Alchemists are promising talents carefully selected by the Demon-Subduing Division. Each year, a large number of elixirs are produced in the palace and then distributed to various local Demon-Subduing Divisions."

So that's how it is! An epiphany struck Shen Changqing.

He had been curious as to where the elixirs of the Demon-Subduing Division came from. It had never occurred to him that the Alchemists were actually inside the Imperial Palace. Thinking about the location of the Capital Demon Suppression Division, Shen Changqing understood.

At this time, the price of the Innate Pills below had soared to one hundred thousand taels of silver.

It couldn't be helped; the effect of the Innate Pill was just too powerful. Each pill could increase the chance of breakthrough by thirty percent, and with good luck, three Innate Pills could potentially create three Innate Martial Artists. For ordinary Jianghu factions, having one more Innate Martial Artist could play a tremendous role.

The Pill Sect must have amassed an astonishing fortune with just their elixirs! Shen Changqing remarked with emotion.

Three Innate Pills were already worth one hundred thousand taels of silver, and this price was not yet final. Seeing the current momentum, the price might even climb much higher.

Ji Qu said, "Alchemy itself is a highly profitable industry. Although the ingredients for elixirs are precious, the finished product commands an even higher price. There used to be many Alchemists in the Jianghu, but after the Pill Sect grew prominent, those Alchemists were either marginalized or absorbed by the Pill Sect. Now in the Jianghu, the Pill Sect reigns supreme in the field of alchemy. It is for this reason that the Pill Sect is qualified to rank among the top major sects, comparable to established powers like the Myriad Buddhas Sect."

The Jianghu values strength. But it also values connections. The Pill Sect's strength alone isn't enough to be a top major sect, yet the elixir resources they command are needed by all powerful experts. Over the years, countless powerful experts have approached the Pill Sect seeking elixirs. Some of these people, in exchange for elixirs, have incurred significant debts of gratitude to the Pill Sect. It can be said that despite the Pill Sect not appearing overwhelmingly strong right now, if it truly faced a crisis, a single call to arms could rally a multitude of powerful experts. At that time, even the topmost major sects would not want to confront them directly.

「Inside another private room.」

Members of the Qiyao Sect were seated. The one who spoke was Ming Zhengyang. This distinguished disciple of the Qiyao Sect had, in just over a year, already broken through to the Innate Realm. The person he addressed as "Master" was a middle-aged man dressed in a red robe, with a forbidding chill in his eyes: Sect Master of the Qiyao Sect—Ji Cang!

The Qiyao Sect had sent only two people this time: Sect Master Ji Cang and Ming Zhengyang.

Upon hearing this, Ji Cang remained composed. He lifted his teacup for a sip, his gaze settling on the auction stage. "Let's observe for now. The price of three Innate Pills won't stay at a mere one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver. Right now, those bidding are merely unaffiliated cultivators or small factions; the other sects have not yet made a move. Let's wait a while longer and bid at the very end. However, our primary goal this time is still the Grandmaster Martial Arts. If the price of the Innate Pills becomes too high, there's no need to insist on acquiring them."

Newly-advanced Innate Martial Artists are important to any sect, and the Qiyao Sect is no exception. However, in Ji Cang's view, the Qiyao Sect's real purpose this time was to bid for the Grandmaster Martial Arts; other matters could be temporarily set aside. If the Grandmaster Martial Arts could be obtained, then letting go of the Innate Pills was acceptable.