This time, she unprecedentedly revealed the true starting price to Lin Yifan; had it been someone else, she wouldn't have divulged the real starting bid at all. She would certainly have understated the value of the item and then inflated the starting price at the auction to seek greater profits.

The antidote with a starting bid of one billion sold for thirty-five billion, so a purchase price of two hundred million was indeed a bit low, and Yifan couldn't accept it. He then inquired, "If I only use your Ye Gui Xiang platform to sell the elixir, how much commission will you charge?"

"Twenty percent of the final transaction price," Zhong Hongyan answered.

"Damn! Twenty percent, that's really bloodsucking," Lin Yifan felt that the Ye Gui Xiang auction house was really ripping people off by charging such a high commission.

However, were he aware that the typical commission at the Ye Gui Xiang auction house was over thirty percent, he would realize how much he had actually gained.

All of this was because he was a disciple of the Medicinal Saint Valley; without this significant identity, he wouldn't have received so many benefits.

After some thought, Yifan replied straightforwardly, "I've decided to sell the elixir to the bidders."

At the auction a few days ago, the icy girl and Lu Qiu's young lord had fought fiercely over the items. He believed that these two still needed the Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison Antidote; thus, he felt the antidote would definitely sell at a good price.

"That's settled then!" Zhong Hongyan declared, "We will schedule the time for the elixir's auction; please rest assured. If you have any more of the Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison Antidote, please deliver it to our Ye Gui Xiang auction house as soon as possible. As they say, opportunity knocks but once. By seizing the moment, we can pursue even greater profits."

Those poisoned by the Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison would die even if they did not take a hundred steps—that was the danger of this poison. Hence, it was an excellent opportunity to make a good profit while those clans still required the elixir to save their poisoned. Otherwise, even the best antidote to the Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison would become worthless.

"Are you saying that after some time, no one will need the Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison Antidote anymore?" Lin Yifan asked in surprise.

He had thought this business could last longer, but apparently, it couldn't.

"Yes!" Zhong Hongyan nodded in response.

"Then how much time would that be?" Lin Yifan inquired.

"If the poisoned do not receive an antidote, they will last at most about five days! However, if they do receive treatment from an antidote intermittently, their lifespan may increase, making it hard to determine an exact time. If Mr. Lin knows how to do business, you could make it last a long time," Zhong Hongyan replied earnestly.

"Are you suggesting that the poison will worsen, and after those who are treated with the antidote deteriorate, to produce more antidotes for auction? In this cycle, continually seeking profit?" Lin Yifan asked, probing.

"Mr. Lin is indeed clever, understanding my meaning so quickly; that's really impressive!" Zhong Hongyan commended with a smile.

"Doing business with Miss Zhong, I obviously have to be smart; otherwise, how would I make any money?" Lin Yifan asked with a smile, then responded, "I know what I should do."

"But Mr. Lin should not get too excited; this business is only temporary. If those clans in need of the antidote run out of money, or if they find a complete antidote, they will no longer need yours. So, I hope Mr. Lin can refine other types of elixirs so as to continue making a profit," Zhong Hongyan reminded with an implicit meaning.

In her heart, she was judiciously calculating, not content with just one line of business.

"Other types of elixirs? Which other elixirs do you need?" Lin Yifan asked curiously.

He understood what Zhong Hongyan meant, but since the "Witchcraft Secret Manual" had a limited variety of recorded elixirs, he wasn't sure whether it contained the elixirs that Zhong Hongyan needed.

"There are many, such as Primordial Nourishing Pills, Marrow Cleansing Pills, Boundary Rush Pills..." Zhong Hongyan replied.

These elixirs were needed by most cultivators, offering a broader market and the chance for more sustainable profits.

As he listened to the names of these elixirs, Lin Yifan felt that none matched the ones listed in the "Witchcraft Secret Manual." After all, the "Witchcraft Secret Manual" only recorded the refinement of poisons and their corresponding antidotes, and some poisons did not even have a formula for an antidote.

However, his current identity was that of a disciple of Medicinal Saint Valley; saying outright that he couldn't refine other types of elixirs would inevitably raise Zhong Hongyan's suspicions. So, he replied cautiously, "My alchemy technique isn't yet perfect; to not make you laugh, this Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison Antidote also took me several days to refine. As for other types of elixirs, let's talk about it another day."

Knowing that alchemy wasn't as easy as one might imagine, Zhong Hongyan responded, "Then we'll discuss it in the future."

Hearing these words and staring at Zhong Hongyan's continuously smiling face, Lin Yifan always derived another meaning.

"If I could really discuss it in the future, that would be great," Lin Yifan thought wickedly.

After signing the contract, he left the Ye Gui Xiang auction house.

Before he left, Zhong Hongyan revealed a secret to him and gave him a signal transmitter, "Someone from the Tian Family of Capital City has been secretly looking for you. This person has a very high realm, Divine Transformation First Realm, to be precise. If you can't handle it, you may choose to send a signal for help. We at the Ye Gui Xiang auction house will arrive at the signal location as soon as possible and fully protect you."

"I didn't expect the Tian Family to have such formidable strength to send a Divinity Transformation Realm expert to search for me; they truly overestimate me," Lin Yifan mused inwardly; then he declined Zhong Hongyan's kindness, "I appreciate the gesture, but the Medicinal Saint Valley hasn't fallen to the point where it can't deal with a Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator."

After all, he was a disciple of Medicinal Saint Valley, surrounded by numerous masters; how could he lightly accept protection from a mere auction house? It would be suspicious if he did, not to mention that the signal transmitter might have a tracker installed; thus, he mustn't accept it lightly.

"Indeed, Mr. Lin, a distinguished disciple of Medicinal Saint Valley, must be protected by masters; I was overthinking it," Zhong Hongyan felt somewhat relieved; for it was also a small test of hers.

She hadn't completely believed Lin Yifan was a disciple of Medicinal Saint Valley, which is why she had tempted him with the test. Now, Lin Yifan's response assuaged her doubts.

"You can't be blamed; after all, you meant well," Lin Yifan said, "If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave."

"Sure! Take care, Mr. Lin," Zhong Hongyan smiled as she saw him off.

Watching Lin Yifan's receding back, a smile flickered across her face, thinking that this morally questionable man was useful. However, what she didn't know was that Lin Yifan had already used her.

In the afternoon and evening, Lin Yifan separately refined another Hundred Steps Heart-Piercing Poison Antidote.

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