"Young Master!"

"Mr. Jiang."

The crowd greeted Jiang Chen one after another.

"Head of the Jiang Family, let's go together!" Hu Ziyang invited with a smile.

Jiang Chen nodded, and the crowd followed Hu Ziyang towards the plaza.

Elixir Valley's Grand Plaza.

At this moment, the plaza was brightly lit. The pill furnaces used during the major competition had been removed, and a ten-meter square wooden stone platform had been erected in the northern part of the plaza. Below the platform were twelve round tables, with several people already seated. The tables were adorned with fruits, snacks, and various drinks.

"Great Grandmaster Jiang!"

"Sect Master Lin!"

"Old Master Tang!"

As Jiang Chen and his group arrived, representatives from various forces who had arrived earlier stood up to greet them.

Sweeping a glance across the various forces, Jiang Chen slightly furrowed his brows.

There were about a dozen forces present in the plaza now, most of whom he did not recognize. Many of these people hadn't participated in the earlier major competition.

"These are all people from hidden sects. Most don't have any influence, but are completely dependent on Elixir Valley. They came just for the auction!"

Tang Jiawei noticed Jiang Chen's confusion and whispered an explanation, "Along the river, only these people are eligible to participate in Elixir Valley's auction. If it weren't for the reputation of the Five Great Families and the remarkable growth in strength thanks to your help over the past two years, it might have been just our Tang Family who qualified for this auction!"

"They're all people from hidden sects? It seems there are many forces in the Martial Dao World that I'm not aware of!"

Jiang Chen muttered softly. As he spoke, he and his group, led by Hu Ziyang, found seats at a round table in the middle row.

The twelve round tables were divided into four rows, three tables per row. Some tables seated three forces while others seated two. Jiang Chen and the Chixiao Sect, along with other Six Major Forces, occupied three round tables and sat in the second row near the high platform, with Jiang Chen, the Tang Family, and the Chixiao Sect sharing one table, positioned in the center of the second row.

"In the Martial Dao World, there are many forces that keep an even lower profile than the hidden families like the Huangluo Clan. Many sects disappeared after the end of the Martial Arts Era, and some vanished entirely from public view after the Flame Dragon Group's purge. It's no surprise you haven't heard of them. I can't identify all the forces here myself." Old Master Tang spoke softly.

Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned. Old Master Tang was a member of the Flame Dragon Group, currently one of the Zodiac Guardians. If even he didn't recognize some forces, it meant they weren't documented in the Flame Dragon Group's records.

All of a sudden, Jiang Chen realized he might have underestimated the Flame Dragon Martial Arts World before!

"Sect Master Lin!"

"Master Wang!"

Various forces continued to arrive, and soon nine out of the ten round tables in the plaza were filled, leaving the table at the very front center empty.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Amidst a series of swooshing sounds, Fu Tianbo, along with six Great Elders, leaped onto the high platform.

"Good evening, everyone!"

Fu Tianbo greeted, smiling as he spoke, "We're all old acquaintances here, so I won't waste words. Let me briefly explain the auction rules: we will first auction rare herbs, then finished elixirs. The lowest grade of finished elixirs is high-tier with a Three-Circle Pill Halo. At the end of the auction, we will auction off a recipe for a ground-tier Spirit Pill!"

"What?!"

"They're auctioning a recipe for a ground-tier Spirit Pill at the end?!"

"Oh my, is this for real?!"

"Even a Spirit Pill recipe is up for auction?"

The assembled guests were taken aback, exclaiming uncontrollably.

Fu Tianbo chuckled softly, "There's no need to worry about the lots. With the Martial Dao World in turmoil, our Elixir Valley also needs to do its part!"

"Elixir Valley has such magnanimous spirit!"

"Indeed, so generous!"

"Having Elixir Valley in the Martial Dao World is truly a blessing for us!"

"Elixir Valley is still the same Elixir Valley!"

Members of various forces cried out in commendation, and Elixir Valley's actions drew a round of applause!

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Taking out a recipe, so what? How many can actually refine Spirit Pills now?"

"Secondly," Fu Tianbo continued, "the auction will follow a barter system, with the highest offer winning. Also, all auction items must be verified by everyone present. Does anyone have any objections to this?"

"No!"

"Fair and impartial, no objections here!"

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"Good, then I won't hold you up any longer. The auction begins now!" Fu Tianbo announced, and along with the six Great Elders, descended from the high platform and took seats at the empty table in the middle of the front row, directly in front of Jiang Chen and others.

Tap, tap, tap!

Amid the sound of high heels, a woman in a Flame Robe ascended the high platform.

"Hey? Isn't that the woman who participated in the Pill Assembly?" Mi Jiaro looked at the woman in surprise.

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, "The Second Elder's granddaughter, Liu Qian!"

"Greetings, seniors! I am Liu Qian, and I will be hosting the auction today!" Liu Qian greeted with a light laugh, then turned and signaled to the Elixir Valley disciple waiting beside the high platform.

An Elixir Valley disciple walked onto the high platform carrying a tray, covered with red silk, emanating a distinct fragrance.

"I believe this herb needs no introduction, you all should be familiar with it, right?" Liu Qian unveiled the silk and smiled at the crowd below the platform.

"Polyporus King?!"

"Wow, is the first auction item really a hundred-year-old Polyporus King?!"

"Elixir Valley is really investing heavily in this auction!"

"With the Martial Dao World in chaos, Elixir Valley offers rare herbs, truly a consideration for the Martial Dao World!"

The crowd exclaimed in wonder again.

"Indeed, this is a hundred-year-old Polyporus King, with a starting price of one Polyporus Barrier Breaking Elixir with a Three-Circle Pill Halo, and each bid increment must not be less than one Polyporus Barrier Breaking Elixir with a Three-Circle Pill Halo or an item of equivalent value!" Liu Qian announced with a light smile, "Now, let the bidding for the Polyporus King begin!"

"Five Polyporus Barrier Breaking Elixirs with a Four Halo Pill Mirage!"

As soon as Liu Qian finished speaking, a bidding voice sounded.

"Five Polyporus Barrier Breaking Elixirs with a Four Halo Pill Mirage?!"

"Starting off with such a high bid, do they mean to win at all costs?"

"Who is that young man?!"

"Oh no, it's Great Grandmaster Jiang! It's over, with Great Grandmaster Jiang bidding, we probably don't stand a chance!"

The crowd looked in surprise at the bidder; upon recognizing Jiang Chen, a sense of resignation welled up inside.

Those who had witnessed the major competition knew that Jiang Chen had acquired the herbs he desired after taking first place. With Jiang Chen's alchemy skills, refining those herbs into pills with a Four Halo Pill Mirage was not a problem.

Fu Tianbo and others glanced at Jiang Chen, while Liu Wenjian and a few others squinted, a cold smile playing on their lips, "You're bidding? Can you take it home?"

Liu Qian glanced at Jiang Chen, her eyes flashing with a trace of frost, and scanned the crowd, loudly declaring, "Jiang Chen of the Jiang Family of Jincheng bids five... any higher bids?"

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