Chapter 100: The Scramble for the Alchemy Furnace
Page 1/3
The auctioneer hadn’t expected that the big spender from last time, who never flinched when spending money, would back down so easily this time; all his carefully laid plans had gone up in smoke. As a result, his subsequent introductions came across as rather lackluster. The auction itself no longer felt as lively.
“Now presenting the fifth item, the first alchemy furnace of this auction,” the auctioneer announced, pulling away the cloth covering the furnace. What was revealed hardly looked like an alchemy furnace at all.
“This is an alchemy furnace? The Immortal Treasures Pavilion must be joking,” someone muttered.
“It looks like a teapot to me, haha,” another voice chimed in.
Laughter erupted from the crowd, and the auctioneer’s face darkened further. Still, he forced himself to maintain professionalism, refusing to lose his temper.
“This furnace was provided by a mysterious guest the day before yesterday. After verification, it is indeed a Dao-grade alchemy furnace. Please rest assured when bidding.”
“Dao-grade? Are you kidding me?”
“That teapot? Can it even produce half a pill?”
“It can’t even hold all the immortal herbs; how can it refine pills?”
The auctioneer took a deep breath and smiled wryly. “At Immortal Treasures Pavilion, bidding is voluntary. Now, the starting price for this Dao-grade alchemy furnace is one Dao-grade spirit stone.”
“What?!”
“Is the Immortal Treasures Pavilion bullying customers?”
“Back in the day, Dao-grade artifacts never started at a Dao-grade spirit stone.”
“Yeah, how many people even have a Dao-grade spirit stone?”
The protests grew louder, and the auctioneer nearly lost control of the crowd. He explained desperately, “This price was set by the guest who provided the furnace. We are just following the rules. Please understand.”
“No way.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Just call it unsold and move on to the next item!”
It seemed no one wanted this strange teapot-shaped alchemy furnace. The auctioneer was about to give up and declare it unsold when Yan Qingye raised his bidding paddle.
“One Dao-grade spirit stone. I’ll take it.”
The auctioneer’s eyes lit up, nearly tearing up. As expected, Ya Qi was still the bold and generous Ya Qi.
“Ya Qi bids one Dao-grade spirit stone. Any higher bids?”
When Dao-grade spirit stones were involved, people became cautious. Such stones were exceedingly rare, usually only held by those from sacred realms—and those people wouldn’t be attending an auction in the Immortal Realm.
So, the teapot-shaped alchemy furnace was awarded to Yan Qingye.
Page 2/3
Yan Qingye handed over the Dao-grade spirit stone to the attendant and took the alchemy furnace, inspecting it carefully.
“This furnace really is unique. It doesn’t look like a proper furnace at all.”
You Xiyue glanced briefly and said softly, “It suits you. The pills you refine aren’t exactly proper either.”
“Master, I’ve made pills with two distinct pill veins, perfectly round,” Yan Qingye retorted.
“Oh…” You Xiyue lowered her head and continued sipping the spiritual spring water.
Accepting the fact, Yan Qingye silently resolved to refine exquisite pills, hoping to make his master see him in a new light. He even planned to replace the oddly shaped first pill he had made—one his own father had treasured.
The auction continued, but aside from the Heavenly Pepper Flowers, You Xiyue showed little interest, listening absentmindedly.
Until the second alchemy furnace appeared, Yan Qingye perked up again.
The auctioneer announced, “Our second alchemy furnace is also Dao-grade, but this one is far more famous. It was once used by the Level Seven Alchemist, Lord Lan Shi.”
You Xiyue raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised to hear a familiar name.
“Dao-grade alchemy furnace, Hongjun!”
“Lord Lan Shi’s furnace! I want it! I want it!”
“Don’t steal it; it’s mine.”
This furnace sparked a much livelier bidding war.
“That guy who bid on the teapot really lost out.”
“Haha, exactly.”
The auctioneer nodded in satisfaction; this was the atmosphere an auction should have.
“The starting price for this Hongjun furnace is five thousand Sacred-grade spirit stones.”
“Five thousand? That’s a lot!”
“Expensive, but worth it!”
“I bid six thousand Sacred-grade spirit stones!”
“Number 23 bids six thousand Sacred-grade spirit stones. Any higher bids?”
“Eight thousand!”
“I... I bid eight thousand five!”
Clearly, the competition became more intense toward the end.
Meanwhile, other private rooms finally stirred.
“I bid ten thousand Sacred-grade spirit stones.”
“Whoa... wealthy…”
“Twenty thousand!”
“Thirty thousand!”
The competition on the third floor was fierce.
Page 3/3
Yan Qingye fondly touched the Ya Qi paddle, his spirits lifted, thinking to himself how wonderful it was to have money.
“Ya Qi bids one Dao-grade spirit stone.”
“Again with Dao-grade??”
The crowd below stared incredulously toward Ya Qi’s room, but saw nothing.
“Ya San bids two Dao-grade spirit stones.”
“!!!” Yan Qingye hadn’t expected anyone to challenge him. He felt confident, placing his hand on his Dimensional Bag. “Three Dao-grade spirit stones.”
“Ya San bids four.”
Fuming, Yan Qingye slammed the table, ready to raise the bid further, but the paddle was snatched by You Xiyue.
“Tired of this? Ten Dao-grade spirit stones.”
“!!!” A loud commotion came from Ya San’s room, filled with discontent.
The auctioneer finally snapped back to reality, inwardly thinking, “Why bother competing with Ya Qi? Congratulations to guest Ya Qi for winning Hongjun.”
The following alchemy furnaces, whether Immortal-grade or Divine-grade, were all won by Yan Qingye.
A guest from Ya San’s room stormed out, pointing at You Xiyue and Yan Qingye’s rooms, shouting, “Why are you buying so many alchemy furnaces? What are you trying to refine? Leaving none for the rest of us?”
Yan Qingye snorted coldly, ignoring him entirely. This was just the beginning.
The guest from Ya San’s room was eventually coaxed back inside by the maids.
Yan Qingye’s six alchemy furnaces were carried into the Immortal Treasures Pavilion by Pavilion Master Liu Shuzhi and a group of attendants.
Upon entering, Liu Shuzhi performed a grand bow—hands clasped, bending at the waist, deeply bowing.
“My people were rude and offended you, Senior. Here are ten Heavenly Pepper Flowers, on me. Consider them a gift.”
You Xiyue glanced indifferently at the ten Heavenly Pepper Flowers placed on the table and acknowledged with a simple “Thanks.”
“I’m glad you’re not angry. I will make sure they are properly punished.”
It was clear who “they” were. Liu Shuzhi apologized a few more times before leaving the room.
Yan Qingye eyed the ten Heavenly Pepper Flowers curiously. “Weren’t those taken by bidders number 3 and 8?”
“Shills.”
“Shills??” Yan Qingye slammed the table furiously. “They want to scam us? Take us for fools?”
“Pretty much,” You Xiyue said, unconcerned.
Yan Qingye immediately admired her cleverness. “Master, you’re truly sharp. The auctioneer tried to use the Heavenly Pepper Flowers to trap you, but you turned the tables.”
You Xiyue sighed quietly, looking at Yan Qingye, who was always a bit naive.
Was it really just to punish the auctioneer for maliciously raising the price of the Heavenly Pepper Flowers? Or was it because they were Ya Qi, and the prices of those alchemy furnaces would have been deliberately inflated? That was why she acted as she did.
She didn’t mind the spirit stones, but if Yan Qingye spent that much, he might not be able to handle it.
Besides, they couldn’t always be the ones getting taken advantage of.