A short while later, Ye Yunfei led Fengyun Jue through the streets of Tianlan City.
Fengyun Jue was dressed entirely as an elderly servant, respectfully following a few steps behind Ye Yunfei. Few would likely believe that this seemingly devoted and loyal old retainer was actually a deacon of the Fengyun Family, one of the Central Continent's top forces!
Ye Yunfei, for his part, looked every bit a young master from a wealthy household out for a stroll with his personal attendant.
"Hmm? Lingzhen Pavilion?" Ye Yunfei stopped in front of an elixir shop, somewhat surprised by the name displayed.
"Master," Fengyun Jue said softly, seeing Ye Yunfei's interest. "Lingzhen Pavilion is a first-rate force within the Central Continent, specialized in the pill and elixir trade, though their operating style tends to be rather low-key. Rumors suggest that Lingzhen Pavilion is actually a subordinate organization of the Central Continent's Alchemy Tower. It's even possible that it is run directly by one of the Alchemy Tower's high-ranking members."
I wonder if this Lingzhen Pavilion has any connection to the one in the Great Qin Empire, Ye Yunfei mused to himself. At the same time, he couldn't help but think of Xiao Chuchu. He hadn't seen her since she left Yuanyue City.
"Let's go in and have a look," Ye Yunfei said, stepping into the shop.
However, to his disappointment, the most valuable herbs in this Lingzhen Pavilion were just three stalks of first-grade treasure herbs. Everything else was spirit herbs.
"Young Master," a man in a yellow robe said with a fawning smile. "Treasure herbs are precious beyond compare. A typical elixir shop wouldn't just casually put them out for sale. For us to have three first-grade treasure herbs on hand is already considered quite remarkable." This man was the shopkeeper of this particular Lingzhen Pavilion branch.
Normally, someone of his status wouldn't personally attend to customers. But after Ye Yunfei entered the shop and bought out their entire stock of seventh-grade, eighth-grade, and ninth-grade spirit herbs in one go, the shopkeeper was so astounded that he immediately came out to act as his personal host. Ye Yunfei then proceeded to purchase all three of the shop's first-grade treasure herbs.
For Ye Yunfei, spirit herbs and treasure herbs alike fell under the principle of the more, the merrier. The wealth of crystal stones he had acquired within the Crystal Mine Small World was terrifyingly vast. He had given half to the academy and kept the other half for himself. Consequently, Ye Yunfei's current personal fortune was unimaginably rich.
"Young Master," the shopkeeper said to Ye Yunfei, "if you desire more treasure herbs, you might want to visit the Heavenly Pavilion Auction House. I've received word they are holding an auction today, and it's possible they may have some treasure herbs up for bids."
Ye Yunfei's spending had been extraordinarily generous, so in the shopkeeper's mind, he had already pegged him as the young scion of some first-rate force, perhaps even one of the top factions. Thus, his attitude toward Ye Yunfei was exceedingly cordial.
"Very well, let's go see this Heavenly Pavilion Auction House," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"By the way," Ye Yunfei asked casually, "does your Lingzhen Pavilion have branches in the Eastern Region?"
"Young Master, our Lingzhen Pavilion's business spans the entire Tianxuan Continent," the shopkeeper replied, a hint of pride in his tone. "Apart from the Central Continent, we have numerous branches in the Eastern Region, Western Plains, Northern Barrens, and Southern Borderlands."
"Then do you know someone named Xiao Chuchu?" Ye Yunfei inquired, prompted more by a flash of curiosity than anything else.
"Xiao Chuchu..." The shopkeeper stiffened momentarily, then sucked in a sharp, quiet breath. His gaze towards Ye Yunfei grew even more deferential. "Young Master, are you perhaps referring to our Young Miss?! She has been in closed-door cultivation these past few years. Young Master, do you... actually know the Young Miss?"
The Young Miss rarely circulated within the Central Continent social circles. One could say that anyone capable of knowing her was likely a core disciple of some major sect or great clan.
"The Young Miss?" Ye Yunfei was taken aback. So Xiao Chuchu was actually the Young Miss of the Central Continent's Lingzhen Pavilion. He hadn't expected that. However, it was merely a passing question. He wasn't particularly invested in the answer.
A short time later, Ye Yunfei, accompanied by Fengyun Jue, arrived at the Heavenly Pavilion Auction House. They entered the main auction hall and found seats.
The hall was already packed with a huge, bustling crowd.
The auction began, and several types of treasures were brought forth in succession: magical artifacts, cultivation techniques, heavenly materials and earthly treasures... However, from Ye Yunfei's perspective, the grade of these items was far too low. They weren't even worth a glance.
"Esteemed guests," the auctioneer, an elderly man in a grey robe, announced, holding up a crystal tray. "Now up for auction is a first-grade treasure herb: the Earthblood Phoenix Vine. The starting bid is one million medium-grade Spirit Crystal Stones!"
The tray held a long, blood-crimson vine.
*Hiss!*
Hearing this starting price, the vast majority of the martial artists in the hall couldn't help but draw sharp, astonished breaths.
One had to understand that the value of a single medium-grade Spirit Crystal Stone was equivalent to five thousand low-grade Spirit Crystal Stones. One million medium-grade stones equaled five billion low-grade stones! For most martial artists present, this was an astronomical sum.
"Two million medium-grade Spirit Crystal Stones."
Before any other martial artist could even begin to bid, Ye Yunfei's voice rang out, directly naming his price.
*What?!*
Doubling it instantly?! Who bids like that?!
Immediately, the hall fell dead silent. All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
As Ye Yunfei hadn't chosen to enter one of the lavish private boxes, opting instead to sit directly within the main hall, everyone could see him clearly.
"Who is this young man? He's far too wealthy. Could he be the young master of one of the top factions?"
"That's not right. I've studied the core disciples and young masters of nearly all the major Central Continent forces, including the top and first-rate powers. I don't recall seeing a figure like him."
"Indeed, this lad's face looks very unfamiliar."
The crowd buzzed with whispers.
"Two million medium-grade Spirit Crystal Stones!" the grey-robed auctioneer on the platform exclaimed excitedly. "Is there anyone else who wishes to compete?!"
"Friend," a voice spoke up, slicing through the murmurs. A young man in embroidered robes emerged from one of the luxurious private boxes, his gaze landing on Ye Yunfei. "I am Zhou Sheng, of the Tianxuan Sect."
Two elderly men, both at the early-stage Mystic Liquid Realm, flanked him.
*The Tianxuan Sect's Zhou Sheng!*
Hearing the young man's self-introduction, many in the audience gasped in shock.
The Tianxuan Sect was a first-rate force within the Central Continent, and its relationship with the Alchemy Tower was extremely close. It was said that the daughter of the Tianxuan Sect Master had married the son of a certain high-ranking figure within the Alchemy Tower.
In other words, the Tianxuan Sect and the Alchemy Tower were connected by marriage!
This relationship had allowed the Tianxuan Sect to rapidly become the most powerful among all the Central Continent's first-rate forces! Even those few top factions wouldn't casually offend the Tianxuan Sect. After all, those powerful sects often needed to seek pills from the Alchemy Tower as well. Thus, the Tianxuan Sect was an exceptionally influential and well-connected first-rate force.
And Zhou Sheng was the son of the Tianxuan Sect Master! With such an identity, he was nearly on par with the core disciples of those top Central Continent forces themselves.