While the player is in Battle Through the Heavens, the system is in The Great Ruler.

Chapter 140 The Spirit Treasure Pavilion Auction!

"Thanks for your hard work."

Lu Yu nodded slightly, and with a gentle lift of his right hand, the fragment of the demonic fire map fell into his palm as if drawn by an invisible force. After sensing it intently for a moment and confirming that it was correct, he then put it into his storage ring.

Lu Yu's gaze returned to Wu Ya, and his eyes revealed approval. He said, "I originally planned to use this item as the grand finale of the auction, but Elder Wu has done a good job. I, the Pavilion Master, have always been fair in my rewards and punishments."

As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and a warm jade box traced a graceful arc before landing steadily in Wuya's hand.

"This is... a Breakthrough Pill?!"

Wu Ya opened the jade box with trembling hands. Upon seeing its contents, his breathing quickened and his face flushed. For someone like him, a half-step Dou Zong, this Breakthrough Pill was undoubtedly a coveted treasure.

"Master, this...this is far too precious, I am unworthy of it..."

"If I tell you to keep it, then you can keep it."

Lu Yu waved his hand and casually said, "In the future, Lingbao Pavilion will mainly deal in pills, and there will be more of these kinds of pills, so there's no need to worry about it."

Wuya hesitated for a moment, then said, "But this was originally intended to be the highlight of the auction. If it falls into the wrong hands..."

"No problem."

Lu Yu chuckled, and with a flick of his wrist, he produced another jade pill box. The moment the lid opened, a rich fragrance of pills instantly filled the entire hall. Inside, a translucent green pill lay quietly, its surface shimmering with mysterious patterns.

"This is……"

Wuya's pupils contracted slightly. The energy fluctuations emitted by this pill were even more powerful than the Breakthrough Pill from before!

However, the Breakthrough Pill is already a peak sixth-grade pill. Could this pill be...?

"This pill is called Qingyuan Pill, a low-grade seventh-rank pill. It is a pill that can temporarily increase strength. The first time a Dou Zong expert takes it, he can increase his strength by two stars, and a Dou Huang expert can increase his strength by five stars. It is forbidden for those below Dou Huang. However, the side effects are also great. After taking it, one cannot use Dou Qi for at least one month."

"The effect is halved on the second use, and ineffective on the third use."

"Let's use this as the finale item for this auction."

Lu Yu smiled calmly and said.

This seventh-grade low-level Qingyuan Pill was his trial work at the Mittel family these past few days. The prescription also came from the Endless Fire Domain, so he found it easy to refine.

As for mid-grade and high-grade seventh-rank pills, he hasn't tried them yet due to a lack of the necessary ingredients. However, he secretly estimated that with the help of the superior-grade spiritual artifact Azure Phoenix Cauldron and the strange fire, refining high-grade seventh-rank pills shouldn't be a problem.

As for peak seventh-grade pills, this level is already very close to eighth-grade pills. He hasn't refined seventh-grade pills many times, so he can't guarantee that he can succeed on the first try.

"I obey my orders."

Wuya respectfully put away the Qingyuan Pill, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Sect Master, I have prepared a VIP box for you and your wife at the auction house. May I ask..."

"Elder Wu is very kind."

Lu Yu nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and said, "Today is Lingbao Pavilion's debut in the Black Corner Region, so we should definitely go and see it."

……

Half an hour later, at the Black Seal Auction House.

The magnificent obsidian building was brightly lit, and the entrance was bustling with people. When Lu Yu and his group arrived, the previously noisy venue immediately quieted down.

"Please follow me, Master."

Wu Ya personally led the way, guiding everyone through a special passage. On both sides of the passage, dozens of guards in uniform knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "Welcome, Pavilion Master!"

Upon arriving at the top-floor VIP box, the entire auction house came into view. The interior was extremely luxurious: the floor was covered with a carpet made of sixth-tier magical beast fur, the walls were inlaid with moonstones that could automatically adjust the light, and even the tea set was made of rare warm jade.

Little Fairy Doctor gently stroked the carved railing at the edge of the private room, looked down at the crowded hall below, and said softly, "This is much more grand than the Mittel Auction."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but exclaim, "The Black Corner Region truly lives up to its reputation. The scale of this auction house alone far surpasses the grandeur of the Jia Ma Empire's royal palace."

Lu Yu smiled without saying a word, his gaze fixed on the auction stage in the center of the hall. A glamorous woman in a vibrant red cheongsam gracefully walked onto the stage. As the clear sound of bells rang, she parted her lips slightly:
"Distinguished guests, the Black Seal Auction is now beginning!"

The vast auction hall was packed, the sounds of conversation blending into a cacophony of noise. As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder uproar.

In the front row of VIP seats, a middle-aged man with a bare chest was glancing sideways at the auctioneer on the stage. He had a roaring lion tattooed on his chest and a bloodthirsty smile on his face—he was none other than Tie Wu, the leader of the Mad Lion Gang.

"Is this the new force that has taken over Black Seal City? Sending a mere Battle Spirit to preside over the auction is rather pathetic."

Tie Wu sneered, deliberately making his voice louder.

A scantily clad, alluring woman beside him chuckled, a striking black poppy tattooed on her ear: "New forces are all like this, nothing more than a flash in the pan."

It was Su Mei, the leader of the Rakshasa Sect, who was famous in the Black Corner Region for her seductive arts.

"Jie Jie Jie..."

An old man with a sinister face let out a grating laugh, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, and said in a sinister tone, "In my opinion, why don't the three of us join forces and take over Black Seal City?"

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Yin Sect, the Old Man of Yin Bones.

In a corner, the Grand Elder of the Black Skull Tomb, who had traveled from afar, remained silent. Wrapped in a wide black robe, his withered fingers rested on his knees, he seemed completely uninterested in the power struggles unfolding around him.

Just then, a powerful aura suddenly swept across the entire venue. Wu Ya's figure slowly appeared on the stage, and the pressure from the half-step Dou Zong instantly silenced the noisy hall.

"Such a powerful aura..."

The old man with the yin bones narrowed his eyes, a solemn expression on his face.

Su Mei nodded slightly, a hint of apprehension flashing in her eyes.

"I am Wuya, one of the elders of Lingbao Pavilion."

Wuya surveyed the entire venue, his gaze lingering briefly on a few specific spots, before proclaiming in a clear voice, "Today is the first auction held by my Lingbao Pavilion in the Black Corner Region. I am honored by your presence."

He paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Perhaps none of you have ever heard of the Lingbao Pavilion before. But that's alright..."

"After today..."

Wu Ya's voice suddenly rose, and he said, "The name of my Lingbao Pavilion will surely resound throughout the entire Black Corner Region!"

The audience was in an uproar. No one expected that the elder from Lingbao Pavilion would be so arrogant.
Why do they?
"My master has said..."

Wuya looked around at everyone and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Lingbao Pavilion runs a legitimate business, and we believe in honesty and fairness. But if anyone thinks we're easy to bully..."

He suddenly released all his pressure, and the aura of a half-step Dou Zong caused Tie Wu and the others in the front row to change their expressions drastically: "Then why don't you try out the methods of my Lingbao Pavilion!"

These words were spoken with resounding force, and the entire auction hall fell silent. Those leaders of the forces who had originally harbored wicked intentions all abandoned their contempt at this moment.

"Now……"

Wuya suddenly withdrew his oppressive aura, and a warm smile reappeared on his face. He said gently, "Please enjoy this auction feast that my Lingbao Pavilion has carefully prepared."

Seeing that the deterrent effect had been achieved, the sharp glint in Wu Ya's eyes vanished instantly. He bowed slightly to several important seats in the VIP section before slowly stepping down from the auction stage.

As Wuya left, the beautiful auctioneer in the cheongsam walked forward with a smile. Behind her, a group of pretty maids carried silver platters and flitted around the stage like butterflies, respectfully placing the platters on the auction table.

From a high vantage point, one can clearly see that each silver platter holds precious items that emit a faint glow.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what follows is the appetizer for our auction..."

The auctioneer, dressed in a cheongsam, smiled and pointed to the first silver tray, on which lay a purple scroll. "Advanced Xuan-rank defensive combat skill - Purple Smoke Barrier, starting bid 500,000 gold coins!"

After the auction officially began, the atmosphere in the venue gradually became more enthusiastic.

When the bidding for "Purple Smoke Barrier" began, a mysterious figure shrouded in a black robe in the back row was the first to raise his paddle, and a hoarse voice came from under his hood: "Eight hundred thousand!"

"One million." Su Mei leaned lazily against the soft couch, her slender fingers slightly raised, and the number she uttered as she parted her red lips silenced the entire room. Her eyes sparkled, and she chuckled, "A defensive combat technique is quite rare; this sect leader will take it."

As soon as the words were spoken, an eerie silence fell over the entire hall. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, even their breathing becoming slightly shallower. No one had expected that the very first item would draw the attention of this femme fatale from the Rakshasa Sect.

"One million two hundred thousand." A cold voice suddenly came from the back of the venue, like ice shattering.

Everyone turned around and saw a mysterious figure wearing a silver mask standing silently. Su Mei's beautiful eyes turned cold, and she tapped the armrest with her slender fingers, immediately raising the price: "One million five hundred thousand!" Her voice already carried a hint of sharpness.

"One million six hundred thousand!" The silver-masked man remained unmoved, his voice still calm as still water, yet revealing an undeniable determination.

Finally, after several rounds of fierce bidding, Su Mei acquired "Purple Smoke Barrier" for 1.9 million gold coins. A chorus of exclamations arose in the hall, with many secretly marveling at her generosity, befitting the Rakshasa Sect Master.

Inside a private room on the second floor, Lu Yu sipped his tea, his slender fingers tracing the rim of the celadon teacup, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the scene unfold. Little Fairy Doctor murmured, "That silver-masked man..."

"It's our people."

Lu Yu put down his teacup, the tea swirling gently in the cup, and said with a smile, "Someone has to help us raise the price; we can't afford to lose money, can we?"

At the subsequent auction, several more rare items appeared. These included the Three-Patterned Azure Spirit Pill, the Icy Spirit Spring, and a set of light armor crafted from materials from fifth-tier magical beasts, among others… Each item ignited an increasingly enthusiastic atmosphere in the hall.

When the auction for the Purple Jade Breakthrough Pill began, the atmosphere in the auction hall reached an unprecedented climax. The auctioneer carefully lifted a purple jade bottle, its surface shimmering with a dreamlike purple glow under the lights.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this pill is called the Purple Jade Barrier-Breaking Pill, a peak fifth-grade pill, with a starting bid of 1.5 million gold coins."

Her voice trembled slightly as she said excitedly, "This pill was improved by our sect leader based on the formula of the fourth-grade peak pill, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. It can help a Douling expert rise two stars in cultivation. Each person can only take it once in their lifetime, and it has no side effects."

Seeing the skepticism of the crowd below, the auctioneer clapped his hands and continued, "To show our sincerity, Lingbao Pavilion has specially invited a Douling expert to test the pills on site."

A three-star Dou Ling dressed in black robes stepped onto the stage and swallowed the pill in full view of everyone. Moments later, his Dou Qi surged, his robes fluttered without wind, and his aura steadily increased, eventually stabilizing at the five-star Dou Ling level!
When he opened his eyes, they were gleaming with a sharp light, indicating that he was in excellent condition.

The audience erupted in uproar! Many people stood up from their seats, craning their necks to get a better look.

"Two million!"

Before anyone else could confirm, Tie Wu, the leader of the Mad Lion Gang and a Dou Huang powerhouse renowned throughout the Black Corner Region, was the first to jump out and bid. His rough voice made the eardrums of those nearby ache.

"Two million three hundred thousand!" The old man with the sinister bones raised the price in a sinister tone, his withered fingers tapping incessantly on the back of the chair.

"Two and a half million!" Su Mei retorted, a dangerous smile curving her red lips.

With the three powerful Dou Huangs making their moves in succession, everyone in the arena finally came to their senses and had no more doubts—this Purple Jade Barrier-Breaking Pill really did have such a heaven-defying effect!

In the end, the bottle of pills was acquired by Tie Wu for the astronomical price of three million gold coins. He grinned, his gaze sweeping provocatively over Su Mei and the Yin Bone Elder, causing their expressions to darken slightly.

However, when the auctioneer announced the next item, Tie Wu's smile suddenly froze, while a hint of surprise appeared in Su Mei and the Yin Bone Elder's eyes.

The auctioneer carefully presented an exquisite jade box and slowly lifted the lid—

"Buzz!"

An extremely rich medicinal fragrance instantly swept across the entire area; just one breath was enough to cause one's fighting spirit to slightly boil!
"A low-grade sixth-rank pill—the Breaking Emperor Pill!"

The auctioneer's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "This pill is one of the signature pills of our Lingbao Pavilion. It can help a peak Dou Wang expert break through the Dou Huang bottleneck. Starting bid—three million gold coins!"

Although the three leaders were pained by their previous expenditures, they still gritted their teeth and bid against such a priceless treasure. In the end, the Old Man of Yin Bones won the bid for nine million gold coins, a rare smile appearing on his withered face.

Just when everyone thought the auction was about to end, the auctioneer smiled mysteriously, gracefully raised her hand, and gently lifted the red silk that had been covering the auction stage, revealing two precious items to everyone:

On the left is an ancient scroll with an earthy yellow sheen, its surface engraved with mysterious and intricate patterns, faintly exuding a profound and majestic aura; on the right is a beautiful jade box with a smooth and lustrous surface, which shimmers with a warm glow under the light.

The auctioneer parted her lips slightly: "Distinguished guests, we will now present the final two treasures of this auction..."

"The first item is a low-level Earth-rank, attribute-free cultivation technique called 'Xuanhuang Jue'."

"This technique was obtained by the Pavilion Master of my Lingbao Pavilion in an ancient ruin, and its origin is impeccable!"

The auctioneer surveyed the room and said in a clear voice, "Its biggest feature is that there are no attribute restrictions; anyone with any physique can cultivate!"

She paused, then continued, "What's even more remarkable is that the battle qi cultivated through this technique is balanced and harmonious, perfectly compatible with most combat skills. Starting bid—five million gold coins!"

"Six million!" Tie Wu was the first to jump up and shout, the lion head tattoo on his chest rising and falling with his excited breathing.

"Six and a half million." Su Mei lazily raised her paddle, but the burning desire in her eyes betrayed her calm.

"Seven million!" The old man with the sinister bones raised the price ominously, his withered fingers gripping the handrail tightly.

Inside a private room on the second floor, Lu Yu watched the fierce bidding below and smiled slightly: "It seems this cultivation technique is even more popular than expected."

Little Fairy Doctor said softly, "Non-attribute cultivation techniques are rare to begin with, let alone those of Earth-rank quality."

The price had now soared to eight million. Beads of sweat on Tie Wu's forehead, he gritted his teeth and said, "Eight million five hundred thousand!"

"Nine million." A strange voice suddenly came from a corner of the hall. Everyone turned around and found that it was the silent Grand Elder of the Black Skull Tomb.

A flash of anger crossed Su Mei's beautiful eyes: "Nine million three hundred thousand!"

"Nine and a half million!" The old man's voice was hoarse; this was nearing his limit.

Just when everyone thought the dust had settled, the Grand Elder of the Black Skull Tomb suddenly stood up: "Ten million!"

The entire room fell silent. This price far exceeded the market price of a typical low-level Earth-rank cultivation technique.

After asking three questions, the auctioneer slammed down the gavel: "Congratulations to Black Skull Tomb for winning the 'Mysterious Yellow Manual' with ten million gold coins!"

She paused briefly, surveyed the room, and her voice suddenly became solemn: "Next, is the last and most precious item of this auction..."

As she carefully opened the jade box, a refreshing fragrance of medicinal pills instantly filled the entire venue. Several Dou Huang powerhouses in the front row simultaneously took a deep breath, their eyes revealing shock.

"A low-grade seventh-rank pill—Qingyuan Pill!"

The entire auction hall fell into a deathly silence. Everyone held their breath and stared intently at the pill that emitted a faint blue light.

The auctioneer's voice trembled slightly with excitement: "This pill was personally refined by the Pavilion Master of my Lingbao Pavilion. It is a pill that can temporarily enhance strength. The first time you take it, it can increase the strength of a Dou Zong expert by two stars and the strength of a Dou Huang expert by five stars!"

She surveyed the entire room and solemnly reminded everyone, "However, this pill has many restrictions: it is strictly forbidden for anyone below the Dou Huang level to take; one cannot use Dou Qi for at least a month after taking it; the effect is halved with the second dose; and it is completely ineffective with the third dose. Starting bid—ten million gold coins!"

The moment the words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in cheers!
What is this side effect if it can temporarily boost the strength of a Douhuang expert to five stars?
"Fifteen million!"

Tie Wu abruptly stood up, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. As the leader of a first-rate power in the Black Corner Region, he knew all too well the value of such a pill.

"Twenty million!"

From the corner, the hoarse voice of the Black Skull Tomb Elder was not to be outdone.

Tie Wu snorted coldly: "Thirty million! My Mad Lion Gang is determined to get this pill!"

“Thirty-one million.” Su Mei, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, her voice still languid, but her eyes were unusually sharp.

Tie Wu's face darkened: "Thirty-two million!"

"Thirty-three million," Su Mei said calmly, raising the price.

“Thirty-four million!” Tie Wu’s forehead veins bulged.

Su Mei parted her red lips slightly and casually announced an astonishing number: "Thirty-five million."

The entire audience erupted in uproar. This price far exceeded everyone's expectations. Although those who could participate in this auction were all leaders of various forces, even a sect with a deep foundation would have to empty its treasury and even mortgage a large amount of rare resources to raise such a huge sum of 35 million gold coins.

After asking three questions, the auctioneer slammed down the gavel: "Congratulations to the Rakshasa Sect for winning the Azure Origin Pill with 35 million gold coins!"

However, after the auction ended, the leaders of the various powerful factions lingered, unwilling to leave. Everyone realized that the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, capable of producing so many high-grade pills, must have a seventh-grade alchemist behind it. Such an individual was worth their effort to befriend.

Inside a private room on the second floor, Lu Yu looked down at the lingering crowd below and smiled slightly: "It seems we've achieved our goal."

Little Fairy Doctor asked softly, "Do you want to see them?"

"Not urgent."

Lu Yu toyed with the teacup in his hand and said, "Let Wuya see the guests out. Some things are all the more precious the more you desire them and the less you can have them."

……

(End of this chapter)