I am an incredibly handsome man, and my fiancée refuses to call off the engagement even at the cost

"This is Mr. Li Bai; he saved me. Who identified those monster cubs at the auction? That Snow Shadow Tiger cub even has wild beast blood; I didn't even notice."

"During the auction, it suddenly mutated, broke through the seal, and pounced on me. If it weren't for Mr. Li Bai saving me, I would already be in the underworld by now." Wen Qing patted her chest, looking like she still had lingering fear.

"That commotion just now, it really was your side. This was indeed very careless. Who was responsible must be investigated thoroughly." Ji Hongchang said seriously. The Treasure Appraisal Hall was filled with many treasures and heavily guarded. He had just heard a tremor and sent someone to check it out, but the person had not yet returned to report.

Wen Qing smiled and said, "Thanks to Mr. Li Bai for saving me, I'm perfectly fine now. Mr. Li Bai has some medicinal pills available, Mr. Ji, could you please take a look and give me an estimate?"

Seeing that Wen Qing's expression and tone were different from usual, Ji Hongchang was surprised. He smiled and cupped his hands to Gu Yan, saying, "I am Ji Hongchang, a third-grade alchemist from the Qionghua Merchant Guild, and one of the people in charge of this Jujing Pavilion. I thank you in advance for saving Wen Qing!"

"You're too kind!"

"What kind of elixir does Mr. Li wish to offer?"

Gu Yan took out a small bottle from her storage ring and poured out a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"This pill is called the Foundation Establishment Pill. After taking it, it can increase the probability of a Spirit Master in the Lesser Spirit Realm establishing their foundation by at least 50%," Gu Yan said.

50%!

Everyone in the treasure hall was shocked to hear this.

What does it mean to increase the probability of a Lesser Spirit Realm Spirit Master establishing their Foundation by 50%? The Foundation Establishment Elixir currently on the market can only increase the probability of a Lesser Spirit Realm Spirit Master establishing their Foundation by 30% at most. If this Foundation Establishment Pill could be mass-produced, any family that obtains it could greatly enhance their strength.

"At least a 50% increase?" Wen Qing looked at Gu Yan, seizing on that phrase.

"Yes, as long as the aptitude isn't too bad, most people should be able to successfully establish their foundation after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill," Gu Yan said. This was a modified version based on his ancestral secret recipe.

What?!

As long as one's aptitude isn't too bad, they can all succeed.

Everyone was even more shocked.

"Aren't there any side effects? What happens if it fails?" Wen Qing asked.

Although she possessed the "Eye of Enlightenment," she was not an alchemist and was not skilled at appraising elixirs. However, having stayed at the Gathering Gold Pavilion for so long, she had handled countless rare and precious elixirs, so she understood that the greater the efficacy of a medicinal herb, the greater its side effects would also be.

"If it fails, it fails. Just take a few more. There are no side effects," Gu Yan said.

Ji Hongchang, standing nearby, immediately took the Foundation Establishment Pill from Gu Yan's hand. The pill floated in his palm, and his eyes gleamed with astonishment. He discovered that, just as Gu Yan had said, it had no side effects. He looked at Gu Yan and asked, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Mr. Li, did you refine these pills?"

Gu Yan nodded.

Ji Hongchang's face immediately showed respect.

Wen Qing, standing beside him, looked at Gu Yan in surprise, thinking to herself: He refined it; he's actually an alchemist.

Li Bai? I've never heard of an alchemist named Li Bai, nor have I ever heard of a Heavenly Spirit Realm expert named Li Bai. Who is he? Could he not be a Spirit Master from the Ruohe Empire?

Many guesses welled up in Wen Qing's mind.

Ji Hongchang bowed to Gu Yan with clasped hands, saying, "Senior, I apologize for my previous neglect. Please have a seat!"

Ji Hongchang's attitude greatly surprised those around him. As a third-grade alchemist, he held an extraordinary position, and even many experts at the Heavenly Spirit Realm were not seen to be so respectful. Could this Li Bai be an alchemist even more skilled than Mr. Ji?

Ji Hongchang analyzed the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill. The ingredients weren't particularly rare, but even common ingredients tested a pharmacist's skills. The mysterious masked man before him was clearly far more skilled in alchemy than he was, so he immediately adopted a respectful attitude and addressed him as "Senior."

Gu Yan didn't explain and sat down in the chair.

"May I ask what rank of alchemist you are, senior?" Ji Hongchang asked politely.

"Oh, I haven't been tested, so I don't know," Gu Yan said truthfully.

To Ji Hongchang and the others, his words sounded like: "What a reclusive master! He doesn't even bother to take the alchemist exam!"

"Senior's alchemy skills far surpass those of this junior. How does Senior plan to sell this Foundation Establishment Pill? Will you arrange an auction now? Or put it in the Jujing Pavilion for auction on a later date? Or sell it directly to our Jujing Pavilion?" Ji Hongchang asked.

Auction houses generally operate this way: if it's a direct sale, then the money and goods are exchanged; if it's put up for auction, then the price is whatever it's sold for, but the auction house will take a commission.

"What grade of pill do you want?" Gu Yan asked.

"What do you think of the third rank, senior?" Ji Hongchang asked.

Gu Yan's Foundation Establishment Pill was indeed astonishing, but in terms of efficacy, it could only be considered a third-grade pill at most. What was astonishing about this pill was the sheer scale of its production; its ingredients weren't particularly expensive.

"Okay. We'll sell them to your Jujinge Pavilion. How much do you plan to price each one?" Gu Yan asked.

"Three hundred thousand spirit stones, what do you think, senior?" Ji Hongchang asked.

Gu Yan sighed upon hearing the price. It's so nice to be in a place with abundant spiritual energy. There are so many spirit mines that spirit stones seem worthless. How could a mere Foundation Establishment Pill sell for 300,000 spirit stones?

Seeing that he didn't speak, Ji Hongchang thought he had asked for too low a price and immediately changed his mind: "Four hundred thousand! No, five hundred thousand!"

Gu Yan's expression, hidden behind her mask, was one of shock: they could add more money?

"Six hundred thousand!!"

"Okay!" Gu Yan finally spoke.

"I have six Foundation Establishment Pills in this bottle. I'll sell them all to you." Gu Yan casually tossed the small jade bottle in her hand aside.

Ji Hongchang immediately caught it.

"I also have a pill called the Heavenly Separation Pill. Take a look." With a wave of her hand, Gu Yan sent a pill radiating golden light into the air. As soon as the pill appeared, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out, and the entire pill emitted a dazzling light, like a shimmering golden gem.

"This, this is..."

Ji Hongchang looked shocked.

The others were also surprised. Although they didn't have Ji Hongchang's discerning eye, they all worked in the Jujing Pavilion and, through their daily exposure, knew that the higher the grade of the pill, the more extraordinary it looked. This Tianli Pill was clearly extraordinary.

"This pill is called the Heavenly Separation Pill. Its function is to help Spirit Masters in the late stage of the Great Spirit Realm condense a Spirit Core. Taking this pill can increase the probability of forming a Core... uh, condensing a Spirit Core by at least 40%," Gu Yan said.

It can increase the probability of forming a spirit core by 40%?!

Those around them stared in disbelief. After the initial shock, Wen Qing and the other young spiritual masters beside her were all envious. They were all at the Great Spirit Realm; if they consumed this pill, they could condense a spiritual core and advance to the Earth Spirit Realm?

"Forty percent?" Wen Qing stared at Gu Yan, her heart pounding wildly, but this time it wasn't because of Gu Yan's charm.