Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia’s mouth formed a perfect "o" shape.
A single elixir cost three hundred million—wasn't that expensive? Alchemy was truly a lucrative business.
"Are there even more expensive ones?" Jiang Xia asked.
Lan Jing, sitting beside her, nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself. The next lot was already underway.
"The next item up for bidding is a favorite among many: a Night-luminescent Pearl. But do not mistake this for an ordinary pearl—this is not your run-of-the-mill Night-luminescent Pearl."
"This Night-luminescent Pearl has been passed down from ancient times. Not only does it emit light, but it also helps Cultivators clear their minds, preventing them from suffering a deviation in cultivation."
As soon as these words fell, the venue erupted in an uproar.
"Really?"
"How is that possible?"
"Of course it's real."
"Our auction house has never peddled fakes."
"Step aside, if you don't want it, I do."
"You crafty old fox."
"Everyone, our Canglan Sect claims this one."
"What do you mean your Canglan Sect claims it? The Tianshan Sect wants it."
...
"Quiet, everyone. Do you want to continue or not?" The auctioneer had to step in once more to restore order.
The room immediately quieted down; no one dared to speak.
"We will now open the bidding for this item. The starting price for the Night-luminescent Pearl is two hundred million, with each increment no less than ten million."
"Two hundred and ten million."
"Two hundred and twenty million."
"..."
"Three hundred and fifty million."
"Four hundred million."
"..."
"Five hundred million."
"Five hundred and fifty million."
"..."
"Nine hundred million."
"One billion."
"One billion two hundred million."
"One billion five hundred million."
"Three billion."
After that, the venue fell silent. No one else placed a bid.
"Any further bids?"
"Going once for three billion, going twice for three billion, going three times for three billion. Sold! Congratulations to Box Number 1 for winning this lot."
And just like that, the penultimate item was sold, secured by Box Number 1 for three billion.
Jiang Xia could no longer conceal her astonishment. "Good heavens, so expensive! This has truly opened my eyes."
It wasn't just Jiang Xia who was shocked; Lan Jing and the others were equally amazed. Although they had heard tales before, witnessing it with their own eyes was entirely different.
"It's not just you; me too. This is my very first time out, and I stumble upon such a massive auction."
"Mm-hm."
"Look how composed the adults are."
"Naturally," Lan Jing's mother smiled as she looked at the youngsters. "Once you attend enough auctions, you get used to it. There will always be things that exceed your imagination; you just need more experience and exposure."
On the stage, the final lot was introduced.
This was the very final item of the entire event. The previous one had already sparked such fierce desire, so this final piece promised to be even more breathtaking. The auctioneer whipped the crowd into a frenzy the moment he took the stage.
Most people here had come specifically for this final item. Anything reserved for the very end had to be a supreme treasure.
"We will now present the final lot: a fragment of a treasure map, originating from the Amazon Secret Realm. The starting price is five hundred million, with minimum increments of fifty million."
True to its billing as the grand finale, it turned out to be a treasure map fragment.
"Six hundred million!" Someone raised the stake by a hundred million right off the bat.
"Eight hundred million!" Wow, another two hundred million jump.
"One billion!" Tsk tsk, people really were wealthy.
"One billion five hundred million!" Ah, matching the price of the previous item.
"One billion eight hundred million."
"Two billion!" And this was just for a fragment.
"Two billion five hundred million."
"Three billion."
"Five billion!" *Gasp.*
That was it. The bidding was over. No one else made a counter-offer.
This round of bidding had ended with surprising speed. While most people wished to contend for it, they simply lacked the financial muscle. All the bidders were occupants of the private boxes, each one more extravagant than the last.
"Let us congratulate Box Number 2."
"This concludes today's auction. Please exit the venue in an orderly fashion."
The auction was over.
"Sister Xiǎoxiǎo, would you like to come over and play at my house? It's a lot of fun there," Lan Jing said, reluctant to part ways with Jiang Xia.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I must decline. I have matters to attend to." Jiang Xia refused, as she genuinely had things to take care of.
"Alright then."
After exchanging contact information, the group parted ways.
Lan Jing and her companions had to return to their Sect. After all, their trip was solely for the auction, and now that it had concluded, it was time to head home and resume their cultivation.
Jiang Xia decided to sell some more herbs. This auction had truly broadened her horizons. Afterward, she would head back to Q Province to buy a larger house and a storefront for her mom and dad.
True to her plan, Jiang Xia sought out Old Jiang once more and sold three ginseng roots, netting a total of thirty-five million.
Then, she set off on her journey back to Q Province.
During her days in Beijing, she had purchased quite a few local delicacies—enough to keep both her and Xingxing fed for three months.
Upon arriving in Q Province, Jiang Xia went straight to a real estate agency. After detailing her requirements, the agent enthusiastically whisked her away to view properties.
The house and the storefront she purchased were quite close to each other, located in a gated community with exceptional security and lush greenery, teeming with lively residents. Buying the storefront was meant to fulfill her parents' long-held dream of running a small neighborhood grocery shop.
With the purchases settled, the next step was renovation. Jiang Xia hired a decor company directly to handle the work.
Following that, Jiang Xia embarked on the final leg of her journey home. She was craving her mother's braised pork in brown sauce and sweet and sour spareribs.
When Jiang Xia decided to move, she moved immediately. She still had wonderful treasures stored in her Storage Space to bring home.
Without telling a soul, she stepped off the transport and quietly took a taxi home, intending to give her family a surprise.
"My dearest mom and dad, your precious daughter is back! Are you happy? Are you surprised?" Jiang Xia knocked on her front door.
"Oh my, you're back! Are you hungry?" Ms. Li Jing, Jiang Xia's mother, was overjoyed to see her daughter return.
"Of course I'm hungry, I haven't eaten a thing."
To make sure she had an appetite for home cooking, Jiang Xia hadn't eaten anything along the way. However, she had forgotten that she hadn't given advance notice of her return, meaning no food had been prepared at home.
"What would you like to eat? I'll go make it."
"I want braised pork, sweet and sour spareribs, fried pork strips, and stir-fried greens."
"Alright, I'll have your father go buy the meat."
Hearing this, Jiang Xia's father immediately went out to buy the ingredients.
Jiang Xia sat on the sofa chatting with her mother.
Ms. Li Jing asked her, "Why did you come back out of nowhere when it's neither a holiday nor a festival?"
Jiang Xia replied, "I missed you guys, of course."
"When are you heading back?"
Jiang Xia looked at her mother with an aggrieved expression. "You're already hoping I'll leave the second I get back? I am so pitiful."
"It's all your fault. Look at my skin—that facial toner you brought back really works wonders."
"Well, of course, that's no ordinary water! But what does that have to do with anything? Were you planning to go out?" Jiang Xia asked.
"You bet. For the past two days, I haven't dared to step outside much, fearing people would ask what cosmetics I use and I wouldn't know what to say. We were planning to go on a trip, and while we were at it, get a thorough health checkup—my body feels so much lighter lately. If you had delayed your return by two more days, you wouldn't even have been able to get through the front door," Ms. Li Jing said.
"Then I suppose I timed my return perfectly."
"Oh, right, the real reason I came back this time is to tell you big news."
As soon as Jiang Xia said this, she heard her mother's anxious questioning, realizing she hadn't made herself clear and had caused unnecessary worry.
"What news? What happened?"
Jiang Xia quickly explained. "It's nothing bad, it's a good thing. A super huge good thing! I'll tell you after we eat; I'm afraid you won't have an appetite otherwise."
Jiang Xia wanted to give her parents a small hint first, letting them digest the idea for a bit; otherwise, springing it on them directly might be too much for them to accept.
Jiang Xia continued chatting idly with her mother, though she intentionally kept any mention of Cultivation out of it until after the meal.
Her father returned with the meat, and her mother immediately headed to the kitchen to cook.
They would be eating soon. How wonderful.
[Host, you haven't forgotten about me, have you?]