Chapter 82: Reciprocity
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“One thousand, one hundred!”
“I’ll bid one thousand, two hundred!”
“Stop competing with me! I’ll go for one thousand, three hundred!”
“…”
The bidding war for the Fourth-Grade Alchemy Recipe was far fiercer than anyone had anticipated.
The voices in the VIP section grew louder and more frantic as tensions soared. Yet, a few prominent families remained composed, refraining from jumping into the fray immediately.
The Young Master of the Zhang Family was growing restless. Every increase in the price of the recipe was no less than a hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.
“Father, should we…?”
“Wait a bit longer,” the Zhang Family patriarch replied, his voice deep and steady.
Casually, he cast a glance toward Wang Qian sitting nearby. This was his greatest competitor. A pang of unease weighed down his chest as he thought about the dwindling supply of Spirit Stones in his storage pouch.
To secure the alchemy recipe, the Zhang Family had already liquidated some of their assets. If they failed to win the bid, those investments would be for nothing. While not catastrophic, the losses would certainly leave a mark on the family’s standing.
Time passed, and soon, the bidding soared to a staggering one thousand six hundred and fifty top-grade Spirit Stones. The crowd, initially enthusiastic spectators, now watched with trepidation, while even the bidders began to feel their courage falter.
For families like the Zhangs, Wangs, and Weis, this was a breaking point, and they finally joined the battle with gritted teeth.
Amid this frenzy, Wang Qian raised his bidding paddle with an air of arrogance. “One thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight.”
The intense rivalry between families came to an abrupt pause. At such heights, every increment needed meticulous consideration. Wang Qian’s bold jump of one hundred and eighty-eight top-grade Spirit Stones left the other families reeling, accustomed as they were to smaller, incremental increases.
“So this is the financial prowess of a top sect disciple? It’s downright excessive,” someone muttered bitterly.
Still, surrendering without a fight wasn’t an option.
After a brief silence, the Zhang Family patriarch made a hoarse declaration: “One thousand, nine hundred.”
The strain in his voice reflected the emotional and financial burden of this bid. The Young Master of the Zhang Family clenched his fists tightly. The offer was nearly the sum of all the Spirit Stones the family had saved over years. Winning the recipe would undoubtedly leave the family financially crippled, forcing them to endure lean years.
He found himself torn. On one hand, he fervently hoped his father would win; on the other, he wished someone else would outbid them, sparing the family from ruin. This internal struggle left him at odds with himself, unable to settle his thoughts.
Thankfully, someone relieved him of this torment.
Wang Qian calmly stated, “Two thousand top-grade Spirit Stones.”
The Zhang Family patriarch leaned back in his chair, defeated, a bitter smile etched on his face. “We can’t compete, we just can’t…”
“Who is that? How could they nonchalantly bid two thousand Spirit Stones like it’s pocket change?”
“Ugh, here I am, breaking my back to earn even ten Spirit Stones in a year, while they casually throw out two thousand! The world is so unfair!”
“Two thousand Spirit Stones could push me all the way to Nascent Soul! To waste that much on a single recipe? Ridiculous!”
Black Water City, one of the most prosperous cultivation cities in the Southern Domain, was home to numerous thriving families, like the Zhangs and Wangs. Its residents, seasoned cultivators rather than idle dreamers, knew the harsh realities of life. Yet even they found their state of mind shaken, watching Wang Qian’s outrageous bid. Resentment brewed among them like a simmering cauldron.
Meng Yue wrinkled her nose and whispered to Yu Zhao, “Sister Yu, can a fourth-grade alchemy recipe really be worth so many spirit stones?”
“The value of this recipe depends on whose hands it lands in,” Yu Zhao explained calmly. “If it’s taken by a family, it might not be worth such a high price. But in the hands of an alchemist, the price of two thousand top-grade spirit stones isn’t unreasonable.”
Even Yu Zhao couldn’t understand why the Zhang family and other clans were competing so fiercely for the fourth-grade alchemy recipe. After going bankrupt to obtain it, how would they manage to source the necessary herbs and hire a master alchemist to refine the Dispelling Evil Pill?
Two thousand top-grade spirit stones—was that a lot?
Of course, it was.
Yet, if one furnace of Dispelling Evil Pills was successfully refined and sold at a chamber of commerce or auction, it could easily fetch hundreds of top-grade spirit stones. In just a few such transactions, the cost of the recipe could be recouped.
That’s why the recipe held its greatest value in the hands of an alchemist.
Meng Yue nodded, half-understanding.
She wanted to ask more, but before she could, Yu Zhao suddenly raised her bidding paddle.
“Two thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones!”
Meng Yue: !
Chen Tian Dong: !!
Everyone: !!!
Even Fu Rong, who had presided over more than a hundred auctions, was caught off guard by Yu Zhao’s unexpected bid.
“Bidder number 119 offers two thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones!” Fu Rong’s voice quivered slightly.
This bid far exceeded her career’s highest record and was on par with the total proceeds of a small-scale auction. Fu Rong could already envision her newfound fame after the event, along with a promotion in her ranking as an auctioneer.
Wang Qian turned, glaring at Yu Zhao with fury.
Yu Zhao maintained her calm demeanor, a slight smile playing on her lips.
She did it on purpose!
Wang Qian immediately realized this was Yu Zhao’s revenge—payback for his earlier malicious price hike.
“Junior Brother Wang Qian, didn’t we tell you? The disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect are arrogant and domineering, showing no respect for us of the Green Wood Sect!” Tian Han exclaimed, seizing the opportunity. “She’s clearly doing this to antagonize us. She looks down on us!”
Tian Han and Guo Ming En hadn’t expected Yu Zhao to intervene at this point, but they quickly recognized the opportunity to stir the pot. If they could drive a wedge between Wang Qian and Yu Zhao, Wang Qian would naturally side with them.
Wang Qian, breathing heavily, grew more convinced by their words.
“Two thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones, going once.”
“Two thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones, going twice.”
“Two thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones, sold—”
“Two thousand five! I bid two thousand five!”
Fu Rong and the Black Water City Auction House representatives could hardly contain their glee. This was beyond their wildest expectations—they were making an absolute fortune!
But their joy was premature.
“Two thousand six hundred,” Yu Zhao called out without hesitation.
“Two thousand eight hundred! This is my final bid!” Wang Qian growled, glaring at Yu Zhao as if every word cost him a piece of his soul.
Yu Zhao chuckled softly.
Did the disciples of the Green Wood Sect think they could scare her off by mimicking her own tactics? Did they think she was a fool?
Smiling faintly, Yu Zhao responded without hesitation, “Three thousand.”
Wang Qian’s pupils contracted in shock. He couldn’t believe it.
Why wasn’t she frightened off? How could she calmly raise the bid by another two hundred?
Could it be…she wasn’t just trying to drive up the price but genuinely wanted the Dispelling Evil Pill recipe?
Wang Qian was utterly confused.