Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Fighting Over the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill

The woman’s beauty stole the air from the room.

Her brows were like distant mountains, her face like rosy clouds over snow—enough to leave people breathless. But it was her amber eyes that truly unsettled you, bright and deep with a mysterious Divided Spirit Stage aura.

Yun Jin Yue, the Young Lord of Yun Xiang City.

“I heard the City Lord of Yun Xiang City ran into trouble at the Valley of Ten Thousand Evils a few days ago,” someone murmured, voice hushed with awe. “His dantian was damaged. He was badly injured and fell into a coma. Yun Jin Yue came today… could it be for the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill?”

“Hiss, it has to be. The City Lord is still waiting for the pill to save his life!”

“This Shen Xing Tian Xia Auction House is no joke. They’re even willing to auction the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill!”

“Exactly. I wonder who the master behind this auction house is.”

The whispers swelled and tangled as Yun Jin Yue and her group entered a private room.

“They didn’t even bother hiding their identities,” someone said, envy sharp as a blade. “They’re determined to get the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill.”

Bai Yang’s heart sank. He turned, eyes flicking to Ye Chu Xue with quiet worry.

Martial Uncle Gu was unconscious, and they couldn’t even open his storage ring. Most of the spirit stones for this auction had been borrowed from the sect—how were they supposed to compete with a city lord?

If Yun Xiang City bought the pill, what would happen to Martial Uncle Gu?

Ye Chu Xue had clearly thought the same. Her face drained pale.

She gripped the armrest until the veins stood out.

Master had been poisoned because of her. No matter the cost, she had to win the pill.

—

One faction after another arrived, and the private rooms slowly filled.

Song Wan Ning sat in the highest private room, able to see every corner of the stage.

Tea steamed on the table. She took a light sip, then looked at A Yue standing before her with his eyes lowered.

No—he should be called Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan was ugly. Half his face was covered in black patterns, packed tightly from behind his ear to the center of his brow, frightening at a glance.

Song Wan Ning knew exactly what those marks were: poison, courtesy of his “good” father.

Because the poison remained unresolved, Mo Yuan’s demonic aura was suppressed. That was why he could only endure humiliation here as an attendant.

Until he met Ye Chu Xue.

Our alchemy grandmaster.

Song Wan Ning lifted her gaze and set her teacup down with a soft click. “Perform well at this auction. If you do, I can promote you and raise your pay.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “If you don’t…”

Mo Yuan stiffened, then bowed even lower, as if he could shrink into the floorboards. “I will do it well. I won’t disappoint Master.”

He forced the words out steady, but inside, his nerves scraped raw.

The person before him was a Nascent Soul True Lord. If he exposed his identity by accident… he wouldn’t even have ash left to scatter.

“Mm. Go.”

Song Wan Ning dismissed him and leaned back, closing her eyes as if to rest.

The stage was set.

All that remained was for the show to begin.

—

Under countless stares, Mo Yuan stepped onto the platform.

He endured the heat of the crowd’s gaze and spoke in a clear voice. “Welcome, fellow daoists, who have traveled from afar to gather at the Shen Xing Tian Xia Auction House. I hope all of you leave today with treasures in hand and joy in your hearts.”

A few simple opening words. Then, without pause, he began.

“The first item is a treasure found in the Spirit-Link Secret Realm from ancient times…”

As he explained its origin and use, bidding ignited in the hall.

In the Cultivation World, spirit stones were divided into four levels: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade—each level exchanged at a rate of 100:1. Some carried elemental attributes across the five elements. They served as currency, aided cultivation, and in critical moments could replenish spiritual energy directly.

The purer the stone, the richer the spiritual energy within, and the higher its value.

That was why high-grade and top-grade spirit stones rarely circulated. People hoarded them like lifelines.

Here, most bids were in low-grade spirit stones.

“Congratulations to this fellow daoist on winning the item. Please pay and receive the goods on the spot.”

Mo Yuan brought down the hammer. An attendant immediately delivered the item to the winner. Goods verified, payment exchanged—quick, clean, efficient.

With the first item sold, the hall’s excitement surged. One item after another went up, and not a single one failed to sell.

Because she needed the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill, Ye Chu Xue sat upright the entire time. Even when an item caught her eye, she didn’t dare spend an extra stone.

Her jaw tightened.

When she returned, she would study alchemy harder. She would become an alchemy grandmaster—so she’d never have to bleed like this again.

About an hour later, the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill was finally brought out.

On a dark jade tray, a single pill lay quietly, glowing with a golden sheen. Its fragrance seeped into the air, clean and tempting, as if it could hook a soul by the throat.

Mo Yuan’s gaze shifted the instant he saw it. His hand on the hammer tightened until his knuckles whitened.

The Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill could revive the dead and restore broken flesh and bones. Of course, it could also cure the poison in his body.

All these years, he had hidden his name and identity, lurking in the territory of spiritual cultivators to avoid pursuit from the Demon Clan.

If he could detoxify, his cultivation would recover. He’d have the capital to return to the Demon Realm and settle accounts.

But…

He couldn’t afford to bid.

Mo Yuan forced the storm in his chest down and announced the pill.

The moment its name left his lips, a bid snapped out like a whip.

“One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

The bidder’s voice was firm, the starting price raised to a frightening level.

Faces changed across the room.

“It’s the Young Lord of Yun Xiang City!”

“Hiss. As expected of a wealthy city—starting at one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones.”

“These rich people are insane. Why can’t I be one of them?”

“This Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill is probably going to end up in Yun Xiang City’s hands!”

“One hundred ten thousand!”

Without hesitation, Ye Chu Xue pressed the light in her private room and followed.

The moment she said it, her heart bled.

One hundred ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

“One hundred twenty thousand!”

Yun Jin Yue didn’t hesitate.

“One hundred thirty thousand!”

Ye Chu Xue refused to back down.

“Two hundred thousand!”

Yun Jin Yue’s voice turned colder.

“Three hundred thousand!”

Ye Chu Xue’s temper flared. She jumped the price in one brutal leap.

The next second, Yun Jin Yue raised it again.

“Four hundred thousand.”

Fury surged through Ye Chu Xue’s chest, hot and choking. She clenched her teeth and couldn’t stop herself from snapping, “If Martial Uncle Song hadn’t used that Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill, we wouldn’t have to swallow this humiliation here!”