While Lin Ran was deep in thought, the black-robed auctioneer began explaining the effects and origins of the Dragonblood Furred Chrysanthemum in detail. Under his narration, the crowd's reaction was fairly positive—it seemed that quite a few people were interested in it.
They might not know how to use the herb to refine the Vajra Dragonbone Pill, but its potent medicinal properties alone made it valuable. Even if not used for alchemy, it would still be effective as a raw tonic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you all know what this Dragonblood Furred Chrysanthemum can do. Especially for men—well, heh heh…" The auctioneer chuckled meaningfully, giving the kind of grin every man could understand. "Based on its appraised value, the starting bid is set at 200,000 gold coins. Let the bidding begin."
200,000 gold was clearly a steep price. Many who were initially interested quickly lost enthusiasm.
For them, the Dragonblood Furred Chrysanthemum was just a medicinal herb to improve vitality and, ahem, "performance." But it wasn't the only herb with such effects—there were plenty of alternatives. Spending 200,000 on this one plant simply wasn't cost-effective.
"Two hundred ten thousand!"
Of course, not everyone was concerned about money. There were always rich young masters for whom performance enhancement was a matter of pride and face.
"Two hundred forty thousand!"
"Two hundred eighty thousand!"
…
As time passed, the number of bidders began to dwindle as the price climbed higher. Eventually, only a few participants were still in the running—and the current bid had reached 380,000 gold coins.
These few bidders were all notorious playboys of Black Rock City. Their faces were pale, with heavy eye bags, clearly kidney-deficient types. Yet here they were, flushed red and shouting furiously over this one herb, arguing like children.
"Five hundred thousand."
Just then, a calm voice broke through the ruckus—instantly raising the price of the herb to a level ordinary people couldn't even dream of.
The sudden jump drew countless eyes. The playboys who were previously fighting over it froze on the spot. Some even shouted in frustration.
"Who the hell dares steal this young master's—!"
But when their eyes fell on the source—Box No. 1 on the second floor—their words cut off abruptly like a duck with its neck wrung. Not a single sound followed.
Anyone capable of casually bidding hundreds of thousands to over a million gold wasn't someone to trifle with. And in fact, before the auction even began, these very same people had received strict orders:
Do not provoke the VIP in Box No. 1. Break this rule, and face the consequences.
Normally, these second-generation troublemakers wouldn't take such warnings seriously. But this order came directly from the City Lord himself and was passed down to their clan elders. They had no choice but to obey.
So when Lin Ran spoke, every single one of those young nobles shut their mouths and waited for the gavel to fall.
With a solid thud, the auctioneer declared the Dragonblood Furred Chrysanthemum sold.
After that, the auction entered its true climax. Rare treasures and mysterious items appeared one after another: secret manuals, Dou Techniques, rare herbs—even ancient pill recipes were presented.
Though most of them meant little to Lin Ran, for the rest of the audience, each item was priceless.
For a time, the auction hall was filled with fiery bids and shouts. If it weren't for the numerous guards stationed around the venue—and the presence of the City Lord and other heavyweights on the second floor—a fistfight would've already broken out.
Lin Ran also made a few moves, casually claiming some interesting items for himself—like rare medicinal ingredients, and even venom from a Tier-5 magic beast, the Sky Poison Tarantula.
However, despite how lively the auction was, the VIPs in the second-floor booths had yet to make many moves. It was as if they were waiting for something.
And sure enough, as the auction neared its end, a treasure that stunned the entire hall—even drawing a flicker of surprise from Lin Ran—was brought onto the stage.
It was a jade bottle… containing blood.
A dark green liquid, glistening like a gem under the stage lights.
"This is the second-to-last item in today's premium auction—a vial of blood from a Tier-6 magical beast, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor!"
"What?!"
"Tier-6 magic beast blood?!"
"When did Black Rock Auction House gain such a foundation? They even have something like this?!"
As the auctioneer's voice echoed through the hall, the entire audience went silent—then burst into uproar.
A Tier-6 magical beast was equivalent to a Dou Huang powerhouse! That level of creature was nothing short of terrifying. How could its blood appear in a backwater place like Black Rock City? It sounded completely absurd.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Inside Box No. 2, the Black Rock City Lord suddenly stood up, and the aura of a Dou Ling powerhouse surged forth. The people in the room felt a tremendous pressure weigh down on them.
Especially the auction house staff nearby—they trembled where they stood, legs weak, drenched in sweat.
"I want an explanation."
The City Lord's gaze locked onto the staffer. "This item wasn't listed in the catalog given to me."
"Spare me, City Lord! Please, spare me!" The staff member fell to his knees with a loud thud, crying and shaking. "It was a last-minute addition! The President ordered us not to disclose it to anyone—not even you!"
"Last-minute?"
The City Lord frowned and stared coldly at the groveling staffer. Knowing there was no point in punishing the messenger, he let out a cold snort. "Bring me your President."
"Yes, City Lord!"
The staffer nodded frantically and fled the room like a scared rabbit. Meanwhile, the City Lord's gaze swept the second floor.
Then… a figure caught his eye.
It was a tall, voluptuous woman with a slender waist that moved like a water snake—enticing and graceful.
That alluring figure sent a jolt down the City Lord's spine.
Not because he was a pervert—but because the pressure she emitted was terrifying.
"A Dou Wang expert?!"
The City Lord's face changed dramatically. Now it made sense why the auction house's president had hidden this item from him.
Under the lights, the jade bottle of dark green blood shimmered with a ghostly glow, captivating everyone's attention.
But the auctioneer's next words instantly crushed everyone's hopes.
"This is blood from the Tier-6 Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. I don't need to tell you how rare and valuable it is. However, the seller has made it clear—she does not want money. She wants a buyer who can do something for her."
"Refine a Tier-6 pill."
The hall instantly fell silent again.
Inside Box No. 1, Lin Ran let out a faint chuckle. His eyes locked onto the seductive figure in the distance.
"Now this is interesting."
"Did she come for me?"
(End of Chapter)