117: Donghuang Auction House

The stone door opened and closed time and again.

Di Qingge had almost treated this place as her second home.

Before her pale complexion had fully recovered, she threw herself into another round of frenzied Alchemy.

This time, there was no world-shaking phenomenon like that of the star frost nirvana pill, but the difficulty was not reduced in the slightest.

The Spirit Medicines Di Tianlan had risked his life to obtain were of various types and attributes; some even had conflicting medicinal properties.

Refining High Grade Profound Rank Medicinal Pills required the control of flames, the Fusion of medicinal properties, and the timing to be precise to an extreme degree.

Di Qingge was like a tireless, precision machine.

The notes of the heaven burning ancient zither were sometimes like a spring breeze turning into rain, smoothing out conflicting medicinal properties; sometimes like armored horses and clashing weapons, forcibly suppressing violent energy; and sometimes like stars falling from the Nine Heavens, drawing in starlight to refine Impurities.

Her hands switched between the zither strings and fire-control hand seals so quickly that only afterimages remained.

She pushed her Myriad Fire Sacred Body to its limit. The Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire transformed into various shapes within the furnace, sometimes turning into fine needle-like flames to strip away Impurities, and sometimes into giant flames like a smelting furnace to calcine and fuse.

The talent of the Myriad Medicine Saint Body allowed her to know every Spirit Medicine thrown into the furnace like the back of her hand, always enabling her to find the most subtle Fusion point.

Sweat soaked her dress again and again, only to evaporate into white mist under the high heat of the furnace fire.

Her face remained sickly pale, but her eyes were sharp and focused to a terrifying degree.

The double exhaustion of Mental Energy and spiritual power caused her vision to go black and her body to sway several times at the critical moment of pill formation; she relied entirely on her conviction to carve a path through the thorns for her Family to hold on.

One batch... two batches... three batches... The light of success was like stars in the dark night; every time it lit up, it brought a glimmer of hope.

A "Evergreen Creation Pill," emerald green all over with pill veins like entwined vines, emerged from the furnace. It contained vast vitality and was a Saint Grade item for healing and prolonging life.

A "Blazing Sun Vein-Burning Pill," red as fire with three flame patterns on its surface, was successfully completed. It could briefly stimulate potential and cause a fire-system Cultivator's Origin Qi to go berserk.

A "Mystic Ice Heart-Protecting Pill," ice-blue and emitting a piercing cold air, condensed. It could resist Heart Demons and stabilize the Divine Soul.

...When the last portion of the main ingredients was exhausted and the door to the Starfire Profound Room opened again, a month had quietly passed.

Di Qingge walked out with unsteady steps, holding the heaven burning ancient zither.

Her figure was even thinner than a month ago, as if a gust of wind could blow her over, but deep within those clear eyes lay a depth and resilience forged through a thousand trials.

Behind her, Di Tianlan held a specially made multi-layered cold jade pill box, his hands trembling slightly from excitement and the weight.

Within the pill box lay countless High Grade Profound Rank Medicinal Pills, shimmering with flowing light and vibrant colors.

In addition, there were over twenty Jade Vials containing other Mid and High Grade Profound Rank Medicinal Pills that Di Qingge had spent her heart's blood refining over the past month.

These pills were the Eternal Night Merchant Guild's final and total gamble!

“Qingge...” Di Tianlan’s voice choked up. Looking at the young girl who had nearly exhausted herself for the Family, his heart was filled with unspeakable gratitude and respect.

Every single one of these pills was soaked with her sweat, essence blood, and willpower.

Di Qingge shook her head gently, her voice raspy with fatigue: “Uncle Tianlan, next... it’s up to you.”

“I will not fail the trust!” Di Tianlan’s gaze instantly became incredibly sharp and determined. He straightened his back, which had been hunched from overwork, and a fierce aura of one who had long weathered the ups and downs of the merchant world burst forth.

“I will set off immediately for ‘Sky Desolate City’—the center of the Eastern Wasteland Province. The largest auction house in the province is there—the ‘Eastern Wasteland Auction House’!”

“Tianlan, this journey is dangerous. I will accompany you.” A steady and heavy voice rang out. The War Lineage Master, Di Tianxiao, had appeared at the top floor of the merchant guild at some unknown time.

He wore dark-gold battle armor, his figure as stalwarts as an iron tower and his aura as heavy as a mountain. The pressure of his Tong Tian Realm Tenth Level cultivation faintly stirred the surrounding Origin Qi.

His gaze swept over the pill box in Di Tianlan’s hands, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes before turning into rock-like determination. “Such precious treasures must not be lost. With me here, let’s see which monsters and demons dare to reach out!”

Seeing Di Tianxiao, Di Tianlan’s heart settled! This War Lineage Master was currently the Di Clan’s top combat power on the surface, aside from the Clan Chief and the two guardian Divine Beasts of the Eternal Night Divine Capital. With his War God Physique at Minor Achievement, his combat strength was fierce, enough to deter any petty criminals!

“With Tianxiao traveling along, this trip will be worry-free!” Di Tianlan cupped his fists solemnly.

Without further delay, the two of them rode a flying Yao Beast and sped toward the center of the Eastern Wasteland Province—the direction of Sky Desolate City.

Di Tianlan looked nervous yet expectant; Di Tianxiao stood at the bow with arms crossed, his gaze like lightning as he scanned the mountains and lands racing by below. The aura of his War God Physique was held in check, like a crouching tiger.

Sky Desolate City was truly the center of the Eastern Wasteland. Its walls towered into the clouds, built from “Profound Astral Rock” that shimmered with a metallic luster and were inscribed with powerful defensive runes.

Inside the city, buildings were packed together in various styles. Cultivators and merchant caravans from different forces flowed in an endless stream. The air was thick with the scents of various spiritual materials, Medicinal Pills, and Magic Treasures—it was bustling and prosperous.

Located at the very core of the city, the “Eastern Wasteland Auction House” was even more extraordinary.

Nine towers of different shapes were interconnected, forming a massive complex. The tallest main tower pierced the clouds, and at its peak floated a giant, slowly rotating “Treasure Appraisal Spirit Pearl,” emitting a soft glow that covered the entire city.

Di Tianlan and Di Tianxiao restrained their auras and, like ordinary merchants, followed the flow of people through the main building's gate, which was as grand as a giant beast's mouth.

The internal space was astonishingly vast. The dome was embedded with huge crystals, their soft light illuminating dozens of areas below: the Magic Treasure area flickered with spiritual light, the Spirit Medicine area was fragrant, and in the Cultivation Technique area, Jade Slips floated... The place was clamorous with people, and trading was booming, a world of difference from the desolation of the Eternal Night Merchant Guild.

The two headed straight for the entrance of the “Treasure Appraisal Pavilion,” which was located deep in the hall and guarded by heavy security.

“Halt. The Treasure Appraisal Pavilion is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not allowed.” Two fierce-looking guards, wearing the Eastern Wasteland Auction House’s uniform silver armor and having reached the Heaven-Reaching Realm, blocked their path, scrutinizing the two with sharp eyes.

Di Tianlan wore a washed-out scholar’s robe with his aura restrained; though Di Tianxiao was stalwart, he had deliberately suppressed the pressure of his War God Physique, making him look like nothing more than a powerful-looking guard.

Such a combination was truly unremarkable in the eyes of the auction house guards, who were used to seeing big figures.

Neither humble nor arrogant, Di Tianlan cupped his hands and said, “Please inform your manager that I have precious treasures to entrust to your house for auction.”

The lead guard frowned slightly, a flash of imperceptible disdain in his eyes. “There is a specific process for appraisal. Go over there to register, pay the deposit, and an appraiser will evaluate it.”

He pointed toward a counter with a long queue in a businesslike manner, his tone cold.

Di Tianlan’s expression remained unchanged, knowing the other party looked down on him. He took a step forward and lowered his voice, yet it carried an indisputable weight: “This treasure is of no small matter. it concerns Heaven-Grade Low Grade Spirit Pills, and even... involves the Origin power of a Saint Body. Please inform the person in charge directly, so as not to... delay your house’s business opportunity.”

“Heaven-Grade Low Grade? Saint Body Origin?” The guard’s pupils shrank suddenly. The disdain on his face vanished instantly, replaced by shock and uncertainty!

Heaven-Grade Low Grade pills were considered rarities even at the Eastern Wasteland Auction House, enough to alarm the upper management. Not to mention it involved a Saint Body Origin? This was not something to joke about!

He took a deep look at Di Tianlan and then glanced at Di Tianxiao, whose aura was as deep as an abyss, immediately realizing these two were definitely not as simple as they appeared.

“Please wait a moment, you two!” The guard did not dare to be negligent. He quickly took out a specially made communication jade talisman and spoke a few urgent words into it.

A moment later, there was a slight commotion within the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion.

The heavy red sandalwood door slid open silently. A middle-aged manager dressed in fine silk, with a clean-shaven face and a smooth, shrewd temperament, walked out quickly. His face was piled with a professional, warm smile, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of scrutiny and gravity.