Chapter 7: Whale Resin, Mysterious Herb
Gu Rong cast a deep look at Ning Bei beside him.
"Bei'er, you really are quite filial. You even know how good your mother is to you?"
Gu Rong clearly knew that Ning Bei had bid on the evening gown for his mother, so he praised him for his filial piety.
But the way he said it sounded strange, as though he was subtly reminding Ning Bei, "I've been good to you too, where's my gift?"
Ning Bei awkwardly scratched his head.
"Grandpa Gu, if I see something suitable for you later, I'll bid on it. You've been so kind to me, I should show some respect to you too."
Gu Rong nodded in satisfaction.
"You don't have to buy me a gift, I appreciate the thought."
Ning Bei looked at Gu Rong's carefree expression, his mind immediately filled with a sense of disbelief. "I don't believe you, old man. You're definitely up to something."
The items won at the auction would be paid for and delivered after the auction ended, so the event continued.
Ning Bei showed little interest in the storage soul tool or the catgirl maid, so he didn't participate in the bidding.
It wasn't until the fourth item was brought onto the stage that his attention was piqued.
"This fourth item is a hot-selling pill made by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's alchemists: ten Injury Recovery Pills, ten Rejuvenation Pills, and ten Energy Pills."
With that, the auctioneer pulled off the red cloth covering the cart, revealing several white jade bottles.
The mercenaries in the audience instantly erupted in excitement. They had come several times just to bid on these pills. These unassuming pills could save lives during soul hunting missions.
Unfortunately, they had been unable to get their hands on them during the previous auctions.
"The starting bid for the pills is 200 gold soul coins, with each bid increasing by no less than 10 gold soul coins."
The starting price immediately sparked debate among the mercenaries in the audience.
"Damn, how did the price go up again? The last auction had a starting price of 150 gold soul coins."
"Who says? Auxiliary soul masters are hard to find, and these pills are so expensive. It's killing us."
However, these complaints were soon drowned out by the taunts from their peers.
"If you think it's too expensive, then don't bid. Less competition for us."
"Exactly, just give up already, you broke folks."
"Enough talking, turn right and leave, no one's stopping you, thanks."
The mercenaries who had complained earlier, hearing the taunts from their peers, turned red in the face.
"Who says we're not bidding? Here, 220 gold soul coins."
"Pfft! Only raised by 20? Are you feeding the beggars? Here, 250."
Before long, the 30 pills had been driven up to 500 gold soul coins.
Ning Bei clicked his tongue in amazement, muttering to himself, "They're really robbing people."
He had heard from Ning Fengzhi that the demand for pills was high and that prices were expected to increase.
But now, seeing it for himself, the increase seemed ridiculous.
"Sure enough, no matter the world, selling medicine is a profit-making business."
Gu Rong, sitting beside him, smiled and stroked his beard.
"Bei'er, these pills are quite popular."
"Yes."
Gu Rong didn't mention that Ning Bei was the one making the pills, likely to avoid drawing too much attention.
Eventually, the 30 pills were sold for a high price of 600 gold soul coins, several times more than Ning Bei had imagined.
The 30 pills represented Ning Bei's two days' worth of production. It seemed the Seven Treasure Trading Association was quite adept at hunger marketing, which was absurd.
After the pills were auctioned off, the next item was presented.
Ya Fei pulled back the red cloth, revealing a lump of dark, gooey substance.
"This is a piece of 10,000-year-old whale resin, found by the soul masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School during their sea voyage. It's the key to a happy life. Noble guests, would you like to bid on it?"
As she introduced the item, Ya Fei wore an expression that said, "You know what I mean."
"The starting price is 1000 gold soul coins, with each increase not less than 50 gold soul coins."
Hearing Ya Fei's words, Ning Bei's heart skipped a beat. Whale resin was a powerful substance for enhancing physical strength. However, at this time, the people didn't yet know this. The nobles only used it to enhance certain abilities.
"1300 gold soul coins."
"1500."
"1700."
As Ning Bei was deep in thought, the bidding began in earnest below.
Soon, after several rounds of bidding, the price for the whale resin had reached 2300 gold soul coins.
Seeing the number of bidders decreasing, Ning Bei waved at the maid beside him.
Gu Rong and Xiao Tao looked at Ning Bei with strange expressions, as if to say, "How old are you? Why are you playing dirty?"
Seeing their expressions, Ning Bei's face flushed with embarrassment. He wondered how to explain himself.
"Grandpa Gu, you see, my Pill Tower is very sensitive to medicines and herbs. This whale resin has more uses than just that."
Gu Rong and Xiao Tao still looked at him with suspicion.
"Oh? I've never heard of whale resin having other uses."
"Young master, you're too young to be involved in such things."
After hearing their responses, Ning Bei's face fell, and he didn't explain further.
"Let's bid on it for now. I'll explain when we get back."
Both Gu Rong and Xiao Tao didn't say anything further.
"Oh! VIP 1 has bid 3000 gold soul coins. Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"
"3000 gold soul coins for a night as a groom? Even the rich nobles felt it wasn't worth it and stopped bidding."
"3000 gold soul coins, once."
"3000 gold soul coins, twice."
"3000 gold soul coins, three times."
"Congratulations to VIP 1 for winning the 10,000-year-old whale resin."
After the whale resin was auctioned off, Ning Bei nodded in satisfaction. He didn't bid for any more items, as his small savings had nearly run out.
Just when everyone thought there wouldn't be any more surprises in the auction, Ya Fei's words drew Ning Bei's attention.
"Next, we have the final item for today's auction, an unknown herb."
"This herb was obtained by the soul masters of the auction house during a soul hunting mission. When they found it, it was guarded by a 9000-year-old Giant Rock Python. Although we don't know the herb's exact effects, with a 9000-year-old soul beast guarding it, it must be a rare item. The starting price is 1500 gold soul coins, with each bid increase not less than 100 gold soul coins."
Upon hearing the introduction, the audience erupted into discussion.
"1500 gold soul coins for a lousy herb? This is robbery."
"Exactly, we don't even know what it does."
"Who's to say? What if it's poison?"
The crowd's discussions were all critical of the herb.
In the private room, Ning Bei looked at the herb and released his martial soul. Gu Rong, noticing Ning Bei's action, quickly knocked out the maid in the private room.
Ning Bei watched as the first layer of his Pill Tower lit up brighter than usual, seeming very interested in the herb.
"Grandpa Gu, you can see it too, right? That herb seems to have some effect on the Pill Tower."
Gu Rong nodded solemnly, then shouted to the staff outside the room.
"3000 gold soul coins. I'll take the herb."
"Oh, VIP 1 has bid 3000 gold soul coins. Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"
After looking around and hearing no response, the auctioneer continued.
"Then congratulations to VIP 1 for winning this herb."
"This concludes today's auction."
(END CHAPTER)
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