Unfortunately, the mid-grade Open Heaven cultivators present were all shrewd individuals, and none would have their resolve swayed by a casual remark from someone else.
Many warriors in the hall were secretly smacking their lips. They had assumed this Spirit Pill had a starting price of a mere two million, and the final bid wouldn't go too high. Who could have imagined that once the bidding began, it would reveal the fierce determination of numerous mid-grade Open Heaven cultivators?
In an instant, the hearts of the many warriors in the hall sank completely. This kind of thing was no longer something they, as bottom-tier cultivators, could even hope for. Only those backed by a powerful faction were qualified to join the competition.
After thirty breaths, the price surged straight to fifteen million.
Ten breaths later, it reached twenty million.
The entire venue erupted in commotion.
So far, the highest price fetched at this auction had been the portion of Red Yin Sand obtained by Yang Kai, valued at twenty-six million. Since then, no other item had exceeded five million. Yet now, the price for the Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill and its formula was quickly breaking through twenty million, even showing potential to surpass that Red Yin Sand.
However, such a price had basically reached its limit. After all, there was only a single Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill. Although the formula was also valuable, even if purchased, there was no guarantee they could figure anything out. If they failed to find a substitute for the core ingredient—the Source Liquid of Heaven and Earth—all their investment could go down the drain.
The numerous Open Heaven Realm cultivators present were no fools. Even backed by their respective factions, twenty million was not a trivial sum that could be casually produced.
And so, after the price broke past twenty million, only three private rooms remained, bidding one after another.
A short while later, one of them dropped out. Room Jia-Five and Room Yi-Two still clung to each other tenaciously — one would place a bid and the other would immediately follow, as though both were deeply interested in the Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill and its formula.
When the price surged past twenty-five million for a time, the Open Heaven Realm cultivator in Room Yi-Two suddenly let out a long, deliberate sigh and called out in a clear voice: "Brother Teng Wang, this particular item would be of great use to me. Could Brother Teng Wang yield just this once? I, Ye, would be eternally grateful. Consider it a personal favor — I will certainly repay you handsomely in the future!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the proprietress's expression turned thoughtful. She murmured, "So it's those two?"
Yang Kai asked in surprise, "The proprietress knows who they are?"
The proprietress replied, "If I heard correctly, the one in Room Yi-Two should be Ye Jian of the Thunderbolt Hall, and the other is Teng Wang of the Bright Heart Temple. No wonder they'd go to such lengths in this bidding war."
Sure enough, the person in Room Jia-Five spoke up: "Brother Ye Jian, you say this item would be of great use to you — would it not be of use to me as well? I am determined to win this auction."
Ye Jian sighed: "Why must it come to this? The two of us fighting each other will only hand an advantage to everyone else. How about this, Brother Teng Wang — I want only that single Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill. If you yield just one step, I'll share the formula with you. What do you say?"
Teng Wang laughed: "What a coincidence — I was about to suggest the same thing. Brother Ye Jian, if you yield just one step, I'll share the formula with you."
Ye Jian in Room Yi-Two fell silent for a moment, then said with a trace of displeasure: "So, Brother Teng Wang still intends to compete with me, then?"
"If Brother Ye feels he can't compete, he's free to withdraw early — no need for both of us to walk away wounded!"
"Hmph, Brother Teng Wang certainly talks big. How much weight the Bright Heart Temple truly carries, I, Ye Jian, am well aware of. Since Brother Teng Wang insists, then let's compete and see who has the last laugh."
Neither had anything more to say to each other, and the auction hall sank into an eerie silence.
In Room Jia-San, Old Bai asked curiously: "Madam, both of these fellows are only after that Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill. It must be for the sake of their juniors, but isn't the price a bit much?"
Madam said: "You don't understand. There's naturally a reason they're fighting over it so fiercely. Take Teng Wang of the Bright Heart Temple first — centuries ago, he took in a final disciple of exceptional talent, one with a real shot at reaching Sixth-Order Open Heaven directly. However, I hear that during a clash with someone, the disciple's Dao Seal was damaged. So even after centuries, that disciple hasn't dared to advance to Open Heaven, never having condensed the final type of power. If he could obtain this Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill, the disciple could attempt the breakthrough, and the Bright Heart Temple would very likely gain a Sixth-Order Open Heaven master."
"So that's how it is!" Yang Kai said, suddenly understanding.
"What about Ye Jian of the Thunderbolt Hall?" Old Bai asked.
Madam replied: "Their situation is similar. In the Thunderbolt Hall's case, however, one of Ye Jian's sons lacked sufficient talent but forced the condensation of Sixth-Order power. At first there was no problem, but the more power condensed within the Dao Seal, the greater the risk became. Without an external catalyst to stabilize the Dao Seal, Ye Jian's son would never be able to advance to Open Heaven — if he attempted it, he'd certainly die without a trace. But with a Heavenly Origin True Seal Pill, the predicament could be resolved."
Yang Kai nodded: "Compared to a Sixth-Order Open Heaven, an investment of over twenty million Open Heaven Pills is well worth it. If a family can gain one additional Sixth-Order Open Heaven, their overall standing will rise accordingly — what worry would they have of earning back those twenty million Open Heaven Pills?"
Madam nodded in agreement: "Precisely. Otherwise, why do you think these two keep bidding against each other?"
"I understand." Yang Kai nodded, then suddenly made a bid: "Twenty-five million!"
The proprietress glanced at him, not surprised in the least. Since Yang Kai possessed the Heaven and Earth Source Liquid, he naturally would not let this auction pass him by. Had it been her, she would have participated as well.