Chapter 1065: Jiang Chen Takes the Lead

Jiang Chen was dumbfounded when he heard this. Was this really possible?

Someone out there actually didn't recognize the Heavenly Luminous Grass?

Just like Jiang Chen, most of the people present wore expressions caught between laughter and tears — clearly, they too were stunned by this explanation.

Green Phoenix Pill King shook his head repeatedly. "What a pity. What a pity."

Master Wang Xuetong laughed. "There's nothing to pity about it. In fact, this might be exactly what makes him clever! After all, he's only an Origin Realm martial artist. Even with such a fine treasure in hand, he might not be able to put it to proper use. By pretending not to know what it was and putting it up for auction, he might actually get an even better result! Sure, the Purifying Flame Hall takes a cut, but putting it on the auction block is definitely the best choice — it maximizes his profit!"

It had to be said that Master Wang Xuetong's reasoning did carry a certain logic.

But Jiang Chen would rather believe that the owner of the Heavenly Luminous Grass genuinely didn't recognize what it was.

The Peerless Emperor, however, let out a soft sigh. "Don't forget — for an Origin Realm martial artist, possessing the Heavenly Luminous Grass could be a disaster. An innocent man has no sin, but a treasure in his pocket makes him a sinner."

The Heavenly Luminous Grass — even a Saint Realm powerhouse might not be safe with it. After all, this was a Heaven Grade spiritual medicine. Even Royal Realm powerhouses weren't at a level where they could regularly use Heaven Grade spiritual medicines.

Heaven Grade spiritual medicine — that corresponded to Emperor-grade powerhouses.

So for an Origin Realm martial artist to carry a treasure like the Heavenly Luminous Grass... it really could spell disaster.

In that case, the Origin Realm martial artist's choice had been a clever one after all.

The Purifying Flame Hall had always operated fairly and never leaked its clients' secrets. This Origin Realm martial artist auctioning off the Heavenly Luminous Grass and receiving a large sum of Sacred Spirit Stones was absolutely the best option — unless the Purifying Flame Hall intended to screw him over by deliberately selling out his identity and whereabouts.

But given the Purifying Flame Hall's reputation in Pill Fire City, no one had ever heard of such a thing happening. Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that the consignor had entrusted the Purifying Flame Hall with auctioning the Heavenly Luminous Grass.

Regardless of the various reasons, the Heavenly Luminous Grass had now genuinely been placed on the auction block.

Pairs of greedy eyes shot toward the herb, every expression betraying the restless ambition churning within.

"Brother Green Phoenix, you're tempted too, aren't you? Heh heh." Master Wang Xuetong chuckled.

Green Phoenix Pill King was a quasi-Pill Emperor — ranked among the top thirty-six in Pill Fire City's Millennium Hall of Fame. A treasure like the Heavenly Luminous Grass, something virtually impossible to come by, was something he certainly coveted.

Green Phoenix Pill King smiled faintly. "I'm all alone — no children, no grandchildren. The Heavenly Luminous Grass holds little meaning for me."

Wang Xuetong was taken aback. "You're not going to bid?"

Green Phoenix Pill King shook his head. "Not much point. The Holy Smile Pill is a treasure for those who need it, but for me, it's nothing special."

The Holy Smile Pill was suitable for Saint Realm martial artists. If Green Phoenix Pill King had a large number of nephews, nieces, or disciples, he would certainly have fought for this Heavenly Luminous Grass.

But he was all alone, so his lack of urgency toward the herb was hardly surprising.

Jiang Chen, on the other hand, stared at the Heavenly Luminous Grass with a look of deep contemplation.

Madam Man was clearly playing up the crowd's appetite. She held the Heavenly Luminous Grass aloft and showed it all around — its luminous glow was so dazzling it made people's eyes shine with gold.

"Heavenly Luminous Grass! Opening bid: eighty million Sacred Spirit Stones! Minimum increment: one million Sacred Spirit Stones! The bidding begins now! Tycoons of Pill Fire City, this is your moment to show off your wealth!"

Madam Man's voice brimmed with provocation.

"One hundred million!"

"One hundred thirty million!"

"One hundred fifty million!"

"One hundred eighty million!"

Barely had Madam Man's voice faded when bid after bid rang out in rapid succession. It was clear that every single bidder was determined to claim the Heavenly Luminous Grass.

Green Phoenix Pill King noticed that Jiang Chen was only staring at the herb without placing a bid, and couldn't help asking, "Brother Shao, you're not making a move? I only chose to sit out because I thought you looked ready to jump in."

Jiang Chen started, then laughed helplessly. "Senior Green Phoenix, there's no need for that. An auction is about fair competition — that's what makes it fun!"

"Forget it, forget it. With things like this, those who love them want them desperately, and for those who don't, it's like a chicken rib — tasteless to chew but wasteful to spit out. Not everyone needs it." Green Phoenix Pill King's words captured the sentiment of a significant portion of the audience. Many were participating in the bidding, but an even larger group wore expressions of complete indifference — clearly, the Heavenly Luminous Grass didn't particularly interest them either.

After all, not everyone needed the Holy Smile Pill.

In particular, the heads of major powers might not even want their closest relatives to take the Holy Smile Pill. In their eyes, using the pill to advance one level of cultivation might negatively impact future progress.

Of course, this was a misconception.

Some pills did affect future cultivation after consumption.

But pills like the Holy Smile Pill and the Primordial Origin Pill actually had virtually no impact — as long as the foundation was solid and subsequent cultivation proceeded without issues, taking such pills carried absolutely no side effects.

Of course, the noble scions didn't all see it that way.

Regardless, the appearance of this Heavenly Luminous Grass had set the atmosphere absolutely ablaze.