Ying Hou’s methods

Upon hearing the five words "Millennium Star-Melting Grass," Long Chen's heart skipped a few beats quite disappointingly; this was the ultimate purpose of his visit to this auction, and it could be said that he was determined to obtain it.

If he used the Millennium Star-Melting Grass, Long Chen had a 100% certainty of refining a High Grade Star-Melting Pill. Such a Star-Melting Pill could completely neutralize the foreign Spiritual Qi within Chu Yao's body.

Originally, Long Chen had not expected to obtain Millennium Star-Melting Grass; centennial-grade ones were already extremely rare, after all, as Star-Melting Grass was an essential ingredient for various Tier 2 Medicinal Pills.

Harvesting it was also extremely difficult, and the supply was very scarce. The difference between a Star-Melting Pill refined from ordinary Star-Melting Grass and one from Millennium Star-Melting Grass was immeasurable.

For the sake of Chu Yao, he had to obtain it no matter the cost. Originally, he would have had no issues securing these ten stalks of Star-Melting Grass, so he had not specifically requested special treatment from the Huayun Pavilion.

After all, the Huayun Pavilion placed great importance on its reputation. If they privately withheld items on the list, it would be difficult for the Huayun Pavilion to explain to the outside world. Thus, it was basically impossible for them to open this backdoor for him, so he simply didn't ask, avoiding awkwardness for everyone.

However, even though Star-Melting Grass was precious, there were not many alchemists after all. Long Chen believed that with his financial resources, it was a sure thing.

But things were different now. That idiot woman, Xia Baichi, had been staring at him. If she found out his goal, he feared that idiot woman would make Long Chen go bankrupt, even to the point of losing the pants off his back.

Therefore, previously, no matter what treasure appeared, Long Chen would shout a bid. As long as Xia Baichi made a move, he would continue to shout, appearing as if he were going against Xia Baichi and intentionally scamming her. In reality, Long Chen was just laying the groundwork for this step.

"Ten stalks of Millennium Star-Melting Grass, an essential medicinal ingredient for over a dozen precious Tier 2 Medicinal Pills. I don't need to say much about its value. Ten stalks of Millennium Star-Melting Grass, to be auctioned as a bundle. The starting bid is 500,000 gold coins." Yao Niqian's jade hand fell.

"700,000." "800,000." "…" As Yao Niqian's voice fell, immediately over a dozen people began to bid. These people were basically all elderly men.

Long Chen saw a few familiar figures, all of whom were old fellows he had seen in the Alchemist Association. However, they were of the same rank as him—all Pill Apprentices.

There were also some unfamiliar faces, but he presumed they were also alchemists; otherwise, laymen would absolutely not know the true value and use of this item.

"Two million." Seeing an elderly man defeat all opponents with a price of 1.8 million, and just as Yao Niqian began the countdown, Long Chen finally called out his bid.

However, after calling out this price, Long Chen's heart suddenly rose to his throat. He had originally been praying, hoping that Xia Baichi would also bid, so that he could take the initiative and make it look like he was targeting Xia Baichi.

Under those circumstances, he would have had the best chance of obtaining the Star-Melting Grass at the lowest price and through the most secure means.

But it seemed like the heavens were asleep and hadn't heard Long Chen's prayer. Xia Baichi, that Pill Apprentice, actually had not a shred of interest in the Star-Melting Grass, leaving Long Chen cursing incessantly.

"Young Miss Baichi, how about it? Do you want to test the waters?" After calling his bid, Long Chen immediately said indifferently toward Xia Baichi's private room.

After Long Chen shouted, the entire venue went slightly quiet. Could it be that Long Chen wanted to use this to demonstrate against Xia Baichi?

"Baichi, don't fall for it. This brat is intentionally provoking you," Xia Changfeng hurriedly said. He was afraid that in a fit of rage, Xia Baichi would start acting stupid again.

"Do you take this young lady for an idiot? Would I fall for such a low-level trick?" Xia Baichi's cold voice came through, filled with disdain.

Upon hearing Xia Baichi's reply, Long Chen couldn't help but be overjoyed. However, he dared not show it, and said somewhat sarcastically, "Young Miss Baichi, could it be that your pockets are empty?"

"You… bullshit! This lady's money is enough to bury you alive!" Xia Baichi was furious, rushing out of her room and pointing at Long Chen's room while cursing.

A dignified princess of a nation actually used profanity in public, causing everyone's expressions to become strange as they looked at each other.

Xia Changfeng's face turned black, and he hurriedly pulled back Xia Baichi, who was acting like a shrew cursing in the street. This time, Xia Baichi had truly lost the face of the entire Great Xia Nation in the Phoenix Empire.

Seeing that the atmosphere in the venue was a bit strange, and the originally high-spirited atmosphere had been diluted quite a bit, which was not conducive to the auction, Yao Niqian hurriedly said, "Young Noble Long Chen has bid two million. Is there any price higher than this? Two million, going once. Two million…"

Seeing that Yao Niqian had begun the countdown, Long Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, he had managed to trick this idiot again.

"Two million, three…" "Three million." Just as Yao Niqian was about to call out for the third time, a gentle, calm voice came from one of the private rooms.

Long Chen's expression changed. He looked up toward that private room; if he remembered correctly, that room was where the Marquis of Ying was located.

He was neither an alchemist nor a merchant, so it was unlikely he knew the true value of the Star-Melting Grass.

Moreover, the two million Long Chen had offered was already considered a high price. Although Star-Melting Grass was rare, as long as one had time, it could still be collected.

If Long Chen didn't urgently need it, he wouldn't spend this price and let others fleece him like a sucker. But now that the Marquis of Ying had bid three million, this was almost double its original value.

Although it was said that there were no low prices at auctions, this price truly exceeded the limit by too much. Most importantly, this item was useless to the Marquis of Ying.

A sharp glint flashed through Long Chen's eyes. This Marquis of Ying was even harder to deal with than he had imagined. He had underestimated this top expert of the Empire; no wonder he could be mentioned in the same breath as his father, having seen through his schemes at a glance.

"3.1 million." Long Chen calmly called out this price. Now, the only people left bidding were him and the Marquis of Ying. Unless he gave up, he could only fight to the end.

"Hehe, this Star-Melting Grass is indeed somewhat useful to me. However, since my nephew wants it, this Marquis is too embarrassed to compete. I will let you have it." The Marquis of Ying's effeminate voice slowly drifted over.

Long Chen's heart was filled with rage. This Marquis of Ying was definitely a ruthless overlord who killed without spilling blood; he was too devious.

"Four million." Sure enough, after the Marquis of Ying finished speaking, Xia Baichi suddenly realized what was happening and gleefully called out this price.

Long Chen's face turned somewhat dark, and Fatty Yu and the others also had ugly expressions. They had also seen that Long Chen had been set up by the Marquis of Ying.

"I dare not accept the title of nephew. Think about what kind of person my father is? Guarding the desolate border, working for the country and the people, possessing chivalry and righteousness, with a backbone of iron. What flows in my bones is my father's upright and honorable blood; I truly cannot bear such a title from Lord Marquis of Ying."

Long Chen originally didn't want to say these things, but having been deviously tricked by the Marquis of Ying, a single small action of his had immediately exposed his fatal weakness, making Long Chen so angry his lungs were about to explode. If he didn't say something, he felt he would be too spineless.

Long Chen's words caused the originally noisy auction hall to fall into dead silence, with only the echo of Long Chen's words reverberating back and forth.

Everyone from the Phoenix Empire had their expressions change. This was Long Chen nakedly slapping the Marquis of Ying's face; his courage was simply too great.

One had to know that the Marquis of Ying was a pillar-level figure of the Empire. Even the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince had to treat him with great courtesy. Even if Long Tianxiao came in person, he wouldn't be this impolite, right?

Although there wasn't a single word of cursing on the surface in Long Chen's words just now, as long as one's brain wasn't made of mush, one knew that Long Chen was secretly calling the Marquis of Ying a despicable villain.

"Hehe, young people are just impatient and irritable. My nephew still needs more cultivation. Being unable to hold your composure over a small matter is not conducive to your growth."

What surprised everyone was that the high-ranking and powerful Lord Marquis of Ying showed no signs of anger, only smiling indifferently.

Many people couldn't help but sigh inwardly; he was indeed one of the top experts of Phoenix, and this breadth of mind and demeanor was unmatched.

"It's four million now, Long Chen. You wouldn't be short on money, would you? Hahaha." At this moment, Xia Baichi's mocking laughter, like a fly, came over.

Xia Baichi was not a fool either. After the Marquis of Ying's small bid, anyone could see that Long Chen valued this Star-Melting Grass highly.

Having suffered such a big loss before, how could Xia Baichi give up this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity?

Long Chen took a deep breath. Truly, the more one fears something, the more it happens. Now that Xia Baichi hated him to the bone, if he wanted to obtain the Star-Melting Grass, he had to be prepared to bleed heavily.

"Five million," Long Chen said indifferently.

The whole venue was in an uproar. It seemed that Long Chen was determined to obtain this Star-Melting Grass; otherwise, he would absolutely not have offered this astronomical price.

"Ten million." What made everyone's hearts jump wildly was that Xia Baichi was even more ruthless, doubling the price in one go.

Long Chen nodded. Now he had all the intelligence in the world but no room to use it. Who let his weakness be exposed by the Marquis of Ying?

He was even a bit confused as to why the Marquis of Ying would intentionally target him. Could it be that the tricks played on him were done by him?

However, now was not the time to ponder these things. He had to obtain the Star-Melting Grass before him; his time was too tight, and he could not afford to miss it.

Furthermore, even if Long Chen lowered his head at this time, given Xia Baichi's idiotic personality, it would only lead to self-humiliation and have no effect at all.

"15 million," Long Chen shouted.

"18 million." After Long Chen shouted, Xia Baichi immediately followed up with a bid. She had fallen into madness; she didn't care about money. She now only knew that as long as it was something Long Chen wanted, she absolutely could not let him have it.

"20 million." Long Chen finally called out this price. The people in the hall felt their hearts were about to jump out. That wasn't just casually shouting; that was money! This price already exceeded its original value by ten times. Even if it was just to save face, this face was too expensive.

"If you bid one more time, I guarantee the Star-Melting Grass will be yours," Long Chen said indifferently after calling out this price, his heart actually becoming calm.

His Medicinal Pills were mortgaged at the Huayun Pavilion, and he had obtained a credit limit of 20 million, meaning he had a 20 million loan available within the Huayun Pavilion.

Therefore, when this loan was used up, he became calm. If Xia Baichi continued to bid, he would have no choice but to let the Star-Melting Grass go to her.

However, he had made up his mind that if Xia Baichi dared to bid again, he wouldn't mind committing murder and seizing the goods.

"Baichi, this is enough to make him bleed heavily. Don't bid anymore. With ten times the price, you have already taken your revenge." Xia Changfeng hurriedly pulled Xia Baichi, fearing that in her excitement, she would really spend over 20 million to buy some useless things just to save face.

"That's right, Baichi, let it go. Long Chen has already suffered a miserable defeat this time, and you can consider it venting your anger," the First Prince Chu Yang also said with a smile, trying to persuade her.

Xia Baichi nodded. Having scammed Long Chen so miserably this time, making him buy the Star-Melting Grass at ten times the price, she could consider her anger vented. This Star-Melting Grass was truly useless to her, and 20-plus million was, after all, not a small amount; she was also a bit reluctant to part with it.

"Hmph, this lady will just consider it pitying you, a lowly commoner. This trashy herb, it's yours."

Long Chen finally successfully won the auction for the ten stalks of Star-Melting Grass at the high price of 20 million. Although he felt a bit of heartache, Long Chen also breathed a sigh of relief. Murder and seizing goods was something that absolutely could not be done unless it was a last resort.

After this twist, the subsequent auctions gradually heated up, and the prices began to climb steadily.

Just after two rounds of bidding, a secret door in Long Chen's private room was opened, and a person walked in.