Shan Dan continued, "Although you might not have a chance with this particular pill, the sect will not let you leave empty-handed. The lowest tier for today’s auction starts at Tier Three pills, but I imagine many of you also have a need for pills below that."

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

Most of the factions here were from within the Southern Border Prefecture, all living in the shadow of its four great sects.

They lacked the profound heritage of the four great sects. They had come today hoping to win the pills their own sects desperately needed, and they had prepared for a long time to do so.

Who could have known that the Danling Sect would set the starting point for this auction at Tier Three pills?

They were disappointed, but they would never dare to question the Danling Sect.

Now, hearing Shan Dan’s sudden announcement, how could they not be overjoyed?

And there was more good news to come.

"Normally, low-tier pills are traded with Gold and Silver. However, before this sect assembly, we decided to make an exception. You will be able to trade for them using Crystal Stones and refined ores. If you are interested, please find any of our sect’s disciples after the auction to register the pills you need. Furthermore, high-tier pills will also be available."

Shan Dan spoke as if he were looking out for their best interests. But as he delivered his last line, his gaze shifted to Zuo Yi.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!" Countless people exclaimed, ecstatic with gratitude.

They certainly didn’t possess items like Bloodvein Crystal Stones or Jade Emperor Crystals; they didn’t even have Redcloud Coldiron.

Therefore, in their eyes, these Crystal Stones and refined ores were far less valuable than Gold and Silver. After all, no faction in the entire Southern Border Prefecture would acquire such materials.

To them, those things were no different from a pile of useless rocks.

Now they could trade those "rocks" for pills. How could they not be overjoyed?

A single sentence from Shan Dan brought tears to many eyes. To them, the Danling Sect was like a savior, giving them a new lease on life.

But the moment Shan Dan finished speaking, Ruan Jinhong’s face, in the third row of the VIP section, changed drastically.

As an elder from the Zhengyang Sect, he was privy to many secrets unknown to the common man.

This included their sect’s allegiance to the Jinglian Saint Institute.

It was because of the Jinglian Saint Institute that he knew of Redcloud Coldiron and many other previously unheard-of Crystal Stones and refined ores.

Because these Crystal Stones and refined ores were all Refining Materials.

When the news first broke that the Danling Sect would accept Crystal Stones and refined ores for pills, the Danling Sect themselves had suspected that perhaps an Artifact Refiner had appeared in the world.

However, when they reported this thought to the Jinglian Saint Institute, they received an arrogant reply: On the entire Celestial Yang Continent, there were no Artifact Refiners outside of the Jinglian Saint Institute. Any who refused to join had been utterly annihilated, their sects wiped from existence.

The Jinglian Saint Institute was mysterious and immeasurably powerful; even the Five Great Divine Sects were but ants in its presence. The Danling Sect, therefore, believed its words without a shred of doubt.

But Shan Dan’s words just now made Ruan Jinhong almost certain that an Artifact Refiner truly did exist.

Because only in the hands of an Artifact Refiner could these Crystal Stones and refined ores be put to their full use.

At this, Ruan Jinhong grew restless.

He had to report this news to his sect and the Jinglian Saint Institute as quickly as possible.

No matter how heaven-defying the pill up for auction was, it was not destined for the Zhengyang Sect. They had already handed over most of the Crystal Stones and refined ores they’d obtained from the Suo Demon Sect to the Jinglian Saint Institute.

Besides, they had already acquired the Harmonization Pill. It was time to leave.

Everyone’s attention was currently fixated on the pill on the Wind and Cloud Platform, making it the perfect time to slip away.

Holding this thought, Ruan Jinhong quietly rose and slipped away.

He thought his departure had gone unnoticed. He never would have guessed that the moment he left, Lin Hao had seen him and whispered a few words into Sect Leader Mo’s ear.

Then, Sect Leader Mo’s lips moved subtly.

A moment later, the Cao brothers departed from the Wind and Cloud Platform, their faces impassive.

On the Wind and Cloud Platform, Shan Dan smiled as he accepted the crowd’s gratitude before pulling the focus back to the auction.

"Well then, are there any more bids for this pill?"

"The Proud Moon Divine Sect bids one million, three hundred thousand Black Iron Demon Crystals," Jin Bufan declared.

Black Iron Demon Crystals were pitch-black, their demonic nature difficult to tame. They were a type of Crystal Stone even more precious than Jade Emperor Crystals.

One million three hundred thousand Black Iron Demon Crystals were worth roughly two million six hundred thousand Jade Emperor Crystals.

Before he arrived, his Sect Leader had personally instructed him: if a pill that could refresh the heart and soul with its mere scent truly appeared at the Danling Sect’s assembly, he was to acquire it at any cost.

Furthermore, the Sect Leader had given him a storage spirit ring filled with a quantity of Crystal Stones beyond his wildest imagination.

Afterward, the Sect Leader had said a single line to Jin Bufan: "Succeed, and you are promoted to Elder. Fail, and you will die without a complete corpse!"

Jin Bufan suspected his Sect Leader had already guessed the pill’s origin.

He had once wondered why the Sect Leader didn’t come personally if the pill was so important. He later understood why.

If the Sect Leader came himself, it would undoubtedly arouse the suspicion of the other four of the Five Great Divine Sects. Sending a Hall Master, however, posed no such risk.

As for the Palace Master of Misty Palace attending in person, none of the other sects found it strange. It was no secret among the Five Great Divine Sects that Su Molixi’s youngest disciple suffered from an intractable illness. Everyone assumed she was simply here to seek a cure, refusing to pass up any opportunity.

After bidding, Jin Bufan’s gaze fell on Su Molixi.

His greatest fear was that her "quest for a cure" was merely a pretext.

"Two million, seven hundred thousand Jade Emperor Crystals." Unfortunately for him, the next bid came not from Su Molixi, but from Zhu Hongcai.

Jin Bufan’s mouth twitched.

A moment later, Zhu Hongcai’s expression shifted repeatedly.

Then, Jin Bufan raised his wooden paddle and bid one million, three hundred sixty thousand Black Iron Demon Crystals.

This time, Zhu Hongcai did not raise his paddle.

It seemed Jin Bufan had just used a secret voice transmission to make some sort of promise to him.

"The Proud Moon Divine Sect bids one million, three hundred and sixty thousand Black Iron Demon Crystals! Are there any other bids?" Shan Dan called out, his eyes on Su Molixi.

The only one who could contend with the Proud Moon Divine Sect was the Misty Palace.

However, Su Molixi remained seated, perfectly still, giving no indication she intended to bid.

Her disciple had already left when Xiaoru fell unconscious, not even staying for the meal.

She was now alone.

"Sister Su, come on, how much are you bidding? I’ll raise the paddle for you."

’This is a golden opportunity to rake in Crystal Stones and refined ores,’ Lin Hao thought, unwilling to let it pass. As he spoke, he reached for the wooden paddle beside Su Molixi.

Su Molixi didn’t respond.

Lin Hao’s eyes darted around. He simply lifted the paddle himself and shouted, "Misty Palace, one million Purple Cloud Demon Crystals!"

"You!" At Lin Hao’s sudden interference, Jin Bufan’s face flushed red with anger.

"The Palace Master hasn’t said a word! What are you shouting about? That doesn’t count! It absolutely cannot count!"

Lin Hao looked at Jin Bufan as if he were an idiot. "You moron. You can use secret voice transmission, so why couldn’t someone as profoundly powerful as Sister Su? Besides, if she hadn’t told me, how would I even know what a Purple Cloud Demon Crystal is?"

Jin Bufan opened and closed his mouth, speechless.

Although his experience in the Five Great Divine Sects had made him knowledgeable, he had not seen many types of Crystal Stones and refined ores. He only recognized Redcloud Coldiron, Bloodvein Crystal Stones, and Jade Emperor Crystals.

He had only learned about Black Iron Demon Crystals from the Sect Leader of the Proud Moon Divine Sect.

At the time, the Sect Leader had told him that among all the Crystal Stones and refined ores, only two were more valuable than Black Iron Demon Crystals. One of them was the Purple Cloud Demon Crystal.

Since even he hadn’t known about them, he had naturally assumed that Lin Hao, from some third-rate sect, would be even more clueless.

Thus, deep down, Jin Bufan believed Lin Hao’s story.

But the bid of one million Purple Cloud Demon Crystals sent Jin Bufan into a frenzy. The veins on the backs of his hands bulged with rage.

Even though he was from one of the Five Great Divine Sects, Black Iron Demon Crystals were exceedingly rare. The two million his Sect Leader had given him was his entire budget.

According to the Sect Leader, it had taken the sect several millennia to accumulate those two million.

"You... you..." Jin Bufan pointed a trembling finger at Lin Hao, his whole body shaking.

"Me? What about me? If you don’t have the Crystal Stones, then crawl back to your sect and stop embarrassing yourself here. Sigh, it seems some of these so-called ’Five Great Divine Sects’ are unworthy of the title," Lin Hao taunted, gloating openly.

Jin Bufan shot to his feet, his face contorted in a savage snarl, his eyes completely bloodshot.

Lin Hao had thoroughly enraged him.

Lin Hao, completely unafraid, simply shrugged.

After a few seconds, Jin Bufan sat back down. He raised his paddle again, bidding two million Black Iron Demon Crystals plus ten thousand Jade Emperor Crystals.

A smile filled Lin Hao’s eyes as he raised his paddle, increasing the price to one million, two hundred thousand Purple Cloud Demon Crystals.

Gritting his teeth, Jin Bufan raised his paddle again. "Two million Black Iron Demon Crystals plus eight hundred and ten thousand Jade Emperor Crystals!"

By this point, Jin Bufan’s blood was boiling, and the frantic bidding had made him lose all reason.

Lin Hao, unhurried, raised the price again to one million, four hundred thousand Purple Cloud Demon Crystals.

Obviously, the Jade Emperor Crystals were coming from Zhu Hongcai.

Zhu Hongcai had been about to bid two million seven hundred thousand before Jin Bufan stopped him, completely exposing their bottom line to Lin Hao.

Jin Bufan had no choice but to raise his paddle and increase his bid once more...

Before long, Lin Hao had pushed the bid to one million, six hundred and fifty thousand Purple Cloud Demon Crystals.

Jin Bufan gritted his teeth and bid, "Two million Black Iron Demon Crystals plus two million, six hundred and ten thousand Jade Emperor Crystals!"

A flicker of surprise appeared in Lin Hao’s eyes. He glanced at Su Molixi, a hesitant look crossing his face. He started to lift the paddle a few times before finally, slowly, raising it. "One million, seven hundred thousand Purple Cloud Demon Crystals."

Jin Bufan looked toward Zhu Hongcai, who simply shook his head, indicating he was tapped out.

In truth, Zhu Hongcai’s previous bid had already been near his limit.

Seeing this, a flash of delight crossed Lin Hao’s eyes, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

Jin Bufan’s face turned ashen.

"The Proud Moon Divine Sect bids two million Black Iron Demon Crystals, two million, six hundred and ten thousand Jade Emperor Crystals, and an additional five hundred thousand Bloodvein Crystal Stones!"

A voice rang out—it was Zuo Yi.

He simply couldn’t bear to watch Lin Hao get his way.

He had seen it clearly: Lin Hao’s bidding was nearing its limit. By helping Jin Bufan now, he could surely knock Lin Hao off his high horse.

He would delight in seeing Lin Hao suffer a setback.

But he had no idea that inwardly, Lin Hao was already laughing maniacally.

In reality, Su Molixi hadn’t sent Lin Hao a single voice transmission. Lin Hao was simply borrowing the Misty Palace’s reputation to bait a hook, and now, the fish was on the line. How could he not be thrilled?

With Black Iron Demon Crystals, Jade Emperor Crystals, and now Bloodvein Crystal Stones, he had nearly all the supplementary materials needed for the Flowing Light Divine Stone.

Lin Hao was ecstatic, but his face wore a mask of utter shock and astonishment.