One treasure after another was auctioned off, flowing like an endless stream.
The final prices were all astonishing.
Having witnessed countless auctions, Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh, running a platform like this was far more lucrative than managing a small sect or business. Despite painstakingly refining pills for a month, his earnings probably didn't surpass what the black market made just from taking a cut of sales and the Precious Dragon Black Market didn’t even need to source all its own items.
A large portion of the goods came from rogue cultivators, who, unwilling to go through the trouble of selling on their own, consigned their treasures to be auctioned off.
As long as an item was sold, the organizers could collect their commission.
It was practically a risk-free business!
Before long, the first auction segment came to an end.
As soon as it ended, Tian Xingzi stepped down from the stage without the slightest hesitation, heading straight for Luo Chen.
This scene did not escape the notice of the four Foundation Establishment cultivators.
A soundproof barrier was cast, and Tian Xingzi greeted him with a hearty smile.
"Young friend, I trust you've been well?"
Luo Chen chuckled, meeting his gaze. "Senior, you look as vigorous as ever. I suspect your cultivation has advanced yet again!"
Flattery was a two-way street, after all. Luo Chen was well-versed in this game.
Tian Xingzi shook his head. "I'm getting old. I no longer hope to form a Golden Core in this lifetime. Advancing my cultivation is secondary. What truly matters is...
"Has your Foundation Establishment alchemist friend given his decision?"
It seemed he placed great importance on this Blood-Burning pill partnership. Luo Chen was now certain of this. Without delay, he replied, "He agreed, but..."
Here comes the real bargaining!
Tian Xingzi straightened up. "Whatever the terms, just say them!"
Luo Chen was equally direct. "While the Blood-Burning pill is merely a first-tier pill, its refinement is exceptionally difficult and requires a substantial amount of primary ingredients. Therefore, we will need your side to supply the necessary raw materials at standard market prices."
Tian Xingzi nodded. "That’s fair. Now that the Hall of Hundred Herbs has relocated, many medicinal ingredients are much harder to acquire.
"How about this, you give me a list, and I will do my utmost to secure them."
Luo Chen had already anticipated this and produced a neatly prepared list, handing it over without hesitation.
This decisiveness pleased Tian Xingzi, it was a sign that Luo Chen had come fully prepared and with genuine sincerity. He accepted the list and quickly scanned it.
Fire Hound Whip, Phantom Shade Herbs, Northern Sea Conpoy, Explosive Ape Blood, Earth Fire Fiend Qi, Snow Fox Demon Blood, Netherworld Yin Fiend Qi...
After reading it, he raised his head in shock. "Does refining Blood-Burning pills really require this many ingredients?"
No wonder he was so surprised. The list was not only extensive, but many of the ingredients clearly had conflicting medicinal properties.
For example, Explosive Ape Blood and Snow Fox Demon Blood. Both were first-tier, but one was explosively aggressive, while the other carried an inherently icy nature. This wasn’t a simple case of yin-yang balance, these two should never be used together in conventional alchemy.
Then there were the fiend qi with different tier and attributes, first-tier Earth Fire Fiend Qi and second-tier Netherworld Yin Fiend Qi. What kind of pill required two fiend qi of different tiers and opposing natures? And what the hell was Fire Hound Whip?
Luo Chen simply smiled without responding.
Of course, these weren’t just ingredients for the Blood-Burning pill.
The list also included materials for the Myriad Wonders pill, Spirit Passage pill, and Blood Fiend pill.
First, it was to confuse Tian Xingzi and prevent him from deciphering the primary components of the Blood-Burning pill. After all, the faction backing Tian Xingzi likely had high-tier alchemists with extensive experience. If someone managed to reverse-engineer the Blood-Burning pill's formula based on its primary ingredients, he'd suffer a huge loss.
Secondly, Luo Chen genuinely needed these key ingredients. With the Hall of Hundred Herbs and Spirit Source Pavilion relocating, and Immortal Build Residence wiped out, many essential resources were now out of his reach.
At this point, even the production of Myriad Wonders pills within Luo Tian Society had come to a halt.
Take Northern Sea Conpoy, for instance. Although it was relatively cheap, only the Hall of Hundred Herbs, backed by the Medicine King Sect, could acquire and resell it in large quantities. For most factions, large-scale procurement was simply not an option, as it was an imported specialty from an external domain.
As for the Spirit Passage pill, its formula was incomplete, but Luo Chen had studied it extensively and developed key insights. He was fairly confident that he could restore it and If he combined it with his panel status system's assistance, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance of success. At that point, he would be able to refine the pill to strengthen his divine soul foundation.
As for the Netherworld Yin Fiend Qi, that was included as a precaution for Wang Yuan, just in case.
Seeing Luo Chen remain silent with a knowing smile, Tian Xingzi quickly caught on.
So, this young man was leveraging the partnership to acquire additional resources he needed! And in the process, he had concealed the true composition of the Blood-Burning pill.
A rather clever move.
Tian Xingzi gave Luo Chen a deep look before carefully storing away the list.
"Rest assured, since we’ve agreed to this partnership, I will do my best to fulfill both your and your friend’s requests.
"To show my sincerity, let me share some news with you."
Luo Chen gazed at him curiously.
What kind of news could a Foundation Establishment cultivator consider a gesture of goodwill?
"Foundation Establishment pills!
"I’ve secured three of them. They’ll be delivered to Dahe Market soon."
Luo Chen exhaled sharply. Phew!
***
A deep, heavy breath escaped from the man in front of him.