Chapter 25: Running About

Qian Youcai was corpulent, perhaps even slightly bloated. As an auction house owner, he had seen every treasure imaginable. Usually too lazy for strenuous exercise, he was currently trembling violently over a single pill.

"Manager Luo, where did this pill come from?" Qian Youcai asked impatiently. If he could discover the source, he might make even more money. He cared little for treasures; his only passion was profit.

"This matter..." Luo Qian hesitated, wondering whether to speak. Then, realizing he had already quietly informed Geng Zi'an, he decided that telling one more person would likely be inconsequential.

Although they were alone, he cautiously chose to transmit his voice: "Young Master Qin Liang of the Jiang family has a second-rank alchemist backing him. He may even be dabbling in the path of alchemy himself. He is not to be underestimated."

"The youth of today are formidable! Truly formidable!" Qian Youcai stroked his beard with a smile, then asked, "How might one go about befriending this second-rank alchemist? I would appreciate your guidance, Manager Luo."

He knew that since the other party mentioned Qin Liang, he would have to go through him. How to build a connection with Qin Liang was the crucial issue; as an auction house owner, he could not simply approach a junior without a valid reason.

Luo Qian did not hold back. "Young Master Qin's wedding date is approaching; perhaps that would be a suitable time to try." He left it at that, trusting Qian Youcai to make his own decisions.

"Good, very good. Thank you, Manager Luo." Qian Youcai nodded in satisfaction and steered the conversation back to business. "How does Manager Luo intend to auction this Spirit Transformation Pill? It is of perfect quality—I suggest we place it last as the grand finale. What do you think?"

"That would be perfect," Luo Qian added. "As for the price, the starting bid should be no less than 100,000 spirit coins."

"This... is that not too high?" Qian Youcai looked troubled. "Usually, the starting bid for a first-rank pill is only 50,000. This is doubling it."

Manager Luo replied, "This is of perfect quality. I believe there are those who will be willing to pay."

"If that is the case, then we shall do as you suggest, Manager Luo." Qian Youcai gritted his teeth and agreed readily. Finally, he promised that, out of respect for that second-rank alchemist, the auction house would take no commission from the sale of this Spirit Transformation Pill, treating the proceeds as a welcome gift for the master.

Luo Qian was pleasantly surprised and left, satisfied. He then proceeded to the weapon smithy to meet with its master, Geng Zi'an, with whom he shared a pot of clear tea in a quiet room.

"Master Geng, my visit today concerns tomorrow's auction." Luo Qian went straight to the point. "We have both seen the list. Tomorrow's featured item is a spirit herb called the Ice Spirit Grass. My Wanbao Pavilion is determined to win it, and I hope for your cooperation."

Geng Zi'an’s expression darkened. Auctions were always won by the highest bidder; what was the meaning of the other party asking for a favor in advance?

Manager Luo continued, "The Ice Spirit Grass was specifically requested by that Master."

Hearing this, Geng Zi'an's expression shifted again. He wondered why a second-rank alchemist wouldn't bid for it himself. After careful thought, he realized he had no use for the Ice Spirit Grass and saw no reason to offend a second-rank alchemist over a first-rank herb, so he gladly agreed not to bid against the Wanbao Pavilion.

After the auction, the Wanbao Pavilion and the smithy would still have business dealings; for the sake of long-term development, there was no need to burn bridges.

"My smithy may agree not to bid, but the local power brokers in Sulfur City might not be so inclined," Geng Zi'an warned, referring to the three major families: the Jiangs, the Wangs, and the Fengs.

"Do not worry, Master Geng. I will pay them a visit," Luo Qian said, cupping his hands in farewell.

His next stop was the Jiang family estate to speak with the family head, Jiang Hai, though he did not mention the second-rank alchemist. Fortunately, Jiang Hai also gave face to the Wanbao Pavilion and agreed not to compete for the Ice Spirit Grass.

Luo Qian left feeling satisfied. No sooner had he stepped out of the Jiang estate than a young member of the Jiang family hurried in with a new auction list, delivering it to Jiang Hai and his wife. They noticed the addition of a Spirit Transformation Pill but paid it little mind. In Sulfur City, first-rank pills were common and unworthy of much attention.

However, Li Hongcai, who was standing nearby, eyes brightened. He hurried to say, "Aunt, I need this Spirit Transformation Pill. Please, I beg you to bid for it for me."

"Oh?" The couple looked at him, puzzled. "Aren't you only at the seventh refinement? Do you need a Spirit Transformation Pill to force a refinement?"

"To be honest, I have hit a bottleneck. I have retreated multiple times and consumed spiritual substances, but I cannot achieve the eighth refinement. Only the Spirit Transformation Pill can help me continue. I beseech you, Aunt." Li Hongcai’s tone was sincere, though he only told half the truth.

Everyone had seen him in frequent seclusion over the past months, but with no visible progress, it was believable that he had hit a wall. Furthermore, he had heard of Qin Liang’s rising fame in Sulfur City—how he had suppressed a fifth-refinement cultivator within mere days. At this rate, Qin Liang would soon surpass him, and the pressure was unavoidable. He had to continue his refinements; he could not let the potential within Jiang Xuehan’s body go to someone else.

Jiang Hai and his wife saw that he wanted to best Qin Liang and felt torn. Bidding for Li Hongcai would undoubtedly be unfair and would lead others to suspect they were actively preventing Qin Liang from marrying their daughter.

Yet, refusing to bid would also damage the Jiang family's reputation. If a clan member faced obstacles in their cultivation and the family remained indifferent, what would others think of the Jiangs?

As the matriarch of the Jiang family, Li Qiumei finally sighed in resignation. "Don't worry, my dear. The Li family still has some assets left; we can use those to bid. It won't affect the Jiang family’s foundations, and this way, both sides are satisfied."

"That will do," Jiang Hai nodded. When he had married Li Qiumei, it was a union of equals. The Li family had once been a great clan, but after their decline, they had no choice but to merge into the Jiang family, becoming its most deeply rooted branch.

*Hongcai is the only hope for the Li family’s revival. This Spirit Transformation Pill must be secured,* Li Qiumei thought to herself.

...

After leaving the Jiang family, Luo Qian visited the City Lord’s residence. The City Lord’s office had previously intended to bid for the Ice Spirit Grass, but upon seeing the Spirit Transformation Pill, they shifted their focus and readily agreed not to clash with the Wanbao Pavilion.

Luo Qian left the residence feeling optimistic, continuing his rounds to the Wang and Feng families.

"The Wanbao Pavilion has a lot of nerve. If it is an auction, the highest bidder should win. Does Manager Luo's behavior befit the name of the Wanbao Pavilion?" The head of the Wang family looked displeased.

"If the Wang family head agrees, my Pavilion can compensate you with other spirit herbs afterward," Manager Luo added.

The Wang family head slammed the table. "It is not that I, Wang Sheng, do not give your Wanbao Pavilion face, but I am determined to have this Ice Spirit Grass. And not just the grass—I will not let that Spirit Transformation Pill slip through my fingers, either."

"Do not forget that this is Sulfur City, and you are merely a branch office."

Wang Sheng’s attitude was rigid and uncompromising. If this were the capital, the Wang family might have bowed their heads, but as local power brokers, what could the Pavilion really do to them if they refused to give face?

"You..." Luo Qian was at a loss for words. With things having reached this point, further talk was useless; even bringing up the second-rank alchemist would be a waste of breath.

"Hmph!" Luo Qian snorted and departed, flicking his sleeves in frustration.

At the Feng family, Luo Qian argued his case, but Feng Qingyu, the family head, stated that his crippled son needed the Ice Spirit Grass to stabilize his heart pulse. His attitude was equally stubborn.

The meeting ended on a sour note. When Hua Zhiqiao heard of this, she sneered, "Short-sighted."