UMS 10

Chapter 10 

 A Sudden Fortune Overnight

As night fell, the area in front of the Dingseong Auction House was so crowded with carriages and people that there was barely room to set foot.

It was all because of a single notice posted that afternoon, which had drawn out all the wealthy families of Jianglin City.

“I heard about the Body-Tempering Powder being auctioned today. They say it was made directly by a Qi Refiner?”

“It may not be as good as a medicinal pill, but apparently it has considerable effects on Body Tempering cultivators. More importantly, there are more than twenty bottles.”

“With that many, we could raise several of the young martial artists in our family at once.”

The people waiting in line each discussed the Body-Tempering Powder.

Lu Fan, concealing himself in a black robe and iron mask, listened to their conversation and smiled inwardly.

The medicine they coveted was something he had been drinking like water for the past month.

Familiar faces appeared among the crowd.

The Mo and Zhang families had both sent people, and even the Lu Family had come.

Leading the Lu Family’s group was his father, Lu Hao.

Lu Fan pulled his hat down a little farther.

Just then, one of the guards pushed through the line and approached him.

“Are you Master Iron Face?”

Lu Fan silently nodded, and the guard bowed at the waist.

“Madam Shen Yun said that a distinguished guest must never be kept waiting. Please come this way.”

The eyes of everyone standing in line turned toward him at once.

Lu Fan followed the guard into the auction house without showing the slightest reaction.

A private room on the second floor had been prepared with a landscape painting and a table of wine.

The guard respectfully presented him with a purple token using both hands.

“This is the distinguished guest token of the Dingseong Auction House. From now on, no matter which branch you visit, you will receive our highest priority.”

Lu Fan accepted the token and placed it inside his ring.

Only now did he truly realize just how rare a genuine Qi Refiner was.

When he sat down in the spacious chair, the entire auction hall below was visible at a glance.

The Mo Family occupied the private room opposite him, while Lu Hao sat in the one to his right.

Even the Zhang Family had obtained a private room, which seemed to indicate that Zhang Yuehan’s admission to the Martial Dao Academy had raised her family’s standing as well.

Meanwhile, people in the other private rooms were also observing Lu Fan, who was wearing an iron mask.

The person who had appeared for the first time today had been given the best private room.

There was no need to explain who the owner of the Body-Tempering Powder was.

The heads of the various families instructed their people not to provoke Master Iron Face and to establish a connection with him if possible.

Not long ago, Lu Fan had been the one humiliated by Mo Yunfei in the middle of the street.

Yet simply by covering his face, he had now become someone whose intentions the influential figures of Jianglin City carefully watched.

In the end, is it strength that determines how people treat you?

When Shen Yun stepped onto the auction stage, the entire hall quickly fell silent.

Weapons crafted by renowned masters and low-grade aberrant beast materials were sold one after another.

Whenever an item that did not interest him appeared, Lu Fan closed his eyes and continued practicing the breathing method of the Blazing Fire Golden Body.

Thanks to the knowledge he had learned from Wu Chen, merely hearing the name of an item now brought its general properties and uses to mind.

Even medicinal herbs he had never seen before no longer felt completely unfamiliar.

“The next item is today’s final medicinal herb.”

Shen Yun lifted the red cloth.

On the tray lay a single dark-red fruit.

Its surface was rough, as though it had been scorched by fire, but faint light leaked from the cracks.

“This is a Voidfire Fruit.”

Shen Yun lifted the fruit for everyone to see.

“It is a Grade Four medicinal herb. Consuming it increases physical strength and vitality. It is also highly compatible with martial arts that manipulate fire energy.”

“Two Advanced Body Tempering martial artists lost their lives while hunting the Scale-Armored Beast that guarded this fruit.”

“The starting price is seven hundred gold coins.”

“Eight hundred.”

Before Shen Yun could even finish speaking, Lu Hao called out a price.

Lu Fan unconsciously looked toward his father.

Lu Hao knew that his son needed the Voidfire Fruit to cultivate the Blazing Fire Golden Body.

He had clearly come all the way to the auction house intending to obtain the fruit for him.

“One thousand two hundred.”

Mo Lin, sitting in the private room opposite, immediately raised the price.

“One thousand five hundred.”

“One thousand eight hundred.”

As the two families began competing, everyone else quickly fell silent.

It was impossible to know whether Mo Lin actually needed the Voidfire Fruit.

But he clearly had no intention of allowing the Lu Family to obtain something they wanted without a fight.

Just as Lu Hao was about to speak again, Lu Fan spoke first.

“Two thousand gold coins.”

His deliberately suppressed voice rang throughout the auction hall.

Every gaze turned toward the private room on the second floor.

A smile spread across Shen Yun’s face.

“Master Iron Face has bid two thousand gold coins.”

Mo Lin fell silent.

Someone who could casually produce more than twenty bottles of Body-Tempering Powder was very likely a Qi Refiner.

There was no reason to make an enemy of such a person over a single Voidfire Fruit.

But Lu Hao did not back down.

“Two thousand one hundred.”

Lu Fan’s eyes trembled slightly.

Even though his father knew that Master Iron Face was probably a Qi Refiner, he had still raised the price.

He was willing to take the risk simply to obtain something his son needed.

Lu Fan thought for a moment, then tapped the table with his finger.

“Two thousand and one.”

The hall fell silent at the addition of a mere single gold coin.

Yet that single coin carried an unmistakable meaning.

I must have it.

Lu Hao understood that meaning as well.

He stared at the Voidfire Fruit reluctantly before finally falling silent.

“Does anyone wish to bid higher?”

Shen Yun asked three times before bringing down the auction hammer.

“The Voidfire Fruit goes to Master Iron Face for two thousand and one gold coins.”

Lu Fan clenched his fist beneath his black robe.

It was the medicinal herb Wu Chen had told him to find.

At last, he had obtained something that could accelerate his cultivation of the Blazing Fire Golden Body.

Finally, the last item of today’s auction appeared.

When a cart loaded with bottles of Body-Tempering Powder was wheeled out, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became heated.

Shen Yun held up the first three bottles.

“We will divide the Body-Tempering Powder into eight lots of three bottles each.”

“The medicinal effects vary slightly from lot to lot, so each family may choose according to the quantity it requires.”

Lu Fan nearly burst out laughing.

The Dingseong Auction House had done an excellent job of disguising the fact that the quality varied from bottle to bottle.

By mixing the better products with the weaker ones, even his failed batches could be sold without waste.

“The starting price for the first lot is one thousand five hundred gold coins.”

“Two thousand.”

Mo Lin raised his hand first.

“Two thousand five hundred.”

This time, the Patriarch of the Zhang Family, Zhang Yan, raised the price.

“Three thousand.”

“Three thousand five hundred.”

The two men raised the price by five hundred gold coins each time.

While Mo Lin hesitated, Lu Hao spoke.

“Four thousand five hundred gold coins.”

Zhang Yan seemed to consider Lu Hao’s relationship with his daughter and no longer competed.

Mo Lin also seemed to judge the price too high and remained silent.

“The first lot is sold to the Lu Family for four thousand five hundred gold coins.”

Lu Fan looked at his father with a complicated expression.

The first lot contained two of his earliest failed batches.

Even so, their efficacy was still better than that of ordinary medicinal preparations.

The second lot also sold for four thousand five hundred gold coins.

From the third lot onward, the competition became even fiercer.

It was no longer just the Mo, Lu, and Zhang Families.

Even smaller families whose names were barely known were pouring all the money they had into the auction.

As Shen Yun mentioned that the later lots contained more bottles with stronger medicinal effects, the prices actually climbed even higher.

The final two lots each sold for well over five thousand gold coins.

Even after deducting the auction fee and the cost of the Voidfire Fruit, tens of thousands of gold coins remained.

Only a month ago, Lu Fan had been wandering from street stall to street stall worrying about the cost of medicinal herbs.

Now he could buy practically any medicinal herb available in Jianglin City without even asking the price.

Now I understand why people say Qi Refiners never need to worry about money.

When the auction ended, Shen Yun personally came up to the private room.

She placed a jade box containing the Voidfire Fruit and a purple gold coin token on the table.

“I have deposited the full amount after deducting the auction fee and the price of the Voidfire Fruit.”

“If you drop a single drop of blood on the token, only you will be able to check and use the remaining balance.”

Lu Fan pricked his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto the gold coin token.

A red number appeared on its surface.

Without showing any reaction, he placed both the token and jade box into his ring.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“If you continue to visit the Dingseong Auction House in the future, we will offer you even better terms.”

Shen Yun personally escorted Lu Fan outside the auction house.

Mo Lin, who had been waiting there, immediately approached.

“Master Iron Face, I am Mo Lin of the Mo Family.”

“If you have the time, why don’t you visit the Mo Family and have a cup of tea?”

“If there is anything you need, I can arrange it for you.”

Lu Fan did not even look at him.

“I have no intention of doing so.”

Mo Lin’s smile stiffened awkwardly.

“You seem to be busy today. The Mo Family’s doors are always open, so please visit whenever it is convenient.”

After Mo Lin withdrew, Lu Hao approached.

“Master.”

Lu Hao bowed as though he intended to apologize for competing with him over the Voidfire Fruit.

Lu Fan hurriedly caught his arm.

He could not possibly accept a bow from his own father.

“Master Lu, there is no need for this.”

Lu Hao’s eyes sharpened for a moment.

“You know that I am a member of the Lu Family?”

Lu Fan inwardly realized his mistake.

“I happen to know your son.”

“You know Fan’er?”

Surprise spread across Lu Hao’s face.

Lu Fan gave a short nod.

“He is a decent boy.”

It felt awkward praising himself directly.

But Lu Hao’s face brightened.

“Has that boy ever offended you in any way?”

“If so, I will apologize on his behalf.”

“That never happened.”

Lu Fan felt that saying anything more would risk exposing his identity, so he quickly turned away.

“I have something to attend to today. We can talk another time.”

“The Lu Family will always welcome you, Master.”

Lu Fan raised a hand and left the auction house.

Behind him, he heard Lu Hao’s delighted voice.

“That boy knows a Qi Refiner and never said a word to me.”

Lu Fan quickened his pace.

After turning through several alleys and confirming that no one was following him, he removed his black robe and iron mask.

When he returned to the tavern, Wu Chen was, as usual, hugging a wine bottle.

“Judging by that expression, you made quite a bit of money.”

Lu Fan sat down opposite him and placed the gold coin token on the table.

“From now on, if you need medicinal herbs, don’t worry about the price. Just tell me what you need.”

Wu Chen glanced at the token and snorted.

“You made that little money and you’re already acting like a rich man?”

“You don’t have even a single coin, Master.”

“You’ve also improved at talking back to your master.”

Lu Fan smiled and took the jade box from his ring.

When the lid opened, Wu Chen’s expression changed.

“You found the Voidfire Fruit.”

“You told me to find it, Master.”

Wu Chen examined the fruit and nodded in satisfaction.

“It’s in good condition. Lock the doors.”

Lu Fan closed all the doors and windows.

Transparent streams of energy began to rise from Wu Chen’s hand.

The Voidfire Fruit floated into the air and slowly distorted.

Black powder fell like rain, while only the red flesh remained, transformed into a clear liquid.

The sounds of wind and waves, thunder and flames followed one another.

Finally, a deep rumbling sound, as though it had risen from beneath the earth, shook the entire tavern.

Five streams of light seeped into the essence of the Voidfire Fruit.

Within the light, a red medicinal pill rapidly took shape.

When Wu Chen withdrew his hand, all the sounds and light disappeared in an instant.

Resting in his palm was a single red medicinal pill, glowing like a tiny ember.

“Voidfire Pill. It’s a Grade Two medicinal pill.”

Lu Fan could not take his eyes off the pill.

The five energies scattered throughout heaven and earth had been sealed within a single pill.

“What was that method you just used?”

“The Heaven and Earth Pill Transformation Method.”

Wu Chen smiled as he looked at his disciple’s eyes.

“I’ll teach it to you once you reach the Spirit Qi Master realm.”

The heat radiating from the medicinal pill alone caused the energy of the Blazing Fire Golden Body to react.

If he swallowed it now, his martial cultivation would likely increase tremendously at once.

However, after thinking for a moment, Lu Fan placed the Voidfire Pill inside his Nine Heavens Ring.

“You’re not going to eat it now?”

“The medicinal power of the Extreme Light Pill is still lingering in my body.”

Lu Fan nodded.

“I’ll eat it after I’ve completely absorbed those medicinal effects.”

“I don’t want to waste such a good medicinal pill by rushing.”

Wu Chen smiled with satisfaction and raised his wine cup.

Being given an opportunity to grow stronger was important.

But knowing when to make use of that opportunity was just as important.

Lu Fan had not consumed the Voidfire Pill.

Yet he had already grown another step stronger.