Chapter 58: Heated Auction-Heads Turn

As the bidding was about to begin, the young woman in the silver veil leaned toward the burly man seated beside her. Her voice was soft but resolute. "Big Brother Zhao Tian, I need those Phoenix Flame Lilies. My Thousand Palm Flame Seed has been stagnant for years now. We must win this bid."

Her gaze flickered across the room, landing momentarily on a lazy-looking young man, Jiang Feng, seated inconspicuously in the crowd took noticed of this. A faint frown tugged at her lips, though she quickly turned her attention back to her companion.

The burly man, Zhao Tian, let out a confident chuckle. His eyes lingered on the veiled woman, Lan Xue, with an unabashed glint of lust that was impossible to ignore. "Don't worry, Sister Lan. With the resources of the Crimson Sky Pavilion, those lilies are as good as ours. This is precisely why I didn't go all out against that fellow who took the Silent Reaper in the earlier rounds."

Zhao Tian turned his head, his sharp gaze locking onto Jiang Feng, who had tilted his head slightly, seemingly aware of the scrutiny. Their eyes met briefly, the tension crackling between them like a silent challenge. Zhao Tian sneered before turning back with a dismissive snort.

Zhao Tian was a prominent member of the Crimson Sky Pavilion, while Lan Xue belonged to the prestigious Azure Spirit Hall, a faction renowned for its alchemists. From her intent and the burning desire in her voice, it was evident why she coveted the Phoenix Flame Lilies. For an alchemist, internal flames were indispensable in refining high-quality medicinal pills. The harmony between one's alchemical flame seed and arts determined the potency of the pills produced.

Just as the tension in the room reached a peak, the first bid shattered the silence.

"155,000!" a clear, confident voice called out. All eyes turned to the speaker—a young man holding a folding fan, his gaze burning with determination as he stared at the lilies.

Lan Xue's expression darkened immediately. "Damn it," she hissed under her breath. "I knew that bastard Wu Jian from the Ironwood Sect would pull something like this!"

Zhao Tian smirked, clearly unbothered. "Let him try," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "We'll see who's willing to bleed the most for these lilies."

As the bidding began to escalate, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy with suppressed tension. Eyes flickered between competitors, and the fiery glow of the lilies seemed to intensify, as if feeding off the greed and ambition saturating the air.

As the bidding was about to begin, the young woman in the silver veil leaned toward the burly man seated beside her. Her voice, though soft, carried a resolute edge. "Big Brother Zhao Tian, I need those Phoenix Flame Lilies. My Thousand Palm Flame Seed has been stagnant for years now. We must win this bid no matter what."

Her clear, sharp eyes briefly scanned the room, pausing momentarily on a lazy-looking young man sitting inconspicuously near the back. Jiang Feng. His relaxed posture and faint smile made her frown. Something about him unsettled her, though she quickly turned back to Zhao Tian, pushing her unease aside.

'So she has a flame seed inside of her too huh, I wonder if she too can sense my flame seed too?' Jiang Feng thought as the Skyforge flame blazed inside of him.

Zhao Tian chuckled confidently, his deep voice brimming with pride. "Don't worry, Sister Lan. With the Crimson Sky Pavilion and Azure Spirit Hall's resources, those lilies are as good as ours. This is exactly why I didn't bother going all out against that guy who took the Silent Reaper earlier."

His tone darkened slightly as his eyes narrowed on Jiang Feng, who, as if sensing the scrutiny, tilted his head and met Zhao Tian's gaze with casual indifference. The faintest smile played on Jiang Feng's lips, but his eyes betrayed nothing.

A muscle in Zhao Tian's jaw twitched as their stares locked. The tension between them sparked, silent but palpable. Finally, Zhao Tian sneered and turned away, muttering, "He doesn't know who he's dealing with."

Zhao Tian was a prominent member of the Crimson Sky Pavilion, feared for its influence and power in the mercenary world, while Lan Xue hailed from the Azure Spirit Hall, a faction revered for its alchemists. For an alchemist, internal flame seeds were their lifeblood, and Lan Xue's desire for the Phoenix Flame Lilies was more than ambition, it was a necessity. The stagnation of her Thousand Palm Flame Seed was a weight she could no longer bear.

For an alchemist, the internal flame seed is the cornerstone of their craft. It serves as the source of the flames used to refine medicinal ingredients, and its quality directly impacts the potency and purity of the pills produced. A harmonious and well-nurtured flame seed ensures stability during the delicate process of alchemical refinement, where even the slightest imbalance can ruin an entire batch of rare materials.

Moreover, the compatibility between an alchemist's flame seed and their cultivation arts amplifies the efficiency of their techniques, allowing for the creation of pills that are not only more potent but also imbued with refined spiritual energy. Without a strong internal flame seed, an alchemist's progress stagnates, their creations fall short of excellence, and their reputation within the competitive world of alchemy dwindles. Thus, cultivating and perfecting their flame seed is an alchemist's lifelong pursuit, making treasures like the Phoenix Flame Lilies priceless in their eyes.

Just as the auctioneer raised his gavel, the room fell into hushed anticipation. The first bid shattered the silence.

"155,000!" The same number was called again-

The voice was clear, confident. All heads turned toward a young man holding an elegant folding fan, his posture straight and commanding with arrogance. Wu Jian, one of the Ironwood Sect's rising stars. His gaze was fixed on the glowing lilies, his expression resolute, he too was determined to get them.

Lan Xue's eyes narrowed. "That bastard Wu Jian," she hissed, her frustration barely contained. "I knew he'd pull something like this."

Zhao Tian smirked, leaning back with an air of superiority. "Let him. The Ironwood Sect brat doesn't have the depth to keep up with the both of us combined. We'll crush him when it counts."

Before Lan Xue could reply, another voice rang out, slow and deliberate.

"175,000."

Jiang Feng.

His tone was casual, almost bored, yet it carried an edge that cut through the room like a blade, though he was pretending to be mysterious and carefree. Heads turned toward him, many surprised that the seemingly disinterested young man was now a contender.

Zhao Tian's smirk vanished. His eyes burned with anger as he leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "You," he growled under his breath.

Lan Xue tugged at his sleeve. "Big Brother Zhao, don't let him get to you. Focus on the lilies."

Zhao Tian's voice rose. "You think you can compete with the Crimson Sky Pavilion, boy?"

Jiang Feng tilted his head slightly, his lazy smile unwavering. "Compete? I'm only here for the lilies. If you're intimidated, feel free to step aside."

The crowd murmured at his audacity, and Zhao Tian's face turned red with fury. "185,000!" he barked, slamming his hand on the table.

Jiang Feng didn't flinch. He raised his hand. "205,000."

The auctioneer's gavel struck the podium, signaling the rising stakes.

A loud scoff came from the left side of the room. Bia Zhen, a broad-shouldered young man with fiery red hair and an equally fiery temper, stood abruptly. "If you're going to play, at least bid like you mean it! 225,000!" His voice boomed, drawing attention.

Jiang Feng blinked, noticing Bia Zhen for the first time. "Oh," he said under his breath, his smile fading slightly. "He's here too."

Bia Zhen's glare bore into him, but Jiang Feng merely leaned back in his chair, not wanting to draw anymore attention to himself.

"270,000" Lan Xue shouted after speaking with Zhao Tian.