C22 The Transformation Pill

"The final item up for auction today is one that I'm sure will excite many of my fellow demons. We have a Transformation Pill crafted by a master. The opening bid is one hundred spirit stones!"

Boom!

As soon as the words "Transformation Pill" were uttered, the crowd of demons below the stage erupted into chaos.

The three conditions for a demon beast to transform were notoriously stringent. The emergence of a pill that could induce transformation without the usual trials was bound to cause a frenzy.

It's often said that humans are the favored children of the heavens and earth.

This is because only by taking on human form can one practice cultivation.

This fact alone was enough to drive the demon beasts who yearned for further advancement into a state of desperate eagerness.

Many demon beasts would likely be willing to bankrupt themselves for the chance to own this Transformation Pill.

"This Transformation Pill is mine. Nobody better try to take it from me!"

"Anyone who tries to snatch it will answer to my blade!"

"I'm willing to trade all my possessions for it!"

"I'll even stake my wife on it!"

Watching the madness unfold among the demons below, the Turtle Demon on stage couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph.

The half-transformed Turtle Demon cast a longing glance at the small medicine box on the jade plate.

The Transformation Pill held an immense allure for him as well.

Even though he was already somewhat transformed and capable of cultivation, he wasn't truly human. Given the chance, he would jump at the opportunity to fully transform and no longer endure the ridicule for carrying his turtle shell every day.

"I bid five hundred spirit stones!"

The bidding for the Transformation Pill skyrocketed from one hundred to five hundred spirit stones without any intermediate offers.

"I bid six hundred!"

"Seven hundred!"

"Eight hundred!"

"..."

The price of the Transformation Pill soared like a rocket, quickly reaching one thousand spirit stones.

At one thousand spirit stones, the price had surpassed what most of the demon beasts present could afford.

The pace of the bidding began to slow.

"One thousand one hundred spirit stones!"

"I bid two thousand!"

The bid jumped from one thousand one hundred straight to two thousand spirit stones. The demons below fell silent for a moment before craning their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the wealthy demon beast who had just made such a lavish offer.

After a brief silence, the bidding resumed with a gradual increase in price.

"Two thousand one hundred taels!"

"Two thousand two hundred taels!"

By now, only a handful of demon beasts remained in the competition for the Energy Shaping Pill.

"I bid three thousand taels!"

The demon beast that had previously bid two thousand taels dropped a figurative bomb, sending a buzz through the ears of the other demons gathered below the stage.

It was clear that a demon beast capable of such a bid was no unknown entity.

"It's the Peak Master's nephew, the Toad Demon—no wonder he's throwing around money with such abandon!"

Someone in the crowd recognized the affluent bidder.

With such a connected individual in the fray, the few remaining demon beasts decided to bow out of the bidding.

The Toad Demon, who had called out the three thousand taels and was the nephew of the Peak Master, was quite smug at this turn of events.

The Turtle Demon on stage, however, was not pleased with the lull in the auction.

Today's auction of an Energy Shaping Pill had attracted many wealthy patrons. The auction house owner had anticipated a final bid of around five thousand spirit stones.

But with the Peak Master's nephew stirring the pot, no one else dared to bid.

After all, within a hundred miles, no demon beast would dare cross the Peak Master.

"Three thousand taels, does anyone else wish to bid?"

"Three thousand taels going once!"

"Three thousand taels going twice!"

The Turtle Demon let out a sigh, and just as it was about to strike the gong to finalize the sale, a new voice rang out.

"I bid three thousand one hundred taels!"

A murmur swept through the crowd as all eyes quickly turned to identify the bold individual challenging the Peak Master's nephew for the Energy Shaping Pill.

The challenger, shrouded in a black robe, was enigmatic, with their identity concealed within the folds of the garment, making it impossible to discern whether they were human or demon.

"Three thousand five hundred taels!"

The Toad Demon immediately countered with a higher bid.

"Three thousand six hundred taels!"

The figure in the black robe was relentless in pursuit.

"Four thousand taels!"

The Toad Demon's voice grew louder, determined to win.

He was resolute in his pursuit of the Energy Shaping Pill. Being the nephew of the Peak Master, his inability to transform was a source of deep shame. Now, with just one Energy Shaping Pill, he could erase that shame, and he was not about to let that opportunity slip away.

The bid of four thousand taels had already stretched the financial limits of nearly everyone in attendance.

Consider that even a mountain king's lifetime savings might not amount to four thousand taels of spirit stones!

"Four thousand one hundred taels!"

The individual in the black robe announced a new bid with unruffled composure.

He whirled around, his gaze locking onto the toad demon like a predator eyeing its prey. The toad demon forced a few words through his clenched teeth.

"Five thousand taels. If this brother still wants it, he can have it!"

The threat in the toad demon's voice was unmistakable.

While fighting was strictly prohibited within this mountain stream, the rules changed beyond its borders. If that person didn't take the hint, a confrontation outside the mountain stream was inevitable.

Offending the Peak Master over a Transformation Pill was clearly not a smart move. Just when everyone thought the bidder would back down, he spoke up once more.

"Five thousand and one taels!"

"Pfft!"

The toad demon nearly choked on his own blood at the bid.

"Fine, you're tough. We'll see about that!"

After uttering these words laden with menace, the toad demon refrained from bidding again.

Onstage, the Turtle Demon couldn't help but beam with delight.

He had met the chief's expectations, securing a final price of five thousand taels.

As the man in the black robe approached the stage to claim the Transformation Pill, the Turtle Demon, in high spirits, whispered a word of caution.

"Watch out for that toad demon!"

The man in the black robe accepted the Transformation Pill and descended the stage with an air of nonchalance.

Just then, several lesser demons attempted to block his path.

Since no fighting was permitted in the mountain stream, they saw no harm in blatantly tailing the man in the black robe.

Unfazed, the man continued forward, effortlessly brushing past the three lesser demons blocking his way. Yet, they didn't disperse; instead, they persistently shadowed him.

The demons gathered around the scene showed no signs of leaving.

Why would they? Watching the drama unfold was free entertainment.

They reveled in the spectacle.

Su Bai, on the other hand, had no interest in it.

As the figure in the black robe passed by, Su Bai didn't bother to lift his gaze.

It never crossed Su Bai's mind that he would be the one to get burned.

But when the black-robed figure came to a halt in front of him, the unexpected happened.

"You're the one the Peak Master is hunting!"

"Boom!"

The crowd of demons erupted into chaos!

"It's definitely him! I've seen the wanted poster!"

"Absolutely, a toad demon accompanied by two fox demons – it's them, the trio!"

The reward for Su Bai's capture was no small sum.

Turning him over to the Peak Master would surely be as valuable as a Transformation Pill.

But the demons quickly realized something else.

The reason this man was wanted – his killing of the wolf demon – meant he possessed a strength not to be trifled with by the likes of them.

​