C17 Profit

The various noble families each had their own agendas. Some sought to court the alchemists who crafted the Ironhide Potion, while others were solely after the potion itself.

The buzz around the high-grade Ironhide Potion was escalating in the capital. The Obsidian Market had set the auction date for a week later, promising to be a lucrative event for all involved. Wang Feng would profit handsomely, and the Obsidian Market would gain both reputation and revenue. It was a win-win situation, leaving everyone delighted.

Armed with the three hundred thousand gold coins provided upfront by Yaji, Wang Feng purchased the necessary herbs on East Deld, as instructed by Lee, and quickly made his way back. Lee awaited his return in the courtyard, and upon seeing the hefty bag of herbs, his face lit up with a broad smile.

"Very well, Young Master. I shall begin the pill refinement at once!" Lee exclaimed, taking the herbs and heading to the furnace.

In the courtyard's center, a large pot was erected over a blazing fire, its fierce flames licking the bottom of the pot with a searing heat.

Deng Jiu and his daughter, Deng Chanyu, joined in the effort, the four of them collaborating on a lucrative venture.

Of the advance payment from Yaji, a portion was earmarked for the Ironhide Potion. Yaji intended to auction each bottle for fifty thousand. Wang Feng had invested one hundred thousand gold coins, borrowed from Wang Mingzhu, to procure enough herbs to produce twenty batches of the high-grade potion. That amounted to a million gold coins in potential sales, leaving a profit margin of nearly nine hundred thousand after expenses.

A week flew by in an instant. With the assistance of Deng Jiu and Chanyu, Lee's pill-making process was greatly streamlined, though the production of twenty batches of Ironhide Potion still proved exhausting.

Wang Feng gave Lee a hearty pat on the shoulder and said, "Ha, Old Lee, you've outdone yourself. Take a break, you've earned it!"

Lee replied, "No trouble at all, Young Master. For a pill refiner like me, this is all in a day's work!"

The following day, the Obsidian Market commenced its auction. The capital's most formidable figures converged, all eager to lay their hands on the Ironhide Potion concocted by the enigmatic alchemist.

In a teahouse on East Deld, a white-haired elder sat, sipping his wine and chuckling as he listened to the nearby conversations. Glancing at his empty wine gourd, he murmured to himself, "The Imperial Capital hasn't buzzed with this much excitement in quite a while!"

As the auctioneer, Wang Feng had naturally secured a VIP seat at the Obsidian Market, nestled within the inner chamber of the auction house. "This place is packed!" he remarked, swirling the red liquid in his glass.

"Of course! My auction house ranks among the top in the Imperial Capital," Yaji boasted, cradling her glass of red wine with a proud smile.

Wang Feng responded with a laugh, "Ha, that's for sure. Why else would I come to you?"

Yaji leaned in towards Wang Feng, who quickly stepped back to avoid an awkward view of her exposed décolletage in the black evening gown. "Hah! You little rascal, always buttering me up!" Yaji teased, noticing Wang Feng's flustered attempt to dodge.

Wang Feng cleared his throat, "Cough, cough, that's not amusing at all!"

"I'm heading down now, so I won't be keeping you company any longer!" Yaji said, striding toward the auction floor.

The auction commenced, attended by individuals from prestigious families and high-ranking nobility. Yaji, the host and owner of the auction house, made her entrance in a black evening gown that swept the floor. Her presence was captivating, her poise elegant, causing a few less composed family heads to gulp discreetly. The others feigned composure, masking their discomfort.

"Thank you, esteemed family heads and martial arts dignitaries, for honoring us with your presence at this grand auction event!" Yaji began with an eloquent welcome.

Her voice, resonant and stirring, filled the hall. "Now, please welcome Lord Wicks, the Obsidian Market's auctioneer and distinguished appraiser, to start the bidding." Applause erupted throughout the venue.

Wicks, donned in a luxurious white robe with a golden collar, stepped forward on the stage. "I will be conducting the bidding for you today."

The auction's first item was up for grabs!

Below the stage, an attendant passed the item to Wicks.

"This is a Mortal-grade Six-star Weapon, known as the Iron Feather Sword. Measuring six feet and two inches in length, it was crafted by a renowned master smith named Tianmao over 150 years ago. Despite being a Mortal-grade Six-star, its cutting power surpasses that of ordinary swords."

The opening bid was set at 10,000 gold coins! Yaji, the Poison Beauty, leaned over to Wang Feng, who was sipping tea, and offered, "Young Master Wang Feng, if you desire any of the items being auctioned below, I can secure them for you. How does that sound?"

Wang Feng feigned indifference, pondering when he would find a weapon that truly suited him.

Merely relying on his current Celestial Nine Revolution Technique was insufficient. He had the techniques and the skills, but after all, he was still in a mortal body and couldn't depend solely on his physical strength in battle! Observing the weapons being auctioned below, Wang Feng considered his options.

On the First Land, weapons are categorized into six levels: Mortal, Spirit, Immortal, Holy, Demigod, and Divine, each with nine subdivisions. Wang Feng knew he needed at least a Spirit-level weapon; anything less would be an embarrassment.

"I'm in need of a weapon. What do you have available? Could you give me an overview?" Wang Feng asked nonchalantly, legs crossed.

"Ha! Of course, I'll fetch you a list with detailed descriptions for you to peruse at your leisure."

"Great, go ahead with your tasks. Thanks, Sister Yaji!"

"Heh, you've got quite the charm, kid. If it weren't for your youthful appearance, handsome features, and gift of gab, do you really think you'd still be around?" Yaji's parting words left Wang Feng more than a little rattled.

"Cough, cough," he managed, wiping away the sweat from his brow.

The auctioneer's voice ebbed and flowed from below, with each bid surpassing the last.

"I bid 13,000 gold coins!"

"I bid 16,000!"

"30,000!"

"41,000!"

Ultimately, the Iron Feather Sword was purchased by a middle-aged man with a penchant for collecting bladed weapons, who proudly added it to his collection.

Subsequently, each auction item found its way to a new owner among the eager bidders below.

"Up next, we have the grand finale of our auction!" Wicks' aged voice resonated throughout the Obsidian Market's grand hall.

All eyes were fixed on the final offering. In truth, many prominent families had refrained from purchasing any items during the entire event, all in anticipation of this high-grade Ironhide Potion.

"We have six bottles of Ironhide Potion available. Per the seller's request, they will be auctioned in separate lots. The first lot includes one bottle of Ironhide Potion, starting at 50,000 gold coins!"

In First Land, pills are invariably more valuable than weapons, as pills can elevate one's realm, whereas weapons cannot enhance one's cultivation level.