The effects of the Marrow Cleansing Potion and the Purple Flower Fruit were entirely different, each serving its own unique purpose in the cultivation world.
The Purple Flower Fruit was valued primarily for its miraculous healing ability, it could treat severe injuries beyond the reach of ordinary medicines and, in some cases, help a cultivator break through major realm barriers.
The Marrow Cleansing Potion, on the other hand, focused on refining and condensing a cultivator's internal strength, enhancing their foundation and unlocking greater potential for future growth.
An excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Potion was especially precious, as its effects could influence the course of a cultivator's entire path.
Chen Xiao had already spoken, and Zhen Mayo, no matter how reluctant she felt, didn't dare to go against his words. She understood her position all too well, her place beside him was like standing on clouds, but the moment she angered him, she would plummet into nothingness. Losing his favor wasn't an option.
Reluctantly, she swallowed her frustration and backed down.
"Young Master Li, congratulations. This set of purple fruits now belongs to you," Lan Yueli announced with a polite smile.
"Thank you very much," Li Yun replied with a slight bow, his tone warm and respectful. Then, almost casually, he added, "By the way, Director Lan, I'm not feeling very well right now. Would it be possible to settle the payment later?"
In truth, Li Yun's funds were tight. He had come to the auction with around twenty-five thousand gold coins. Purchasing the storage ring earlier for thirteen thousand had left him with only about twelve thousand, far short of the thirty thousand gold coins required for the purple fruits. Even with Li Hua's ten thousand, he was still a few thousand short.
Hearing his request, several people in the crowd exchanged knowing smirks. Zhao Xiaotian and Zhen Mayo, in particular, were overjoyed.
The Treasure Pavilion's rules were clear, payment had to be made immediately after a bid was won, with very few exceptions. Even Zhao Xiaotian, with all his status, couldn't owe the Pavilion a single coin unless his father personally intervened.
To them, Li Yun was done for.
"This fool… bidding without the gold to back it up? He's courting death!" Zhao Xiaotian thought, his grin curling into something vicious.
Zhen Mayo's eyes glimmered with the same cruel anticipation, both of them imagining Li Yun's humiliation.
But just as they were ready to enjoy the spectacle, Lan Yueli's voice rang out. "Of course, no problem at all."
The smugness on Zhao Xiaotian's face froze instantly. His amusement evaporated, replaced by confusion.
"What?!" he thought. "She agreed… just like that?"
The same question rippled through the auction hall. People whispered among themselves.
Before the auction had even started, Li Yun had said something quietly to Lan Yueli, and she had personally escorted him out for a private conversation. Now, with a single casual request, she had granted him a privilege that even many prominent young masters couldn't dream of.
"This is strange…" more than ninety percent of the attendees thought at once.
Whispers spread like wildfire. "Could it be that Li Yun and Lan Yueli share some kind of… unspeakable relationship? Something close, perhaps?"
Others entertained a different theory, maybe Li Yun had a special connection to the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion. "Could Li Yun actually be the Pavilion Master's illegitimate son?" someone muttered under their breath.
But then, the thought clashed with common knowledge, Li Yun's father was Li Tian. So how could that be?
"Next, we will begin the auction for the second group of purple fruits," Lan Yueli announced as attendants carefully brought out another tray holding five fist-sized fruits, each releasing a faint, intoxicating fragrance. "Like before, they will be sold in a set of five. Ladies and gentlemen, please take note, there are only two groups of purple fruits in today's auction. That means this is the final set. If you miss it now, you may not have another chance for a very long time."
Her voice carried a deliberate weight, reminding everyone just how rare the opportunity was.
The moment Lan Yueli finished her formal introduction, Li Yun leaned forward slightly and called out, "Thirty thousand gold coins," matching his earlier winning bid without a hint of hesitation.
Zhen Mayo's face immediately flushed red. "Li Yun, you…!" she began sharply, her eyes burning with both anger and resentment.
She had seen Li Yun plenty of times in the past when she visited the Li family to see Li Hua, but back then, she had never so much as spared him a proper glance. If it weren't for Li Hua, she would never have acknowledged him at all.
And now here he was, boldly standing in her way a second time.
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xiao, seated beside her, casually lifted his hand, silencing her. He then turned his head toward Li Yun, his eyes narrowing slightly as an invisible wave of pressure filled the air.
The aura of an Body Tempering Realm expert was no trivial thing. When directed at a cultivator still below that level, it pressed down like a mountain, stifling both body and mind. Even restrained, the weight of Chen Xiao's presence was enough to make the air feel heavier.
Still, he was in the Treasure Pavilion and knew better than to push too far here. His release of pressure was controlled, almost subtle, but pointed enough that Li Yun would feel it.
Chen Xiao's expression remained calm and distant, his tone dripping with quiet superiority as he finally addressed Li Yun directly.
"Your name is Li Yun? From the Li family?" It was the first time since arriving that Chen Xiao had actually looked at him. Even earlier, when speaking to Li Hua, Chen Xiao hadn't spared Li Yun a glance.
In his eyes, Li Yun's presence had been beneath notice. If not for his unexpected performance in today's bidding, Chen Xiao wouldn't have even bothered to learn his name.
"That's right," Li Yun replied evenly, though he felt the subtle weight of Chen Xiao's oppressive aura pressing down on him.
The pressure sparked a faint ember of anger in his chest, Chen Xiao's gaze carried the same condescension as someone speaking to an insect, as if even acknowledging Li Yun's existence was a favor.
"You've already secured one set of purple fruits," Chen Xiao said in an even, almost casual tone. "There are only two sets available in today's auction. I think it's best you give up on this second set."
Though his words were framed as a suggestion, the underlying tone left no doubt, it was more of a command. In Chen Xiao's mind, even speaking to Li Yun like this was an act of magnanimity, something he wouldn't bother doing for most people.
Hearing Chen Xiao's words, Li Yun sneered inwardly.
Overbearing.
This was the kind of authority Chen Xiao wielded, the unshakable dominance of Azure Wind City's most outstanding young talent. His words carried the weight of law, spoken as though his will alone determined what was right, and leaving no room for refusal.
But Li Yun had no intention of bowing his head.
"Young Master Chen," Li Yun replied with an easy smile, "isn't what you said a bit off? The purple fruit is an auction item, and for everyone participating, the rules are the same, whoever bids the highest wins. Asking me to give up… isn't that breaking the rules of the auction?"
"Oh?" Chen Xiao's brows knit slightly, and a faint gleam flickered in his eyes.
"So… you refuse to give me face?" His lips curved into a smile, but there was nothing warm in it.
"Young Master Chen misunderstands. I wouldn't dare disrespect you," Li Yun said, his tone steady. "But I truly need the purple fruit. I can't give it up."
"Good. Very good." Chen Xiao nodded, the smile still on his lips as he turned his gaze away, no longer looking at Li Yun.
Outwardly, he seemed calm, but Li Yun caught the glint of ruthlessness in his eyes. That brief look was enough to tell him, Chen Xiao had already marked him as an enemy.
Being noticed by someone like Chen Xiao was a far greater problem than crossing someone like Zhao Xiaotian. They were on completely different levels. To ignore Chen Xiao's threat, one needed overwhelming strength, and right now, Li Yun was still far from having it.
'It seems I need to raise my strength as soon as possible,' Li Yun thought, a quiet resolve forming in his heart. 'The number of enemies I've made is growing.'
Beside him, Li Hua's worry deepened. In this auction alone, Li Yun had already offended several people. Zhen Mayo didn't matter much, and even Zhao Xiaotian wasn't too great a concern. But Chen Xiao… in all of Azure Wind City, there were few willing to offend him openly.
"Sister Li Hua, don't worry," Li Yun said, turning to her with a firm nod.
Li Hua could only sigh silently. Persuading him now would be pointless. She couldn't very well tell him to hand over the purple fruit he had just won as an apology to Chen Xiao.
The bidding continued, and once again, the second set of purple fruits fell into Li Yun's hands for thirty thousand gold coins. In total, he now had ten purple fruits worth a staggering sixty thousand gold coins.
"The following items will now be auctioned!" Lan Yueli's voice rose again, but she let it hang for a moment, deliberately building suspense. As expected, all eyes in the room turned toward her.
"Excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Potion!" she declared.
"The Marrow Cleansing Potion will also be sold in groups of five bottles. I believe everyone here is well aware of its benefits, so I won't go into details."
"A set of excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Potions has a starting price of twenty thousand gold coins," she continued with a smile. "Each bid must not be less than one thousand gold coins. You may begin bidding now."
With a graceful wave of her hand, the auction moved forward.
The base price for the excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Potion was considerably higher than that of the purple fruit. In the Treasure Pavilion, even an ordinary-grade Marrow Cleansing Potion could fetch around eight hundred gold coins, and those were already considered rare.
The reason was simple, Azure Wind City had only so many high-level pharmacists capable of refining such potions, and the production rate could never keep up with demand. Meanwhile, the number of cultivators stuck in the Marrow Cleansing stage was vast, meaning the potion's supply was always far less than what the market required.
"Thirty thousand!"
Chen Xiao raised his hand and spoke firmly, announcing his bid for the first set of excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Potions.
The moment his voice fell, the atmosphere in the auction hall shifted. Many of those who had initially been ready to bid lowered their heads, their eagerness fading. Going against Chen Xiao was no trivial matter. It required courage, perhaps even recklessness.
Not everyone was like Li Yun, willing to challenge him openly. Offending Chen Xiao meant living with the constant risk of reprisal; even if he struck you down, your family might be too intimidated to demand justice from the powerful Chen clan.
"I want this set of potions," Chen Xiao added casually after naming his price. He didn't bother glancing at anyone as he said it, as if the matter was already decided and the potions were his by default.
"Since Brother Chen wants it, I won't bid," someone announced.
"Haha, then I'll give up as well," another voice followed.
Zhao Xiaotian and a few others joined in, declaring their withdrawal. Chen Xiao simply nodded, satisfied, as if this was only natural.