âThis is a core blossom, an exceptionally rare medicinal ingredient harvested deep underground near a channel of lava. This particular one is nearly several millennia old and contains an unbelievably potent amount of elemental fire. It can make oneâs aptitude for fire blossom and can also increase the chances of a fire-type soul cultivator becoming a Soul King. For fire-type soul cultivators, itâs no exaggeration to say this is as good as an Extreme King Pill almost. This heaven-tier ingredient will start at eighty thousand low-grade primal stones.â
The item Wu Meiâer brought onto the podium was a fist-sized plant as red as fire itself. Laid in a clear glass box, the particular details of this core blossom could clearly be seen to everyone. Its stamen and pistils were colored and shape in a way that made it seem like the plant was on fire, and the heat waves radiating from the plant was also noticeably obvious as well. Even the faraway patrons of the auction could feel the power of the plant from where they were.
âBzzzzâŠâ
Immediately, the entire hall started to buzz with excitement.
âA core blossom! A core blossom of all things! Itâs the golden ticket for any fire-type Soul Exalt to use!â
âMake oneâs aptitude for fire blossom? A fire-type soul cultivator would see a lifelong benefit from using it!â
âAnd using it greatly increases the chances of becoming a Soul King! Itâs not an Extreme King Pill, but itâs also not something any fire-type soul cultivator can ignore!â
There had been a look of excitement to travel up onto Bai Yunfeiâs face when he saw the core blossom. The effects of such a plant werenât lost on him, and he of all people could tell just how much raw power was contained in the plant. It was without a doubt an ingredient any fire-type soul cultivator would want.
âYunfei? Are you interested in the core blossom?â
Tang Xinyun asked. She had noticed the look on his face. âAs good of an ingredient it is, isnât it very effective for you?â
He turned to give her a loving smile. âWhy are you only thinking about its benefits for me?? Did you forget youâre also a fire-type soul cultivator? Itâs an amazing ingredient, so of course I want to give it to you to help you become a Soul KingâŠâ
âTo me?â Tang Xinyun looked surprised for a moment before returning a self-deprecating smile. âItâs a littleâŠtoo early for me to think about becoming a Soul King.â
âDonât underestimate yourself. Your speed isnât slow by any meansâŠâ Bai Yunfei held her hand with his. âIt doesnât matter when you breakthrough as long as we make the preparations for it.â
The bidding war for the core blossom had already started while Bai Yunfei and Tang Xinyun were talking amongst themselves. Many Soul Exalts were obviously interested in it and were driving the bid for it to heights only matched by their desires for it.Â
In no time at all, the price of eighty thousand low-grade primal stones was doubled to a hundred and sixty-thousand and still increasing.
An elderly voice spoke out from one of the rooms on the left side of the second floor.
âShhhâŠâ
All the yelling and noise in the hall immediately grew silent.
âItâs here! A Soul King finally made their bid!â
âHeâs probably giving it to his grand-child or something. Two hundred thousand, damnâŠâ
âDamn! I canât compete with those prices. And even if I could, I canât compete with a Soul King!â
The bid of the Soul King was the signal for everyone else in the hall to immediately give up on purchasing the core blossom.
Up on the podium, Wu Meiâer waited for someone else to make a bid. When it seemed like no one else would, she opened her mouth to begin speaking.
âI bid a low-heaven tier soul armament.â
ââŠâŠâ
Before she could start her sentence, a person broke the silence first.Â
Stunned, everyone turned their heads towards the source of the bid. It came from the first floor where a rather ordinary-looking male was smiling. He was the one to make the bid.
âHey, did I hear that right? Whatâs that he just said?â
âHeâs bidding a low-heaven tier soul armament? For the core blossom?â
Unsure of what they had heard, most of the audience was leaning next to one another to whisper and stare strangely at Bai Yunfei.
Like the audience, Wu Meiâer had been caught off guard for a second too. âHonored guest, did you sayâŠyou bid a low-heaven tier soul armament?â
Still smiling, Bai Yunfei nodded. âCorrect. Is there an appraiser in the house? You may have them appraise the worth of my soul armament if you have your doubts.â
There was a small flash of blue light as a dagger came into appearance. Wrapped then in a bubble of elemental fire, the dagger flew towards the podium.
Everyone watched as the dagger flew from Bai Yunfei over to the podium and into Wu Meiâerâs hands.Â
True to her professionalism, it took only a moment for Wu Meiâer to remember where she is.Â
âThat is of course possible,â She smiled, âplease wait a moment, honored guests, as our appraiser evaluates the worth of this soul armament.â
A person was already taking the dagger off the podium to the area behind where the appraiser was.
A second person came back up to the podium shortly afterward to whisper urgently into Wu Meiâerâs ear. At his words, Wu Meiâer seemed to sparkle in the eyes before she turned to face the audience. âAs reported by our appraiser, the soul armament supplied by the honored guest has been confirmed to be a low-heaven tier soul armament and appraised to be worth two hundred and forty-thousand low-grade primal stones. We will accept the soul armament as a bid.â
âIt really is a heaven-tier soul armament! And worth that much! Dear heavens! Is this even reality?!â
âBidding two hundred and forty-thousand low-grade primal stones is beyond what Iâd even consider for a core blossom. Heâs equating a low-heaven tier soul armament for a trade like this! DoesâŠdoes he have a problem in his head?â
âHe didnât even bat an eye at bidding away a low-heaven tier soul armament! What kind of person is this guy?!â
âHeyâŠ? He looks a little familiar, where have I seen him before?â
âEh? You feel the same way too, brother Li? Using a heaven-tier soul armament to bidâŠwhere have I seen something like that? Itâs definitely not my first time seeing itâŠâ
âUsing a heaven-tier soul armament to bid? Hold on! Iâve got it1 I remember a few years ago, we went to Mo City in the Forest Pass Province for the auction there, remember? There was also another person who did the exact same thing? That person wasâŠâ
âBai Yunfei!! I remember now! This guy is the exact same person! Bai Yunfei from the Crafting School!â
Somebody from the audience was quick to figure who Bai Yunfei was. And after he and his friend made the connection, many of the others in attendance immediately started to stir into a frenzy.
âWhat?! Bai Yunfei!? The same Bai Yunfei from the Crafting School?!â
âNo lie? Heâs really Bai Yunfei?! The guy who crafted the mid-heaven tier soul armament two days ago?!â
âIt really is him! I saw him in Mo City before! AndâŠisnât that the daughter of the Tang with him? It is! It really is!â
âWhatâs he doing on the first floor? He couldâve sat at the very top along with the others, couldnât he?â
âNo wonder heâs willing to bid heaven-tier soul armaments then. Itâs Bai Yunfei after allâŠWhat an original way of bidding. Using soul armaments instead of primal stonesâŠâ
Wu Meiâer was watching Bai Yunfei with a strange light in her eyes while this played out. Coughing once, she spoke out to silence the crowd.
âLord Bai has offered two hundred and forty-thousand, will anyone else bid?â
Everyoneâs heads immediately swung to the booth on the second floor where the Soul King had first bid.
All was silent for two seconds before the same elderly voice from before spoke out. âSo itâs Bai Yunfei from the Crafting SchoolâŠsince you also want the core blossom, this old man wonât bid any longer.â
He was very clearly giving up, meaning Bai Yunfei had won the bid for the core blossoms.
  âŠâŠ
The geo blossom was given to Bai Yunfei shortly afterward by a young man in white robes and an unordinary aura.
âThis one is Yan Jiangjing of the Tianhun School. Pleased to make your acquaintance, brother Bai.â The young man clasped his hands in greeting, âWe are honored by your presence, brother Bai. I, in particular, have long since wished to meet you.â
âCharmedâŠâ Bai Yunfei returned the greeting, âIs there any particular reason for your visit, brother Yan?â
It was weird to see a person like him here, even if it was to escort the product. He was a man of considerable strength as a Peak Late-stage Soul Exaltânot exactly a peon.
âYan? Isnât the lord-mayor of Swallow City also a Yan?â A half-second later, Bai Yunfei realized that this person was most likely the son of Swallow Cityâs lord-mayor.
Yan Jiangjing smiled. âHow could we have a guest of brother Baiâs stature remain on the first floor? We have prepared a room on the third floor for you and your plus one. I am merely here to escort you there.â
âOh?â Bai Yunfei nodded in thanks. âIf that is the case, then I graciously accept.â
He hadnât wanted to make a statement before, but now that everyone knew who he was and was putting him under intense scrutiny, he didnât want him or Tang Xinyun to stay here. Moving to the third floor wouldnât have any detriments now.