Xie Shuci couldn't help but glance at his cheap senior brother a few more times.

His intuition told him that this was definitely planned by these senior brothers.

After all, he had clearly discussed the price and profit sharing with Elder Meng beforehand, so why would he change it without informing him? Moreover, it was obvious that Elder Meng's actions did not benefit the Meng family at all; all the benefits went to Xie Shuci alone.

The latter looked a little awkward after being glanced at by Xie Shuci, and finally rolled her eyes at Xie Shuci before closing the window again.

Chu Guiyi smiled and said, "Shuci, you have several good senior brothers."

Xie Shuci lowered his head, his feelings were very complicated. "They have always been very good to me."

Even after he was expelled from the sect, they still secretly stuffed so many things into his hands.

Du Pingsheng and his page were both dumbfounded. "What? What senior brother?"

Chu Wenfeng sighed, "Xie Shuci, what merit do you possess?"

Xie Shuci, unusually, did not refute Chu Wenfeng, and sighed, "Yes, 'Xie Shuci,' what have you done to deserve this?"

In the original owner's limited memories, he was either causing trouble for the cultivation sect or on his way to causing trouble for the cultivation sect. What did he do to deserve such kind and soft-hearted senior brothers?

However, in the original book, the minor immortal sect was just a minor immortal sect with no special identity. It was the butterfly effect caused by Xie Shuci's arrival in this world that made him the true junior brother of the sect.

After hearing Meng Qi's words, the crowd in Laiqulou was in high spirits. Meng Qi's move was a win-win-win situation for them.

Not only could they buy what Young Master Xie had, but they could also get a top-grade pill for free, and they also gained goodwill from Young Master Xie and the Meng family without even realizing it.

As for what will happen to the Yin family in the future, they are no longer worried. After all, apart from the Meng family and the immortal sect that obtains the pill, no one knows who will eventually get the pill.

Even if the Yin family is resentful and wants revenge, they will definitely not be the target of their revenge.

"Young Master Meng, please begin!"

"Hurry up, hurry up!"

Urging voices came from inside the room; where was the arrogant and domineering disciple of the immortal sect outside?

Xie Shuci kept looking up at the window, but it was never opened again.

Seemingly sensing his complex emotions, Xie An gently placed his hand on the back of Xie An's hand and said, "Don't feel burdened."

Xie Shuci grasped his fingers. Xie An was just as described in the book, perfect in every way. Xie Shuci played with his fingers, somewhat reluctant to let go, and said, "I don't feel burdened, it's just... they've been so good to me, I don't know how to repay them. I have no skills at all, even if I can refine pills, I'm not as good as one of their fingers."

Xie An said, "They don't need you to repay them."

“I know,” Xie Shuci said in a muffled voice, “They don’t care about my stuff.”

Xie An sighed almost imperceptibly and said, "Xie Shuci, when you were expelled from the sect, he still left you the bronze medicine cauldron, which proves that they still had expectations for you and had not truly given up on you. If you really want to repay them, then study alchemy diligently until you are recognized by them."

Xie Shuci's heart stirred at his words, "Alchemy..."

"Well, they gave you these things not expecting anything in return, just don't let them down."

Xie Shuci sighed, "I have already disappointed them."

Xie An chuckled softly. "No. Do you want to know what your senior brother said to me that day?"

Xie Shuci immediately perked up, asking nervously and curiously, "What did you say?"

"He said he knew you had broken the seal on the bronze cauldron and asked me to supervise you in refining the elixir."

"real?"

"Really," Xie An said with a smile.

A warm feeling washed over Xie Shuci, and she couldn't help but lean closer to Xie An. "You guys are so kind."

"Huh?" Xie An asked, puzzled.

Xie Shuci leaned on his shoulder and blinked her eyes. "You guys are so nice! Everyone I've met here has been so nice. I'm so lucky."

Xie An chuckled, took Xie Shuci's hand in return, and teased, "Me too?"

Xie Shuci's cheeks felt hot as she recalled how she had once thoroughly criticized Xiao Xun, who had even tried to run away last night, only to have Xie Shuci say such things to him just a day later.

Xie Shuci felt a little embarrassed and buried her face in his clothes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have listened to rumors or disbelieved you because of stereotypes. Xie An, little blind man... Xiao Xun, you are so good, I like you so much."

Xie An turned his head and gave Xie Shuci a deep look. If the situation hadn't prevented it, he didn't know what he would have done to Xie Shuci after hearing his words.

But now there's nothing he can do.

Although Xie Shuci and Xie An were standing very close and deliberately lowered their voices when they spoke, there were two other cultivators sitting in the room, and they were not far away, so it was impossible that they hadn't heard what they were saying.

When Xie Shuci finally reacted, he shrank off Xie An's shoulder, coughed, and looked awkwardly at Chu Guiyi and the other person opposite him.

Chu Wenfeng leaned against the window frame, looking at Xie Shuci with a half-smile, as if watching a spectacle.

Chu Guiyi kept his eyes down, never meeting Xie Shuci's gaze.

Du Pingsheng and his page were ordinary people and didn't hear Xie Shuci and Xie An's conversation; otherwise, several more stories about them would have been added to the tales circulating in the city.

Meanwhile, the auction downstairs had already begun.

The first few items for sale were all cold weapons, dug out from some secret realm. Xie Shuci and the others were not interested and did not participate.

When it came to the fourth item, the female disciple walked onto the stage carrying a tray, her feet shimmering with gold thread. Unlike the previous items, this one was covered with a blue silk cloth, whereas the previous items had been covered with red silk. This sudden change instantly caught everyone's attention.

At this moment, during several deliveries of goods, the woman faced the crowd and spoke her first words: "Thank you all for coming from afar."

She emphasized the word "thank you" very much.

The crowd, who were initially worried they wouldn't recognize Xie Shuci's merchandise, were speechless.

Xie Shuci: "..."

Chu Wenfeng chuckled, "You're so afraid others won't know it's yours."

Du Pingsheng, suppressing a laugh, said, "Brother Xie, what are they doing...?"

Xie Shuci sighed helplessly, "Whatever, do whatever you want."

Looking at the tray covered with blue silk, everyone realized that it contained Xie Shuci's goods.

Normally, the host needs to introduce the products in detail before the buyers bid. But this time, before Meng Qi could even speak, a sign appeared in the second-floor window.

Meng Qi understood, "This fellow Daoist offered fifty thousand taels."

Xie Shuci was stunned. He stared at Chu Wenfeng, who was equally shocked, his voice trembling, "Um...am I deaf? How much did he bid? Fifty-five what?"

Chu Wenfeng said as if he had swallowed a fly, "With your pile of junk, you might not even be able to sell three of those items for 50,000 taels!"

Du Pingsheng and his page turned pale.

"I... I've earned less than 50,000 taels from writing books..."

"Young master, how about we switch careers and become alchemists?" the page said in a serious tone.

Du Pingsheng covered his forehead, "I'm so angry!"

"One hundred thousand taels."

"120,000 taels."

"150,000 taels."

Everyone present was clearly well-off; it was a win-win-win situation, so how much money they spent wasn't that important to them, and even what Xie Shuci was selling wasn't that important.

As they kept raising the price, Xie Shuci's feelings changed from initial shock to joy, then to unease, and finally to fear.

The price has already been bid up to 200,000 taels, which is about 80 million RMB!

Xie Shuci never dreamed he could earn so much money! He was terrified that after the auction, he'd be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of money, and even more afraid that a policeman would appear and accuse him of fraud.

Hearing the price keep rising, Xie Shuci was extremely anxious. He grabbed the window frame and couldn't help but shout, "Calm down, it's not worth that much money!"

Xie Shuci's voice echoed in Laiqulou, and the bidding immediately fell silent.

"Stop!" Chu Wenfeng tried to stop her, but before he could, Xie Shuci had already shouted those words. He reacted and grabbed Xie Shuci's clothes, slamming the window shut with a "bang".

When everyone heard the sound and looked over, they only saw a tightly closed window.

"Why are you pulling me? You're giving me so much money, I wouldn't dare take it!" Xie Shuci glared at Chu Wenfeng.

Chu Wenfeng rolled his eyes at him and said, "Isn't it shameful? Do you think they're short of money?"

"The problem is that my stuff isn't worth his."

"Don't forget, there's also a top-grade pill! Do you know the final price of the two top-grade pills sold last year?"

Xie Shuci shook his head. "I don't know."

Chu Wenfeng gave him a knowing look.

Xie Shuci asked suspiciously, "How much?"

Du Pingsheng said, "I seem to have heard that the price of top-grade pills auctioned by the Meng family has never been lower than ten million taels."

Xie Shuci's mind went blank for a moment. Ten million taels... ten million taels... ten million taels... how much is that in RMB?

Damn! He can't even calculate it! So much money! More money than Xie Shuci could earn in a hundred lifetimes!

Chu Wenfeng nodded and said, "Last year, the transaction price of two top-grade pills was over 20 million taels of silver."

Twenty million taels of silver...

Xie Shuci gasped.

Chu Wenfeng glanced at him again, "Do you think it was worth it now?"

"Worth it! It's fucking worth it! Nothing could be more worthwhile!"

It's more than worth it! Looking back, Xie Shuci felt a bit cheated. Selling pills directly would have earned tens of millions of taels of silver. How much silver is missing out on this!

Xie Shuci didn't feel he was at a disadvantage; he felt it was unfair on behalf of his senior brothers and Elder Meng. Moreover, Elder Meng had even brought in pills from his own home, so in the end, only Xie Shuci benefited.

Xie Shuci felt increasingly guilty. He suddenly jumped up from the ground. "No, I have to go find Elder Meng and my senior brother. It's too much of a loss for them to give me everything."

Xie An quickly grabbed his hand, saying, "No need."

Chu Guiyi also said, "There's no need to rush with the letter."

Chu Wenfeng said, "Do you think they lack this little bit of money? Elder Meng is obviously trying to win you and your senior brother over. As for your senior brother, he probably just takes pity on you."

Xie Shuci: "..."

I'm not that pitiful.

Although Xie Shuci thought what they said made a lot of sense, he felt that he was not worthy of getting rich overnight without working.

He hadn't done anything, and suddenly the money flowed into his pocket like water. If the amount were small, he could have happily accepted it, but with such a large sum, Xie Shuci felt that even if he were given a hundred lifetimes, he couldn't repay it.

Chu Wenfeng sighed wistfully, "Xie Shuci, you're really lucky."

Du Pingsheng and the other man, who were watching the drama unfold, nodded frantically.

"Brother Xie, I envy you so much, you're so lucky."

"Young Master Xie, to be honest, my lifelong wish is to become rich overnight without working."

Xie Shuci: "..."

To be honest, my dream used to be to get rich overnight without working.

But when the opportunity was actually presented to him, Xie Shuci did not feel surprised or happy. Instead, he felt more flustered and guilty. He felt that he was not worthy of the kindness that Master Meng and his senior brother had shown him.

Xie An patted his hand reassuringly and said, "Xie Shuci, they are looking forward to your growth. Repay them with your growth."

Xie An's words always struck Xie Shuci's heart so simply.

— Repay them with your growth.

Chu Guiyi smiled and said, "Shuci, you've actually grown a lot."

Chu Wenfeng stared at Xie Shuci and looked him up and down, saying, "He is indeed more composed than when we first met, and he wasn't as easily startled as the other two just now."

Du Pingsheng and his companion, who were inexplicably dragged into this, looked completely innocent: "?"

They're just ordinary people. How can ordinary people fly?

"You finally said something nice." Xie Shuci looked at Chu Wenfeng with emotion, but the latter clenched his teeth and ignored him.

Ultimately, Xie Shuci's first item sold for 8.21 million taels of silver.

When Xie Shuci heard this astronomical figure, his heart skipped a beat.

In the following period, several other items were auctioned off, but the prices were less than one-tenth of Xie Shuci's.

When Xie Shuci's second item appeared, it was still covered with blue silk. Everyone knew at a glance that it was Xie Shuci's, and the price was set very high from the start.

"Someone has offered one million taels!" Meng Qi shouted.

At this point, the people present no longer cared what Xie Shuci was auctioning; they were spending money more to buy top-grade pills and to save face for Xie Shuci and Elder Meng.

But he immediately asked for one million taels, a price never seen before even in past auctions of top-grade pills.

"Damn it, has your Sheng family gone mad? Throwing out a million taels of silver like that?"

"I'm willing! Anyone bidding higher? If not, then let's place the order!"

The immortal sects and aristocratic families present were not short of a few million taels of silver, so how could they just stand by and watch top-grade pills flow into other people's hands? But to spend a million taels in one go was just too capricious!

"One million five hundred thousand taels!"

"One million eight hundred thousand taels!"

"Two million taels!"

"Two million three hundred thousand taels!"

...

As prices continued to climb, the atmosphere in the building became increasingly heated, with shouts coming from all directions, some of which were even mixed with curses!

Xie Shuci and Du Pingsheng had just finished a bowl of noodles. Feeling satisfied, they opened the window to watch the commotion. As they watched the crowd in the building, Xie Shuci's temples throbbed.

If this scene were to occur outside, who could imagine that a group of usually elegant and refined cultivators would be arguing heatedly over a couple of items in the Laiqu Tower? If it weren't for the fact that this was Elder Meng's territory, the younger, more impulsive ones would have already started fighting.

The price war gradually became irrational. In the end, it was no longer about the relationship between the top-grade pills and Xie Shuci and Old Man Meng, but about fighting for the face of their own immortal sect. No one was willing to admit defeat or back down, and the price kept rising. When Xie Shuci heard the price rising, his legs went weak and he almost died on the spot.

He felt like what had fallen from the sky wasn't a pie, but a meteorite. He was about to be crushed to death by the meteorite. If it weren't for his pride, Xie Shuci would have knelt down and begged them to stop. He couldn't take it anymore!

Meng Qi stood on the stage, his mood no better than Xie Shuci's. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. The price had reached an outrageous level. He looked down at the woman next to him, who remained calm.

Meng Qi asked, "What should we do now? The price is too high."

The woman said calmly, "They have money."

"But……"

"Old Master Meng instructed that the auction be conducted freely, and the highest bidder wins."

Meng Qi: "..."

The problem is, this price is outrageously high!

Although the immortal sects present can come up with so much money, what if they regret it later? Won't they hold a grudge against the Meng family?

The woman seemed to read his mind, "Old Meng's face is worth it."

The second item was eventually sold for an outrageous price.

Xie Shuci didn't dare mention that number; it was enough for him and Xie An to live on for this life, the next life, and the life after that!

Fortunately, after several rounds of other items being offered for sale, everyone calmed down, and Xie Shuci's item price was kept around ten million taels, which was relatively ordinary.

Xie Shuci imagined putting all that money in his own pocket, feeling both happy and uneasy at the same time. It was too much, really too much!

After auctioning off several of Xie Shuci's items, taking advantage of the crowd's high enthusiasm, the Meng family promptly brought out their most prized possession from the auction.

The reason this item is kept hidden away is not because it is particularly valuable or magical, but simply because it has appeared at auctions three or four times but has never been successfully sold.

The reason is simple: no one ever had the chance to use this murder weapon.

Upon hearing Meng Qi's description, Xie Shuci vaguely guessed what was going on and nudged Xie An beside him, saying, "Is this the Soul-Locking Chain you wanted?"

Xie An nodded. "Yes."

Xie Shuci rested his chin on his hand, feeling a little strange, and said, "Even if ordinary people don't need it, it's still a divine artifact. Keeping it in your possession is definitely not a loss. Why hasn't anyone bid for it?"

However, Meng Qi's words the next moment cleared up his doubts.

"This divine artifact is the Soul-Locking Chain that a mysterious cultivator brought back from a secret realm! As you all may have heard, the Soul-Locking Chain has no starting price, only a final price, which is twenty million taels! Whoever is willing to bid twenty million taels for it will be able to take it away without any further competition!"

Xie Shuci gasped, "Twenty million taels? What the hell can compete with that?! No wonder it's not selling, it's so expensive!"

This piece of junk is so broken that it'll mostly just sit idle. Who in their right mind would buy this piece of junk?

Xie Shuci turned his head and saw Xie An's lips move slightly, "Slap."

Xie Shuci: "..."

Oh, so it turns out I'm the one with a screw loose.

Twenty million taels of silver... a mountain of pure silver...

Xie Shuci swallowed hard, his voice slightly unsteady, "You really want it?"

"Yes." Xie An nodded. "I want it."

"hiss……"

Xie An glanced at him, his eyes like scattered starlight, and asked in a low voice, "Will you buy it for me?"

Depend on!

Those three short words instantly made Xie Shuci feel the dignity of being the head of the family. Filled with ambition, he slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and said in one breath, "Buy!"

It's only 20 million taels. Starting tomorrow, he'll refine 100 pills every day. He'll definitely be able to fill this hole in his lifetime. If he learns how to refine top-grade pills, he can make up for it with just two top-grade pills.

So Xie Shuci stood at the window and held up the sign.

Meng Qi thought that the Soul-Locking Chain would once again be the only unsellable item at the auction, just like in previous years. Just as he was getting used to it and was about to give up, he suddenly saw a hand firmly holding up a paddle through the window.

Meng Qi was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. He was almost incoherent, "There...there was a bid...twenty million taels..."

By the end, Meng Qi even doubted that he had seen it wrong. He rubbed his eyes hard, and when he looked again, the hand was still firmly holding up the sign.

"Someone has offered twenty million taels!" Meng Qi shouted excitedly as he came to his senses.

The building erupted in an uproar. Following Meng Qi's gaze, everyone saw an arm holding a token outside a window on the sixth floor, the gesture firm and resolute.

"Young Master Xie?"

"Young Master Xie wants to buy the Soul-Locking Chain?"

"Young Master Xie, don't be fooled! This Soul-Locking Chain is truly useless. You must be careful!"

"Yes, Young Master Xie, you must think it over carefully!"

More and more voices came from Laiqulou trying to dissuade Xie Shuci. When Meng Qi saw this, he thought, "How can this be allowed? We can't let someone ruin what we've worked so hard to sell."

He made a decisive decision: "This young master has offered twenty million taels of silver, deal..."

Meng Qi's voice suddenly caught in his throat. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief as he discovered that someone was also holding up a sign across from the window of Xie Shuci's room!

"Two thousand, twenty-five million taels!" Meng Qi was so excited his voice almost cracked. What was going on today? The prices were getting higher and higher, it was terrifying!

Xie Shuci was taken aback. "Wasn't it supposed to be a no-bidding system?!"

Meng Qi chuckled dryly and said, "I thought no one would bid, so I..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci glared at him fiercely.

Meng Qi touched the tip of his nose guiltily. Who would have thought that someone would bid more than 20 million taels?

Xie Shuci gritted his teeth, "Thirty million taels!"

Deng Xingsen, standing by the opposite window, glanced at Xie Shuci and said unhurriedly, "Thirty-five million."

Xie Shuci glared at him, his teeth itching with anger. This man was clearly deliberately trying to provoke him and drive up the price. If he hadn't met Old Master Meng beforehand, he would have thought that this Xing Sen was a shill hired by the Meng family!

Xie Shuci coldly shouted, "Forty million."

"Forty-five million."

"Five thousand!"

Deng Xingsen remained calm and composed. "Fifty-five million."

Xie Shuci took a deep breath, "Sixty million."

Deng Xingsen said calmly, "Sixty-five million."

“Shu Ci, he did it on purpose,” Chu Guiyi said, frowning.

Xie Shuci gritted his teeth, "I know."

"Xie An, is the Soul-Locking Chain very important to you?" Xie Shuci turned his head to look at Xie An.

Xie An stared at him intently. He wasn't sure whether the Soul-Locking Chain was important to him. He didn't know what he wanted the Soul-Locking Chain for, but he just wanted to leave himself and Xie Shuci a way out.

Therefore, he did not answer Xie Shuci's question.

Looking at his expression, Xie Shuci roughly understood what was going on. He turned back and raised the sign again, "Seventy million taels!"

"I'm going all out! At worst, I'll refine a thousand pills every day from now on!"

"Seventy-five million."

"Eighty million!"

When the price was driven up to 165 million taels by that lunatic from Xiaoyao Sect, Xie Shuci was practically grinding his teeth to powder. If Deng Xingsen were standing in front of him, he would have pounced on him and bitten him to death!

Xie Shuci took a deep breath to calm his raging anger and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Seventeen million."

This time, when Xie Shuci looked across the street again, Deng Xingsen took back the sign and gave Xie Shuci a half-smile.

Meng Qi was drenched in cold sweat and dared not breathe. Seeing this opening, he immediately slammed his hand on the table: "Seventeen million taels! Sold!"

Upon hearing the word "deal," Xie Shuci breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Across the table, Chu Guiyi sighed and said, "Shuci, 170 million taels is the price of all your items for auction today."

"What..." Xie Shuci exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe it.

Chu Wenfeng nodded solemnly, "Just right, seventeen million taels."

Just right...

Xie Shuci felt as if his heart had been squeezed hard, and a sense of humiliation at being mocked filled his heart. Especially when he saw that the window on the seventh floor was open again, and faced with the gazes of the several blue-robed cultivators, Xie Shuci felt ashamed and unable to lift his head.

The things his senior brothers gave him, he...

Xie Shuci's eyes were red, and he was a little afraid to meet their gazes, until he saw the leading cultivator's lips move slightly and he said to the others, "Shuci has grown up."

The bystander looked pleased, "Yes, it must be that young master beside him who likes the Soul-Locking Chain."

"I've finally fallen in love with someone."

"He looks like he's about to cry."

"Huh? Why are you crying?"

"Quick, quick, close the window. If he cries, I'll definitely cry too."

And so, under Xie Shuci's dazed gaze, the open window was slammed shut again.

What's going on...? What are you guys talking about...?

At this moment, Xie Shuci was incredibly grateful that he had learned to read lips; otherwise, he would have missed out on so much love and care from others.

At the same time, Meng Qi's voice came from the stage:

"Please hear me out. When that mysterious cultivator handed the Soul-Locking Chain to the Meng family, he also gave them a sum of money and made a condition. If someone was willing to spend 20 million taels of silver to buy the Soul-Locking Chain, once the deal was made, the Meng family would not accept a single tael of silver from the buyer and would give the Soul-Locking Chain to them directly."

"What?"

These words caused an uproar in the Laiqu Building.

Xie Shuci was stunned and couldn't say a word for a long time, feeling that the surprise had come too suddenly.

He turned back to Xie An, stunned, and asked, "Did you already know?"

Xie An lowered his eyes and smiled, "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? You made me feel like an idiot."

Xie An took his hand and whispered, "Because I want to see you give me what I want without considering the cost."

Xie Shuci: "..."

Meng Qi continued, "That cultivator also said that this Soul-Locking Chain will eventually fall into the hands of a destined person, and that it will be put to its fullest use."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci and the others did not react, but Xie An's pupils dilated.

Xie Shuci was extremely excited at this moment, and looked defiantly at Deng Xingsen in the opposite room.

Deng Xingsen was clearly taken aback by the Meng family's move, and his face turned pale.

When he looked over, Xie Shuci finally had a chance to vent his pent-up anger. Taking advantage of Deng Xingsen's ignorance of what was meant, he gave him the middle finger.

Although Deng Xingsen didn't understand what he meant, he knew it wasn't anything friendly. His expression darkened further, and his gaze toward Xie Shuci became somewhat murderous.

Just then, the person sitting opposite Deng Xingsen, hidden behind the window, seemed to say something. Deng Xingsen's expression hardened upon hearing this, and he glanced at Xie Shuci before looking away.

Xie Shuci couldn't help but glance at the person opposite him. The man revealed an arm, picked up the wine pot on the table, and as he raised his hand, Xie Shuci saw a circle of green swirling around his wrist.

Xie Shuci immediately thought of the green snake that Sikong Ye often played with, and frowned. Was the person sitting opposite Deng Xingsen Sikong Ye?

Was the old friend he mentioned earlier Deng Xingsen?

On stage, the woman appeared with the next item to be auctioned.

Meng Qi said, "This auction item has quite a history; it was specially brought out from the Floating Pagoda Realm by a fellow Daoist from the Free and Unfettered Sect."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci frowned even more deeply.

The group from Xiaoyao Sect didn't buy anything at the auction. The only time they raised their paddles was to argue with Xie Shuci. Did they come here just to auction one item? Was it really worth the Second Master's third disciple going to such lengths to come in person?

Xie Shuci always felt that something was amiss.