"Master Gu Huo, are you sure you want to do this?" Shao Mingyu couldn't help but ask, looking at Gu Huo.
This Gu Huo, the alchemist he had invited, clearly knew that Mu Yun was against him, yet he still went to buy Mu Yun's pills—it was practically openly making an enemy of him.
Master Gu Huo nodded without room for argument. He could tolerate the previous Qi Gathering Pill, but this Jade Bone Pill was something he simply couldn't resist. Regenerating
flesh from bones, limbs regenerating—it was truly a miraculous pill!
"Hmph!"
Seeing Gu Huo's crazed appearance, Shao Mingyu snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and his face turned ashen.
"You, Mu Yun, you do have some tricks up your sleeve."
Looking at the martial artists in the auction hall who seemed to be in a frenzy, Shao Mingyu's hatred for Mu Yun grew stronger.
"Ten million!"
However, just as everyone was astonished by the price of nine million, a calm voice rang out again.
It was still the same black-robed man.
Ten million!
Adding to the previous five million, the man in black had already paid fifteen million.
Fifteen million for the formulas of two grade-three pills—in the entire Beiyun City, besides the four major families, who could afford that?
Looking at the man in black, Mu Yun was also somewhat surprised.
It certainly wasn't someone from the Mu family, nor the Qin family; he had already spoken to the Qin family, and these formulas weren't a problem.
Logically speaking, it couldn't be the Diao or Wang families either. The doubling of the price he mentioned earlier was just a last-minute decision; Wang Dongyu and Diao Zhenyun shouldn't have arranged for people in advance.
Moreover, even if the two families ordered their subordinates to do it, they wouldn't dare make such a rash decision.
Ten million!
Gu Huo shook his head with a bitter smile.
Ten million low-grade spirit stones were equivalent to one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones were something he could afford, but it would leave him strapped for cash.
"Forget it, it seems I'm not destined for this." Gu Huo shook his head, his disappointment undisguised.
Finally, when the bid reached ten million, the entire auction hall fell completely silent.
Ten million low-grade spirit stones—that was ten million!
With that ten million, the Mu family would likely rise to the top within the next three years, becoming the number one family in Beiyun City.
However, what intrigued everyone even more was the identity of that black-robed man.
"Ten million low-grade spirit stones, congratulations to this distinguished guest."
No one raised the bid further, and the presiding steward finally made the final decision.
The black-robed man had won the Huiqiao Pill and Jade Bone Pill for fifteen million—a truly extravagant move.
"
Miss , isn't it a bit much to buy these two third-grade pills for fifteen million low-grade spirit stones?" A woman also shrouded in black robes beside the black-robed man spoke up.
"So what!"
The black-robed woman's voice was melodious and sweet as she whispered, "My father insists I marry this illegitimate son, so of course I had to come and see. Although the Mu family is now a top family in the Southern Cloud Empire, it's impossible for me, Xiao Yun'er, to marry a good-for-nothing without knowing his background."
"Besides, this guy is an illegitimate son, his identity is unclear. If I go to the Mu family, won't I be bullied?"
Bullied?
Hearing her young mistress's words, the maid under the black robe curled her lips.
The Xiao family is a renowned ancient martial arts family in the capital, Southern Cloud City. If her young mistress were to marry that illegitimate son, it's uncertain who would bully whom.
"Come on, let's go see these Gathering Aperture Pills and Jade Bone Pills. I want to see if this Mu Yun really has these abilities, or if he's just trying to fool people."
Xiao Yun'er took a step forward and left the main hall.
As the auction ended, the auction hall gradually quieted down.
"Hehe, Clan Chief Diao, Clan Chief Wang, the auction is over, are you still reluctant to leave the Sacred Pill Pavilion?" Seeing Wang Dongyu and Diao Zhenyun still sitting in their seats, Mu Yun chuckled.
"Hmph, Mu Yun, you smiling wolf, stop pretending."
"Ah? Clan Chief Diao, that's not quite right. If you didn't win any pills at auction, that's because your Diao family's financial strength is lacking, it has nothing to do with me, right?"
"You..."
Seeing Mu Yun's serious expression, Diao Zhenyun wanted to slap him to death.
"Ahem, Clan Chief Diao, actually, I still have the formula for a third-grade pill. If you can agree to one condition, I, Mu Yun, will offer it to you with both hands."
"What condition?"
Almost instinctively, Diao Zhenyun immediately asked.
"Simple, expel Mu Fengyuan and Mu Fengqing from the Diao family, sever all ties from now on, and never associate with them again. How about it?"
"No way!"
Before Diao Zhenyun could speak, Shao Mingyu suddenly shouted from the side.
He was really furious.
This Mu Yun, knowing his identity perfectly well, kept ignoring him, only talking to Wang Dongyu and Diao Zhenyun, completely disregarding him.
This was the most direct insult.
"Clan Chief Diao, how do you manage your servants? I am, after all, the young clan chief of the Mu family. How dare such a servant be so arrogant?"
Looking at Shao Mingyu, Mu Yun curled his lip in disdain.
"Mu Yun, this is Elder Shao, an inner sect elder of the Saint Pill Sect. You must not be rude."
"Oh... so it's Elder Shao. My apologies. Although I haven't heard of him, an inner sect elder of the Saint Pill Sect must be quite famous, right?"
"Hehe..."
In a corner of the hall, upon hearing this, Xiao Yun'er couldn't help but giggle.
"Miss, what are you laughing at?"
"Hehe, don't you think this guy is funny?" Xiao Yun'er said with a grin. "Look at him, he clearly knows about Shao Mingyu, but he pretends not to. He's quite an interesting fellow."
"Ah!"
Hearing her mistress's words, the maid exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, you haven't fallen for this illegitimate child, have you?"
"I think you're itching for a fight again."
Xiao Yun'er snorted. "A month ago, Father suddenly told me that I should get engaged to him and marry into the Mu family. I was quite surprised, so I came to see him this time to get to know him better. Once this guy arrives in Nanyun City, I'll make him give up on his idea."
"Hmph, this guy has only reached the eighth level of the Core Formation Realm after ten years in Beiyun City. He's like a toad trying to eat swan meat. My future husband, Xiao Yun'er's husband, will be above all others, at least the number one genius of the Nanyun Empire."
Xiao Yun'er snorted, watching the lively scene in the auction hall.
"Mu Yun, these Jade Bone Pills and Qi Convergence Pills, you didn't make them, did you?" Shao Mingyu looked at Mu Yun and probed.
"No!" Mu Yun chuckled. "I dreamt about them and remembered them when I woke up."
Damn it!
As far as Shao Mingyu knew, Mu Yun couldn't possibly have these pill formulas. So where did he get them from?
There was only one answer!
That was that Mu Yun most likely had a powerful figure behind him, probably at least a sixth-grade alchemist.
Could it be Mo Wen?
Unlikely. According to what he knew, although Mo Wen was a sixth-grade alchemist, he was surprised by Mu Yun's outstanding performance in Beiyun City.
He even lowered his status as a sixth-grade alchemist to humbly ask for advice and addressed him as a brother.
This is enough to show that Mu Yun had already encountered such a powerful figure before Mo Wen arrived in Beiyun City.
This is also why he only had the Wang and Diao families target the Mu family these past few days, instead of taking action himself. If
Mu Yun really had a peerless expert behind him, teaching him alchemy, weapon crafting, and cultivation, that would be very troublesome.
Otherwise, he would have slapped Mu Yun to death long ago; the four major families of Beiyun City were nothing in his eyes.
"Very good, you are very good, Mu Yun. I am becoming more and more interested in you."
Shao Mingyu knew that he couldn't get anything out of Mu Yun, so he simply gave up and left the hall with a flick of his sleeve.
Wang Dongyu and Diao Zhenyun didn't dare to delay and hurriedly followed.
"Hey, Clan Chief Wang, Clan Chief Diao, if you've saved enough money and want to buy a pill formula, come find me anytime."
Watching Wang Dongyu and Diao Zhenyun's departing figures, Mu Yun continued.
Clap clap...
Suddenly, a clapping sound came from behind. Mu Yun turned around, and two figures appeared in front of him.
Both were around 1.7 meters tall, but one of them, a man in black robes, was clearly of higher status, standing at the front with his head held high and chest puffed out.
"Hehe... two beautiful ladies, how may I serve you? Those two pill formulas, are they alright?"
Mu Yun chuckled, looking at the two women.
"How did you know I'm a lady?" Xiao Yun'er blurted out instinctively, not expecting Mu Yun to discern her gender before she even spoke
. But this one sentence completely exposed her.
Mu Yun simply smiled and remained silent.
"Wearing a black robe, making it impossible to tell your gender, you're clearly trying to hide it. You're most likely a woman, and that faint, virginal fragrance is hard to conceal unless you're some effeminate man."
Of course, Mu Yun kept this to himself.
"The pill formulas are fine, but I'd like to know, did you write these formulas?" Having been recognized, Xiao Yun'er simply removed her black hat.
Her long hair cascaded down, a wisp of ink spreading like a waterfall, revealing an extremely delicate and pretty face to the group.
Cherry lips, oval face, and constantly blinking eyes revealing a hint of cunning and liveliness.
Her black robe fell down, revealing the unique figure of a young girl—a slender waist, a graceful and perfect silhouette, all displayed in its entirety.
"Gulp..."
Xiao Yun'er pulled down her hat and black robe, revealing a black dress; her charming appearance was like a black lotus blooming.
"Useless!"
Mu Yun slapped Mo Yang on the head, scolding him with exasperation.
"Giggle..." Seeing the master and disciple's interaction, Xiao Yun'er couldn't help but laugh.
"My name is Xiao Yun'er. I've seen your pill formula; it's very suitable, very miraculous. No wonder you're the son of the Mu family patriarch."
The son of the Mu family patriarch.
Hearing this, Mu Yun's pupils contracted.
This patriarch wasn't referring to his adoptive father, Mu Linchen, but to his father who had abandoned him for ten years—Mu Qingyu, the patriarch of the Mu family in the Southern Cloud Empire.