Qin Si had actually thought too much.
Not long after Bai Shengyi and Feng Wuya left the academy, they parted ways.
Feng Wuya, as the young master of the Feng family, needed to return to Hongfeng City in advance to assist his family in preparing for the Pill Fighting Competition. Bai Shengyi, as a participant, only needed to arrive before the start of the competition. Therefore, Bai Shengyi decided to handle some Bai family matters first.
On her way back to the Great Ning Dynasty, she passed through Wuyue City and happened to encounter an auction being held. Thinking of the pills she had recently refined and her depleted storage bag due to purchasing various medicinal ingredients, she stepped into the auction house.
She wore a pale cyan flowing light dress specially prepared for her by Senior Sister Qianying. Her movements were radiant, and coupled with her extraordinary demeanor, it was clear she was no ordinary person. As soon as she entered, a shop assistant approached her.
"Esteemed sir, what can I do for you?"
Bai Shengyi smiled faintly and asked, "I see you are holding an auction tonight. Do you still accept items for sale?"
"Of course. Are you consigning or selling directly?" Consigning means entrusting all items to the auction house. Selling directly means the seller sets the price, and the auction house takes a commission after the sale.
"Consigning."
This auction house was just an ordinary one, and the auction was a regular monthly event. The shop assistants did not have high expectations for the items Bai Shengyi intended to sell.
However, the next moment, when he heard Bai Shengyi's answer, his eyes lit up.
"You... you didn't mishear, did you? You want to auction some third and fourth-grade spiritual pills and herbs?"
Bai Shengyi corrected him, "It's some fourth-grade spiritual pills and third-grade spiritual herbs."
The shop assistant was no longer focused on what Bai Shengyi was saying. He excitedly led Bai Shengyi further inside, saying, "Alright, alright, please follow me." Then, he called out to his stunned companion, "Hurry and get Old Xu and the shopkeeper over here! What are you standing around for!"
After all, among the items for their auction this time, they only had one third-grade top-quality pill. Although the Great Ning Dynasty had many cultivators with wood spiritual roots, not everyone could become an alchemist or herbalist. Over the years, there had only been one fifth-grade alchemist and one sixth-grade herbalist in the Great Ning Dynasty, resulting in even fewer pills reaching smaller auction houses like theirs.
Today, this young lady was offering third and fourth-grade pills right from the start. Regardless of their quality, if they were genuine, their auction would be very lively!
Upon hearing that someone was selling pills, the auction house shopkeeper and appraiser, Old Xu, arrived quickly.
The shopkeeper pushed the assistant aside and fawningly said, "Esteemed lady, I am the shopkeeper of this auction house, my surname is Song. This is our appraiser. Please allow Old Xu to appraise the pills you wish to consign."
Old Xu showed a hint of disdain on his face. He did not believe that such a young girl would have fourth-grade pills. However, with the shopkeeper present, he simply said, "Don't waste time."
Shopkeeper Song's expression changed slightly, and he quickly tried to smooth things over, "No rush, no rush. There is still an hour before our auction begins."
Bai Shengyi took in their expressions and smiled faintly. She took out the pills and handed them to Old Xu, then asked Shopkeeper Song, "Shopkeeper, could you give me a list of tonight's auction items to look at?"
"Certainly." Shopkeeper Song quickly went to get one. "Esteemed lady, you..."
"Top-grade fourth-grade Rejuvenation Pill!" Old Xu suddenly exclaimed, interrupting Shopkeeper Song.
But Shopkeeper Song did not blame him. Instead, he widened his eyes, "Top... top-grade?" His voice trembled, and his breathing quickened. He asked uncertainly, "Old Xu, are you sure?"
Old Xu nodded, even more excited. He looked at the pill in his palm with great affection, his gaze seeming to stick to it. A top-grade fourth-grade Rejuvenation Pill! Its value was already comparable to a low-grade fifth-grade Rejuvenation Pill!
After all, even that fifth-grade alchemist could only refine low-grade fifth-grade pills! What did this imply? Either this young lady in front of him was at least a fourth-grade or higher alchemist herself, or she knew such an alchemist. Regardless of the reason, it meant that this young lady was someone he could not afford to offend.
Old Xu took a deep breath, his expression becoming much more respectful. He said gravely, "Shopkeeper Song, the value of this esteemed lady's pills is too great. I suggest we save them for the next auction..."
"No need, I'm in a hurry. They can be auctioned today," Bai Shengyi said, still looking at the auction items in the booklet. She frowned slightly and added, "Please hurry with the appraisal." She only intended to stay in Wuyue City for one night.
Old Xu was stunned and quickly continued to appraise the remaining pills. Upon doing so, he realized that Bai Shengyi's earlier comment was not a mockery of his earlier statement about wasting time.
"Top-grade third-grade Purple Snow Pill?"
"Top-grade third-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill?"
"Top-grade third-grade Sealing Spirit Powder?"
...
Old Xu was dumbfounded! Were top-grade pills that easy to refine? The key was that these spiritual herbs and pills were casually stored in ordinary porcelain bottles, each filled to the brim, without any of the treatment they deserved! In the past year, Old Xu had not seen so many pills. As he appraised them, he had his young apprentice take out jade bottles and pack them one by one according to the pills and portions of herbs.
After the appraisal was complete, Old Xu's attitude towards Bai Shengyi underwent a 180-degree turn, and he now looked at her with reverence. He respectfully said, "Esteemed lady, your pills are all genuine. There are 20 top-grade fourth-grade spiritual pills, 50 top-grade third-grade spiritual pills, and 50 portions of top-grade spiritual herbs. According to the auction house's rules, the estimated price is six thousand mid-grade spirit stones." This meant that after the auction concluded, the auction house would pay Bai Shengyi at least six thousand mid-grade spirit stones based on the auction price.
Bai Shengyi was quite satisfied with this price and knew it was a fair valuation. She had no objections and nodded, then asked Shopkeeper Song, who was busy postponing the auction and instructing people to heavily publicize the fact that pills were being sold, "Can I purchase the three types of medicinal ingredients from this booklet directly?"
"Won't you participate in our auction, esteemed lady?" Shopkeeper Song hurriedly asked.
Bai Shengyi shook her head, "No. I'll come back to settle the bill after the auction." There was nothing else she wanted at this auction.
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Song quickly had someone fetch the medicinal ingredients Bai Shengyi wanted. He then took a token from his waist and handed it to Bai Shengyi, saying, "Esteemed lady, I know our Song's Auction House is a small establishment with little influence. However, from now on, whenever you visit our auction, you will certainly enjoy our best treatment." He was eager to build a good relationship with someone like Bai Shengyi.
The Song family was just an ordinary family. Song's Auction House could not compare to the renowned Xunzhen Auction House, let alone the fact that Wuyue City was the territory of the Jiang family, and with the Jiang's Auction House, they were often constrained by the Jiang family. Shopkeeper Song had been troubled by this problem for a long time, and now seeing Bai Shengyi, he felt like he had seen a ray of hope. Therefore, even though Bai Shengyi's attitude had been indifferent since entering the room, Shopkeeper Song remained extremely hospitable.
Shopkeeper Song's attitude was very pleasing to Bai Shengyi, and the smile on her face deepened.
"No need for the token. This is likely Shopkeeper Song's token of authority as shopkeeper, right? Shopkeeper Song should keep it for himself." Bai Shengyi did not accept the token, but said, "However, if there is a next time, I will prioritize Song's Auction House."
"So, esteemed lady is truly an alchemist?" Shopkeeper Song asked subconsciously. He could not imagine someone cultivating both pills and spiritual cultivation simultaneously, and he guessed that since Bai Shengyi produced pills of higher grades, she must be an alchemist.
Bai Shengyi did not answer. She simply took the list issued by Old Xu and gave him a knowing smile.
"It was my impudence," Shopkeeper Song suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly smiled sheepishly, "I will escort you out."
Bai Shengyi waved her hand, "No need." If he really escorted her out, her identity would be broadcast to all of Wuyue City. Before the Pill Fighting Competition, Bai Shengyi did not want to be too conspicuous. However, while Bai Shengyi did not want it, Shopkeeper Song desperately did.