Ultimately, the first pill was acquired by a mysterious individual in a private room for six million six hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
The second pill, even more wildly, saw its price soar to eight million eight hundred thousand, also falling into the hands of someone in a private room.
Zi Lin was so excited she could barely contain herself.
Fifteen million four hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones! That was equivalent to one billion five hundred forty million low-grade spirit stones!
Compared to this, the more than two hundred million low-grade spirit stones Zi Lingling had once extorted from the four major powers seemed like mere trifles.
Xuanyuan Zhe was utterly shocked.
He knew these two Heaven-grade, top-quality, three-turn Great Return Pills were valuable, but he never imagined they would be worth this much.
The price of these two pills alone could cover half a month's consumption for the Xuanyuan Divine Clan!
Damn it!
Pills were truly a business with immense profits, no wonder the Alchemist Guild was so incredibly wealthy.
Equally pleased was the auctioneer, Ming Lan.
After all, Lin Xian Wine House would take a ten percent commission on Zi Lingling's two pills.
Of this ten percent commission, Lin Xian Wine House would receive ninety percent, and the auctioneer would get one percent.
This meant that from these two pills alone, she could earn one hundred and fifty-four thousand mid-grade spirit stones!
Ming Lan was so happy she could almost jump for joy.
However, as an auctioneer, she had to maintain her composure, and there were still two final auction items yet to be auctioned.
She managed to calm her excited voice and said, "Next, the staff will be bringing up the second final auction item."
As her words fell, a three-foot-square cage appeared on the auction stage.
The outside of the cage was covered with a large black cloth, casting a layer of mystery over the item within.
The moment the cage was brought up, the surrounding spiritual energy became pure and incredibly gentle, creating a sense of profound affinity.
What could it be?
Everyone in the auction hall silently speculated.
A strange sense of sadness inexplicably welled up in Zi Lingling's heart.
How could this be?
What was inside this cage?
Zi Lingling instinctively released her divine sense.
However, the black cloth had the effect of blocking divine sense.
Ming Lan approached the cage and said with a smile, "I know many of you present couldn't resist using your divine sense to probe, and you would have discovered that this black cloth has the ability to block divine sense.
Of course, the blocking of divine sense is not aimed at everyone, but rather at the contents of the cage.
Now, I will reveal the mystery for everyone. Please watch carefully!"
She said this, then suddenly pulled, and the black cloth was torn away, revealing the cage within.
Zi Lingling suddenly stood up, a flicker of anger on her face.
Because inside the cage was a person, someone with emerald green hair, emerald green eyes, and a pair of pointed ears.
To be precise, it was a beautiful elf!
The elf exuded an aura of purity, as if they were a favored child of heaven and earth.
Yet, trapped in the cage at this moment, they looked terrified and helpless, like an abandoned child.
Silence fell upon the auction hall, so profound one could hear a pin drop.
The reason for this stillness was that everyone was stunned by the scene before them.
Ming Lan took in everyone's reactions, a smile gracing her lips.
"As you all can see, this is an elf.
It has the ability to purify spiritual energy and enhance affinity with spiritual elements. Of course, its value far exceeds these.
This elf was sent by a powerful individual, and we at Lin Xian Wine House are responsible for its auction.
The starting bid for this elf is three million mid-grade spirit stones, with a minimum increment of one million. Bidding now begins!"
The silence in the auction hall was immediately broken.
"Four million mid-grade spirit stones!"
"Five million mid-grade spirit stones!"
"Six million!"
"..."
Zi Lingling closed her eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
Who could be so cruel as to capture such a gentle species as elves!
Elves, the darlings of heaven and earth, they never harmed others. They were the species closest to the Heavenly Dao, and the closest to the origin of life.
Xuanyuan Zhe, eager to participate in the bidding outside, felt the number one private room filled with an aura of sorrow.
To his surprise, this aura of sorrow was emanating from Zi Lingling.
And this sorrowful aura was slowly eroding his heart, making him feel inexplicably sad as well.
"Miss Zi, what's wrong?"
Xuanyuan Zhe, suppressing the urge to shed tears, asked with concern.
Zi Lingling remained silent, the aura of sorrow around her intensifying.
"Crack!"
A tear fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
At this moment, Zi Lingling was like a fairy from the Nine Heavens, making Xuanyuan Zhe feel inferior.
Compassion!
The words "compassion" surfaced in Xuanyuan Zhe's mind, refusing to leave.
In the nascent world within Zi Lingling's dantian, Bai Ze glowed with a brilliant white light.
"Sage's light, tears of salvation..."
A faint, ethereal voice echoed in the void of the nascent world.
Zi Lingling, however, had entered a wondrous state and did not hear this voice.
Xuanyuan Zhe felt a warmth enveloping him, as if after a year of gloomy weather, he had suddenly felt the sun.
He realized that his cultivation was slowly increasing.
"Ten million!"
"Eleven million!"
"Thirteen million!"
"..."
The bidding outside continued.
Zi Lingling finally opened her eyes, a trace of understanding in their depths.
She murmured to herself, "So that's how it is!"
Zi Lingling stepped out of the private room and looked at the elf in the cage, saying softly, "Come with me, I'll take you home, alright?"
At this moment, her voice was like a spring breeze, and though not loud, it quieted the entire auction hall.
The elf froze, instinctively raising its eyes to meet Zi Lingling's clear gaze.
The fear and helplessness in its eyes slowly faded. It clenched its right fist to its chest, placed its left hand behind its back, and said, "Yes!"
Its voice was clear and pleasant.
Even a single word was enough to make one's ears swoon.
Zi Lingling slowly walked onto the auction stage and said to Ming Lan, "I wish to take this elf away. Please have your manager come out!"
Ming Lan blinked, her expression darkening slightly. "Miss, are you trying to disrupt our auction?"
Zi Lingling shook her head. "No! I simply wish to speak with your manager!"
Ming Lan frowned. "But, Miss, we are currently in the midst of an auction!"
Zi Lingling said calmly, "I know! But the auction for this item can end here, because I intend to buy him!"
With that single sentence, she offended all those participating in the auction.
"Hmph! You want to buy it? We want to buy it too!"