Chapter 161: Precious Medicinal Herbs

The next item up for auction is a Spirit Medicine that can prolong life.

According to the introduction, a single dose can extend one's lifespan by eight or nine years.

This instantly caused a sensation. Bidders emerged one after another, each outbidding the last.

What in this world is more important than life?

Before long, the price had shot up to five million.

Mu Lin shook his head. "Why bother? My Beauty Enhancement Pill works on a similar principle and also has the effect of extending one's lifespan. It doesn't even use a single precious traditional medicinal herb, yet the effect is the same."

"The one you gave to Chairman Qiao?" Zhao Yang's eyes widened in astonishment.

Mu Lin nodded. "Yes, that's the one. I believe I set some aside for you as well. You can take them if you want. Taking them for half a year will make you look like you're thirty again."

Zhao Yang quickly shook his head. "Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural course of life. Defying heaven surely comes at a great price, doesn't it? Forget it. Living for a few more decades is enough for me."

Mu Lin just smiled and said nothing.

'Everything comes with a price. It's just a matter of whether you're willing to pay it. In any case, Madam Qiao is surely quite happy.'

In the end, this medicine was sold for a sky-high price of ten million.

Mu Lin thought it over and understood. 'Most likely, these factions have key figures whose lives are nearing their end. A few more years of life would allow them to earn far more than ten million, which is why they're willing to ruthlessly bid for this Spirit Medicine.'

Unfortunately, the Vermilion Fruit was a similar type of medicine...

A trace of worry flashed in Mu Lin's eyes. 'It extends life, and it has the gimmick of being personally picked by the Manor Master. The competition is bound to be fierce.'

Mu Lin couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of crazy scene this would cause.

One Spirit Medicine after another went by. Their quality was average and their effects were mediocre, yet they repeatedly fetched high prices, leaving Mu Lin dumbfounded.

Finally, Jiang Lan smiled faintly and said to the audience, "This next treasure is definitely one that everyone has been waiting for, a truly eye-catching item. It was specially picked by the Manor Master from a perilous land. Its quality and effects are both superior. It can be called a sacred healing medicine. There are many effects, so I won't go into detail. I'm sure you all know more about it than I do."

"Alright, without further ado, let's begin!" Jiang Lan raised her hand and excitedly announced a number to the crowd:

"The starting bid is ten million, with minimum increments of one million! Once the price exceeds fifty million, the minimum increment will be no less than five hundred thousand!"

'These rules are new. The Manor Master probably wants to make a killing, so he set this rule to squeeze out every last bit of potential.'

This was special treatment that the previous items, which were not personally collected by Hidden Sword Manor, did not receive.

"A starting price of ten million? Good heavens, are they insane with greed?" Zhao Ling'Er didn't dare to say it loudly, so she just whispered.

Mu Lin shook his head. "It's their item, so they can set whatever price they want. This is a life-saving treasure, and I must get my hands on it!"

The only fear was that others were thinking the exact same thing as Mu Lin.

"Let the bidding begin!"

"Fifteen million!" someone shouted immediately.

"Twenty million!"

The ferocity of the bidding exceeded Mu Lin's expectations. Jiang Lan didn't even need to warm up the crowd; the slaughter had already begun.

Mu Lin felt a headache coming on. "Are they crazy? They're throwing money around like it's nothing!"

And this was just the people in the seats downstairs, not including the wealthy patrons in the private rooms.

It was hard to imagine what kind of bloodbath would ensue when the people upstairs made their move.

"Thirty-three million!"

Mu Lin couldn't sit still any longer. "Sixty million!"

'Maybe if I call out a price far beyond theirs, they'll give up.'

He was truly getting anxious. If he had waited a little longer, until there were fewer bidders, it probably would have been fine.

Zhao Ling'Er tugged on Mu Lin's arm. "Brother Mu, don't be so anxious! Haven't you seen the movies? The powerful players always wait until the last moment to seal the deal! By jumping in like this, you're just stoking their desire to bid."

"I admit, I got anxious... but the Vermilion Fruit is a matter of life and death for Uncle Li. There's no room for error."

Divine Doctor Zhao patted Mu Lin's shoulder, trying to console him. "Mu Lin, don't sell yourself short. If this is your only goal, it's actually quite easy."

"Rich people usually don't have much spare cash. Most of their money is borrowed from banks, so they're inevitably constrained when spending it. But you're different... Your money is cold, hard cash... a full five hundred million!"

Mu Lin thought about it and realized it was true. Divine Doctor Zhao wasn't finished. "Plus, with the Liu Family, the Zhou Family, Chairman Qiao, and Chairman Lin, if you just ask, they'll definitely bury you in money without even blinking."

'Well...' Mu Lin pondered for a moment. 'The logic does seem to be sound.'

"One hundred million!" Finally, someone called out a number that exceeded everyone's imagination.

The voice came from one of the private rooms upstairs.

"Whoa!"

Some gasped in amazement, while others shook their heads in frustration. With bidding like this, they didn't stand a chance.

The five-hundred-thousand minimum bid increment that Hidden Sword Manor had specially set up to squeeze out potential was completely useless.

Mu Lin gritted his teeth and decisively escalated the confrontation:

"One hundred fifty million!"

He was determined to get this Vermilion Fruit.

This voice came from the regular seating area, causing many people to be slightly surprised. They all wanted to see who had called out such a price.

They were somewhat astonished to see it was such a plain-looking young man.

But seeing Zhao Yang next to him, they felt it wasn't impossible after all.

Zhao Yang had been practicing medicine for so many years; it was normal for him to have some savings. Perhaps he was saving it for a time like this?

But in the private room upstairs, the person who had just bid one hundred million couldn't take it.

He thought he had a profound understanding of human nature and that a bid of one hundred million would scare off all challengers.

He never expected there to be someone so blind.

"Who is that guy? So young and with so much money. Is it clean?"

A subordinate peered out the window and said quickly, "Just a nobody. But look, next to him is Zhao Yang. Could he be his grandson-in-law?"

"Grandson-in-law, huh? First, send a message to Jiang Lan to stall for time. Then, have a word with Zhao Yang and tell him to give up! Tell him to give me, Huang, some face. The Vermilion Fruit is extremely important to me."

On stage, Jiang Lan touched her ear. Hearing the request coming through her earpiece, she looked troubled.

'How am I supposed to stall? The atmosphere is already at a fever pitch.'

Heaven knows how these people were so rich. One hundred million was enough to drive people crazy out in the world, yet they were throwing it around as if it were nothing.

The atmosphere was already so heated; it was doubtful she could cool it down even if she tried.

She smiled faintly. "Everyone seems a bit too excited. Let's have some tea and pastries and take a short break. We'll rest for ten minutes, and then we'll continue!"

At her words, the entire audience came to a sudden realization.

The atmosphere really had been too fanatical. No matter how rare the Vermilion Fruit was, could it really be worth that much money?

Now, the guests who hadn't won the bid were all feeling lucky that some unlucky fool was taking the fall. If they had been stuck with it, it would have been a disaster!

'I've already made my bid, why isn't Jiang Lan bringing down the hammer? What's the point of all this nonsense?!'

"Auctions have intermissions?" Mu Lin complained softly.

Zhao Yang said, "It's a common occurrence. They even keep doctors on standby. If the competition gets too intense and someone has a heart attack, they need to provide immediate first aid. I was invited to be an on-site doctor like that when I was younger."

Since that was the case, Mu Lin had no choice but to wait patiently.

Suddenly, a man walked over and said to Zhao Yang, "Greetings, Divine Doctor Zhao."

Zhao Yang didn't recognize the man. He frowned slightly and asked, "Excuse me, do we know each other?"

The man chuckled. "It's enough that I know you. It's like this: Mr. Huang asks if you could persuade this gentleman to give up on the Vermilion Fruit."

Zhao Yang thought, 'Who the hell does this Mr. Huang think he is, trying to bargain like this? If we give up the Vermilion Fruit, what about Li Yinhe?'

Mu Lin was dead set on getting the Vermilion Fruit. Zhao Yang knew that even if he said something, it would be useless.

"Which Huang?"

"Mr. Huang Fengnian!"

Zhao Yang considered it. 'This man has some power, but he's nothing compared to the titans backing Mu Lin.'

"Please inform Mr. Huang that the Vermilion Fruit is a matter of life and death for someone important. We cannot yield."

"Elder Zhao, I hope you'll think this through, for your own good and for your grandson-in-law's. Master Ning is the one who wants the Vermilion Fruit. Mr. Huang is merely helping to acquire it..."

Hearing the name "Master Ning," Zhao Yang froze, and an uncontrollably grave expression fell over his face.

Mu Lin found this strange. 'What's going on?'

The subordinate continued, "Elder Zhao, you must be aware of Master Ning's power and methods. If this gentleman insists on winning the bid, he'll be the one to suffer..."

"Why don't you weigh your options? What's more important: a Spirit Medicine, or your own lives?"