Back in his room, Chen Zheng sat cross-legged on the bed.
His Family was in a predicament, already spending more than they earned, so he needed to quickly earn a large amount of gold coins; relying solely on the liquid in the mysterious small cauldron was not a long-term solution.
Cultivation was inseparable from wealth, companions, Cultivation Technique, and land. If he could acquire a large amount of gold coins, he would be able to purchase the Medicinal Pills needed for Cultivation, as well as excellent weapons.
Chen Zheng pondered in his heart, thinking of ways to earn money.
His mother had worried herself sick for him all these years; he couldn't let her continue to toil. This responsibility naturally fell upon him.
"There are still a few drops of golden liquid in the mysterious small cauldron. Each drop is several hundred times better than the Body Tempering Liquid on the market. If I dilute it and sell it as Body Tempering Liquid, wouldn't I be able to earn a large amount of resources?"
Chen Zheng suddenly thought of a method.
He acted on his thought immediately. Chen Zheng rummaged through his room and pulled out a few old porcelain bottles.
With a thought, two drops of liquid appeared in the porcelain bottles.
He brought some clean water and diluted the mysterious liquid, which quickly turned into six bottles.
To test the effect, Chen Zheng consumed one bottle, and the effect was still significantly better than the Body Tempering Liquid on the market.
According to market prices, one bottle of Body Tempering Liquid should be able to sell for ten thousand to thirty thousand gold coins.
He changed into a black robe, leaving only his large eyes exposed, and headed straight for the Qingge Auction House.
The largest auction house in Yan City, it opened once a month, selling not only Cultivation Techniques but also other items, such as Medicinal Pills.
He was greeted by a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl with a sweet appearance. Those who could enter the Qingge Auction House were all one-in-a-million beauties. Upon learning that Chen Zheng wanted to auction something, she politely led him to a private room.
"Do you have something you wish to auction at our Qingge Auction House?"
"This old woman is He Lan, responsible for receiving Young Master."
Unable to see Chen Zheng's face, He Lan was still very polite as she walked in from outside the door.
The Qingge Auction House treated every guest with courtesy, never overlooking anyone due to age or appearance.
"That's right, I have a few bottles of Body Tempering Liquid that I want to sell as quickly as possible. I wonder if the Qingge Auction House will take on this business."
There was more than one auction house in Yan City, but Qingge's reputation and scale were ranked first, which was why Chen Zheng chose this place.
Hearing "Body Tempering Liquid," He Lan's eyes narrowed. Body Tempering Liquid was a very popular item in Yan City, and Alchemists were extremely rare throughout the city.
"Could you show me the Body Tempering Liquid?"
He Lan needed to appraise it. If it was indeed Body Tempering Liquid, she needed to report it to the higher-ups, so as not to miss a Great Master Alchemist.
"Of course!"
It was normal for her to request to inspect the goods. Body Tempering Liquid was not an ordinary item; she had to see the real thing.
He took out a bottle and placed it on the table. He Lan was also a well-traveled person; she opened the bottle and sniffed it, her expression immediately changing.
"Did you concoct this bottle of Body Tempering Liquid?"
The Body Tempering Liquid Chen Zheng produced clearly had a higher purity than ordinary Body Tempering Liquid on the market, and its price would also rise accordingly, which was why He Lan asked this question.
"That's inconvenient to disclose. If the Qingge Auction House can take it, how soon can this bottle of Body Tempering Liquid be sold?"
Chen Zheng was a little impatient. How could he not know the preciousness of Body Tempering Liquid? He wouldn't have brought it out unless absolutely necessary.
"Please wait a moment, I will go invite a senior!"
Body Tempering Liquid had not been sold on the market for half a year. When it usually appeared, there was at most only one bottle, and various major powers scrambled for it, so it could be said that supply did not meet demand.
Chen Zheng took out five bottles at once, no wonder He Lan looked shocked. She quickly left to notify the higher-ups.
Most importantly, she wanted to keep Chen Zheng. If they could win over an Alchemist, the Qingge Auction House could monopolize the entire Body Tempering Liquid market in the future.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the private room door opened for the second time, and an old man with white hair walked in, along with a beautiful young woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
Chen Zheng was not unfamiliar with the white-haired old man; he was the only Second-Grade Alchemist at the Qingge Auction House, known as Master Huo.
Chen Zheng had never seen the woman before. From her alluring figure, charming demeanor, and enchanting eyes that could kill, she should be the chief auctioneer of the Qingge Auction House, known as the "Seductress Ai Linna."
Her towering breasts, seemingly ready to burst forth, as if they could rip through her clothes and pop out at any moment, sat down next to Chen Zheng after entering, and a fragrant scent wafted over.
Her proud figure had undulating curves.
Having always been branded a good-for-nothing, when had he ever seen such a top-tier beauty? That deep cleavage made Chen Zheng stare intently.
"Are you the one who wants to auction Body Tempering Liquid?"
Her breath was like orchids, her delicate small face almost touching Chen Zheng's. If his face hadn't been hidden under the black robe, he would have surely turned bright red.
"Yes!"
He composed himself, still keeping some distance from this seductress. He needed to sell the items first. Master Huo had already begun to inspect the Body Tempering Liquid, and a strange mirror appeared in his hand.
"This is, this is the Starry Sky Refining method, and it's even High Grade Body Tempering Liquid!"
Master Huo put down the porcelain bottle in his hand and let out an exclamation.
Although Body Tempering Liquid was the lowest-grade First-Grade Spirit Medicine, it was also divided into High, Middle, and Low Grades. Not everyone could refine it; at the very least, Master Huo couldn't refine such a High Grade.
"Starry Sky Refining method?" Ai Linna was also surprised.
Chen Zheng was speechless. What Starry Sky Refining method was this? It was just two drops poured from the mysterious small cauldron, which became like this after dilution.
"Rare, too rare! It is rumored that the Starry Sky Refining method has long been lost."
Master Huo's eyes showed a hint of fervor as he continuously studied the Body Tempering Liquid in his hand, wishing he could have a good exchange with Chen Zheng.
In fact, Master Huo didn't know yet that the liquid Chen Zheng consumed was hundreds of times more Advanced than this, calling it the Peerless Grade among Peerless Grades would not be an exaggeration.
"Little brother, how do you want to auction it?" Master Huo's tone was a little excited.
Auctions generally came in many forms. The first was to sell directly to the auction house, and how much it sold for later had little to do with Chen Zheng.
The second was consignment, operated by the auction house. After it was sold, a corresponding commission would be deducted, which would allow Chen Zheng to profit a little more, but the timing was not fixed.
"How soon can it be sold?"
Regardless of the method, Chen Zheng urgently needed gold coins to redeem his mother's hairpin and alleviate the Family's immediate crisis.
"Judging by little brother's tone, he is very anxious to sell these few bottles of Body Tempering Liquid. How about this: two bottles are sold to our Qingge Auction House, and the remaining three bottles are put up for auction? Coincidentally, in three days, Qingge will have a decent-sized auction."
Chen Zheng was still too hasty, and this cunning old fox noticed a clue.
He pondered for a moment. This was the best solution for now; he would sell two bottles first.
"Okay, I'll do as you say!"
He quickly made a decision and agreed to Ai Linna's request.
"Straightforward! Since little brother thinks highly of our Qingge Auction House, we won't let you suffer a loss. Each bottle will be given to you for ten thousand gold coins, so we'll pay you twenty thousand first. For the remaining three bottles, after the auction, after deducting the commission, the remaining gold coins will be given to you."
Ten thousand gold coins was not a low price, but it wasn't high either. A bottle of High Grade Body Tempering Liquid could fetch fifty thousand gold coins at auction, and someone would still buy it. But Chen Zheng was in urgent need of money.
"Little brother, how should I address you?"
Master Huo interrupted their conversation and asked Chen Zheng.
"Chen!"
Chen Zheng did not give his full name, just a surname, which was sufficient.
"The quality of these Body Tempering Liquids is quite good. Ten thousand gold coins is indeed a loss for you. Listening to your tone, you urgently need a batch of gold coins. I can make the decision privately: for the three bottles on consignment, I will advance you ten thousand gold coins per bottle. After the three bottles are auctioned, we can settle the difference, refunding the excess or making up the deficit, how about that?"
This way, Chen Zheng would receive fifty thousand gold coins in total.
Master Huo was clearly trying to win over Chen Zheng, promising some benefits, hoping to establish a closer relationship with him.
Ai Linna quickly realized what winning over an Alchemist who understood the Starry Sky Refining method meant for the Qingge Auction House. She knew better than anyone. She was usually clever but had been slow this time; Master Huo had a longer-term vision.
"Okay!"
Chen Zheng had already guessed Master Huo's intention, mistakenly believing him to be an Alchemist. Since that was the case, he didn't bother to expose it.