After several rounds of pill refinement, the surface of the Mystical Sky Bagua-Patterned Alchemical Furnace seemed even more radiant. Under the house’s lighting, a golden-purple glow emerged.
“Start the furnace!” Leo’s left hand formed a seal, and a stream of Spiritual Power entered the pill furnace, causing its lid to open automatically.
Then, with a gesture of his right hand, Leo used his control over objects to guide the various ingredients for the Vitality Pill into the furnace.
“Close the lid!” Leo commanded.
After the lid closed, a spiritual flame entered the furnace. Leo, well-versed in making Vitality Pills, focused on the refinement.
Early the next morning, warm sunlight streamed through the window into Leo’s alchemy room.
In the courtyard outside, under a beautiful maple tree, sat two charming figures at a stone table.
The restaurant had delivered three steaming bowls of medicinal breakfast porridge.
Violet, supporting her cheek with one hand and stirring the bowl with the other, looked towards Leo’s small house. “Jennifer, when do you think Leo will come out?”
Jennifer glanced at the door of the small house. “Leo has been refining Vitality Pills all night. He should be done soon.”
“Maybe he fell asleep. Should I go wake him?” Violet said, getting up.
Jennifer knew that alchemy should not be interrupted. She quickly stopped her. “Don’t. Alchemy requires focus. When it’s time, he’ll come out.”
“Alright.” Violet sat back down on the stone bench.
Just as Violet sat down, the door of the small house opened, and Leo walked out with a smile.
Violet’s face lit up, and she hurriedly ran to Leo. “Leo, did you successfully refine the pills? Have breakfast quickly; we need to go to the auction.”
Leo nodded with a smile.
After a night of hard work and using all the Energy Grass purchased at the martial arts market, Leo successfully refined a total of 1, 380 Vitality Pills.
After breakfast, the three of them left and headed to the town square, the venue for the auction.
On the way to the square, a message arrived from the Alchemy Research Institute stating that the Vitality Pills had been identified and certified.
The conclusion was that one Vitality Pill could be exchanged for thirty Essence-Building Pills.
Not only that, the East Town’s Alchemy Research Institute gave a high evaluation of Leo’s Vitality Pills, stating that they had a significant promotion effect on martial practitioners at the martial general level.
With the certification of Vitality Pills, Leo could directly use them for bidding at today’s auction.
The auction venue was ready, and many martial practitioners were queuing to enter. Leo and his companions joined the line, received their number plates, and entered the auction venue.
Looking around, the venue was crowded with people. The front three rows were VIP seats, already filled to capacity.
Leo and his companions chose a central and forward position to sit.
Once seated, Violet took out a disposable mask from her belongings and put it on.
“Violet, why are you wearing a mask?” Leo asked curiously.
Violet giggled and explained, “There are many people here for the auction today, and my family might be among them. If they recognize me, they might take me back.”
“Do you really not want to go home?” Leo found it amusing.
Violet nodded vigorously, “Home is so boring, it’s much more fun outside. Leo, you promised to take me to play outside Falling Sunset Mountain, don’t break your promise.”
For such a cute girl, Leo could only nod and smile.
After about ten minutes, most of the martial practitioners attending the auction had arrived.
Leo looked ahead and saw the front row of VIP seats, where members of the Flying Dragon Gang were seated. Lance Eliot, dressed in a white robe embroidered with a golden dragon, stood out, giving off an air of superiority. Beside Lance Eliot were the elders Master Wind and Master Fire.
More eye-catching were two people sitting in the front row. The most striking was a middle-aged man in a deep red robe with rugged features. Embroidered on his chest was a large skull. Sitting next to the middle-aged man was an old man, slender with low-hanging eyes, wearing a red robe as well.
If it weren’t for the occasional glint of fierceness in the old man’s eyes, at first glance, one might have thought he was just a frail, ailing elderly person.
Violet also noticed these two people and said in surprise, “I didn’t expect the Ghost Carving Sect to be here.”
“The Ghost Carving Sect? What kind of sect is that?” Leo was curious.
Violet explained, “I’ve heard about the Ghost Carving Sect from my family. It’s different from new sects like the Flying Dragon Gang; it’s been a top-notch martial sect for over a hundred years.”
“In the Ghost Carving Sect, there were three martial monarchs, but I heard the two strongest martial lords died a year ago. Now, there’s only one martial lord left, barely maintaining the former glory of the Ghost Carving Sect.”
After Violet finished, Leo asked, “From your tone earlier, it seems you’re surprised they’re here.”
“Yeah, the Ghost Carving Sect is ruthless, usually likes to act alone. If they have a grudge with someone, they’ll spare no effort to kill them and use their terrifying techniques to refine the opponent’s blood to increase their own power.”
“In the martial world, the Ghost Carving Sect has made many enemies, and many sects want to eliminate them. After the deaths of the two martial lords of the Ghost Carving Sect, several sects have begun planning to eradicate them. From what I know, the Flying Dragon Gang is one of them.”
“The Flying Dragon Gang, having recently risen to a top-tier martial sect, wants to compensate for its lack of background by swallowing the Ghost Carving Sect. In my opinion, the Ghost Carving Sect’s current situation is precarious. I didn’t expect them to not only fail to strengthen their defenses but also come to participate in East Town’s auction.”
Violet’s words deepened Leo’s understanding of this complex martial world.
Wherever there are people, there is conflict-true in the mundane world and equally true in the martial world.
The life or death of the Ghost Carving Sect had nothing to do with Leo. He shifted his gaze away, observing members of other sects.
Today’s auction had only two top-tier martial sects in attendance, the Flying Dragon Gang and the Ghost Carving Sect. The remaining seats in the front three rows were occupied by members of second-tier martial sects.
According to Jennifer, most top-tier martial sects hid in remote mountains. As they lacked nothing in resources, they rarely ventured outside. Even when they did, it was mostly unknown to others.