Chapter Fifty-Five: The Sole Daughter of the Hidden Clan

First Floor Treasury.

After the shopkeeper, Gu Zhou, finished inventorying the newly delivered goods, he recalled the spatial ring Gu Hua had given him. He retrieved it from his clothing and placed it on the table.

This ring hadn’t bonded to any owner, so Gu Zhou only needed to channel a thread of spiritual energy for it to open automatically.

With a thought, Gu Zhou moved everything from the ring out, neatly arranging them on the floor.

He gazed over the items: a hundred-year-old Frost Lingzhi, a hundred-year-old Cold Smoke Grass, a two-hundred-year-old Seven-Color Lotus, a five-hundred-year-old Dragon Pattern Herb… and, most notably, a perfectly matured Superior Heavenly Essence Fruit and a seedling of Bone-Regrowth Grass!

These priceless medicinal herbs, rarely seen on the market, were now all laid out before Gu Zhou’s eyes—especially the Heavenly Essence Fruit and the Bone-Regrowth Grass seedling!

A single Heavenly Essence Fruit was enough to allow any spiritual cultivator below the Saint Realm to advance effortlessly!

Meanwhile, a Bone-Regrowth Pill refined from Bone-Regrowth Grass could revive the dead and regrow flesh and bone with ease!

Amazed, Gu Zhou glanced at the white jade porcelain bottles beside him: twenty bottles each of the basic Marrow Cleansing and Spirit Replenishing Pills! Ten bottles each of Meridian Guard and Purple Spirit Reviving Pills! Ten bottles each of Awakening and Barrier-Breaking Pills!

What’s more, every bottle contained top-grade, triple-inscribed pills! Although he couldn’t yet attest to their full efficacy, they were certainly of the highest quality!

“When did our Gu Clan produce such a formidable alchemist? Could it be that Gu Yue has advanced to a Saint-level alchemist? That must be it…”

Muttering to himself, the shopkeeper pondered how to maximize the profits from these treasures Gu Hua had brought—treasures worthy of being the highlight of the auction.

Timing it just as Gu Hua’s group would be finishing their meal, Gu Zhou entrusted the front desk to his most trusted subordinate and went to find the young master.

“Young Master!”

Gu Hua, seeing Gu Zhou arrive in a flurry, greeted, “Uncle Gu Zhou, is something the matter?”

At this time, Gu Zhi was leading Gu Lin and the others in their martial practice behind the building. As someone whose strength surpassed theirs by far, Gu Hua was free to relax and bask in the sun, with Tao Tao accompanying her.

“Young Master, the medicinal materials you brought from the clan are far too precious. I wish to consult you on how to auction these treasures for maximum benefit!”

Gu Hua was momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter. “Of course!”

It seemed Gu Zhou believed her father had slipped her these medicines as a favor, but in truth, they were all produced and stored in Gu Hua’s own portable space.

Earlier, she had used soul power as a sacrifice to resolve the crisis in the Jiang Kingdom with “Purify the World,” which had left her in a deep slumber. During that time, Little Rascal, bored and idle, had tidied up the space and preserved seeds and seedlings of all the herbs, keeping the prime specimens in the spatial ring.

The Heavenly Essence Fruit grew on a Heavenly Tree in her former home—before her body was struck by lightning. When the fruit ripened, five would appear on a single tree. Whenever Gu Hua wanted one, her master would pick three, leaving two to give back to nature. Even the guardian beasts wouldn’t dare lay a claw on her master.

The Bone-Regrowth Grass had recently flowered and seeded, and many seedlings had sprouted in the fertile soil of her space. The one given to Gu Zhou was the most robust among them.

As for the pills, Gu Hua never learned alchemy herself, but Little Rascal was like a walking treasury—every kind of pill imaginable was available! For Gu Hua, as long as she had Little Rascal, pills were as commonplace as candy, to be consumed at leisure.

Returning to the matter at hand, this auction would not only attract prominent families and nobles, but even the royal household attended annually. Many would travel arduous distances for months, bringing ample funds in pursuit of their coveted treasures!

“I have no doubt that the Heavenly Essence Fruit, the Bone-Regrowth Grass, and these pills will bring about an unprecedented fervor at First Floor,” Gu Zhou declared, though his tone hinted at hesitation. “It’s just…”

“You’re unsure how best to conduct the auction?” Gu Hua finished for him.

Gu Zhou nodded. The person previously in charge of this matter had recently returned to the clan to visit elderly parents.

In such cases, Gu Zhou would never insist on them staying—after all, one may only see loved ones once more, but money can always be earned.

Tao Tao, though lost when it came to the fruits and herbs Gu Zhou had mentioned, was more than equipped when it came to business strategy—after all, the intelligence of a modern Chinese person was not to be underestimated!

In the modern era, whether in sales or auction, people could, with just a few words, elevate a customer’s desire to the highest point, and then the customer would gladly hand over their money.

Tao Tao raised her hand. “I wonder if my ideas might help you…”

Immediately, the gazes of both Gu Hua and Gu Zhou converged on Tao Tao.

This girl, so sharp-tongued online and never backing down in e-sports, shrank under their wolfish, gleaming stares.

“Let’s hear it?” Gu Hua prompted.

Tao Tao cleared her throat, regaining her composure and sitting up straight.

“We’re talking about maximizing profit for this auction, right? Then true maximization means utilizing every available resource!”

Gu Hua and Gu Zhou exchanged a glance; clearly, this would be a long conversation.

“Is the auction being held here at First Floor?” Tao Tao asked.

Gu Zhou nodded.

“Well, that’s your first problem! Your marketing is far too weak!”

“How so?” Gu Zhou asked.

“You assume that just because you hold an auction every year, people will automatically flock to it?” Tao Tao waved her hand dismissively. “Wrong—completely wrong! Marketing is the key to attracting customers. You need to compile a complete list of all the items for auction and post it on the city notice boards. Don’t you have branches in every city? Have them do the same! That way, the entire Red Moon Kingdom will know about this auction!”

Gu Hua frowned. “But wouldn’t that just prompt buyers to bring only enough money for the items they’re interested in?”

Tao Tao wagged her finger, shaking her head. “No, no, no, Gu Hua, you’re thinking about this all wrong. Imagine you post a list of treasures—won’t people be tempted by things they hadn’t planned to bid on?”

Realization dawned on Gu Hua. “That’s brilliant, Tao Tao!”

“Naturally!” If Tao Tao had a tail, it would be wagging with pride. “And that’s just the start—the best part is yet to come…”

“Consider this: when those nobles and sects attend the auction, some of them want to feel special. So, how do you make them feel superior?”

Gu Zhou paused. That was never something he’d considered; auctions in the Red Moon Kingdom had always been egalitarian. “You mean special services for the nobility?”

Tao Tao rolled her eyes. If Gu Zhou weren’t her elder, she might have rebuked him outright!

“No, not special services—that’s just charging the rich for luxury! Instead, set up five exclusive rooms—call them VIP suites—available only to those willing to pay a premium. Some people love to stand out from the crowd; there will always be one or two who’ll pay for a VIP suite!”

Gu Zhou pictured it in his mind—it did indeed sound just as Tao Tao described. “Go on, tell us more!”

Tao Tao plucked a grape, deftly removed the seed, tossed it in the air, and caught it in her mouth with a self-satisfied grin. “How long has it been since First Floor was last renovated?”

“The current décor? About ten years,” Gu Zhou replied.

“Exactly—ten years! Regular customers must be bored of it by now. But we can put aside renovations for the moment; that’ll require more planning.”

“And next?” Gu Hua inquired.

“When it comes to the auction itself, who here is the most experienced?”

Gu Zhou scratched his head. “Gu Ning, who runs the auctions, has gone back to the clan. She probably won’t make it back in time.”

“No problem!” Tao Tao patted her chest confidently. “Leave it to me! Just make a list of every auction item and describe its properties and effects—I’ll review each one personally!”

At that moment, Gu Zhou was genuinely moved. “Miss Tao Tao, we’re truly indebted to you!”

Tao Tao waved her hand. “I’m just repaying Sister Gu Hua’s kindness! Besides, I have nothing else to do and I’m happy to help!”

“Then for the next few days, Miss Tao Tao, please give your orders freely. Everyone at First Floor will follow your instructions!”

Tao Tao felt almost giddy. “Turns out, after all these years, I do have a talent for leadership…”

“Miss Tao Tao, you jest!” Gu Hua replied, yet she felt Tao Tao had grown much more confident during this brief exchange. Perhaps, being swept here by the spatial turbulence, this was the reason fate had brought Tao Tao to this place.