Chapter 58: The Only Daughter of the Reclusive Family

“One hundred-year-old Ice Lingzhi… cold in nature, the main ingredient of Frost Powder, a rare spiritual medicine from secret realms, starting bid: fifty thousand taels of silver…”

“Two-hundred-year-old Seven-Colored Lotus, one hundred thousand taels of silver…”

“Five-hundred-year-old Dragon Pattern Grass, two hundred fifty thousand; Premium Heaven Origin Fruit, five hundred thousand; Bone-Growing Grass seedling, starting bid: two million!”

Good heavens, just these starting prices could bankrupt a crowd. I wonder if anyone will even bid, considering how expensive they are…

Tao Tao scanned the list of treasures on the paper. Apart from some ordinary jewels with reasonable prices, anything related to spiritual cultivation was listed at exorbitant sums!

The auction business was exceedingly profitable; no wonder First Pavilion held a grand auction every year.

“Marrow-Cleansing Pill, Spirit-Replenishing Pill, a bottle contains five pills, twenty thousand per bottle. The effects are remarkable… Just five pills per bottle, so that’s four thousand per pill!”

With a starting price of twenty thousand, twenty bottles could serve twenty people. Each bottle might go for up to fifty thousand, so twenty bottles would total around one million. If they began by auctioning two bottles separately at twenty thousand each, that’d be one hundred thousand. Then, auctioning four bottles as a set, with four sets at an eighty-thousand starting price, there’d certainly be fierce bidding—those four sets could fetch unexpectedly high sums.

Tao Tao’s mind spun rapidly, and a novel sales strategy took shape.

She unconsciously rubbed her chin between thumb and forefinger. Remarkable effects? If the pills truly worked wonders, wouldn’t someone try one on the spot for even greater persuasion?

Determined, Tao Tao headed to the front pavilion to find the manager, who happened to be counting Cloud Concealing Stones delivered from the Ancient Clan.

“Ah, Miss Tao Tao, you’re right on time. See if these Cloud Concealing Stones are enough; if not, I’ll have more sent over!”

Tao Tao glanced briefly. “These are sufficient. I actually came to ask if there are any spare pills left from those for the auction. I don’t need many, just one of each.”

The manager was momentarily at a loss. “Those pills were all provided by the young master; they’re in storage, none left over. Miss Tao Tao, you want them for…?”

“Well, since your paper says the pills have remarkable effects, I thought someone could try them at the auction. Proof speaks louder than words.”

The manager sent a servant to process the Cloud Concealing Stones, then looked up. “The ‘remarkable effects’ are what the young master claimed. Why not ask her? She might have a few more.”

“Alright, I’ll go find Sister Gu Hua. Oh, by the way! Manager, do you have any skilled tailors here? Could you make the outfit in this sketch?”

Tao Tao produced a design from her sleeve. Its bold, vivid style startled the manager, Gu Zhou, and left him blushing.

“Miss Tao Tao, isn’t this outfit a bit too revealing?”

Tao Tao waved it off. “As long as it can be made, that’s all I care about.”

After some deliberation, the manager decided to trust Tao Tao. If it sparked innovation, First Pavilion could profit handsomely again. He tucked the sketch into his pocket and returned to his inventory.

Little Courtyard Pavilion.

Gu Hua was focused on cultivating and gathering spiritual energy, so Tao Tao dared not disturb her. She sat nearby, sipping tea in small mouthfuls.

Soon, Gu Hua opened her eyes. “What is it?”

Tao Tao, seeing her awake, spoke shyly. “Um… Sister Gu Hua, do you have any spare pills left—the ones you gave the manager for the auction?”

Seeing Gu Hua’s puzzled look, she quickly explained, “I don’t need many, just one of each.”

Gu Hua flicked her sleeve over the stone table, and six jade bottles appeared out of thin air.

“Is this enough?”

Tao Tao was amazed by Gu Hua’s generosity and hurriedly answered, “More than enough! Thank you!”

She then shared her idea with Gu Hua, who approved, and Tao Tao grinned like a carefree child.

Watching Tao Tao bounce away, Gu Hua was reminded of the rabbit she once fed, and she couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head as she returned to her cultivation.

The rabbit had long since died; surely Tao Tao wasn’t its reincarnation. What a foolish thought.

Ever since Zhong Li appeared last night, Gu Hua felt she might have another chance to see her master.

Only one day remained before the First Pavilion auction.

Red Moon City was entering its busiest days.

Due to the city’s largest inn, First Pavilion, suspending operations, the crowds were dispersing among the various inns around town.

It was the prime season for sales. The families coming for the auction had bulging purses, the banks were crowded with people withdrawing funds, all eager to make a splash at tomorrow’s event.

First Pavilion’s scouts reported that this year’s auction, thanks to the abundance of rare medicines from secret realms and the rumored miraculous pills, had attracted several sects from other regions, far more than in previous years.

“Attention: those responsible for safety tomorrow must be fully focused to ensure the auction proceeds smoothly!”

There were few restrictions for the auction—anyone with money could attend, so the crowd was a mix of all kinds.

First Pavilion always took security seriously, though occasionally bidders were robbed after leaving with their purchases.

Such incidents were not First Pavilion’s responsibility, but anything happening within its premises was.

On Tao Tao’s advice, First Pavilion’s interior had been entirely revamped. Uniform seats, each with a placard—just as Tao Tao requested—so bidders could write their offer, avoiding misheard bids.

Besides the regular seats, there were five special VIP suites, with unlimited tea, fruit, and pastries, and unique services tailored to any guest’s request.

At the center of First Pavilion was the auction stage, draped in light gauze. Windows on the first and second floors were open, letting the breeze stir the gauze—though it never obscured the guests’ view. When the auctioneer (Tao Tao herself) appeared, the gauze lent an ethereal beauty.

“Miss Tao Tao, here are your clothes.”

Manager Gu Zhou delivered them as Tao Tao and Gu Hua were chatting, just before dusk. Tao Tao, who had worried about not having her outfit ready for tomorrow, instantly felt relieved.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to wear my battle attire,”

Tao Tao shook out the garments made of cloth and gauze. “Hmm~ Not bad, just the effect I wanted!”

“Miss Tao Tao, the embroiderers nearly collapsed when they saw your sketch. It looked simple, but was entirely handmade. The gold-threaded phoenixes on those two pieces of cloth alone took three embroiderers working through the night, and that gauze design…”

Seeing Manager Gu Zhou’s near-tearful expression, Tao Tao shrugged, “Hey, you weren’t the one embroidering. This is Gaia’s legend from my homeland—the best there is! I may have only captured a fraction of its essence, but it’s enough!”