"Lílú Heavenly Fire Elixir" —— Han Li, of course, had heard of this name. It was one of the primary materials assigned by Qingyuan Zi for collection, essential for crafting several compounds-level pills. It was said that even without being infused into a pill-making vessel, merely consuming a single drop of this elixir could save a practitioner years of rigorous cultivation. Its value, therefore, was truly incalculable. Moreover, unlike stone or wood, this elixir was distilled from a rare celestial fire originating beyond the realm of earth. Compared to other spiritual substances of the same stage, it was even more scarce and difficult to find. After reviewing the relevant texts and records, Han Li himself concluded that it was among the most elusive materials among Qingyuan Zi's requirements. Yet now, this elixir had unexpectedly appeared at this auction, priced at a level so low that it seemed utterly astonishing. After all, given its rarity, it was entirely fitting to be featured as the grand finale of the auction. While 18 million was a substantial sum, it was remarkably affordable when weighed against the elixir's true worth. Han Li, in his urgent thoughts, subtly sensed that Xiao Bu Yi would surely elaborate further on this strange pricing. This thought was not unique to Han Li within the auction hall. Many others, while others around them expressed astonishment, themselves displayed shifting expressions of surprise and uncertainty. Indeed, upon observing the audience's reactions, Xiao Bu Yi smiled slightly and continued: "I am aware that the base price of the Lvyu Tian Huo Yi liquid has come as a surprise to all of you. Yet, there is a reason behind this remarkably low pricing. Though this liquid is also distilled from celestial fire, the distillation process encountered certain imperfections, resulting in minor deficiencies when compared to the genuine finished product. However, one point I can assure you: all the primary functions of a standard Lvyu Huo Yi liquid are fully present in this one—though significantly diminished." "An imperfect batch!" The previously agitated crowd instantly fell silent. Many people now furrowed their brows. Instances of defective elixirs or divine artifacts being auctioned at previous gatherings were not unheard of. Yet, according to reports, every item sold off seemed rather underwhelming—far falling short of genuine, top-quality specimens. After all, whether refining elixirs or crafting artifacts, strict standards were imposed on the quantity and efficacy of raw materials; even minor deviations could easily lead to failure in the final product. Many who had been enthusiastic initially found themselves suddenly cooled off, regaining a more grounded perspective. "Even defective items are being priced at eighteen million—originally, we thought that was low. Now it seems, quite the opposite: clearly overpriced," remarked the anonymous man stationed on the third floor, with a sharp, dismissive tone. "Master Lie, if you truly have no intention of securing this liquid flame, why bother adjusting your bid? Given your body's inherent affinity for heat and fire, this琉璃 (lú li) heavenly fire liquid seems precisely suited to your needs," said Xiao Bu Yi, his gaze fixed steadily on a particular room on the third floor, and then asked with measured, firm clarity. "If it's genuine, Li will naturally have no choice but to take it. As for the defective ones, their value to me is negligible—I see little use for them." Li, the man of the Li surname, replied without hesitation. Yet this time, when Xiao Bu Yi smiled and didn't immediately respond, he suddenly shook his sleeve and flung his robe toward the bottle's lid. A flash of green light, and the lid shot straight upward into the air. A sharp "pffft," and a bright crimson beam surged forth from the bottle's mouth, followed by a small globule of red liquid flowing gently along the beam. Translucent and glowing with a radiant red light! Xiao Bu Yi's eyes narrowed. With a single hand motion, a flash of white light appeared, and a sword of about a foot in length materialized in his hand. The blade shimmered with a cool brilliance, its style ancient and elegant—clearly of high rank. With a simple wrist flick, the sword instantly transformed into a streak of cold light, cutting straight toward the red liquid orb. A stunning scene unfolded. At the very instant the cold light touched the liquid mass, a burst of white vapor erupted, accompanied by a strange crackling sound. Then, the entire flying sword turned red and dissolved, vanishing completely within just a few flashes. How formidable this liquid truly was! "Please observe carefully, esteemed friends. Though these days' fire liquids have minor imperfections, their inherent essence of molten gold and fossilized stone remains intact. They are certainly useful for alchemical and artisan applications," Xiao Bu Yi said, sensing the hesitation among the gathered guests. Then, the middle-aged man opened his mouth again, exhaling a cluster of pale, misty qi that instantly enveloped the liquid. A deep, resonant boom followed, and the liquid surged forth like a phoenix reborn, blazing fiercely into a spherical flame the size of a human head. A wave of intense heat radiated upward from the platform and swiftly spread outward. For a moment, the entire hall was enveloped in high temperatures, with the closest rows of foreign guests feeling as though they stood in the midst of a molten lava sea. The individuals present all possessed great abilities and naturally remained unaffected by this moderate heat; yet many still grew pale. To those present, it was evident. Just moments ago, Xiao Bu Yi had merely used his concentrated spiritual energy to trigger this surge of flame. Now, the phenomena unfolding were manifestations of the inherent power of the fire liquid itself. Even this slightly imperfect Lüli Tian Huo Li displayed such remarkable strength—far exceeding the expectations of most. Within the previously quiet hall, whispers once again began to rise. Many now gazed at the fire liquid with renewed intensity and fervor. Xiao Bu Yi knew his purpose had been achieved, and with a swift motion of his sleeve, he brushed casually against the fire ball. A shimmering glow passed through, and the intense flames instantly faded and extinguished. The fire liquid then flashed once more, re-entering the bottle. With a simple gesture of grasping and releasing, Xiao Bu Yi lifted the lid, which closed gently and securely. The bottle itself then settled slowly into his palm. "From now on, the bidding for Lüli Tian Huo Li begins!" "The middle-aged man declared without hesitation. "Three million!" The astonishing price immediately resonated from a corner of the hall, nearly doubling the initial bid. Many who had been considering making an offer were startled and turned to look. To their surprise, the bidder was a man with a pale complexion, dressed in a dark robe—none other than Han Li! Though initially skeptical of a stranger, several native ethnic residents of Yun City quietly withdrew their offers. While the imperfect Tianhuo Liquid remained rare, it was still an imperfect product, and with the price now raised so high, they felt it might no longer be worth it. Han Li, however, remained seated motionless, appearing remarkably composed, though a spark of excitement stirred within him. Though the liquid had flaws and its effectiveness was diminished, it was still genuine Liuli Tianhuo Liquid—likely of great use to Qingyuan Zi. And if he missed this opportunity, he would have little hope of securing genuine Lvy Tianhuo Liquid in the future. Thus, even if it were a substandard batch, he was determined to secure it. For this reason, Han Li did not hesitate, immediately setting a price so high. He did not expect to secure the item easily in one go. But at the very least, he wanted to first dispel the hopes of most people. He certainly did not wish to see the price of this spiritual liquid inflated by the collective enthusiasm of the crowd until it reached a level even he could no longer bear. Clearly, Han Li's strategy proved effective. Upon hearing the price, most people's initial surprise quickly faded, and they resumed their composed demeanor. The entire hall fell into quiet stillness. "This fellow has offered three million, and anyone else willing to bid? After three such calls, this bottle of Tianhuo Liquid is now secured by him," said Xiao Bu Yi, glancing at Han Li's position and speaking clearly. "First time!" "Three point two million!" Just as Xiao Bu Yi had asked once, another elderly voice immediately stepped up with a new bid. Han Li frowned slightly, glancing upward. The bidder was an elderly man in yellow robes standing at the center of the hall, with golden-yellow hair and thick brows and blue eyes. "It's Fu Elder—how come he's also interested in this fire liquid?" Upon seeing the bidder, many others immediately exchanged surprised whispers, as though this man were well-known in Yun Cheng. "Four million," another voice rang out from the third floor before Han Li could even settle on a price. This time, it was not the Li family man from earlier, but a pleasant female voice. As soon as the price was announced, Fu Elder, who had been composed, suddenly looked uncertain, glanced toward the third floor where the bid came from, and then shook his head, finally closing his mouth without speaking. "Four million—the first time!" "Four million—the second time!" Xiao Bu Yi quickly repeated the price twice with a calm smile. Clearly, the current high bid had exceeded their expectations, and with the third-tier Saint Clan stepping in, they felt confident that no one else would raise their bids. "Four million five hundred thousand crystals!" Han Li, however, remained expressionless and called out the price again. Upon hearing this, not only the other guests in the hall but even Xiao Bu Yi himself could not help but glance at Han Li once more, their expressions now somewhat puzzled. It was rare indeed for a senior clan member to directly compete with the Saint Clan during an auction. "Four million seven hundred thousand crystals!" The woman from the third tier of the Saint Clan seemed slightly annoyed, and issued a fresh bid with a cold, piercing tone. Han Li listened carefully, his eyes twitching slightly, yet he promptly announced, "Five million crystals" without hesitation. Such a large amount of crystal stones was nearly all that he currently possessed. If he raised the price further, even though he would regret it, he would have to give up the offering. Fortunately, the woman from the third tier seemed to believe that bidding even higher would no longer be worthwhile. After merely giving a cold sigh, he said nothing further. "Very well, five million spiritual stones—this half bottle of Heavenly Fire Liquid shall be yours, Master. Please proceed to the side pavilion to settle the stones immediately." After swiftly asking these three sentences, Xiao Bu Yi settled the matter with decisive finality. Han Li felt a great relief and immediately rose to walk toward the front platform. Upon reaching the platform, he retrieved a bag of premium spiritual stones that he had carefully calculated and handed it over to the other party. Xiao Bu Yi scanned the bag with his divine awareness and nodded contentedly, then handed over the small, milky-white bottle to Han Li. Han Li simply opened the bottle's lid and glanced inside, his expression brightening slightly. He then bowed slightly to Xiao Bu Yi before calmly descending the platform and returning to his original seat. Throughout this process, Han Li naturally felt numerous eyes scanning his figure back and forth—many of them clearly with ill intentions.