Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 560 The Vermillion Pill Empire Loses Its Monopoly

The commencement of the bidding immediately ignited the hall into a frenzy.

"Two million!"

"Two point five!"

"Three million!"

A cacophony of voices surged as the price escalated relentlessly, with no one holding back.

This was no ordinary Grade-7 pill; it was a supreme Heavenly Tribulation Tempering Pill.

A treasure that could propel a cultivator at the peak of the Great Ascension realm one step closer to the Immortal Realm.

Even a marginal increase would have garnered attention, let alone a substantial enhancement of 30%, which translated to a direct 30% boost in survival rates.

For any individual aspiring to ascend to the Immortal Realm, this pill represented the critical difference between triumph and utter failure.

Compounding this significance was the already scarce availability of the Heavenly Tribulation Tempering Pill, making its desirability even more pronounced.

"Three point five million!"

"Three point eight!"

"Four million!"

Upon reaching the four million mark, the sheer intensity of the bids caused the hall to vibrate subtly.

A brief lull followed, suggesting a potential winner.

Then, a composed voice cut through the tension.

"Four million and five hundred thousand!"

It was Zhao Wutian, instantly raising the bid by a significant five hundred thousand.

Zhao Wutian's decisive move deterred many from further competition. Furthermore, the perceived maximum value for the Heavenly Tribulation Tempering Pill hovered around four million, making participants hesitant to surpass this threshold. The auctioneer surveyed the room.

"Four million and two hundred thousand – going once..."

Silence prevailed.

"Going twice... Sold!"

The hammer struck, signifying the sale.

The Heavenly Ascension Tempering Pill was now the property of Zhao Wutian.

A subtle, self-assured smile graced his features.

All eyes shifted towards Zhao Wutian, a silent acknowledgment of the Zhao Clan’s imminent induction of a new Immortal cultivator.

A discernible wave of realization swept through the attendees, contemplating the profound implications.

A single pill!

Four million gold had already exchanged hands for just one item.

In that moment, a collective thought echoed among many present:

If a solitary pill could command such an astronomical price...

...then what unimaginable wealth must the Vermillion Pill Empire truly possess?

For years, this empire had maintained a monopoly on pills of such caliber.

Their accumulated resources were beyond comprehension.

In terms of sheer wealth, the Vermillion Pill Empire stood as the undisputed richest entity in the Region.

However, that immense fortune was now poised to be usurped.

As the auction progressed, the Mu Clan presented four additional Grade-7 pills, each fetching prices exceeding 3.5 million.

In total, the Mu Clan had amassed nearly 20 million from Grade-7 pills alone.

This influx of wealth had nearly doubled their existing treasury.

If this trend continued, the Mu Clan's financial standing would undoubtedly become unassailable within the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Beyond the pills, other valuable artifacts also found buyers at impressive prices.

Yet, these artifacts belonged not to the Mu Clan, but to Bai Zihan.

Bai Zihan, possessing numerous unused artifacts, seized the opportunity to liquidate them through the auction.

His earnings amounted to approximately 10 million gold coins.

The underlying reason for his substantial financial requirement was the procurement of materials essential for alchemy.

In addition to Mu Tianxuan, two other alchemists within the Mu Clan had achieved the Grade-7 realm, a fact kept under strict wraps.

There was no imperative to reveal all their advancements at once.

The displays tonight were deemed sufficient to send ripples throughout the region.

From this juncture, the Mu Clan would pivot towards the large-scale refinement of Grade-7 pills.

This strategic shift alone possessed the potential to significantly alter the existing power dynamics.

Nevertheless, even with their current escalating strength, a discernible limit remained.

Moreover, while the advent of three Grandmasters would bring about considerable changes, Bai Zihan still perceived it as insufficient.

To catalyze more profound transformations, Bai Zihan understood the necessity of developing Grade-8 pills.

This endeavor, however, fell solely within his unique knowledge and expertise.

Even then, skill alone was not the sole determinant.

The materials required for such elite pills were exceptionally rare.

Even accumulating enough for a single refinement proved exceedingly challenging.

Consequently, a substantial amount of capital was indispensable for acquiring the necessary components for Grade-8 pill refinement.

Bai Zihan had already initiated his strategic planning.

The objective behind these high-grade pills extended beyond mere profit.

It was about accumulating power.

His intention was to leverage these premium pills to elevate the overall strength of the Bai Clan.

The Heavenly Ascension Tempering Pill alone offered a significant boost to the chances of reaching the Immortal Realm.

But this was merely the initial phase.

Further advancements awaited with other potent elixirs—

Pills designed to assist cultivators who had already attained the Immortal Realm.

Facilitating advancement from Immortal to Earth Immortal.

And from Earth Immortal to Golden Immortal.

The specific pill Bai Zihan aimed to refine was precisely the one capable of aiding Earth Immortals in their breakthrough to the Golden Immortal realm.

Even a solitary Golden Immortal cultivator within their clan would secure their invincibility in the region, possibly even allowing them to challenge someone like Qin Lingxiao. If reaching the Golden Immortal Realm proved impossible, bolstering the number of Earth Immortals would still dramatically enhance their prospects. With adversaries growing in might, he recognized the necessity of unwavering preparation. His objective was straightforward: elevating the Bai Clan to an unassailable status, so formidable that even external regional powers would hesitate to trespass on their domain. Should they dare, swift and decisive retribution would follow. With resources, alchemy, and martial prowess converging, Bai Zihan was meticulously constructing the bedrock for a significantly grander ambition – not merely regional dominance within the Desolate Heaven Empire, but unequivocal control over the entire area.

***

The auction finally concluded, yet unlike a typical closing, the atmosphere remained electrified with palpable excitement. Even after the final item was claimed, the throng had yet to fully compose themselves. Discussions continued in hushed tones, their gazes still gleaming with eagerness, avarice, and strategic contemplation. Mu Qingyuan once again stepped forward, a subtle smile gracing his lips as he clasped his hands. "Esteemed guests, today's celebration and auction have now drawn to a close." His voice, while warm, also exuded an undeniable authority. "It has been the profound honor of our Mu Clan to play host to you all." A chorus of reciprocal gestures arose from the gathered guests. "Clan Leader Mu is too gracious!" "This has truly been an enlightening experience." "Congratulations once more!" Words of commendation and well wishes reverberated through the hall as attendees began their departure. However, concealed beneath these courteous exchanges, everyone was engaged in their own calculations. This evening had been more than just a celebration; it had been a profound revelation – the ascent of the Mu Clan... and a seismic shift in the regional power dynamics. Some departed in high spirits. Others with eager expectation. And a few, with palpable unease. Among them, the delegation from the Vermillion Pill Empire drew particular attention. Huo Zhouchen offered a brief, polite farewell. "Clan Leader Mu, we shall now take our leave." Mu Qingyuan acknowledged with a tranquil smile. "Travel safely." No further words were exchanged, yet both parties understood explicitly: this was far from the final act. As they exited the hall, the expressions of the Vermillion Pill Empire members hardened noticeably, their earlier composure evaporating, replaced by a far more somber mien. Five distinct Grade-7 pills, all unveiled within a single auction, and each of exceptional quality. Every single one was in high demand, most notably the Heavenly Ascension Tempering Pill – a coveted item whose market had long been almost exclusively dominated by the Vermillion Pill Empire. But now... that stranglehold had begun to falter. No... it had already begun to break.