"Get lost. I'm just a bundle of old bones, and you're still trying to use me," Elder Huo outright refused.

"What? Don't tell me you aren't curious whether that pill is real or fake? I heard they even have Youth-Preserving Pills and Blast Pills-rare medicines that are hard to come by. Missing this would be a true pity!" With a sudden shove, Elder Zhen pushed Elder Huo out from the shadows.

"You old bastard! You always find ways to favor your own disciple!" Elder Huo understood Elder Zhen's intentions perfectly. Checking the validity of the pill was a mere pretext; the old man's true goal was to have him validate the faction Tang Yan had established.

Though he had already assumed the pill's true effects couldn't possibly be as miraculous as Du Shu claimed, curiosity ultimately flickered within Elder Huo's heart.

"Young man, could you let this old man have a look at the Peerless Divine Pill you speak of?" A gentle voice resounded, instantly drawing the attention of the crowd.

Hearing that voice, Tang Yan was stunned. He hadn't expected this grand auction to startle even this esteemed elder.

Every gaze converged upon the gray-robed elder. While a few new students wondered about his identity, many senior students gasped in recognition.

"Elder Huo!"

Elder Huo?

"Who is Elder Huo?" asked a handful of freshmen who had never heard the name.

"You don't even know Elder Huo? He is one of the absolute peak alchemists, not just within the Azure Dragon Academy, but in the entire Tingxiang Kingdom! I heard he has already reached the peak of the Fourth Rank and only needs a single breakthrough to step into the Fifth Rank!" several senior students quickly explained.

Once the freshmen understood his status, their gazes toward the old man turned profoundly respectful.

Du Shu had naturally heard of Elder Huo, but given the man's exalted position, he had always felt like a distant legend.

Du Shu had never imagined he would ever cross paths with someone of his caliber, let alone that this legendary figure would take the initiative to speak to him.

And from the sound of it, the elder wanted to appraise the pill himself?

Du Shu felt a surge of exhilaration. If they had Elder Huo's personal endorsement, every shred of doubt in the audience would instantly vanish into thin air.

He hurriedly presented the porcelain bottle, offering it with deep humility. "Elder Huo, please look over it."

Elder Huo gave a soft grunt, accepted the small bottle, and pulled the stopper out. He brought it to his nose and took a gentle sniff.

Initially entirely indifferent, Elder Huo suddenly went rigid the moment the first trace of scent hit his nostrils. Fortunately, his robes were loose and flowing, so no one managed to catch his momentary state of shock.

Unsure of his own senses, he drew in another breath and slowly closed his eyes.

The pill fragrance was potent but never cloying, dense yet perfectly contained. The pill itself was round, lustrous, and completely without blemish.

Judging by the sheer quality of the fragrance alone, Elder Huo knew with absolute certainty that this medicine was the work of a true master.

Casting aside his initial skepticism, Elder Huo sniffed a third time.

This time, tempestuous waves surged violently within his heart.

He could only vaguely deduce that the primary components of the medicine were Valley-Holding Grass and Ice Spirit Flower. As for the rest of the ingredients that made up the pill, he actually couldn't identify a single one.

Damn it, this is uncanny. I have spent decades immersed in the path of alchemy, yet I can't even decipher the components of a single pill?

Alchemists possessed an inherent, deep-seated pride. Unwilling to accept defeat, he took two more sharp sniffs before finally letting out a quiet sigh.

In the distance, Elder Zhen furrowed his brows as he watched his old friend. What is that old bastard doing? Why does he keep sniffing it like that? Is he trying to secretly sneak a bite?

Meanwhile, every spectator in the square kept their eyes glued to Elder Huo, waiting for his final verdict.

When Elder Huo finally lowered the porcelain bottle, a profound silence enveloped the entire area.

Du Shu stared at him anxiously, his palms slick with sweat. Why is this old guy keeping such a straight face? Is the pill real or fake? Just say something!

Elder Huo was entirely oblivious to the anxiety of those around him; his mind was entirely consumed by shock upon shock.

I really can't distinguish the supplementary medicinal herbs? Who in the world refined this?

This reality pointed to only one conclusion-the person who had created this pill was an absolute Alchemy Grandmaster, someone who had seamlessly fused and blended the spiritual energy of the ingredients into a singular, indivisible whole.

If he were to try it himself, Elder Huo could manage to fuse spiritual medicines, but to achieve such an exquisite level of harmony? He only had a seventy percent confidence rate-no, perhaps sixty percent.

Thinking of this, Elder Huo couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Right, what about the effects? Elder Huo quickly uncorked the bottle once more and took another deep sniff.

Seeing his repeated hesitation, the crowd began to whisper.

"Could it be a fake? Why is Elder Huo staying silent?"

"I bet it is. If it were real, Elder Huo would have confirmed it immediately."

As the murmurs grew louder, the vast majority of the crowd began to harbor severe doubts regarding the pill's authenticity.

Only Elder Zhen maintained a deep frown. Having known Elder Huo for decades, he understood his old friend perfectly.

He had not seen Elder Huo wear such a deadpan, solemn expression in many years.

Could this pill actually be the real deal? The thought even startled Elder Zhen himself.

It clears the mind and leaves the soul feeling purified. Combined with the primary ingredients, Valley-Holding Grass and Ice Spirit Flower, which genuinely benefit Soul Power, this pill is... A storm raged within Elder Huo's mind. To think someone had truly refined such a perfect medicine.

Suppressing the immense shock, awe, and curiosity swelling within him, he took a deep breath. His voice boomed, echoing across the entire Rookie Zone.

"This pill is absolutely genuine. Furthermore, regarding its effects, comparing it to the standard Meridian Tempering Powder common today... it would not be an exaggeration to call it a difference between clouds and mud."

The moment his words left his lips, the entire venue erupted into a frenzy.

The massive boulder weighing on Du Shu's chest finally dissolved. Filled with intense excitement, he bowed to the elder. "Thank you for the appraisal, Elder Huo!"

"It is nothing. Go ahead and auction this one first. I will stay and help you appraise the subsequent pills as well."

By now, Elder Huo was thoroughly intrigued by the medicines yet to come, choosing to simply sit down right next to the stage.

This was an incredible stroke of luck. Du Shu's face lit up with uncontainable joy. As long as the pills Tang Yan provided were genuine, having Elder Huo's legendary reputation as a guarantee meant this auction would achieve a level of success far beyond their wildest dreams.

Looking down from afar, Elder Zhen found it highly amusing to see his old friend lingering by Du Shu's side. Just a moment ago you refused to move an inch, yet now you won't even leave.

Below the stage, Tang Yan watched the outcome with wide eyes. He had been brainstorming ways to give Du Shu a helping hand, but it seemed completely unnecessary now.

With Elder Huo serving as a golden endorsement for the auction, Tang Yan could only marvel at Du Shu's sheer luck.

"This bottle contains two Soul-Tempering Pills! The starting bid is ten Star Values! Let the bidding begin!"

"Fifteen Stars!"

"Twenty Stars!"

"Sixty Stars!"

Bids flooded in from every direction, and the price shattered the one-hundred mark in the blink of an eye.

"Two hundred Stars!"

"Two hundred and sixty!"

"Three hundred Stars!"

As the bids continued to skyrocket, the electric atmosphere of the crowd made Tang Yan grin from ear to ear.

"Hey, brother," Tang Yan muttered, nudging the thick-browed youth beside him. "Do you want to catch the eyes of the senior sisters? Do you want to become the focus of thousands of people?"

The thick-browed youth was clearly an older student, but his strength remained stagnant at the Ninth Grade of the Black Rank. He had always been an obscure figure in the academy, entirely ignored by everyone.

Hearing Tang Yan's prompt, the youth's eyes lit up with intense interest. "Who wouldn't want that? What's your angle? Do you actually have a way?"