As Xiao Zhan spoke, the entire hall fell into a brief silence. After a while, one after another, expressions of pity and amusement shifted toward the increasingly flushed Galiby. "Hmph, ten thousand gold coins for a single bottle of Foundation-Essence Elixir... that man truly is generous," Xiao Zhan murmured, lowering his head and chuckling softly as he watched Galiby's face twitch. Observing Xiao Zhan's amused expression, Xun'er smiled gently and added, "A typical second-grade spiritual medicine usually sells for no more than three thousand gold coins. As for the rare elixir that accelerates the cultivation of combat energy, the Foundation-Essence Elixir, it's not common, so its price naturally commands a premium. Still, spending ten thousand gold coins for it—Galiby truly is quite generous." Xiao Zhan nodded in agreement, then chewed thoughtfully, his voice filled with admiration. "A single bottle of second-grade Foundation-Essence Elixir fetching several thousand gold coins—imagine that. I'd say the powerful alchemists must all be quite prosperous, if not quite fat with wealth." "Pharmacists are indeed one of the wealthiest professions on the Continent of Qi. Each pharmacist possesses substantial wealth." Xun'er nodded warmly, her gaze sweeping over the foundational elixir displayed on the stage, and added, "However, as pharmacists advance in rank, they grow increasingly reluctant to auction their crafted medicinal herbs. At that stage, they typically opt for barter—money rarely holds much appeal for them anymore..." "Barter?" Xiao Yan's brow slightly arched, now understanding why the Elder Pharmacist had so carefully preserved such an extensive collection. "Yes, they exchange their techniques, combat skills, rare herbs, or even high-tier magical cores to obtain medicinal herbs from other pharmacists." With a gentle lift of her rosy lips, Xun'er spoke softly, "Thus, pharmacists are truly one of the most coveted professions on the continent—everyone aspires to become one. Yet the rigorous qualifications required often deter countless individuals from pursuing that dream." Looking at Xun, her face slightly disappointed, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, deeply grateful for the transformation of his soul. Pausing his words, he turned his gaze toward Gali Bi, whose face was now stern and flushed with anger. Like Xiao Yan, Gali Bi had been momentarily stunned by Xiao Zhan's words, staring blankly at Xiao Zhan, who had abandoned his position without a single hesitation or lingering gesture. His eyes rapidly fluttered with urgency, and only after a long moment did he manage to speak, his voice hoarse: "You bastard! You're playing games again!" "Hmph. You're no different—only lately your mind has been a bit foggy, so your performance has come across as insincere," Xiao Zhan replied calmly, with a hint of mockery. "Very well, very well, Xiao Zhan. This grudge—I'll carry it!" Gali Bi took several deep breaths, his eyes now cold and full of resentment. Ignoring this kind of threat outright, Xiao Zhan gave a quiet laugh and turned to smile at the seated Lady Ya Fei. "Lady Ya Fei, please proceed with the final auction." Smiling gently, Yafei maintained a composed expression on her face, yet could not help but chuckle internally—far beyond her expectations, the bidding price had soared. The higher the price, the more likely she would win the favor of the enigmatic alchemist. Offering a reassuring smile to Galibis, whose face was pale with frustration, Yafei bent down once more to retrieve the final two bottles of foundational elixirs, then smiled warmly, her lips parting slightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, these are the last batches of elixirs. The opening bid remains at thirty thousand gold coins." Upon the final elixirs being presented, the elders seated beside Xiao Zhan's face grew visibly tense, quickly casting discreet glances toward Xiao Zhan. Sitting calmly in his chair, Xiao Zhan paid no attention to the elders' expressions. After surveying the quiet, composed audience, he spoke softly, "Fifty thousand." As Xiao Zhan made his bid, Gallebi’s face tightened again, his mouth moving slightly—yet upon recalling the shortage of funds, he reluctantly closed it with a sigh. Meanwhile, Obapah observed Xiao Zhan’s composed expression, furrowed his brows, lightly tapped his fingers against his forearm, and his eyes flickered momentarily before he smiled, saying, “Fifty-five thousand.” The three major families each harbored mutual reservations, none particularly fond of the others. Though Obapá had previously mocked Galébí, now that it was Xīo Zhàn's turn to make an offer, even if he didn't treat the Xīo family as harshly as he had Galébí—by merely making minor adjustments or introducing small issues—he was more than willing. Obapá's increased bid caused no change in Xīo Zhàn's expression; he merely glanced at it casually and said, "Fifty thousand." Looking at Obapá's forced smile, Xiao Zhan nodded and smiled in agreement, leaning back against the chair and speaking in a low voice, "Damn it, another ten thousand again—this guy isn't exactly a good person." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan found it rather amusing. In such fierce competition, who could possibly be considered a good person? If it weren't for the other party fearing they'd repeat the fate of Lì Bì, they'd likely have added more before finally settling. With a gentle flick of his fingers, Xiao Yan watched the elegant Lady Ya knock down her small hammer on stage, and a quiet sense of relief settled in his heart. This sum of money would keep him well-funded for a while longer—once the herbs arrived, he could finally have the old medicine master prepare the Qi-Collecting Powder. "Finally, the competitors are drawing near..." Licking his lips, Xiao Yan took a deep breath. The first hurdle on this path of cultivation had finally been crossed!