Chapter 1605: Flawed Product

“Glazed Skyfire Liquid”—this name was certainly familiar to Han Li, and he had even coveted it for quite some time.

This liquid was one of the main materials Qing Yuanzi had instructed him to collect, an essential ingredient for refining several Body Integration-level elixirs. It was said that even without being refined into pills or artifacts, consuming a single drop of this spiritual liquid could save a cultivator a year of arduous cultivation.

Thus, its immense value was self-evident.

Moreover, this substance was not derived from ordinary minerals or plants but was instead refined from a rare extraterrestrial fire. Compared to other spiritual materials of the same tier, it was far more difficult to obtain and exceedingly scarce.

After reviewing relevant texts, Han Li had concluded that this was likely the most unattainable among all the materials Qing Yuanzi had listed.

Yet now, this very liquid had appeared at the auction, and its starting price was shockingly low.

Given the rarity of Glazed Skyfire Liquid, it would have been more than suitable as the final auction item.

Eighteen million spirit stones was no small sum, but compared to the liquid’s true value, it was unbelievably cheap.

Han Li’s thoughts raced, sensing that Xiao Buyi would surely provide an explanation for this bizarre pricing.

And he wasn’t the only one in the auction hall with such suspicions. Many others wore expressions of surprise and uncertainty.

Sure enough, Xiao Buyi smiled faintly at the crowd’s reaction and continued, “I understand that the starting price for the Glazed Skyfire Liquid has startled many fellow Daoists. However, there is a reason for such a low price. While this liquid was indeed refined from extraterrestrial fire, a flaw occurred during the process, leaving it slightly inferior to a perfect specimen. That said, I can guarantee that it retains all the primary functions of true Glazed Skyfire Liquid—only significantly weakened.”

“A flawed product!” The previously restless crowd fell silent.

Many frowned.

It wasn’t unheard of for flawed spiritual medicines or even artifacts to appear at auctions. However, most such items were notoriously unreliable, often failing to match the performance of genuine products. After all, whether refining pills or artifacts, the precision of materials was paramount—even the slightest deviation could lead to failure.

Many who had been excited moments ago now sobered up, their enthusiasm dampened.

“Eighteen million for a flawed product? At first, it seemed too low, but now it seems overpriced,” sneered the same unknown man from the third floor.

“Fellow Daoist Lie, if you truly have no interest in this liquid, why concern yourself with the price? But given your Flame Spirit Body, wouldn’t this Glazed Skyfire Liquid be particularly suitable for you?” Xiao Buyi retorted coolly, his gaze fixed on a room on the third floor.

“If it were genuine, I would certainly fight for it. But a flawed product is of little use to me. Why would I want it?” the Lie-clan man replied bluntly.

This time, Xiao Buyi merely smiled and did not respond. Instead, he flicked his sleeve, sending the bottle’s lid flying.

With a flash of green light, the lid soared into the air.

A *pfft* sound followed as a crimson beam shot from the bottle’s mouth, carrying with it a small globule of red liquid that slowly floated out.

It was translucent and radiant, glowing with a fiery brilliance.

Xiao Buyi’s eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hand, a white light flashed, and a foot-long flying sword appeared in his grasp.

The sword gleamed coldly, its ancient design suggesting high quality.

With a flick of his wrist, the sword transformed into a streak of icy light, slashing toward the red liquid.

A shocking scene unfolded.

The moment the cold light touched the liquid, a white vapor erupted with a *hiss*, and the entire sword instantly turned red before dissolving into nothingness within mere flashes.

This liquid possessed terrifying destructive power!

“Fellow Daoists, take note—though flawed, this Skyfire Liquid retains its ability to melt metal and dissolve stone. It remains highly useful for pill and artifact refinement,” Xiao Buyi explained, sensing the crowd’s hesitation.

Then, the middle-aged man exhaled a wisp of azure spiritual energy, enveloping the liquid.

A deep *boom* echoed as the liquid erupted into flames, transforming into a fireball the size of a human head.

Intense heat radiated from the stage, rapidly spreading outward.

In moments, the entire hall was engulfed in scorching temperatures. Those closest to the stage felt as though they stood amidst molten lava.

Though none present were troubled by mere heat, many still paled at the display.

It was clear that Xiao Buyi had merely used a wisp of his own spiritual energy to trigger this reaction—the flames were entirely the liquid’s doing.

That a flawed Glazed Skyfire Liquid could exhibit such power astonished most of the audience.

Whispers broke out again, and many eyes gleamed with renewed desire.

Satisfied, Xiao Buyi flicked his sleeve toward the fireball.

A sweep of radiant light extinguished the flames, and the liquid swiftly retreated into the bottle.

With a casual motion, the lid snapped back into place, and the bottle floated gently into his palm.

“Bidding for the Glazed Skyfire Liquid begins now!” he declared.

“Thirty million!” An astonishing bid immediately rang out from a corner of the hall, nearly doubling the starting price.

Many who had intended to bid gasped and turned to look.

The bidder was a pale-faced man in a black robe—none other than Han Li.

Seeing a stranger, many locals hesitated and abandoned their plans to bid.

Though the flawed liquid was still rare, its imperfections made such a high price seem unjustified.

Han Li remained seated, outwardly calm but inwardly exhilarated.

Though weakened, this was still Glazed Skyfire Liquid—likely useful to Qing Yuanzi. Missing this chance meant he might never obtain the genuine article. Thus, he was determined to secure it, flaws and all.

By opening with such a high bid, he hoped to deter most competitors and avoid a bidding war that could drive the price beyond his means.

His strategy worked. After the initial shock, most withdrew, their expressions turning indifferent.

The hall fell silent.

“Thirty million from this fellow Daoist. Are there any higher bids? After three calls, this Skyfire Liquid will belong to him,” Xiao Buyi announced, glancing at Han Li.

“First call!”

“Thirty-two million!” Before Xiao Buyi could finish, an elderly voice countered.

Han Li frowned slightly and glanced toward the source.

The bidder was a yellow-robed old man with bushy eyebrows and blue eyes, seated at the hall’s center.

“Elder Fu? Why would he want this?” Murmurs spread as others recognized him—a figure of some renown in Cloud City.

“Forty million.”

Before Han Li could react, a new bid came from the third floor—a melodious female voice, not the Lie-clan man.

At this price, Elder Fu hesitated, glanced upward, then shook his head and withdrew.

“Forty million, first call!”

“Forty million, second call!”

Xiao Buyi swiftly called the price twice, clearly pleased. Given the bidder’s status as a Sacred Race member, he expected no further competition.

“Forty-five million.”

Han Li’s voice cut through the silence, expressionless.

The hall stirred. Even Xiao Buyi shot Han Li a strange look—it was rare for a mere Upper Race cultivator to challenge a Sacred Race.

“Forty-seven million!” The woman’s voice turned icy, laced with irritation.

Han Li’s eyelid twitched, but he immediately countered, “Fifty million.”

This sum nearly exhausted his spirit stones. Any higher, and he’d have to withdraw.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to deem further bidding unworthy. With a cold snort, she fell silent.

“Fifty million it is! This half-bottle of Skyfire Liquid belongs to this fellow Daoist. Please proceed to the side hall for payment,” Xiao Buyi declared after three rapid calls.

Relieved, Han Li rose and approached the stage.

From his storage bracelet, he produced a pre-counted bag of top-grade spirit stones and handed it over.

Xiao Buyi scanned it with his spiritual sense, nodded in satisfaction, and passed Han Li the milky-white bottle.

After a brief inspection, Han Li’s lips curled into a faint smile. He bowed slightly to Xiao Buyi, then calmly returned to his seat.

Throughout, he felt numerous gazes scrutinizing him—many undoubtedly harboring ill intent.