Chapter 63

This Zheng family from Hong Kong is not like the Zheng family from Chuzhou; they are truly a family of immense wealth and nobility.

At the peak of the Zheng family's prosperity, they once ranked in the top ten of the Forbes list of wealthy Chinese, and now they hover around the 20th to 30th positions, making them one of the top ten richest families in Hong Kong. In terms of assets and family background, even the richest person in Zhongzhou Province might not be able to compare.

Such a prominent Chinese family, with decades of accumulation, could directly engage in dialogue with the highest levels of the state in the 1980s and 1990s. Even now, if the head of the Zheng family were to come, Zhongzhou Province would at least send a vice governor to receive them, and it would have to be a standing vice governor.

Although Wu Shanhe is somewhat well-known in Zhongzhou, how could he provoke such a wealthy Chinese family?

So he looked at Chen Fan with a pleading gaze, but Chen Fan remained calm, standing by with his hands in his sleeves. Master Wu could only force a laugh and step back.

Seeing him retreat, the mixed-race woman's eyes flashed with disdain, and she coldly snorted, leading her group into the room.

The surrounding wealthy people from Zhongzhou, seeing that even Wu Shanhe had suffered a setback, dared not say anything more. Compared to the Zheng family from Hong Kong, they were like earth to the sky, like local landowners meeting Shen Wansan; there was no comparison.

"The Zheng family from Hong Kong?" Chen Fan pondered.

The old man of the Zheng family in Hong Kong is very famous, a well-known tycoon who was knighted by the Queen of England and is of the same generation as Li Ka-shing. He is now in his eighties or nineties. Chen Fan remembered that in his previous life, the old man passed away this year and even made the news.

"No wonder they are frantically buying all kinds of precious Chinese medicines over a hundred years old," Chen Fan shook his head.

For someone in their eighties or nineties like the old man, they are at the end of their natural lifespan, with complete organ failure, a terminal condition that modern medicine cannot reverse. This is the will of heaven. Relying on some hundred-year-old ginseng is just like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Among cultivators, the best longevity elixir is the 'Yuan Cultivation Pill.' Unfortunately, he couldn't find the spiritual herbs needed to refine the Yuan Cultivation Pill, or he could have taken a big cut from the Zheng family.

"Master Chen, shall we go in as well?" Wu Shanhe asked in a low voice.

"Sure!" Chen Fan nodded.

This underground auction is clearly not very formal. It is only guaranteed by several major pharmaceutical merchants in Jiuding City, and each participant relies on their own judgment, with no responsibility once they leave.

The auction started with a ginseng root about 113 years old.

Weighing 127 grams, the starting bid was three million, and it was immediately bought out by the mixed-race woman from the Zheng family for seven million.

"Truly wealthy and powerful," many people thought.

Since the auction began, the mixed-race woman had already made several bids, each time with a high price that scared off all the other bidders. After all, everyone was here to do business; why offend the famous Zheng family from Hong Kong over this?

Chen Fan only managed to secure a 90-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, while most of the other items were swept up by the Zheng family woman.

"The next item will test your discernment," the auctioneer said, pulling back the black cloth on the tray to reveal a strange black withered branch.

"What is this?"

"Never seen it before, is this Chinese medicine?"

"Looks somewhat familiar."

The major pharmaceutical merchants and appraisers all frowned.

"Hmm?" Chen Fan's eyes narrowed.

"Master Chen, have you recognized it?" Wu Shanhe asked in a low voice.

"I don't recognize it," Chen Fan shook his head, but added, "Although I don't know what kind of Chinese medicine this is, the spiritual energy it contains is very dense, at least ten times that of the hundred-year-old ginseng at the beginning."

"This kind of herb is almost a spiritual herb, and can be called a 'semi-spiritual herb.'"

"A semi-spiritual herb?" Master Wu was stunned.

"Exactly," Chen Fan nodded and began to explain. "A spiritual herb refers to a plant whose spiritual energy content reaches a certain standard. Whether it's a precious Chinese medicine or a common weed, as long as it has enough spiritual energy, it can be called a spiritual herb. Only spiritual herbs can be refined into true 'spiritual elixirs.'"

"However, the growing conditions for spiritual herbs are extremely harsh. Given the current state of Earth, even if there are a few, they are hidden in deep mountains or the sea, places rarely visited by humans."

"Ordinary herbs need at least a thousand years to become spiritual herbs, which is clearly impossible. This semi-spiritual herb, while not a thousand years old, is several hundred years old, so it can be considered half a spiritual herb."

Master Wu's ears perked up, not wanting to miss a single word.

The knowledge Chen Fan was sharing was something he had never heard before. He only knew that the older the herb, the stronger its medicinal properties, but he never imagined there were such secrets.

"Even though it's just a semi-spiritual herb, it can still be used to refine some lower-grade spiritual elixirs," Chen Fan added.

Master Wu was shocked and quickly said, "Should we bid on it then?"

"Of course we should," Chen Fan nodded firmly.

Since his rebirth, the strongest medicinal herb he had seen was a 30-year-old lingzhi mushroom. A 'semi-spiritual herb' that has taken at least several hundred years to form might not be encountered again in ten years.

"Alright."

Master Wu was excited, rubbing his hands together.

If they could secure this semi-spiritual herb and have Master Chen refine it into a pill, even just watching the process would be worth it.

Refining pills!

Only the legendary alchemists of ancient times could do that.

In modern times, the most they could do was extract some 'Bezoar Detoxification Pills' or 'Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pills,' which are far from true alchemy.

"The starting bid for this unknown herb is five million."

The auctioneer finished speaking, and everyone fell silent.

If no one can recognize it and its specific effects are unknown, who would be foolish enough to spend five million? Their money doesn't grow on trees.

"Five point five million!"

Master Wu raised his paddle.

Seeing it was him, some people understood. Could this withered branch be a material needed for some alchemical technique, like yin wood or a hundred-year-old peach tree, which is full of yin energy and can nurture ghosts?

Thinking of this, no one spoke up.

The auctioneer was hesitating whether to hammer down when another clear voice called out:

"Ten million!"

Everyone was shocked and looked over to see the mixed-race woman.

"You?"

Master Wu was furious. You didn't give me face at the door, and now you're trying to snatch my herb...

"Eleven million."

He raised his paddle again.

"Twenty million!"

The mixed-race woman said coolly.

The wealthy pharmaceutical merchants were about to break down. Who bids like this? She adds nearly ten million when the other side adds one million. This shows she is determined to get it!

Master Wu was also scared.

He had been in business for decades, and with all his fixed assets, his net worth was barely over a hundred million. Twenty million was already the highest liquid capital he could come up with. Thinking of this, he looked at Chen Fan for his opinion.

Chen Fan frowned slightly.

Although he had 65 million earlier, building the Yunshan Array had already cost him a large portion. The premium jade and several tons of coral stone transported from thousands of meters underwater were all expensive, and he now had no more than 15 million in his account.

Thinking of this, Chen Fan said calmly, "Our limit is 30 million. If it goes over, we'll let it go."

"Alright," Master Wu gritted his teeth and raised his paddle again.

"Twenty-one million."

"Thirty million!" The mixed-race woman raised the bid by another ten million and gave Master Wu a challenging look.

Everyone was speechless.

This is the arrogance of the Zheng family from Hong Kong! For a family with assets in the billions, money is just a number.

Master Wu's face twitched, and he finally sat down in frustration.

"Master Chen, that mixed-race woman is too unreasonable, deliberately opposing us. Should we...?" Wu Shanhe said, making a gesture of cutting his neck.

"No need," Chen Fan said calmly.

Although the semi-spiritual herb was snatched away by the Zheng family woman, Chen Fan was also somewhat dissatisfied. But what puzzled him more was why the Zheng family was so determined to get it?

After all, the Zheng family is not foolish. Spending 30 million on a withered branch is not just wasteful; it's downright foolish!

"Unless... someone in the Zheng family recognized this semi-spiritual herb?"

Chen Fan's eyes showed a glimmer of thought.

PS: Thanks to Dizhan Huang, Shuyou 16072907, Danqiu Bushu Huang, Youmingv Xuejun, Qimiao Jiang, U Fanlao, Luchu Xue, Jushoutoutu 12, Wuchi Zhitu dhgf, Dazhong Tan Ying, and Yishichen Yuan Yi Weiliang for your support. Continue to request recommendations. O(∩_∩)O

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