My husband Can Cultivate

Chapter 598: Spending Money Like Water

Indeed, it seems no matter where you are, it always helps to know the right people. If Yang Qi had come alone, he probably would have had to resort to other means.

Upon entering the manor, he found the place bustling with activity. The auction was being held in the main hall, where a large crowd had already gathered. Each person carried an imposing air; they were clearly not ordinary individuals.

"Divine Doctor Yang, the medicinal ingredients here might not all be genuine. You must look carefully. Both the age and the herb itself can be faked, which is why people who come here usually hire an expert to appraise their purchases. It’s a bit like stone gambling or buying antiques," Tong Wu explained.

"Isn’t this just treasure hunting?" Yang Qi smiled. He loved a good treasure hunt. If everything were authentic, it would be difficult to buy anything at a low price. But when it came to appraisal, it was laughably simple for him. As a Cultivator, his understanding of medicinal herbs far surpassed that of ordinary people.

"Mr. Tong!"

"Brother Tong Wu!"

"Mr. Tong, good to see you!"

"This way, please!"

Tong Wu clearly held a high status, as many people greeted him the moment he walked in. He acknowledged them in turn, mostly with a slight nod, only stopping to shake hands and exchange a few words with select individuals.

"Make way! Young Director Li of the Future Group is here!"

Just as Yang Qi was following Tong Wu deeper into the hall, an arrogant shout erupted from behind them, and someone began pushing them aside. Both Tong Wu and Yang Qi were martial artists and naturally refused to be shoved.

They glanced back and couldn’t help but sneer. A young man of about thirty, dressed in a sharp suit, was striding in with an air of extreme arrogance, flanked by more than a dozen followers.

"That’s Li Chengshou," Tong Wu said.

"I figured," Yang Qi replied nonchalantly.

The Young Director of the Future Group who was also based in Sea City could be none other than Li Chengshou.

"They say the patriarch of the Future Group is in a coma and needs all sorts of precious medicinal herbs for his treatment. This Li Chengshou has spent a fortune trying to curry favor with the old man," Tong Wu sneered. "The Future Group is propped up entirely by the patriarch; the younger generation isn’t very capable. If the old man dies, the company will likely fall apart."

"Is the Future Group that wealthy?" Yang Qi asked, unfamiliar with such matters.

"More than wealthy," Tong Wu said. "You probably don’t know this, but at its peak, the Future Group was one of the top ten multinational corporations in the world! Its fortunes declined after the patriarch fell ill. But even so, it definitely still ranks among the top twenty worldwide! Semiconductors and automobiles are their strong suits!"

At this, Tong Wu sighed. Although his family was influential in Sea City, they were still a step below the Future Group. So, he eventually decided to step aside.

Yang Qi, however, refused to yield and stood his ground. Tong Wu started to dissuade him, but Li Chengshou had already spoken up. "If you see trash, you throw it out. Why are you just standing there!"

At his command, several of his bodyguards charged forward, intending to physically throw Yang Qi out.

But Yang Qi was not the type to suffer a slight. Moreover, for a foreigner to act so outrageously in Dragon Country was simply courting death.

Li Chengshou’s bodyguards suddenly found themselves mysteriously frozen in place. When they felt the thin, sharp metal wires pressing against their necks, they were scared witless.

"I’ll only warn you once. All of you, scram!" Yang Qi said coldly.

With a flick of his wrist, he retracted the metal threads. Li Chengshou was about to say more, but one of his bodyguards quickly pulled him away.

"Young Director, Dragon Country is full of hidden masters. We shouldn’t act rashly. If we offend someone we can’t afford to, it will be trouble. Don’t forget our objective tonight."

Li Chengshou shot a venomous glare at Yang Qi, his eyes screaming, "I’ll remember you," before leading his men on a detour around him. The place was spacious enough. Pushing people aside just to pass was a true sign of arrogance.

"Divine Doctor Yang, you’re truly formidable," Tong Wu exclaimed in admiration. "I thought you were only skilled in medicine, but your methods are terrifying as well. Was that technique just now the Thousand Machine Guide?"

Yang Qi neither confirmed nor denied it. What was this Thousand Machine Guide? He had no idea. It was just a metal thread he had refined using his Alchemy Blade technique, meant for controlling puppets but also perfectly suitable for combat. The razor-sharp wire was no less deadly than any blade.

"If the Future Group doesn’t provoke me, I might even be willing to help them," Yang Qi sneered. No illness, no matter how complicated, could possibly stump him.

The auction began shortly after.

The first item was a 150-year-old Zhonglou plant. The asking price was steep, and it would take 150 million to secure it.

Li Chengshou immediately bid 200 million, attempting to claim it.

However, Yang Qi intercepted him. To Yang Qi, money was just a worldly possession. High-quality, 150-year-old medicinal herbs like this were what he truly desired. He would buy them at any price.

He directly raised the bid to 300 million, which made Li Chengshou so angry he looked ready to explode again.

"Whoa, he’s loaded! Who is that guy?"

"No idea, but he’s with Mr. Tong, so he must be someone important!"

For the rest of the auction, Yang Qi gave no one else a chance. As long as it was a medicinal herb he deemed worthy, he bought it outright, always at a high price. The same principle applied: money was a worldly possession; he only wanted the herbs.

There weren’t many, however—only three stalks in total. Two other herbs were advertised as being over a hundred years old, but Yang Qi could tell with a single glance that they were merely fifty or sixty. He had no interest in them and let Li Chengshou have them.

This Divine Doctor Yang is truly extravagant, Tong Wu thought. When it comes to medicinal herbs, he completely disregards the price.

He couldn’t have known that to a Cultivator like Yang Qi, the intrinsic value of these herbs far surpassed any monetary cost. Being able to buy them at all was a stroke of luck.

"Alright, let’s continue the auction! However, for this next item, even we have been unable to determine its age. So, ladies and gentlemen, please inspect it carefully before bidding. All sales are final once it leaves this hall," the auctioneer announced with a smile. He then revealed another item that looked like a lump of jet-black charcoal, its identity a complete mystery.

"Are you kidding? Trying to pass off a piece of coal as a medicinal herb?"

"Yeah, what the hell is that?"

"It looks a bit familiar, but I can’t place it. I can’t possibly bid on it!"

While the crowd murmured, Yang Qi smiled. The Dragon Coins in his wallet were practically burning a hole in his pocket.

"Divine Doctor Yang, do you recognize this herb?" Tong Wu asked, his curiosity piqued. In all his years of dealing in medicinal herbs, he had never seen anything like it.

"I do," Yang Qi nodded, saying no more.

Internally, however, he was reeling with shock. The object on display was an item of legend from the Immortal Cultivation World. It was the remains of a beast—specifically, the carcass left behind after its Crystal Core had been incinerated. But even as mere remains, it was still an artifact of the Immortal Cultivation World, something beyond the comprehension of mortals. It contained a rich Spiritual Energy, making it even more precious than a 300-year-old herb. With this, Yang Qi was certain his realm would break through once again. Coming here tonight was absolutely the right decision.