There was no denying it—the Woods’ auction house had a certain flair that catered perfectly to the warlord world. Unlike conventional auctions where the auctioneer endlessly prattled on about each item, things here were streamlined and efficient. Once the auction kicked off, items were swiftly presented, ready for the audience below to place their bids. It might be due to their confidence in the uniqueness of their items. As soon as a piece was displayed, a flurry of bids would rise. The most vocal bidders sat at the back, while the front row, including Fred, appeared largely unmoved by the offerings. The sole exception was Eileen. She watched intently, every item igniting hope that she might find something to prolong her grandfather's life. Fred knew better. Such life-extending herbs were almost mythical, even in their world. They were hardly going to be in the opening rounds of an auction. Nevertheless, when he saw Eileen's eyes shimmering with anticipation, Fred did not ha

Two hundred million? The silver-haired elder thought he had Eileen cornered with his intimidation. He was sure he had the item in the bag. In an unexpected twist, before the elder's feeling of self-satisfaction could even warm up, Fred, seated right beside Eileen, placed his own bid. He did not hold back either—he upped the bid by a whopping one hundred million! This bold move sent the elder into a fury. "You think you can..." "Are you raising the price? Decide now," Fred cut him off calmly. While it might have looked like Fred was playing the elder at his own game, there was more at play here. After all, Fred was the renowned 'Revered Great One'. How many could truly challenge him? The elder's face, already a stormy shade, darkened further at Fred's audacity. He had come prepared with just a bit over two hundred million for this very auction. He believed that amount would be ample for the coveted Vorandelis. Now, with Fred's sudden surge in bid, his composure crumble

The exclusive inner hall was just a short walk from the bustling auction floor. Leaving the auction room via its back entrance and navigating a corridor, they found themselves there after a few steps. It was an expansive underground chamber, its security even tighter than the auction area. "Please wait outside. Mr. Hoffman, follow me," the guide said with a bow as they reached the entrance. Stellar frowned. "I'm not sure about this." It was clear as day that Elder Everwood bore no goodwill toward Fred, especially as he entered the hall ahead of them. "No worries. You two stay here," Fred said, dismissing any concern. After Fred's assurance, Stellar nodded. Eileen echoed her agreement. Inside, an array of influential faces awaited. There was Ziad Wood, known as the Ziad the Second, the poker-faced man, the burly man, and of course, Elder Everwood. Upon Fred's entrance, Ziad said, "Reve..." but stopped short, weighing his words. "Mr. Hoffman, so glad you could join us."

He...knelt down?The moment Elder Everwood’s knees touched the ground, the poker-faced man and the muscular man had their jaws dropped to the ground. Earlier, they kept saying that Fred was a fool and they were certain that he would die.That was Elder Everwood he was facing!Among warlords of the secular world, the old man’s strength was comparable to a sect leader!Elder Everwood was so powerful that he had almost become a taboo-like existence among secular warlords.Alas… What was going on right now?Elder Everwood, an untouchable taboo among many secular warlords… knelt before Fred, a guy barely older than thirty years old, without any warning.How could the two of them not be shocked?As for Elder Everwood himself, he was horrified right now. He could not fathom why a single look from Fred brought him to his knees.Most importantly, when he looked into Fred's eyes, he felt a kind of momentum that he had never experienced before. A sky-falling and earth-shattering presence

"Lord, do you need me to contact a few more black market auction houses?"The skies seemed brighter as they walked out of Woods Auction House.Stellar stepped forward to ask the question when he realized that Fred did not find the Meridian Grass."No need!" Fred waved his hand and said, "These two medicinal materials, Dragon Blood Fruit and Meridian Grass, have become extinct in the martial arts world in the past. They are even rarer in the secular world. If I get one of them, the trip is already worth it! Furthermore, the Wood family will also help keep an eye on it. They are auctioneers, so they would be more efficient than us blindly looking for it!"With that, Fred immediately turned his gaze to Eileen Fraley.After all, the trip had been worthwhile mainly because he obtained the Dragon Blood Fruit from Eileen.Moreover, Fred had promised before to check on Eileen’s grandfather, so he asked, "Where is your grandfather now?""He’s… in South Central Hospital not far from here,