Under the table, there was also a delicate, small purple tray. Inside the tray were a dozen or so perfectly round pills, about the size of soybeans, each shrouded in a faint white glow.

“So these are Essence-Nurturing Pills.” Ethan Brooks, experienced and sharp-eyed, instantly recognized them.

However, these Essence-Nurturing Pills really weren’t anything particularly remarkable...

Still, the quality of these Essence-Nurturing Pills was extremely high—probably the highest grade possible. When the pills were formed, not only was there no loss of potency, but the medicinal power was actually restrained within, brimming with spiritual energy, almost surpassing the limits of what pills could achieve!

In any case, his former self in his previous life definitely couldn’t have refined pills of such a high standard.

But... no matter how high-grade, Essence-Nurturing Pills were still just Essence-Nurturing Pills.

They were still the lowest grade of pills!

“Is this supposed to be my benefit package?” Ethan Brooks wordlessly put the dozen or so Essence-Nurturing Pills into a jade bottle, sighing as he left the space.

The spiritual energy given to me is just the leftover scraps after nourishing that egg, and the extra pills they give are still the lowest grade ones. I really have nothing more to say!

...

“Steward, how much money does our family have left? How much can I use?” Ethan Brooks looked at the steward.

“Uh... well;” the steward looked a bit troubled and said, “The money in our residence naturally all belongs to young master, but the general’s salary, as well as some spoils, all have other uses. Ahem, what’s left for your expenses is... all in your own cabinet.”

The implication was clear: what the general gives you, you can use as you wish. But as for what he doesn’t give you, don’t even think about it.

Ethan Brooks glared, finally sighing in resignation.

He knew that his father was truly a rare, good superior—most of the family’s income was used to support the families of soldiers killed or wounded in battle, as well as those disabled veterans...

This household really didn’t have much surplus...

It was all thanks to the previous Ethan Brooks’s misdeeds that a bit of gold and silver was saved up; less than ten thousand taels of gold. Last time, he lent William Foster five thousand taels.

The remaining ten thousand taels were extorted from Logan Bennett...

“So poor! Really poor!” Ethan Brooks was torn.

“Forget it, go do what you need to do. Let me have some peace.” Ethan Brooks waved his hand. The steward withdrew.

Ethan Brooks thought for a long time, then decided to change his appearance. As the once-renowned Lord Ethan, altering his looks with a bit of cultivation was a piece of cake—especially now that he was... a master at the Earth Origin stage.

Although the Essence-Nurturing Pills weren’t anything special in his eyes, in the mortal world, they could still be considered a fairly high-grade spiritual medicine... Just in case, it was best not to let anyone know they came from him...

Otherwise, it would only bring endless trouble.

A face as dark as coal, a square jaw, a full beard, looking about thirty-something, with a burly build.

This was Ethan Brooks’s current disguised appearance. After looking in the mirror for a while, Ethan Brooks nodded in satisfaction, then put on a bamboo hat for a second layer of disguise.

“Lingbao Pavilion Auction House!”

Ethan Brooks stood in front of the largest auction house in Chenxing City; tomorrow, the auction would be held here. The place was already bustling, decorated with lanterns and streamers.

And the item William Foster needed was to be bought here at the auction...

“But this name... is really grand.” Ethan Brooks looked at the busy crowd, frowned in thought, and muttered to himself, “In the Heavenly Domain, there seems to be a Tongtian Auction House too... I wonder if this one is a branch of that?”

He stopped thinking and walked inside.

“Please wait, sir.” A goat-bearded man from the auction house came up with a smile and said, “The auction doesn’t start until tomorrow...”

The meaning was clear: come back tomorrow.

“I have business here.” Ethan Brooks rasped, his voice cold. “You think I don’t know the auction is tomorrow? That’s exactly why I’m here. Get your manager out here; ask him if you accept top-grade pills. If not, I’ll leave right now!”

“Top-grade pills?” The manager’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

On the Hanyang Continent, it took at least a thousand people to produce a single alchemist. And among ten thousand alchemists, only a few might become pill masters! Pills were mysterious treasures that even advanced cultivators could only dream of!

Let alone top-grade pills?

But this man...

“May I ask, sir, could you show us the pills you mentioned?” The goat-bearded manager immediately changed his address, from “sir” to “honored guest.”

Ethan Brooks snorted, said nothing more, and with a flick of his hand, opened a small gap in the jade bottle.

Instantly, a faint, wondrous fragrance wafted out.

The manager had only just caught a whiff when Ethan Brooks closed the lid again; but even so, he still felt a wave of comfort and relaxation throughout his body.

“Please come with me, I’ll immediately call for a senior appraiser.” Just from smelling that unique fragrance, the manager instantly judged: these top-grade pills were most likely genuine!

As a manager of the auction house, he was well-traveled and knowledgeable, but this kind of wondrous scent was something he was experiencing for the first time today.