Appraiser's Fortune: Unearthing the Secrets of Psychic Treasures

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

The process continued, deliberate and resolute.

Brush!

At a particular moment, Chen Shaojun widened his eyes, as if a radiant brilliance surged forth and submerged into the cyan ancient jade.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

Gradually, Chen Shaojun's face grew paler, his vitality waning. It was evident that utilizing the divine vision technique exacted a tremendous toll on him.

After a while, he withdrew his gaze and let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, nothing untoward had occurred.

As he rejoiced, a sense of dizziness overcame him.

Vast white clouds materialized before his eyes, with their edges resembling a towering palace. Upon closer inspection, whether it was the endless expanse of white clouds or the majestic palaces, they were all reflected within a simple yet grand rhomboidal realm.

Above the eight cardinal directions of the realm, peculiar runes adorned its surface.

In an instant, Chen Shaojun comprehended their meaning.

These were psychic treasures,

Psychic treasure appraisal, tracing the source of psychic treasures...

All things in the world, the treasures of the world, there is nothing that cannot be learned from, nothing that cannot be traced.

Chen Shaojun's eyes shimmered as he "saw" through the psychic treasure mirror. The white clouds dispersed, the palace retreated, and an ancient blue jade materialized before him.

This cyan ancient jade possessed a verdant hue, adorned with intricately carved carp motifs interconnecting with one another. It appeared to be the same one he had just identified using the "Divine Vision" technique.

As Chen Shaojun beheld the pattern on the cyan ancient jade, vivid scenes suddenly unfolded within his mind.

He witnessed the transformation of the jade, as it shifted from a raw stone to a meticulously crafted piece, expertly carved by a craftsman named Liu Zhonghe. The jade was then presented by a young hunter to his beloved wife.

The young couple shared an intense bond of affection. However, tragedy befell them one day when the young husband went hunting but never returned.

Consumed by grief, the wife clung to the cyan ancient jade, cherishing it as a token of her love for her husband. For several years, she held onto it tightly, day after day, longing for her lost partner.

Eventually, her yearning and illness became too overwhelming, leading to her untimely demise. In her final moments, the wife clasped the cyan ancient jade in her hands, and as per the family's wishes, they buried it alongside her in the coffin.

For thirty years, the jade remained entwined with the deceased, immersed in the aura of yin and influenced by the wandering soul of the wife who often seemed to reside within it. Gradually, the sapphire underwent a profound transformation, developing a unique resonance with the spiritual realm.

Half a month ago, the soil was disturbed, and a tomb raider violated the sanctity of the coffin. After a fierce struggle, they made off with the cyan ancient jade, which eventually found its way to Lin's pawnshop.

As the visions dissipated, Chen Shaojun felt the intricate details of the sapphire's journey, its life experiences, and the individuals it had come into contact with imprinting themselves upon his heart. Simultaneously, the Psychic Mirror provided its appraisal of the sapphire: an ordinary-grade inferior treasure.

The ranks of the psychic treasure mirror, from lowest to highest, were categorized as ordinary, magic, treasure, spirit, and immortal. Each rank had three subdivisions: upper, middle, and lower. Being an ordinary-grade inferior treasure, it clearly did not fare well in this assessment.

Coming out of his trance, Chen Shaojun found a pill in his hand—Yuanyuan Dan.

The pill was as transparent as white wax, roughly the size of a thumb, and emitted a subtle fragrance. As he inhaled the scent, a wave of rejuvenation washed over him, reviving his weary spirit and providing a slight recovery.

Yuanyuan Dan was a spiritual pill typically consumed by practitioners who followed Dao Wu methods to enhance their cultivation strength. However, it didn't mean that ordinary individuals couldn't benefit from it.

This nourishing pill served to replenish vitality, fortify the blood, and enable ordinary people to purify their essence and increase their vitality.

"Psychic treasures, treasure identification, and obtaining rewards..."

Chen Shaojun couldn't contain his elation. Somehow, he had been blessed with his own "golden finger" or stroke of luck.

Though the exact workings of this psychic treasure within his body remained unclear, and its true nature was yet to be discovered, the prospect of receiving rewards through continuous treasure appraisal filled him with excitement.

He understood, at the very least, that possessing this psychic treasure would grant him significant advantages over others in this world of swirling uncertainties. It could potentially pave the way for him to establish a stable life and even soar to greater heights.

"But...

Ghosts truly exist in this world..."

He recalled the wandering soul within the cyan ancient jade that he had witnessed through the psychic mirror. Previously, he had only heard stories about such phenomena, but now he had witnessed it firsthand. This encounter heightened his vigilance towards the mysteries and dangers that lurked within this world.

Glancing at the crystal-clear Yangyuan Pill in his hand, Chen Shaojun felt a strong desire welling up within him. Without hesitation, he swallowed it in one gulp.

As the pill dissolved in his mouth, an instantaneous cool and distinct force surged forth, akin to a surging current, permeating his body. It clung to his muscles and flesh, gradually seeping deeper within.

"Hiss..."

Taking a deep breath, Chen Shaojun sensed a combination of scorching heat and a peculiar coolness coursing through his body. The oscillation between these sensations made him feel as if his flesh and blood were undergoing intense forging and his bones were being thoroughly cleansed.

Layers of fine impurities were expelled from his body during this transformative process.

An hour later, Chen Shaojun opened his eyes and realized that his current state surpassed anything he had experienced before. Not only had he fully replenished the energy expended during the use of the "Divine Vision" technique, but he felt even more revitalized than ever.

He lightly clenched his fist, and a crisp sound echoed. He could clearly sense that his strength had more than doubled.

"This is indeed a spiritual pill used by practitioners of Taoist martial arts to enhance their cultivation."

Chen Shaojun's joy knew no bounds. Even if there was a peculiar odor emanating from his body, he paid it no mind. In the world of the pawnshop, where anything could happen—from evil spirits to ghosts, yin energies, and various entities possessing "biomaterials"—each occurrence left the Chaofeng apprentice somewhat foul-smelling, yet it was hardly a cause for suspicion.

What mattered most to him was the psychic treasures.

To identify treasures and reap rewards.

The fact that a low-grade mortal-ranked jade pendant had granted him the Yangyuan Pill, a coveted item exclusive to Dao Wu practitioners, left Chen Shaojun pondering the possibilities. What if he were to come across a medium-grade ordinary-ranked treasure, a top-ranked ordinary-ranked item, or even a treasure-class spirit-ranked artifact? The mere thought of it filled him with anticipation.

As for his initial notion of switching to a different industry to earn a living, Chen Shaojun quickly dismissed it. He recognized that he was an ordinary person who had traversed from a peaceful and prosperous era, still unfamiliar with the ways of survival in this world.

Shengjingcheng was teeming with formidable practitioners of Taoism and martial arts, as well as ferocious monsters and restless spirits. In such an environment, where could he find the safety and security that Lin's pawnshop offered? With an abundance of top-notch experts from the Great Zhou Dynasty gathered there and regular patrols by officers and soldiers, coupled with the opportunity to acquire rewards through continuous item identification, the pawnshop seemed tailor-made for him, a treasure trove of opportunities.

Reluctant to leave, Chen Shaojun resolved to focus on honing his treasure appraisal skills. Moreover, he felt an urgency to register the sapphire in the warehouse as soon as possible.

With determination in his heart, he stood up, clutching the jade pendant, and walked out of the room. Glancing back, he saw the sign that read 'Appraisal Room No. 7' affixed to the top of the doorframe.

As Chen Shaojun entered the side hall, he noticed several individuals working there. Aside from a few handymen and apprentices, the most prominent figures were Mr. Shen Lang, responsible for issuing pawn tickets and maintaining the pawn record book, and Mr. Xu Hongtao, the guardian in charge of handling and storing the collateral items.

Mr. Shen Lang, despite dressing as a scholar, had failed the imperial examination multiple times before finally achieving the position of a talented scholar. He was well-versed in scholarly knowledge.

On the other hand, Mr. Xu Hongtao, who appeared much stronger, was rumored to possess some martial arts skills from his past involvement with a gang.

"Mister Shen, Uncle Xu," Chen Shaojun respectfully greeted them. As an apprentice who had not yet been promoted to a full-fledged appraiser, his status was naturally inferior to the two senior members of the pawnshop.