A Star-like Fate, Old Dynasty, Old Grudges

Of the seven Fates, Zhao Huai felt the two Human-Grade ones were the most useless.

They were obtained from a great Confucian's calligraphy and a famous painting passed down through generations.

[Literary Talent] and [Painting Skill Novice].

The first would make his handwriting beautiful, proficient in running script, regular script, and cursive script, just like a calligrapher. The other would grant him talent in painting, making whatever he painted lifelike.

But he didn't need to write beautiful characters, nor did he need to make a living by painting. If he were in his previous life, he could have become an artist, but currently, it was of little use.

Zhao Huai never kept useless Fates. Without a second thought, he threw them into the bottom of the box to gather dust, or perhaps to upgrade other Fates.

Then there were the three Yellow-Grade Fates: [Treasure Appraisal Expert], [Social Butterfly], and [Classics Scholar].

[Treasure Appraisal Expert] was easy to understand from the name. It was a Fate that improved his ability to appraise treasures, allowing him to see the authenticity and flaws of treasures at a glance, which sounded quite suitable for him as a pawnbroker.

But to be honest, this Fate was just so-so for Zhao Huai.

Barely satisfactory.

Because of the copper coin, Zhao Huai didn't need to know the authenticity of the collectibles. He only needed to know whether he should accept the item or not.

[Social Butterfly] was a social-type Fate that could make him eloquent, smooth in handling affairs, possessing a silver tongue, and considerate in dealing with people.

[Classics Scholar] was born from a pile of classics and ancient books, allowing one to master a vast amount of classical knowledge, easily understand various obscure classical theories, learn the art of eight-legged essays, gain the ability to remember everything he read, and write articles like a contemporary Confucian scholar, reaching the pinnacle of classical studies.

The problem was, what use was it to him?

Zhao Huai was walking the path of cultivation, advancing bravely, and wouldn't sell his life to the imperial family. It would be more suitable if a scholar obtained it.

Examinees in his previous life would be so excited they couldn't sleep if they got it.

Fortunately, the last two Mysterious-Grade Fates could give Zhao Huai some comfort. His gaze shifted down, and the information of the Fates came into view.

[Bone Refining Jade Transformation (Low-Grade Mysterious)]: Absorb this Fate to transform your bones, making them as hard as spiritual jade.

[Sword Heart Clarity (Mid-Grade Mysterious)]: With a mind like a clear mirror, unlock the upper limit of the sword techniques you have learned. Sword techniques have broken away from fixed moves, and the changes in sword techniques are as you wish.

Zhao Huai was very satisfied with these two Fates.

The former was obtained from a century-old spiritual jade dragon bone carving, which could just further strengthen his defensive means. Spiritual jade was one of the materials for making Magical Treasures. After jade transformation, it could withstand extremely strong impacts, making his life-saving ability even stronger.

The [Diamond Body] could only guarantee an Indestructible Body of iron and skin, and [Bone Refining Jade Transformation] could just make up for the deficiency.

Copper skin and jade bones complemented each other.

The latter was obtained from an ancestral sword. It was originally a Magical Treasure, but as time passed, its power greatly diminished, and it became a symbol.

This Fate could not only help him study sword techniques and master swordsmanship, but more importantly, break through the upper limit.

All sword techniques have an upper limit, or rather, shortcomings and disadvantages, which constitute the shackles of the sword technique. [Sword Heart Clarity] can break the upper limit, making the power of a sword technique even stronger than before, allowing one to go further on the path of the sword.

And through these seven Fates, Zhao Huai came to a conclusion.

The higher the value of the item, the rarer the Fate obtained. High-value items can produce high-level and useful Fates, as well as low-level and useless Fates, but low-value items can only produce low-level Fates and cannot cross levels.

For example, the Earth-Grade Fate [Great Luck Overhead] he obtained was opened from an unknown cultivator's Mysterious Ring, and the value of the treasures inside was completely worth an Earth-Grade.

On the other hand, Master Huang's counterfeit goods and some ordinary things had very limited value and could only produce low-level Human-Grade Fates.

Zhao Huai picked and chose among the carload of antiques and treasures, putting them down and picking them up again, one after another. A long time passed, at least half an hour.

Master Huang naturally wouldn't stand idly by, but lay leisurely in the sedan chair, waiting slowly, with a smoking pipe that appeared from nowhere in his hand, comfortably puffing away, with white smoke rising from time to time.

After checking the Fates, Zhao Huai found Master Huang.

"That's about it. When will you settle the payment?"

"Whenever the shopkeeper wants, we can do it now."

Master Huang sat up with a smile, glanced at the items Zhao Huai had selected.

His joyful smile suddenly stiffened, but it quickly recovered, but the smile was not as strong as before, but looked a little forced.

Because he saw that the things Zhao Huai took away, although not many, were the best in this batch of goods!

And they were all genuine!

He had clearly carefully forged a large number of counterfeit goods. How could he have not chosen a single one? Even if his eyesight was good, it couldn't be so exaggerated, right? Wouldn't this deal be a huge loss? Something was very wrong.

Master Huang's heart was clearly filled with immense frustration.

Immediately, he thought with determination that after the transaction, he absolutely couldn't let this shopkeeper take these items away so easily.

Zhao Huai could clearly see the subtle changes on Master Huang's face, but he naturally pretended not to notice, glancing sideways at the middle-aged man beside him.

Conversely, the middle-aged guard beside him seemed much more relaxed.

Zhao Huai wondered secretly, Why is this person so concerned about the whereabouts of these relics? Could there be some special connection between them?

Or perhaps, these relics weren't discovered by Master Huang, but by this middle-aged guard? Zhao Huai pondered for a moment, then probed,

"Master Huang, how did you get your hands on these relics of the old dynasty? I mean, the person who had them before you. If I take something that was originally yours, and I get reported, that wouldn't be good. You understand what I mean."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashed in Master Huang's eyes, as he reassured with a smile,

"Shopkeeper, rest assured. These were all sold to me by impoverished royal nobles after they were stripped of their titles. These Great Yan Dynasty nobles have all been demoted to commoners, which is how I was able to collect them. So, shopkeeper, you don't need to worry, it's absolutely safe."

Zhao Huai nodded upon hearing this. What Master Huang said sounded reasonable.

After the fall of the Great Yan Dynasty, the vast imperial family disintegrated, completely losing its former privileges.

They were scattered among the people, and without the ability to support themselves, many could only secretly sell their jewelry to exchange for family wealth.

However, he didn't completely believe it. How could royal nobles obtain these national treasure-level treasures? They were all locked in the emperor's private treasury.

Master Huang saw the expression on Zhao Huai's face and asked with a puzzled look, "I see that the shopkeeper has quite a bit of sympathy for the Great Yan Dynasty. Why is that?"

Zhao Huai sighed slightly, lamenting, "Things change with time. The Great Yan Dynasty stood for a hundred years, and I, Zhao, was born under its rule. My grandfather once served as an official in the Great Yan Dynasty. Even after three years, it's hard to let go. Back then, although the Great Yan Dynasty was like the setting sun, there were still people who stood up to turn the tide."

"The loyal ministers of the Great Yan Dynasty, the veteran generals of the Great Yan Dynasty, the soldiers of the Great Yan Dynasty, which one of them didn't sacrifice themselves for their country, dying on the battlefield? To say it was completely useless is too heartless."

"Perhaps the Great Yan Dynasty had many shortcomings, but in the end, it's the old dynasty and old favors, and we can't forget everything."