Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist

"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Shen."

Chen Shaojun thanked him, then took his own tally stick from Xu Hongtao.

Three tally sticks, plus the one from before, made four.

"Four tally sticks, one hundred and twenty copper coins.

"Relying on this alone to save enough silver to learn martial arts really is rather difficult."

Chen Shaojun frowned.

Yet he truly needed a channel through which to obtain martial arts manuals—at the very least, he had to let everyone in the pawnshop know that he had begun practicing martial arts.

"Uncle Xu, perhaps..."

After hesitating, Chen Shaojun did not speak.

He knew this could not be rushed.

Bringing it up rashly would only backfire.

Today, Chen Shaojun was the last to leave the appraisal room. By the time he arrived at the dining hall, it was already empty.

Fortunately, there were leftovers in the dining hall. What satisfied him most about the Lin Family Pawnshop was its dining hall. The food was only barely passable, but at least it filled his stomach.

When he returned to his quarters, snores were already rising and falling throughout the communal sleeping room.

Enduring the noise, Chen Shaojun lay down.

With every breath, he maintained the rhythm of the Evergreen Breathing Method.

With each inhalation and exhalation, his physical body was constantly stirred into subtle tremors.

By now, he had obtained the Evergreen Breathing Method for more than three hours. Though it had not yet become instinctive, and his rhythm occasionally went awry, he had gradually discovered one of the breathing method's wondrous effects.

It helped his body digest...

He had eaten dinner less than an hour ago, yet he was already hungry.

Early the next morning.

The six Appraiser Apprentices stood in a line. When they saw two figures entering through the side door, astonishment appeared on all their faces.

"What's going on?

"Both Second Master and Third Master are here?

"Did something happen?"

Within the Lin Clan Pawnshop, Certified Appraisers held an exceedingly lofty status.

Not to mention Chief Appraiser Qin, the Divine Dragon who showed his head but never his tail and almost never appeared in public—even Second Appraiser Dai Ming and Third Appraiser Zhang Gao rarely showed themselves before the Appraiser Apprentices.

Even when they did appear, it was usually only one of them.

It was exceedingly rare for two of them to arrive one after another like this.

"You're all here.

"Today, there's something I need to inform you about.

"Since the number of Appraiser Apprentices in the pawnshop has been dwindling, new recruits will soon be brought in to replenish the ranks."

The first to speak was Third Appraiser Zhang Gao. He was short and stout, yet he walked with fierce momentum, charging forward like a bull, appearing somewhat overbearing and arrogant.

In truth, however, his temperament was relatively kind.

At the very least, the Appraiser Apprentices dared to ask him questions about certain matters.

Second Appraiser Dai Ming, on the other hand, wore a stern expression. Simply standing there with a cold face was enough to make the more timid Appraiser Apprentices so nervous that they could not speak.

"New recruits?

"How many?"

Sure enough, someone could not resist asking curiously.

"Twenty or so."

Zhang Gao answered casually, then added, "Right, who is Chen Shaojun?"

The others immediately cried out in surprise and looked toward Chen Shaojun.

Chen Shaojun was startled and hurriedly stepped forward. "That's me."

He did not mind that the man did not remember his name.

In the eyes of Certified Appraisers, there had never been any room for the names of Appraiser Apprentices like them.

Because in a sense, they were merely a group of expendable goods.

Once they could no longer withstand Killing Intent entering their bodies, being carried away was an unavoidable fate.

Zhang Wang, along with the previous five, had all met such ends.

"I heard your Divine Gaze Technique has reached the proficient level?"

Zhang Gao glanced at Chen Shaojun with curiosity.

The Appraiser Apprentices immediately burst into startled exclamations.

They all expressed how unexpected it was.

After all, Chen Shaojun had not stood out in the slightest before this. Who would have thought that he would be the first among them to raise his Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level?

Second Appraiser Dai Ming, standing beside them, finally spoke as well. He tossed out a piece of white jade and said, "Try it."

"Yes, Second Master."

Chen Shaojun nodded and quickly reached out to catch it.

There was no need for any preparation.

At the proficient level, the Divine Gaze Technique could already disregard much of the Killing Intent on treasures.

Of course, before that, he still secretly used the Spirit Eye Technique.

Under the Spirit Eye Technique, Chen Shaojun "saw" that the white jade contained only three wisps of Killing Intent.

It posed no threat.

The Divine Gaze Technique was smoothly unleashed.

Light as tangible as substance poured into the white jade.

At once, black light flashed across the jade. The Killing Intent within had been triggered and swiftly rushed toward Chen Shaojun.

But Chen Shaojun's spiritual strength had long since changed beyond recognition. Not to mention that his Divine Gaze Technique had genuinely reached the proficient level.

Like dry weeds and rotten wood being crushed apart.

The Killing Intent on the white jade was completely worn away.

The white jade, which had originally been somewhat dim and faintly streaked with blood-red veins, instantly bloomed with its own unique radiance, gleaming softly and shining brilliantly.

"It has indeed reached proficiency.

"You are very good.

"Your talent is not bad either.

"Here, take this copy of Appraiser's Notes.

"I hope to see the day you become a Certified Appraiser."

Dai Ming nodded, then tossed over a thin booklet.

The others immediately revealed envious looks.

Appraiser's Notes was not actually anything remarkable.

It was no more than the experiences and insights accumulated by an Appraiser.

What they truly cared about was Second Master Dai Ming's favor.

With his support and guidance, would they not be able to become Certified Appraisers very quickly?

"Thank you, Second Master."

Chen Shaojun hurriedly bowed in thanks, his heart surging with excitement.

However.

His excitement was not because of Appraiser's Notes, nor was it because Dai Ming had taken a liking to him.

It was only because, while appraising that piece of white jade, the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror had appeared.

Origin-Tracking Search, grading its quality—and the reward it had bestowed upon him.

The white jade's grade was not high, merely Lower Mortal Grade.

Yet the reward granted by the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror filled him with delight.

A fist technique.

Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist!

Thus, the martial art he had long dreamed of learning was finally in his hands.

The essential principles, movements, and cultivation methods of the fist technique flashed endlessly through his mind.

If not for the unsuitable setting, he would have loved nothing more than to immediately spread his stance and practice it properly.

"Mm."

Dai Ming nodded. Without greeting anyone else, he turned and left directly.

The others were not surprised in the least.

Dai Ming had always been like this. Even when facing the shopkeeper, his stiff face would not show any additional expression.

Perhaps only before Chief Appraiser Qin would he exercise a little more caution?

"Alright, the trivial matter is settled.

"On my side, I have a special treasure that needs someone to help appraise it.

"Which of you is willing to lend a hand?"

After seeing Dai Ming leave, Zhang Gao immediately changed his tone. Looking at the Appraiser Apprentices with a kindly smile, he spoke in a genial manner.

"Help?"

The Appraiser Apprentices were stunned at first, then all revealed delighted expressions and called out, "Third Master, I'm willing to help."

Seeing that Chen Shaojun's Divine Gaze Technique had reached the proficient level and that he had already caught Second Master Dai Ming's eye, the Appraiser Apprentices also felt a sense of urgency rising in their hearts. Settling for the next best thing, they hoped to earn Third Master Zhang Gao's appreciation.

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