Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique

The seventh appraisal was also the one with the heaviest Killing Intent among all the treasures, aside from the Jade Ruyi.

There were a full fifteen strands.

Yet before Chen Shaojun, this treasure containing fifteen strands of Killing Intent was scarcely any different from the ones he had appraised before.

He unleashed the Divine Gaze Technique, and his spiritual will descended like the radiant might of Heaven.

In an instant, it ground all the Killing Intent within the treasure away.

Spirit appraisal, rank determination.

Mortal Grade, Upper Rank!

Reward: Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique.

"Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique?"

As Chen Shaojun received the information transmitted from the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, he quickly understood that this was a spell.

However, it was different from the Spirit Eye Technique he had obtained before.

This Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique belonged to the unorthodox Daoist arts; it could even be called an evil art.

So long as one first obtained the target's close-fitting clothes, hair, or blood, then used paper effigies, carved wood, and similar methods to carry them on one's body, they could cast the spell at a critical moment.

Then, when they themselves came under attack, the caster could transfer those attacks that landed upon them onto someone else.

In other words, if someone attacked them and that strike would kill them, then the person subjected to the spell would bear the attack in their place and die for them...

"This Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique really is rather sinister."

Although Chen Shaojun had obtained this spell, he could not help sighing inwardly that it was both a superb tool for scheming against others and utterly unscrupulous.

In the hands of those with crooked hearts, it would certainly cause tremendous harm.

No wonder even the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror had classified this spell among the unorthodox Daoist arts.

However, Chen Shaojun had always believed that whether something was harmful or not depended on the person using it.

Used righteously, it was righteous; used wickedly, it was wicked.

The Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique might have a poor reputation outside.

But to Chen Shaojun at this moment, it was no less than a supreme true method.

Because he was about to encounter a ghost, and he needed this art to preserve his life.

"Though the Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique is profound, its only drawback is that it requires advance preparation.

"First, I need to find someone—or some creature—to bear this 'misfortune' in my place."

Having received this spell through the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror, Chen Shaojun naturally knew that the one subjected to the spell did not necessarily have to be human.

Cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, even poultry, cats, and dogs could all serve as substitutes and bear attacks in his place.

Unfortunately, his foundation was too shallow; in other words, he had no Daoist mana.

Otherwise, even inanimate objects could serve as targets for the spell and bear the "misfortune" in his place.

After a brief moment of thought, Chen Shaojun had a target.

Behind the Lin Clan Pawnshop was where the pawnshop's servants and apprentices lived and ate, and naturally there was a dining hall there as well.

Among everyone in the dining hall, the most hated by all the apprentices and servants was Liu the Second, Liu Two-Leg, who worked in the kitchen.

Relying on his kinship with the pawnshop manager, he could be called a tyrant in the rear courtyard.

Though he looked somewhat thin and weak, if anyone so much as glanced at his lame leg once too often, he would immediately bear a grudge. He would twist himself into knots to make trouble for them; slapping servants and punching apprentices happened often enough.

Furthermore, the method he was best at was borrowing money.

He called it borrowing, but he never once returned it. Many apprentices had suffered losses and could only swallow them whole.

Even Chen Shaojun's former self had been "borrowed from" twice...

However, Liu Two-Leg was not Chen Shaojun's target for this casting of the Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique.

The man was detestable, but not deserving of death.

Unless necessary, Chen Shaojun would not commit an act of murder.

His true target was a dog Liu Two-Leg kept.

It was a Big Black Dog, and an evil hound at that.

It was also one of the reasons Liu Two-Leg could run rampant through the rear courtyard, leaving everyone angry yet afraid to speak.

The Big Black Dog was built like a calf and stood taller than a person when it reared up. Once enraged, it bit almost anyone it saw. The number of people in the pawnshop bitten by this vicious hound was no fewer than could be counted on both hands.

Though Chen Shaojun was among the fortunate few who had never been bitten, he had always kept a respectful distance from the vicious hound.

This time, Chen Shaojun intended to cast the Plum-for-Peach Substitution Technique on the Big Black Dog.

Leaving Appraisal Room Seven, Chen Shaojun headed straight for the rear courtyard.

At that moment, the Big Black Dog was tied to a tree stump by the edge of the rear courtyard.

It lay there lazily, looking thoroughly at ease.

Chen Shaojun glanced around. It was the hour of shen, around three or four in the afternoon. Most apprentices and servants were still in the pawnshop, while those in the dining hall had begun preparing dinner and no one had come outside.

Such an opportunity was rare.

Chen Shaojun immediately approached without drawing attention.

Ten meters, five meters, three meters...

When Chen Shaojun came within three meters of the Big Black Dog, it seemed to sense something and vigilantly turned its head.

"Looks like I'll have to fight it head-on."

Knowing he could not take it by trickery, Chen Shaojun lowered his body, pushed off with his feet, and shot forward.

"Roar!"

The Big Black Dog bared its fangs, sprang up in an instant, and bit toward the arm Chen Shaojun was about to extend.

"What a beast."

Chen Shaojun quickly withdrew his hand and twisted aside, dodging the vicious hound.

Yet a flicker of excitement rose in his heart.

Over the past few days, he had continuously taken Essence-Nourishing Pills and Blood-Qi Pills, practiced martial arts, and learned the Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist. He felt his vigor brimming over, his strength greatly increased, and a restless energy stirring throughout his body.

But when facing this vicious hound, he still felt a trace of nervousness deep down.

After all, this evil dog's reputation was well known, and his former self had indeed once lived under the fear it imposed.

However, when he saw the vicious hound pounce again, its movements swift and ferocious though they were, he somehow felt that they were nothing special?

"This dog seems a little slow?"

Chen Shaojun felt that the other party's speed had slowed, that he could handle it completely.

Thus, he shifted his steps. As he dodged the vicious hound's bite once more, he raised his fist and smashed it down like an iron hammer.

"Thud!"

A muffled blow rang out.

Chen Shaojun's fist struck the vicious hound's head. Its body pitched forward, its legs buckled, and its entire body was nearly pressed flat against the ground.

"Sure enough, the me of today is already completely different."

Chen Shaojun was overjoyed.

Though he was not yet a true Martial Warrior, his physique was already far beyond ordinary.

One punch carried no less than one or two hundred pounds of force.

Though this vicious hound had a large frame, it was ultimately just an ordinary large dog. Naturally, it could not withstand such force.

"Awwoo..."

The vicious hound howled in pain, hurriedly struggled to its feet, and tucked its tail as it tried to flee.

That punch had nearly knocked it senseless.

It had also frightened it badly. Right now, all it wanted was to get as far away from this person as possible.

"Heh, so you know fear too?

"But don't rush off. Let me pluck a handful of dog hair first."

Chen Shaojun chuckled, grabbed its head, and raked his hand across its back. A small tuft of dog hair was pulled free.

And a bald patch appeared on the dog's body...