The appraisal was complete, and he received two rewards.
Chen Shaojun was actually already satisfied.
His preparations beforehand had not been in vain.
However, when he looked at the treasure he had appraised this time, his gaze could not help but flicker.
The Jade Ruyi itself was nothing special.
But the pearl embedded atop the Jade Ruyi—
The Primordial Spirit Pearl!
Low-Grade Treasure Rank.
It could gather spiritual energy, concentrate qi, temper the body, extend one's lifespan, establish a foundation...
"This is absolutely an exceedingly rare treasure."
Chen Shaojun knew very well that the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror's judgments had never been wrong.
Since it said the Primordial Spirit Pearl possessed these effects, there could be no falsehood in it.
The two effects of gathering spiritual energy and concentrating qi alone were enough to make people drool with envy.
Not to mention that the Primordial Spirit Pearl could temper the physique, increase one's lifespan, and forge a Dao Foundation...
Chen Shaojun had every intention of pocketing this treasure for himself.
After all, that scar-faced man surnamed Peng was no good person. Though he had been one of Zhao Quan's friends, he had ruthlessly murdered for the sake of this treasure.
Although the man might have been related to the Jade Ruyi's previous owner, perhaps his son or nephew.
The Jade Ruyi did not belong to him, after all.
After a brief hesitation.
What Heaven bestowed, if not taken, would bring misfortune instead.
There was no way he could pass up something capable of strengthening his own foundation and power.
All he had to do was ensure that the Jade Ruyi remained intact and that the Primordial Spirit Pearl did not shatter.
At most, he would leave behind a thread of primordial spirit energy to preserve the treasure's integrity.
"Time is running short. I need to hurry."
Chen Shaojun looked at the sky outside.
He knew that the scar-faced man surnamed Peng should be waiting in the pawnshop to retrieve the treasure, while Shen Lang could arrive at the appraisal room at any moment to urge him on.
He hurriedly picked up the Jade Ruyi.
At this moment, the Jade Ruyi had been completely rid of its Yin Baleful Intent. The jade was cool and warm to the touch, exceedingly comfortable in his hand.
No wonder so many wealthy families loved to handle jade artifacts. Such crystal-clear, smooth, gentle, cool jade was indeed a great pleasure to touch.
Without lingering on the thought, Chen Shaojun used his spiritual power to guide it. At once, a special spiritual energy within the Primordial Spirit Pearl was stirred, transforming into trickling streams that surged into his body.
Then Chen Shaojun's body shuddered.
He immediately felt a fierce, powerful force, tyrannical beyond measure, attempting to utterly destroy his body. Yet that force also seemed brimful of boundless vitality, repairing his body with all its might at the same time.
From the instant it entered his body, that force rushed through his limbs and bones, flooding every corner of him.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...
Like being boiled in a vat of oil, like being tempered amid blazing flames, Chen Shaojun clearly felt pain.
That destructive, tyrannical force gradually broke apart his skin, flesh, meridians, and bones... then gradually repaired and reassembled them.
Pain, numb itching, aching exhilaration... followed by a warmth as though he had returned to his mother's womb.
Chen Shaojun continuously guided and absorbed the primordial spirit power within the Primordial Spirit Pearl, while continuously enduring that blissful agony.
He felt as if he were undergoing a transformation, welcoming a new life.
It seemed as though a long time had passed.
Yet it also seemed to have happened in a mere instant.
Only when he sensed emptiness within the Primordial Spirit Pearl, along with a faint sense that it was about to collapse, did he sever the connection.
"Golden Bones, Jade Flesh—Body Tempering accomplished.
Spirit Fullness, Qi Harmony—Dao Foundation forged."
Chen Shaojun slowly opened his eyes. As he carefully sensed the changes within himself, he could not help but feel moved.
At this moment, he could clearly sense how different he had become.
His condition had never been better.
No True Qi or Dao Origin had formed within his body, but when he exerted force and threw a punch—
Bang!
The punch struck the air with a dull boom.
At the same time, a white wave burst from his fist, extending a full three inches beyond his body before scattering apart.
For martial artists, a single resounding blow was worth a thousand gold.
If outsiders saw the dull boom produced by this punch, they would know it signified successful Body Tempering, proof that his limbs, tendons, and bones had been thoroughly trained.
As for that white wave, it was force.
For pure fist force to burst out from the body, generally only Martial Warriors who had trained their martial arts into their five viscera and six bowels, allowing their strength to course through their entire bodies, could achieve it.
But in truth, Chen Shaojun had not trained his martial arts to that stage.
He had not even managed to get started in martial arts.
He could not be considered a Martial Warrior at all.
What he relied on was merely the sheer strength of his physical body.
"The Primordial Spirit Pearl has improved me far too much.
Not only has it saved me countless hours of bitter training in terms of a Martial Warrior's Body Tempering.
Before long, my martial cultivation should rapidly rise to an extremely profound level.
It has also expanded my meridians, tempered my dantian and Qi Sea, and forged my Dao Foundation.
It has swept away countless obstacles for my future cultivation.
But most importantly, my lifespan has increased as well.
An extra half a jiazi of life.
That is thirty years.
If I could normally live to a hundred without illness or disaster, then with the Primordial Spirit Pearl, my maximum lifespan has directly risen to one hundred and thirty."
Chen Shaojun's heart surged with excitement, and he was thrilled beyond measure.
If not for his concern over the surroundings and fear that the people in the pawnshop would notice something unusual, he would almost have been unable to resist throwing back his head and letting out a long howl.
After quite a while.
He gradually calmed down.
He could not bring his excitement outside Appraisal Room Seven.
Besides, he needed to wash and clean up the black dog's blood, virgin boy's urine, and other items in the room.
Thus.
When Chen Shaojun stepped out of Appraisal Room Seven, he had already returned to his former dullness. His expression and demeanor were no different from before.
He arrived at the storeroom.
Shen Lang seemed to have been waiting for him all along. He hurriedly greeted him, saying, "You're finally out. How did it go? Did you finish the appraisal?"
"I did not fail my mission."
Chen Shaojun remained calm as he took out the tray. All eight treasures, including the Jade Ruyi, were laid upon it.
"Good, good. I knew you were no creature that could remain trapped in a shallow pond.
I never expected you to appraise all eight treasures.
I'll register them for you right away.
Mr. Peng has been waiting outside in the shop for quite some time now."
Shen Lang gave Chen Shaojun a surprised look.
He had initially thought that Chen Shaojun had taken all the treasures on the tray merely to collect more tally slips and earn more silver. In truth, appraising all the treasures would take at least two days.
Yet unexpectedly, in no more than two hours.
All eight treasures had been appraised and cleansed of baleful intent?
"Yes, Mr. Shen."
Chen Shaojun nodded, watching as the other man picked up each treasure in turn, assessed it according to the standards, and recorded it in the register.
When the other man picked up the Jade Ruyi, Chen Shaojun grew slightly nervous.
There was no issue with the jade quality of the Jade Ruyi itself.
But the primordial spirit power inside the Primordial Spirit Pearl at the top of the Jade Ruyi had almost been "sucked" dry by him.
He truly feared that the Primordial Spirit Pearl would shatter the instant Shen Lang touched it.
Fortunately, his worry did not come to pass.
Before you continue