Room C-57

The so-called Appraisal Hall was actually a large courtyard compound.

It had been artificially partitioned into many rooms.

According to Manager Sun, the Appraisal Hall had its own ranking system for the appraisal abilities of appraisers like them, generally divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D.

Among them, official appraisers from pawnshops or major merchant guilds were mostly assigned to A- and B-grade rooms. C and D were naturally reserved for appraiser apprentices.

During this time, Chen Shaojun noticed that the three chief appraisers of the Lin Family Pawnshop had all been assigned B-grade rooms. Chief Appraiser Qin was in Room B-20, Second Appraiser Dai Ming in Room B-57, and Third Appraiser Zhang Gao in Room B-108.

Because Chen Shaojun and Ayong had both reached the proficient level in appraisal, they were assigned C-grade rooms. They were not far apart, one in Room 57 and the other in Room 61.

As for the other appraiser apprentices, they were all assigned D-grade rooms.

After being warned not to leave at will, Chen Shaojun received an identity token and entered Room C-57. He found that the space inside was not large, merely a small compartment of around ten square meters. Apart from a bed, there was only a small table for appraising treasures.

"Looks like I'll be living here for a while."

Chen Shaojun muttered. He did not care much about his living conditions.

He had never been someone raised in the lap of luxury. Back at the pawnshop, he had slept on a large communal bed with eleven others. At least this was a private room. It was not bad.

The room was plain at a glance, with nothing worth looking at. He soon stepped outside and happened to see Ayong emerging as well. Beside him stood someone rarely seen among appraiser apprentices—fat and solidly built, with an honest, simple-looking face.

"Brother Shaojun, this is Yan Dingchen, an appraiser apprentice from the Fortune-Gathering Pawnshop. We met last year. I never expected we'd run into each other again today."

Ayong stepped forward, a rare look of delight appearing on his face.

"Chen Shaojun."

Chen Shaojun nodded in greeting.

"Hello, I'm Yan Dingchen. I've been an apprentice at the Fortune-Gathering Pawnshop for two years now, and this is my second time attending the Treasure Fair.

I just heard Ayong say that this is your first time here?

Then perfect. I can tell you a little about this place.

The entire Appraisal Pavilion has been divided into a thousand rooms in total, ranked A through D. There are thirty-six A-grade rooms, one hundred and eighty B-grade rooms, two hundred and sixty C-grade rooms, and all the rest are D-grade rooms.

The Treasure Fair's room assignments are based on certain standards.

Those living in A-grade rooms are all renowned chief appraisers and appraisal masters in our trade, every one of them a figure who has cultivated the Divine Gaze Technique to great mastery.

The B-grade rooms correspond to the official appraisers of the various pawnshops. I hear their room numbers match their reputations and methods.

Our Fortune-Gathering Pawnshop's chief appraiser, Zhou Fang, is ranked third among the B-grade rooms. In other words, aside from those masters in the A-grade rooms, his appraisal ability ranks among the top three.

Then come the C-grade rooms, where we are staying. They are for people who have cultivated the Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level and have hopes of advancing further to become official appraisers.

As for the D-grade rooms, you know without me saying it. Most of them have not mastered their craft. Many were dragged here merely to make up the numbers. Once the Treasure Fair ends, I reckon at most half of them will survive—perhaps even fewer.

Last year, there were seven hundred and forty-three appraiser apprentices in the D-grade rooms. In the end, only two hundred and twenty-eight survived.

Their living conditions are the worst as well. Our compartments may seem small, but theirs are half this size. It is nearly difficult for them even to turn around.

If there are too many apprentices, two people may even have to share one room."

Yan Dingchen was extremely enthusiastic. Before Chen Shaojun could say anything, he had already rattled off a whole string of words.

However, Chen Shaojun truly did not know much about the Appraisal Hall, so he was happy to listen to the other man's explanation.

"Of course, although this Treasure Fair is fraught with danger for appraiser apprentices like us, and a moment's carelessness can let Killing Intent invade the body, leaving life and death uncertain,

every year, even official appraisers die here.

But this is also the place where we can improve the fastest.

Not to mention that every day, the Treasure Fair provides an Energy Pill to restore our stamina and strengthen our spirits. Among the countless treasures, there are also hidden exotic treasures. These exotic treasures contain Auspicious Aura and Primordial Spirit Essence, which are immensely beneficial to our advancement.

Once absorbed, not only will one's physique improve tremendously, but the level of one's Divine Gaze Technique will also soar with the tide.

At the last Treasure Fair, five people that I know of rose directly from appraiser apprentices to official appraisers. One of them even came from a D-grade room.

There were also others who obtained enormous benefits. For example, Fang Yu from Tengyuan Pavilion was fortunate enough to appraise a Five-Directions Pearl last year, drawing the Five-Directions Spiritual Qi into his body. Though his Divine Gaze Technique did not improve much, his physique greatly increased, and he succeeded in Body Tempering. He could now be considered an expert in his own right.

Within Tengyuan Pavilion, his status was not much lower than that of an official appraiser."

Yan Dingchen sighed emotionally, anticipation appearing on his face as well.

Last year, like Ayong, he had endured it all bitterly and gained nothing.

This year, he intended to press on with renewed vigor. Even if he could not leap in a single bound to become an official appraiser, he still wanted to obtain an alternative benefit like Fang Yu of Tengyuan Pavilion.

A martial artist who had achieved success in training also had broad prospects.

Chen Shaojun listened silently. Through the other man's explanation, he not only gained a deeper understanding of the Treasure Fair, but also learned many hidden secrets.

For instance, though there were supposedly thirty-six A-grade rooms, only twenty-seven people were actually qualified to stay in them, and many of them would not participate in this Treasure Fair.

For instance, the Treasure Fair was so grand not merely because it contained enormous profits, but because many of its treasures actually originated from the cultivation world, with numerous top-tier powers involved.

At the previous Treasure Fair, it was said that even great figures had appeared and fought fiercely over a single treasure.

For instance, Treasure Hall did not actually forbid appraisers from going outside, provided they were official appraisers.

Night fell. Chen Shaojun sat in his cramped compartment and contemplated the Tai Shang Perception Scripture.

After a single round of contemplation, the Arcane Power within his body increased accordingly.

Yet he suddenly stopped, a trace of puzzlement appearing on his face.

For some reason, the Arcane Power he gained from contemplating the Tai Shang Perception Scripture today was somewhat greater than before.

Normally, after one round of contemplation, the Arcane Power in his body would increase by only a single thread.

But this time, it had increased by three threads.

"Was it because the environment had changed?"

Chen Shaojun thought of the heavenly grottoes and blessed lands spoken of in ancient legends.

This Appraisal Hall naturally could not be considered a heavenly grotto or blessed land, but its feng shui was presumably better than that of the pawnshop, and the spiritual qi drifting between heaven and earth was also more abundant.