The Effects of the Spirit Eye Technique

"What about cultivating the Dao?

What realms are there?"

It was rare for Xu Hongtao to be in the mood, so the group of laborers naturally could not resist wanting to learn more.

"Dao cultivation is another cultivation system altogether. What I know may not be much more than what you do.

I only know that practitioners of Dao arts are extremely rare, and cultivation is far more difficult than martial training.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty has Dao Academies, they teach no more than the basics. For true entry-level cultivation, one still has to join the major Daoist sects.

As for realms?

Everyone has their own way of describing them. Those who do not cultivate the Dao would find it truly difficult to sort them out."

Xu Hongtao shook his head.

What he knew was only half-understood. Not wanting to make a laughingstock of himself, he naturally did not wish to say more.

"Then Uncle Xu, what realm is your martial skill at?"

One of the laborers could not contain his curiosity and asked.

"Me?"

Xu Hongtao froze. A trace of complexity flashed through his eyes, and he no longer had the mood he had at the beginning. A hint of impatience appeared on his face as he said, "Go on, go on. Don't ask what you shouldn't."

After that, he kept his mouth shut.

Hearing this, Chen Shaojun could not help glancing at him.

Clearly, the man seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty.

But on second thought, it made sense.

Xu Hongtao had mingled with gangs in his early years and wandered the martial world. He clearly possessed martial skills, and they should not have been too weak.

Yet now he had ended up as a cargo dismantler in the Lin Family Pawnshop. The difference in status could be called heaven and earth, so naturally he must have suffered some misfortune and had another hidden reason.

"How exactly can I learn martial arts?"

After returning to his quarters, Chen Shaojun pondered seriously.

As for studying the Dao.

The threshold was truly too high for him.

Even many wealthy families found it difficult to afford.

And as Xu Hongtao had said, even if one entered a Dao Academy, one could only learn a little of the Dao's outer skin.

True masters of Dao cultivation would only come from certain Daoist sects.

Only martial arts were relatively accessible to commoners.

Even some farming households knew a move or two of rustic martial techniques.

Therefore, for the time being, he could only set his sights on martial arts.

But even learning martial arts was not so easy for him.

"I've already made inquiries. The nearby Iron Wire Fist School charges three taels of silver in tuition every month. With the silver I've saved over the years, I can support myself for two months at most.

Then, could I ask Uncle Xu? Could I have him teach me martial arts?"

As long as one completed the routine treasure-appraisal work in the pawnshop, no one would say much.

Aside from the profession itself being somewhat dangerous, it was relatively relaxed.

If one wanted to train in martial arts, no one would stop them.

The only thing restricting him was silver.

His predecessor had entered the Lin Family at the age of eight. Because he was rather handsome, he had been fortunate enough to serve as a bookboy to a Lin Family youth at first. He had learned to read, and occasionally received rewards as well.

But his predecessor worried about his family, and every so often, he would send his silver home.

Three years ago, that Lin Family youth fell out of favor and was punished, then sent back to the Lin Family ancestral residence. He too lost his position as a bookboy. Life became difficult, but he still never stopped sending aid home.

When he was fifteen, his elder brother married and came begging at his door. Because of a reward of ten taels of silver paid all at once, he voluntarily entered the Lin Family Pawnshop and became an apprentice appraiser.

Only then did he begin to think for himself and slowly save silver.

Even now, he had only barely saved six taels.

Six taels of silver would be nowhere near enough if he went to a martial arts school.

And it would be difficult to learn anything in two months.

That was why he had thought of finding Xu Hongtao, to see whether he could learn some kung fu from him.

"However, judging by how secretive he was when speaking of his own martial arts, it probably won't be easy."

Chen Shaojun was somewhat troubled.

After thinking for a long time, he still decided to wait a little longer.

His greatest hope lay in the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror.

After appraising treasures twice, he had received rewards twice.

Although appraising treasures came with risks, the rewards were indeed enormous.

In the future, it might reward him with a martial art or a Dao cultivation technique.

Thinking of the Spirit Eye Technique he had received today, he could not help using it.

He first looked at Zhao Hu, who slept beside him.

Spiritual aura grayish-white, vital energy and blood weak. How could he be so frail at such a young age?

He then looked to the side, at a tall, thin young man who was said to have been here for nearly a year.

Spiritual aura grayish-black, deathly still. He was even worse off than Zhao Hu.

In truth, one only had to look at his complexion to know that his condition could not be good. His face was deathly pale, his glabella darkened... In a physician's words, he should not be far from death, right?

Then came Li Tieshui. Spiritual aura grayish-black, deathly still... He too was not far from death?

Du Hao, spiritual aura grayish-white, vital energy and blood weak. Also very frail.

Zhang Ke, spiritual aura grayish-white, vital energy and blood weak.

Not a single one looked normal.

"Then am I the same?"

Chen Shaojun worried. The next day, he used water as a mirror to take a look, only then breathing a sigh of relief.

His complexion was rosy, divine light shone in his eyes. He was far stronger than an ordinary person.

It was likely because he had previously taken the Essence-Nourishing Pill, which had thoroughly repaired his body.

Otherwise, he would not have been much better than the others.

However, he also discovered that using the Divine Gaze Technique was indeed an act that greatly depleted one's essence.

Every use consumed vital energy and blood, stimulating the mind.

After using it once, he would be weak for an entire day.

Over time, without nourishment, even a burly man would be unable to endure it. His vital energy and blood would both be depleted, and his lifespan drastically reduced.

"What a pity.

For an apprentice appraiser to become a full appraiser, this Divine Gaze Technique is of paramount importance.

This means of earning a living must be trained to the Minor Success stage.

Only the Divine Gaze Technique at Minor Success would be recognized by the pawnshop, allowing one to advance to a full appraiser.

Therefore, apprentice appraisers had no choice. Even if they trained until their bodies were weak and their vision went dark, they still had to continue..."

As Chen Shaojun sighed, he had already arrived at the storeroom.

Inside the storeroom, the remaining six apprentice appraisers stood in a row, waiting for Shen Piaotai to distribute the treasures they would be appraising today.

Soon, Shen Piaotai, Shen Lang, arrived. Several laborers stood behind him, each carrying trays holding several treasures that needed appraisal. Added together, there were quite a few.

"Half a year ago, a murder took place on East Street. A family of seven was completely wiped out.

After the authorities sealed the place, they impounded that family's belongings.

There was a six-month public notice period, but no one came to claim them.

So early this morning, the shopkeeper went to the authorities and bought all these items.

There are rather a lot of things, so if you have the energy, you may appraise a few extra items."

As Shen Piaotai spoke, he gestured for the apprentice appraisers to step forward one by one, register, and collect their treasures.

"Zhang Ke, this jade pendant is yours."

"Li Tieshui, take this hanging ornament."

"Du Hao..."

They were assigned one by one.

Each person first claimed one item.

Chen Shaojun looked at the raw materials on the trays, knowing that the time had come to see whether his previous idea could be put into practice. He hurriedly used the Spirit Eye Technique.

In an instant, each treasure on the trays changed in his eyes.