"What about Dao cultivation?
What realms does it have?"
Rarely did Xu Hongtao show such interest, so naturally, the group of servants 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 Daoist arts are extremely rare, and cultivation is far more difficult than it is for Martial Warriors.
Although the Great Zhou Dynasty has established Dao Academies, they teach no more than the basics. For true ranked cultivation, one must still enter the major Daoist Schools.
As for the realms?
Everyone has their own way of describing them. Those outside Dao cultivation truly find them difficult to sort out."
Xu Hongtao shook his head.
What he knew was only superficial knowledge. Not wishing to make a fool of himself, he naturally did not want to say more.
"Then Uncle Xu, what realm is your martial arts at?"
One of the servants could not help asking out of curiosity.
"Me?"
Xu Hongtao froze. A trace of complexity flashed through his eyes, and his earlier enthusiasm vanished completely. His face showed several hints of impatience as he said, "Go on, go on. Don't ask what you shouldn't."
After that, he shut his mouth and said nothing more.
Hearing this, Chen Shaojun could not help glancing at him.
Clearly, the man seemed to have some unspeakable secret.
But it made sense upon consideration.
Xu Hongtao had spent his early years among gangs, drifting through the martial world. He clearly possessed martial arts, and his level should not have been too low.
Yet now he had fallen to working as an unpacker at 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 indeed far too high for him.
Even many wealthy families found it difficult to support.
Moreover, as Xu Hongtao had said, even entering the Dao Academy would only allow one to learn a few superficial scraps.
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 trick or two of rustic fighting techniques.
Thus, for now, he could only set his sights on martial arts.
But even learning martial arts was not so easy for him.
"I've now 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 only support myself for two months at most.
Then, could I perhaps ask Uncle Xu for guidance? Could I have him teach me martial arts?"
At the pawnshop, as long as one completed the routine treasure appraisals, no one would say much.
Aside from the profession itself being somewhat dangerous, it was relatively relaxed.
If he wanted to practice martial arts, no one would stop him.
The only thing restricting him was silver.
His predecessor had entered the Lin Family at eight years old. Because he was rather handsome, he had initially been fortunate enough to serve as a pageboy beside a Lin Family descendant. He had learned to read, and occasionally received rewards as well.
But his predecessor had his family on his mind. Every so often, he would send his silver home.
Three years ago, that Lin Family descendant fell out of favor and was punished, then driven back to the Lin Family Old Residence. He had also lost his position as a pageboy, and life became much harsher, though he still did not cut off the aid he sent home.
At fifteen, when his elder brother married and came begging at his door, he had entered the Lin Family Pawnshop of his own accord because of a one-time reward of ten taels of silver, becoming an Appraiser Apprentice.
Only then did he begin thinking for himself and slowly saving silver.
Even now, he had only barely managed to save six taels.
If he went to a martial arts school with six taels of silver, it would simply not be enough.
Two months would also be far too little time to learn anything.
That was why he had thought of seeking out Xu Hongtao, to see whether he could learn some martial arts from him.
"However, judging from how tight-lipped he became when speaking of his own martial arts, it probably won't be easy."
Chen Shaojun felt somewhat troubled.
After pondering for a long time, he still decided to wait a little longer.
His greatest hope lay with the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror.
He had appraised treasures twice and received rewards twice.
Though treasure appraisal came with risks, the returns were indeed enormous.
Perhaps 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 casting it.
He first looked toward Zhao Hu, who slept beside him.
His spiritual aura was grayish-white, his vitality weak. How could someone so young be this frail?
Looking beside him, he saw a tall, thin youth who, it was said, had been here for nearly a year.
His spiritual aura was grayish-black, steeped in deathly gloom. He was even worse off than Zhao Hu.
In fact, one only had to look at his complexion to know he was in no good condition. His face was deathly pale, and his brow was darkened... In a physician's words, he should not be far from death, right?
Then came Li Tieshui. Grayish-black spiritual aura, deathly gloom... likewise not far from death?
Du Hao had grayish-white spiritual aura and weak vitality. He was frail too.
Zhang Ke had grayish-white spiritual aura and weak vitality.
Not a single one of them looked normal.
"Then am I the same?"
Chen Shaojun worried about this. The next day, he used water as a mirror to inspect himself, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
His complexion was rosy, divine light shone in his eyes, and he was far stronger than an ordinary person.
It was likely because he had eaten the Essence-Nourishing Pill earlier, which had thoroughly repaired his body.
Otherwise, he would not have been much better off than the others.
However, he also discovered that using the Divine Gaze Technique truly depleted one's essence greatly.
Every use consumed vitality and stimulated the mind.
After using it once, he would remain weak for an entire day.
Over time, without nourishment, even a strong man would be unable to endure it. His vitality and blood would both be depleted, and his lifespan greatly reduced.
"What a pity.
For an Appraiser Apprentice to become a Certified Appraiser, this Divine Gaze Technique is of paramount importance.
They had to train this means of earning a living to the Minor Mastery stage.
Only a Divine Gaze Technique at Minor Mastery would be recognized by the pawnshop, allowing one to advance to Certified Appraiser.
Thus, Appraiser Apprentices had no choice. Even if they trained until their bodies became weak and their vision went dark, they still had to continue..."
As Chen Shaojun lamented, he had already arrived at the storeroom.
Inside, the remaining six Appraiser Apprentices stood in a row, waiting for Shen Piaotai to distribute the treasures that needed to be appraised today.
Soon, Shen Piaotai, Shen Lang, arrived. Several servants stood behind him, each carrying a tray with several treasures awaiting appraisal. Scattered together, there were quite a lot of them.
"Half a year ago, a murder occurred on East Street. A family of seven was wiped out completely.
After the yamen sealed off the place, it stored away that family's belongings.
After the six-month public notice period, no one came to claim them.
So early this morning, the shopkeeper went to the yamen and bought these items.
There are quite a few things, so if you have the energy, you can appraise a few more."
As Shen Piaotai spoke, he gestured for the Appraiser Apprentices to come forward one by one to 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.
Looking at the raw materials on the trays, Chen Shaojun knew it was time to see whether his earlier idea could be put into practice. He hurriedly activated the Spirit Eye Technique.
In an instant, the treasures on those trays underwent changes in his eyes.
Before you continue