Breathing Method

Very soon, the image vanished.

The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror provided its appraisal and evaluation.

Literary Fan, Mortal Grade, Mid-Tier. Talent lingered upon it; carrying it for a long time could stabilize one's qi, nurture talent, and brighten one's wisdom.

"The Literary Fan's value is definitely not low. Leaving aside the fact that it came from the calligraphy master Xu Chenchang, its effects alone—

Stabilize qi, nurture talent, brighten wisdom... Though they are difficult to verify, since the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror displayed them, they cannot be false.

But what a pity. In the end, the Literary Fan only received a Mortal Grade, Mid-Tier evaluation from the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror."

Chen Shaojun sighed, then frowned.

He truly grew eager to see what treasures above the Mortal Grade—Spirit Rank treasures—would look like.

At the same time, he felt a peculiar memory appear in his mind.

This was the reward bestowed by the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror.

A breathing method.

The Evergreen Breathing Method.

"Evergreen Breathing Method?"

Chen Shaojun accepted the memory, his face full of bewilderment.

This breathing method spoke from beginning to end only of how to exhale and inhale.

The duration, speed, rhythm, and frequency were all described and explained in meticulous detail.

Chen Shaojun did not know whether this was a martial cultivation method or a Daoist cultivation art from this world. But recalling the Spirit Eye Technique he had obtained before, he naturally understood that this was definitely something good as well.

Though he still had doubts, he gradually began trying it according to the requirements of the breathing method.

The Evergreen Breathing Method was not particularly difficult to cultivate.

It could be practiced whether walking, sitting, lying down, or standing.

One exhale, one inhale, one exhale, one inhale... Sometimes there would be two or three consecutive inhalations or exhalations. One full cycle consisted of one hundred and eight rounds and could be completed in two or three minutes.

Chen Shaojun silently began cultivating.

The sounds of his exhalations and exhalations were almost inaudible.

They were not much different from normal breathing.

The cultivation method had already been imprinted in his mind, deeply etched into his memory and impossible to forget.

Very soon.

One cycle ended.

Chen Shaojun silently sensed his condition.

Then he blinked.

"No change?"

He felt nothing at all.

The exhaustion from using the Divine Gaze Technique had not eased in the slightest.

Nor had any True Qi or spiritual power arisen within his body.

His limbs did feel somewhat warm.

But he had taken an Essence-Nourishing Pill earlier. After the pill cleansed his marrow and refined his body, his qi and blood had become vigorous; warm hands and feet were perfectly normal.

"Perhaps I have cultivated for too short a time?

But that makes sense.

Even a divine art or wondrous method could not possibly take effect the very first time it was circulated.

The Literary Fan appraised this time was, at most, Mortal Grade, Mid-Tier. The method rewarded by the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror probably would not be too profound either.

At the very least, it is still a type of cultivation method.

Something is better than nothing."

Chen Shaojun was easily satisfied.

Of course, even if he were dissatisfied, there was nothing he could do.

The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror's rewards had never followed any pattern.

Essence-Nourishing Pill, Spirit Eye Technique, and now a breathing method... Who knew what else might come in the future?

Yet there was no doubt that they were all extremely useful to him.

Naturally, he would not disdain them.

In any case, when cultivating this breathing method, he did not need to deliberately sit in meditation. He could even turn it into an instinct, and it would not affect him in the slightest while doing other things.

That was probably what satisfied him most.

After all, he currently lived in a large shared sleeping quarters with twelve beds. Though he did not have many roommates now, if he suddenly got up to sit in meditation and cultivate while everyone else slept soundly, rumors would surely spread the next day.

If the shopkeeper questioned him, should he tell the truth or not?

Living under another's roof.

Keeping a low profile could never be wrong.

Any rumor, once it reached the ears of someone with ulterior motives, could become a calamity.

He would never forget that this was a world with demons and devils, ghosts and monsters.

While circulating the breathing method, Chen Shaojun walked out of the appraisal room.

When he handed the Literary Fan to Shen Lang, the other man could not help glancing at him, but said nothing.

After it was recorded in the register, a tally token naturally fell into his hands.

Chen Shaojun secretly let out a breath of relief. He knew Shen Lang did not care who had completed the appraisal. So long as the treasure was handed over smoothly, Shen Lang would not ask questions.

"Do you still have energy left? There are indeed rather a lot of treasures needing appraisal this time."

Suddenly, Shen Lang casually pointed at the tray beside him and asked.

Chen Shaojun followed his finger. When he saw the Jade Ruyi, his pupils could not help shrinking. Yet when he looked at the other items requiring appraisal, something in his heart stirred for no reason.

To be sure, these "raw materials" all contained Yin Baleful Intent and ghostly qi to varying degrees.

Among them was the Jade Ruyi, with yin qi pressing overhead, ghostly qi thick and chilling, and even a ghostly shadow entrenched upon it.

But there were also some items that contained very little Killing Intent.

Appraising such treasures would naturally consume much less energy.

With the strength of his spirit now, he estimated that using the Divine Gaze Technique another one or two times should not be a problem.

Besides, it had to be said that, as the advancement method for an Appraiser Apprentice, the Divine Gaze Technique could indeed only improve through more practice and repeated use.

If he wanted to become a Certified Appraiser, he still needed to raise this technique to the Minor Mastery realm as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, he could not help asking, "May I choose freely?"

"Yes.

You may take three at once.

But every one of them must be recorded in the register."

Shen Lang pondered briefly but did not refuse. He only wanted to complete the shopkeeper's instructions as soon as possible: appraise and process these treasures, record them in the register, then sell them.

"Thank you, Mister Shen!"

Delighted, Chen Shaojun respectfully bowed, then selected three items from among them.

These three "raw materials" were all treasures he had seen with the Spirit Eye Technique earlier, ones with dim spiritual light and extremely sparse Yin Baleful Intent and ghostly qi.

After returning to Appraisal Room Seven, Chen Shaojun did not even bother lighting candles or burning incense.

He directly used the Divine Gaze Technique.

Silently, wisps of spiritual power surged forth like a rushing river.

Whoosh!

There was no resistance whatsoever.

The Yin Baleful Intent on that "raw material" was washed away completely.

The treasure then revealed its own splendor.

It seemed faintly brighter, gleaming with a soft luster.

That was the purpose of an appraiser's treasure appraisal.

Before appraisal, Yin Baleful Intent and ghostly qi often covered treasures in dust, greatly diminishing their value.

Even if others could see their preciousness, the strangeness of this world made them fear becoming tainted by unclean things, leaving them unwilling to use them with peace of mind.

A pawnshop appraiser was like someone with the touch that turned stone into gold, able to make treasures bloom once more in their original colors.

Once the treasure's appraisal was complete, the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror emerged.

Origin-Tracking Search—the image appeared.

The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror then displayed this treasure's evaluation.