Breathing Method

The image quickly vanished.

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

Literary Fan, mortal-grade mid-tier. Talent clung to it; keeping it for a long time could steady one's qi, nurture talent, and clarify the mind.

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

Steady one's qi, nurture talent, clarify the mind... Though difficult to verify, since the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror displayed them, they could not be false.

But unfortunately, the Literary Fan ultimately received only a mortal-grade mid-tier evaluation from the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror."

Chen Shaojun sighed, then frowned.

He truly could not help but eagerly wonder what treasures above the mortal grade—spirit-grade treasures—would look like.

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

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

A breathing method.

The Evergreen Breathing Method.

"The Evergreen Breathing Method?"

As Chen Shaojun accepted the memory, his face was full of confusion.

This breathing method spoke, from beginning to end, of nothing but ways 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 certainly a good thing as well.

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

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 inhales or exhales. A full cycle consisted of one hundred and eight repetitions, taking only two or three minutes to complete.

Chen Shaojun silently began cultivating.

The sounds of his exhales and inhales were nearly imperceptible.

They differed little from normal breathing.

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

Very soon.

One cycle was complete.

Chen Shaojun silently felt for any changes.

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 magical power emerged within his body.

His limbs did feel somewhat warm.

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

"Perhaps I haven't cultivated it long enough?

But that makes sense.

Even a divine art or wondrous technique could not possibly take effect after a single circulation.

The Literary Fan I appraised this time was, at most, mortal-grade mid-tier. The method rewarded by the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror probably would not be all that profound.

At the very least, it was still a kind of cultivation method.

Something was 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.

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

But without question, every one of them was extremely useful to him.

Naturally, he would not disdain them.

In any case, he did not need to deliberately sit in meditation while practicing this breathing method. He could even turn it into an instinct, without it affecting anything else he did.

This was probably what satisfied him most.

After all, he now lived in a large dormitory with twelve beds. Though he did not have many roommates at present, if he suddenly got up to meditate and cultivate while everyone else was sleeping soundly, rumors would surely spread by 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 gossip, upon reaching 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, Shen Lang could not help glancing at him, but said nothing.

After it was registered, a tally token naturally fell into his hand.

Chen Shaojun quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Shen Lang did not care who had completed the appraisal. As long as the treasure was handed over smoothly, Shen Lang would not inquire further.

"Do you still have strength left? There are indeed quite a few treasures that need appraising this time."

Suddenly, Shen Lang casually pointed toward a tray beside him and asked.

Chen Shaojun followed his finger. When he saw the jade ruyi, his pupils could not help shrinking. But as he looked at the other items awaiting appraisal, something in his heart stirred for no reason.

Certainly, these "raw materials" all contained more or less Yin Killing Intent and ghostly qi.

Among them was the jade ruyi, with Yin qi shrouding its crown, ghostly qi thick and gloomy, and even a ghostly shadow coiled upon it.

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

Appraising such treasures would naturally consume far 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.

Moreover, the Divine Gaze Technique was the advancement method for appraisal apprentices. Only by practicing and using it more could he improve.

If he wanted to become an official appraiser, he still needed to raise this technique to the minor mastery realm as quickly as possible.

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

"Yes.

You may take three at once.

But every one of them must be registered."

Shen Lang pondered briefly but did not refuse. He only wanted to quickly fulfill the shopkeeper's instructions: appraise and process these treasures, register them, then sell them.

"Thank you, Mister Shen!"

Chen Shaojun was delighted. He 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 whose spiritual light was dim and whose Yin Killing Intent and ghostly qi were exceedingly sparse.

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

He directly used the Divine Gaze Technique.

Soundlessly, strands of spiritual power surged forth like a rushing river.

Whoosh!

There was not the slightest resistance.

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

The treasure then revealed its own splendor.

It seemed vaguely brighter, gleaming with a lustrous sheen.

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

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

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

Pawnshop appraisers were like people blessed with the hand that turned stone into gold, able to make treasures bloom once more in their original colors.

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

Origin-Tracking Search—the image appeared.

The Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror likewise revealed its evaluation of this treasure.