Chapter 2

The Spirit Mirror, a tool for spiritual appraisal, can track and trace the origins of things.

In the vast world, among all the strange treasures, there is nothing it cannot appraise, nothing it cannot trace.

Chen Shaojun's vision flickered, and he 'saw' the Spirit Mirror before him. The white clouds dispersed, the palace receded, and a green ancient jade appeared.

This green ancient jade was entirely emerald green, with a carp carved on its surface, head and tail connected, seemingly the very one he had just appraised using the Divine Gaze technique.

The moment Chen Shaojun saw the pattern on the green jade, a series of images related to the jade appeared in his mind.

From its transformation from stone to jade, it was carved by a craftsman named Liu Zhonghe, and then given by a young hunter to his wife.

The young couple was very much in love. One day, the young man met with an accident while hunting and never returned.

His wife was heartbroken, and every day she could only hold the green jade, thinking of her husband.

After several years, she fell ill from grief, bedridden, and eventually passed away.

Because she held the green jade tightly when she died, her family also buried it with her in the coffin.

The green jade accompanied the body for thirty years, nourished by yin energy, and the wife's wandering soul seemed to often be by its side. Gradually, the green jade underwent a special transformation.

Half a month ago, the earth was dug up, and a tomb raider opened the coffin. After a struggle, he took the green jade, which then made its way to the Lin Family Pawnshop...

The images disappeared, and the entire history of the green jade, its origins, and the people who had handled it, all surfaced in Chen Shaojun's mind.

At the same time, the Spirit Mirror also provided a grade for the green jade: Inferior Rank of the Mortal Level.

The grading system of the Spirit Mirror, from low to high, is divided into Mortal, Dharma, Treasure, Spirit, Immortal... Each level is further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades.

Inferior Rank of the Mortal Level is clearly not very good in this grading system.

Chen Shaojun came to his senses from his daze and found a pill in his hand.

The Essence Nourishing Pill.

It was as clear as white wax, about the size of a thumb, and emitted a faint fragrance. The fragrance invigorated his senses, and he felt a slight recovery from his exhaustion.

This was a spiritual pill that cultivators who practiced Daoist martial arts would take to enhance their cultivation and strength.

But it wasn't that ordinary people couldn't use it.

One Essence Nourishing Pill could nourish the vital energy and strengthen the blood and qi, allowing ordinary people to refine their essence and marrow, greatly enhancing their vitality.

"The Spirit Mirror appraises treasures and grants rewards..."

Chen Shaojun was overjoyed, realizing that he had been blessed with a unique ability.

Although he still didn't know how the Spirit Mirror had fused with his body, what it was, or whether he could truly obtain rewards by continuously appraising treasures,

At least one thing was clear to him.

With the Spirit Mirror, he should have a significant advantage in this unpredictable world of Yunju, and even be able to secure his place and rise to prominence.

"But..."

He thought of the wandering soul that had accompanied the green jade, as seen through the Spirit Mirror.

Before, he had only heard about it, but now he had 'seen' it with his own eyes.

This made him more cautious about this world.

Chen Shaojun looked at the clear and translucent Essence Nourishing Pill in his hand, feeling a strong desire.

Without hesitation, he swallowed it.

The pill dissolved in his mouth, and instantly, a cool and special force, like a rushing stream, surged into his body, adhering to his muscles, bones, and flesh, slowly seeping in.

"Hisss..."

Chen Shaojun drew in a sharp breath, feeling a burning sensation and a special coolness in his body.

The alternating cold and heat made him feel as if his flesh was being forged and his bones washed.

Layers of fine impurities were also expelled from his body as it was forged and washed.

After an hour,

Chen Shaojun opened his eyes, feeling that his current state was better than ever.

Not only had the mental energy he had expended using the Divine Gaze technique been fully restored, but it was even more vigorous than before.

He lightly clenched his fist, and a crisp sound echoed, clearly indicating that his strength had more than doubled.

"Truly a spiritual pill used by Daoist martial cultivators to enhance their cultivation."

Chen Shaojun was overjoyed, and even the slight stench on his body didn't bother him.

In the pawnshop, anything could happen. Sha qi, ghost qi, yin qi... These were things that any 'live material' could possess. Each appearance would make the apprentices flustered, and a bit of stench wouldn't raise any suspicion.

What he cared about more was the Spirit Mirror.

By appraising treasures, he could obtain rewards.

A single Inferior Rank of the Mortal Level jade pendant had earned him an Essence Nourishing Pill used by Daoist martial cultivators.

What about a Middle Rank or Upper Rank of the Mortal Level, or even a Treasure Level or Spirit Level?

He couldn't wait to appraise more treasures.

As for the idea of changing careers and seeking a new path,

He felt that he was just an ordinary person from a peaceful era, still learning to survive in this world.

Outside, there were powerful Daoist martial experts and rampant demons and monsters. Where could he be safer than inside the Lin Family Pawnshop in Shengjing City, which gathered countless top experts of the Great Zhou Dynasty? The streets were patrolled by soldiers from time to time, and he could obtain rewards by continuously appraising items. It was like a tailor-made treasure land for him.

He was reluctant to leave.

He must do a good job appraising treasures, and the green jade must be registered in the warehouse as soon as possible.

With this thought, Chen Shaojun stood up, took the green jade, and walked out of the room.

He turned his head to look at the sign above the door, which read 'Appraisal Room 7.'

There were ten identical rooms lined up, all dedicated to the apprentices for appraising items in the Lin Family Pawnshop.

Of course, the formal appraisers, who held a different status, were not here. Their rooms were much larger and better equipped, with some configurations said to be very useful for appraising treasures and preventing potential dangers.

Chen Shaojun followed the corridor and soon arrived at a side hall.

Inside the side hall, a few people were busy. Besides a few servants and apprentices, the main figures were Shen Lang, the clerk responsible for filling out pawn tickets and registers, and Xu Hongtao, the handler responsible for packaging and marking the pledged items.

Both were middle-aged. Shen Lang was dressed like a scholar, having failed the imperial exams and only managed to obtain the title of scholar after three attempts.

Xu Hongtao was much more robust, rumored to have been part of a gang in his youth and had some martial skills.

"Mr. Shen, Uncle Xu."

Chen Shaojun greeted them.

In the pawnshop, the hierarchy was strict. As an apprentice appraiser who had yet to complete his training, his status was naturally lower than the two elders.

Not to mention, most of the 'live materials' appraised by the apprentices had actually passed through their hands.

Although the 'live materials' were selected by the formal appraisers in the pawnshop, it was usually these two who handed them to the apprentices.

Having been in the pawnshop for many years, if he offended them, the difficulty and danger of the 'live materials' he received for appraisal could be unpredictable.

"Did you appraise it?"

Shen Lang nodded and asked casually.

"Yes, a green jade from Dianyang, Middle to Lower Rank, formed over thirty years ago, with craftsmanship of Middle to Upper Rank."

Chen Shaojun presented the green jade, hesitated for a moment, and did not reveal all the information about the jade that he had seen through the Spirit Mirror, especially the fact that it had been influenced by yin energy for thirty years and had a certain yin-gathering effect.

These were things that an apprentice appraiser like him could not appraise.

He only wanted to make a living here, appraising treasures and obtaining rewards step by step, without drawing too much attention.

In this world,

Being low-key didn't necessarily mean safety, but being too high-profile would certainly lead to a quick death.

Especially when he lacked the strength.

...