After five minutes, Chen Shaojun brought some grayish-white stones back to his appraisal room.
After knowing what he was about to face, he naturally had to be fully prepared.
Therefore, he had specially looked for Ah Yong and learned about the quadratic formation that could help cleanse treasures.
"Let's hope it works."
Chen Shaojun mumbled as he placed the white stones down according to their specific positions.
After a short while, the quadratic array was set up.
He had no confidence in such a simple array formation.
However, it was better than nothing. It could at least give him some comfort, right?
He placed the tray in the corner of the room and took one of the items.
It was a white jade pendant with a divine deer carved on it. It was an image of a divine deer turning its head.
However, time had passed, and a baleful aura had invaded the jade. Thus, the entire white jade looked gray, and there were faint yellow and black spots.
In the eyes of ignorant people, these spots were dirt that could be removed after washing the jade. However, in reality, unless the jade was broken and the baleful aura dissipated on its own, these spots would grow naturally and they would not easily disappear.
This was also the meaning behind the existence of pawnshops.
Appraising treasures was only a tradition.
Cleansing treasures of such evil aura was the reason why pawnbrokers and pawnshops were treated with respect.
Chen Shaojun lit a candle and burned incense.
Then, he closed his eyes to rest.
He would face a showdown after this.
In particular, when he eventually appraised the jade ruyi, he had to ensure that he had enough energy.
After five minutes, Chen Shaojun opened his eyes.
The candle had already been extinguished, and the three bamboo incense sticks had also successfully burned out.
Although the white jade contained a baleful aura, it did not contain much of it. At most, there were only two or three wisps of baleful aura, so it was not a threat to Chen Shaojun.
After calming himself down and focusing his spirit, he successfully executed the Divine Vision technique.
It contained the power of Chen Shaojun's spirit and will as it charged into the white jade pendant.
Sizzle…
The baleful aura within the white jade pendant instantly turned into black smoke. It was as if it had been enraged, causing it to bare its fangs and brandish its claws.
However, the current Chen Shaojun was no longer the same as before.
Not only had his mastery of the Divine Vision technique reached the Proficient-Level, but his physical condition had also been nourished by Essence Augmenting Pill. Furthermore, the Blood Qi Pill had strengthened his body, causing it to undergo a qualitative change.
As a result, he was full of vigor and vitality.
Naturally, his spiritual strength had also vastly increased.
The baleful aura within the white jade pendant was instantly doused by his spirit and will. Then, it completely dissipated.
Meanwhile, the originally mottled white jade pendant also returned to its original appearance.
It looked as white as paper and as crystal-clear as an ancient lake.
The appraisal was a success!
Buzz!
The Eight-Directional Spirit Realm and the Psychic Treasure Mirror appeared!
Chen Shaojun saw the journey of the white jade pendant.
From the moment it was mined to the moment it took shape, and to the people whose hands it had passed through, everything was vivid in his mind.
Its last owner was Zhao Quan, who had been killed by the scar-faced man. He had always worn this jade pendant at his waist.
Zhao Quan was a scholar. However, he was not very well-educated. Like Ticketing Manager Shen, he was someone who had gone through several examinations without producing any results.
Of course, Ticketing Manager Shen was better. In the end, he worked hard and became a scholar.
On the other hand, Zhao Quan failed twice before giving up. However, back then, there was no lack of talented people in Wuxiang Academy, which was located in Taihe County. Thus, there were also calligraphers like Xu Chenchang in his social circle.
However, Zhao Quan accidentally offended the aristocrats of Taihe County and had no choice but to move to the capital.
After purchasing his house and settling down, he met a killer and fell into the pool of his own blood.
…
The image disappeared, and the Psychic Treasure Mirror determined the grade of the item.
It was a Low-Grade Mortal item!
At the same time, he felt something warm on his hand. Then, a spirit pill appeared in his hand.
It was a Psychic Pill.
This was the Experience Pill in his eyes.
Although the reward wasn't a ghost vanquishing technique that he had been looking forward to, the Experience Pill could increase the level of the Divine Vision technique and enhance his spiritual strength. It was better than nothing.
After all, the Divine Vision technique could be considered an offensive technique to a certain extent.
When it was used on a person's body, it could cause them to suffer heavy injuries, turn them into idiots, or even kill them directly.
But if it was used on a ghost, it would most likely be useful.
Chen Shaojun looked at the Psychic Pill. He had no intention of keeping it as he swallowed it in one gulp.
This was a critical moment. Thus, any slight improvement in his abilities would increase his chance of surviving in the upcoming showdown.
After consuming the Experience Pill, Chen Shaojun felt that his thoughts and senses ascended to a very special state.
The cultivation methods related to the Divine Vision technique flashed across his mind, causing him to feel as if he had gone through countless hardships in a short period of time. As a result, his understanding of the Divine Vision technique had reached a shocking level.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths…
After a while, Chen Shaojun returned to his senses.
"It's a pity that I still can't improve this Divine Eye technique to the Lesser Mastery-Level."
Chen Shaojun felt a little regretful.
Based on what he knew, when his mastery of the Divine Vision technique reached the Lesser Mastery-Level, his spiritual power would solidify and become visible to the naked eye. The technique would also undergo a qualitative change, especially on how fast it could cleanse and obliterate baleful auras.
From then on, it could even interfere with reality and manifest.
He could use his spiritual power to move items around him.
This was also the standard for official pawnbrokers in the pawnshop.
"But I can feel that I'm getting closer to that realm."
"I reckon that with one more Experience Pill, I should be able to raise my Divine Vision technique to the Lesser Mastery-Level."
Chen Shaojun regained his composure.
Without stopping, he took out the second item he wanted to appraise.
This time, it was a hairpin.
Chen Shaojun lit a candle and burned incense.
After five minutes, he began the appraisal once again.
Under the effects of the Psychic Pill, although his mastery of the Divine Vision technique has not reached the Lesser Mastery-Level, yet, his technique was still elevated to a higher level.
Not only was it faster when he used it, but it also saved him energy. When his spirit and will seeped out of his body, it was sharper than before. It was like a sharp knife that could break through all the baleful auras in the world.
Thus, the hairpin was successfully appraised.
The Psychic Treasure Mirror tracked the source of the treasure and determined its grade.
It was a Low-Grade Mortal item.
He was rewarded with a Blood Qi Pill.
"Let's continue!"
Chen Shaojun took out the third treasure expressionlessly.
Then the fourth, fifth, and sixth…
He lit candles and burned incense time and time again before appraising the treasures.
The Psychic Treasure Mirror appeared time and time again. The grades of the items were determined and Chen Shaojun received his rewards.
He received the Spirit Accumulation Pill as his third reward.
The Horse Taming Technique was his fourth reward.
Then, he received the Four Diagnostic Methods used in traditional Chinese medicine after his fifth appraisal.
His sixth reward was a martial arts technique, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada.
…
He received one reward after another.
No matter which reward it was, it was not bad. They were all things that many people dreamed of.
However, none of them seemed helpful in dealing with the ghost in the jade ruyi.
Chen Shaojun even hoped that he would be able to obtain another Psychic Pill.
This way, he could improve his mastery of the Divine Vision technique to the Lesser Mastery-Level.
Unfortunately, he didn't receive a Psychic Pill.
When he started his seventh appraisal, he did so with the intention of cutting off his means of retreat.
If there were no results this time… Well, he would give up.
Would he try to fight the ghost blindly?
Of course not, he was not dumb.
This was why he was doing everything that he could to prepare for his inevitable showdown against the ghost in the jade ruyi.
Chen Shaojun didn't want to die. But if there was no other way, he was willing to take the risk.