"Impudent!"
Old Crane's face turned red with anger.
He had presided over the auction house for close to a hundred years, and the number of treasures that had passed through his hands was at least seven to eight thousand. Even if there were some who had made a mistake due to his lack of knowledge, there had never been any major problems. Yet, the other party actually said that he would die within three days if he were to believe his words … That was an insult to his face!
"You're the one who's presumptuous! If you were to make a mistake in appraising a treasure, the other party's cultivation would go berserk, resulting in his death … I believe I don't have to explain it to you. You should know what the consequences are … "
Zhang Xuan raised his eyelids and said calmly.
After reading through the innumerable books in the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion, Zhang Xuan had gained a deeper understanding of the Azure. While the appraiser occupation in the Azure did not have a unique system like the appraisers on the Master Teacher Continent, where one only had three chances to make a mistake in their lifetime, it was still a very strict occupation.
If he were to make a mistake, his reputation would be tarnished. Not only would he be unable to appraise treasures anymore, he would also have to compensate a large sum of money. In the worst case scenario, he might even lose his entire fortune. In the worst case scenario, he might even have to face criminal punishment.
For example, if someone were to die because of his appraisal, it was highly likely that their cultivation would be stripped away, and their life and death would no longer be under their control.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Hearing those words from the young man, Elder He's face darkened. He flung his sleeves and bellowed furiously, "The consequences of making a mistake in your appraisal are severe, but do you know what kind of punishment you will receive for ruining another's reputation? If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, I won't fear you even if you bring this matter to the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion or Sect Leader Han himself! "
The consequences of an appraiser making a mistake could be severe, but... ruining the reputation of another wasn't a small crime either.
Even if the other party was a disciple of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion, he would still be severely punished.
"Ruin my reputation?" A playful smile crept onto Zhang Xuan's lips as he shook his head. "You're thinking too much!"
After saying that, he walked up to Auction Master Wang.
At this moment, Auction Master Wang was in a daze. He did not know whether he should leave or not.
Be it the disciples of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion or Elder He, he dared not offend either of them.
"You said that Teacher's appraisal was wrong, but do you have a way to prove it? If not, then it's slander! " Even though Yuan Qing was afraid of the Sword Firmament Pavilion's disciples, he still gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
Insulting his teacher, as a disciple, was equivalent to being insulted as well.
In the Azure, just like the Master Teacher Continent, there were strict rules that no one dared to violate.
"Prove?" Zhang Xuan chuckled. "That's easy!"
Then, he looked around and asked, "Do you have any test rats or the like here?"
In the Master Teacher Continent, the apothecaries would often rear lifeforms specialized in testing medicinal herbs. Back then, Zhang Xuan had used them during his Pill Debate in Tianxuan Kingdom.
Even though they didn't concoct medicine here, they would auction off medicines and treasures obtained from ancient tombs and ruins. There should be things like testing medicine here.
"Yes!"
Yuan Qing glanced at his teacher, and seeing that the latter wasn't saying anything, he turned around and left. Not too long later, he returned with a saint beast that resembled a rabbit.
As a Saint 1-dan cultivator, he did not possess much strength here.
Zhang Xuan ignored the man and looked at Auction Master Wang with a smile, "May I know if you can place the sculpture in your hand back on the table?"
After a moment of hesitation, Auction Master Wang put it down.
Without touching the statue, Zhang Xuan took out a brush and lightly drew a strange pattern around the statue.
Upon seeing Zhang Xuan's actions, Elder He was taken aback for a moment before he burst into laughter. "Calming Heart Formation? Drawing a formation with … a brush? "
He recognized what Zhang Xuan was drawing. It was a type of calming formation, and it would be able to bring out the greatest effect when paired with the sculpture.
He had told Auction Master Wang about it earlier.
Just that …
Setting up a Calming Heart Formation required formation flags and all kinds of treasures. What kind of effect could a simple brush create?
Surely that wasn't the way to do it!
"Drawing a formation with a brush will reduce its prowess. Otherwise, I fear that the saint beast won't even be able to withstand a single breath …"
Zhang Xuan swiftly finished his drawing. He retracted his brush and infused a surge of zhenqi into it.
Weng!
A brilliant glow immediately burst forth from the finished drawing as it fused perfectly with the sculpture. In an instant, a calming energy rippled through the area around the painting, as if one would be able to cultivate more swiftly.
"This …"
Elder He's eyebrows shot up. He didn't think that the other party would be able to draw a formation with just an ordinary brush.
Not only did this require a deep understanding of formations, it also required a deep understanding of the surroundings and the sculpture before him. Putting aside Zhang Xuan, even the most skilled person in Wuhai City who specialized in formations might not be able to accomplish this feat.
The other party was able to do it with ease … How in the world did he do it?
In an instant, an ominous premonition surfaced in Elder He's mind.
Activating the formation, Zhang Xuan turned to Yuan Qing and said, "I'll have to trouble you to let the saint beast in!"
Yuan Qing didn't say a word. He passed the rabbit in his hand over and placed it into the image he had drawn. The calming energy contained within the image instantly drowned the rabbit in it.
Feeling the energy, the flustered rabbit calmed down and closed its eyes, as if it was about to fall asleep.
"Didn't you say that it's fake?"
Elder He harrumphed coldly.
Through his appraisal, he had deduced that the sculpture would be able to calm one's mind when paired with a formation, and it would be beneficial to one's cultivation. Yet, the other party claimed that it was fake, and that it would even cause one's death … The fact that the rabbit in the formation was able to remain in peace proved that he was right.
"There's no need to rush. Take your time to look at it!"
With a smile, Zhang Xuan took a few steps back and sat down on a stool calmly. Then, he turned to Yuan Qing and said, "What are you waiting for? Brew a pot of tea for me!"
"…" Yuan Qing clenched his fists tightly.
"Go on!"
Elder He harrumphed.
As displeased as he was with Yuan Qing, the other party was still a disciple of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion. Before the results were out, he dared not show any disrespect to the other party.
Since his teacher had given the order, Yuan Qing backed out of the room and returned with a pot of tea.
Sipping on the tea lightly, he waited for roughly an hour before the sleeping rabbit slowly opened its eyes. It seemed to be feeling a little flustered.
"What's going on?"
Elder He was taken aback.
Under normal circumstances, under the effects of a calming artifact, one would remain calm and collected. Yet, for the rabbit to be feeling flustered at this moment, it was clear that something was amiss.
Hu!
Without answering Elder He's question, the rabbit abruptly stood up, and its eyes reddened. All of a sudden, it leaped right toward the sculpture.
Kacha!
Its head crashed right into the sculpture, and its legs lashed out several times.
It breathed its last.
Everyone narrowed their eyes in astonishment. Kacha! The teacup in Auction Master Wang's hand was crushed into smithereens, and the tea dripped from his fingertips onto the floor.
"Elder He, what's going on?"
If he had used the formation to cultivate, he would have ended up in the same state as the rabbit.
Elder He was dumbfounded.
Based on his appraisal, there was nothing wrong with the sculpture at all. Why would such a situation occur?
He had seen the entire process with his own eyes, and the disciple of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion had only inscribed the formation.
As bizarre as the formation was, he was able to recognize the blueprint, and it was able to bring out the prowess of the sculpture without any side effects.
In other words …
The other party had not interfered in anything at all!
The death of the rabbit must have something to do with the sculpture!
"What's going on?"
Seeing that Elder He was unable to answer the question, Auction Master Wang turned to the young man before him.
"Do you want to know the reason?"
Zhang Xuan asked with a faint smile.
"Yes!"
Auction Master Wang nodded.
This was simply too terrifying!
The reason why he had spent so much money on the sculpture was to calm his mind and rid himself of his inner demons so that he could push for a higher realm. Yet, he had ended up seeing such a sight … How could he possibly continue cultivating?
If he could not figure out the reason behind the sculpture, he would never dare to use it again!
"If you want to know the reason, it's very simple. Pick up the sculpture!"
Zhang Xuan.
"Alright …" Auction Master Wang picked up the sculpture from the table.
Even though it had been touched by the rabbit, there wasn't the slightest bit of damage on it. It was as if the sculpture would come to life at any moment.
"Raise it above your head!" Zhang Xuan said.
Auction Master Wang raised the sculpture.
"Throw it to the ground with all your strength," Zhang Xuan said.
"Throw it to the ground?"
Auction Master Wang was stunned.
Even though the sculpture was made of Calmheart Stone, it was still bound to shatter if it were to be thrown to the ground like that!
He had spent half his life's savings on it, and yet, he was going to throw it to the ground?
"That's right. Don't you want to know the reason? Throw it to the ground then! " Zhang Xuan took a sip of his tea and smiled. "If you can't bear to part with it, you can take it back and use it according to Elder He's instructions."
"…"
Auction Master Wang's face twitched. By the side, Elder He's body also stiffened. He wanted to refute Zhang Xuan's words, but he was unable to find the words to refute him.
Who in the world would dare to use the sculpture after seeing the rabbit crash its head on the ground?
"If you can't explain the damage to the sculpture, won't you compensate Auction Master Wang?"
Elder He asked.
"If you can explain the damage to the sculpture, won't you compensate Auction Master Wang?" Zhang Xuan asked.
"If you can explain the damage to the sculpture, I'm willing to compensate Auction Master Wang!" Elder He replied.
If Auction Master Wang could prove that he was mistaken, compensation was nothing much.
After all, as an appraiser, he had to be punished for his mistake.
"Even if I can't explain the damage to the sculpture, I'm willing to compensate Auction Master Wang too!" Zhang Xuan said.
"Very well."
Seeing how the two of them were at loggerheads, Auction Master Wang clenched his jaws and flicked his wrist.
Kacha!
The sculpture fell to the ground, and it immediately shattered into pieces.
Hu!
As soon as the pieces of the sculpture shattered, a powerful killing intent immediately gushed out from within, causing everyone to shudder in fear.
Elder He hurriedly lowered his head to take a look, only to see a crimson red on the surface of the sculpture. His eyes narrowed, and his face paled.
"This is … the Bloodshed Stone?"
The Bloodshed Stone was commonly found on battlefields or slaughterhouses. Over the years, fresh blood had seeped into the Bloodshed Stone, and it harnessed an intense killing intent.
More importantly, the Bloodshed Stone was bound by vengeful spirits. Putting aside approaching the Bloodshed Stone, those who were weak would be burned by the killing intent within the Bloodshed Stone. In the worst-case scenario, their cultivation would go berserk, and in the worst-case scenario, they might even commit suicide.
The Bloodshed Stone was the complete opposite of the Calmheart Stone.
He had clearly seen the Bloodshed Stone earlier, so why would it turn into the Bloodshed Stone instead? What in the world was going on?
In an instant, Elder He was completely flabbergasted.
(Recommending my friend August Eagle's new book, I Possess the Body of a Demonic God. It's one of the most popular fantasy novels in recent times.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
