Chapter 468: Anshen Herb

Zhang Xuan spent 50 gold coins to buy the dragon scale amulet he wanted. Satisfied, he bid farewell to the stall owner.

No human being is perfectly healthy. Resolving illnesses and charging a fee for it isn't a big deal. Even if one is healthy, there's always a desire to improve strength. A little guidance to help someone achieve a breakthrough—something even four-star master teachers can't do—could completely replace lesson jade tokens. Therefore, even without money, he was confident he could afford this item, without any worry.

The group browsed for a while longer but found nothing else worth buying. Zhao Feiwu then said, "Let's go upstairs. The treasures on the second floor are much more valuable, and many have been appraised by treasure appraisers!"

Everyone headed upstairs.

Unlike the cluttered first floor, which was filled with stalls and hawking merchants, this area was much more orderly. Shops lined the pathways, and the items displayed were clearly more precious. If the first floor was for trinkets and general merchandise, the second floor was akin to a specialty store. These were established shops, some standing for over a century, whose reputation and goods far surpassed those of the individual stalls. Some shops even displayed various plaques, such as: "Treasures Appraised by Master Mo Xiu," "Treasures Appraised by Master Sun Xiang," "Treasures Appraised by Master Hong Li," and so on. There was a constant variety of such endorsements. Although these shops weren't large and didn't house many treasures, the presence of a treasure appraiser's name significantly boosted their popularity and drew more attention.

"The largest exchange on the second floor is the 'First-Grade Pavilion' ahead," Jin Conghai explained. "The treasures displayed there, as the name suggests, are all of the highest quality. Although it's not run by a treasure appraiser, it's the busiest place and even attracts many skilled appraisers who come personally to search for valuable items!" He had been here before and knew a lot about the place. As for Zhao Feiwu, he had only read related books, so his knowledge of the specific details wasn't as thorough as Jin Conghai's.

"Let's go take a look!" His main purpose for coming was the Soulless Golden Figurine, and he wasn't particularly interested in these miscellaneous items. Since there was a "First-Grade Pavilion," it was a good opportunity to go there and inquire about the figurine.

Walking past rows of shops, they soon came upon a spacious room with three large, gilded characters above its entrance. The calligraphy, powerful and elegant, conveyed an exceptionally profound artistic concept.

"It's Five-Realm calligraphy!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. As a three-star calligrapher and painter himself, he had a deep understanding of calligraphy. Although the three characters "First-Grade Pavilion" were simple, the strokes seemed to float in the air, flowing like dragons and snakes, as if ready to leap out at any moment. It was clear at first glance that this was no ordinary work, having already reached the Five Realms of calligraphy. Calligraphy that reached this realm seemed to have a spirit of its own, emanating an inspiring spiritual energy. Looking at it for extended periods would not only prevent fatigue but also leave one feeling refreshed and invigorated. These three characters alone were likely priceless, worth more than a fortune and extremely rare. As expected of the First-Grade Pavilion, they certainly did things on a grand scale.

Upon entering the room, they indeed saw many people strolling around, some of whom were dressed in treasure appraiser robes, meticulously examining treasures as if spellbound, completely engrossed. Any profession, when one is deeply immersed in it, can become a source of joy, and treasure appraisal was no different. Many treasures were natural masterpieces, exquisitely crafted to perfection. Even a skilled artisan or artifact forger might only be able to create one such piece in a lifetime, making replication nearly impossible, thus astounding countless treasure appraisers.

"Please come in, esteemed guests. What are you looking to buy? I can help you," a young attendant approached them.

"No need, we're just browsing," Zhang Xuan waved him off, then looked at the various treasures displayed before them. Indeed, they were much more valuable than those in the previous shops. Each item had a rich aura and surging spiritual energy, indicating their high worth even without using his Eye of Insight.

"This is the Iron-Divination Bronze Cauldron, forged by a four-star artifact forger," the attendant explained, seeing Zhang Xuan's gaze fall upon a one-foot-tall cauldron. "If you place spirit stones inside, it can automatically refine and purify them, making absorption much easier! Using this to purify spirit stones can increase cultivation speed by 10%!"

"As for this one, it's the Nine Dragon Cauldron. Each dragon's mouth contains a sword qi, incredibly powerful, capable of easily slaying even a peak-level Grandmaster..."

Hearing the description, Zhang Xuan clicked his tongue in wonder. To be honest, these items truly qualified as treasures. In a first-tier kingdom, any one of them could stabilize the national fortune and deter other kingdoms from coveting it. However, after seeing the prices, he couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. Each of these items was incredibly expensive. For instance, the Iron-Divination Bronze Cauldron was priced at 200 spirit stones, and the Nine Dragon Cauldron at 320 spirit stones! Such amounts were not only beyond the means of a first-tier kingdom but would also severely deplete the resources and vitality of even Xuanyuan Kingdom.

"Is this the appraisal certificate?" Below both the Iron-Divination Bronze Cauldron and the Nine Dragon Cauldron was a jade carving, clearly indicating that a certain treasure appraiser had authenticated them, along with their comments and signature.

"Yes, most of the treasures in our First-Grade Pavilion have been personally appraised by a treasure appraiser, ensuring honesty for all customers!" the attendant replied.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan nodded. With a thought, patterns appeared in his eyes—the Eye of Insight. He wanted to see if there were any treasures here that he couldn't discern. He scanned through the treasures one by one, quickly going over all the visible items, and couldn't help but shake his head. Although there were many items, and all were valuable, none of them were as enigmatic or beyond his perception as the dragon scale amulet he had purchased earlier.

"Teacher, that Appraiser Liu Chang..."

Just as he was about to search deeper for more treasures, he heard Yuan Tao exclaim softly. Following Yuan Tao's gaze, he indeed saw an old acquaintance: the same person who had failed to acquire the dragon scale amulet alongside him. Now, he no longer displayed his previous demeanor of arrogance and pride. He was respectfully following an elder, like an apprentice. The elder, around fifty years old, had a dignified face and an inherent aura that suggested he had held a high position for a long time and possessed considerable status. Directly in front of the two was a small plant with a single purple flower in bloom. The petals had pale yellow stripes in the center and emitted a faint, refreshing fragrance that brought a sense of calm and peace with just one whiff. The First-Grade Pavilion not only sold various treasures but also some renowned medicinal herbs.

"Its stem is dark green, leaves are yellowish, and the petals are divided into several sections by yellow stripes... Could it be... Soothing Spirit Grass?" Zhao Feiwu speculated, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Young master, you have excellent discernment! That is indeed Soothing Spirit Grass," the attendant replied with a smile. "Our First-Grade Pavilion acquired it at a high price; it's the only one in the entire Myriad Kingdoms Alliance. It has a tremendous effect on the soul and is even said to be capable of awakening dormant souls!"

"Awaken souls?" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up, and his fists involuntarily clenched.