Chapter 447 - 299: Spiritual Vision’s Appraisal Stuns the Experts, Elder Tie Gifts a Token of Goodwill

He knew that choosing to befriend Han Feng back then was one of the best decisions he’d ever made.

"Just luck."

Han Feng smiled, unable to explain much. "What brings you here? Let me know if I can help."

Su Jian quickly waved his hands. "No, no, we wouldn’t want our trivial matter to get in the way of Brother Han’s important business.

We can just wait a little longer."

Despite his words, the helplessness in his eyes was difficult to conceal.

Han Feng just smiled at his words and clapped Su Jian on the shoulder.

"Brother Su, now you’re being a stranger.

It’s a small convenience, hardly a delay."

With that, he gave Su Jian no chance to refuse, turning directly to the bowing guard and speaking calmly.

"They’re my friends. They’re coming in with me."

The guard didn’t hesitate in the slightest, bowing again. "Yes, Your Excellency."

He then turned to Su Jian, Su Muxue, and their companions, making a "please enter" gesture. His attitude was a hundred times more respectful than before.

"Brother Han, thank you."

Su Jian said solemnly, taking a deep breath.

Han Feng simply gave a casual wave, as if it were a trivial matter, and led the way through the massive archway.

The interior wasn’t the storefront one might expect, but rather an elegant courtyard.

Rockeries and flowing water were arranged artfully, with Spirit Plants growing everywhere. A faint, distinct aroma, like that of smelted metal, permeated the air.

A young man in the formal long robes of the Celestial Workshop approached them. He noted the guard’s escort and then glimpsed the Cyan Cloud Order in Han Feng’s hand.

A perfectly calibrated, professional smile appeared on his face. His eyes were calm and unruffled, as though he had received countless dignitaries and was long accustomed to it.

"Honored guests, this way please. I am Wang Lin, the Appraiser here."

He led Han Feng to a Quiet Chamber, where various precision instruments were laid out.

Guo Xiaobao, knowing his place, stood at the door and didn’t dare to enter.

"What equipment does our honored guest wish to sell?" Wang Lin asked.

Han Feng cut to the chase, retrieving the [Storm War Axe], the [Shattered Star Blade], and two [Xuanwu Shields] from his Storage Ring and placing them casually on the table.

Wang Lin picked up the [Storm War Axe]. He scanned it with an instrument, then lightly flicked the flat of the axe with a finger, listening to the reverberation.

"Hm. The materials are Tier Three Top Grade Thunderstruck Wood and Wind-Milled Copper—standard military-grade stuff."

Then, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"The Spirit Pattern structure... it doesn’t conform to any of the Celestial Workshop’s standard models. The Energy conduction path is too aggressive, and its stability is questionable.

According to the buyback manual, non-standard equipment must be downgraded by one grade.

I’ll rate it as Tier Three Top Grade. Three thousand Spirit Coins."

He then picked up the [Shattered Star Blade].

"The material is unidentified. Looks like some scrap from a piece of Deep Sea Sunken Gold. Unstable structure, forcibly fused with a Vibration Rune... All flash and no substance.

At best, it’s Tier Three Upper Grade. Fifteen hundred Spirit Coins."

Finally, he examined the two shields.

"Xuanwu Turtle Shell and Earth Dragon Hide... good materials, but the degree of fusion is too low. The internal Energy conflict is severe, which greatly diminishes its Defense Power.

Three thousand five hundred Spirit Coins for the pair."

Wang Lin put the items down, adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and concluded:

"That comes to a total of eight thousand Spirit Coins.

But seeing as you’re a holder of the Cyan Cloud Order, I’ll round it up for you. Let’s call it eighty-five hundred."

After stating his price, his face settled into a formulaic smile, as if the offer was more than generous.

But Han Feng didn’t get angry. Instead, he chuckled.

"Let’s put the price aside for a moment. May I borrow your testing grounds?"

Wang Lin’s brow twitched. He felt the man was questioning his professional judgment, but he nodded nevertheless.

"Certainly. Follow me."

He led Han Feng to an adjacent, sealed testing chamber.

In the center of the room stood a target made of half-meter-thick Tier Four Alloy.

"Be my guest."

Wang Lin crossed his arms, his expression clearly saying, ’Let’s see what you’ve got.’

Han Feng picked up the [Shattered Star Blade]—the one deemed "all flash and no substance"—and channeled a wisp of Sword Aura into it.

VMMMMM—

The short blade emitted an inaudible hum, and the very air around it seemed to shimmer and distort.

He used no fancy techniques, just a casual swing of his arm.

SCHLICK!

There was no loud noise. Like a hot knife through butter, the short blade passed silently through the center of the alloy target.

The smile on Wang Lin’s face froze.

Han Feng retracted the blade, walked up to the target, and gave it a gentle push with his finger.

The top half of the bisected alloy target slid down the perfectly smooth cut and hit the floor with a loud CLANG.

The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting Wang Lin’s stunned expression.

At that same moment, an inconspicuous Rune sconce in the corner of the testing chamber flickered once, silently.

It changed from green, for "safe," to orange, for "off-the-charts Energy reaction."

"And you called this ’all flash and no substance’?"

Han Feng turned to look at him, his tone placid.

Wang Lin’s face instantly flushed crimson.

High-frequency vibrational cutting!

This was something no ordinary Tier Three Rune could ever achieve!

The blade’s internal Energy conduction and structural stability were far beyond anything he had imagined.

This was definitely on the level of a Tier Four Spiritual Soldier!

’And I actually appraised it at only fifteen hundred Spirit Coins.’

’A complete misjudgment! The greatest disgrace of my career as an Appraiser!’

"I..."

Wang Lin opened his mouth, a mixture of shame and anger rendering him speechless.

Just as he stood there, consumed by shame and at a loss for words, an old voice drifted in from outside the door:

"An Energy reaction capable of triggering the Jingzhe formation certainly can’t be called ’all flash and no substance.’

Young man, you must have a calm heart and a sharp eye."

An old man in simple gray robes with salt-and-pepper hair walked in. His appearance was unremarkable, but his eyes were shockingly bright.