Chapter 182: Brand New

Lu Bai had just set up his stall when a few curious passersby gathered around.

An Evil Exterminator Guard setting up a stall in the city was an unprecedented sight.

"Xiaolu’s Appraisals?"

A few people stared at the words on the banner, completely baffled.

They had never heard of such a business in the Wu Dynasty.

"Officer, what is ’appraising treasures’? What are you selling here?"

They looked at the empty wooden table in front of Lu Bai, their curiosity piqued by the fact that there was nothing on it.

Lu Bai said, "I offer free appraisals for treasures from distant and Ancient Times, including items like Five Emperors Coins, Cultivation and Martial Techniques, and so on. If you wish to sell them to me, I can offer Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Celestial Tier Cultivation and Martial Techniques in exchange for Viewing time."

He had no reputation to speak of and was very young.

Furthermore, this line of work was entirely new. If he charged money for appraisals, no one would likely come.

But by offering it for free, he was certain some people would give it a try.

As for the business model of trading for Viewing time for Cultivation and Martial Techniques, he had learned that from the Drunken Flower House.

These technique manuals were hard to sell. Even if he sold one, it would just be a one-time deal. It was much better to sell Viewing time for a steady stream of income.

"Free? You don’t charge a single coin?"

one person asked.

Hearing the word "free," a few more people gathered around.

"That’s right."

Lu Bai nodded.

Another person asked, "What kind of Cultivation Techniques do you have?"

Lu Bai took out the five Cultivation Technique manuals he was carrying, placed them on the table, and said, "It depends on the level of the treasure you bring. For example, a Five Emperors Coin can be exchanged for one incense stick’s worth of Viewing time for a Profound Tier Technique."

"A Five Emperors Mother Coin can be exchanged for one incense stick’s worth of Viewing time for an Earth Tier Technique."

"And if you have a Five Emperors Ancestral Coin, you can view this Celestial Tier Technique, the ’Dragon Elephant Skill’."

Setting up this stall not only gave him a chance to find a hidden gem and collect the Five Emperors Coins, but it also served as a way to cash in on his five Cultivation Techniques in a different form.

If he could manage to acquire a High Grade Martial Arts Fragment, it would be a huge score.

Besides that, he had chosen this spot because it was directly across from Wangjiang Tower.

He could keep an eye on Wangjiang Tower at all times.

Wangjiang Tower was the lingering obsession of Daoist Xue Chen of Danding Temple before his death.

Lu Bai planned to observe the area for a while to see if he could uncover any clues.

At first, most people were just there for the spectacle, remaining quite cautious about this novelty.

Besides, not everyone carried old artifacts around with them.

As the crowd grew, a white-haired and bearded old man approached the stall. He took out an exquisite box, opened it carefully, and revealed an ancient-looking coin inside.

"Officer, please take a look at this for me."

The old man placed the box on the table and pushed it forward.

Lu Bai picked up the coin. The Ancient Mirror showed no reaction when he shined it on the coin, so he put it back and said, "It’s a fake."

"What?"

The old man was stunned for a moment, his face darkening. "Officer, take a closer look! This is a Desolate Emperor Mother Coin. Look at the patina, the surface wear! This couldn’t have formed in less than a thousand years."

Lu Bai said, "It’s a complete fake."

The onlookers began to whisper among themselves as more and more people gathered.

The old man looked at the crowd and said angrily, "This young man doesn’t know anything! He’s just making wild appraisals. I don’t think he even recognizes what this is!"

"Everyone, take a close look! This Desolate Emperor Mother Coin of mine has been passed down for more than ten generations. For him to just glance at it and call it a fake is far too rash!"

"Old sir, watch your mouth. He’s an Evil Exterminator Guard."

"The appraisal is free, it’s not like you’re losing money. Why are you getting so worked up, old man?"

Some people, who enjoyed the drama, started to jeer.

The old man craned his neck and shouted, "An Evil Exterminator Guard can’t just spout nonsense! If I took this Desolate Emperor Mother Coin to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower or any major auction house, their Appraisers would spend ages examining it. For him to call it a fake after one touch is just trying to fool people."

Someone suggested, "Old sir, why don’t we all go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower to get it appraised? Then we’ll know if it’s real or not."

The old man’s eyes darted away, looking guilty. He stammered, "The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion already appraised it. It’s old."

Lu Bai couldn’t be bothered to explain. "It’s indisputably a fake."

"Haha!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

The old man’s face flushed crimson. Feeling like he had lost face and couldn’t back down, he slammed the box shut and sneered, "I think you’re the fake one here!"

After saying his piece, the old man clutched his box and stormed off in a huff.

Lu Bai remained calm and muttered, "You’re not actually wrong. I am new here."

After the first, a second person soon came up for an appraisal.

Since it was free anyway, people came up to join the fun with a ’let’s give it a try’ attitude.

He appraised more than a dozen Five Emperors Coins in a row, and all of them were fakes.

As for any rare treasures from distant antiquity or Ancient Exotic Treasures, there were none to be found, of course.

Such treasures were far too scarce, not nearly as numerous or widely circulated as the Copper Coins.

Even if someone had one, they wouldn’t bring it out so casually.

As dusk fell, Lu Bai was tidying up and preparing to close his stall.

Another person arrived—a short-haired young man of about twenty. With a hint of doubt in his eyes, he handed over a Five Emperors Coin and said, "Officer, could you take a look at this Copper Coin for me?"

A flash from the Ancient Mirror.

The mirror’s surface displayed three words: "Desolate Emperor Coin."

’Not bad.’

’A genuine one, finally.’

Lu Bai looked up at the short-haired young man and asked, "This one’s old. Are you selling?"

The short-haired young man asked, "With this Five Emperors Coin, can I only view a Profound Tier Technique?"

"That’s right."

Lu Bai nodded.

The young man said, "But I already know your Profound Tier Technique, the ’Fierce Tiger Stance.’ As for the ’Breath-Holding Skill,’ I don’t really need it."

Lu Bai sized up the young man and asked, "You haven’t reached the Third Level of the Root Bone Stage yet, have you?"

"No, I haven’t."

The young man nodded. "I’ve been cultivating for two years but I’m stuck at a bottleneck. I just can’t break through."

"You’re the first customer to bring me a genuine item, so I’ll give you a discount for good luck. You can take a look at this Earth Tier Technique, the ’Tiger Subduing Posture.’ It’s an advanced version of the ’Fierce Tiger Stance’."

Lu Bai added, "If you gain some insight from it, you might be able to break through your bottleneck."

"Really?"

The short-haired young man was tempted but still cautious.

Lu Bai said, "Go ahead and take a look. If there’s anything you don’t understand, I can give you some pointers."

’Right now, the main thing is to build a reputation.’

’With so many people around, I can use this young man as a living advertisement.’

The young man hesitated for a long moment before making up his mind. "Alright. The Desolate Emperor Coin is yours, Officer."

After handing the Desolate Emperor Coin to Lu Bai, the young man sat down to the side and began the Viewing of the "Tiger Subduing Posture."

The content of this Pile Skill wasn’t extensive. It mainly focused on the posture for the stance, important details, maintaining a fixed breathing rhythm, and mastering the coordination between the stance and breath.

The short-haired young man tried to cultivate as he read.

Soon, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn had passed.

"So, how was cultivating the ’Tiger Subduing Posture’?"

many people asked eagerly.

The short-haired young man reluctantly closed the book and said, "It definitely feels different from the ’Fierce Tiger Stance,’ but I still haven’t figured out the knack to it."

"Your posture needs adjustment, and your breathing rhythm is off."

Lu Bai had the young man get into position and corrected a few points, while also telling him to gradually adjust his breathing rhythm according to the instructions in the "Tiger Subduing Posture."

Just a moment later, a jolt ran through the young man’s body. He was instantly drenched in sweat, steam rose from the top of his head, and his eyes filled with ecstatic joy. He exclaimed excitedly, "Officer, it worked! I’m at the Third Level of the Root Bone Stage!"

The surrounding crowd, who had just been watching for entertainment, erupted into an uproar upon seeing this!