“I... I’ll be going now.”
Zhou Kexin kept her head low as she skirted around them and hurried out of the room. Mr. Qi followed her out anxiously, only returning two or three minutes later.
“I’ve already contacted the expert. He’ll be here shortly.”
“No rush, no rush.”
Lin Zhen waved her hands dismissively, but her eyes kept darting toward Yin Yang. He understood her immediately; she wanted him to help drive up the price.
He casually gave her an 'OK' hand gesture, and Lin Zhen visibly relaxed.
About half an hour later, the so-called expert finally arrived.
He looked to be about fifty years old, his hair half-white, with a pair of very thick lenses perched on the bridge of his nose.
“Mr. Qi, what needs appraising?”
“This.”
Mr. Qi handed the statue to him. The moment the man saw the peeled-back gold foil, his expression turned grave.
The expert set down his toolbox, took out a pair of black leather gloves, and put them on carefully before accepting the statue.
“Hmm, it is indeed a transcendent item. However, it seems to be quite old; the remaining transcendent energy isn't very substantial.”
As he spoke, he pushed up his glasses and scrutinized it even more closely.
“To still possess such potency after so much time... this transcendent item is rather formidable.”
Lin Zhen, standing to the side, asked curiously, “Do all transcendent items lose energy?”
Yin Yang nodded beside her.
“That's right. The definition of a transcendent item is a special object that possesses transcendent power which weakens over time.”
“There are also transcendent items that don't weaken, or weaken extremely slowly, and can even replenish their own energy. But items of that level are often terrifying.”
“To distinguish between the two, the authorities call the latter 'sealed objects.'”
“It's said that even gold cannot completely contain those sealed objects. Using them requires extreme caution.”
Mr. Qi glanced at Yin Yang in surprise, thinking to himself that the boy's time spent reading lately certainly hadn't been wasted.
The expert also nodded in agreement.
“He’s right. However, those sealed objects usually originate from the Zhou Era. Those that have survived are all heavily guarded; outsiders don't even know their names.”
“As for any that might be left out in the world...”
The expert sighed at this point. “Believe me, if you encounter something like that, whether you survive or not depends entirely on fate.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhen felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
Mr. Qi smiled and explained, “The so-called transcendent items are actually just imitations of sealed objects made by later generations.”
Lin Zhen nodded. She wasn't particularly interested in the history; she only cared that transcendent items were worth a lot of money.
The expert focused intently on his inspection, looking over the copper ring and then the statue, before finally stating with certainty:
“This is an attack-type transcendent item.”
“What’s the approximate price?”
“If it were me, I’d be willing to offer three hundred and fifty thousand.”
Lin Zhen looked disappointed when she heard the price. After all, her initial expectation had been a million.
Mr. Qi turned to Lin Zhen and said, “I’m willing to pay four hundred thousand. Think it over.”
Lin Zhen instinctively looked at Yin Yang.
Yin Yang spoke up decisively. “Mr. Qi, you were the first person we came to.”
“We don’t know what others might offer yet. You should understand that we’d like to compare prices.”
Mr. Qi frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, “One final price: five hundred thousand.”
“In Wang City, no one else will give you a price like this besides me.”
Only then did Yin Yang nod to Lin Zhen, who said firmly, “Deal!”
Yin Yang added, “Let’s handle the transfer here at the Qi residence. It’s safer. If we were carrying cash or other valuables, we’d be a bit nervous walking out the door.”
Lin Zhen nodded like a chick pecking at grain. Mr. Qi gave a faint smile, took out his phone, and beckoned to Lin Zhen.
“Let’s do the transfer.”
...
Leisurely Bookstore.
Lin Zhen felt like she was walking on air, giggling incessantly as she stared at her phone.
Yin Yang said amusedly, “What? Still haven't finished counting the zeros?”
“Xiao Yang, do you think I’m dreaming? Five hundred thousand, just like that?”
“It’s definitely not a dream. You really did get five hundred thousand.”
Yin Yang’s answer was absolute. Lin Zhen was beyond excited, finally pumping her fist in the air.
“We’re eating out tonight!”
“This five hundred thousand is partly thanks to you. Tell me, what do you like? Big sister will buy it for you!”
Yin Yang waved his hand with a smile. “It had nothing to do with me. Last night, I didn't even think it was a transcendent item. I almost missed it.”
Lin Zhen shook her head. “No, no, no. Without you, I wouldn't have bought it!”
“Just say it. What do you want? Your sister has money now!”
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Yin Yang thought for a moment and said, “Then how about some old books about the transcendent? I’m quite interested in that stuff.”
“No problem! They’re all yours!”
Lin Zhen waved her hand grandly, then hurried off to show off to the manager.
Meanwhile, Yin Yang began tidying up, preparing for the noon customers.
I’ve already gotten what I wanted most.
With these two preparations, plus the Traveler's Badge, it shouldn't be long before I can take back my Gall.
I can feel it. It’s in that manor. It’s waiting for me!
Ding-ling~
The doorbell rang, and several girls pushed open the door.
In an instant, a sun-like smile appeared on Yin Yang’s face.
“Welcome to the Leisurely Bookstore.”
...
The Qi Residence.
“Dammit, how many days has it been? We still can't kill off those rats and cockroaches. It’s like we’re living in a roach nest.”
“That’s enough. Stop complaining. Once Father succeeds in his promotion, you can go wherever you want.”
“By the way, Big Brother, has everyone been called back?”
“Yes, they’ll all be back in a few days.”
“Then when does the ritual start?”
The middle-aged man addressed as 'Big Brother' rubbed the bridge of his nose. “As soon as possible. Father’s condition hasn't been great these past two years.”
“I’ve had someone look into it. There’s an All-Yin Day next month. That will be Father’s best chance!”
“As long as we succeed this time, Father can break through to become a Demigod, and the Qi family curse will finally be broken!”
The expressions of the people in the room grew heated at these words.
Even Mr. Qi, sitting at the end, could hardly hide his excitement.
In today’s world, failing to obtain transcendent power meant one could never enter the core of power.
For the ambitious, that was a fate worse than death.
“Even though Father doesn't want us causing unnecessary trouble, between the stone lions before and these cockroaches and rats lately, it’s clear someone is pulling strings.”
The middle-aged man pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice chillingly cold.
“Whoever it is, there is only one outcome for those who provoke the Qi family!”
“Find him and turn him into a specimen!”
Hearing this, the foul-mouthed young man grinned. “Leave it to me, Big Brother. I’ll definitely find him!”
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