Chapter 151: Picking up a Bargain

Chapter 151: Picking Up a Leak

After arriving at the ancient market street, Sun Mo and the others began to browse.

It had to be said that luck was a tricky thing. Sometimes, even if something was right in front of you, if you didn't recognize it, it was useless.

"Teacher, this is a Bronze Tri-legged Cauldron from the late Shang Dynasty. It's exquisite in craftsmanship, with a simple and elegant design. The patterns of dragons and tigers symbolize prosperity and strength, and it carries an auspicious aura."

Sun Mo pointed to a bronze tripod on the stall, explaining.

Lü Zong pointed to a piece of rust on the tripod. "Is this a flaw?"

"No, this is an imprint left by the passage of time. It's a sign of its age." Sun Mo explained. "Also, look at the patina. It's natural and deep, a sign of genuine age. The sound when you tap it is crisp and clear, not dull, which indicates it's solid and not hollow."

"What about the price?" Lü Zong asked.

"This piece is priced at 10,000 taels of silver, which is a bit expensive. Its value is only about 6,000 taels." Sun Mo estimated.

Upon hearing the price, Lü Zong's interest immediately faded. It was too expensive. If his daughter were here, she would probably buy it without blinking, but he was different.

"Teacher, how much is this Jade Cicada worth?"

"Teacher, what about this painting?"

"Teacher, this is a piece of bronze, right? Why is it so heavy?"

The girls were all very curious, constantly asking questions.

Sun Mo patiently explained everything. This ancient market street was indeed a good place to learn.

They wandered for two hours, and except for some small curiosities that couldn't be confirmed as genuine, they didn't find anything of significant value. The ones that were confirmed to be genuine were too expensive.

Sun Mo secretly marveled. This kind of market was similar to the antique markets in his previous life. It was easy to buy fakes.

"It's rare to find genuine items, and finding a leak is even harder."

Sun Mo sighed. Even with the God's Insight skill, it was difficult. The valuable items were almost all marked with sky-high prices. Unless he bought them at a huge discount, he wouldn't make a profit.

"If we find a leak, what should we do?"

"Sell it!" Sun Mo answered without hesitation.

"But wouldn't it be a waste?" Lü Zong felt it was a pity to sell.

"Only by selling it can we exchange it for things we need to cultivate." Sun Mo explained. "Otherwise, no matter how many treasures you have, they are just fancy decorations."

"Right!" The girls nodded in agreement.

Gu Xiuxun thought of the things she had bought before. She had bought many interesting trinkets, but they were all useless.

"Let's go to the next street."

Sun Mo was about to lead the way when Gu Xiuxun pulled him back.

"Wait a moment!"

Gu Xiuxun was looking at a stall by the roadside.

The stall owner was an old man with gray hair and a dirty face. His clothes were tattered, and he looked like he hadn't bathed in a long time. He looked drowsy and lifeless, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

The stall was filled with a variety of items, including ancient books, jade articles, bronze tools, and various small curiosities. They were all piled up randomly, looking like junk.

"Hey, old man, how do you sell these things?" Gu Xiuxun asked.

The old man rubbed his eyes and looked at Gu Xiuxun with his cloudy eyes.

"They're all good stuff. Pick whatever you like. Give me whatever price you think is fair."

"Are these genuine?" Xu Huan asked doubtfully. The items looked too messy.

"Of course they are! Every piece is a treasure. If you know how to look, you'll know." The old man said proudly, but then his eyelids drooped again, as if he was about to fall asleep.

Gu Xiuxun walked closer and looked at the items. Her gaze scanned over an ancient book, a small bronze mirror, and a jade ruyi. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"This is... impossible!"

Gu Xiuxun was shocked, but she immediately suppressed her emotions. She couldn't let the old man notice.

"How much is this bronze mirror?" she asked casually, pointing to the mirror.

"That one... hmm... 100 taels of silver!" The old man said.

"So expensive? It looks like a fake."

"Fake? Little girl, you don't know how to look at treasures. This is a genuine item from the Tang Dynasty!"

"Just 10 taels of silver!" Gu Xiuxun bargained.

"100 taels! Not a single tael less!" The old man suddenly became energetic, his eyes wide open. "Don't look down on people. Although I'm poor, I still have my pride."

"Then I won't buy it." Gu Xiuxun turned to leave.

"Wait!" The old man stopped her. "Fine, 80 taels. That's my lowest price."

"10 taels!" Gu Xiuxun insisted.

"Little girl, are you here to cause trouble?" The old man glared at her. "Do you think this is a vegetable market where you can just haggle?"

"Then I won't buy it." Gu Xiuxun was about to leave again.

"Fine, 70 taels!" The old man's tone softened.

Gu Xiuxun didn't say anything. She walked away.

The old man quickly stopped her. "60 taels!"

Gu Xiuxun continued to walk.

"50 taels!"

"40 taels!"

"30 taels!"

"20 taels!"

"My ancestor! 10 taels is too low!" The old man was about to cry. He looked around and saw that there were no customers.

Gu Xiuxun stopped and turned back. "Just 10 taels! Otherwise, I'm leaving!"

The old man gritted his teeth. "Deal!"

Gu Xiuxun paid and took the bronze mirror.

Sun Mo and the others were surprised. Gu Xiuxun had been staring at the mirror for a long time just now, but she didn't buy it. Why did she buy it now?

Gu Xiuxun held the mirror in her hand and secretly observed it. She was 90% sure it was the real thing.

She pretended to casually look around the stall again, then pointed to a broken porcelain bowl. "How much is this?"

The old man looked at the bowl. It was cracked and dirty, looking like it was about to fall apart. He didn't even know when this thing had gotten mixed into his stall.

"That's... that's also a treasure. 200 taels!"

"Old man, are you crazy?" Gu Xiuxun rolled her eyes. "This is broken. You're selling a broken bowl for 200 taels?"

"Uh... it's a genuine Song Dynasty porcelain!" The old man said with embarrassment.

"5 taels!" Gu Xiuxun offered.

"Are you messing with me?"

"Then I won't buy it."

"Okay, 10 taels!" The old man lowered the price.

"5 taels!" Gu Xiuxun insisted.

"Deal!"

Gu Xiuxun bought the broken bowl.

Sun Mo was even more confused. He had been observing with God's Insight, but he hadn't found anything of value in the bronze mirror or the broken bowl. He could see the aura of these items, but they weren't very strong. They were at most regular antiques, not treasures.

Could it be that God's Insight was wrong? Impossible! God's Insight was a divine skill, something that surpassed worldly knowledge.

So, Gu Xiuxun must have been wrong.

Next, Gu Xiuxun started buying various items. There were bronze tools, jade pendants, paintings, calligraphy, and even some strange-looking stones.

She bought more and more things, and her face became happier and happier. It was obvious that she was getting something good.

"Teacher, what are you buying?" Xu Huan asked curiously.

"Secrets!" Gu Xiuxun winked playfully.

"So mysterious?"

"Teacher, you must have found something good." Lü Zong laughed. He believed in Gu Xiuxun's ability to identify treasures.

Gu Xiuxun stopped buying when she had spent about 200 taels. She had bought a pile of things that looked like junk.

"Teacher, look at these two things." Gu Xiuxun picked up the bronze mirror and the broken bowl and placed them in front of Sun Mo.

"These are... regular antiques." Sun Mo said.

"Teacher, look carefully." Gu Xiuxun urged.

Sun Mo looked again, but he still didn't find anything special.

"Do you have any other abilities? For example, a unique skill related to authentication?" Sun Mo asked.

Gu Xiuxun was speechless. Her teacher's imagination was really wild. If she had such a skill, she would have been rich long ago.

"Teacher, you haven't reached the Grandmaster level yet, right?"

"Huh? What does this have to do with the Grandmaster level?"

"This is a secret from my family. It can't be understood or seen by people who haven't reached the Grandmaster level!" Gu Xiuxun was pleased. She finally had a chance to show off her family's hidden knowledge.

Sun Mo was stunned. Could there be something like that?

He looked at the bronze mirror again. It was an ordinary mirror, about the size of his palm, with some simple patterns on the back.

He looked at the broken bowl. It was indeed broken, with a large chip on the rim.

He tried using his mind to sense them, but there was nothing unusual.

"Teacher, have you finished looking?" Gu Xiuxun was triumphant. She had found a leak! She had actually found a leak! This was something even her father wouldn't necessarily find!

"Do you know what the most valuable treasure on this ancient market street is?" Gu Xiuxun smiled mysteriously.

"What?"

"It's not a valuable ancient painting or a precious jade, but a pile of junk!"

Gu Xiuxun lowered her voice.

"This is the most difficult kind of treasure to find. It's called 'junk within junk'."

"What do you mean?"

"Some treasures are just too ordinary on the outside, or they are mixed with a pile of junk and ignored, hence the name 'junk within junk'." Gu Xiuxun explained. "Only those with great luck or excellent judgment can find them."

"Oh!" Sun Mo understood. It was like finding a diamond in a pile of garbage.

"So, is there a treasure in this bronze mirror or the broken bowl?"

"No." Gu Xiuxun shook her head. "Their value is only about 100 taels of silver. I just bought them to pretend to be interested."

"What's the treasure?" Sun Mo asked.

"Look at this!" Gu Xiuxun carefully took out a small, dark stone from her bag. It looked like a regular river stone, but it was smooth and round.

"This is a stone!" Lü Zong said.

"Don't underestimate this stone. It's very valuable." Gu Xiuxun looked proud. She had been looking at this stone for a long time.

At first, she had only noticed the bronze mirror and the broken bowl. However, as she looked closer, she suddenly noticed a stone that was pressed under the broken bowl.

The stone was wrapped in dust, but it emitted a faint light that ordinary people couldn't see. This light was a unique aura.

This kind of aura was something only someone who had reached the Grandmaster level in Appraisal or a similar skill could sense. Gu Xiuxun's family had a unique secret technique for appraisal. She was still at the Grandmaster level, so she could only sense this aura vaguely, but she could confirm that it was real.

"Teacher, do you know about the legendary 'Stone of Fortune'?"

"Stone of Fortune?" Sun Mo had heard of it. It was said to be a stone that could bring good luck, but he had always thought it was a myth.

"This is the Stone of Fortune!" Gu Xiuxun was certain. "It's said that a Stone of Fortune can only be found in a pile of worthless stones. It has no special appearance, but it contains immense power."

"Power?"

"That's right. It's said that if a Stone of Fortune is placed in a cultivating room, it can greatly improve the cultivation speed."

"Is that true?" Sun Mo was shocked. If it could really improve cultivation speed, wouldn't everyone want to have one?

"It's true. My great-grandmother found one once. It's said that she cultivated for three years in the cultivating room with the Stone of Fortune, and her cultivation level increased by a great realm." Gu Xiuxun lowered her voice. "Of course, this is just a rumor. The Stone of Fortune is very rare. Many people have searched for it their whole lives and never found one."

Sun Mo looked at the Stone of Fortune. It looked like a normal stone. Could it really be that amazing?

He used God's Insight on the stone.

Divine Weapon, Stone of Fortune!

It is said that this stone was born from the fusion of the essence of heaven and earth. It contains immense spiritual energy and can enhance cultivation speed. It is a legendary treasure.

Initial use requires one's blood to resonate with it and absorb its spiritual energy.

Status: Unbound.

Evaluation: An extremely rare divine weapon!

Sun Mo was speechless. It was actually a divine weapon! And it could improve cultivation speed!

He had found a leak! He had found a big leak!

This junk-like stone was actually a legendary divine weapon!

Sun Mo suppressed his excitement and looked at the old man.

"How much is this stone, old man?"

The old man looked at the stone. He didn't even know when this stone had appeared on his stall.

"This... This is a treasure from the ancient times. It's said to have the power of the stars. It can ward off evil and bring good luck." The old man made up a story on the spot.

"Oh? Then how much is it?"

"100 taels of silver!" The old man's eyes were gleaming. This young man looked like a rich boy, and he was holding a beautiful girl. He must be very rich.

"10 taels!" Sun Mo offered.

"Young man, you're not being sincere. This is a treasure!"

"Then don't sell it." Sun Mo was about to leave.

"Wait!" The old man stopped him. "Okay, 80 taels."

"10 taels!"

"70 taels!"

"10 taels!"

"60 taels!"

"10 taels!"

"50 taels!"

"10 taels!"

"Young man, how about this? 20 taels! This is the lowest I can go." The old man was heartbroken. This was his last chance. If he couldn't sell anything, he wouldn't be able to eat today.

Sun Mo smiled. He didn't expect this old man to be so easy to bargain with.

"20 taels! Deal!"

Sun Mo paid the money and took the stone.

Gu Xiuxun was stunned. Her teacher was so good at bargaining!

She bought the stone for 50 taels, and her teacher bought it for 20 taels! She felt like she had been ripped off.

"Teacher, why did you buy it?" Gu Xiuxun asked.

"To ward off evil and bring good luck, of course." Sun Mo said with a smile.

Gu Xiuxun didn't believe him. She knew her teacher was pretending. He must have discovered the secret of the stone.

"Teacher, you're so good at finding leaks."

"Just average." Sun Mo said modestly.

"This is a divine weapon! A divine weapon!" Sun Mo was shouting in his heart. He had actually gotten a divine weapon!

Although it wasn't a weapon for combat, it could improve cultivation speed. That was even more valuable!

Sun Mo was thrilled. With this Stone of Fortune, his cultivation speed would increase greatly.

He had to find a quiet place to absorb the energy of the stone.

"Let's go back." Sun Mo said.

"Teacher, aren't we going to look anymore?" Lü Zong asked.

"No, we have something more important to do." Sun Mo smiled mysteriously.

They returned to the inn. Sun Mo found a quiet room and locked the door.

He took out the Stone of Fortune and placed it in his palm. It felt smooth and cool.

He then pricked his finger and dripped a drop of blood on the stone.

The blood was absorbed by the stone instantly.

Then, a warm current flowed from the stone into his palm and spread throughout his body.

Sun Mo felt a burst of spiritual energy pouring into his body, like a flood opening its gates.

His muscles, bones, and meridians were all being nourished and strengthened. His cultivation level was rapidly increasing!

This was amazing!

Sun Mo sat down and began to cultivate, absorbing the spiritual energy from the Stone of Fortune.

The spiritual energy from the stone was pure and powerful, much more potent than the spiritual energy in the air.

His cultivation speed was several times faster than before!

Sun Mo was ecstatic. With this Stone of Fortune, he would be able to reach the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm very soon.

He didn't know how long he cultivated. When he opened his eyes, the stone in his hand was still the same.

He used God's Insight again.

Divine Weapon, Stone of Fortune!

It is said that this stone was born from the fusion of the essence of heaven and earth. It contains immense spiritual energy and can enhance cultivation speed. It is a legendary treasure.

Initial use requires one's blood to resonate with it and absorb its spiritual energy.

Status: Partially absorbed. Remaining energy: 80%.

Evaluation: An extremely rare divine weapon!

Only 20% had been absorbed!

Sun Mo was surprised. He had absorbed so much spiritual energy, but only 20% of the stone's energy was gone.

This Stone of Fortune was truly amazing. It contained an enormous amount of spiritual energy.

He estimated that he could cultivate for several months with this stone.

"This is great! With this, I can definitely reach the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm before the Great Competition."

Sun Mo was full of confidence.

He carefully put the Stone of Fortune away. This was his secret weapon. He couldn't let anyone else know about it.

He went out of the room and found Gu Xiuxun and the others.

"Teacher, how was it?" Gu Xiuxun asked eagerly.

"It's a good stone. It feels very comfortable to hold." Sun Mo smiled.

Gu Xiuxun was speechless. Her teacher was still pretending.

"Teacher, did you find anything else?"

"No." Sun Mo shook his head.

Gu Xiuxun was disappointed. She thought her teacher would find some more treasures.

"Let's go out and take a walk."

Sun Mo wanted to check the surrounding environment and see if there were any other opportunities.

He walked around the inn and used God's Insight to scan everything.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped at a corner of the inn.

There was a pile of firewood there, and under the firewood, there was something.

Sun Mo walked over and casually moved the firewood away.

Under the firewood, there was a broken sword. The sword was rusty and covered in dust, looking like a piece of scrap metal.

Sun Mo used God's Insight.

Broken sword, ancient weapon!

This sword was once a powerful weapon, but it was broken during a battle and its power was greatly reduced.

It contains a faint sword intent. If a swordsman obtains it, it can be of some help in understanding sword intent.

Evaluation: A valuable antique.

Sun Mo's eyes lit up. This was another leak!

Although it wasn't a divine weapon, it contained sword intent, which was very valuable for a swordsman.

He picked up the broken sword. It was heavy and cold.

"Teacher, what is this?" Xu Huan asked.

"A broken sword." Sun Mo said.

"It looks like junk."

"But it's junk with a story." Sun Mo smiled.

He went to the inn owner and asked about the broken sword.

The inn owner was a burly man with a scar on his face. He looked fierce.

"That? It's a broken sword I picked up somewhere. It's useless. Do you want it? Take it for free." The inn owner said generously.

"Really? Thank you then." Sun Mo was happy. He had gotten a valuable antique for free.

He left the inn and walked around the ancient market street again.

He used God's Insight to scan every stall and every corner.

He found some interesting items, but none of them were particularly valuable.

It seemed that the Stone of Fortune and the broken sword were the only leaks he could find today.

He didn't give up. He continued to look around.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a small shop on the corner of the street.

The shop was small and old, with a sign that said "Antique Shop".

Sun Mo walked in. The shop was filled with various antiques, including porcelain, bronze ware, paintings, calligraphy, and jade articles.

He used God's Insight to scan the items.

Most of the items were ordinary antiques, but there was one item that caught his attention.

It was a simple wooden box placed on a shelf in the corner.

The box was old and dusty, looking like it had been there for a long time.

Sun Mo used God's Insight on the wooden box.

Ancient Wooden Box!

This box is made of ancient wood and contains a special seal. The seal protects the contents from the passage of time.

The contents of the box are unknown.

Evaluation: A potentially valuable item.

A potentially valuable item? What could be inside?

Sun Mo's curiosity was piqued.

He walked over to the shelf and picked up the wooden box.

It was heavy and solid. He tried to open it, but it was sealed tight.

"Boss, how much is this wooden box?" Sun Mo asked the shop owner.

The shop owner was an old man with a kind smile.

"That box? It's been here for many years. I don't know what's inside, and I can't open it. If you want it, take it for 10 taels of silver." The old man said.

10 taels of silver? That was too cheap!

Sun Mo was overjoyed. He immediately paid the money and took the wooden box.

He left the shop and found a quiet place. He tried to open the box again, but it was still sealed.

He decided to try using his spiritual energy to open it.

He poured his spiritual energy into the box, and the box began to emit a faint light.

Then, a click sound was heard, and the box opened.

Inside the box, there was a scroll.

Sun Mo carefully took out the scroll and opened it.

It was a painting.

The painting depicted a landscape. There were mountains, rivers, trees, and clouds.

The painting was very beautiful and lifelike. It seemed to be full of spiritual energy.

Sun Mo used God's Insight on the painting.

Ancient Painting, Landscape!

This painting is created by a renowned master from ancient times. It contains the essence of heaven and earth and can help cultivate one's mind and understanding of nature.

It also contains a hidden technique. If one understands the painting deeply, they can comprehend the hidden technique within.

Evaluation: A priceless treasure!

Priceless treasure!

Sun Mo was stunned. He had actually found a priceless treasure!

This painting was not only beautiful, but it also contained a hidden technique!

This was the biggest leak he had found today!

Sun Mo was ecstatic. He had come to the ancient market street to find some treasures, but he had never expected to find such a priceless treasure.

He carefully rolled up the painting and put it back into the wooden box.

He had to study this painting carefully later and try to comprehend the hidden technique within.

With the Stone of Fortune and this ancient painting, his cultivation level would surely increase greatly.

He had found not one, but two major leaks today!

Sun Mo's mood was great. He felt like he had been blessed by the heavens.

He left the quiet place and rejoined Gu Xiuxun and the others.

"Teacher, what's in the box?" Gu Xiuxun asked eagerly.

"A painting." Sun Mo said with a smile.

"Just a painting?" Gu Xiuxun was disappointed.

"It's not just any painting." Sun Mo winked. "It's a special painting."

Gu Xiuxun's eyes lit up. "Is it a treasure?"

"It is." Sun Mo nodded. "A priceless treasure."

Gu Xiuxun was shocked. A priceless treasure! Her teacher was amazing!

He had only been to the ancient market street for a few hours, and he had already found a priceless treasure.

This was the first time she had seen someone find a priceless treasure in the ancient market street.

"Teacher, you are truly amazing!" Gu Xiuxun said with admiration.

"Just average." Sun Mo said modestly, but his heart was filled with joy.

He had not only found treasures, but he had also gained the admiration of his students.

This was the greatest reward for being a teacher.

He looked at the ancient market street again.

He had already found two major leaks today, so he didn't expect to find any more.

However, he still wanted to take one last look around.

He walked around the street, scanning everything with God's Insight.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped at a small stall in a hidden alley.

The stall was run by a blind old man. There were only a few items on the stall, including some broken porcelain, a rusty knife, and a piece of cloth.

Sun Mo used God's Insight on the items.

Nothing special.

He was about to leave when his gaze fell on a small, dark object under the old man's stool.

It was a small, round stone, almost completely hidden by the stool.

Sun Mo used God's Insight on the stone.

Ancient Seed!

This is an ancient seed that has been preserved for a long time. It contains powerful life force.

If it is planted in a suitable environment, it can grow into a rare spiritual plant.

Evaluation: A valuable treasure!

An ancient seed!

Sun Mo was surprised. He had found another valuable treasure!

He walked over to the stall.

"Old man, how much is this stone?" Sun Mo asked, pointing to the stone under the stool.

The blind old man couldn't see, so he reached out his hand and touched the stone.

"That? It's just a stone I picked up. It's useless. If you want it, take it for free." The old man said kindly.

Sun Mo was overjoyed. He had gotten another valuable treasure for free!

He thanked the old man and took the ancient seed.

He had found three leaks today!

A Stone of Fortune, an ancient painting with a hidden technique, and an ancient seed!

These were all extremely valuable treasures.

Sun Mo felt incredibly lucky.

He looked at the ancient market street again.

This place was truly a treasure trove, if you knew how to look.

He had only spent a few hours here, but he had gained so much.

He felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

He had not only helped his students learn about authentication, but he had also found some amazing treasures for himself.

He was looking forward to studying the ancient painting and seeing what kind of spiritual plant the ancient seed would grow into.

He had a feeling that his future cultivation would be much smoother with these treasures.

Sun Mo smiled. Today was a good day!

He looked at the sky. It was getting late.

"Let's go back." Sun Mo said.

Gu Xiuxun and the others nodded.

They left the ancient market street, their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation for what the future held.

Sun Mo knew that with these treasures, his cultivation level would definitely increase rapidly.

He was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead and become a powerful master!

He had just taken the first step towards becoming a truly legendary figure in the world of cultivation.

And it all started with a little trip to the ancient market street and a few lucky finds.

The journey of cultivation was long and arduous, but with these treasures by his side, Sun Mo was confident that he could overcome any obstacle and reach the peak of martial arts.

He was ready to embark on his legendary path!