Chapter 115 - 1115: The Old Farmer Presents a Treasure

Chapter 115: Chapter 1115: The Old Farmer Presents a Treasure

Zhang Yun frowned. "What’s with those looks? Do you not believe me, or do you just not want it?"

He thought they should be overwhelmed with gratitude. If it wasn’t for the impending danger and his fear that something might happen to them, did they really think he would give them such a huge advantage so soon?

"We want it! We want it! Thank you, Master!" Fu Yudie, the most humble little disciple, hastily replied.

"Thank you, Master! We were just too excited. We never expected to gain your approval so quickly!" Ma Yuming, always the smooth talker, immediately smoothed things over.

"Yes, yes, thank you, Master!"

"You two, go first!" Based on where they had randomly sat, Zhang Yun handed Ma Yuming and Zhao Ye each a cup of liquor.

The two of them took their cups and downed the contents in one gulp.

"The Divine Pill of our sect is extremely potent," Zhang Yun explained. "After I use my Inner Power to help you catalyze its effects, your bodies will heat up drastically. You will need immense willpower to endure it."

He pointed to a nearby container. "That basin of water is prepared for you to drink." Turning to Xu Jin and Fu Yudie, he added, "In a moment, you two go to the fridge and get some ice packs."

"Understood!"

After giving his instructions, Zhang Yun sat behind the two men. Placing one hand on each of their backs, he put on a show of transferring his Inner Power.

Fu Yudie and Xu Jin watched closely from the side, while Zhao Ye and Ma Yuming were rather puzzled. After all, their master hadn’t taught them any Cultivation Heart Method!

As the strong liquor settled in their stomachs, they felt a burning sensation spread from their throats all the way down. At first, they didn’t think much of it, but soon they realized their bodies were rapidly heating up.

"Master... I can feel it..."

"I feel it too! It’s so hot!"

"What should we do?"

"Do we sink our Qi into our Dantians? You haven’t taught us any Inner Power Heart Method."

Zhang Yun kept his eyes closed and said with a stern expression, "Stop talking! Feel it with your heart. The heat comes from the efficacy of the Divine Pill, combined with the effects of the Inner Power I’m transferring to you. It will seep into every inch of your bodies. Focus your minds on the sensation and visualize how it will make you stronger!"

Heeding his words, Ma Yuming and Zhao Ye tried their best to visualize the process. Their body temperatures continued to rise until the heat became almost unbearable.

"Give them the ice packs! Make sure to save some for yourselves."

Prompted by Zhang Yun’s reminder, Fu Yudie and Xu Jin, who had been intently observing to gain Experience, hurried to the fridge.

"If you can’t stand it, drink water."

Zhang Yun had firsthand experience with this; he had once submerged himself in water to cool down. Even Ouyang Mingruo, who had only taken half a pill, had to soak her legs and feet in a stream.

Relying merely on a fan for cooling was naturally far from enough. However, Ma Yuming and Zhao Ye were the champion and runner-up in Sanda, accustomed to grueling training regimens. Being granted this transmission of power from their master was an opportunity they cherished deeply. Despite sweating profusely, they gritted their teeth and held on with all their might.

"Here are the ice packs."

"Put them on their heads." Zhang Yun was genuinely worried they might fry their brains.

Putting on an act of transmitting power required Zhang Yun to sit perfectly still, which was quite exhausting in its own right. After estimating that at least ten minutes had passed, he performed a masterful "withdrawal of power."

"Master, have some water." Fu Yudie immediately brought a cup of tea right to his lips.

Zhang Yun said, "Drink your Medicinal Wine now!"

"Understood!"

Armed with the Experience of watching the other two, Fu Yudie and Xu Jin didn’t need Zhang Yun to repeat the instructions. After drinking their "Medicinal Wine," they immediately began to focus and feel the changes, letting their minds guide the process.

Once again, Zhang Yun placed his palms on their backs, one hand for each, pretending to transfer his power.

After keeping up the charade long enough and seeing them enter a state of agony, Zhang Yun finally withdrew his hands.

Ma Yuming and Zhao Ye’s endurance had long been pushed to the limit. They drank water time and time again, only to sweat it all out just as quickly. The ice packs on their heads and stuffed inside their clothes only provided localized relief, and they were rapidly melting.

"What are they doing?" Ouyang Mingruo asked in surprise as she came downstairs, seeing the four of them steaming like freshly cooked buns.

"Practicing! Don’t disturb them."

Ouyang Mingruo curiously observed them for a moment.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook you some noodles?" Zhang Yun asked, assuming she was ready for lunch.

Ouyang Mingruo shot him a glare. Afraid the others might overhear, she didn’t dare call him out for making a dirty joke.

"There’s no rush."

"Go upstairs and rest. I’ll make lunch." Zhang Yun knew he couldn’t count on Fu Yudie’s help anymore; in fact, the four of them probably wouldn’t be in any state to eat lunch at all.

Entering the kitchen, Zhang Yun noticed that Xiuxun had left some vegetables out, so he didn’t bother going into the Peach Blossom Spring Space to harvest more.

He whipped up a simple lunch for three. After waiting for his dad to return and finish eating, he asked him to keep an eye on the four disciples. It was already time for the antique appraisal, and Zhang Youcai had rushed him several times.

Even though Ouyang Mingruo knew she would become the center of attention if she went over, she still tagged along with Zhang Yun to watch the spectacle. She couldn’t bear to see this silly boy get swindled.

Thanks to yesterday’s Experience, it was much easier for Zhang Youcai to reiterate the rules, and the villagers had long since lined up.

Zhang Yun personally inspected the items one by one. He paid out based on the strength of the Spiritual Qi and outright rejected anything that had none.

At first, Ouyang Mingruo found his method of appraising completely absurd. It was obviously a charade meant to fool these country folks; she absolutely refused to believe that Zhang Yun could actually discern anything.

However, seeing that the payouts were relatively small, she decided not to embarrass him in public. At worst... he would blow through that entire million. When he ran out of money or ended up in debt, wouldn’t that give her the perfect opportunity?

"Heh heh, it’s me again!" The old farmer from yesterday returned, his face beaming with excitement. "I found them!"

Zhang Yun’s spirits lifted. The items he had collected so far hadn’t contained much Spiritual Qi. "Let me have a look!"

The old farmer pulled a few objects from a cloth sack and placed them on the table.

"This is a Peach Wood Sword, this is some vermillion talisman paper, and this is a Soul-Calling Banner."

Beside him, Ouyang Mingruo immediately nudged Zhang Yun with her elbow, hinting that these were fakes and warning him not to get scammed.

Zhang Yun ignored her and earnestly picked up each item. But the moment they touched his hands, disappointment washed over him!

The strong Energy he was hoping for was nowhere to be found. In fact, there was no Energy at all! He figured these were all brand-new replicas, likely purchased within the last few years.

"Heh heh, how about thirty thousand?" The old farmer rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Zhang Youcai watched from the sidelines. After their work yesterday afternoon, he was completely convinced of Zhang Yun’s abilities and harbored no doubts whatsoever.

"Sir, I made an exception and gave you ten thousand yesterday because I felt that item was genuinely valuable, not because I’m some rich fool. Can you honestly say these belong to the same set?" Zhang Yun’s tone turned stern, intentionally raising his voice so the people in line behind them could hear.

Zhang Youcai immediately barked out in a deep voice, "We treat our fellow villagers fairly and don’t cheat you on prices, so don’t even think about treating us like idiots or trying to pull a fast one!"

"Well... these belonged to a Daoist too. They were from that old Daoist’s disciple... Could he have tricked me...?" The old farmer looked incredibly disappointed, seemingly oblivious to the deception.

Zhang Yun didn’t care whether the man was telling the truth or not. The more honest a person appeared, the more sincere they looked when telling a lie.

"Take them back! Next."

"Wait a minute, I have a few more here. I’m not sure if they belonged to the old Daoist, but they’re old items..."

The old farmer emptied the rest of the contents from his cloth sack.

"This Compass was definitely used by the old Daoist. This comb seems to be made of some rare ebony—it’s an old piece too. And there’s this silver hairpin..."

He had intended to hold off on revealing these until the first three items were accepted. These were the real treasures he had kept hidden at the bottom of his trunk.

But Zhang Yun had already lost interest. He exchanged a glance with Zhang Youcai, both of them sharing the same suspicion: the comb and the silver hairpin were very likely looted from a grave!