Chapter 10, Jibao Studio

That morning, he leaned against the edge of the bed, staring blankly at a stack of documents, when suddenly the ringtone of his mobile phone rang.

After speaking, he dashed away in a flash. Zhao Rui could only smile wryly and follow behind.

Zhao Ruixian initially found it strange, but upon careful consideration, he soon understood that the vast majority of these antiques had been buried underground for many years, only to be unearthed by chance before appearing in the world. Having absorbed the essence of heaven and earth for an extended period underground, they would inevitably carry a trace of it. Moreover, the longer they were buried, the more spiritual energy they would contain.

Before anyone had the chance to speak, Sun Xiaolan suddenly extended her hand and pointed forward, saying, "Hey, let's go check out that antique shop!"

Zhao Rui approached the counter and carefully examined the jade tablet, his heart suddenly racing for a moment

Moreover, those exquisitely crafted antiques embody the wisdom and inspiration of their creators, and the spiritual essence contained within them is consequently more abundant

Zhao Rui realized this point, feeling a slight joy in his heart. He began to ponder whether he could use this skill to find some bargains in the antique shop, seizing the opportunity to make a profit and completely lift himself out of poverty to achieve a moderately prosperous life.

Upon meeting Sun Xiaolan at the basketball court, the two of them directly left the school and took a car to Shuyuanmen

"Shuyuanmen? That's an antique market. What would you go there for?" Zhao Rui said, somewhat puzzled.

Zhao Rui's attention was almost instantly drawn to this jade tablet, as he faintly sensed an extremely powerful spiritual energy emanating from it

Han Xing is from Northeast China, but he is not particularly tall or robust; rather, he is somewhat slender. He has a cheerful personality and is quite loyal. He is especially fascinated by CS and has organized his own team, often taking them out to compete. In the CS community, he has gained a bit of fame.

The shop assistant glanced at the two individuals who entered, then turned their gaze elsewhere, not approaching to greet them. Having worked as a shop assistant at Jibaozhai for such a long time, their keen eye had been honed to an extraordinary sharpness, allowing them to instantly discern who was there to make a purchase and who was merely browsing.

Shuyuanmen is not merely a door, but a street. On both sides of the street, there are over one hundred shops densely lined up, offering stone rubbings, antiques, paintings, seals, and the four treasures of the study.

Shuyuan Gate

"Where to?" Zhao Rui asked, rubbing his temple wearily.

It is likely due to the fact that it is Saturday, combined with the fact that this street is originally a famous tourist attraction, the narrow street is bustling with a continuous flow of people.

The primary reason for borrowing these materials is to gain a better understanding of cultivation, as he has never been exposed to this area of knowledge before; at most, he has only read cultivation novels on Qidian Chinese Network.

Little Rui, do you have time

Zhao Rui originally intended to call out to Sun Xiaolan, but by that time, Sun Xiaolan had already run into the store, so he had no choice but to follow her inside

It takes hundreds or even thousands of tons of jade to produce just one piece of exquisite jade like this

Zhao Rui picked up the phone and heard that it was Sun Xiaolan calling

Yes! What happened, Sister Xiaolan?

The days passed quietly, with nothing particularly noteworthy occurring. Aside from attending classes, Zhao Rui spent each day seeking secluded spots to practice the "Eight Desolations Slaying Immortals Technique"

The red-painted checkered door of the small shop is half open, with various sizes of lake brushes hanging down from the eaves, exuding a rich sense of ancient charm and elegance

The so-called "Earth Core Jade Essence" refers to jade mines that are buried deep underground, which, after enduring millennia of erosion and absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, concentrate all their essence into a small piece of spiritual jade

It is evident that the two individuals who have just entered belong to the latter category; they are too lazy to expend effort on hospitality

basketball court

It was quite an impressive antique shop, a three-story building, with interior decor that exuded luxury while maintaining an ancient charm, yet without being gaudy. Several staff members dressed in matching Tang suits stood inside.

Zhao Rui's plan to take advantage of the situation was suddenly shattered, leaving him feeling greatly disappointed. Just as he was about to call Luo Cheng to leave, he suddenly noticed a small, pale yellow jade tablet placed in an inconspicuous corner of the glass display case

This jade tablet is actually crafted from core jade!

He felt that the name sounded somewhat familiar. After thinking carefully and recalling, he suddenly remembered that when he worked part-time as a waiter in a bar, he had heard customers mention it. This Baozhai seems to be the largest antique shop on Shuyuanmen, with a history of nearly twenty years. The owner, Wu Liang, initially made his fortune through tomb raiding, and he had a group of highly skilled tomb raiders under him, wielding significant power in the Shuyuanmen area. At least half of the antiques in the shop have unclear origins. However, due to his somewhat convoluted connections with the Dong'an Yun family, he has remained secure and has not encountered any issues up to now.

Sun Xiaolan is indeed the type who enjoys wandering around, entering shops and specifically selecting exquisite antiques for appreciation

Sun Xiaolan was in high spirits, looking here and there, occasionally running into the shops by the street, picking out some small items and haggling with the shopkeepers, but after wandering for most of the day, she ultimately bought nothing

However, after wandering around Jibaozhai, he realized that the antiques here were quite expensive, leaving him no opportunity to find a bargain

If you have time, please accompany me on an outing

Zhao Rui has devoted himself to elevating his strength to the mid-stage of Spirit Seizing, and this Heart of the Earth jade is undoubtedly of great significance to him

This jade tablet has an ancient style, yet its luster is dull; due to the distance, it is not clearly visible at the moment

Just two days after registration, classes officially began, and my other roommate, Han Xing, also returned to the dormitory on time

However, Zhao Rui was different. The moment he stepped into Jibaozhai, he sensed that the antiques within were imbued with a subtle spiritual energy, and each type of antique possessed a distinct aura.

After twenty years of wealth accumulation, Wu Liang can be considered quite affluent; however, he is extremely miserly and meticulous about every penny. Additionally, he has another flaw: he trusts no one but himself and insists on handling everything personally. Doing business with him, not being taken advantage of is already quite good, and trying to make a profit is nearly impossible.

Zhao Rui was both amused and exasperated; with a budget of only a few hundred yuan, there were indeed very few items available for purchase here. She kept talking about gathering information on prices, but in reality, she just enjoyed shopping. However, seeing her so enthusiastic, it was not appropriate to call her out on it.

My mother’s birthday is next week, and I want to buy her some gifts

As for those counterfeit goods, they naturally cannot contain any spiritual essence and can be easily distinguished at a glance

Sun Xiaolan said on the phone: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I don't have much money on me, and I don't plan to buy any expensive antiques. Just spending a little money to find a small trinket to make my mother happy is fine. At worst, I can buy a replica; it would be nice to have it at home to look at."

Occasionally, one can see some vendors discreetly setting up stalls on this street, but as soon as the urban management arrives, they quickly pack up their belongings and disperse.

Oh? It is Aunt's birthday! Then I must buy a gift. However, the market is quite deep, and it is difficult for those who are not knowledgeable to purchase genuine items. Even if they manage to buy genuine goods, they may not necessarily be worth the price.

"Ah, good, I will be there soon," Zhao Rui replied and began to change his clothes and put on his shoes

I call this inquiring about the market conditions. Fearing that Zhao Rui might become impatient, Sun Xiaolan earnestly defended herself.

Additionally, he sometimes visits the school library to borrow ancient mythological texts and various historical materials related to magical artifacts

Dong'an is an ancient capital, and the antique trade is exceptionally prosperous. Shuyuanmen, as the largest antique market in Dong'an City, has countless transactions both overt and covert. Those who can conduct business here come from all walks of life and are not to be underestimated

Zhao Rui looked up at the plaque of this antique shop, where the three gilded characters "Jibaozhai" reflected the sunlight, dazzling to the eyes

The core jade essence contains an immense amount of spiritual power, which is of great assistance to cultivators. If absorbed properly, it can even lead to a significant enhancement of a cultivator's strength in a short period of time

Jiebao Studio

Today is Saturday. Zhou Wei went to the music academy last night to socialize with girls and has not been seen since. Han Xing and Luo Cheng stayed up late last night playing CS with other dormitories until three or four in the morning, and they are still sound asleep. Meanwhile, he has been stuck in the dormitory for several hours reviewing materials and is feeling quite bored.

Since that's the case... then fine, I will come down right away. Where will you be waiting for me?