Chapter 41: Gambling on Treasures

"Is this Master Moyang very powerful?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled.

What kind of person was this Master Moyang, that he could stir such excitement and frenzy in so many people? Did he possess such great magic?

"Yes, extremely powerful!" the stall owner said, his tone full of admiration. "He is a highly skilled treasure appraiser!"

"Treasure appraiser?" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Treasure appraisers, like food masters, belonged to a special profession, though it was a middle-class profession.

Although this profession was not as prestigious as alchemists, artifact refiners, or formation masters, it could drive countless people wild.

Because he could tell at a glance whether a treasure was good or bad, especially in the field of 'gambling on treasures.' He was like a golden finger, a god of gambling. Whenever such a person appeared, he was sure to attract many followers.

Gambling on treasures was similar to gambling on rough jade on Earth. Some ancient treasures, covered by rocks or plants, would lose their luster and color. From the outside, one could at most identify what they were, but the grade and specifications of the treasure could no longer be discerned.

Only by polishing away the outer layer could the true appearance be revealed!

Many merchants selling these treasures did not polish them but sold them directly, like rough jade in gambling on jade. You bought based on your eyesight and intuition, then polished them yourself.

If you got it right, you could become rich overnight, obtaining a peerless treasure. If you got it wrong, you could lose everything and go bankrupt!

One moment a millionaire, the next a beggar.

It was precisely because of this uncertainty that countless people were fascinated and driven crazy.

Treasure appraisers could distinguish the authenticity of treasures, and some skilled ones could even judge the quality before polishing. Therefore, although this profession was only one of the middle classes, it attracted countless followers.

After all, this was a golden finger. If he thought something was good, no matter how much it cost, people would buy it!

"This Master Moyang came here seven days ago. He is said to be from another kingdom and is very powerful. No one paid attention to him at first!"

The stall owner introduced excitedly: "On the first day, a man bought something shaped like a wine vessel for about a hundred gold coins. He said not to buy it, but the man didn't listen. When it was polished, it turned out to be flawed and not even worth one gold coin!"

"On the second day, he advised a martial artist to spend two hundred gold coins on a treasure. That person didn't believe him and didn't buy it. He bought it himself, and when polished, it turned out to be a mortal-grade peak weapon! It couldn't be bought even for several thousand gold coins! He made dozens of times the profit! That martial artist regretted so much he almost wanted to die..."

"By the third day, he had gained great fame. Many wanted him to guide their purchases, but only one lucky person got the chance. He had him buy a seemingly small jade bottle worth 500 gold coins! Everyone thought he had misjudged, that no matter how good the jade bottle was, it wasn't worth that much... But when opened, the jade bottle contained six sixth-grade pills! Someone immediately offered 10,000 gold coins to buy it!"

The stall owner's eyes shone: "That is, he made a full twenty times the profit! Amazing! In the following days, he came every day, but each day he guided only one person, and that person always made a huge profit! Because of this, many people went crazy, waiting here every day, hoping to gain his favor and get some guidance! Today he came again, so of course these people are excited..."

"Impressive!"

Hearing about Master Moyang's deeds, Zhang Xuan's eyes also lit up, and he nodded to himself.

Being able to see the true value of treasures hidden under moss and mud—such eyesight was truly remarkable.

"Hmm, by the way, I have the Library of Heaven's Path... Can I also do this?"

His eyes brightened.

The Library of Heaven's Path could reveal the essence of anything he touched. Others had to rely on luck when gambling on treasures, but he didn't need to!

"There's a way to get rich!"

At this thought, Zhang Xuan could no longer contain himself.

It was just like gambling on stones. Before others bought a raw stone, they had to consider whether it would yield valuable jade. But he was different—as soon as his palm touched it, the Heavenly Dao Library in his mind would automatically give the answer. Knowing the answer before buying, he was sure to make a huge profit!

Coincidentally, his salary was low and he had little money, so he could give it a try and earn a windfall!

Following the stall owner's directions, Zhang Xuan quickly arrived at the treasure gambling area.

Sure enough, it was no different from gambling on stones. Long tables were covered with all kinds of treasures, each encased in thick moss, mud, rust, and rock, making even their basic forms hard to discern, let alone their value.

"Let me try first!"

These things indeed revealed nothing at a glance. Zhang Xuan only assumed the Heavenly Dao Library could see through them but wasn't certain. He casually picked a large treasure and reached out to touch it.

Buzz!

His mind shook, and a book appeared.

"Ornamental vase, crafted by a potter from Southern Kiln. Defect: has cracks within, likely to shatter at any moment..."

Opening the book, it was densely filled with annotations.

"Looks big, but it's actually a piece of junk!" Zhang Xuan's eyes flickered.

As he had guessed, as long as he touched it, a detailed description of the treasure would appear. No matter how deeply these treasures were hidden, he no longer had to worry!

He casually touched a few large items nearby and found them all of little value. After touching more than a dozen in a row, none were worth much. Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head. No wonder the sellers of these items could make money, and appraisers were so sought after—the probability of finding a real treasure was simply too low!

"Ah, Master, please guide me!"

"If you just guide me, I'll reward you!"

"Master, I beg you..."

...

As he was randomly touching things, a burst of shrill cries rang out. The much-admired Master Moyang was approaching.

These admirers had red-rimmed eyes, as if gone mad.

"Master, if you just guide me, this young woman will do anything for you..."

"Master, I'm willing to bear your child, as long as you guide me..."

Some women even pressed forward, flirting and casting amorous glances.

Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded.

He was incredibly popular. It seemed that if Master Moyang gave the order, many women would willingly serve him in bed tonight.

"I, Moyang, will leave Tianxuan Royal City tonight. To repay your enthusiasm, I will make five appraisals today, helping five people with their treasures! No need to fight—if you are fated with me, you all have a chance!"

Arriving at the treasure gambling area, Master Moyang stopped.

This master had a snow-white beard, appearing quite old at first glance, yet his skin was unusually smooth, without a single wrinkle—likely well-maintained. His eyes held an air of lofty authority, making others feel inferior and unwilling to meet his gaze.