Chapter 5: Shennong Cauldron, About to Cross Over!

The Lotus City military responded quickly, arriving at Great Mercy Temple within three minutes, sealing off the surrounding streets, beginning strict inspections, and seeking that mysterious benefactor.

Qin Yu had already arrived at Lotus City's Antique Market, which was extremely bustling. Stalls filled both sides of the street, all kinds of antiquities dazzling the eyes, making Qin Yu feel a surge of excitement. If he could find genuine Huaxia antiquities here and activate the guardian spirit, his safety would greatly increase.

It wasn't that Qin Yu was timid; rather, heading into a completely unknown other world, uncertainty and fear are natural. The more safeguards he has, the stronger his sense of security.

As Qin Yu just stepped into Antique Street, the vendors on both sides stared intently, as if they'd found treasure. In their eyes, such a young person is easiest to hook, looking to pick up a bargain, and most easily deceived.

"Hey kid, want to take a look? All my items are genuine antiques; someone once bought a Xia-Shang period precious sword from me, aced the college entrance exam, and went straight to Magic City Martial University!"

"My place has the highest chance of finding a bargain and the best sell-through rate……"

Qin Yu heard this and couldn't help finding it funny. If it were really that easy to pick up a bargain, why wouldn't they just authenticate and auction it themselves, gaining even higher value?

He walked to the first stall, which was filled with items bearing the marks of time. Qin Yu's gaze was instantly drawn to a bronze long sword mottled with rust at the center.

The vendor, seeing this, quickly picked up the bronze long sword and said, "Hey kid, great eye—this is the sidearm of Three Kingdoms famous general Zhao Yun, the Azure Gleam Sword!"

"General Zhao Yun relied on this sword to rescue his lord, charging seven times in and out at Changban Slope, earning fame across the world!"

"If I weren't in trouble, I wouldn't bring out such a divine object for sale; seeing you have fate, take it for five million."

"Only a young person like you can make this divine sword shine again!"

Before the vendor finished speaking, a prompt appeared in Qin Yu's mind.

【A copper sword made on a factory assembly line one month ago, machine-dyed, weathered.】

【Value: one thousand Huaxia currency.】

Qin Yu: "???"

He originally felt a bit tempted; the sword indeed looked extraordinary, and most importantly, it seemed ancient enough! If it could really activate some guardian spirit, that would be a huge gain—but he never expected it to be a factory‑rushed product from just a month ago?

You're joking, right?

Something worth a thousand, selling for five million?

Are you crazy?

Qin Yu immediately turned and left. The vendor panicked—this item was his highest‑cost stock, sitting unsold for a month, with no one willing to buy.

"Kid, don't rush off…… I did lie, but this is also a replica, a Ming‑dynasty treasure; I'll sell it to you for one million……"

"Don't go so fast…… one hundred thousand…… ten thousand…… five thousand!"

Qin Yu walked even faster, soon disappearing into the crowd.

Qin Yu felt that picking up a bargain might not work out—just turning around, five million turned into five thousand?

This is more than a discount; it's practically a fire‑sale price!

Fortunately, there is the prompt, which can reveal true from false.

After browsing for an hour, Qin Yu discovered that everything here is fake—not a single genuine item?

He felt a bit dazed—what kind of bargain hunting is this? Isn't this just openly swindling fools?

The only genuine thing is the smartphone just developed in the earlier tech era…… it can be considered a collectible.

Qin Yu instantly felt somewhat exasperated.

Is this what they call bargain hunting?

Isn't this just pure pit‑falling?

When he reached the end of Antique Street, Qin Yu again found a bronze ancient sword, more severely damaged, its tip missing, very similar to the so‑called Azure Gleam Sword from before.

Qin Yu originally thought it was also factory‑line junk, but the prompt suddenly appeared.

【Azure Gleam Sword, sidearm of Zhao Yun from the Three Kingdoms period; if you accept the antique recommendation, you can purchase it directly, and upon entering Cangyuan Jie, the sword will give birth to sentience and nurture the artifact spirit.】

Qin Yu: "???"

Holy shit, it's the real deal!

His gaze then shifted to a bronze ancient cauldron, with no distinctive features— the only thing…… is that it looks very aged, with nothing special.

【An imitation Shennong Cauldron from the Xia‑Shang period, containing a trace of Shennong's thought; if you accept the recommendation and purchase it, upon entering Cangyuan Jie the cauldron's Shennong thought will become a guardian spirit capable of three strikes, and with sufficient future nurturing it may transform into a semi‑authentic piece, becoming a divine‑grade alchemy cauldron.】

Qin Yu was dazed—holy shit, is this also genuine?

These two treasures are worth a fortune—did I really just pick them up?

Qin Yu immediately walked to the stall, pointing at the Azure Gleam Sword and the imitation Shennong Cauldron: "How much for this sword and this cauldron?"

The vendor took a deep drag of smoke; he also noticed this teenager wandering around without buying anything, guessing he was a veteran player who knew those were modern replicas.

To lower the price, he had specially picked out those defective items, then immediately spoke bitterly.

"Well…… you pretty much know the situation—ten thousand, and you can take both treasures."

"Good!"

Qin Yu spoke decisively, then pulled out ten thousand‑Huaxia‑currency notes from his pocket, lifted the Azure Gleam Sword and the imitation Shennong Cauldron, and walked out of Antique Street.

The vendor fell into thought: "……"

"Did I underquote myself?"

"This stuff isn't even for veteran players—how easy is it to deceive?"

"But no matter what, I've finally opened for business."

Immediately, he continued setting up his stall with a satisfied grin, his face brightening by three‑tenths.

………………

Back home, Qin Yu carefully placed the Azure Gleam Sword and the imitation Shennong Cauldron in his study, waiting seven days before entering Cangyuan Jie.

His inner confidence grew considerably.

If he encounters any oppressive old‑timer tactics, he'll just strike—becoming sect leader that very day!

Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns, a trace of divine thought transformed into a guardian spirit, is absolutely not weak.

Although the eight growth hormones haven't arrived yet, Qin Yu memorized the Six Sword Form.

Yet he felt he'd discovered a pleasant surprise—this martial skill's name is quite ordinary, but…… its effect is absolutely not lacking.

There are six moves in total.

Each time a sword is executed, the power will double on top of the previous base, and the sword intent will be superior.

One sword strike yields one times the power.

Two sword strikes yield two times the power.

Three sword strikes yield four times the power.

Four sword strikes yield eight times the power.

Five sword strikes yield sixteen times the power.

Six sword strikes yield thirty-two times the power.

Practicing this martial skill, crossing ranks is a given; it's truly a divine technique!

Now, with my own cultivation, offense, defense, and everything is sufficient; plus two ancient treasures, the treasure aspect is also sufficient.

What's lacking now... is talent!