Chen Xiao had never been deeply knowledgeable about antiques, but he knew that large bronze cauldrons were considered national treasures. Due to the limitations of ancient smelting techniques and the strict control over metal resources, crafting a sizable bronze cauldron required not only exceptional skill but also considerable wealth and power to afford the necessary materials.
The same holds true in this world. In fact, it was even more challenging without coal, the only available fuel for smelting was firewood, making the process even more difficult. Large bronze cauldrons were regarded as rare and invaluable treasures. Just by looking at this one standing as tall as half a person its extraordinary value was evident.
Word of the bronze cauldron spread quickly among the regular customers, who flocked to the shop to catch a glimpse. Their enthusiasm soon attracted other antique collectors, all eager to see this rare artifact for themselves.
Among these antique buyers were many seasoned collectors, knowledgeable and experienced, some even more so than the shop's own master appraisers.
Chen Xiao and the other clerks were kept busy serving tea, bringing over chairs, and inviting guests to sit. Yet, none of them received any attention. The chairs remained empty, the tea untouched, everyone was too absorbed in the cauldron displayed at the center of the shop.
Seeing that the guests didn't care about formalities, Chen Xiao took the opportunity to slip to the side and listen in.
At the center of the discussion stood an elderly man, likely in his seventies, with a gaunt face and a long, white goatee. He spoke with authority, "This Hundred-Beast Floral Bronze Cauldron undoubtedly dates back over three thousand years to the Zheng Kingdom. Look closely back then, beast motifs featured more ferocious creatures and fewer ordinary beasts. The lines are bold, simple, and vivid!"
He sounded certain, but an older man in his sixties, wearing a square hat, disagreed. "No, I believe it was crafted later. Look at the floral patterns they are interwoven seamlessly, each motif connecting smoothly with no breaks. This style only emerged during the founding of the Dai Kingdom."
In this world, kingdoms lasted for exceptionally long periods. As long as there wasn't an utterly disastrous ruler, most royal dynasties remained stable. Local city lords were content managing their own territories and cared little about who sat on the throne. As a result, though history recorded instances of dynastic changes, they were not frequent.
Chen Xiao had learned early on from his masters that the Dai Kingdom's predecessor was the Zheng Kingdom. The Zheng Kingdom had existed for over two thousand years, whereas the Dai Kingdom was relatively young at just over nine hundred years.
At this moment, the shop owner finally spoke. "I believe Elder Qi's assessment is correct."
The elder in the square hat, Elder Qi, nodded as the crowd turned their attention to him. He then explained solemnly, "I acquired this bronze cauldron from a destitute family. According to them, this artifact had been passed down for generations. Their ancestors were descendants of the Zheng royal family, and when the Dai royal family took the capital, their ancestors brought this cauldron with them."
"As we all know, when the Dai Kingdom was established, they destroyed all Zheng Kingdom ritual vessels. If this cauldron wasn't newly made at the time, it wouldn't have survived."
Elder Qi's words carried weight, supporting the shop owner's claim.
In this world, bronze cauldrons had long been used as ritual vessels for offering sacrifices to the heavens. The ruling class set the trend, and the common folk followed suit, though they could only afford smaller versions.
The white-bearded elder scoffed. "You're all seasoned collectors. Have you forgotten that a seller's story can't be trusted? And who says all Zheng-era bronze cauldrons were destroyed? We still hear of surviving ones from time to time."
Elder Qi wasn't about to back down. "You said 'hear of' but has anyone actually seen one? Seeing is believing!"
The white-bearded elder raised his voice. "The beast motifs on this cauldron are proof! It is unmistakably from the Zheng Kingdom. And while it's true that floral interlacing became popular in the Dai era, that doesn't mean it wasn't used earlier! There are occasional examples in Zheng-era ceramics."
Elder Qi's face turned red. "Ceramics and bronze are completely different! The Zheng Kingdom's casting techniques weren't as refined as the Dai's. They may have managed continuous interwoven patterns on bronze, but there would have been visible breaks!"
Chen Xiao listened intently, finding the debate even more fascinating than the antique appraisal shows he had watched in his past life. Here, determining the cauldron's era wasn't as simple as running a carbon-14 test. Instead, everything relied on expertise, observation, and deduction.
Pang Hemu, the shopkeeper, was delighted by the commotion the cauldron had caused. Far from being annoyed by the growing crowd, he welcomed wave after wave of curious visitors. The master appraisers and clerks, however, were completely overwhelmed. Neither the shop owner nor the head appraiser had three heads and six arms, so the staff had no choice but to handle guests one by one.
The chaos continued well into the evening, only settling down as lanterns were lit. One by one, the visitors from Taxue Xunxian Pavilion trickled out, leaving only the shop employees to clean up returning chairs, collecting teacups, and tidying the shop.
Chen Xiao deliberately stayed behind, helping the newly hired night watchman finish the last bit of cleaning. The man was grateful for his help, so when Chen Xiao asked if he could linger a bit longer to take another look at the cauldron, the night watchman readily agreed.
After all, with such a rare artifact in the shop, even the owner wasn't satisfied with just a quick glance, he'd surely return after dinner for another look.
Chen Xiao circled around the bronze cauldron once. Compared to other immortal antiques he had seen, this one had a noticeably stronger aura. Of course, its liveliness couldn't compare to the one in his small courtyard. What made him uneasy was that, while the cauldron's aura was stable, something about it still felt off.
Lost in thought, he focused on the upper half of the cauldron. Suddenly, he bent down and took a sniff.
At that moment, Mr. Pang stepped into the shop and saw Chen Xiao with his head practically inside the cauldron. He chuckled. "You're curious about it too?"
Chen Xiao quickly straightened up. After greeting him properly, he replied, "Yes. I think the entire county city is curious about it. The shop has certainly made a name for itself this time."
Mr. Pang, still tipsy from drinking at a banquet, burst into laughter at his words. "Not only will it bring us fame, but we'll also make a fortune."
Chen Xiao frowned slightly, though he concealed it well. Despite the chaos of the day, he had noticed quite a few wealthy and influential people approaching Mr. Pang. It was likely that the cauldron would be sold before long.
However, selling it as an ordinary antique wouldn't fetch nearly the same price as selling it as an immortal relic.
Unlike common folk who knew nothing about such matters, antique dealers—who often came into indirect contact with the affairs of cultivators, understood the truth. The so-called 'Immortal Sects' were nothing more than the mountain gates of cultivators, and 'immortal antiques' were merely objects once used by cultivators, passed down through time. True immortals and cultivators were worlds apart.
Yet, since there was a vast chasm between the world of cultivators and ordinary people, no cultivator would go out of their way to clarify this misconception. To those in the know, cultivators possessed extraordinary abilities, defying the heavens and the earth, immune to aging and decay. In their eyes, cultivators were no different from immortals. Just as modern collectors prized artifacts once owned by historical figures, ordinary people viewed cultivators as distant and untouchable beings.
This was why immortal antiques remained so highly valued.
Whenever the shop made a major sale, the generous Mr. Pang would always reward his employees. The head manager and senior shopkeepers would receive hefty red envelopes, while the assistants would also get a share of the windfall. If he knew this cauldron was an immortal antique, the bonus for the shop hands would be enough for an average family to save up for ten years without spending a single coin.
Chen Xiao wasn't particularly interested in the bonus itself. What truly caught his attention was the opportunity it presented, an opportunity to showcase his special abilities.
Ever since he discovered that he could absorb fortune through feng shui to cultivate like a cultivator, he had changed his mind. He no longer intended to hide his ability to discern immortal antiques. Of course, Mr. Pang wouldn't understand anything about auras, so there was no point explaining it that way.
The real challenge was finding a way to make Mr. Pang realize the truth. Now, a perfect opportunity had appeared before him, and he had no intention of letting it slip by.
Fixing his gaze on his drunken employer, he said earnestly, "Boss, could this cauldron possibly be an immortal antique?"
Mr. Pang had truly had too much to drink that night. His mind was sluggish, and his steps unsteady as if he were walking on clouds. After a long pause, he suddenly let out a snort of laughter. "You brat, you've got quite the imagination. Do you think immortal antiques are so easy to find? Just because something looks rare and precious doesn't mean it's an immortal relic. It's completely different, completely different!" He waved his hand emphatically as he spoke.
Seeing how drunk he was, Chen Xiao could only sigh inwardly. He helped him to a seat in the guest area, then went to brew a cup of tea to sober him up.
Fortunately, Mr. Pang had a good temperament when drinking. Even though he thought Chen Xiao's idea was absurd, he didn't scold him. He simply muttered while sipping his tea, "Ah, my shop assistant actually thinks that cauldron is an immortal antique…"
It wasn't surprising that Mr. Pang didn't believe him. Most so-called immortal antiques on the market were everyday items—hairpins, jade belts, household utensils. Weapons, books, and paintings were much rarer.
Chen Xiao didn't take offense. Instead, he said, "I just find it strange… Why does this cauldron have a lingering scent? After so many years, any scent should have long since dissipated."
Mr. Pang dismissed the concern, lecturing him with the air of an experienced dealer. "That just shows how little you know. Do you have any idea what incense the royal family uses for their rituals? True spiritual incense, obtained directly from the Immortal Sects! Even after it burns to ashes, its fragrance can linger for centuries. That cauldron has probably been used countless times for burning incense, it's only natural that it still holds some of the scent."
But to Chen Xiao, the scent didn't resemble incense at all.
If anything… it smelled more like medicinal herbs.