Before his death in his previous life, Chen Xiao had taken plenty of medicine. The fragrance from the bronze cauldron was pleasant, yet it carried a faint bitterness—one he would never forget. The unique, slightly acrid scent of medicinal herbs was unmistakable.
However, this alone wasn't enough evidence. What if this type of spiritual incense naturally produced such a scent when burned? Since Mr. Pang wasn't convinced, Chen Xiao decided not to press the matter further.
Instead, he brought up another discovery. "The patterns on the upper half of the bronze cauldron feel oddly familiar to me. After carefully observing and recalling my memories, I realized that I've seen similar patterns before on the robes of the immortal masters who came to recruit disciples for the sect."
Mr. Pang choked on his tea, coughing violently for a long while. When he finally caught his breath, he was completely sober. He took the towel Chen Xiao handed him and wiped the spilled tea from his clothes, his expression a mix of skepticism and surprise. "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Chen Xiao nodded firmly. "I'm certain. The patterns are remarkably similar."
He remembered the scene vividly. After all, the sight of three people descending from the sky was unforgettable.
The three members of the Chongxuan Sect had worn robes of different colors, but they all shared a similar trim and identical patterns. Although the designs varied slightly, it was clear at a glance that they belonged to the same set. He once heard a friend who enjoyed ancient-style games refer to such matching attire as "school uniforms." Given their uniformity, Chen Xiao deduced that these robes were likely the standard attire of the Chongxuan Sect.
The embroidered patterns on those robes bore an uncanny resemblance to the ones on the bronze cauldron. Compared to other antique motifs he'd seen, these patterns were more intricate, profound, and structured.
Mr. Pang stood up and walked around the bronze cauldron twice, deep in thought. After a moment, he shook his head. "Using this alone to claim that the cauldron is an immortal artifact is far-fetched. The royal families of Zheng and Dai both originated from cultivator lineages. It's natural that their household items inherited some of the immortals' customs and were passed down over time."
"So you mean to say," Chen Xiao asked, "that the intricate patterns were originally seen on true cultivators' artifacts, later adopted by the Zheng royal family for their bronze cauldrons, and eventually preserved through the generations?"
Mr. Pang's expression grew even more serious. He neither confirmed nor denied it, merely saying, "It's getting late. Go home and rest. Don't overthink things. Make sure you're on time for work tomorrow."
Understanding his cue, Chen Xiao took his leave. As he walked away, he caught a glimpse of Mr. Pang standing before the bronze cauldron, his back heavy with contemplation.
It was clear to him though Mr. Pang outwardly dismissed the idea, he had been shaken. However, without concrete proof, he wouldn't openly agree with Chen Xiao's theory. He had to keep his thoughts to himself to avoid any leaks.
If Chen Xiao's speculation was correct, this discovery wouldn't just stir up the antique market in the county, it would send shockwaves through the entire Dai nation's collection circles. A bronze cauldron of this size, potentially an immortal artifact, was something no one had ever seen before.
The next day, when Chen Xiao arrived at Taxue Xunxian Pavilion for work, the bronze cauldron was no longer displayed in the shop's main hall. It had been moved to the back.
In the rear courtyard, aside from the small room where Chen Xiao had once stayed, the main house belonged to the owner. He used it for bookkeeping and private discussions with the chief shopkeeper. On the side was a well-secured storage room, where the shop's most treasured antiques were kept, only shown to esteemed clients under the shopkeeper's supervision.
Curious onlookers who had come after hearing the commotion from the previous day were politely turned away. Only the elderly man with the goatee and the scholar in the square hat were invited into the courtyard.
Chen Xiao remained at his designated display stand. The master in charge of bronze artifacts had been called inside, leaving only him and another clerk in this section. As he mentally counted the seconds, reaching over three hundred, the master finally emerged, giving Chen Xiao a complicated look. "The boss wants to see you. Think carefully before you speak."
Following behind, Chen Xiao stepped into the main house of the rear courtyard for the first time. The secondary room was a spacious study, and in the center of the room stood the bronze cauldron. Several figures sat or stood around it: Mr. Pang, the chief shopkeeper, the elderly man with the goatee, and the scholar in the square hat.
The chief shopkeeper beckoned him forward. "Come closer."
Chen Xiao approached and stood respectfully.
Gesturing toward the two elderly men, the shopkeeper introduced them solemnly. "This is Master Ma and Master Qi, the towering figures in the county's collector circles."
Chen Xiao greeted them with proper etiquette, unfazed by the grand titles. He had grown used to hearing familiar phrases and idioms from his past life pop up here and there. Words like "towering figures" seemed odd in a world that lacked both Mount Tai and the Big Dipper, yet their presence suggested some connection to his original world—or perhaps a parallel evolution of language and culture.
Master Ma scrutinized him. Though thin, his voice was surprisingly loud. "So, you're the one who suggested this cauldron might be an immortal artifact? You're young, but bold. Quite the imagination."
Chen Xiao remained composed. "Master Ma, you are a highly respected elder with vast knowledge. I'm still new to the world of antiques, with limited experience. If my assumptions are mistaken, I hope you can guide me."
Master Qi shot Master Ma a glare. "Enough nonsense. Let's get to the point." Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Chen Xiao's arm and pulled him forward, pointing to an open book on the desk. "Look through this. Do any of the patterns match what you saw?"
The book was thick, filled with hundreds of designs. Its pages had yellowed with age, and despite careful preservation, the edges showed signs of wear. Master Qi clearly treasured this collection, handling the book himself rather than letting Chen Xiao touch it. With great care, he turned each page one by one.
The book cataloged a vast array of patterns—floral, animal, and geometric designs. Toward the end, the motifs evolved into symbols resembling ancient pictographs. The sheer comprehensiveness of this collection amazed Chen Xiao. It must have taken an extraordinary amount of time and effort to compile.
Master Qi's voice held a hint of tension. "Look carefully. Do you see the pattern you recognized?"
Elder Ma snorted. "Didn't we just go through it twice? Are you still unsure whether there's a similar pattern?"
From the fragments of conversation, Chen Xiao deduced that before his arrival, the people in the room had already searched the illustrated book for a pattern resembling the intricate design on the bronze cauldron. However, they had failed to find a match.
Chen Xiao wasn't surprised in the slightest. The final pages of the book contained pictographic patterns that bore some resemblance to the one on the cauldron, but they paled in comparison. The cauldron's design was far more refined and intricate.
The difference was akin to that between a cheap imitation and an authentic masterpiece.
Flipping to the last page, Chen Xiao shook his head. "I haven't seen any patterns here that resemble the ones I saw on the Immortal Master."
Pang Hemu burst into laughter. "Then there's no need to argue anymore. This bronze cauldron is undoubtedly an ancient relic of the immortals!"
Elder Qi took a deep breath, his hands trembling with excitement. Yet, he forced himself to remain composed. "We can't jump to conclusions just yet. It's possible that this is merely a pattern that was never documented. Besides, many ancient artifacts from foreign lands exhibit stark differences from our own."
Elder Ma snorted again. "You're just deceiving yourself! Yesterday, you were arguing with me until your face turned red! The 'Hundred Beasts' and 'Entwined Blossoms' patterns are distinct hallmarks of our nation how could this have come from anywhere else?!"
Pang Hemu, overjoyed, decided to play the peacemaker. "No need for conflict, gentlemen. If there are doubts, we can discuss them rationally. Elder Ma, why don't you share your perspective?"
Elder Ma stroked his goatee and said, "There's no doubt that the 'Hundred Beasts' motif originated during the Zheng Kingdom era. If this cauldron was forged by an immortal, then the continuous entwinement of blossoms isn't surprising either. Elder Qi and I initially assumed that the intricate pattern filling the gaps was merely decorative. Now, it appears we were terribly mistaken. The 'Hundred Beasts' and 'Entwined Blossoms' were just filler—the true focal point was the treasure pattern! During that era, only one person could have crafted such a bronze cauldron—the immortal cultivator from the Zheng royal lineage. This cauldron must have remained in the family after the immortal departed. Eventually, it was mistaken for an ordinary sacrificial vessel and sold off. Pang Xianjun, congratulations! You've stumbled upon an earth-shattering treasure."
A true master indeed—merely piecing together scattered clues, Elder Ma had deduced the cauldron's rightful owner.
Hearing this, Pang Hemu couldn't contain his laughter.
At that moment, Elder Qi spoke up. "Immortal Lord Pang, I have an audacious request. Would you permit me to rub the patterns on this cauldron?"
Pang Hemu hesitated. "This…" Now that the cauldron was confirmed to be an immortal artifact, the treasure pattern became an invaluable relic. As a devoted enthusiast of immortal culture, he was reluctant to let it spread.
But when he saw the hopeful and pleading look in Elder Qi's eyes and considered their longstanding friendship, he eventually relented.
Having uncovered the cauldron's origins, Pang Hemu now had no intention of selling it. This was the greatest reward of his lifelong pursuit of immortal relics. He resolved to keep it as a family heirloom, so future generations could admire his unparalleled achievement.
Pang Hemu had always been a generous man, and in celebration of his newfound treasure, he made sure to distribute lavish gifts. Elder Qi, Elder Ma, and the chief shopkeeper all received hefty red envelopes. Even Chen Xiao was handsomely rewarded. After all, it was his one remark that had awakened everyone to the true value of the cauldron, saving it from being discarded as an ordinary artifact.
News of Taxue Xunxian Pavilion's latest acquisition, a confirmed immortal relic, spread like wildfire. While Pang Hemu had never intended to keep it a secret, he hadn't expected the information to circulate so quickly.
However, this soon led to skepticism from the owners of other prominent antique shops on the street. They suspected Pang Hemu of deception, accusing him of passing off an ordinary bronze cauldron as an immortal artifact to elevate the reputation of Taxue Xunxian Pavilion. After all, there was no concrete proof that the cauldron was indeed an immortal relic. And yet, in just over a decade since its opening, Taxue Xunxian Pavilion had suddenly risen to become the most renowned establishment in the antique district.
Hearing these accusations, Pang Hemu was utterly furious.