บท 97: The Exhaustion of Spiritual Energy
"Almighty Celestial, what on earth is happening?" In a state of shock, Fang Yi nearly shouted out a mantra. As he set down the cricket gourd, that mysterious sensation vanished instantly.
"Logically, I should only be attuned to magical artifacts, shouldn't I?"
Confounded, Fang Yi pondered, then reached for another snuff bottle. Initially, he felt nothing, but after silently reciting a scripture, that familiar sensation surged back.
"Could it be that my abilities resonate with objects steeped in the passage of time?"
This thought suddenly struck Fang Yi, reminding him that aside from the magical artifacts wielded by his master, he had not encountered any other antiquities of significant historical weight. Thus, it was possible that he was not limited to sensing only the magical properties of artifacts; the essence of timeworn objects might also fall within his perceptive range.
"Let me try something else..." With this thought, Fang Yi turned his gaze to five or six other items on the display, and without hesitation, he picked up an antique-looking bronze mirror.
"I feel nothing; it must be a counterfeit..." After reciting the scripture, he sensed none of that ancient, profound aura, promptly putting down the mirror and selecting another object.
"Nothing again. It seems I only resonate with items of historical significance..."
After testing five or six objects, Fang Yi began to grasp the situation. A sudden idea flashed through his mind: "If I can sense the essence of time within antiques, could I not discern the authenticity of these items?"
With this realization, his heart raced. Possessing such a gift, even with no knowledge of the antiquities trade, would enable him to uncover countless genuine treasures. This truly felt like a golden opportunity for profit.
"Time is running short; I must examine a few more items..." To enforce strict time management, a timer on stage counted down from ten minutes. A glance revealed that only three minutes remained before they were to depart.
"Almighty Celestial, please leave me something to examine!"
Just as Fang Yi prepared to explore other displays, he noticed that the booths featuring calligraphy, ceramics, Ming and Qing furniture, and bronze artifacts were all crowded with people, most of whom were examining items in their hands. The only booth that seemed neglected was one beside Man Jun, which showcased a collection of old booklets.
"The Yongle Encyclopedia?"
Fang Yi picked up a booklet made of yellowed paper, clearly inscribed with the four characters "Yongle Dadian." A surge of joy filled his heart; he had often heard his master speak of this tome, never imagining he would see it in person.
The "Yongle Dadian," compiled during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, was overseen by the Grand Scholar Xie Jin and took six years to complete. It stands as one of China's most renowned ancient texts and, to this day, is the world's largest encyclopedia. Its scope far surpassed all previous compilations, leaving behind a wealth of stories and enigmas for posterity.
Regrettably, after the Ming and Qing dynasties, most copies of the "Yongle Dadian" were destroyed in warfare, while others were lost to foreign invaders in modern times. Of the original over ten thousand volumes containing more than three hundred million characters, only about eight hundred remain today.
These remaining volumes are primarily housed in museums worldwide, and the copies available in the market are often regarded as reproductions from the early twentieth century, with even some appearing in antique markets. Thus, this particular "Yongle Dadian" had gone unnoticed by the crowd.
"Ah, does this... does this book also possess that sense of timelessness?"
Initially, Fang Yi held little hope for the "Yongle Dadian," merely reciting scripture out of habit, but to his surprise, the sense of antiquity emanating from this book seemed even stronger than that of the cricket gourd and the snuff bottle he had just examined.
"Could it truly be the original Yongle Dadian from the Ming Dynasty?"
His heart raced, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. Although he was unaware of the current market value of the "Yongle Dadian," he understood that from an archaeological perspective, a text documenting the science of its time was of immense value.
At the very least, his master held the "Yongle Dadian" in high esteem, often proclaiming it to be the pinnacle of ancient Chinese scientific and cultural achievement. Had it not been for the incompetence of subsequent Ming emperors and their ministers, the "Yongle Dadian" alone could have ushered in a golden age for the dynasty.
"Could it be a returned artifact from abroad?"
Fang Yi recalled Man Jun's earlier remarks, suddenly realizing that this particular volume of the "Yongle Dadian" was likely collected from overseas by the appraisal company, yet they seemed unaware of its authenticity as a Ming relic.
"Hmm? Why am I feeling so dizzy?"
Fang Yi shook his head vigorously, initially attributing his discomfort to excitement. He took a deep breath and calmly placed the "Yongle Dadian" back on the display. After inhaling deeply, the dizziness eased somewhat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there is one minute left. If you have finished your observations, please return to your seats..." The host's voice echoed on stage, but it seemed the attendees, including Man Jun, remained engrossed in their magnifying glasses, oblivious to the announcement.
"Well, it seems I have no further business here; I should head down..."
Casting a discreet glance at the "Yongle Dadian," Fang Yi prepared to leave. However, as he approached the edge of the stage, he noticed a dragon-shaped jade pendant, roughly the size of an infant's palm, resting on one of the display tables.
Unfortunately, the quality of this jade pendant was rather poor; although it appeared intact, it was marred by rust, exhibiting multiple colors that rendered it dull and lifeless. A discerning eye would recognize it as a low-value excavated artifact.
Not all unearthed jade pieces are valuable; those that have been eroded by underground currents often bear flowing water stains on their surfaces, diminishing their worth post-excavation.
Though this dragon-shaped pendant had not been water-stained, its thinness and the pervasive rust detracted from its appeal, leading many to conclude that even if it were fine jade, it would not yield any value through handling.
"Since no one is paying attention, I might as well give it a try..." An impulsive thought crossed Fang Yi's mind. He halted, picked up the pendant, and began reciting scripture.
"Hmm? This... this object is quite ancient..."
A profound sense of desolation, akin to the wilds, enveloped Fang Yi's mind. Yet, before he could fully absorb the experience, a sudden, sharp pain pierced through his head, and an intense wave of dizziness caused him to stumble.
As he ceased reciting, the connection between him and the ancient jade was severed. Although the dizziness lingered, it was notably less severe than when he was reciting.
"What is happening? Could the resonance with these ancient items be exhausting my mental energy?"
At that moment, Fang Yi felt utterly drained, as if he had gone days without sleep. This sensation had not plagued him since achieving a level of mastery in his cultivation, and he was astonished to find his spiritual energy depleted after interacting with several objects.
"It appears that my abilities are indeed linked to mental energy..." A flicker of understanding dawned on Fang Yi, but the throbbing pain in his head made further contemplation impossible.
"Xiao Fang, are you alright?"
Man Jun's voice echoed from afar, breaking through Fang Yi's daze. Opening his eyes, he realized he was being supported by Man Jun on the stage.
"What happened to you? You startled me! You were standing there, almost toppling over..." Man Jun sighed in relief upon seeing Fang Yi's eyes begin to move.
"I'm fine, Brother Man; perhaps I just didn't sleep well last night?"
Noticing the entire audience's gaze fixed upon him, Fang Yi forced a smile, placing the jade pendant back on the display. He addressed the host, who was scrutinizing him, saying, "I sincerely apologize; we shall take our leave now..."
"You young people must practice moderation in life..." An elderly gentleman in his sixties passed by as their final group's appraisal time came to an end, prompting everyone on stage to set down their items.
"Almighty Celestial, I assure you, I am wronged..."
Hearing a phrase often used by the portly man to tease San Pao, Fang Yi felt a wave of despair as he made his way back to his seat, acutely aware of the malicious glances directed at him from all around.
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