Lin Shan's calm heart began to pound again, like finding a path through the willows and flowers, searching for him a thousand times!
He turned his head and glanced at the Shopkeeper, feeling guilty, only to find the Shopkeeper still lying on the rattan chair, feigning sleep, having been lazy all morning and not moving an inch.
Coming back to his senses, Lin Shan re-examined the black lotus buddha statue. Its base was a nine-grade lotus platform, upon which sat an unknown ancient buddha.
The ancient buddha's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow. From the craftsmanship, it didn't seem to be carved by any famous artist; it was rough and unrefined, with many pits and bumps, and entirely black, seemingly a wooden statue.
"What's the origin of this black lotus buddha statue? It feels like a mass-produced rough product. But it certainly looks ancient."
He flipped through the ledger, which contained the appraiser's evaluation: "The material and workmanship are similar to ordinary black lotus buddha statues, but its age dates back 800 years, making it worth 20 gold."
20 gold, which is equivalent to 200 taels of silver. But contemplating the appraiser's handwriting...
"Similar to ordinary black lotus buddha statues."
Could he have seen other similar types of buddha statues? Lin Shan secretly made a note to investigate clues about this style of buddha statue when he had time; it was very likely that he would find other Ancient rhyme points there.
The only concern now was what kind of commotion this black lotus buddha statue would cause, given that the ancient painting, "spring river duck play picture," seemed to have instantly lost its support and turned to ashes when he absorbed it.
...
After a brief hesitation, Lin Shan thought that if he could obtain this Ancient rhyme, he would immediately be able to Cultivate a Innate Skill. Ultimately, the temptation outweighed his hesitation.
"Take it! This is the only antique in the pawnshop I've touched. If I miss it, I'll regret it for a lifetime. Whatever the consequences, just take it!"
Lin Shan roared fiercely in his heart, his hands moving quickly, directly following the Enhancement panel's prompt.
"Absorb!"
The black lotus buddha statue on the ground flashed with a faint light for an instant, then seemed to show no change, while in the upper right corner of Lin Shan's transparent Enhancement panel, the number changed from "3" to "4."
"Phew~"
Suppressing his excitement, Lin Shan closed the panel and observed carefully. Only then did he notice that the buddha statue was now covered in intricate, crisscrossing cracks.
Lin Shan gently moved his hand away from the buddha statue and slowly exhaled. He had no doubt that with even a slight force, the buddha statue would crumble to the ground like a sand sculpture, turning into a pile of fine sand.
After committing the "crime," Lin Shan secretly glanced at the Shopkeeper again. After confirming he hadn't been discovered, he tiptoed out of the back hall and left the shop. The street was already sparsely populated, with only a few scattered birds; no one wanted to bask in the sun in the middle of the day.
Lin Shan brought a small stool and sat at the shop entrance, wishing he could fly back to his residence immediately.
Soon, a faint snore seemed to come from inside the shop.
...
After dusk, the sky turned a vast red.
He seemed to hear the sound of a door locking behind him. Lin Shan, dozing at the entrance, felt a pat on his shoulder. He turned his head to see the Old Shopkeeper, looking refreshed.
"Kid, the shop's closed for the day. Go back and report."
The Shopkeeper's small eyes narrowed in a smile as he forcefully locked the pawnshop's large door and hummed a tune on his way home.
Lin Shan rubbed his sleepy eyes, watching the Shopkeeper's brisk steps, and couldn't help but sigh: "If this job were in my previous life, sleeping and slacking off at work every day, lying down and collecting money, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
He then quickly sprinted back to the Lin Mansion, causing a stir among the chickens and dogs on the road.
...
After a quick bite, Lin Shan returned to his residence and took out the Pine Crane Art.
[Pine Crane Art]
Quality: Post-natal Skill
Description: The Lin Family's unique internal cultivation method. Its True Qi has slightly low offensive power but comes with recuperative effects. After cultivation, it has a minor life-extending effect. Can be cultivated to the peak of the Post-natal Realm.
Enhancement required: 4 points
...
Lin Shan didn't hesitate: "Enhance!"
The yellowish book in his hand, which he had flipped through for ten years, suddenly began to turn its pages automatically with a "whoosh."
Formulas and mental cultivation methods flashed by quickly, and illustrations of human Meridians changed in an instant. The entire book rustled as if moved by an unseen wind!
In the Void, it was as if a supreme rule was altering the contents of the book. Characters disappeared and reappeared, and countless streams of colorful light converged into a rainbow on the pages.
"Clap!"
The book closed again, transforming into a brand new skill in a hazy white light:
[Eternal Spring Skill]
Quality: Innate Skill
Description: Can be cultivated to the peak of the Innate Great Perfection. Greatly increases cultivation speed and has a certain life-extending effect. After cultivation, True Qi is long and profound, capable of healing internal meridian injuries.
Derived unique skill: Broken palm
When struck upon a person, it can destroy the enemy's vitality; when placed on plants, it can extract vitality to aid in healing.
Enhancement required: 8 points
...
"As expected of a Innate Skill! Not to mention its power, it even comes with a bonus derived martial art!"
Lin Shan was overjoyed. The Eternal Spring Skill, a Innate Skill, naturally had a cultivation speed far superior to Post-natal Skills. As for increasing lifespan, it held little appeal for him at 16 years old.
Although the description didn't mention the offensive power of Eternal spring True Qi, one could infer from its continuous Internal Energy and meridian healing capabilities that it was durable and sustainable, at least reliable for self-preservation.
The derived martial art, Broken palm, was even more outrageous! Lin Shan could understand severing an enemy's vitality, but it could also absorb vitality from plants to heal injuries? Was a Innate Skill truly so miraculous?
With Lin Shan's current understanding, he couldn't yet grasp the principles behind it, but he just had to Cultivate it.
As for whether a Innate Skill could be Enhanced again?
He currently had no Ancient rhyme points left, so he naturally couldn't hope for it.
...
After a night, Lin Shan, who had re-cultivated Eternal Spring Skill, felt refreshed. His Dantian was now filled with green True Qi, replacing the previous white True Qi.
"True Qi can change colors? Is there also a distinction of Five Elements: gold, wood, water, fire, earth? But why have I never heard of it before?"
Lin Shan looked puzzled. Based solely on the Eternal Spring Skill and the description provided by the Enhancement panel, he couldn't help but vaguely guess. However, other clan members also cultivated skills like Fiery Blaze Art and Rolling Stone Art, and he had never heard them discuss red, yellow, blue, or green True Qi.
Lin Shan could only attribute it to the miraculous nature of the Innate Skill, as the Enhancement panel surely wouldn't deceive him.
In the following days, Lin Shan, having taken advantage of the pawnshop, naturally couldn't go there again to avoid suspicion. So, he traded for a different odd job from the Steward.
While doing odd jobs, Lin Shan pondered and familiarized himself with the newly Acquired Innate Skill. These days were quite fulfilling.
...
Good times didn't last long. Five days later, in the rear mountain early in the morning.
"Did you hear? Yesterday, a powerful individual came to Clear River County , broke into our Lin Family pawnshop, and caused a big scene."
Lin Shan, who was slacking off and practicing calisthenics nearby, immediately perked up his ears to listen.
"Indeed, it's said to be a master who cultivated to the 'Transformation' realm. Three Stewards from our External Affairs Hall were defeated."
"Our Lin Family is a prominent target; who knows when we might offend a first-rate master? But why stir up trouble at the pawnshop?"
"It's said that the pawnshop damaged an item that grand master had pawned twelve years ago."
"Tsk tsk, that pawnshop Shopkeeper will probably face serious consequences."
"Exactly!"
...
Lin Shan also felt a secret fear upon hearing this, and he roughly guessed the cause of the incident.
If he hadn't guessed wrong, the collateral of that martial arts hero was the black lotus buddha statue.
He had originally planned to go to the pawnshop a few days later to see if the appraiser had visited, so he could inquire about the whereabouts of other black lotus buddha statues.
Good thing he didn't go!
He could naturally imagine the fury when that master entered the pawnshop, intending to redeem his antique, and saw the buddha statue instantly turn into fine sand.
Although the Lin Family is a prominent clan in Clear River County, the Innate Old Ancestor has long been detached from worldly affairs. A first-rate master is a formidable figure in the martial world, coming and going like the wind, not to be easily offended. Unless it's a mortal feud, it's best to resolve it if possible.
In this matter, the Lin Family was in the wrong. It was a pity for the Shopkeeper, who took the blame for Lin Shan.
Lin Shan silently mourned for the Shopkeeper, but he was powerless.
Coincidentally, the first time, Lin Fan also diverted attention for Lin Shan, and the storm over the Patriarch's stolen painting gradually subsided these days.
"It seems I need to be more careful in the future."
He might escape once or twice, but someone won't always be there to take the blame.
Lin Shan could vaguely foresee that his path to finding Ancient rhyme would inevitably be fraught with hardships.