C5 Treasure

Most items on the middle-aged vendor's display were unremarkable, but tucked away in a corner was a small cauldron, no bigger than a fist. To Tantrum's keen senses, it radiated complex and ineffable black runes.

Black runes!

Tantrum's family tome only mentioned runes of seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. His grandfather had taught him that only antiques emitting these seven-colored runes could be utilized by a Relic Arts Master to practice Relic Arts, with the hues closer to purple indicating a more potent effect.

But what of these black runes?

What's more, the intricacy of the runes adorning the cauldron far surpassed anything Tantrum had ever encountered, dwarfing the complexity of the cyan runes on the Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear by hundreds of times!

Merely glancing at them nearly ensnared Tantrum's mind, threatening to absorb his very perception.

"This has to be a treasure!"

A jolt of excitement surged through Tantrum.

He understood that the more elaborate the runes, the more beneficial they were for mastering Relic Arts. Runes of such sophistication were nothing short of a Relic Arts marvel, even more valuable than his grandfather's Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear!

"I must acquire it!"

Though his heart was ablaze with desire, Tantrum kept his composure. He was well aware that any overt eagerness might prompt the shrewd vendor to demand an exorbitant price.

So, Tantrum mingled with the crowd, feigning casual interest.

The vendor watched Tantrum for a bit, noting his behavior was no different from the other browsers—lots of looking, little buying—and eventually stopped paying him heed.

Once Tantrum felt he had blended in sufficiently, he nonchalantly picked up a wooden Buddha statue next to the cauldron and inquired, "Boss, how much for this one?"

"This piece is eight thousand, it comes from..."

The vendor, a purveyor of fakes, spun a tale with the skill of a master storyteller, weaving the origin of the Buddha statue into a convincing narrative, as if it were a genuine relic.

"That's quite steep. I'm drawn to it simply because it has a certain charm..." Tantrum remarked indifferently, setting the Buddha statue back down.

He subtly informed the boss that he had recognized the merchandise as counterfeit, but he wasn't about to call him out in front of an audience. He found the item clever and was tempted to purchase it, but the asking price was more than he was willing to pay.

The owner, taken aback, remained silent. As Tantrum examined another Buddha statue similar to the previous one, the owner wavered and dropped the price to a thousand.

The owner had sourced these items from a mountain village, unaware of their authenticity. He had acquired them for mere tens of dollars each, so selling one for a thousand would be a tidy profit. However, he was reluctant to let them go for less, preferring to deceive the uninformed rather than lower his price. After all, the items had a certain appeal, and with patience, he could find a gullible buyer.

Tantrum kept his thoughts to himself, neither commenting on the price nor expressing a desire to purchase. Instead, he casually browsed through other items until, almost unconsciously, he picked up a small cauldron and inquired, "How much for this one?"

"Eight hundred..." Among all the items at the stall, this small cauldron was the least eye-catching. Its dark surface lacked any intricate patterns or openwork, prompting the owner to quote a modest price.

"I'll take it," Tantrum declared, a surge of excitement hidden behind his nonchalant demeanor. He shakily produced eight hundred yuan, ready to hand it over to the owner.

"Just a moment, I'd like to examine that cauldron," interjected a commanding voice.

The crowd made way for a middle-aged man with a goatee, carrying a birdcage, who approached with a look of surprise. Fixing his gaze on the small cauldron in Tantrum's hand, he said, "Boss Yang..."

"It's Yang Zun, Boss Yang of Noble Building. Boss Yang is making his rounds again. He's shown interest in that small cauldron; it must be something special. Boss Yang's eye for quality is well-known..."

Feeling a sudden jolt of anxiety, Tantrum remained composed. He casually tossed the money on the stall and stated calmly, "Sorry, but I've already purchased this small cauldron."

"Ha, my friend, since the boss hasn't taken your money, that little cauldron isn't yours yet. Boss, he's offering eight hundred, but I'll pay eight thousand for it!" Yang Zun stated with composure.

The middle-aged boss had begun to realize that the unassuming cauldron might actually be the treasure of the lot. Ignoring the money on his stall, he said, "That cauldron, it's mine from... Hey, what are you doing with my cauldron? If you break it, can you afford to pay for it? Put it down, put it down. Just look, don't handle it!"

While speaking, the boss made a grab for the cauldron in Tantrum's hands.

With a cold smirk, Tantrum effortlessly sidestepped the boss's attempt and said calmly, "Boss, we've settled on a price and I've paid. Are you suggesting you want to back out now?"

"Money? What money? This cauldron is worth fifty thousand... No, at least a hundred thousand. Did you pay me that?" The boss stood his ground, raising his voice, "Forced sale? Isn't there any law here in the Antique City? You think you can take my ancestral treasure for a mere eight hundred dollars? Where's the justice in that? Without a hundred thousand, you can forget about taking it!"

"Ha, boss, I'm Yang Zun from Noble Building. I'll take the cauldron for a hundred thousand yuan. You can come with me to Noble Building to settle the payment later. Everyone here knows me; I wouldn't deceive you," Yang Zun spoke lightly, holding his birdcage. To him, a hundred thousand was trivial. If the cauldron was indeed what he suspected, it would be worth far more than a hundred thousand, a million, or even ten million.

Even if it turned out to be something else, it was just a hundred thousand.

A hundred thousand yuan for a chance at something potentially great had Yang Zun shaking with excitement. He was eager to finalize the purchase and take it back for a thorough evaluation.

Meanwhile, Tantrum's expression grew stormy.

He was determined not to part with the small cauldron; he would even resort to snatching it if necessary, especially since he had already negotiated with the boss.

"So, one of you is thinking of reneging, and the other is set on a forceful purchase?" Tantrum remarked coolly. His initial plan was to acquire the small cauldron through legitimate means, but with opposition in his way, he was prepared to take drastic measures.

"My friend, it seems to me that you're the one intent on a forceful buy, aren't you? If you're also interested in the small cauldron, why not engage in a bidding war with me?" Yang Zun suggested calmly, his confidence in securing the cauldron unwavering.

"Exactly! Let's have a bidding contest – highest bid wins!" chimed in the boss, sensing the onset of a windfall.