Ten Thousand Years in Seclusion
Chapter 6:Please enlighten me

Chapter 6: Chapter 6:Please enlighten me

Zhou Shen straightened his robe and turned toward Qi Tian. The seriousness in his expression had deepened.

He clasped his hands.

"Little brother, my servant was rude just now and offended you. May I ask your name?"

"Qi Tian."

"Brother Qi."

Zhou Shen nodded, then turned his gaze back to the small bronze bell.

He had already recognized that Qi Tian’s skills were extraordinary. But appraisal was another matter entirely.

A mysterious wandering cultivator had claimed that he, a two-star appraiser, had made a mistake.

What right did he have to question his judgment?

Without revealing his thoughts, Zhou Shen spoke calmly, though there was a faint hint of scrutiny in his voice.

"Since Brother Qi believes my appraisal was wrong..."

"Then tell me. What exactly is this object?"

Qi Tian had actually been somewhat surprised.

With Zhou Shen’s eyesight, how had he failed to notice even this?

"You didn’t examine it with your spiritual sense?"

"I did."

Zhou Shen answered honestly. There was a faint stubbornness in his voice.

"Only silence. No spiritual resonance. No trace of spiritual energy."

"Otherwise, I would not have judged it to be a useless bell."

Qi Tian shook his head.

"You did examine it."

"But you examined the wrong place."

Zhou Shen’s expression shifted slightly.

Qi Tian continued:

"Your spiritual sense only swept across its surface. For ordinary treasures, spiritual traces remain on the outside. That method works."

"But this bell is different."

"The true essence of this artifact is not on the surface."

"It is within."

He paused.

"Do not sweep over it."

"Sink your spiritual sense into the inside of the bell. Calm your mind. Do not try to look for it..."

"Listen."

Zhou Shen’s brows lifted slightly.

Listen?

Although doubtful, he did not dismiss the suggestion.

He walked back to the stunned man and picked up the silent bell once more.

The surrounding crowd had already begun whispering among themselves.

This time, Zhou Shen did not examine the outside of the bell with his spiritual sense.

Following Qi Tian’s instructions, he slowly guided a strand of spiritual sense into the hollow interior of the bell and held it there, quieting his mind.

At first, there was still only silence.

Complete silence.

But just as he was about to give up—

Deep within that silence, something faint stirred.

A trace of movement.

So weak that it was almost impossible to grasp.

Yet undeniably real.

Like something sleeping in the deepest depths of the bell had been touched by his spiritual sense.

Zhou Shen’s entire body trembled.

"Indeed..."

"There is something inside."

He suddenly raised his head.

The doubt in his eyes had vanished, replaced by undisguised shock and curiosity.

"This bell... truly is extraordinary."

The trace of examination in his attitude disappeared completely.

He clasped his hands toward Qi Tian.

This time, it was genuine respect.

"Brother Qi..."

"Please enlighten me."

"What exactly is this bell?"