Chapter 931 - 291: Antique Artifact

Just now, when they used the pull of the Earth Winch to drag Dawn Number Four back from the riverbank near the River of Eternal Darkness,

the ground was plowed into two deep furrows.

You could tell from that how enormous the Power on both sides was—way beyond imagination.

And it was precisely because of this kind of Power that some things buried deep under the riverbank were accidentally dug out.

Like right now.

It was a pair of delicate, tiny golden bells, strung on a red thread, just hanging on Dawn Number Four’s ankle and dragged out with her.

Honestly, if you just treat it as an accessory, it looks pretty nice.

"Huh?" Right at this moment, Big Golden Fur suddenly let out a soft exclamation.

He took out his portable silver event anchor and gave it a little shake over the pair of bells.

The silver anchor’s light flared suddenly, and then dimmed again once it moved away, just like a motion sensor lamp.

Seeing this, Big Golden Fur already had a clear idea.

He said in a firm tone, "This is an Antique Artifact."

"An Antique Artifact?" Han Zhan was a bit surprised when he heard that.

They’d been scavenging along the riverbank for so long without finding a single Antique Artifact, and hadn’t expected one to show up in a way like this.

This really was as Big Golden Fur said—pure luck.

The value of an Antique Artifact is far beyond what those old-day items can compare to; if it’s a powerful Antique Artifact, its value multiplies several times over.

As soon as Big Golden Fur said it was an Antique Artifact, the weak gaze of Dawn Number Four brightened quite a bit.

However, after thinking for a moment, she took the pair of golden bells off her ankle and handed them to Han Zhan.

Feeling the bells still carrying a bit of residual warmth, Han Zhan gave her a surprised look.

"You’re...?"

"I can’t take this Antique Artifact. You saved my life—if it weren’t for you, I should already have been swallowed by the River of Eternal Darkness."

Dawn Number Four said it straight.

"So this Antique Artifact should belong to you two. I won’t take it."

Big Golden Fur nodded and didn’t refuse.

Which made sense—he’d burned through two Antique Artifacts himself, and the Earth Winch, having absorbed the River of Eternal Darkness energy that symbolizes Extinction, had already completely scrapped itself after completing its mission.

If this Antique Artifact got split away from him now, even if Big Golden Fur didn’t say anything, he’d definitely drop Dawn Number Four’s standing to rock bottom in his heart.

Han Zhan actually didn’t think that far; seeing the Antique Artifact end up in his hand, he turned around and held it out to Big Golden Fur.

Unexpectedly, Big Golden Fur shook his head and refused. "Quit tossing it around. This Antique Artifact, you keep it for yourself."

"We originally said we were bringing you here just to experience being a Scavenger; who knew we’d end up with a whole mess like this."

"If it weren’t for you, Four would never have lasted until the Earth Winch kicked in—she’d already have been swallowed by the River of Eternal Darkness."

"Rounding it off, you basically saved her life. Dawn has to go through a long process and assessments to train each numbered member. Their value is not something a single Antique Artifact can measure."

The implication was: this Antique Artifact belongs to Han Zhan, as thanks for him stepping in to save Dawn Number Four.

Fair enough... Han Zhan thought it over and didn’t decline. Then he immediately asked curiously, "What’s the name of this Antique Artifact? Does it have any special effects?"

"No idea," Big Golden Fur answered without hesitation.

"No idea?"

"This Antique Artifact hasn’t even been appraised. How would I know? You think I’m an Immortal or something?"

"Uh..." Han Zhan opened his mouth, and on second thought, there was nothing wrong with what Big Golden Fur said.

It was just a bit different from what he’d expected.

Han Zhan had originally assumed that once he got his hands on an Antique Artifact, he’d automatically obtain its information, plus its trait and usage method, and so on and so forth.

He hadn’t expected there to be this ’appraisal’ step Big Golden Fur was talking about.

"I don’t think I’ve told you about how Antique Artifacts come to be, have I?"

Seeing Han Zhan like this, Big Golden Fur continued.

He didn’t wait for Han Zhan to speak, and kept talking to himself:

"Antique Artifacts are born from the River of Eternal Darkness. The River of Eternal Darkness swallowed the entire Cosmos, and that includes all its Origin, Dao, Talent, and traits."

"These things are different from physical items. They slowly vanish and collapse within the River of Eternal Darkness."

"During the process of vanishing and collapsing, a special situation can occur: to continue on, they choose to fuse with certain tools and undergo mutation, ultimately forming new tools—that’s what we call Antique Artifacts."

Antique Artifacts aren’t innate; they’re formed later.

So once they’re dug up again, they have to go through the first step: appraisal.

The purpose of appraisal is to eliminate the Extinction influence of the River of Eternal Darkness inside the Antique Artifact, letting the dead-silent Antique Artifact gain new life.

"So that’s how it is. No wonder back on Blue Star, when I saw those Antique Artifacts, most of them couldn’t be used. The answer is, they’d never been appraised to remove the Extinction state."

Han Zhan said in sudden realization.

Big Golden Fur nodded, not denying his conclusion.

"Appraisal isn’t something just anyone can do. In the Pot World, there’s only one place that can appraise—namely the Appraisal Center located on the upper layer of the Pot World."

"Appraisal requires paying a fee, usually a small event anchor."

Chatting through the appraisal details, Big Golden Fur and Han Zhan, together with Dawn Number Four, successfully withdrew from the riverbank.

Dawn Number Four was in poor condition and said her goodbyes first.

Han Zhan and Big Golden Fur then took the Antique Artifact they’d obtained from this chance scavenging and headed for the Appraisal Center in the Pot World.

The Appraisal Center was huge.

From the outside, it was practically indistinguishable from a large museum.

Its exterior was built entirely of dark glass; from a distance, it looked like a square glass box exuding an ancient, elegant air.

Above it hung a gigantic ship anchor that shimmered with rainbow light!

Looking at that massive ship anchor, then back at the little ship anchor on his own body that had completely lost its luster and was even smaller than his palm,

Han Zhan could only sigh that there are gaps even between anchors.

"That’s a super-large event anchor. The total stock in the Pot World doesn’t exceed five. The Appraisal Center relies on it to appraise Antique Artifacts."

Anchors can neutralize the Extinction aura of the River of Eternal Darkness, so they are indeed the best choice for appraisal.

Han Zhan just hadn’t expected that they’d use a super-large anchor, such a rare item, as the appraisal tool.

On this, Big Golden Fur offered an explanation: "Lower-tier anchors can’t completely purge all the Extinction aura inside an Antique Artifact. Any residue will lead to irreparable consequences, so we have to use the highest-grade anchors for appraisal and purification."

The two of them talked as they walked, entering the Appraisal Center.

After paying a small event anchor as the fee, Han Zhan placed the Antique Artifact onto a special appraisal device.

As a burst of rainbow light flashed, the surface of the delicate, tiny golden bells took on a brand-new sheen.

The information belonging to it appeared in Han Zhan’s mind.

—Antique Artifact: Spring Night.