Chapter 124: Chapter 118: The Art of Insight

"First, when I was speaking with the Fourth Elder, he mentioned your astonishing perceptiveness and your great love of reading. This is a prerequisite for entering our line of work."

"Second, the Treasure Identification Skill can be used not only on objects but also on people. Though I only met your gaze for a moment, I could already see that your innate talent is extraordinary—that you are not one to be confined to a small pond. If I pass my mantle to you, there’s a chance it could be glorified one day. Then I can say I’ve done right by my master."

"Third, in your eyes, I saw traces of cultivation. From this, I determined that you have cultivated a Pupil Technique."

"Our lineage’s inheritance is somewhat special; it requires the cultivation of a Pupil Technique. Since you already have experience with one, mastering ours will certainly be twice the result with half the effort."

"Fourth, just a moment ago, I detected your superior Divine Sense Power. This is also a key element for cultivating our lineage’s technique. The stronger your Divine Sense Power, the greater your future achievements will be." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"None of these four points are particularly demanding on their own, but it is rare to find them all in a single person. In all my years, I have seen many talented young people, but you are the only one I have found who meets these criteria."

"Are these reasons sufficient?" Sunx Chuanming said with a smile.

Song Changsheng had a sudden realization. ’So this wasn’t an impulsive decision, but one he had carefully considered.’

’And from the sound of it, his lineage has some pretty high standards for accepting disciples: good perception, outstanding Divine Sense, great talent, and you have to have cultivated a Pupil Technique.’

’It’s truly rare to find someone who meets all those conditions. At least, I’ve never met anyone like that before.’

Song Changsheng rubbed his hands together, asking with some impatience, "Teacher, that Pupil Technique you mentioned..."

"Don’t worry. All of my skills are to be passed on to you." As he spoke, Sunx Chuanming retrieved a thick, ancient-looking tome from a hidden compartment in the bookshelf behind him. It looked like it had seen many years.

Song Changsheng’s eyes lit up. Just as he reached out to take it, Sunx Chuanming placed a withered hand on his, his tone turning serious.

"Although I am passing this inheritance to you, you must swear an oath not to pass it on lightly to anyone other than your direct descendants or disciples."

In the Cultivation Realm, many Cultivators had this quirk: they would rather let their inheritance die out than make it public. Song Changsheng couldn’t understand this mindset, but he respected their choices.

Thus, he followed Sunx Chuanming’s request and solemnly swore a Heart Demon oath. If he were to break it, he would be plagued by a Heart Demon for the rest of his life.

With that settled, Sunx Chuanming finally let go and handed him the ancient tome. "From now on, it’s yours. Everything you want is in here. If you have any questions, come find me."

"Also, if you want to read, you are free to browse my entire collection. When I pass on, these will also be left to you."

Song Changsheng accepted it solemnly. After giving a bow, he turned to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and looked at Sunx Chuanming. "Aren’t you afraid, Teacher, that your student is a heartless, disloyal, and disrespectful disciple?"

A smile played on Sunx Chuanming’s lips as he shook his head slightly. "Simply based on the fact that you are the Young Clan Leader, personally acknowledged by the Clan Leader himself, I have no worries about your character. Song Xianming’s grandson wouldn’t be a disappointment, would he?"

"Of course not," Song Changsheng said with a grin, then strode out the door.

It was already late at night. Everyone else had left and returned to their own quarters. Only Song Luhuai sat quietly in a wicker chair.

"Twelfth Uncle?" Song Changsheng was a bit puzzled by the sight. ’Is he waiting for me?’

Song Luhuai glanced at the ancient tome in his hand and said with a smile, "Sunx Tributor has passed his skills on to you?"

"You don’t seem surprised at all?"

"Actually, when Eldest Uncle sent you here, he intended for you to give it a try. It wasn’t just you; the other young clan members who came with us also met with Sunx Tributor. But he chose only you. For the clan, this is a fortunate event."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng couldn’t help but curse inwardly. ’Grandfather’s arrangements again. What was his real reason for sending me here? How many more things is he hiding from me?’

He felt as if a pair of large, invisible hands were pushing him from behind. The owner of those hands seemed to be Song Xianming, but he could vaguely make out the shadows of others as well.

The feeling displeased him. He liked the sense of having everything under his own control, not being moved around like this.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but say irritably, "What other arrangements did Grandfather make? You might as well tell me everything."

Unexpectedly, Song Luhuai shook his head. "I don’t know how many arrangements Eldest Uncle has made; you’re asking the wrong person. But I do know that everything he’s done is certainly for your benefit. Get some rest."

With that said, he clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely walked away.

Song Changsheng returned to his quarters, still feeling a bit disgruntled. But he knew Song Luhuai was right; his grandfather would never harm him.

"Old man, what on earth are you plotting that you have to hide it even from me?" Song Changsheng muttered to himself in a low voice.

After thinking for a long time without coming to any conclusion, he had no choice but to pick up the ancient tome he had placed beside him.

The ancient tome was made from Demon Beast Hide. Its cover was somewhat coarse and marked by the passage of time. Opening it, he saw the four large characters on the first page: "Spiritual Eye Treasure Identification."

He turned to the second page, which was covered in dense, tiny script detailing the origins of this inheritance and mentioning a great deal of information about Treasure Appraisers.

It turned out the origins of this inheritance were truly significant. It was the life’s work of a top-tier master Treasure Appraiser, and in terms of value alone, it was comparable to a Tier Four Heart Method.

One had to know, the entire Song Clan didn’t possess a single Tier Four Heart Method!

Continuing to flip through, he found sections on treasure identification techniques and points of caution. He wasn’t interested in these for now, so he just gave them a quick glance and skipped over them.

The pages turned slowly. Finally, at the end of the ancient tome, he found two techniques.

The first was the Pupil Technique Sunx Chuanming had used to tempt Song Changsheng, named [Insight Skill].

When this Pupil Technique was active, one could perceive the smallest detail. Not even the slightest flaw on an object could escape his eyes. Similarly, an enemy’s originally imperceptible weaknesses would become incomparably clear under the Pupil Technique.

What was even more amazing was that once this skill was cultivated to a certain level, it could be used not only to appraise treasures but also to appraise people. Whether someone was deadwood or uncarved jade, a wolf or a loyal man—it could all be known with a single glance.

Of course, this required cultivating it to a very profound level, as well as an in-depth study of the Treasure Identification Skill. Even Sunx Chuanming had only scratched the surface, allowing him to vaguely perceive that Song Changsheng’s innate talent was outstanding, and that was all.

Song Changsheng felt a pleasant surprise. ’Once I successfully cultivate this skill, it will be an excellent asset to me!’

Because in a battle between equals, the slightest flaw could be infinitely magnified, and the [Insight Skill]’s greatest strength was discovering the flaws of others!

But he didn’t rush to cultivate it. Instead, he looked at the other technique. This was the tracking art Sunx Chuanming had mentioned, which Song Changsheng had jokingly nicknamed the "Dog Nose Dharma."

Its actual name was [Ten Thousand Miles Tracking], meaning that as long as you knew a person’s scent, you could find them even if they were ten thousand miles away.

’This is pretty good too. Tracking has been one of my shortcomings, but now I can make up for it.’

’I’ll cultivate the [Insight Skill] first. I just don’t know if it will conflict with my [Eye of Truth].’ Song Changsheng was unsure. After all, he had never heard of anyone cultivating two Pupil Techniques at the same time.

’Forget it. I’ll know if it works once I try.’ Song Changsheng made up his mind and began to focus his spirit and cultivate according to the Magic Technique.

The moment he began, Song Changsheng immediately understood that he had been worrying for nothing. Not only did the two not conflict, but they merged together harmoniously, like a sovereign and a subject.

In a single night, he achieved the entry level of the [Insight Skill].

Even Song Changsheng himself found this speed incredible. He sighed in amazement, "No wonder they prioritize those who have already cultivated a Pupil Technique. With it as a foundation, cultivating the [Insight Skill] is as natural as water flowing into a channel. There’s almost no difficulty at all."

The [Eye of Truth] was still the [Eye of Truth], but now, the power of insight had been integrated into it, making it even more comprehensive!

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