Hope was a meaningful thing, but like opportunity, it wasn’t something that he could simply grab just because he demanded it.

  He wasn’t some wish-fulfillment novel’s main character, capable of recognizing each and every fantastical item or opportunity thrown his way… or conveniently have someone else info dump on him.

  This was reality, and identifying items was a woeful bridge any cultivator in their right minds would have to cross eventually.

  Now, Bubai was crossing this rickety bridge.

  Looking into his storage space, the piles of unidentified herbs and pills goods didn’t seemed to have shrunk by much despite hours of foraging.

  Let’s not even mention the rge piles of talisman, arrays, and miscelneous items, all awaiting identification.

  The worse part?

  Anyone would think stuff would be beled, just like the jade slips, but in reality… most of the items here weren’t properly beled!

  Like what in Merlin’s name?!

  Yes, cultivators did prided themselves on memory and insight. Shaking the storage pouch also won’t jumble up the contents inside, but…

  That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep bels to distinguish items sitting in their own pouch!

  Just imagine how long would it take to sift through the boxes of herbs to find the precise one needed?

  What if he grabbed the wrong pill bottle or the wrong talisman during the heat of battle?

  Ugh. It was a pure logistical nightmare for all plunderers.

  Perhaps Long Batian faced the same ordeal when he plundered these from another, and now, it was his own turn.

  The sense of kinship between fellow plunderers certainly didn’t make Bubai any happier. Bah! It did nothing to help him speed up the identification process.

  Even with his cultivation secretary acting as his temporary identification assistant, their combined efforts were like two children shoveling away at a mountain of gold.

  At this rate...

  Even if there existed some heavenly treasures in his storage space that could solve his problems, the grass on Xiao Lan’s tomb would be ten feet tall!

  No, no, no! He can’t just let the tide of destiny rinse and repeat his history!

  “Xiao Lan, is there any faster way to do this?”

  Hearing his grumble, Xiao Lan handed over a bottle of pills now beled with "Qi-Scattering Pill—Keep Away from Children” while suggesting, "If you want to save time, consider finding an appraiser."

  Tucking the pill bottle away in his pouch, Bubai mumbled, "Appraisers from the Alchemy sect?"

  Xiao Lan crified, "Many renowned appraisers do hail from a prominent faction within the Alchemy sect, but it's just another profession and can be found across all sects."

  Recalling snippets from the Book Pavilion's tomes on basic professions that touched upon the appraiser profession, Bubai arched a brow.

  "But don't appraisers need to cultivate some Heaven's Eye? I've read the method of cultivation is strictly controlled by the Alchemy sect."

  Mid-way through penning down "Soaring Fetus", Xiao Lan set aside her brush, straightened up, and switched into teacher mode.

  "The alchemy sect's Heaven's Eye does offer an advantage that suits the profession, but it's not a prerequisite for appraisal."

  "What’s essential is a technique enabling insight into the essence of things. There are numerous ways to achieve this—whether through special detection techniques, divine sense, or certain innate spiritual eyes."

  Oh, makes sense. Basically, an appraiser just needs some sort of X-ray vision.

  Only when a cultivator could peer into the heart of artifacts and formations could they fully discern its functions.

  Mere identification without such insight into the essence wasn’t enough for true appraisal because it was no different from simply giving an arbitrary name. Even a toddler can do that.

  Well, not too surprising since this was borderline common sense – something plenty of novels reinforced.

  It only slipped his mind because he was misled to think this world’s appraiser was some special profession only avaible to a group with certain special talents or old masters of a profession.

  Now, Xiao Lan’s crification fished him out from that rabbit hole of thinking novel knowledge didn’t apply.

  As a bonus, he learned he also had the “talent” to be an appraiser...

  But thinking along this line, Bubai’s curiosity spiraled further, "Since divine sense works for appraisal, doesn't that render the Alchemy sect's Heaven's Eye redundant?"

  "Each sect has its own secrets that others aren’t privy to."

  Xiao Lan’s face said nothing, but her eyes cast him a look that mingled patience with a hint of “it’s really rotten wood that can’t be carved”.

  Uh… Bubai understood. He really did, but he wanted to see if he can learn any secrets he didn’t already know.

  So, he sat there and stared back unblinkingly like a student eager for knowledge. His good student act won him extra pointers from his teacher.

  "The only publicly known fact about the Heaven's Eye is its ability to inspect the essence of items much like divine sense, but without the requirement of achieving the Golden Core stage."

  Ah… so the Heaven’s Eye grants appraisers the same microscopic scanning ability as divine sense!

  Just this little detail let Bubai connect the dots.

  While some items could be superficially judged by appearance or scent, these senses were prone to deception, especially by the all-too-common tricksters aiming to scam other cultivators for some quick money.

  The appraisers were the wards against these swindlers, but like any other job market, the competition was rough, and the reputation of an appraiser mattered a lot.

  Besides outright dishonesty, being duped is the surefire way for an appraiser’s reputation to take a hit, and once tarnished, it’s hard to climb back up.

  But the ability to inspect items at a microscopic scale infinitesimally reduced the chance of a wrong appraisal!

  Armed with the Heaven’s Eye as their advantage, knowledge becomes their only Achilles' heel, but this wasn’t something a prestigious, rich Alchemy sect cked!

  It’s no wonder the Alchemy sect’s appraisers shine brightly in their field, standing head and shoulders above their peers!

  It made sense why they held such renown, so much so that Bubai has only heard about the Alchemy sect appraisers during his eight years as a handyman disciple in the Cloud Sword Sect!

  As, no such renowned appraisers could be found here in the Sun Furnace sect. So, he could only settle for something else.

  According to what he read, any masters in formations, pill refining, or other specialized fields could easily transition into appraisers within their areas of expertise.

  These were the true virtuosos, making bank from both their main profession and side profession as an appraiser!

  Though more in-depth details weren’t disclosed regarding most of the tter parts of these cultivator sub-professions, this art of money making part was often mentioned in the beginner books to whet the newbie’s appetite... for good reason.

  Regardless, his quest was now clear.

  “So, guess I’ll have to ask around for some reputable masters in the sect?”

  “No.” Xiao Lan almost immediately vetoed his decision. “Must find trusted. Otherwise, danger.”

  Danger? It only took a moment for Bubai to connect the dots.

  Right... if he dares to bring his loot for appraisal now, isn’t it just like bringing evidence of his own crime to the forensics?

  But… Bubai furrowed his brows, making another bid for advice, “It should be fine, right? Don’t these masters have their reputation to uphold?”

  "Fame isn't everything because…" Xiao Lan stared into space as if recalling some memories, “Reputation can grow on lies.”

  Her words struck a chord within him...

  Gathering his memories of the appraisers within the countless novels from his previous life, Bubai knew... she was right.

  In most novels, appraisers were often the role for stuck-up snobs just waiting to be face-spped by the protagonist.

  But after these haughty foils receive their comeuppance, they will use their connections to eliminate the blemish on their career...

  Those with a strong reputation would do anything to keep it. Their creed is: even if they are wrong, it becomes right!

  The appraisers in this world are probably… no better.

  Worse yet, this was a demonic sect where reputation was as bck as the human heart.

  Back stabs for wealth was simply second nature, not to mention lies.

  It’s not impossible for any discovered treasures to be pocketed, and some would even hope to fool it out from the hands of the oblivious.

  Heck, it’s still questionable if the masters of the Sun Furnace Demonic Sect actually had the talent for appraisal...

  Appraisers… this was a crowd he really doesn’t want to mix with. Hmm… maybe he should become an appraiser himself?

  Hey. It’s a good idea.

  After all, unless absolutely necessary, why would he want to open his own warehouse to others in this dog eat dog world? Best to identify everything himself!

  As… if only appraisal could be done at the click of a button.

  Bubai sighed. “Guess I’ll have to figure something else out in the meantime...”

  Well… perhaps Shu Ling might have a solution?

  Speaking of the fairy...

  After the hours spent alternating between cultivating and sifting through items, it shouldn’t be long before it’s time to go meet the moon once more.