The first time my Daily Appraisal failed was because of this woman. I hope readers remember our name domain here.
Back then, not being discovered allowed Jiang Hao to worry less excessively.
He thought, “If I try it again now, it should also go unnoticed.”
However, naturally, worry is hard to avoid.
Soon, he activated his divine ability, attempting to appraise the woman in front of him.
The feedback from the ability was not immediate, but thankfully it didn't just return a question mark.
After a few breaths, the divine ability responded.
[Hong Yuye: ??????]
Even though it was still a bunch of question marks, it wasn't fruitless.
At least he had learned her name.
This also implied that further appraisal might be possible.
The only downside was he had to wait until breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Who knows how long that would take.
He could only continue nurturing some valuable things or find a way to work at the mines.
But the more valuable the things, the easier it is to get caught in a whirlwind.
The best scenario is having a hand capable of stopping the storm when it breaks out.
"Are you using a divine ability?"
Hong Yuye's sudden voice startled Jiang Hao.
Did she find out?
"You seem a bit flustered," Hong Yuye said with an amused look as she stood up.
"No," Jiang Hao shook his head, masking his discomfort.
He couldn't figure out how he had been noticed.
Seeing Jiang Hao's unease, Hong Yuye chuckled, saying:
"It seems you're curious. Both divine abilities and techniques consume something.
You've used them twice right under my nose—did you think I'd be blind?"
Jiang Hao lowered his head in silence.
He felt both grateful and unfortunate. Unfortunate that he couldn't hide it from her, grateful that she didn't know about the appraisal divine ability.
"The book I gave you, did you not finish it?" Hong Yuye asked.
"I've been studying the beginning thoroughly, just skimmed the rest," Jiang Hao replied honestly.
"I thought someone who enjoys hiding as much as you would carefully read it through," Hong Yuye said, shaking her head slowly.
"No wonder your use of the divine ability is still so crude."
Jiang Hao was puzzled by her words. Could divine abilities be hidden just like cultivation strength?
"Do you want to work in the mines?" Hong Yuye suddenly changed the subject.
Jiang Hao almost nodded in agreement but held himself back, shaking his head.
"I wish to stay here and tend to the flowers for you, Senior."
"Not a single honest word," Hong Yuye commented as she walked to a corner, picked up Jiang Hao's broken crescent moon blade, examined it, and then took it inside.
"Make the tea."
Exhaling a breath, Jiang Hao took out the Red Sleeve Fragrance, brewed it, and poured a cup on the table.
Glancing at it, Hong Yuye took a sip without speaking, just continuing to drink her tea.
Seeing this, Jiang Hao was relieved.
"How do you keep this rabbit?" Hong Yuye asked casually with her teacup in hand.
"I feed it spirit stones," Jiang Hao answered.
"Just that?" Hong Yuye sipped her tea, still appearing relaxed.
After a brief hesitation, Jiang Hao spoke softly, "I hang it up while feeding."
Hong Yuye glanced at Jiang Hao, neither too concerned nor disinterested, then remarked, "And what else can you keep?"
"Not sure," Jiang Hao shook his head.
He genuinely couldn't be sure.
If he could appraise how to nurture something, he could do it. If not, he was powerless.
"Go find something interesting to plant then," Hong Yuye suddenly suggested.
Where should I find that? Jiang Hao sighed.
He wished to plant intriguing and valuable things, but they were hard to come by.
The Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower was absurdly rare.
"If I like it, I'll take it," Hong Yuye said sternly to Jiang Hao, her gaze serious.
"Is that a problem?"
Jiang Hao remained silent.
"No?" Hong Yuye set down the teacup, her voice turning cold.
The vast aura she exuded was almost tangible.
"As you say, Senior," Jiang Hao nodded.
Seeing Jiang Hao listen, Hong Yuye stood, preparing to leave, "I won't make you help for nothing. When the time comes, whatever you want to learn, I can provide you with the corresponding resources."
Regarding her promise, Jiang Hao believed her.
The Nameless Secret Manual and the Seven Forms of the Heavenly Blade were both given to him by her.
They were extremely important to him.
He wouldn't lose out on this.
"Oh, and remember," Hong Yuye looked at the empty tea cup on the table, "prepare some better tea for me next time. I will often come to check on my flowers.
You know what happens if you anger me."
"I will keep it in mind," Jiang Hao nodded respectfully.
Hong Yuye then vanished, leaving the courtyard.
"Ouch, why does it hurt so much? What happened to Lord Rabbit? Oh my face..." the rabbit wailed, getting up from the ground.
Reassured that the rabbit was unharmed, Jiang Hao paid it no mind.
He figured the rabbit's fainting was likely due to Hong Yuye's method, as she didn't plan for the rabbit to witness her visit.
"Plant better things?" Jiang Hao sighed.
He could only wait a few days to view displayed treasures.
He was quite eager to find a purple bubble, as an additional divine ability could significantly enhance his capabilities.
Cultivation required time.
But with the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower, it wouldn't take too long.
Before returning indoors, he noticed the corner where the crescent moon blade once lay was now empty.
Taken again?
A beauty caught in the act of theft, he mused.
Once Hong Yuye left, Jiang Hao's heart calmed completely.
The stark contrast in his mental state suggested he needed the refinement of time.
Sitting in the practice room, he took out the nameless book, beginning a thorough read.
This time, he intended to finish reading the entire book without rushing to practice or comprehend anything.
Following Hong Yuye's advice, he would read it all first.
He spent the entire night reading.
Only when morning came did he finally finish.
Gently closing the book, Jiang Hao began to ponder.
"Nowhere did the text directly refer to divine abilities, but it mentioned special techniques and expenditures, which likely refer to divine abilities."
"I was mistaken to think special expenditures were something else."
Had the book mentioned divine abilities, he would have noticed.
Without the woman's reminder, he wouldn't have paid attention to the notion of special expenditures.
This meant that divine abilities indeed consumed something, and each divine ability had its different costs.
Mental energy, physical strength, cultivation, blood qi—every part of the body could be points of expenditure, even external sources too.
Some might require combined expenditures.
Once you understood what your expenditure was, you could attempt to conceal it.
Combine it with bodily breath regulation and merging spirit and energy expenditure.
This could significantly reduce traces.
If the expenditure was small to begin with, it could be masked with breath alone.
Allowing no trace for others to follow.
"The person who wrote this book must have been an extraordinary genius."
Holding the book, Jiang Hao couldn't help but admire.
He has much to learn, with his naive mindset and lack of knowledge being his shortcomings.
If he didn't need to appraise Senior Sister Mingyi today, Jiang Hao might have attempted to appraise the nameless book.
To see if it was actually written by Hong Yuye.
If it was...
He would need to be even more careful in the future.
Soon after.
Jiang Hao brought the rabbit, now bruised and swollen, to the Spirit Herb Garden.
This time, he saw Senior Sister Mingyi at the pavilion.
Without hesitation, he activated his appraisal.