As A Trash Collector, I Collected A Imperial Jade Seal

Chapter 434: The Nine Zhou Ding Emerges! Its Immense Size Exceeds All Expectations!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

According to the China News Service, there are varying estimates about the number of Oracle bones discovered so far. Since their first discovery in 1899, some suggest that the world’s collection of Oracle bones is around 130,000 to 150,000 pieces. Another viewpoint proposes a figure closer to 160,000 pieces, composed of more than 4,300 unique characters. As per Professor Huang Dekuan, only about 1,300 characters have a consensus interpretation, leaving nearly 3,000 characters yet to be understood.

This suggests that it is a language still shrouded in mystery. But how should it be deciphered? A reward of a hundred thousand for each interpreted character is a common practice. Often, the decoding of a single noun or verb brings life to many Oracle scripts, giving us a deeper understanding of their historical context.

In November 2016, to stimulate global Oracle script research efforts and to tackle the stagnation in their interpretation, the Script Museum announced a significant incentive. Uninterpreted Oracle Bone Scripts that were successfully deciphered and validated by an expert committee would receive a reward of 100,000 per character. Similarly, interpretations of disputed Oracle scripts that met the same validation would earn 50,000 per character. It was a pursuit that could be, quite literally, “worth its weight in gold.”

Two years later, in June 2018, the first and second prizes for Oracle Bone Script interpretation were awarded to two groundbreaking works. “Interpreting the ‘Stupidity’ in Oracle Bone Script and Discussing Related Issues,” penned by Jiang Yubin of South K University, secured the first prize. The second prize went to “Interpreting the ‘Pit’ Character in Oracle Bone Script,” authored by Wang Ziyang from Capital Normal University.

It was for this reason that Luo Feng was able to determine the scent of a

nouveau riche from the person before him.

The prize-winning individual had transla ted more than 300 characters. Calculating the reward rate per character, this individual’s assets would undoubtedly reach into the tens of millions. Moreover, these 300 characters were translated within a six-month span, and perhaps even more were translated in the subsequent period. This person had undeniably become affluent quickly.

“Hehe, hello, Master Chen! I’m Luo Feng!” Regardless, Luo Feng greeted him with due respect.

“Hello, hello!” Chen Gang’s proud demeanor faded on realizing that the young man before him was indeed Luo Feng. Although he boasted of his wealth acquired from years of translating Oracle scripts, his fortune paled in comparison to Luo Feng’s, who had unearthed treasures worth hundreds of billions within six months. Chen Gang admired Luo Feng, yet remained skeptical about the young man’s proficiency in Oracle script translation.

Self-teaching in many disciplines is viable, especially with money giving access to the finest education that could be offered. However, Oracle script translation, in the absence of a family inheritance, presents a different challenge. The resources needed to learn it are exclusive, accessible only to a select few.

‘Mr. Luo Feng, could you share your method for translating Oracle scripts?

How do you decipher them? Have you penned any academic papers on it?” Chen Gang asked, chuckling nervously. His outward courtesy thinly veiled his intentions of putting Luo Feng on the spot.

“I don’t write academic papers. I base my work on hypotheses. Aren’t we encouraged to speculate boldly in academia?” Luo Feng retorted, smiling wryly. “Well, it appears that Mr. Luo Feng is quite audacious and remarkably talented!”

Luo Feng, choosing not to engage further, said with a smile, “Please continue with your work; I’m going down to resume my excavation.”

Luo Feng descended into the pit without hesitation, resuming his digging efforts. Under his diligent efforts, the massive bronze cauldron’s surrounding soil was methodically removed. By 6 in the evening, under a darkening sky, the final layer of soil was cleared away, revealing a complete, dark bronze cauldron to the onlookers.

Luo Feng alone knew that dozens more treasure spots lay beneath the Nine Zhou Ding. He pondered over the nature of these spots. There should be only one Nine Zhou Ding, so if more were buried, they would be aligned side by side, not stacked, right? Moreover, each would be buried deeper than the last, making it a significant task given that they were already more than ten meters deep.

“What an enormous bronze cauldron! My god, how was it crafted? The strength and skill of our ancestors truly leave one in awe!”

“Yes, given the technology of their time, this level of craftsmanship is beyond comprehension!”

“Can you imagine the calamity if this thing were to collapse? It could crush a person!”

The spectators expressed their shock at the sight. The cauldron was simply massive, far surpassing their imagination. Although its surface was still laden with soil, it didn’t detract from the awe-inspiring majesty and intricate patterns visible to all.

About half an hour later, the bronze cauldron was hoisted by a crane and placed securely on the ground, revealing dozens more treasure spots underneath!