Ling Tian knew that Feng Jinglong was a devout Buddhist, so it wasn't strange for him to wear so many such items.
Even someone unfamiliar with such things would recognize the quality of these ornaments and realize they were likely not cheap!
Ling Tian first examined the old man's clothes. They were made of silk or pure cotton, with exquisite craftsmanship.
Ling Tian could smell a faint medicinal scent on the clothes, which came from being fumigated with herbs to effectively repel various insects.
Ling Tian took a careful sniff. The scent molecules from the clothes entered his nasal cavity and were quickly analyzed by his brain.
Ling Tian shook his head. He found nothing unusual about the scent.
Next, Ling Tian's gaze fell upon another tray, which held several bracelets and prayer beads.
Ling Tian first took out a Buddha amulet and examined it. He found it quite interesting. The amulet was made of gold, and within the carved patterns, traces of formations were vaguely visible.
Ling Tian could also sense some special magical energy fluctuations emanating from the amulet.
If evil entities, such as spirits, were to attack the wearer of the amulet, they would likely encounter an effect similar to a Vajra Talisman, suffering a fatal blow.
The energy contained within the amulet was not ordinary energy, but a form of Buddhist magical power, or "Fo Li" for short.
After studying it for a while, Ling Tian placed the amulet back on the tray.
Seeing Ling Tian focus on the amulet for an extended period, Feng Jifei quickly asked, "Mr. Ling Tian, is there something wrong with this amulet?"
"Nothing is wrong. This amulet is a good thing. It contains Buddhist power that can protect the old gentleman from the intrusion of unclean things," Ling Tian quickly explained.
Feng Jinglong's eyes lit up. He was a devout Buddhist and also very fond of collectibles like these, which was why he wore such ornaments.
"Mr. Ling Tian, do you also have research in this field?"
"A little. Strictly speaking, this amulet is a magical artifact. If I'm not mistaken, it should have been blessed by a high monk."
Feng Jinglong immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
"I never expected Mr. Ling Tian to be so knowledgeable about collectibles. You are correct. I obtained this amulet from a temple in Thailand. It was consecrated and blessed by high monks there after three days and three nights of chanting."
Ling Tian nodded and shifted his gaze to the two bracelets. They were made of golden silk nanmu, using the finest material. They were speckled like starlight, golden and lustrous, having been polished to a beautiful sheen. It was evident they were priceless.
Ling Tian put on white gloves and brought the bracelets close to his nose. He smelled them but found nothing unusual. Then, Ling Tian used his Heavenly Eye Divine Power to examine the internal structure of the bracelets, also finding no issues.
Ling Tian placed the bracelets back and picked up the string of prayer beads, which had one hundred and eight beads.
The material of this string of prayer beads was even more precious: agarwood!
Agarwood is the dried, resin-infused wood from trees like Aquilaria sinensis or Aquilaria crassna, a valuable wood, incense, and traditional Chinese medicine.
When the heartwood of an agarwood tree is injured or infected by a fungus, it secretes a large amount of resin to heal itself. During this process, it produces tissue with a rich fragrance. Because of its high density, it sinks in water, hence its name "chen xiang" (sinking incense).
Agarwood is highly valued for its properties of regulating qi and relieving pain, reversing adverse qi flow, harmonizing the middle jiao, and warming the kidneys to receive qi. Additionally, agarwood contains various aromatic substances that can nourish qi and calm the spirit, making it a top-tier material for collectibles.
The string of beads before him, with its 108 beads, was all made of top-grade agarwood. Each bead was precisely 1.2 centimeters in diameter. The craftsmanship was top-notch, and they were polished to a lustrous sheen, indicating excellent condition.
Ling Tian carefully picked up the string of prayer beads and brought it to his nose. As he inhaled, a fresh fragrance entered his nasal cavity.
However, a golden light flashed in Ling Tian's eyes. From the scent, he detected a subtle, almost imperceptible odor.
This subtle odor would be incredibly difficult for even the most elite police dogs to detect.
Ling Tian immediately activated his Heavenly Eye Divine Power. His vision penetrated the string of prayer beads, scanning each round bead made of agarwood.
Finally, Ling Tian made a discovery!
"Old sir, I think I've found the problem. There's something wrong with your string of prayer beads. To verify my suspicion, I need to break open one of the beads!"
"This..." Old Master Feng felt a pang of heartache. He cherished this string of prayer beads immensely. It was a birthday gift from his third son, Feng Jiteng, on his 70th birthday.
His third son had acquired this string of prayer beads for nearly ten million US dollars at Christie's spring auction earlier that year.
Then, the prayer beads were sent to Thailand's most renowned temple, where high monks specifically consecrated and blessed them.
The quality of the prayer beads and the meaning they held made it impossible for Feng Jinglong to refuse them; he was utterly captivated.
He wore the prayer beads with him every day, and in his spare time, he would constantly play with them while reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Now that Ling Tian proposed breaking one of the beads, he felt a sense of reluctance.
"Dad, what are you hesitating for? I know these prayer beads are precious to you, but they are ultimately external possessions. No matter how valuable, they are not as important as your health, wouldn't you agree? Besides, Dr. Ling Tian traveled all the way from China to treat you. We are on the verge of uncovering the truth, and you can't let this one string of prayer beads lead to all our efforts being in vain!"
Feng Jifei began to stir the pot. He had also meticulously prepared a gift for his father on his 70th birthday, but the old man had merely glanced at it before having it put away, showing no further interest.
Yet, he was inseparable from the prayer beads given by his third son, playing with them daily. This was not a good sign, as it meant that every time the old man handled the prayer beads, he would be reminded that they were a gift from his third son, which was a terrifying subconscious association and a significant advantage for his brother.
Now that he saw an opportunity to ruin this item, Feng Jifei was naturally eager to fan the flames.
Feng Jinglong hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
"Mr. Ling Tian, it's alright. As long as you can help me find the culprit and resolve this issue, I won't blame you even if these prayer beads are burned or blown into powder."
"Good. With your words, I am reassured. I shall proceed then!"