The origin of these ancient artifacts left Elder Lei utterly astonished. He hadn't expected them to be mingqi.
"Brother Ye, pitting mingqi against Feng Xiao in a contest, if they're recognized, you'll likely have them confiscated. That's the rule in the antique circles."
Elder Lei looked troubled.
There was an unwritten rule in the antique circles: any mingqi found on the market had the authority of the Antique Association to be immediately confiscated.
This was common knowledge, so no one dared to take such a risk.
Yet today, Ye Fan had brought three such artifacts to Jiangnan and intended to compete with Feng Xiao, showing incredible audacity.
After all, Feng Xiao had invited a Level 1 Appraiser. With a Level 1 Appraiser's discerning eye, they might very well identify these objects as mingqi.
However, Ye Fan smiled faintly, gazing at Elder Lei as if deep in thought.
Elder Lei, subjected to Ye Fan's gaze, was perplexed.
"What is it?"
Ye Fan then waved his hand with a smile.
"Elder Lei, you're also a Level 1 Appraiser, aren't you?"
Elder Lei nodded. "Indeed, I am a Level 1 Appraiser."
"May I ask how the abilities of the other two Level 1 Appraisers in the Jiangnan Antique Association compare to yours?"
Elder Lei grew even more bewildered. What did Ye Fan mean by asking this?
However, seeing the seriousness in Ye Fan's eyes, he answered truthfully, "This old man has been a Level 1 Appraiser for a long time, and my expertise covers all aspects of antiquities. Compared to me, the other two are somewhat inferior. They each specialize in a single field."
Elder Lei's implication was clear: he was a versatile talent, while the other two were only considered Level 1 Appraisers within their respective specialized domains.
"That makes things simpler. If even Elder Lei couldn't discern the origin of these three items, the other two likely won't be able to either."
Elder Lei was taken aback by Ye Fan's deduction, and then he finally understood, letting out a helpless wry smile.
"If one were to interpret it that way, it's not entirely unreasonable."
Ye Fan's logic was exceptionally strong, far surpassing Elder Lei's.
"Please, Elder Lei, tell me more about the other two Level 1 Appraisers."
Being part of the same Antique Association, Elder Lei knew the other two Level 1 Appraisers quite well.
After a moment's contemplation, Elder Lei smiled and said, "Of the other two, one is my disciple, Jiang Zhong. He is particularly skilled in appraising porcelain. Jiang Zhong is upright and principled, with an introverted nature. He would absolutely not assist Feng Xiao."
Ye Fan nodded. If he could be taken as a disciple by Elder Lei, regardless of his appraisal skills, his character would certainly be beyond reproach.
"In that case, the one Feng Xiao has invited must be that last Level 1 Appraiser. What about him?"
Ye Fan narrowed his eyes. Knowing one's enemy as oneself was crucial for victory. Fortunately, he had a close relationship with Elder Lei and could obtain firsthand information. Otherwise, remaining ignorant might have led to being caught off guard.
Elder Lei sighed. "This last one is my senior brother, Zheng Tong. We both studied under the renowned antique appraisal master, Mr. Yang. Old Master Yang passed away many years ago, and we have both forged our own paths, developing differently and encountering different fortunes. He is most proficient in the appraisal of calligraphy, paintings, and jade. However, this man is driven by greed and places immense value on money and power. Within the Antique Association, his status is even higher than mine. For years, I've been engrossed in antique restoration and rarely participated in association affairs. The last time I went to Jiangcheng, it was to rescue cultural relics, and Chairman Wei asked me to bring people along."
At this, both Ye Fan and Liu Piaoxu frowned.
They hadn't expected the last Level 1 Appraiser to be Elder Lei's senior brother.
Who exactly was this Old Master Yang to be able to teach two Level 1 Appraisers?
Even Ye Fan felt a profound admiration for this Mr. Yang.
It was one thing for an appraiser to possess strong personal skills, which might eventually be achieved through continuous learning and accumulation.
After all, antique appraisal was something that yielded rewards with dedication. Over time, one could become a master appraiser.
But to cultivate outstanding disciples required not only gifted students but also immense effort.
It involved guiding disciples in appraisals and honing their skills.
The fact that Mr. Yang could teach two Level 1 Appraisers was truly formidable.
"Since he is Elder Lei's senior brother, if Elder Lei were to intervene, would that be feasible?"
Ye Fan asked Elder Lei calmly.
It wasn't that he was timid, but rather out of respect for Elder Lei's relationship. If he were to win against this Elder Zheng, Elder Lei might feel awkward.
Unexpectedly, Elder Lei shook his head.
"Although we share a師門之情 (shī mén zhī qíng - bond from the same master/sect), as I said earlier, this man is driven by greed and will do anything for profit. Furthermore, he has always been wary of me, considering me his greatest potential rival. Our relationship as fellow disciples is like fire and water. So, even if I were to approach him, why would he listen to me?"
Elder Lei's face showed bitterness. His nature was one of tranquility, content with his lot. He disliked engaging in worldly disputes, let alone the subtle power struggles within the Antique Association.
As he himself said, his heart was entirely devoted to antiquities.
What is a grandmaster? One like Elder Lei could truly be called a grandmaster.
Ye Fan sighed helplessly. "It seems this confrontation is unavoidable. However, since this Elder Zheng values profit so highly, I shall deliberately thwart his plans. I am quite curious, if he loses, will his relationship with the Feng family sour?"
A cold glint suddenly flashed in Ye Fan's eyes.
In his previous life, he had been a tomb keeper, thus possessing his own pursuit and understanding of antiquities and the industry.
He guarded not just tombs, but also the stability and harmony of the antique world.
But people like Elder Zheng had become a blight on the antique industry. Ye Fan would never show mercy to such individuals.
Seeing the expression on Ye Fan's face, Elder Lei's heart trembled. Based on his understanding of Ye Fan, he knew that Elder Zheng was likely in for trouble this time.
Although deep conflicts existed between them, they were, after all, fellow disciples. He naturally did not wish to see Elder Zheng ruined and his lifelong reputation shattered.
But the situation had reached this point, and he could do nothing to stop it.
Everything, he supposed, was a matter of fate. Perhaps this was Elder Zheng's destiny.
Sighing, Elder Lei didn't say much more. Everything was predetermined, and perhaps this was Elder Zheng's fate.
"Thank you, Elder Lei, for informing me of these matters today. I am even more confident about tonight's contest."
A cold smile touched Ye Fan's lips.
For other competitions, Ye Fan might have had reservations, but when it came to antique appraisal, he never feared anyone.
Even if he had to face Chairman Wei tonight, Ye Fan wouldn't have batted an eye.
This confidence destined Ye Fan's future career in antiquities to be anything but peaceful.
Liu Piaoxu, who had been holding her breath, finally felt her heart relax.
If even Elder Lei couldn't discern the origin of these items, it was unlikely anyone else would.