"This is impossible!"
Wang Dongsheng screamed in horror, his body swaying as if he would fall to his knees.
Even without a direct confrontation with Li Yang, the items Li Yang had left at the shop alone made him feel the gulf in their strength.
To an outsider, a versatile treasure appraising master was merely someone who had mastered more categories of antique appraisal than others. But only insiders knew how much perseverance, effort, hardship, and innate talent were required to master a single category!
Without any one of these, one could not become a master-level appraiser; at best, they would be stuck in the expert tier for life, unable to progress further.
This was akin to what the ancient poet Li Taibai lamented, "The Great Way is like the azure sky, yet I alone cannot break free." Insufficient talent, insufficient effort – no matter what, it would all be in vain.
Many people remained stuck at the expert level their entire lives. A select few, like himself, became master appraisers. However, they would never even glimpse the threshold of a Grandmaster Appraiser.
But a versatile treasure appraising master was born standing at the threshold of the Grandmaster level. With gradual accumulation and a spark of inspiration, they would become the next generation's Grandmaster Appraiser!
Counting back a hundred years, there hadn't even been thirty Grandmaster Appraisers in all of China.
One could imagine how arduous it was for an appraiser to ascend to this level!
For ordinary people, this option was simply unavailable from the start, much like a person with broken legs and arms attempting to climb a high mountain on their own – impossible!
Therefore, the moment Wang Dongsheng thought of Li Yang as a versatile treasure appraising master, he was immediately filled with dread.
Hearing his scream, Xu Zhongding asked in confusion, "Brother Wang, what's wrong?"
"I, I'm fine," Wang Dongsheng replied, his face pale and his tone bitter. "It's just that I'm afraid I won't be able to avenge you."
"What do you mean? You're not helping me anymore! Then my coming to Jiangcheng and crying so pitifully was all for show!" Upon hearing that he wouldn't help, Xu Zhongding's composure shattered, and he yelled, "Then wasn't it all for nothing!"
Wang Dongsheng blinked, "What do you mean, for nothing?"
"I, no, Brother Wang, I can only rely on you to avenge me. If you're so cruel, won't you help your brother?" Xu Zhongding's expression changed, realizing his slip of the tongue, and he quickly resorted to emotional appeals.
Wang Dongsheng gave a wry smile, "It's not that I'm not helping my brother, but rather, your brother is no match for that kid."
"You haven't even competed with that kid, how do you know you're not his match?" Xu Zhongding didn't believe him, tightly gripping his arm. "No matter what, you must avenge me!"
"Don't rush, Brother Xu. I'll go back right now and ask my esteemed master to help!" Wang Dongsheng said, feeling pain from his grip. "As for me, I'm truly no match for that kid. Even without meeting him, we've already competed!"
"I don't believe you, I don't believe you!" Xu Zhongding was becoming frantic. "This is just your excuse, you're saying this deliberately, and after returning to the capital, you definitely won't help me again!"
"Oh dear, I'm telling the truth, Brother Xu!" Wang Dongsheng was helpless. If not for their deep past friendship, he would have left in a huff after being misunderstood like this.
"How about this, I'll call my master right now and ask him to come to Jiangcheng. I won't leave, alright?"
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. As long as my master makes a move, that kid is bound to face misfortune and stumble." Wang Dongsheng said with certainty.
Even if you're a versatile treasure appraising master, a future Grandmaster Appraiser, you're still not one yet!
But our master, that remarkable old gentleman, has been renowned as a Grandmaster Appraiser for many years.
With an established Grandmaster making a move, what chance do you have!
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhongding's emotions finally stabilized, and he immediately smiled fawningly, "Big Brother, I misunderstood you, please don't blame me. I was just too eager for revenge and afraid you'd abandon me, that's why I was so anxious."
"Don't worry, Brother Xu. I'm your sworn elder brother, and I will definitely seek justice for you," Wang Dongsheng soothed, then looked towards Er Dong. "Remember this, tell that kid that I'm no match for him, and I admit defeat without a fight. However, in a few days, our master will seek justice from him, so he'd best be prepared!"
"So as to avoid being accused of a surprise attack and bullying the weak."
"Hmph, good riddance!" Er Dong grunted, watching their retreating backs. A sense of unease began to stir in his heart.
After all, the person coming this time was the master of two renowned masters!
Their skill level was probably terrifying.
He immediately called Li Yang. "Boss Li, something big has happened."
"What is it, just say it," Li Yang said, having just seen the highway toll booth in Kunming. He glanced at the surrounding flowers and plants. As expected of the "Spring City," there were truly many flowers and plants here, and the climate was excellent.
Er Dong quickly recounted what had just happened. "I heard their master is a Grandmaster Appraiser, with a very significant background!"
"Boss, how should we deal with this?"
"Grandmaster Appraiser?" Li Yang's eyes lit up, and he said with some anticipation, "Prepare some fruits and tea, and wait for that old Grandmaster to arrive."
"Ah?" Er Dong was surprised. "This, what's the logic behind this?"
"Grandmasters are rare, it's right to be polite," Li Yang said with a smile. "As for anything else, you don't need to worry. Honestly, I've wanted to spar with a Grandmaster for a long time."
"Ah!" Er Dong was shocked again, his jaw practically dislocated.
Others were trying to avoid him, yet you were afraid he wouldn't come!
After hanging up the phone, he found his jaw couldn't close properly. He frantically gestured to a nearby shop assistant. After a few minutes, one of the assistants finally understood.
Good heavens!
His jaw dropping was actually a real thing!
"Mr. Li, it's getting late. Looking at stones under artificial light can lead to problems. Tonight, let's stay at a hotel and have a good meal. We'll look at the stones tomorrow morning," Jin Buhuan said to Li Yang as their car passed the toll booth.
Li Yang nodded, "You arrange it."
Jade, like gold and silver treasures, looked different under artificial light compared to natural light.
Generally speaking, looking at these items under artificial light was like admiring a beauty under a lamp – any flaws were difficult to see. One would only see how beautiful the beauty was and think incessantly, "Perfect, perfect, perfect!"
Especially when some merchants were clever and deliberately used spotlights, the beauty would appear even more stunning, as if wearing a bikini. The latter would practically pounce on you; what flaws could you possibly see? If your head wasn't spinning, you'd be remarkable.
Therefore, professional buyers would generally use natural light to appraise jade and other items.
If someone didn't know the trade, the seller might even deceive you by saying natural light meant sunlight, and then you'd be tricked again.
The so-called natural light meant looking in a place with normal lighting, avoiding direct sunlight.
After the car drove for a while, Jin Buhuan was about to point out a hotel and ask Li Yang when he saw Li Yang staring intently at a flower girl by the roadside and smiled, "Does Mr. Li want to buy flowers?"