After Xiang Tian established himself in Yanjing, he began traveling across the country. Coupled with the reform and opening-up period, China was undergoing earth-shattering changes, and the antique market grew more vibrant with each passing day.
Without anyone knowing when it started, the number of people seeking Xiang Tian's appraisal skills increased, and many came specifically by reputation.
Furthermore, he participated in several appraisal conventions, which significantly boosted his fame.
It could be said that at that time, he was undoubtedly a leader among the younger generation.
Zhao Chengyuan had just graduated and participated in the excavation of some ancient tombs. At a gathering, he met Xiang Tian.
One was self-taught, and the other a graduate. When they came together, they quickly sparked many interesting ideas.
It was in this way that the two became friends.
At that time, Zhao Chengyuan didn't have much money, and his salary was not high, barely enough to make ends meet.
Xiang Tian, on the other hand, was different. Through his appraisals, he met many antique dealers, ensuring that he never had to worry about money.
He was generous, often treating Zhao Chengyuan to meals out and trips to various places.
What he called tourism was actually him helping others with appraisals.
Thus, their relationship became as close as that of brothers.
Later, Zhao Chengyuan joined an archaeological expedition team organized by a private group, funded by a foreigner.
In 1979, China established diplomatic relations with the United States, and many foreigners flocked to China for investment. This led to foreign antique dealers entering China.
The foreigner who organized the archaeological expedition team was named Peter. He first opened a company in Yanjing and then began recruiting various talented individuals.
Among them were not only academic experts but also tomb robbers who had previously operated in the Jianghu. Peter offered very good compensation.
Some individuals, upon joining, would receive a substantial monthly subsidy even if they did nothing.
Zhao Chengyuan joined this organization at the time because he was short of money.
Initially, he was an outsider in the organization, mainly writing reference materials and helping to examine some antiques.
It wasn't until later that another foreigner joined the archaeological expedition team. This foreigner was the opposite of Peter; he believed that since it was an archaeological expedition team, they should be finding ancient tombs and excavating more cultural relics.
The organization was approved by the authorities at the time and had clearly stated that any excavated ancient tombs and their contents must belong to China.
This meant the organization only had the right to research, not ownership.
With the arrival of another principal, the expedition team quickly split into two factions: the conservatives, who felt that working in offices, studying data, and receiving a monthly subsidy was quite good.
The other faction was the action group, who believed that since it was an expedition team, they must venture out and excavate more valuable items.
The two factions did their own things and did not interfere with each other. Zhao Chengyuan originally intended to join the conservative faction, but because his younger brother needed money for his wedding at the time, he joined the action group to help raise funds, and also participated in some exploration missions.
It was also because of those few expeditions that he grew to prefer being in the action group.
Exploring outdoors not only provided a higher subsidy but also broadened his horizons, which was exactly what he wanted to do.
Thus, Zhao Chengyuan quickly became a representative of the action group.
Returning to Xiang Tian, while Zhao Chengyuan was in that archaeological expedition team, Xiang Tian traveled all over the country appraising items for people, and during this time, he also met many antique dealers from Hong Kong.
That day, Xiang Tian took a flight to Hong Kong, stating that an antique tycoon wanted him to help appraise something.
Since it was introduced by a friend and all travel expenses were covered, he did not refuse.
He arrived at a Western-style house and met an old man with white hair, sitting in a wheelchair.
This old man's surname was Lu, his given name was Cainan. He was a major entrepreneur in the area and had arrived in Hong Kong in the 1950s.
It could be said that he was someone who developed during Hong Kong's most chaotic period; he had experienced all sorts of storms.
Lu Cainan's reason for seeking Xiang Tian was to have Xiang Tian appraise a human skin map for him!
It was no longer known where this human skin map came from, but according to Lu Cainan, he had acquired it for a great deal of money.
Spending a fortune to acquire a human skin map was puzzling, and what he wanted Xiang Tian to appraise was not the age of the map itself, but a pearl depicted on it!
As an appraiser with vast experience, Xiang Tian quickly identified what the pearl depicted on the human skin map was.
"Mr. Lu, if I'm not mistaken, this should be the legendary Houhou Pearl," Xiang Tian said, placing the human skin map on the table with great certainty.
"Houhou Pearl?" Lu Cainan furrowed his brows, clearly familiar with the item.
"Judging by the artwork and the inscriptions, what is depicted here is indeed the Houhou Pearl," Xiang Tian added.
"Isn't it said that the Houhou Pearl is just a legend?" Lu Cainan asked doubtfully.
"I'm not sure about that," Xiang Tian said with a smile. "Many things in this world are just legends before they are discovered. After all, time has passed, and only those who lived in that era truly knew what happened historically. We, later generations, can only speculate about those times through various records."
Lu Cainan remained silent, deep in thought.
He then asked Xiang Tian to stay for a few more days, and Xiang Tian thus resided at Lu Cainan's residence.
He stayed for a week, and each day Xiang Tian was there, Lu Cainan would pay him an appraisal fee.
Although Xiang Tian did not perform any appraisals, since Lu Cainan asked the appraiser to stay, it was natural for him to show his appreciation.
After a week, Lu Cainan found Xiang Tian again and asked him to go to the location indicated on the human skin map to search for the Houhou Pearl.
Upon hearing this request, Xiang Tian initially refused. He never considered himself a treasure hunter and disliked dealing with ancient tombs and the like.
He only enjoyed appraising and studying antiques.
However, after Lu Cainan spoke to him, Xiang Tian changed his mind.
Lu Cainan told Xiang Tian the true reason why he wanted to find the Houhou Pearl.
His purpose for seeking the Houhou Pearl was eternal life.
When Xiang Tian heard him say this, he was quite stunned.
If anyone else had said this to him, Xiang Tian would have probably stood up and left immediately.
But the person before him was someone who had been established in Hong Kong for many years, reaching a certain level of wealth and prestige.
Therefore, Xiang Tian believed that he was definitely not senile. Since he believed that the Houhou Pearl could grant eternal life, there must have been some basis for it.
He wanted to inquire about it from Lu Cainan, but Lu Cainan refused to say anything, only telling Xiang Tian that if he found the Houhou Pearl, he would not only receive a generous reward but also have Lu Cainan tell him everything he knew.
Thus, driven by curiosity, Xiang Tian took the human skin map and embarked on his journey to find the pearl!