Chapter 460: Forced Stop

The first five realms of painting and calligraphy: Record Reality, Liveliness, Intent Presence, Startling Swan, and Transform into Spirit.

When one reaches Transform into Spirit, the objects in the painting absorb spiritual energy, becoming highly spirited, reaching a deeper realm; even the entire scroll can be endowed with spirituality, autonomously seeking a suitable master.

Just like powerful spirit weapons.

Before their eyes, spiritual energy converged, and the birds on the scroll fluttered about. Clearly, the spirituality had recognized the person breaking through inside.

This...

A magical artifact; if he were an artifact refiner, or had a natural affinity for weapons, that would be one thing. But painting and calligraphy—that was different.

Painting and calligraphy are elegant, the forte of literati. No matter how strong one's strength or how refined one's techniques, it is difficult to gain recognition unless one comprehends the artistic conception of the work and the true meaning it intends to convey.

But... the painting and calligraphy inside—its name unknown, its subject unknown, its era unknown—how could one know the meaning it wants to express, the thoughts it wants to convey?

Could it be that this fellow is also a painter-calligrapher?

Only such a super figure capable of creating painting and calligraphy could, in a work without an author, without a rubbing, without an era, discern the true thoughts of that painter-calligrapher.

They all turned to look at Sun Qiang nearby, wanting to hear his explanation.

This servant was so certain that their young master could pass, he must know something.

"Painter-calligrapher? Our young master has been one for a long time!"

Knowing their doubts, Sun Qiang smiled slightly, hands clasped behind his back, his face full of pride: "And using a turtle to create a fifth-realm work—that's child's play for him!"

"Using a turtle to create a fifth-realm work?"

Everyone's mouth twitched simultaneously.

Being able to create a fifth-realm work meant at least a three-star painter-calligrapher. Using a turtle to paint and reaching the fifth realm... how many stars would that be?

Even the four-star painter-calligraphers they knew couldn't do it!

"Being proficient in artifact refining and knowledgeable about painting and calligraphy doesn't mean he's also good at treasure appraisal. Maybe... it's just luck?" said an appraiser in the crowd.

But after saying this, even he himself found it unconvincing.

"Whether it's luck or not, let's see the next treasure and whether he can identify it! If I'm not mistaken, it should be a heavenly treasure. This thing fell from the sky; no one can refine it, and no one can identify it. It doesn't involve artifact refining or painting and calligraphy—it's the purest test of discernment!"

Seeing everyone struck speechless, and Elder Chen tottering, on the verge of spitting blood again—whether from shock or heartache—Sai Gezhu looked around and said.

If it really was luck, and he happened to recognize those two items because of his identity as an artifact refiner and painter-calligrapher, then he surely wouldn't recognize this one.

"I hope he doesn't recognize it. The treasures in Flowing Wine and Winding Water are all town-hall treasures left by predecessors, each worth a fortune. Two have already acknowledged him. If this continues, I'm afraid... our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion will go bankrupt!"

Elder Lu couldn't help saying.

"This... that's true!"

Sai Gezhu's mouth also twitched.

Recognizing what a treasure is allows one to pass the level. But this fellow goes and makes the treasure acknowledge him... Two items lost in a row. If it continues, even if the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion is wealthy, it can't withstand it.

"Don't worry. I've also passed through Flowing Wine and Winding Water. The third item, the heavenly treasure, I've studied it specifically."

Elder Chen finally suppressed the urge to spit blood and gritted his teeth: "This thing's material is unrecorded, and whether it has spirituality is unclear. Recognizing it is almost impossible! Let alone making it acknowledge him..."

A heavenly object, never seen by anyone, unrecorded in books. Naming it is almost impossible. Moreover, whether it has spirituality is unclear; expecting it to acknowledge him is even more hopeless.

But before he finished speaking, a cheerful voice sounded again.

"You mean our young master can't recognize this thing? And can't make it acknowledge him?"

The speaker was still Sun Qiang.

"Hmph!" Elder Chen flicked his sleeve.

"Don't 'hmph' at me. How about this: I'll give you a chance to recoup your losses. Let's bet another three thousand spirit stones. If our young master really can't recognize what that thing is and can't make it acknowledge him, I'll return the spirit stones you lost. But if he does recognize it, you lose another three thousand spirit stones. Deal?"

Sun Qiang's eyes gleamed as he looked over.

"I..."

Elder Chen's mouth trembled; he wanted to agree but dared not.

He had been too quick to say that the fellow couldn't pass, but as soon as he entered, he made two treasures acknowledge him. Who knew what would happen this time?

"Still afraid? I give you a chance to recoup, but you don't take it. A four-star appraiser, a Mortal Transformation realm expert—talks big but has such a small courage!" Sun Qiang looked at him with contempt.

"You..." Having been looked down upon twice in just a few minutes by a nobody, Elder Chen's face flushed red with anger, and he looked about to faint.

"Enough!"

Just as he was getting angry, another fat man stepped out from behind Sun Qiang and scolded with a righteous air.

Seeing this man speak for him, Elder Chen breathed a sigh of relief and was about to express gratitude when he heard the other's follow-up: "It's not that Elder Chen doesn't want to bet, but what if he loses and can't pay? Steward Sun, please be understanding. The poor have short ambitions... there's no helping it."

Pfft!

If he hadn't heard that, maybe he could hold it in. But hearing it, he couldn't help it—blood spurted out again.

Elder Chen was going crazy.

An appraiser, one of the richest professions in the world. He, a dignified four-star appraiser, was among the best. Not to say he was as rich as a nation, but he was certainly close.

And now he was publicly called... poor and short of ambition.

Poor your sister!

"Bet then, who's afraid of whom..." Unable to hold back, Elder Chen roared.

"Then it's settled. But... if you lose and have no money, what then?" Sun Qiang glanced approvingly at Yuan Tao, who had backed him up, and smiled.

"If I have no money, I'll borrow from Elder Lu. Don't you worry about it!" Elder Chen waved his hand.

"Elder Chen... think twice!"

Elder Lu's eyebrows jumped, and he quickly tried to dissuade him.

"Don't worry. Things can happen once, twice, but not thrice. I don't believe he can recognize even a heavenly treasure. If he really can, I'll accept losing everything..." Elder Chen gritted his teeth.

As a four-star appraiser, he was not a rash man by nature, but these two fat men were simply too infuriating.

Besides, he really didn't believe that young man could recognize even a heavenly treasure.

After all, even a five-star appraiser who had passed by couldn't name this thing. How could a little brat from who knows where know it clearly, let alone make it acknowledge him?

Buzz!

Before this confidence had even faded, a clear hum came from the room, exactly like the previous sounds.

"Treasure acknowledgment, spiritual energy surging... acknowledged?"

His face turning pale, Elder Chen burst into tears.

Even a heavenly treasure acknowledged him. What kind of monster was this fellow? And how did he do it?

Ding-dong!

Before he could collapse for long, another sound came from inside, as if Zhang Xuan wasn't breaking through levels but had entered a music factory, knocking around everywhere.

"Pavilion Master... maybe we should force a stop!"

Hearing the sounds coming one after another, Elder Lu couldn't hold back either.

"Stop?"

"If we don't stop, I'm afraid... our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion will be appraised out of business..."

Elder Lu's mouth twitched.

"This..."

Sai Gezhu's face also alternated between pale and red.

When others come to challenge Flowing Wine and Winding Water, recognizing one out of ten is considered extraordinary. But this fellow not only recognizes them but also gets all the treasures to acknowledge him...

If this continues, the entire Treasure Appraisal Pavilion might be looted clean.

"Make a decision quickly. Recognizing one item is enough to pass. If he continues, he'll take all ten treasures. What will we do then?"

Knowing time was of the essence, Elder Lu looked anxious.

"Alright, let's stop him now!"

Realizing the seriousness, Sai Gezhu gritted his teeth.

He had thought the other was just fooling around challenging Flowing Wine and Winding Water and would surely hit a wall. But as soon as he made a move...

Treasures submitted one after another, scaring them into not daring to continue.

Although the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion boasted countless treasures and unparalleled wealth, it had its limits.

The treasures in Flowing Wine and Winding Water that no one could identify were clearly the limit.

Acknowledging one or two was acceptable, but if all were acknowledged, the pavilion would lose its town-hall treasures and might as well close down.

What kind of situation was this?

The dignified Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, reduced to such a sorry state—it was truly exasperating.

"Fetch the keys!"

Flowing Wine and Winding Water could be started, and naturally it could be stopped. But like starting, it required three keys simultaneously.

"Alright!"

Elder Chen and Elder Lu came over, approached the wall, extended their hands, and inserted the keys into the holes.

Creak! Creak!

The previously operating formation, as the three keys turned simultaneously, immediately stopped.

The light ceased.

"You... what are you doing?" Sun Qiang frowned.

"Don't worry, we only stopped the formation. It won't harm your young master!" Sai Gezhu said.

"Can't afford to lose, so you stop. The Treasure Appraisal Pavilion... how disgraceful!" Sun Qiang snorted.

Even without hearing their conversation, he knew what they meant.

Clearly, the young master had shown great prowess, making treasures acknowledge him one after another, scaring them into not daring to continue.

"Ahem, forcing a stop is our fault. But rest assured, we will give your young master an explanation!"

Laughed at to his face, Sai Gezhu's face flushed red as he said.

As the other had said, these treasures were left by predecessors and could also serve as bargaining chips for assessing five-star appraisers. They really couldn't afford to lose them.

However, forcing a stop like this was indeed unfair to the other party. The Treasure Appraisal Pavilion would have to find a way to compensate.

"Hmph!"

Sun Qiang looked displeased, but since it had already stopped, there was nothing to be done.

"Alright, open the door!"

With the formation stopped, Flowing Wine and Winding Water would cease, and no more treasures would come out. Sai Gezhu smiled and waved his hand.

Rumble!

Before he finished speaking, the ground suddenly shook, nearly causing everyone to fall. Then a resounding voice echoed through the hall, almost deafening them.

"It's... the control platform of Flowing Wine and Winding Water acknowledging its master! Holy crap!"

Feeling the vibration, Sai Gezhu looked inside and let out a roar, his face full of exasperation.