Chapter 464: Let Me Try

Although she really wanted this longsword, Zhao Ya knew that her teacher had come to Honghai City specifically for the Soul-Less Golden Man. If buying the sword left them without enough money to purchase it, she would regret it for life.

"Since you like it, that's fine. If we run out of spirit stones, we can think of another way."

Knowing her thoughts, Zhang Xuan said.

He hadn't encountered anything suitable before, so he hadn't bought anything for them. Now that he saw it, he naturally wanted to purchase it.

"Another way? What other way is there now?" Zhao Ya was startled.

For those five thousand spirit stones, the teacher had even dismantled the Appraisal Pavilion. Where could they get more spirit stones?

Surely they couldn't dismantle this auction house too.

"Simple!"

With a light smile, Zhang Xuan waved at Sun Qiang. "Go call the person in charge of the auction."

"Yes!"

Sun Qiang blinked, not understanding what was going on.

However, although he didn't know the young master's purpose, since he was doing this, he must have a plan. Without further ado, he turned and left.

Zhao Ya and the others exchanged glances... Could the teacher really be planning to dismantle this auction house?

Before long, Sun Qiang returned with a middle-aged man.

Logically, given his status, he couldn't have called the man over, but since this was Pavilion Master Sai's private room, he was borrowing some authority.

"Pavilion Master Sai!"

Upon entering the room, the middle-aged man focused his gaze on the old man.

"Supervisor Luo, you're here. Let me introduce you. This is Master Zhang!"

Pavilion Master Sai smiled. "Master Zhang, this is Supervisor Luo, Luo Qin. If you need anything regarding the auction, he can basically handle it."

"Master Zhang?"

Luo Qin then noticed the young man, sitting side by side with Pavilion Master Sai, his aura not inferior at all, clearly of high status.

"May I ask what business Master Zhang has with me?"

Stepping forward, he smiled and cupped his fists.

"Oh, I want to add an item for auction," Zhang Xuan said.

"Add an item?"

Luo Qin was startled and immediately showed a troubled expression. "This... the auction has already started. Adding something now would be impossible..."

Why didn't he say so earlier? Now wanting to auction something—what a joke.

Moreover, no one knew whether the item he wanted to add was valuable. If it turned out to be a fake, the auction house's reputation would be ruined.

"Don't rush to refuse. Decide after you see it."

Knowing he would react this way, Zhang Xuan was unconcerned. He raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Alright."

Although reluctant, considering that this person was Pavilion Master Sai's guest and addressed as 'Master,' he must be of high status. Luo Qin couldn't help but nod.

Pavilion Master Sai also looked over curiously, wanting to see what this young man, who had piqued his interest, could produce.

Logically, if he had any treasures to sell at the auction, he would have asked earlier, not forced his way into the Flowing Cup Pavilion, putting them in such a passive position.

Whoosh!

Amidst their curious gazes, an object appeared in the other's hand. Seeing what it was, Pavilion Master Sai's body swayed, nearly spitting blood.

In the young man's palm lay a painting—the second treasure from the Flowing Cup Pavilion.

"This thing. See if you can sell it for me."

Zhang Xuan said calmly.

The valuable items on him were naturally the treasures he had just obtained from the Flowing Cup Pavilion.

Since it could become the Appraisal Pavilion's treasured artifact, if auctioned, buying one longsword—or even two—wouldn't be difficult.

Thus, although he knew he might not have enough money to buy the Soul-Less Golden Man, he wasn't worried.

"Master Zhang, this item... is extremely precious. It's better not to sell it..."

With an awkward smile, Pavilion Master Sai's heart bled.

This was their Appraisal Pavilion's item...

Having it recognize you as its owner was one thing, allowing the treasure to find a home. But selling it—what kind of behavior was that?

"If you think selling it is a pity... Pavilion Master Sai can buy it back! We're all acquaintances. I won't ask for a high price—five thousand spirit stones will do..." Zhang Xuan looked over with a beaming smile.

"Cough, cough..." His face reddened, Pavilion Master Sai nearly choked on his saliva. He shook his head helplessly. "Alright, you'd better continue..."

He couldn't even produce three thousand spirit stones; where would he find five thousand?

Even if he couldn't bear to see the Appraisal Pavilion's treasure leave, there was nothing he could do now.

"This item is genuine. Pavilion Master Sai can authenticate it," Zhang Xuan said to Luo Qin.

"No need for authentication. This painting is definitely real. I can tell..." Taking the scroll and casually opening it, Luo Qin nodded after just one look.

As an auction house supervisor, he had strong appraisal skills. Otherwise, encountering treasures without recognizing them would be embarrassing.

This painting had a heavy aura, full of spiritual energy. The birds in it seemed ready to fly out at any moment. Even a fool could tell it was a priceless masterpiece.

"Good. Take it for auction. It's best if you can sell it for over five thousand spirit stones." Seeing that he recognized it, Zhang Xuan was spared the trouble and said.

"This..."

Hearing this, Luo Qin hesitated. "Master Zhang, although this painting is of high grade and full of spirituality... selling it for five thousand spirit stones is almost impossible."

"Oh? How much can it sell for?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled.

He didn't have a clear idea of the value of treasures, especially when priced in spirit stones. He thought that since this item was kept in the Flowing Cup Pavilion as a treasured artifact, its price would far exceed five thousand... But this man said it was impossible.

What was going on?

"At most... five hundred spirit stones!" Luo Qin's face reddened.

"Five hundred?"

Frowning, Zhang Xuan was displeased. "This painting was created by a five-star calligrapher and painter. It has innate spirituality, not only absorbing spiritual energy to nourish the painting but also containing the cultivator's insights into nature and the Dao. Long-term viewing can greatly benefit even Mortal Transformation realm third or fourth level experts... How can it be worth only five hundred?"

According to the Library of Heaven's Path's appraisal, it was genuine. The treasure left by a five-star calligrapher and painter had reached the peak of the sixth realm, only a step away from the legendary seventh realm.

Worth only five hundred? Was he joking?

"Yeah, who are you fooling? How can such a fine painting be worth so little?" Sun Qiang and the others also looked incredulous.

"Master Zhang, please don't be upset. Let me explain carefully!"

Luo Qin quickly bowed, looking embarrassed. "This painting has a simple, bold style—unquestionably a masterwork. But... without a title or the artist's signature, its value drops significantly. The most valuable part of calligraphy and painting is not the work itself but, like antiques, the accumulated age and the artist's fame. If this were by a renowned master of the alliance, it could easily sell for five thousand spirit stones... But as it is, five hundred is already a high estimate."

Hearing the explanation, Zhang Xuan was taken aback and looked at Pavilion Master Sai, who nodded.

"Is that so?" He was speechless.

Thinking about it carefully, it made sense.

Calligraphy and painting, unlike weapons or natural treasures, don't have a tangible effect on cultivators. They reflect a person's taste and interests. If not by a famous artist, their collectible value indeed plummets.

"This painting was left by Wu Xuanzi, a five-star grandmaster of calligraphy and painting from eight hundred years ago. Doesn't he count as a famous artist?" Zhang Xuan said.

"Wu Xuanzi? He is certainly a famous artist—a five-star calligraphy and painting master, and the first five-star beast tamer in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. If this were truly his work, the price would be more than five thousand. However... although his reputation is great, he didn't stay long in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance and left few works... How can we confirm this painting is his?"

Luo Qin was startled and couldn't help asking.

Wu Xuanzi, eight hundred years ago, was the most illustrious figure in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. Before the age of two hundred, he had broken through to the five-star level in both beast taming and calligraphy and painting.

Unfortunately, too few of his works survived. Many appraisers didn't even know his brushwork or habits, making it impossible to determine if this painting was his.

"Uh..."

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He knew the painting's origin through the Library of Heaven's Path, but he couldn't show that to others.

Wu Xuanzi had left no other paintings for comparison. If not for that, this painting wouldn't have sat in the Appraisal Pavilion for so many years, unrecognized and unknown.

"Unless... a skilled calligrapher and painter inscribes a title on this painting. Even if their fame is less than Wu Xuanzi's, as long as their level is comparable and they can express the true essence and gain the painting's spiritual recognition, the value could double. But at most, it would reach around two thousand spirit stones."

Luo Qin said.

"Inscribe a title? Express the true essence?"

"Yes. However, inscribing a title on a painting is not easy. Everyone has different thoughts and impressions when viewing a painting. If the inscription differs even slightly from the author's intent, it won't gain recognition. Not only would it fail to increase the painting's value, it might damage the original style and cause the value to plummet."

Luo Qin explained. "Only by understanding the original author's habits and knowing their thoughts well can one have a chance to express the true essence and increase the value. Otherwise..."

Though he didn't finish, his tone conveyed the meaning.

Ten thousand people viewing a painting have ten thousand thoughts.

Guessing the predecessor's intent and matching it is extremely difficult—almost impossible.

"You mean... if I know the original author's understanding of the painting and inscribe it, it's very likely to express the true essence?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"If we knew the original author's—that is, Wu Xuanzi's—thoughts and wrote them on the painting, it would definitely increase the value dramatically. But it's uncertain whether Wu Xuanzi left any paintings. He was low-key; when he painted and his state of mind are unknown... Plus, this painting is mysterious—even the bird species is unrecognizable. To guess his thoughts... difficult!"

Luo Qin shook his head.

Although he had only glanced at it, he knew that inscribing a title on this painting and expressing the true essence, matching Wu Xuanzi's thoughts, was simply impossible.

"Difficult?"

After hearing his explanation, Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned, then smiled lightly and looked over.

"Since inscribing a title can increase the painting's value, why not..."

"Let me try."