The first five levels of painting were: Reality Depiction, Spiritual Canvas, Infused Intentions, Breathtaking Verisimilitude, and Spirit Transformation.
Upon reaching Spirit Transformation, the objects on the painting would absorb spiritual energy and become sentient. Upon reaching a higher level, even the entire painting would be imbued with sentience and seek out a suitable owner.
It was similar to powerful Spirit artifacts.
Spiritual energy gathered in the painting, and the birds on the painting danced in the air. Clearly, the sentience of the painting had acknowledged the challenger.
This...
For artifacts, one could say that he was a blacksmith, or that he had an innate affinity with artifacts. However, painting... was different.
Painting was an elegant art, and it was the forte of literati. No matter how powerful one was or how profound one's cultivation technique was, it was difficult for one to gain the acknowledgement of the painter. Unless one had comprehended the artistic conception of the painting and the true meaning behind it, one would be able to gain the acknowledgement of the painter.
But... the name of the painting was unknown, the object of the painting was unknown, and the era was unknown as well... How could one know the meaning behind the painting and the thought behind it?
Could it be that this fellow was a painter as well?
Only this kind of super figure who could create paintings would be able to detect the true thoughts of the painter in a work without an author, a copy, or an era.
Everyone turned to look at Sun Qiang, curious to hear his explanation.
Since this servant was so confident that their young master would be able to clear the trial, he should know a thing or two.
"Painter? Our young master has long been a painter! "
Knowing the doubts in the other party's mind, Sun Qiang smiled. Placing his hands behind his back, he said proudly, "Furthermore, to be able to create a fifth level painting using a tortoise, this is child's play to him!"
"Creating a fifth level painting using a tortoise?"
Everyone's lips twitched.
To be able to create a fifth level painting, one had to be at least a 3-star painter. To be able to create a fifth level painting using a tortoise... How many stars was that?
Even the 4-star painters they knew weren't capable of such a feat!
"He might be skilled in smithing and painting, but that doesn't mean that he is skilled in appraising as well. Perhaps... it's just luck?" An appraiser in the crowd said.
However, putting aside the disbelief of the others, even he couldn't help but feel that his words were meaningless.
"Whether it's luck or not, let's see if he can identify the next artifact! If I'm not wrong, it should be a heavenly treasure. This thing fell from the sky, and no one is able to refine it, and no one is able to identify it. It no longer involves artifact forging and painting … This is the purest form of identification! "
Seeing how everyone was struck speechless, and how Elder Chen was on the verge of spurting blood once more, it was hard to tell whether he was shocked or heartbroken. Hall Master Sai scanned the surroundings and said.
If it was really luck, with his identity as a blacksmith and painter, he would be able to recognize those two items, but he definitely wouldn't be able to recognize the rest.
"I hope that he won't be able to recognize it. The artifacts in the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets are all core artifacts left behind by our predecessors, and every single one of them can be sold for an astronomical price. Two of them have already acknowledged him as their master. If this continues, I fear that... our Appraiser Hall will go bankrupt!"
Elder Lu could not help but ask.
"That … that's true!"
Master Sai's mouth twitched.
As long as one recognized the artifact, they would be able to clear the trial. Yet, this fellow actually managed to make the artifacts acknowledge him as their master... They had already lost two artifacts consecutively. If this were to continue, no matter how wealthy the Appraiser Hall was, it would be hard for them to bear the brunt of the loss.
"Don't worry, I have challenged the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets before, and I have studied the third otherworldly artifact before."
Suppressing the urge to spurt blood, Elder Chen gritted his teeth and said, "There are no records on what the artifact is made of, and it is hard to tell whether it has a spirit or not. As such, it is impossible for one to recognize it! Needless to say, getting it to acknowledge him as its master is impossible... "
No one had ever seen an otherworldly artifact before, and there were no records on it either. As such, it was impossible for one to name it. Furthermore, it was hard to tell whether it had a spirit or not, let alone getting it to acknowledge him as its master.
However, before Elder Chen could finish his words, a chuckle sounded once more.
"Do you mean that our young master is unable to recognize the artifact? He is unable to get it to acknowledge him as its master? "
The one who spoke was Sun Qiang.
"Hmph!" Elder Chen flung his sleeves furiously.
"There's no need for you to harrumph. How about this, I'll give you a chance to recoup your losses. Let's continue betting three thousand spirit stones. If our young master is unable to recognize the artifact and is unable to get it to acknowledge him as its master, I'll forfeit the spirit stones you lost. However, if he manages to recognize it, you have to pay me another three thousand spirit stones. How about it? "
Sun Qiang looked at Elder Chen with glowing eyes.
"I..."
Elder Chen's lips trembled. He wanted to agree to the bet, but he didn't dare to.
It was just a moment ago that he said that the other party wouldn't be able to clear the trial. Who could have known that the other party would gain the acknowledgement of two artifacts as soon as he entered? Who knew what would happen this time?
"You don't dare to bet? I gave you a chance to recoup your losses, but you refused to make use of it. To think that you are a 4-star appraiser and a Transcendent Mortal expert. You seem to be enjoying yourself, but why are you such a coward? "Sun Qiang glanced at Elder Chen disdainfully.
"You..." Not expecting to be looked down upon by an insignificant figure twice in just a few short minutes, Elder Chen's face reddened in anger, and he felt as though he would faint at any moment.
"Enough!"
Just as Elder Chen was fuming, a plump man walked out from behind Sun Qiang and reprimanded him righteously.
Seeing that the other party was speaking up for him, Elder Chen heaved a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, the other party continued, "It's not that Elder Chen doesn't want to bet, but what if he were to lose and run out of money? Butler Sun, please forgive him. He doesn't have it easy either. Poverty stuns one's ambition... This can't be helped. "
Pu!
It would have been fine if he hadn't heard those words, but as soon as he heard them, blood spurted from his mouth once more.
Elder Chen was frenzied.
Appraiser was one of the wealthiest occupations in the world, and as a 4-star appraiser, he was one of the best of the best. Even if he couldn't be said to be wealthier than an entire country, he was definitely close to it.
Yet, at this moment, someone actually said that... poverty stuns one's ambition.
Poverty your head!
Unable to hold himself back any longer, Elder Chen roared, "Let's bet then, who's afraid of you..."
"Then it's settled. But … what if you lose and don't have the money to pay?" Sun Qiang glanced at Yuan Tao behind him with satisfaction and smiled.
"I'll just borrow money from Elder Lu. There's no need for you to worry!" Elder Chen flung his hands.
"Elder Chen... please reconsider!"
Elder Lu's eyebrows twitched, and he hurriedly tried to dissuade the other party.
"Don't worry, I don't believe that he would be able to recognize an otherworldly treasure. If he were to really recognize it, even if I were to lose my entire fortune, I would still accept it..." Elder Chen gritted his teeth.
As a 4-star appraiser, he wasn't a reckless person. However, the two fatties before him were simply too infuriating.
Besides, he found it hard to believe that the young man would be able to recognize an otherworldly treasure as well.
One must know that even a passing 5-star appraiser wasn't able to name it. How could a young lad who came out of nowhere possibly know its name and even earn its recognition?
Weng!
But before Elder Chen could fully recover from his confidence, a crisp buzz echoed from the room. It was identical to the sound from before.
"Recognition of the treasure, Spirit Surge... Recognition?"
Elder Chen's face paled, and he burst into tears.
To be able to earn the recognition of an otherworldly treasure, what kind of monster was that fellow? And how did he do it?
Ding dong!
Not too long after Elder Chen fell into a daze, a sound echoed from the room once more. It was as if Zhang Xuan wasn't trying to clear the test but had entered a music factory and knocked on the doors.
"Pavilion master... Why don't we forcefully stop it?"
Hearing the sound coming from the room, Elder Lu couldn't hold himself back anymore.
"Stop it?"
"If we don't stop it, I fear that... our Appraiser Hall will go bankrupt because of him..."
Elder Lu's lips twitched.
"This..."
Master Sai's face also paled.
It was already a miracle for anyone to be able to recognize even one of the ten artifacts in the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets. Yet, not only did this fellow recognize all of them, he even earned the recognition of all of them...
If this were to continue, the entire Appraiser Hall would be plundered clean.
"Hurry up and make a decision. If he were to take away all ten artifacts, what are we supposed to do in the future?"
Knowing that they couldn't afford to waste any time, Elder Lu panicked.
"Alright, we'll make him stop right now!"
Knowing the severity of the matter, Master Sai gritted his teeth.
He thought that the other party was just fooling around in the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets. Who could have known that the other party would...
Seeing all of the artifacts submit one after another, they dared not continue.
Even though the Appraiser Hall was known for its innumerable treasures and unparalleled wealth, there was still a limit to it.
The number of artifacts that couldn't be recognized in the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets was clearly the limit.
It was still possible for the other party to recognize one or two artifacts, but if all of them were to be recognized, the Appraiser Hall would lose its most valuable artifact.
What the heck was this?
To think that the Appraiser Hall would end up in such a state.
"Retrieve the keys!"
Since the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets could be activated, naturally, it could be stopped as well. However, just like how it was activated, it required three keys to be activated simultaneously.
"Alright!"
Elder Chen and Elder Lu walked over to the wall at the same time. They extended their palms and inserted the keys into the holes.
Jiya! Jiya!
As the three keys rotated simultaneously, the formation immediately came to a halt.
The radiance came to a halt.
"You all... What are you doing?" Sun Qiang frowned.
"Don't worry, we're only stopping the formation. It won't harm your young master!" Master Sai said.
"If you can't afford to lose, then stop it. The Appraiser Hall... sure is a disgrace!" Sun Qiang harrumphed.
Even though he hadn't heard their conversation, he could tell what they were thinking.
Clearly, the young master's display of might had frightened them so much that they didn't dare to continue.
"Cough cough, it's our fault for forcefully stopping the formation. However, don't worry, we'll definitely give your young master an explanation!"
Being mocked right in his face, Master Sai's face reddened in embarrassment.
Just as the other party had said, these artifacts were left behind by their predecessors, and they could be used as bargaining chips for the 5-star appraiser examination. They couldn't afford to lose them.
However, forcefully stopping the formation was unfair to the other party as well. Thus, the Appraiser Hall could only think of a way to compensate them.
"Hmph!"
Sun Qiang was displeased, but since the formation had already been stopped, there was nothing he could do.
"Alright, open the door!"
By stopping the formation, the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets would stop as well, and the artifacts would stop appearing. Master Sai smiled and waved his hands.
Hong long!
Before he could finish his words, the ground suddenly shook, and everyone nearly fell to the ground. Following which, a resounding voice reverberated in the hall, nearly deafening everyone.
"This is... the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets Console has acknowledged its owner. The heck!"
Feeling the tremors, Hall Master Sai glanced over and bellowed furiously with a frenzied expression.
(Author's Note: Yesterday, the fan event ended. I gave out fifty red packets and snatched fifty phone cases. It's already the middle of the month, do you still have any monthly tickets left? Please give me a few. It seems like we aren't too far away from cultivating in the city. Also, who said that the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblets would give me ten chapters? Laoya immediately kept the console. You didn't expect this, right? Hehe!)
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