Chapter 477: Strongly Forced Stop

The five realms of calligraphy and painting are: Recording Reality, Dynamic Spirit, Essence Preserved, Startling Grace, and Spirit Transformation.

Upon reaching Spirit Transformation, the objects in a painting will absorb spiritual energy, becoming fully imbued with spirit and reaching a higher, more profound state. Even the entire scroll will be endowed with sentience, independently seeking out a suitable master.

Just like a powerful spiritual weapon.

Spiritual energy converged before their eyes, and the birds in the painting fluttered. Clearly, the spirit had recognized the person challenging the trial inside.

This... For magical artifacts, one could say he was an artifact refiner or had a natural affinity for weapons. But calligraphy and painting... that was different.

Calligraphy and painting are refined arts, typically mastered by scholars and literati. No matter how strong one's power or how refined their techniques, it's difficult to gain recognition unless one comprehends the artistic conception and the true meaning the work intends to convey. Only then can recognition be granted.

But... the calligraphy and painting inside, its name was unknown, what it depicted was also unknown, and its era was even more uncertain... How could he possibly know the meaning it aimed to express or the ideas it sought to convey?

Could it be that this fellow was also a calligrapher and painter?

Only a master capable of creating such artworks could discern the true intentions of the original calligrapher/painter in a work with no known author, no impression, and an unknown date.

Everyone simultaneously looked at Sun Qiang, who was not far away, wanting to hear his explanation.

This servant, being so confident that his young master could pass the trial, must know something.

"A calligrapher and painter? Our young master has been one for a long time!"

Understanding their confusion, Sun Qiang smiled slightly, his hands clasped behind his back, a proud expression on his face. "What's more, creating a Level Five artwork using a tortoise is child's play for him!"

"Creating a Level Five artwork with a tortoise?"

Everyone's mouths twitched simultaneously.

To create a Level Five artwork means one is at least a three-star calligrapher and painter. To paint with a tortoise and still reach Level Five... how many stars would that make him?

Even the four-star calligraphers and painters they knew couldn't achieve that!

"Being proficient in artifact refining and knowledgeable about calligraphy and painting by chance doesn't mean he's also skilled in appraising treasures. Perhaps... it's just luck?" a treasure appraiser in the crowd remarked.

However, after saying it, not to mention others disbelieving it, even he himself felt it sounded weak and unconvincing.

"Whether it's luck or not, let's see the next treasure and if he can identify it! If I'm not mistaken, it should be a rare natural treasure. This item descended from the heavens; no one can refine it, nor can anyone easily identify it. It no longer involves artifact refining or calligraphy and painting... it's the purest form of appraisal!"

Seeing that everyone was too stunned to speak, and Elder Chen was particularly unsteady, looking like he might vomit blood again at any moment—whether from shock or heartache was unclear—Pavilion Master Sai looked around and spoke.

If it truly was luck, and he merely happened to recognize those two items because he had the identities of an artifact refiner and a calligrapher/painter, then he definitely wouldn't be able to identify this next one.

"I hope he can't identify it. The treasures in the Winding Stream Trial are all priceless artifacts left behind by our predecessors, each capable of fetching astronomical prices. Two of them have already recognized him as their master. If this continues, I'm afraid... our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion will go bankrupt!"

Elder Lu couldn't help but say.

"This... this is true!"

Pavilion Master Sai's mouth also twitched.

Identifying what a treasure is allows one to pass the trial. But this fellow, he just goes ahead and makes the treasures recognize him as their master... We've already lost two items in a row. If we lose any more, even if the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion is rich, we won't be able to bear it.

"Don't worry, I've also challenged the Winding Stream Trial. I specifically studied the third item, an extraterrestrial treasure."

Elder Chen finally suppressed the urge to vomit blood and gritted his teeth: "The material of this item is undocumented; it's also unclear if it possesses sentience. Identifying it is almost impossible! Let alone making it recognize someone as its master..."

An extraterrestrial object; no one has ever seen it before. There's no record of it in any books. It's practically impossible to name it. Moreover, it's unknown whether it even possesses sentience. To make it recognize a master is utterly out of the question.

However, before his words even finished, a chuckling voice rang out again.

"Are you implying that our young master can't identify this item? And can't make it recognize him as its master?"

It was still Sun Qiang speaking.

"Hmph!" Elder Chen flicked his sleeve.

"No need to 'hmph.' How about this, I'll give you a chance to win your money back. Let's bet another three thousand spiritual stones. If our young master truly can't identify the item or gain its recognition, then I won't take the spiritual stones you lost earlier. But if he does identify it, will you lose another three thousand spiritual stones to me? How does that sound?"

Sun Qiang's eyes gleamed as he looked over.

"I..."

Elder Chen's lips trembled. He wanted to agree but dared not.

Just now, he spoke too soon, saying that fellow couldn't pass. Who knew that as soon as he entered, two treasures recognized him? Heaven knows what will happen this time?

"Scared again? You're not seizing the chance to win your money back. A four-star treasure appraiser, a Transcendent Mortal realm expert—you talk a big game, but your guts are so small!" Sun Qiang glanced at him disdainfully.

"You..." To be scorned twice by a mere nobody in a matter of minutes—Elder Chen's face flushed with anger, looking like he might faint at any moment.

"Enough!"

As he was fuming, a stout man walked out from behind Sun Qiang, and sternly rebuked him with a righteous expression.

Seeing this person speak up for him, Elder Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, he heard the rest of the man's words: "Elder Chen isn't unwilling to gamble; it's just what if he loses and can't pay? Steward Sun, please be understanding; it's not easy for him. People with short funds also have short ambitions... there's nothing to be done about it."

It would have been better if he hadn't heard it. Upon hearing it, he could no longer hold back, and fresh blood spurted out again.

Elder Chen was going crazy.

Treasure appraisers are one of the wealthiest professions in the world. As a dignified four-star appraiser, he was an outstanding figure among them. While not quite rich enough to rival a nation, he was certainly close.

Yet at this moment, he was openly called... "a person with short funds and short ambitions."

Poor, my ass!

"Fine, let's gamble, who's afraid of whom..." Unable to bear it any longer, Elder Chen roared.

"So it's settled then. But... what if you lose and don't have the money to pay?" Sun Qiang glanced at Yuan Tao, who was backing him up, with satisfaction, and smiled.

"If I don't have the money, I'll borrow from Elder Lu, no need for you to worry!" Elder Chen flung his hand.

"Elder Chen... think twice!"

His eyebrows twitching, Elder Lu quickly tried to dissuade him.

"Don't worry. There's a first and a second time, but no third. I refuse to believe he can even recognize an extraterrestrial treasure. If he truly can recognize it, I'll accept losing everything..." Elder Chen gritted his teeth.

Having reached the rank of a four-star treasure appraiser, he was not inherently a rash person. But these two stout men in front of him were simply too infuriating.

Besides, he truly couldn't believe that young man could identify even an extraterrestrial treasure.

One must know, even a passing five-star treasure appraiser couldn't name this item back then. How could a young fellow, who appeared out of nowhere, know it perfectly and even gain its recognition?

This confidence hadn't even faded, when a clear boom suddenly echoed from inside the room, identical to the previous sounds.

"Treasure recognition, spiritual surge... it recognized him?"

His face turned pale, and Elder Chen cried.

Even an extraterrestrial treasure recognized him? What kind of monster was this guy? And how did he even do it?

Ding!

The state of collapse didn't last long, as sounds echoed from inside again. It was as if Zhang Xuan wasn't challenging a trial, but had entered a musical instrument factory and was indiscriminately striking everything.

"Pavilion Master... perhaps we should forcefully stop him!"

Hearing the sounds ringing out one after another from inside, Elder Lu also couldn't hold back.

"Stop him?"

"If we don't stop him, I'm afraid... our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion will be appraised into bankruptcy by him..."

Elder Lu's mouth twitched.

"This..."

Pavilion Master Sai's face alternated between green and white.

When others come to challenge the Winding Stream Trial, identifying even one out of ten items is considered extraordinary. But this fellow, not only does he identify them, he gains the recognition of all the treasures...

If this really continues, the entire Treasure Appraisal Pavilion might just be completely emptied.

"Make a decision quickly! Identifying one item is enough to pass the trial. If he continues, and takes all ten treasures, what will we do in the future?"

Knowing there was no time to lose, Elder Lu looked anxious.

"Alright, stop him now!"

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Pavilion Master Sai gritted his teeth.

He had originally thought the other party was merely playing around by challenging the Winding Stream Trial, and would surely return empty-handed. Who knew that with just one move...

The treasures successively submitted, frightening them so much that they dared not continue.

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

The treasures in the Winding Stream Trial that were supposed to be unidentifiable were clearly at that limit.

Having one or two recognized was acceptable, but if all were recognized, the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion would effectively lose its most valuable assets, and there would be no need to continue operating.

What kind of situation was this?

For a dignified Treasure Appraisal Pavilion to be put in such an awkward position, it was truly absurd.

"Get the keys!"

The Winding Stream Trial could be activated, and naturally, it could also be stopped. However, just like activation, it required three keys to be used simultaneously.

"Alright!"

Elder Chen and Elder Lu walked over, approaching the wall simultaneously. They extended their hands and inserted the keys into the holes.

Creak! Creak!

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

The light subsided.

"What... what are you doing?" Sun Qiang's eyebrows furrowed.

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

"Stopping just because you can't afford to lose, Treasure Appraisal Pavilion... truly shameful!" Sun Qiang scoffed.

Even without hearing their conversation, he understood what these people meant.

Evidently, the young master had displayed immense power, causing treasures to recognize him one after another, scaring them into not daring to continue.

"Cough, cough, forcefully stopping it was our mistake. However, rest assured, we will give your young master an explanation!"

Being mocked to his face, Pavilion Master Sai's face flushed, and he couldn't help but say.

As the other party had said, these treasures were left behind by their ancestors, and could also serve as stakes for assessing five-star treasure appraisers. They truly couldn't afford to lose them.

However, forcefully stopping it like this was indeed unfair to the other party, so the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion would have to figure out a way to compensate them.

"Hmph!"

Sun Qiang looked displeased, but since it had already stopped, there was nothing he could do.

"Alright, open the door!"

With the formation stopped, the Winding Stream Trial would cease, and no more treasures would emerge. Pavilion Master Sai smiled and waved his hand.

Boom!

Before he finished speaking, the ground suddenly shook violently, nearly making everyone fall. Immediately afterward, a sound like a great bell reverberated through the hall, almost deafening everyone.

"It's... the Winding Stream Trial control platform, recognizing a master, good heavens!"

Feeling this vibration, Pavilion Master Sai looked inside, and let out a furious roar, his face a picture of utter frustration.