"This is impossible!"
Wang Dongsheng screamed in horror, his body swaying as if he were about to collapse.
Even though he hadn't faced Li Yang directly, the items Li Yang had left behind were enough to make him feel the vast difference in their strengths.
To an outsider, a versatile appraisal master was merely someone who had mastered a few more categories of antique appraisal techniques. But only insiders knew how much perseverance, effort, hardship, and innate talent it took to master a single category!
Without any one of these, one could never become a master-level appraiser, remaining stuck at the expert level for life, unable to progress further.
This was akin to what the great poet Li Taibai described as "The Great Way is like the blue sky, yet I alone cannot escape." Without sufficient talent and effort, all endeavors were in vain.
Many people spent their entire lives stuck at the expert level. A select few, like himself, became appraisal masters. However, they would never even glimpse the threshold of a Grandmaster appraiser.
Versatile appraisal masters, on the other hand, were born standing before that threshold. With gradual accumulation and a spark of insight, they could become the next generation of Grandmaster appraisers!
Throughout the entire history of China, counting back a hundred years, there hadn't been even thirty Grandmaster appraisers.
One could imagine how arduous it was for an appraiser to reach such a level!
For ordinary people, such a path was simply not an option from the start, much like a person with severed legs and arms attempting to climb a mountain solely through their own efforts – it was impossible!
Therefore, the mere thought of Li Yang being a versatile appraisal master sent Wang Dongsheng into a panic.
Hearing his scream, Xu Zhongding asked confusedly, "Brother Wang, what's wrong?"
"I, I'm fine," Wang Dongsheng replied, his face pale and his tone bitter. "It's just that I'm afraid I won't be able to avenge you."
"What do you mean? You're not helping me anymore! Then wasn't all the effort I put into inviting you to Jiangcheng and crying so pitifully for nothing!" Upon hearing that he wouldn't help, Xu Zhongding's composure completely shattered, and he yelled, "You're not helping me! Then wasn't all the effort I put into inviting you to Jiangcheng and crying so pitifully for nothing!"
Wang Dongsheng blinked, "What 'for nothing'?"
"I, no, Brother Wang, I can only rely on you to avenge me. If you're so cruel, won't you help your brother?" Xu Zhongding's expression changed. Realizing he had spoken out of turn, he quickly resorted to emotional appeals.
Wang Dongsheng forced a bitter smile, "It's not that I won't help you, my brother, but that I'm not that kid's opponent."
"You haven't even faced that kid yet, how do you know you're not his opponent?" Xu Zhongding refused to believe him, gripping his arm tightly. "No matter what, you must avenge me!"
"Don't rush, I'll go back right now and ask my esteemed master to lend a hand!" Wang Dongsheng said, feeling pain from the grip. "As for me, I'm truly no match for that kid. Even without meeting him, we've already had our contest!"
"I don't believe you, I don't believe you!" Xu Zhongding became somewhat frantic. "This is just your excuse, you're saying this deliberately, and after returning to the capital, you definitely won't help me anymore!"
"Oh, I'm telling the truth, Brother Xu!" Wang Dongsheng said helplessly. If it weren't for their deep brotherhood from the past, he would have left in a huff due to such a misunderstanding.
"How about this, I'll call my master right now and ask him to come to Jiangcheng. I won't leave, is that acceptable?"
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. As long as my master takes action, that kid is bound to suffer a setback." Wang Dongsheng said confidently.
Even if you are a versatile appraisal master, a future Grandmaster appraiser, you are not one yet!
But our master, that remarkable old gentleman, has been renowned as a Grandmaster appraiser for many years.
When an established Grandmaster makes a move, what chance do you have!
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhongding's emotions finally stabilized, and he immediately smiled fawningly, "Brother, I misunderstood you. Please don't blame me. I was just anxious for revenge and afraid you would abandon me, which is why I was so agitated."
"Don't worry, Brother Xu, I am your sworn brother, and I will definitely seek justice for you," Wang Dongsheng reassured him, then looked towards Er Dong, "Remember, tell that kid that I'm not his opponent and I admit defeat without a fight. However, in a few days, our master will seek justice from him. It's best if he's prepared!"
"So that it's not said that we attacked him suddenly, ganging up on the younger."
"Hmph, good riddance!" Er Dong grunted, watching their retreating figures. A sense of unease began to stir within him.
After all, the person they were bringing this time was the master of two renowned masters!
His skill level was likely terrifying.
He immediately called Li Yang. "Boss Li, something big has happened."
"What is it, just tell me directly." Li Yang had just reached the Kunming City expressway toll booth. He glanced at the surrounding flowers and plants. As expected of a city known as the Spring City, there were indeed many flowers and plants here, and the climate was excellent.
Er Dong quickly recounted what had just happened, "I heard their master is a Grandmaster appraiser, and a very influential one!"
"Boss, how should we deal with this?"
"Grandmaster appraiser?" Li Yang's eyes lit up, and he said with some anticipation, "Prepare some fruits and tea, and wait for that old Grandmaster to arrive."
"Ah?" Er Dong was astonished, "What, what's the logic behind this?"
"Grandmasters are rare, so it's only right that we be polite," Li Yang said with a smile. "As for anything else, you don't need to worry. To be honest, I've been wanting to spar with a Grandmaster for a long time."
"Ah!" Er Dong was stunned again, his jaw practically dislocated.
Others would avoid such encounters, yet you were eager for them to come!
After hanging up the phone, he found his jaw still unhinged. He frantically signaled to a nearby store clerk. After a few minutes, one clerk finally understood.
Good heavens!
His jaw dropping was a real event!
"Mr. Li, it's getting late. Looking at stones under artificial light can lead to problems. Let's stay at a hotel tonight, have a good meal, and then look at the stones tomorrow morning," Jin Buhuan said as the car passed the toll booth.
Li Yang nodded, "You arrange it."
Jadeite and other precious stones, like gold and silver jewelry, look different under artificial light compared to natural light.
Generally speaking, viewing these items under artificial light is like admiring a beauty by lamplight; it's difficult to spot any flaws. You only see how beautiful the beauty is, and your heart incessantly shouts, "Perfect! Perfect!"
Especially when some merchants are clever and deliberately use spotlights, the beauty becomes even more stunning, appearing as if she's wearing a bikini. In the latter case, she's practically lunging at you. What flaws could you possibly see? If your head isn't spinning, you're already a remarkable person.
Therefore, professional buyers usually examine jadeite and other precious stones under natural light.
If someone unfamiliar with the trade is told by a seller that natural light means sunlight, then they are being deceived again.
The so-called natural light is light in a normal environment, avoiding direct sunlight.
After the car had driven for a while, Jin Buhuan was about to point out a hotel and ask Li Yang when he saw Li Yang staring intently at a flower girl on the street. He couldn't help but smile, "Mr. Li, are you buying flowers?"