Although he didn't understand Li Yang's purpose, he ultimately decided to adopt Li Yang's decision.
He presented the three antique items to Zhou Kun. Upon seeing them, Zhou Kun couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Master Wang, after appraising antiques for so many years, your skills have actually regressed."
"You're testing me with these simple three items? Are you intentionally trying to lose to me?"
"Enough nonsense. If you have the ability, appraise all three items. If you're not confident, just admit defeat," Wang Zhongsheng stated firmly.
"I admit defeat? That's a joke. Hand them over!"
Zhou Kun, naturally, was not convinced and would not concede willingly. After Wang Zhongsheng handed the items to him, he confidently picked up the antiques one by one for appraisal.
Similarly, he gave the three antique items he had selected to Wang Zhongsheng for appraisal.
Having learned from his previous loss to Zhou Kun, Wang Zhongsheng conducted his appraisal this time with extreme detail.
The first item he picked up was a jade thumb ring. It appeared exquisitely crafted, made of white jade, and was quite valuable.
However, he soon discovered something amiss at the bottom of the ring. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he immediately identified it as a high-quality replica.
The second item was a bronze sword. Its surface was covered in patina, but its fine carving and ancient appearance were undeniable. At first glance, it seemed like a genuine artifact from the Western Zhou Dynasty.
However, when Wang Zhongsheng drew the sword, the sound it made hinted at an impure material, differing slightly from the sound of a genuine Western Zhou bronze sword. Thus, he also deemed it a fake.
The third antique was another jade piece. It was evident that Zhou Kun favored using jade for deception.
But how could Wang Zhongsheng, a renowned appraisal master from the Northern Province, fall for his tricks repeatedly? Wang Zhongsheng appraised it based on its jade texture, weight, and patina, ultimately concluding it was a high-quality replica jade.
This time, the replication technique was exceptionally clever, with subtle polishing and secondary modification through advanced aging methods, making it indistinguishable from the genuine article.
After nearly ten minutes, Wang Zhongsheng announced his three appraisal results, all officially declared correct!
At this moment, Huang Bai and President Feng clenched their fists in excitement. If Zhou Kun misidentified even one item, he would lose.
A few more minutes passed, and Zhou Kun also announced his appraisal results for the three items.
When he announced the second item, Li Yang, seated in the audience, showed a look of joy and waited with his hands crossed over his chest for the official verdict.
"Master Zhou's appraisal results are two correct and one incorrect. The second item, a porcelain vase, is a Song Dynasty imitation of a Tang Dynasty piece, not a genuine Tang Dynasty artifact."
"Master Zhou has failed to defend his title, and Master Wang is victorious!"
The referee walked onto the stage and announced their results, immediately followed by a burst of enthusiastic applause.
Li Yang smiled calmly and gave Wang Zhongsheng a thumbs-up in praise.
Wang Zhongsheng smiled somewhat guiltily. In truth, if he had been the one to appraise these three items, he would have at best gotten two correct.
He had briefly examined the porcelain vase earlier, and his assessment was the same as Zhou Kun's.
When Zhou Kun had just announced his results, he thought the match would end in a draw!
His victory now was entirely thanks to Li Yang!
The people from Situ Jue's side were furious and looked displeased upon seeing the outcome!
Especially Zhou Kun, who was a key general invited by Situ Jue, felt utterly disgraced by this loss!
"Zhou Kun, you never thought you'd lose to me one day, did you? From now on, I advise you to behave yourself when you see me. You're still too green to compete with me for the championship!" Wang Zhongsheng declared assertively.
"Hmph, you got lucky today. Just you wait!"
Zhou Kun snorted coldly and walked off the stage indignantly, directly to Situ Jue's side. He shook his head and said, "Patriarch Situ, I have disappointed you. I failed to defend my title."
"It's alright. We still have two more masters. The championship title today will surely be ours!"
"Indeed. I don't even consider these appraisers from the Northern Province worthy of my attention. Why don't you let me go on stage and take down several of their top contenders in one go? That way, the championship title can be secured in advance."
Bai Yangzhong stepped forward proactively, volunteering his services.
This person was an appraisal master invited by Situ Jue from the capital, and he had considerable fame in the antique circles there. Such appraisal events in Jiangcheng were a mere formality for him, and winning the championship would be effortless.
"Alas, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? Dealing with these minor figures on stage is enough for me, Qin."
At this moment, a bearded man stepped forward, stroking his beard confidently. "My title as the 'Golden Eye of Jiang Province' wasn't earned in vain. Leave this fellow to me."
"Master Bai, you should rest here for now. Let me defeat them first."
In reality, this fellow harbored greater ambitions. He prevented Bai Yangzhong from going on stage solely to showcase his own abilities and enhance his status in the antique world.
He was also here to win the championship and naturally would not easily cede the opportunity to this master from the capital.
Bai Yangzhong, being inherently arrogant, did not take the "Golden Eye of Jiang Province" seriously and therefore felt no apprehension about him competing for his honor.
"Very well!"
Bai Yangzhong sat down again, watching the performance of the bearded Golden Eye.
The bearded man confidently walked onto the stage and looked at Wang Zhongsheng, saying, "Wang, you're quite capable, even the God of Gamblers from the Southern Province couldn't defeat you. Unfortunately, you're about to lose to me."
"I am the Golden Eye of Jiang Province, here to challenge your appraisal skills, Master Wang."
"Then please proceed."
Wang Zhongsheng was unfazed and followed the same rules as before: each person would select three antique items for the other to appraise.
Li Yang stood in the audience, continuing to provide guidance to Wang Zhongsheng, instructing him on which items to choose.
Having already won one match, Wang Zhongsheng's trust in Li Yang was even higher than before, and he unhesitatingly followed Li Yang's advice.
However, while Li Yang could help him select the antiques, the appraisal process itself still had to be performed by Wang Zhongsheng.
This "Golden Eye of Jiang Province" was far more skilled than the previous gambler. The antiques he selected for Wang Zhongsheng were all extremely rare, unique, and tricky items, considered obscure in the antique world.
After his appraisal, Wang Zhongsheng only got two out of three correct, leaving a slim chance for the Golden Eye.
"Haha, Master Wang, it seems you are destined to lose today!"
Seeing Wang Zhongsheng's mistake on the last item, the Golden Eye couldn't help but laugh and mock him.
"You haven't announced your appraisal results yet. Please proceed," Wang Zhongsheng said, feeling unconvinced. He thought that if he could at least draw, there would still be a chance for a tie-breaker.
But the outcome was beyond his wildest expectations!
The renowned Golden Eye of Jiang Province made a significant error in appraising these three items, shocking the entire venue!
Even the referee was bewildered when he announced his appraisal results!
The referee shook his head helplessly and stepped forward to announce, "The Golden Eye of Jiang Province has made incorrect appraisals on all three items. Master Wang wins this round as well!"