At the same time, Old Chi walked to the front stage, beaming, "I understand everyone's excitement. Truthfully, when we first learned this long scroll might be an authentic Su Dongpo, I was as thrilled as all of you, and my first thought was whether it could be a forgery, or perhaps a reproduction..."

Hearing Old Chi speak, the crowd gradually calmed down, focusing their attention even more intently.

"But I am here to tell you that this is authentic, without a doubt, the genuine work of Layman Dongpo." Old Chi’s voice grew impassioned, "The reason I dare state this so firmly isn't just empty talk; we have concrete evidence."

"Firstly, look at the calligraphy on the scroll; the entire piece displays Su Dongpo's style. The writing flows with an unconstrained, innocent vitality, unbound by the strictures of Tang Dynasty (regular script). Amidst the rich flow of ink, it is filled with a magnificent, sweeping grandeur..."

"Secondly, there are the inscriptions and postscripts. Not only does the scroll feature Dongpo's own commentary, but it also bears personal inscriptions from calligraphy masters and great scholars such as Huang Tingjian, Zhu Xi, Wei Liaoweng, and Deng Wenyuan. After careful examination and comparison with their extant calligraphy, we can definitively confirm that these inscriptions are indeed from their own hands..."

"Thirdly, the seals on the scroll. With the permission of the owner, we extracted some ink paste from several less critical seals and analyzed it chemically, confirming the age of the seal paste's existence..."

"Furthermore, through precise instrumental detection, we can confirm that the silk used for the long scroll is indeed from the Northern Song Dynasty. Of course, the most important point is..."

At this moment, Old Chi's expression sobered, his tone solemn: "Our Provincial Museum's entire Calligraphy and Painting Appraisal Group, along with appraisal masters from the neighboring province's Collectors Association, and connoisseurs from the Three Sus Hall Museum in Meishan, Sichuan..."

As Old Chi listed them, Old Tian and others stepped forward one by one, standing beside him.

A moment later, the stage was filled with people—roughly twenty to thirty individuals, judging by a quick count. Connoisseurs, some white-haired, others middle-aged, gathered together, presenting quite a spectacle. Some recognized these figures; others, though unfamiliar, had heard of them, knowing they were highly respected authorities.

At this juncture, these figures, esteemed in the eyes of ordinary people, whether smiling faintly or wearing serious expressions, nodded at Old Chi's signal and spoke as one, in unison: "After our joint appraisal, we unanimously agree that this is the genuine work of Dongpo!"

This was not a gimmick; it was a testament to the reverence for a national treasure. They staked their reputations on it, dispelling any doubts the public held about this long scroll of the Odes on the Red Cliff. And the effect was palpable.

After their initial shock, the crowd understood that the people on stage were not the unreliable 'experts' seen on television. Since they unanimously declared the piece authentic, there could be no mistake. Moreover, if only two or three people vouched for it, doubts might linger, but with two or three dozen witnesses, the credibility multiplied several times over.

Understanding this principle, Xiao Duan and Liu Liang exchanged glances, their expressions profoundly complicated. They had dismissed the item as a fake just yesterday, only to be told today it was a treasure beyond measure. How would they feel? Regret? Certainly—so much regret their guts were twisting into knots.

Then came a deep-seated hatred—a bitterness toward themselves for having possessed a pearl and treating it like common glass, selling it so easily...

Regardless of their mixed feelings of remorse, at this moment, the two were insignificant figures, incapable of stirring up trouble, nor daring to try. After all, the rows of strong, vigilant security guards nearby were no joke; anyone daring to disrupt public order would certainly face dire consequences.

In stark contrast, Wang Guan felt immensely elated. Watching the excited and enthusiastic crowd, he finally understood why so many collectors were driven to establish museums. Joy shared is joy multiplied. Any treasure one possesses is best not hoarded but willingly shared with everyone.

In this way, one's personal happiness merges with the happiness of the masses, transforming into an ocean of delight. The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction derived from this cannot be easily put into words; Wang Guan reveled in it.

However, Wang Guan's joy was short-lived as he saw Xing Qiu approaching, looking dejected.

"How did it go?" Wang Guan glanced over and chuckled softly, "Was it settled in one battle?"

"Are you mocking me?"

Xing Qiu retorted irritably, "I haven't failed yet... By the way, do you know what Wuse Ni (Five-Color Clay) is?"

"Five-Color Clay?" Wang Guan paused, somewhat puzzled. "Why are you suddenly asking about that? That's quite a jump in topic."

"No choice. That beautiful lady said if I could find her a piece of top-grade Five-Color Clay, she would give me a chance." As he spoke, Xing Qiu frowned, "But what on earth is Five-Color Clay? Just mud of five colors?"

"Are you sure it was Wuse Ni, and not Wuse Tu (Five-Color Earth)?" Wang Guan confirmed.

"Uh, is there a difference?" Xing Qiu looked genuinely confused.

"There's definitely a difference," Wang Guan slowly explained. "If it were Five-Color Earth, that would be relatively easy. You know that in ancient China, there was always the system of sacrifices to the She and Ji. The place for sacrificing to the Earth God was called She, and the place for sacrificing to the Grain God was called Ji. The ancients believed that people could not stand without earth, nor eat without grain. Thus, these two elements were highly valued, even leading to the term 'nation' being Sheji..."

"I know that part, get to the point," Xing Qiu scratched his head. "What's the connection between this 'Sheji' and Five-Color Earth?"

"The altar for these sacrifices, the Sheji Altar, was typically constructed from five-colored earth," Wang Guan smiled. "In Beijing, the Altar of Earth and Harvest in Zhongshan Park still preserves the one built in the Ming Dynasty, paved with five types of soil. East was represented by green, South by red, West by white, North by black, and the center by yellow. These five colors symbolized the entire territory of China, gathered as tribute from all corners to signify the concept that 'All under heaven is the King's land.'"

"I see. That sounds complicated, but gathering it would be quite simple," Xing Qiu murmured to himself. Modern transportation was vastly convenient; if he was willing to spend the money, he could probably assemble all five colors of earth within a single day.

"It is indeed quite simple, which is why I asked if it was Five-Color Earth or Five-Color Clay." Wang Guan smiled again. "If it’s Five-Color Clay, especially top-grade Five-Color Clay, then it's not easy. In fact, it's extremely, extremely difficult—as difficult as the perilous paths of Shu."

"What do you mean?" Xing Qiu quickly asked. "What is Five-Color Clay?"

"What do you think Five-Color Clay might be?" Wang Guan countered.

"Five kinds of colored clay?" Xing Qiu cautiously guessed. "But I feel it's not that simple."

"Your intuition is quite reliable. The substance isn't simple, yet once revealed, it’s hardly worth mentioning," Wang Guan’s eyes twinkled mysteriously. "That beautiful woman is from Yixing, isn't she?"

"...I don't know." Xing Qiu was taken aback. "How could you tell she's from Yixing?"

Wang Guan stopped playing coy and directly revealed the answer: "Because Five-Color Clay is Zisha clay."

"What?" Xing Qiu blinked, then looked skeptical. "Isn't Zisha clay purple? How can it be Five-Color Clay? I heard her perfectly clearly; she said Wuse Ni, not Zisha clay; she spoke standard Mandarin..."

"Who told you Zisha clay is just purple?"

Wang Guan sighed with mild exasperation. "Look it up. Zisha clay is actually the collective term for Green Clay, Red Clay, and Purple Clay. There are also yellowish and whitish variants, which is why some people call Zisha clay Five-Color Clay. However, this term is uncommon, circulating only among insiders. It's understandable that an utter layman like you wouldn't know it."

"When the lady mentioned Five-Color Clay, she was likely testing if you shared any common ground with her."

Saying this, Wang Guan sighed outwardly, but inwardly he was gloating. "Pity that because of your lack of knowledge, you missed the opportunity. So don't blame her for giving you a difficult task."

"So that's how it is." Xing Qiu suddenly understood, completely ignoring Wang Guan's teasing, and excitedly said, "I'll go order a box of Zisha clay right now..."

"Hold on," Wang Guan reached out to stop him, his eyes showing a trace of pity. "What were her exact words?"

"I asked her for a chance, and she said bring her the most supreme Five-Color Clay, and she’d give me a chance..." Xing Qiu suddenly had a bad premonition and quickly inquired, "Is there some hidden meaning in those words?"

"Clever!" Wang Guan gave a thumbs-up, sighing with mock admiration. "It seems that lady is thoroughly annoyed by your persistence and wants to make sure you give up completely."

"What do you mean? Can you explain it more clearly?" Xing Qiu pressed, sensing his bad premonition was coming true.

"The top-grade Zisha clay generally recognized in the industry today is a material called Tianqing Ni (Azure Clay)," Wang Guan looked at Xing Qiu and shook his head mournfully. "However, this Tianqing Ni is now lost; it has become a legend."

"Why?" Xing Qiu asked in shock. "Why is it lost?"

"It is said the resources for Tianqing Ni were so scarce they were completely mined out," Wang Guan mused. "Some also say that too many people mined it, eventually piercing an underground water vein, flooding the mine where Tianqing Ni was produced and turning it into a large pool. Regardless of the reason, the loss of Tianqing Ni is a fact. If you were incredibly lucky, you might still find one or two pieces..."

"Didn't you just say it was lost? How can there still be some?" Xing Qiu, though astonished, felt a flicker of renewed hope.

"Lost in modern times doesn't mean it was lost in antiquity," Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "In fact, Zisha clay is the common term. Insiders usually call it Qing Ni (Green Clay), and Tianqing Ni is the rarest variety of Qing Ni. Therefore, in ancient times, a piece of Tianqing Ni was often included in the dowry of a Yixing girl getting married. This custom, much like the custom of girls in Shaoxing having to include a jar of Nü'er Hong (Daughter's Red) when they married, was a regular practice..."