It was recorded that the Li inkstone was incredibly durable. Its edges, once ground, were as sharp as a blade, capable of slicing paper. Someone once conducted an experiment, grinding down only one cun after transcribing a full volume and a half of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Another account claimed that by using it daily to practice calligraphy—writing five thousand characters a day—a single inkstone lasted a full ten years. These were the remarkable characteristics of the Li inkstone, and the best means of verification.

Wang Guan spoke eloquently. "However, when choosing between two evils, one selects the lesser. Whether grinding the ink for writing or using it to trim paper or wood, both methods tend to damage the inkstone itself. That being the case, only the last method remains—the simplest, yet the most practical."

"The young man's reaction is quite astute," Elder Zhou praised with a gentle smile, then slowly recited, "A nobleman once accidentally dropped a pellet [of Li Tinggui ink] into a pond. When he drank from the pond a year later, he dropped a golden artifact in as well. He then commanded a skilled swimmer to retrieve it. The swimmer recovered the inkstone, its luster unchanged, appearing as new inside and out."

"Immersing it in water and observing the changes in the Li inkstone—that is the simplest and most accessible method of verification. True Li inkstone possesses a texture that is exceptionally hard and fine, almost like jade. It will not dissolve in water."

As he spoke, Elder Zhou picked up the inkstone and pointed to the faint inscription on its surface. "Everyone, please look closely. You must wonder why the inscription is blurred. Based on my deduction, it’s because someone verified the inkstone this way. The coiled dragon on the inkstone, along with the characters Yu Mo (Imperial Ink), were both drawn with gold powder, which is resistant to water. Only this inscription was outlined with red lacquer; when soaked in water for an extended period, the red lacquer easily dissolves, causing the inscription to naturally become indistinct."

"Clap, clap, clap…"

The audience listened intently to Elder Zhou’s analysis, involuntarily erupting into warm applause.

At that moment, Wang Guan felt a profound sense of awe. Everyone had noticed the blurred inscription on the inkstone, yet no one had thought deeply about it; in fact, many had taken the blurred mark as a point of doubt.

Only Elder Zhou, observing meticulously, used this very doubt as a starting point to deduce a convincing reality. Such insight, such perceptiveness, such experience, and such cultivation—how could it fail to inspire amazement and profound respect?

At this juncture, Wang Guan finally understood the true power of knowledge. Seeing the respect shining in everyone's eyes, he knew they had been utterly convinced by Elder Zhou's expertise.

In that very moment, amidst the enthusiastic applause, Wang Guan’s body trembled. It felt as if an electric current coursed through him, and a single thought suddenly flashed into his mind: He, too, wanted to become a person like that!

Even with the aid of his special ability, Wang Guan could pierce the fog and reveal the truth when others were stuck. However, even if he spoke the truth, if he couldn't articulate the concrete reasoning behind his insights, who would believe him? Moreover, even Elder Zhou hadn't relied solely on subjective judgment to determine authenticity; he had produced tangible evidence that garnered universal acceptance.

Therefore, his path was still long; he needed to delve deeper into learning.

Suddenly, Wang Guan realized that the insights gained from attending this exchange meeting were more valuable than reading dozens of books on antiques.

It was no wonder that Gao Dequan had summarized the three stages of collecting for him and Yu Feibai. First: Read extensively. If you read more than others, you know more, and naturally, you encounter more opportunities. Second: Connect theory with practice. Knowledge gained from books must be verified against actual objects; only through concrete practice can theoretical knowledge be fully integrated. Otherwise, one risks making the mistake of following a drawing blindly. Third: Believing in books blindly is worse than not reading them at all. Views found in books can sometimes be correct, but they can also be flawed. Determining right from wrong relies on one's accumulated experience.

However, this so-called experience cannot be amassed entirely through solitary exploration. After all, China boasts thousands of years of history, yielding a vast array of collectible items. An individual's energy is finite; no one can exhaust every subject.

Thus, one must rely on mutual exchange and absorption, incorporating the experience of others into one's own, accumulating knowledge continuously to even have a possibility of becoming an appraisal master like Old Qian, Elder Zhou, or Elder Zhang.

Note that it is only a possibility. Whether success is achieved depends on individual talent and the extent of one's effort.

For Wang Guan, possessing an innate ability that allowed him to judge authenticity at a glance was an unparalleled talent. The question remained: Had he put in the effort? Wang Guan asked himself, unable to deny the truth: although he hadn't slacked off under Gao Dequan's supervision recently, reading many books, he was still far from what could be called "effort."

Thinking this, Wang Guan felt a tinge of shame. However, lost in his contemplation, he failed to notice that the exchange meeting had entered its final judging phase.

It wasn't until staff members began handing out pens and paper that Wang Guan snapped back to reality. He glanced around and noticed an unusual atmosphere in the room.

The ten artifacts were displayed on pedestals. Everyone present was eligible to vote for the final champion—the treasure they considered most precious. Yet, many felt conflicted.

Of course, the real dilemma centered on only two items.

"Do you choose the White Jade Golden-Capped Buddha Holding a Prayer Bead, or the Li Tinggui Inkstone?"

"I'm torn. Rationally, the Jade Buddha is excellent, and it's from the Tang Dynasty. From a historical perspective, it predates the Li Inkstone. But the Li Inkstone is a peerless, rare item, arguably holding greater value."

"You can't say that. Don't forget, a large Hetian jade Buddha like this is also extremely rare. Furthermore, the mystical light patterns on the Jade Buddha possess a unique quality; awarding it the championship wouldn't be excessive, right?"

The two treasures were, to some extent, evenly matched, each gaining supporters, so no one could convince the other, and the debate raged on.

Just then, Old Qian said with a smile, "Have you all made up your minds? You may now cast your votes."

Hearing this, the crowd finally made their decisions, quickly scribbling the sequence number of their chosen artifact onto the slips of paper. One by one, they stepped onto the stage and dropped their votes into a box.

A moment later, Fang Mingsheng approached the box. He didn't vote immediately; instead, he held up his ballot paper, which bore no sequence number.

As everyone watched in surprise, Fang Mingsheng smiled and said, "Logically, at this point, I should vote for myself. However, upon reflection, I've decided against it."

"After all, my Jade Buddha is comparable to the Li Inkstone only thanks to one person. Here, I must sincerely thank young Brother Wang Guan. It was thanks to his reminder that we discovered the secrets held within the Jade Buddha. Therefore, while I cannot decide others' choices, I must cast my vote for him."

Saying this, Fang Mingsheng took his pen, drew a cross on the paper, and solemnly placed it into the box.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap…"

Seeing Fang Mingsheng's action, another round of applause erupted from the audience. Some might have deemed his gesture pretentious, but far more admired his magnanimity.

.................... Thanks to book friends Youyou Baidu, annesu, and Shanghai Xiaowang for the tips. I hope we can maintain the current performance; please give lots of support. I implore you. Seeking favorites and recommendation votes. C