Previously, Murong Guang and the others mentioned that the Ouyang family had a collection hall displaying several thousand pieces of porcelain. When he invited them to visit again, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were quite interested and naturally wouldn't refuse.

Seeing that the two agreed, Ouyang was also very pleased and immediately led the way.

Shortly after, the group arrived at Ouyang’s residence. It was quite far from Murong Guang's ranch, a distance spanning from one end of the city to the other, but the route was very accessible, and they arrived in just over half an hour.

Compared to Murong Guang's large estate, Ouyang’s villa was equally impressive, situated at the foot of a lush green mountain, offering a profoundly tranquil and elegant environment. Wherever it was placed, it would certainly be considered a mansion.

Passing through the mansion's iron gates, the car slowly stopped before the main entrance. Ouyang quickly got out to open the main door, greeting them with a warm smile: "Everyone, please come in."

Upon entering the main door, they were met with a spacious hall. A huge crystal chandelier hung overhead, the floor was gleaming and polished, and in the very center, there was even a miniature rockery with a flowing water feature—truly a sight to behold.

Such an arrangement was rather uncommon. Typically, scenes involving rockeries and flowing water were situated in the front or back gardens. Having it appear in the main hall was naturally surprising.

However, amidst the surprise, it was also aesthetically pleasing. After all, numerous bonsai plants were placed near the rockery and stream, complementing the water feature wonderfully. Compared to the unchanging nature of modern furniture, being able to appreciate these "natural" landscapes while sitting in the living room was sure to feel very comfortable.

"What a show-off."

As Wang Guan and Yu Feibai gasped in wonder, Murong Guang remarked with a hint of jealousy, "The cost of this landscape must be over a million; it’s simply excessive luxury..."

"It’s not that expensive," Ouyang retorted. "Just digging a pond, piling up a few stones, plus a water pumping and filtration system—that's only tens of thousands."

"Those few stones of yours cost over a million," Murong Guang scoffed.

Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were naturally astonished upon hearing this and couldn't help but step closer to examine the stones, eager to know what kind of stones could be worth more than a million.

Looking closely, Yu Feibai’s eyes flashed with sudden realization. "Is this Jiuquan Jade?"

"Brother Yu has sharp eyes."

At that moment, Ouyang stood up, gave a thumbs-up, and smiled, "That’s right. These stones are raw material from Jiuquan Jade. The patterns in the stone are highly ornamental, and with the clear water flowing over them, the colors blend together to form exquisitely beautiful patterns. It truly evokes a profound artistic sense."

Wang Guan scrutinized the rockery. He found that Ouyang was correct.

The rockery was formed by stacking several stones of varying sizes. A small artificial spring bubbled up at the top, continuously pouring out clear water that cascaded over stones of light green and deep green hues. The surface of the stones appeared warm and moist, filled with ever-changing textures. When moistened by the clear water, they shone with brilliantly gorgeous colors under the sunlight—it was indeed magnificent.

Of course, Wang Guan also felt that Murong Guang had a point; using jade material to build a rockery was an extravagant act. But as long as he hadn't stolen or robbed anyone, even paving the ground with gold and silver would be his freedom, and Wang Guan wouldn't meddle.

"Alright. Don't keep obsessing over these few stones of mine," Ouyang said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "When I dig up any more good material like this, I’ll send it to you right away."

"You’ve been saying that for months, but there’s been no progress," Murong Guang said with unconcealed disbelief.

"It’s mainly due to resource scarcity. We’ve mined quite a bit of mountain material and stream material, but the pebble material is getting rarer," Ouyang sighed helplessly. "I estimate that in a few years, Jiuquan Jade will be depleted."

"Doesn't your 'few' need an extra character? You have more than a dozen mineral veins; you can mine for at least a few decades more," Murong Guang joked.

"Roughly..."

Ouyang smiled and continued his invitation, "Everyone, please come and sit down. What would you like to drink?"

To the left of the rockery stream, there were three rows of sofas arranged around a coffee table. In the corner, a large refrigerator stood stocked with a dazzling array of beverages—canned or bottled tea, liquor, and coffee were all available.

Seeing this setup, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai felt a familiar sense of recognition. After a moment of thought, they realized this was distinctly Lu Chongming’s habit: seeking only convenience and simplicity, never considering nutritional balance.

Even Murong Guang couldn't help but shake his head at this. However, perhaps having already said too much, he didn't bother arguing, simply asking directly for a can of Wang Lao Ji to cool his internal heat.

Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were unconcerned about the drinks; they were far more interested in Ouyang’s collection. Hearing their request, Ouyang was delighted and immediately led them to the collection room.

Upon arrival, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai felt that calling this place a "collection room" seemed somewhat inadequate. In reality, the space was vast, comparable to the main hall they had just seen, perhaps even slightly larger—it was no wonder Murong Guang and the others referred to it as a collection hall.

In this spacious area, rows upon rows of sturdy shelves were neatly arranged. Each shelf layer was lined with soft red silk cloth, lending an air of elegance and luxury.

Of course, it wasn't just the shelves that were magnificent; the items displayed on them were equally opulent. It was clear that Ouyang adhered to a principle of collecting only the finest pieces. Whether bottles, large jars, plates, bowls, or saucers, every object featured crystal-clear bodies that shone brightly and possessed incredibly ornate and dazzling patterns.

However, almost the instant he laid eyes on these items, Wang Guan couldn't help but frown.

At this time, Ouyang was enthusiastically admiring his collection and didn't notice the subtle change in Wang Guan’s expression. Yu Feibai, however, did notice. He slowed his steps thoughtfully, nudged Wang Guan’s shoulder, and whispered, "This isn't... that situation we heard about, is it?"

"That situation" was code, and Wang Guan understood Yu Feibai’s implication. After all, many legends circulated within their field, the most common being that of a wealthy collector with a huge vault filled with dazzling porcelain pieces, which, upon inspection by seasoned experts, turned out to be entirely forgeries.

Yu Feibai suspected Ouyang’s collection fell into this category.

But Wang Guan gently shook his head and whispered back, "It’s not that grim; there are real ones mixed in."

"Meaning, there are a lot of fakes," Yu Feibai understood, nodding slightly. "No wonder the moment I walked in, the porcelain’s glow seemed too bright, almost glaring. It turns out that's just the light of deception."

"Don't be too quick to judge; let's look closely first," Wang Guan said with a slight smile. "There are also pristine, perfectly preserved heirloom treasures."

Yu Feibai naturally argued back, "There certainly will be some, but it’s normal to have a few; you can’t have thousands of items that are all flawless, can you?"

That was a valid point. Having thousands of pieces all in perfect condition was something one might only see at a major auction. And even the largest auction houses would have some items with flaws. Yet, every piece in Ouyang’s collection was so beautiful, seemingly without a single imperfection, which was indeed cause for suspicion.

Despite their doubts, after exchanging a few quiet words, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai began observing discreetly.

"Brother Wang, what do you think of my collection?" Just then, Ouyang inquired, a hint of self-satisfaction in his expression, clearly pleased with his acquisitions.

"Very nice, they look quite good," Wang Guan replied with a light smile. "From a quick glance, it seems to be a thematic collection."

"A true expert is an expert."

Hearing this, Ouyang’s smile widened. "I only collect porcelain from the Ming, Qing, and modern eras. Pieces like Yuan Blue-and-White or the Song Dynasty's Five Great Kilns—they are precious, yes, but there are too many fakes; I dare not step into that minefield."

"That’s a very practical approach..." Wang Guan praised, though he didn't finish his sentence, as counterfeits of Ming and Qing dynasty wares were even more rampant than those of Yuan Blue-and-White or Song Five Great Kilns.

Ouyang didn't catch the hidden implication and was naturally delighted. "Actually, these things aren't much. I estimate the whole lot combined isn't worth as much as that Jinshan Shengji Tu in your shop. But I’m planning to acquire an absolute masterwork in the next couple of days, one whose value will definitely not be less than Tang Bohu's Jinshan Shengji Tu."

"Oh."

Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were startled and immediately became very interested. They knew that Tang Bohu's Jinshan Shengji Tu was not cheap; even after being displayed at the Shiyi Pavilion, people were still persistently trying to buy it, offering higher and higher prices. The most recent bid was nearly seventy million.

Seventy million, a solid seventy million, with absolutely no exaggeration involved. If they hadn't overcome their recent difficulties and their bank account hadn't been replenished, Wang Guan might actually have been tempted to sell the painting.

But now, hearing that Ouyang was preparing to buy something of equivalent value to the Jinshan Shengji Tu, the two were naturally curious, especially Yu Feibai, who eagerly pressed him, "Brother Yang, what item are you talking about?"

"A Yongle Blue-and-White Porcelain Dish with Lychee and Long-Tailed Birds Pattern."

Ouyang didn't keep them in suspense and revealed it directly, adding with some hesitation, "It is an extremely rare treasure, but the price is quite steep. I’ve been deliberating these past few days whether to buy it, which is why I missed yesterday’s hunting meet."

"How expensive exactly?" Murong Guang asked, sounding intrigued. "Even a tycoon like you hesitates over something being too expensive?"

"They are asking seventy million," Ouyang frowned. "I definitely need to bargain, but once I got it down to sixty million, I couldn’t push any further."

"Sixty million?" Murong Guang pondered, then nodded slowly. "It is indeed quite expensive." Seeing his casual and unflustered demeanor, Wang Guan realized Murong Guang was also a significant tycoon.

Wang Guan muttered inwardly, while kindly reminding him, "Mr. Ouyang, with anything priceless, it’s always wise to be cautious..."

After all, after examining the collection before him, Wang Guan truly doubted Ouyang’s discerning eye.

(To be continued.)