As the crowd vied to see the painting, the water stains gradually dried over time, causing the Zhong Kui Subduing Ghosts Scroll to naturally fade until it vanished entirely. Witnessing this, the onlookers, after their initial awe, naturally began to urge them on.

"Splash some more water! We haven't seen enough yet."

"You may not have seen enough, but we haven't even seen it..."

Amidst the clamor, the scene was exceptionally lively, the atmosphere even more fervent than the day before. The primary reason was that while the Withered Wood Springs to Life Vase was indeed magical, it lacked a truly intuitive visual impact.

The Zhong Kui Subduing Ghosts Scroll, however, was different. It was the work of a master, possessing extremely high artistic merit, which naturally elicited a more passionate response. Simultaneously, many shrewd individuals offered congratulations to Elder Qian; with two such treasures secured, the museum need never worry about drawing a crowd.

"You are celebrating too soon."

At that moment, Elder Zhou interjected with a smile, "Today was merely an appetizer; the real feast is still ahead."

"What? There's something even better?"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of some instantly brightened, revealing surprise and curiosity, compelling them to inquire further.

"The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken," Elder Zhou declared, clearly intending to build suspense, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Knowing what it is is simple: just come back and watch again tomorrow."

"Alas."

Hearing this, many sighed in disappointment, yet they were already planning another visit for the next day.

Of course, some couldn't wait until tomorrow. Hearing rumors that the museum hosted a miraculous hidden painting, and furthermore, that it was an authentic work by Wu Daozi, people instantly converged from all directions.

Seeing the impenetrable stream of people, Wang Guan and the others were naturally delighted, but it was a trial for the security guards. Striving to maintain order, they soon found themselves drenched in sweat.

"What's going on inside?"

Meanwhile, outside the museum, onlookers were stunned by the dense crowd within.

"Are they holding some kind of party?"

"This is a museum, what kind of party could it be? I bet they're having a raffle or some kind of guessing game..."

Noticing the influx of people, some whose curiosity was piqued decided to join the flow. After all, the entrance fee wasn't expensive, so they casually paid and went in to see what the fuss was about. Upon entering, they found the situation wasn't what they imagined, but after viewing the Zhong Kui Subduing Ghosts Scroll, they felt their money was well spent.

The saying goes that no praise is as valuable as word-of-mouth endorsement. Compared to the small advertisements plastered on phones or utility poles, people were far more inclined to trust the words of friends and family. Hearing about such a miraculous item at the Xiyi Museum immediately captured widespread attention.

People naturally have their own social circles. Hearing friends discuss this event while they remained unaware prompted some, unwilling to be left out, to plan a visit.

Furthermore, some astute individuals reasoned that since the Withered Wood Springs to Life Vase was exhibited on the first day and the Zhong Kui Subduing Ghosts Scroll on the second, perhaps another exceptional piece would be unveiled on the third day.

Thus, while attracting new patrons, the museum also retained many repeat visitors. Consequently, by the early morning of the third day, especially as noon approached, the museum had become quite lively once more.

Naturally, while touring the exhibits, most people kept an eye on the main hall. However, as noon arrived and the main attraction had yet to appear, some noticed the arrival of numerous cultural scholars.

Jing and Tianjin are considered the nation's cultural epicenters. Consequently, the quantity and quality of cultural scholars there were naturally unparalleled elsewhere. It was unavoidable; as administrative centers, they possessed inherent advantages that made them highly attractive.

However, due to frequent exposure, the public was relatively familiar with these cultural figures. At least they were recognizable; one could immediately tell which field of culture they belonged to.

"From the Redology Society."

At this point, someone exclaimed in surprise, "What are people from the Redology Society doing here? Perhaps they organized a visit as part of an activity? Or maybe they are friends of the curator, here to show support..."

Despite their confusion, most people merely cast curious glances and made no further move. After all, these were traditional cultural figures, not modern idols; people weren't about to rush forward asking for autographs or photos. Moreover, those who appreciate antiques generally possess a certain level of cultivation. Their temperaments were relatively calm, and they lacked the mindset of idol worship.

Everyone is human. Even if someone is famous or successful, they might elicit respect, but not necessarily worship. Mature individuals typically lack the capacity for blind adoration. This might be a good thing, or perhaps a bad one. The lack of anyone to look up to could signify that their minds have become overly complex, losing their youthful simplicity and purity.

One must remember that in the earliest stages of life, the person one should most admire is often their father, but upon growing up, that reverence fades, sometimes disappearing entirely—a sorrow in itself.

"Brother Liu, you've come too."

"Brother Jin, good to see you, you're here as well."

When the group of Redologists arrived, being professionals in the same field, they naturally maintained frequent contact. Upon reaching the museum, they recognized each other and exchanged greetings. It appeared they had been invited individually, not as a collective.

In any case, the arrival of these Redologists, or cultural scholars well-versed in Redology, signaled that today's featured treasure was imminent.

Certainly, those in the know were aware of what was to be exhibited. But the majority present were the general public, unaware of the details; even some of the cultural scholars seemed puzzled. They had been specifically invited by acquaintances who urged them to attend lest they regret missing out.

Most who came believed their friends would not mislead them, so they attended out of curiosity. After touring the museum, they recognized the value of the existing pieces and felt no sense of being misled. However, sensing the palpable anticipation among many others left them quite astonished.

Yet, their astonishment didn't last long. Feeling the timing was right, Wang Guan and his entourage made their grand entrance.

"They're here! They're here!"

"I wonder if it's the Zhong Kui Subduing Ghosts Scroll from yesterday, or something new? Though the Withered Wood Springs to Life Vase was also excellent."

Noticing Wang Guan's group, the returning visitors instinctively surged toward the main hall, securing the best viewing spots, effectively blocking Wang Guan and the others from proceeding further.

Seeing this, Wang Guan and his companions couldn't help but smile wryly. Fortunately, the security guards cleared a path, and since the crowd understood that the main figures wouldn't stand outside, waiting further would be pointless. They relented, creating space for Wang Guan's group to reach the inner area.

"Thank you, thank you all."

Unlike the previous day, at this moment, following a subtle gesture from Elder Qian, Wang Guan walked directly to the display stand and offered a few polite opening remarks with a smile. Just as the audience assumed he was finished and were about to invite Elder Qian onto the stage, they saw him casually activate a mechanism within the display case.

In that instant, a cube emerged from the center of the specially designed stand.

"What is that?" The crowd was naturally puzzled. Upon closer inspection, they realized the cube was actually a cover, one draped with a red silk cloth.

"Oh, playing this trick again."

"Why all the mystery? Just lift the cover quickly!"

Instantly, the crowd erupted, showing signs of verbal impatience. The main reason for their forwardness was Wang Guan's youth; they were less constrained. Had Elder Qian done this, the tone might have been different.

Wang Guan, however, took no offense. He simply smiled and surveyed the surroundings, locking onto a target before raising his hand in invitation: "Mr. Liu, would you be kind enough to lift the cover?"

"What?"

The crowd paused and looked in the direction Wang Guan was pointing. There stood a renowned master of Redology. The direction was correct, and the surname was Liu—it had to be him.

At this point, not only the others but Mr. Liu himself was quite surprised and astonished, as he didn't know Wang Guan and had no idea why Wang Guan would invite him onto the stage.

Of course, Mr. Liu had experienced many grand occasions, and this small surprise was not enough to make him flustered. He mused that Wang Guan was likely improvising, intending to borrow his prestige to enhance the spectacle.

Mr. Liu wasn't opposed to this notion. After all, among so many cultural scholars present, the fact that Wang Guan chose him specifically felt like a form of recognition.

Considering this, Mr. Liu felt a touch of pleasure, coupled with curiosity about what artifact would warrant such widespread anticipation. He showed no intention of refusing and gracefully nodded in agreement, smiling as he walked toward the front stage.

The onlookers were cooperative, slightly yielding to create an unobstructed path for Mr. Liu to reach the display platform.

"Welcome, Mr. Liu..." Wang Guan greeted him with an amiable smile, naturally offering a few courteous words, such as having read his acclaimed works and gained much insight. These words were not insincere, as he had indeed read Mr. Liu's treatises on Dream of the Red Chamber. As for gaining insight, that was merely conventional pleasantry.

Good words are always appreciated, and Mr. Liu was no exception. However, being more astute about human nature, he noticed the slight impatience from the crowd below and smoothly transitioned to the main event.

After the ceremonial exchange with Wang Guan, Mr. Liu reached out, grasped the edge of the covering, and under the focused gaze of the audience, gently lifted the red silk cloth away.

Instantly, a jewel-like object, shimmering with a brilliance like the rosy dawn or the brightest star in the heavens, flashed into view. The radiant light, like colored clouds, formed a hazy halo, momentarily dazzling many eyes and causing a brief lapse in focus.

"What is this?"

After unveiling the object, Mr. Liu naturally looked down. Being so close, his eyes were almost blinded. After a moment, he gradually regained his composure and clearly discerned the object's appearance.

It was large as a sparrow's egg, luminous as the morning clouds, and smooth as refined butter, encased by five-colored swirling patterns. Its size, color, texture, and markings felt strangely familiar to Mr. Liu, causing him to furrow his brow in deep thought.

"The Spiritual Jade of Enlightenment?"

A moment later, a chord resonated within Mr. Liu; a monumental shock surged through him, and he cried out in astonishment. As a specialist in Dream of the Red Chamber, he possessed an intense familiarity with the object before him. With a slight effort of concentration, he immediately matched it to its counterpart.

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