Yet, everyone had learned their lesson well enough now, daring not to pass judgment hastily, lest they be proven wrong again. After all, numerous facts had already demonstrated that anything presented by the Xiyi Museum was bound to be a masterpiece. This cup, no matter how plain or unassuming, should be no exception. "Learn from one stumble, gain ten years of wisdom"—they had clearly become smarter, correctly guessing the outcome right away. Of course, at this moment, several experts were still examining the cup, yet they couldn't glean anything substantial from it.

It was a foreign expert who, after a few glances, remarked that the object bore a resemblance to the communion cups used in his homeland. The Chinese experts gave this observation little thought, some even agreeing with the foreign expert’s view. After all, the Western church had been introduced to China a long time ago. Due to various reasons, however, it had never managed to eclipse the native religions and gain significant traction. It was not strange, then, that some artifacts might possess Western stylistic elements. One had to remember that the ancients were quite open-minded, far less insular than people imagined. Moreover, they were intensely curious, possessing a far greater capacity for accepting novel things than commonly believed. Naturally, this acceptance hinged on the premise that their fundamental interests were not threatened.

"At first glance, it appears to be made of stone," an expert murmured, frowning. "But upon closer inspection, it feels as if it’s not..." "It looks remarkably plain," a neighboring expert commented thoughtfully at that moment. "Why don't we pour some water in to see how it reacts?"

It must be said that having witnessed the miracle of the Sacred Pottery Cup, the experts knew how to apply known principles to new situations, to draw inferences from one case to another. Thus, the suggestion met with universal approval, and someone immediately fetched water to pour into the cup. Everyone then watched intently, and what happened next truly did not disappoint them.

Initially, the water in the cup remained perfectly still. Because of the preceding encounter with the Sacred Pottery Cup, the experts’ patience had been well-honed; they weren't anxious but waited with deliberate calm. One or two minutes passed, and suddenly, someone detected a change. "Look quickly..." the person exclaimed, a mix of surprise and delight in his voice. "Something is happening." There was no need for that person to prompt them. All eyes were focused, and naturally, they spotted the sudden, windless ripples appearing on the surface of the water in the cup. And through the clear camera lens, the assembled audience could see it distinctly: the formerly crystal-clear water, in that very instant, surged with a thread of crimson, and as the ripple spread, the red color expanded with a force capable of sweeping the world. "Gurgle, gurgle..." A moment later, almost in the blink of an eye, the water inside the cup began to boil vigorously.

Such a sight naturally astonished and excited them further, fostering a sense of vindication—just as we expected. "I knew this thing wasn't simple..." "What do you think the water in the cup will finally turn into?" Amidst the speculation, perhaps because the cup was overfilled, a fair amount of liquid spilled over as it boiled. Then they saw a viscous, blood-red substance. "Hiss!" At first glance, everyone exchanged startled looks, a sudden chill running through them. "Is that water, or blood?" "No. It’s not blood." At this point, someone reached out a hand, touched the blood-like sludge, sniffed it briefly, and then shook his head. "There’s no metallic scent of blood."

"What are you all doing?" Just then, Elder Zhou walked over. He glanced at the scene and chuckled. "Ah, so you are spoiling fine things." "Elder Zhou, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. Quickly tell us, what is the deal with this cup now?" Hearing this, not only were the other experts intrigued, but the audience listening was even more attentive. After all, an object capable of transforming water into a blood-red sludge was profoundly strange, and they urgently wished to know the underlying principle.

"You all are just too impatient. You haven’t even asked why I said you were spoiling things." Elder Zhou let out a light laugh and shook his head, reaching out directly to take the cup. Then, under everyone’s gaze, he actually drank the entire contents of the cup in one go, not leaving a single drop. "Ah!" Unexpected. Extremely unexpected. Some people were practically stunned, staring blankly at Elder Zhou’s action, unable to process it. Remember, that cup did not contain the tea brewed by the Sacred Pottery Cup, but rather a gruesome, blood-like sludge!

Human psychology is peculiar, and the imagination is rich; usually, upon seeing something, the mind immediately seeks correlations, linking the object to familiar impressions. The sludge in the cup was no different. Even though someone had confirmed it wasn't actual blood, everyone subconsciously associated the substance with blood, feeling an aversion they weren't even fully aware of themselves. Now, seeing Elder Zhou casually drink a cup of 'blood,' their astonishment and shock were immense.

After a long pause, an expert in his forties finally asked cautiously, "Elder Zhou, how did it taste?" "Average. Lacked punch." Elder Zhou shook his head, then suddenly waved his hand. "Bring the wine." Hearing the call, Gao Dequan, who had been prepared, immediately stepped forward with a smile, handing Elder Zhou an unopened bottle of baijiu, helping him twist off the cap, and then pouring the white spirit into the cup.

"Oh." Seeing this, everyone’s eyes brightened. They were beginning to dimly grasp what Elder Zhou meant by them spoiling things. Could it be that pouring wine into the cup was the optimal combination? Regardless of whether that was true, everyone watched with intense focus. Indeed, after a few moments, the baijiu began to boil, and then changes gradually appeared. This transformation was quite distinct; unlike the viscous texture before, the resulting blood-red liquid made from the baijiu now shimmered with an oily sheen. Though still a deep crimson, it no longer carried a terrifying aura but rather a more appealing rose-red hue.

"That looks quite nice," the expert in his forties said, blinking. He then picked up the cup, smelled it, and couldn't resist taking a small sip to savor it. Under everyone’s scrutiny, the expert smacked his lips, then suddenly laughed. "Elder Zhou, you are indeed remarkable. The 'blood' brewed with baijiu truly tastes good; it has a hint of wine." "Wine?" Upon hearing this, the others naturally clamored to try it as well. However, since this cup was smaller than the Sacred Pottery Cup, the scramble was even more intense. Seeing the chaotic scene on the stage, Elder Zhou quickly intervened.

"Alright. Everyone, let’s not forget the main event." As he spoke, Gao Dequan collected the two cups and then brought out the Scarlet Heaven Sword (Chixiao Jian). Only then did the order of the venue return to normal. Although some people were still concerned about the status of the two cups, the majority shifted their focus to the Chixiao Jian. After all, the purpose of holding this appraisal meeting was to verify the authenticity of the Chixiao Jian. Now that the main course was served, everything else was secondary. However, precisely because of this focus, many overlooked a crucial detail: the provenance of the second cup. The experts had narrated the history of the Sacred Pottery Cup in exhaustive detail, but regarding the second cup, Elder Zhou and the others had remained completely silent. Of course, in the public consciousness, these details were not the priority; the focus was now on the Chixiao Jian presented before them.

"Clang!" With a clear, sharp ring, the Chixiao was drawn from its sheath. Illuminated by the light of the Seven-Colored Pearl and the Nine-Splendid Jade, the blade naturally appeared exceptionally gorgeous and dazzling, radiating a magnificent treasure light. But what drew the most attention was the amplification effect; the sword light seemed to surge and recede as it flickered, the invisible blade aura looking as if it could pierce the heavens, eliciting gasps from the audience.

"It doesn't look… that impressive," someone commented online, immediately attracting numerous counter-attacks. "We told you! Watching the live stream is completely different from being here in person. The camera only captures the essence; if you were here to watch, you would feel what 'shimmering cold light and pressing sword energy' truly means..." "It is absolutely the genuine Chixiao Jian. If it’s fake, I’ll swallow the sword myself." "I think you wouldn’t swallow it for real, you'd just try to pocket it privately." "Hey, is my intention that obvious?" Amidst the banter, everyone focused closely on the stage.

At this time, the experts were not idle either; they gathered around the Chixiao Jian to appraise it. Each person touched and weighed it, expressing amazement and exclamation. They analyzed everything from the blade's shape, ornamentation, and forging technique to the two embedded jewels—inside and out—finding no trace of forgery whatsoever. "Without a doubt, this is the true famous sword, Chixiao..." one expert declared emphatically, earning himself considerable applause. After all, many in the audience had already been deeply impressed when the Chixiao was first revealed, convinced that the item was indeed the legendary sword. If anyone suggested it was fake, they would likely turn hostile.

"Of course, out of an abundance of caution, we need to conduct one small verification." As he spoke, Elder Zhou gently waved his hand, and someone soon approached carrying a basin covered with a thick cloth, concealing its contents. Naturally, the audience was curious about what was inside. Elder Zhou, however, did not keep them in suspense. As soon as the basin was brought up, he directly whisked the thick cloth away. Simultaneously, the camera swept over, and everyone clearly saw that the basin contained a vivid crimson liquid, which looked eerily like… "Blood, real blood."

At this moment, Elder Zhou confirmed the audience's speculation and then chuckled. "But everyone, don't be alarmed; this is not human blood, but animal blood. It was just brought over from the slaughterhouse; it’s still quite fresh and hasn't clotted." "Disgusting." "How terrifying..." Several female audience members couldn't handle it and looked away. However, some tough women remained unfazed, watching with keen interest like the male spectators, eager to understand why Elder Zhou had brought blood.

"Everyone watch closely now, don't blink," Elder Zhou smiled, picking up the Chixiao Jian and lowering it, the tip aimed at the basin, and slowly let it descend until the point just lightly touched the crimson liquid. Seeing this, the crowd grew more confused, utterly baffled as to what Elder Zhou wanted them to see. Still, they held their breath and watched without blinking. Their diligence proved worthwhile, because at that very moment, a strange event suddenly began to unfold. The audience, being farther away, might not have seen clearly, but the camera lens distinctly captured an exceedingly abnormal situation…〖Book Site ∷ Fast Update ∷ No Pop-ups ∷ Pure Text ∷ www.〗RT