"Amazing." Staff Li could not help but give a compliment, "Xuanxuan's appraising skills are getting better. You really are the best candidate to step into the 8-star master appraiser rank."
"Thank you for the compliment, Owner Bu." Xuanxuan, a 40 something-year-old guy, said filled with confidence. As a master appraiser and the most promising one at that, he was very confident about his skills. After all, he was tempered by his master the very hard way and the most effective one at that.
"No need to mention it." Staff Li smiled and looked at Lang Zing, "Congratulations Youngmaster Lang. It seems you got such a very good item. You can sell that out there with at least 300,000 rubies." He was a very fan of Lang Zing as he came from a mysterious and powerful sect that not even most of the people here would dare to offend.
"That's nothing, actually." Lang Zing chuckled and said, "It is because of my master appraiser's skills that I am able to win this competition. As a prize, I will give that to him for giving me good service."
"Such a benevolent Youngmaster, aren't you?" Staff Li smiled and added, "Anyways, it is more than given that you already have the victory in the bag."
"Let's not judge everything this fast, Li." Owner Bu interrupted and said, "There is still someone who has yet to cut his scrap stone."
When Owner Bu said this, everyone just remembered Jin Rou's existence. They looked at him again with mocking stares and annoyance. Some were also cussing as if they were venting their anger to Jin Rou from this big loss. After all, the master appraisers they hired was not a joke, to begin with as they were very expensive.
"This little friend..." Owner Bu called out to Jin Rou and said, "How about you cut the stone now? If you want help, I can send you someone to cut it for you."
"Thank you for the concern, Owner Bu." Jin Rou smiled and said, "But I don't think I need it. I can manage to cut this."
Owner Bu's brows knitted. He did not expect that his offer would be turned down. As someone, who was always being praised by everyone, if ever he offered a hand, they would immediately grab it. In fact, some kowtowed in gratefulness. But this young man declined him without any hesitation registering in his eyes. It was as if he was very confident with his skills. Owner Bu's curiosity was getting larger, and could not be suppressed any time now.
"How arrogant of you!" Staff Li could not keep it anymore and said, "Owner Bu is already offering you a hand, yet you have the courage to decline it?"
"Arrogant? Am I arrogant?" Jin Rou answered back, "I just declined it because I really don't need it. I can manage by myself."
"Cocky, aren't you?" Lang Zing joined the fray and added, "Since you have the audacity and unfound confidence, if you aren't able to defeat me, you will need to kowtow three times in front of me and kiss my boot. What do you say?"
Jin Rou almost laughed when he heard this, "A fool trying to dig his own grave, huh?"
"Say that if you are able to defeat me, Lang Zing." Lang Zing harrumphed in disdain. As he already got the best stone, he was confident enough that Jin Rou would not be able to defeat him even he got a 5,000-year-old stone. After all, in the history of this game, getting a 10,000-year-old stone was lower than the lowest! And in fact, only three people, including Lang Zing, had managed to get this from such a scrap stone.
"I really don't know why you are so adamant in offending me but fine." Jin Rou shrugged his shoulders, "If I win, you will do what you stated. How about it?"
"You have my word there." Lang Zing chuckled and said to Staff Li, "You and Owner Bu are the witnesses to this, so I hope I won't inconvenience you."
"No worries, Youngmaster Lang." Staff Li waved his hand, "Let me take care of this. I promise that I won't let anyone renege on this bet."
"Very well." Lang Zing smiled, "Now, how about you cut it? My time is very limited."
"I already did." Jin Rou said as he placed the cut stone on the table, revealing a bronze stone, "You are talking so much that I already had done the cutting phase in just a while."
"What a refined cutting technique!" Owner Bu could not help but be mesmerized. As someone who loves appraising and cutting stones, such refined cutting techniques was a must to have the stone in the best possible status. He could not help but suck a mouthful of air for this. However, when he looked at the stone...
"A ten-year-old bronze stone? Hahahahahahahahaha!" Lang Zing could not help but laugh hard as he held his stomach, bending his body.
Everyone cussed and swore to Jin Rou for all the talks he claimed just a while ago. Where were the words he will win this? What he got was the lowest type of all stones that everyone managed to get here! Waves of laughter and jeers could be heard everywhere as they enjoyed insulting Jin Rou more.
Zin Shi's expression became pale. However, she believed that Jin Rou would not make a mistake. Although this was the outcome, she refused to believe that this was just that.
"It's a complete loss for you, ignorant bumpkin." Lang Zing puffed his chest in proud gesture and said, "Come, kowtow to me three times and lick my boot."
"Who told you I lost?" Jin Rou smiled and asked.
"What?" Lang Zing smiled evilly and said, "The outcome has already been decided. What's your 10-year-old bronze stone could do with my 10,000-year-old stone?"
"Open your dog eyes and see if it's really a 10-year-old stone." Jin Rou said as he gently touched the bronze stone.
Soon, a wave of golden-yellowish color emerged from the stone and it covered the entire room.