Chapter Twelve: Worlds Within

With Qin Guanyun presiding as arbiter, what began as a simple contest of treasures instantly took on a grave air. The crowd around them whispered quietly.

"That kid's done for. He ran into Liu Rengui, the sly dealer. If he isn't played to death, it'll be a miracle."

"That's right. On Phoenix Street, Liu Rengui knows every trick. No way he's going to lose!"

"A contest of treasures? That young man is bound to suffer."

Ignoring the murmurs and pointing fingers of the crowd, Lin Feng signed the contract with an air of nonchalance.

"Alright, alright. From now, you have half an hour—time starts now! Foolish boy, go and search with all you've got. If you can find a single antique on Phoenix Street worth more than a million, I'll write my name backwards!"

Seeing Lin Feng take the bait, Liu Rengui grew ecstatic, laughing loudly. He then turned and addressed Qin Guanyun with a sycophantic grin:

"Hahaha, Master Qin, rest assured. In half an hour, the sword will be laid before you. Two million, only two million—just take it!"

Liu Rengui boasted as though the sword was already his. Lin Feng remained calm, strolling out of the crowd and beginning his search along Phoenix Street.

Liu Rengui smirked, happily moving chairs and tea over, inviting Qin Guanyun to relax and enjoy some tea with him.

Running an antique shop for over a decade, he knew all the ins and outs. The true treasures of a shop were never displayed openly. When they were sold, it was always to familiar, wealthy buyers—only then could they fetch high prices and maintain a good reputation.

A greenhorn like Lin Feng wandering alone—he wouldn't find anything valuable in half an hour. In fact, even in a hundred years, he might never stumble upon a true gem.

As expected, Lin Feng quickly discovered that none of the items displayed in the various antique shops were truly valuable. They were either counterfeits or flawed pieces.

Even those with good appearance lacked age or craftsmanship. After a round through the shops, the most expensive piece he found was worth at most three or four hundred thousand.

Yet, at a neglected stall in a lonely corner, he caught a glimpse of a dazzling spiritual light.

A smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

...

Half an hour passed swiftly, and Lin Feng returned to Half Moon Studio carrying a Guanyin statue encrusted with verdigris.

"Hey, kid, back already? Is that the treasure you found? With that, you want to compete with me?"

Liu Rengui stood up to inspect it. The Guanyin statue in Lin Feng's hands was battered and misshapen, neither gold nor silver, with no gemstone embellishments.

Even if it were genuine, its value wouldn't exceed three hundred. No, even a hundred would be generous!

"Hahaha, kid, you might as well admit defeat now, save yourself the humiliation! That junk is too heavy to even crack walnuts at home. This is your treasure? Either your eyes are blind, or you truly are a fool."

After belittling Lin Feng, Liu Rengui turned to Qin Guanyun, offering him tea and boasting:

"Master Qin, take a good look. What I'll bring out next is a real treasure. Compared to this kid's rusty scrap, mine is the genuine article!"

Liu Rengui straightened his posture, his expression haughty, and called out loudly:

"Xiao Cai, bring out the shop’s treasure. There’s no need to hide it in front of Master Qin."

"Yes, boss!"

A young apprentice emerged from the crowd, bowed, and went to retrieve the item.

Liu Rengui was a seasoned hand, having spent years on Phoenix Street. He already knew the treasures of every antique shop in the area and was certain Lin Feng would never find an antique worth over ten million.

Soon, Xiao Cai returned holding a scroll, carefully unfurling it before the crowd.

At first glance, the crowd gasped in surprise—it was a painting of shrimp by Zhang Daqian!

The composition, brushwork, and spirit were unmistakably those of Zhang Daqian at his peak.

Such a painting would fetch at least five million!

"My goodness—Never expected Liu's Half Moon Studio, always so understated, to bring out a Zhang Daqian at such a critical moment!"

"Heavens, that must be worth several million!"

The crowd erupted. This was a genuine Zhang Daqian, a unique treasure on Phoenix Street.

Liu Rengui smiled darkly, his gaze contemptuous as he strode to Lin Feng, sneering:

"Kid, compete with me? You're too green. Let me tell you, every treasure on Phoenix Street, I know them all. Trying to compete on my turf? Dream on!"

Arrogant beyond measure, Liu Rengui reached for the Kunwu Sword, as if it already belonged to him.

Yet Lin Feng was unimpressed, replying coldly:

"That’s your treasure?"

"Exactly. Compared to your worthless copper, mine is the real deal!"

Lin Feng snorted, turning away from Liu Rengui and approaching the table where the Guanyin statue lay. Calmly, he spoke:

"The Buddha said: 'Mount Sumeru hidden in a mustard seed, the mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru.' Thus, Buddha statues often hold mysteries within."

"As the saying goes, 'Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.' Appearance is but appearance; the truth lies within."

With those words, Lin Feng’s aura shifted, as if he stood atop the world, radiating cold majesty.

With a sharp sound, Lin Feng slowly drew the Kunwu Sword, raising it above his head.

A pure silver light swept across the blade, and the rust that once covered it faded away, revealing intricate and mysterious engravings.

With a crisp clang, Lin Feng swung the sword, producing a short, piercing sound.

A flash of light, and the sword returned to its sheath.

With a dull metallic thud, the battered Guanyin statue on the table split in two.

At that moment, a dazzling jade-green crystal appeared within the statue, exposed to all.

"This sword..."

Witnessing this, Qin Guanyun could no longer remain seated. He shot to his feet, jaw slack in shock.

Lin Feng picked up the crystal from the shattered statue and brought it before Qin Guanyun.

"This chalcedony is exceedingly rare. Master Qin, who do you think won this contest?"

"Chalcedony?"

Qin Guanyun, just recovering from his astonishment, was once again shaken, his whole body trembling at the mention.

This was a rare spiritual object—among hundreds of pieces of top-grade imperial jade, one would hardly find a single chalcedony. It transcended the realm of antiques, a treasure beyond compare!

"Young man, is this truly chalcedony?" Qin Guanyun took the crystal in his trembling hands, feeling the gentle energy it emitted.

"I’ll offer fifty million—no, a hundred million! Sell this chalcedony to me!"

A collective gasp ran through the crowd, leaving everyone speechless. Liu Rengui collapsed to the floor, his face ashen.

"Sorry, this chalcedony is useful to me; it’s not for sale. Also, I believe I won the contest, don’t you, Mr. Liu?"

Lin Feng produced the contract he had signed, shaking it gently.

Liu Rengui, furious, was about to leap up and tear the contract, but Qin Guanyun stopped him and said calmly:

"Liu Rengui, save your energy. As president of Binhai City’s Antique Association, I order you to honor the contract: leave Phoenix Street within a week and never again engage in the antique trade. Otherwise, prepare to face my wrath!"

Qin Guanyun’s words were a death sentence for Liu Rengui. He had spent most of his life dealing in antiques and knew nothing else. Forcing him out of the trade was as good as ending his life.

"Qin, are you trying to kill me? Fine, you’re ruthless! And you, kid, just wait—I, Liu Rengui, won’t let you go, never!"

Liu Rengui’s face twisted with rage, his eyes bloodshot as he glared and cursed Lin Feng loudly.

Lin Feng, however, was unconcerned; after all, he had merely sought justice for the old man cheated by Liu Rengui.

Qin Guanyun, recognizing Lin Feng’s extraordinary nature, understood there was no use pressing further for the treasure. Instead, he offered his business card in friendship.

"Young man, here’s my card. If you ever decide to sell either of these treasures, please let me know first—I promise the price will satisfy you."

"Also, soon the Tang family will host a contest of treasures between Binhai and Chuzhou. Take your treasures and enter. That is the true contest, and with what you have, you could become wealthy overnight!"

Qin Guanyun extended a sincere invitation; Lin Feng was indifferent—what meaning was there in the competitions of mortals? He shrugged, put away the card, and left Phoenix Street with the Kunwu Sword and chalcedony.

But he was unaware that Liu Rengui, full of hatred, was staring after him, dialing a number and speaking eerily:

"Liu Scarface, that’s the man in the photo. I want his antiques—and his limbs!"

...

As for the "contest of treasures" Qin Guanyun mentioned, it was a tradition among the elite circles of Binhai and Chuzhou, much like the historic rivalry between Shi Chong and Wang Kai.

As the saying goes, 'Literature has no first, martial arts no second.' Showing off wealth required both occasion and skill. What started as a rivalry between a few local tycoons eventually escalated into an annual grand event.

The wealthy of both cities would gather, letting their treasures speak for themselves, flaunting wealth and competing to assert their status and power.