Leo remained calm, sipping his tea leisurely. As Karson Ballard covered the stone with a yellow cloth and pressed the switch to lower it back into the table, Ethan quickly retrieved his prized possession from his backpack.
Once Ethan placed the treasure on the table, Karson Ballard was the first to stand up, followed closely by Ashton Lowe. Ashton even left his seat to stand beside Ethan, staring intently at the bowl on the table.
“Colorful Five-Beast Eight Diagram Bowl!” Kristian exclaimed, a hint of excitement in his voice.
The expressions on everyone’s faces were noted by Ethan, who looked even more smug as he glanced sideways at Leo and his companions. Kristian also stood up, bending over to examine the bowl closely, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.
“To think I would see this in my own home!” Karson Ballard remarked.
“It’s just a bowl, what’s so special about it?” Arlene muttered under her breath, unable to contain her curiosity at the drastic change in everyone’s expressions.
Ashton Lowe heard her and smiled, “Miss Arlene, you misunderstand. The bowl itself is not special; it’s the function of this bowl that is remarkable.”
“The function of a bowl?” Arlene retorted playfully, disliking Ethan’s arrogant expression. “Isn’t a bowl just for eating?”
Karson Ballard chuckled, “This bowl is not for eating; it’s for drinking water.”
“Drinking water?” Even Leo was intrigued. “Mr. Ballard, stop teasing us and share your knowledge.”
Karson Ballard cleared his throat and explained, “It’s said that if you drink a bowl of water from this every day, you can live to at least 120 years old. That’s why this Colorful Five-Beast Eight Diagram Bowl is also called the Longevity Bowl. Its appearance will surely cause a sensation!”
“Starting price, twenty million dollars!” Ollie James habitually announced a price.
No one objected to this price.
Ashton Lowe reluctantly tore his gaze away from the bowl and returned to his seat, looking at Ethan. “For this exhibition, young Ethan from Bonham Auction House takes the lead!”
“Is this item going to be auctioned?” Ollie James asked.
“No, it’s not for sale. It’s the treasure of our auction house. Whether it’s an auction or an antique business, you need something impressive to show,” Ethan said, glancing intentionally at Christine.
Christine knew these words were directed at her and felt her fingers turn white with anger but had no way to respond. Ethan was right; Spirit Moon Antiques originally had this item, but it disappeared when it was handed over to her. It turned out Ethan had taken it to Bonham Auction House!
Arlene whispered to Christine, “Sis, should we bring out that green cauldron?”
Christine hesitated, but Leo overheard and decided for her, “Bring it out; it’s fine.”
Christine glanced at him, wondering if he hadn’t seen what Ethan had brought out. Even if the green cauldron’s value increased several times over, it couldn’t compare to the Colorful Five-Beast Eight Diagram Bowl.
Ethan put away the Colorful Five-Beast Eight Diagram Bowl and loudly addressed Christine, “Spirit Moon Antiques, formerly Dan Antiques, has been around for over a century. Surely you have something valuable to show us.”
Christine hesitated but eventually stood up with a pale face. She took a deep breath and retrieved the green cauldron from her bag.
As soon as the cauldron appeared, the room filled with fragrance.
Karson Ballard was the first to comment, “The cauldron is five inches and three points in diameter, hollow inside with three fingers’ width. Round heaven and square earth, mimicking the human body in three layers. The outer lip turns upward, the middle belly is like a pregnancy-it’s a suspended cauldron with excellent condition!”
Ashton Lowe laughed, “Karson, you’re only looking at its condition. Have you smelled what’s burning inside?”
Reminded by Ashton Lowe, Karson Ballard took a deep breath. The fragrance seemed to flow into his lungs and circulate through his blood vessels into his organs before exiting through his pores.
Karson Ballard felt rejuvenated as if he had just taken a refreshing cold shower.
Kristian used diaphragmatic breathing, alternating between his left and right nostrils. He slowly inhaled the fragrance from the cauldron.
After a moment, Kristian closed his eyes and then commented like a connoisseur, “Deer antler, musk, ambergris, polygonatum… These are common ingredients…”
“No, there’s also a thousand-year-old fragrance extracted from dragon marrow and perhaps some peacock cinnabar… This cauldron is extraordinary; it’s likely a fetal cauldron used for cultivation.”
After finishing his assessment, Kristian opened his eyes and returned to his normal demeanor.
“Miss, would you sell this cauldron to me for two million dollars?” Ollie James seized the opportunity as a businessman.
“Two million?” Christine and Arlene were stunned.
The green cauldron was bought from an antique street for just a few thousand dollars. Now an auction house CEO was offering two million.
How many times had its value increased?
Hearing Ollie James’s offer made Ethan uneasy. Although the green cauldron’s value was far less than his Colorful Five-Beast Eight Diagram Bowl, if Ollie James bought it, Spirit Moon Antiques would easily meet its year-end profit target. There would be no reason to evict the two sisters.
In Ethan’s plan, things were not supposed to go this way.
Could this be what they call luck?
Ethan had been secretly monitoring Spirit Moon Antiques for some time. He knew where the green cauldron came from and how much it cost.
Selling it for two million would be like money falling from the sky.
Christine and Arlene knew that RH Auction Company had a high reputation in Langstel. Connecting with Ollie James would be incredibly beneficial for Spirit Moon Antiques.
Christine was about to agree when Leo gave her a look and stood up. He addressed Ollie James, “Mr. James, don’t rush to make an offer. This little cauldron has other uses.”
“Oh? Please demonstrate,” Ollie James said expectantly.
Leo took out a bracelet he had found on an antique street and placed it inside the green cauldron.
Soon, the fragrance from the cauldron changed.
Ashton Lowe’s face changed as he sniffed hard.
Kristian’s reaction was even more pronounced; his body emitted cracking sounds usually heard when cracking knuckles.
Moreover, his eyes widened as he focused intently on the bracelet inside the small cauldron.