Luo Qingcheng’s words were an absolute bombshell.
She actually claid that the imitation of Wu Bin’s "The Eighteen True Scrolls" was done by her!
Are you kidding?
Even if the painting is indeed fake, for so many master appraisers to be unable to tell, it indicates that the forger’s skills have reached an apex, such that if they lived in the sa era as Wu Bin, they would definitely not be inferior.
This person is already a true painter, whose personal skills alone could bring them fa worldwide.
Of course, in today’s era of hype, many celebrities are manufactured by it.
Without hype, it’s hard for even the most amazing painters to beco famous.
Moreover, painters generally only beco famous posthumously.
So even many with great skills still resort to imitating famous ancient paintings.
Just like this "The Eighteen True Scrolls", if it’s truly a copy, its cost was almost nothing, yet it fetched an astronomical 1.6 billion at auction, which is truly outrageous profit.
However, it’s rare for any imitation to fool a host of master appraisers.
These are experts who can detect the tiniest trace of evidence.
To forge convincingly and make the painting seem like it’s from the required era ans that the imitation might be ten tis harder to create than Wu Bin’s original work.
Even if Luo Qingcheng is hailed as a City-Toppling Beauty in terms of both art and allure, does she truly possess such abilities?
Everyone was stunned, yet each person remained skeptical.
Because Luo Qingcheng claiming this painting was her imitation was even more unbelievable than her saying the painting was fake.
Not even today’s master painters would dare to claim their forgeries could pass for the real thing.
And as for Luo Qingcheng?
She was rely a courtesan trained to entertain n, and proficiency in the four arts suffices; there was no need to master them.
If she really had such talents, why would she beco a courtesan?
"Luo Qingcheng, do you know what you’re saying?" the middle-aged man asked, his expression growing darker.
"Of course I know." Luo Qingcheng remained unapologetic and poised.
"Today we have a good show on our hands."
The buyers in the auction hall grew excited.
"Very well, Luo Qingcheng, if you can’t prove today that you copied this painting, Subverting State and City can prepare to shut down!" the middle-aged man sneered coldly.
"Sister, Luo Qingcheng might be overreaching with her boast," Wang Dadong began to worry about Luo Qingcheng.
"No need to worry," Yanyu replied confidently.
Everyone awaited the unfolding drama, including the middle-aged man.
Luo Qingcheng whispered a few words to the emcee, who then left imdiately.
A mont later, the emcee returned to the stage with the four treasures of a scholar’s studio.
Luo Qingcheng smiled and said, "To prove that I copied this painting is actually quite simple; I can create another copy right here on the spot."
"Bluffing! Even a top-tier forger can’t forge an ancient master’s work on the spot."
"Can Luo Qingcheng really have such skills? After all, Wang Luo just lost to her a mont ago."
"If that’s true, it’s terrifying—a genuine City-Toppling Beauty indeed."
"If Luo Qingcheng really can replicate Wu Bin’s masterpiece, she’d be worth bringing ho even at ten billion!"
The audience erupted in chatter.
If she could faithfully copy even Wu Bin’s masterpiece, bringing her ho ant not only pleasure but also a lucrative investnt.
Under everyone’s gaze, Luo Qingcheng lifted her paintbrush.
She was so focused, so ticulous; each flick of her wrist, each blink of her eye, was stunningly beautiful.
Imitating a painting can’t be done in a short ti, and any slight mistake could render the effort futile.
Yet Luo Qingcheng’s strokes flowed like water, without the slightest hesitation.
It seed as if it wasn’t she who was moving, but the brush itself.
Everyone held their breath, as if watching not re painting, but a visual feast.
Her face wore a constant faint smile, serene as a calm lake, with only the gentle rustling of the brush against the paper.
Ti ticked by, and over four hours passed in a flash.
Luo Qingcheng never once stopped her brush.
The audience remained enraptured by the beautiful scene, with no sign of impatience.
Finally, after five hours, Luo Qingcheng finally set down her brush.
"I’m finished." Luo Qingcheng put down her brush, lightly smiling at the middle-aged man.
"Old Master Qin." The middle-aged man did not look at Luo Qingcheng’s painting but instead called to the audience.
An elderly man, about seventy, slowly stepped forward.
"Is that... Qin Jinshan!" soone exclaid in terror.
"Who is Qin Jinshan?"
"If you don’t know Qin Jinshan, you’ve lived in vain. Qin Jinshan is a top-tier master appraiser; reportedly, no forgery has ever slipped past his eyes since he started his career!"
"No wonder Zhou Nanshan was so certain the painting was genuine; he’s close friends with Old Master Qin Jinshan."
"Since Zhou Nanshan has Qin Jinshan by his side, this ’The Eighteen True Scrolls’ is one hundred percent genuine. Looks like Subverting State and City is in for bad luck this ti."
"Then again, who knows, maybe Luo Qingcheng truly possesses such talent?"
As the elderly man stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted in noise once more.
So were worried for Luo Qingcheng, so were just there for the show, while others were incredulous.
"I suppose everyone here knows him—Qin Jinshan, Old Master Qin, a pinnacle presence in the appraising industry, where no forgery escapes his sight. The previous ’The Eighteen True Scrolls’ was personally appraised by Old Master Qin. And yet, Luo Qingcheng claims the painting is fake. This is not only an insult to but also a great insult to Old Master Qin. If Luo Qingcheng cannot prove her claim, then I demand that Subverting State and City cease operations from now on! And Luo Qingcheng must accept serious consequences!" the middle-aged man sneered.
"Don’t! If Subverting State and City shuts down, where will we go for services?" soone lanted.
"Now, let Old Master Qin appraise Luo Qingcheng’s imitation on the spot," the middle-aged man declared, never once sparing a glance at Luo Qingcheng’s painting.
He didn’t believe that a courtesan could perfectly forge an ancient masterpiece that even master appraisers couldn’t distinguish.
Qin Jinshan walked with a dignified gait to the table and focused his gaze on the painting scroll there.
The ink was still wet, indicating it was made on the spot.
Furthermore, Luo Qingcheng had painted right under everyone’s watchful eyes; cheating was impossible.
Upon seeing Luo Qingcheng’s painting, Qin Jinshan’s brows furrowed imdiately.
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