Chapter 982: Weng Falos 3.0 (28)

Paimon let out a "puff" laugh, flew to Ying's ear and whispered softly: "Liyue's antiques now probably aren't older than Zhongli, right? What antiques does he not know?"

Ying quickly held a finger to his lips: "Shh… lower your voice, Paimon."

Zhongli gently set down his teacup, producing a faint crisp sound.

"The hall master praised it wrongly." Zhongli said unhurriedly, "Appraising treasures is both hard and easy. It's merely integrating eyesight, knowledge, and experience. Antique objects don't deceive; their shape, patterns, craftsmanship have all been tempered by time, so dating them is simple. The truly difficult and hard‑to‑handle… hehe, are the people who bring in items for appraisal."

"Oh?" Xiangling perked up instantly, set down the bowl of marinated duck and rushed over, "Mr. Zhongli, there's a story behind that! Tell us, tell us!"

"Hehe, actually there are many such people. They like to forge antiques and sell them for huge sums to foreign collectors who don't understand antiques. Worse, they use the forgeries to appraise treasures, then cause a scene on the spot to pressure the appraisers into saying 'true'."

"'True'? Just saying a word, what good does it do?" Hu Tao frowned, curiously asking further.

"One word can't turn fake into real, but they pre‑record with a camera, then edit the appraiser's statements to fabricate a video or audio of the appraisal as 'proof' of authenticity. The theft crew sells that footage together with the 'antique' to foreign collectors for profit."

Zhongli paused, lifted his teacup and took a light sip, then continued, "Even worse, some theft crews bury the forged antique in the ground beforehand, then take the buyer to the site to dig it up. Seeing the 'origin' with their own eyes, the buyer naturally believes it's genuine, not knowing the item's age is probably just last week's."

Xiangling listened, stunned: "I never imagined antique forgery could be so elaborate…"

"So before buying antiques, it's best to let Guest Qing take a look for you." Hu Tao tilted her head, curiously eyeing Zhongli up and down, "Guest Qing, Guest Qing, you're so young—how do you know so much? I've been reading since I was three, nonstop, and I'm not even as knowledgeable as you, right?"

But he spends most of his time outside listening to operas and walking birds… not a single day glued to a book?

Zhongli smiled, "Hall master, the saying goes 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' I've only walked a little farther than you."

——

"Hey, are you in the debate arena?"

"Debate arena? Which one?"

"The one—【Pink Haze Celestial Maiden】—its heat level is still soaring! I see you're not inside yet, come in first, otherwise it'll be full."

Watching two idle passersby chat by the road, Dan Heng felt a sudden ominous chill: "Pink Haze Celestial Maiden, debate arena… I have a vague premonition, it won't be as I think… take a look back."

Dan Heng proactively joined their conversation: "Excuse us, gentlemen. We didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the debate arena you just mentioned… we'd like to learn about it."

"Hmm? Your attire… what exactly is it…?"

"We are warriors from another land, previously participated in the Aohema Defense War."

The other party suddenly understood, saw the foreign warriors were interesting, and immediately linked them into Aohema's Wanwei Net. It's a place similar to an online discussion group where everyone anonymously discussed the "Pink Haze Celestial Maiden".

A person named "Tianwai Tanxianjia" claimed that in that photo‑stone device, he saw many scenes that Weng Falos does not have: a snow‑white world, countless sky‑ships, radiant skyscrapers…

In the end, he asserted with conviction: "The 'Heaven‑Outside Realm' does exist!"

Someone in the group expressed doubt: "Pink hair, blue short shirt, eyes like the sea at sunset… isn't this just Moneita's incarnation on earth?"

More people argued that no one could cross the heavens under Aigele's glare, thus denying the existence of the Heaven‑Outside Realm.

——

Offer blessings to the beautiful world.

"Pink Haze… Celestial Maiden?"

Although He and Zhen also admitted that March Seven looks great, slapping such an exaggerated title on her… one can only say Aohema people's filter is a bit heavy.

If March Seven found out about this title, wouldn't she laugh herself up into the sky?

"Being treated as a celestial maiden, worshipped by people from other worlds, regarded as a god… tsk tsk, how could a true celestial maiden look like that?"

Huihui slowly rose and walked toward the window; the tattered cloak rustled in the sunset glow—though stained all over, under her current aura it truly bore a hint of legendary mage's bearing.

She murmured softly, as if she had merged with the stars themselves. She imagined standing before countless Aohema people, brandishing her staff.

"Foolish Aohema people!"

Her voice suddenly rose, a burst of chuunibyou aura swept the air.

"Do you know what a true celestial maiden should be? Not that pink‑haired naive girl, not that mortal who just takes photos— a true celestial maiden should wield forbidden power capable of destroying worlds, chant ancient incantations that can tear the heavens, and—"

She inhaled deeply, one hand covering her red eyes: "She should unleash an Explosion, turning heaven and earth a different hue, making the stars tremble, and even the Titans turn to ash in the crimson lotus fire!"

"When that day comes, what will the world call me?"

"Hehe… will they call me 'Red Lotus Celestial Maiden' or 'Chanter of the End'? No, that title isn't cool enough—"

The solemn moment, hard‑won, vanished in two foolish laughs. Huihui clutched her staff, began to happily indulge in her own silly fantasy.

He and Zhen sighed helplessly: "Alas, if Aohema treats you as a celestial maiden, the fall of the nation seems inevitable."

——

"—Oops!"

Xing and Dan Heng exchanged a glance, a cold bead of sweat slid down their foreheads.

"The Damianosu who took our picture… it must be him. He opened the album then saw the photos taken before March Seven."

"Now March Seven has become a celestial maiden."

Dan Heng shook his head: "That's not the point. The venue has over a hundred people; although no one currently believes Damianosu, we don't know what he'll do next. If things get out of control, the consequences are unimaginable."

"Social platforms, humanity's greatest enemy…"

Dan Heng's gaze hardened: "Quick! Before the situation escalates, we must find him himself!"