624: Chapter 619 An Exhibition and Auction

In the courtyard, it was so quiet you could hear the sound of the wind blowing through the cracks in the blue bricks and tiles.

Gao Shou Zheng, accompanied by dozens of apprentices, stood with a ninety-degree bow, resembling statues frozen in that afternoon.

Shen Yan did not move to help him up.

He was worthy of this bow.

He calmly endured the utmost reverence from these national-level masters until Gao Shou Zheng slowly straightened up, his turbid old eyes already filled with tears.

"Mr. Shen," Gao Shou Zheng's voice was hoarse and trembling slightly, "From today onward, you are not just a sir."

Everyone was stunned.

Gao Shou Zheng took a deep breath and bowed again; this time, it was a standard ceremony of taking a master.

"You are a Grandmaster!"

"I, Gao Shou Zheng, wish to take you as my master!"

Boom!

These words exploded in the minds of all the apprentices like a clap of thunder.

Their master, the titan of the ceramics world, was actually going to take a young man in his twenties as his teacher?

If this got out, the entire Chinese collecting world would be turned upside down!

"Master, absolutely not!" The eldest apprentice, Li Yuan Chao, rushed forward to help him up.

"What is impossible about it!" Gao Shou Zheng flung his hand away. His old face flushed crimson. "The capable one comes first! Mr. Shen resurrected the chai kiln; this achievement is enough to make him the ancestor of the entire ceramics world, let alone my master!"

The third apprentice, Zhao Heng, the muscular 'Cannon Barrel,' suddenly dropped to one knee with a thud.

He lowered his arrogant head toward Shen Yan.

"Grandmaster Shen, I was blind before. I, Zhao Heng, submit!"

With him leading the way, the remaining apprentices looked at each other, and finally, they all knelt down on one knee in unison.

"We are completely convinced!"

Their voices converged, echoing in the small courtyard, making their scalps tingle.

They were truly convinced.

From the initial disdain, to questioning the blueprints, to the shock during the kiln construction, and finally, the miraculous scene during the firing.

Shen Yan had crushed their life's pride with methods they could not comprehend, and then opened a door to a brand new world for them.

Shen Yan looked at the group kneeling before him and nodded gently.

"All of you, rise."

His voice was still calm.

"Taking me as a master is unnecessary; I don't have time to teach apprentices."

Upon hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed across their faces.

Shen Yan changed the subject.

"However, we can discuss cooperation."

He walked over to the dozen or so celadon porcelain pieces and casually picked up a plum vase.

The light passing through the vase seemed to condense a pool of spring water.

"These things are beautiful."

"But if they just lie in a storeroom or in a glass cabinet in a museum, they are just a pile of expensive antiques."

"I want to make them come alive."

"Come alive?" Li Yuan Chao looked somewhat confused.

Shen Yan looked at him.

"I want to establish a brand, named 'Nine Dragons Chai Kiln.'"

"It will specialize in replicating and innovating top ancient porcelain, allowing lost techniques to reappear in the world and enter the market."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"I will provide the technology, the capital, and the channels. You will provide the manpower and the reputation."

"I will take seventy percent of the shares, and the remaining thirty percent will be distributed based on labor contribution."

"Master Gao, how about you become the Chief Kiln Master for this?"

Gao Shou Zheng's breathing grew rapid.

His entire life had been dedicated to reviving the dragon kiln and restoring the glory of the ancestors.

But what he thought of was merely the passing down of technique.

Yet, as soon as Shen Yan spoke, he presented a grand strategy that would shake the entire industry!

Branding, commercialization!

This was something these old craftsmen dared not even dream of!

"Deal!" Gao Shou Zheng slapped his thigh, his face flushed with excitement. "Grandmaster Shen, tell us where to strike, and we will strike there!"

"Good." Shen Yan put down the plum vase. "The first step is to make the name 'Nine Dragons Chai Kiln' known."

He took out his phone and dialed Ning Ke's number.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"President Shen, are you done over there?" Ning Ke's voice held a trace of anticipation.

"It's done," Shen Yan said. "Brother Ning, I need a favor."

"You name it."

"I want to hold an exhibition and an auction."

"Three days from now, right here in C City."

"I want the highest-spec venue in C City. Send invitations to all top collectors, connoisseurs, museum directors, and mainstream media, both nationally and globally."

"Can you manage it?"

There was a full five-second silence on the other end of the line.

Ning Ke felt his throat dry up.

Three days?

To organize a world-class auction in three days?

This was no longer just a matter of money; it was challenging the limits of industry rules!

If it had been anyone else saying this, Ning Ke would have immediately hung up and blocked the number.

But he knew the person on the other end was Shen Yan.

A man who always brought him surprises.

"President Shen," Ning Ke forced a wry smile, "You're asking for my life."

"But I love it."

"I will handle the venue. I'll book the main hall of the C City International Convention and Exhibition Center."

"I have a list of contacts. I can reach the top VIP clients of both Poly Auction and Christie's."

"Media is even simpler."

Ning Ke's tone became excited. "I just need to release one piece of news..."

"What news?"

"The Northern Song Dynasty chai kiln, lost for eight hundred years, has reappeared, and there will be over a dozen perfect pieces openly auctioned."

Ning Ke lowered his voice, but it carried a hint of madness.

"President Shen, I guarantee that in three days, the airport in C City will be crammed full of private jets from all over the world!"

Shen Yan smiled.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

After hanging up, Shen Yan looked at Li Yuan Chao, who was wide-eyed with shock.

"Consultant Li, it's time for you to contribute."

"Me?" Li Yuan Chao had not yet recovered from the shock of that phone call.

"You are the Chief Consultant for the National Museum; your words carry weight."

"Call your old friends and tell them to prepare their money."

"Also, have them bring the most precise instruments. I'm afraid someone might start gossiping otherwise."

Li Yuan Chao instantly understood Shen Yan's intention.

He was going to have national-level authorities endorse the 'Nine Dragons Chai Kiln'!

He tremblingly took out his old cell phone and flipped to a number.

"Hello, is this Director Wang?"

"This is Li Yuan Chao."

A robust voice came from the receiver. "Old Li? You never call unless you have something important. Have you found another treasure?"

Li Yuan Chao glanced at the dozen pieces of porcelain in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and tried to keep his voice steady.

"Old Wang, sit down before you listen."

"chai kiln, celadon glaze."

"It's alive."

"Over a dozen pieces, flawless."

"..."

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the line.

After a long time, Director Wang's roar exploded from the receiver, so loud the whole courtyard could hear it.

"Li Yuan Chao! If you dare joke about this, I'll bring people to flatten your house!"

"Send me the address immediately! I will apply for a special plane to the higher-ups right away!"

The news of the 'Nine Dragons Chai Kiln' emerging swept through the entire Chinese collecting world like a Category 12 typhoon overnight.