53: Chapter 53 Visual Impact

"Alright! Since you've decided, let's prepare and show those who have forgotten their ancestors the great wisdom of the Huaxia people." Chen Huaiyu's morale rose at this moment. He had been too passive regarding the matters of Tianxing Garden; now that he had a solution, he could take the initiative and teach those pests a serious lesson.

"Now that Tianxing Garden has been transferred to Tianxing Company, I'll have someone prepare the relevant documents. Then it will be up to you, Big Brother, to handle the operations. By the way, Teacher, Elder Wang, Elder Ren, you are all appraisal experts. Could you help me estimate the specific value of that chicken blood stone? Also, please take a look at another item for me," Cao Xiao said.

"You still have something else you haven't shown us?" Elder Chen actually found his student a bit difficult to read. After Cao Xiao became his disciple, he had someone investigate him. From birth to university graduation, everything was as ordinary as anyone else's. His grades weren't particularly outstanding either. However, since he resigned to work as a sales agent a while back, he began to change. He had unknowingly accumulated a lot of wealth, and his memory had reached the level of being photographic. He couldn't figure out what circumstances could trigger such a massive change. Since Cao Xiao was already his student, he didn't delve deeper. After spending some time together, he found that his student was becoming increasingly mysterious.

"There is something, right over there in the woods. I plan to include them in the investment for Tianxing Garden," Cao Xiao said.

"Take us to see it now. I'm curious to see what kind of object can actually be compared to that chicken blood stone," Ren Pingnian said eagerly.

"Alright, let's drive over there," Cao Xiao said.

...

"Teacher, let me help you up!" Arriving at the foot of the highland slope, Cao Xiao supported Elder Chen as they walked up the steps.

"Xiao Xiao, was that small lake over there newly excavated?" Chen Huaiyu stood on the steps and looked back. A huge pit appeared in his vision, and the water from the small ditch beside them was winding its way toward it.

"Yes, it was a massive project. After I took over Tianxing Garden, I hired a large-scale construction unit and spent a lot of money to create it. This should also be counted as part of the investment in Tianxing Garden." Cao Xiao had already prepared an excuse for the small lake, and he spoke it now without hesitation.

"Tsk tsk, what a grand undertaking. Even if it's for irrigating the orchard, there's no need to make it this big." Chen Huaiyu estimated the area of the lake in his mind and then looked at its depth of dozens of meters. This kind of lake-building project was not something an ordinary person could afford to play with.

"It's not entirely for irrigation. The weather here is too hot; with this small lake, the evaporation of water vapor will create a breeze, and the temperature will be a bit lower," Cao Xiao said casually.

"Uh, your reasoning is really... I don't know what to say to you. Don't you think about whether this hundred-acre lake can change the climate of Huanghe City? Those trees don't look like they... never mind," Chen Huaiyu said, somewhat amused and exasperated. Air is fluid; Cao Xiao's approach was really a bit self-deceptive. Looking at the lush forest, it didn't seem to be suffering from natural disasters as Cao Xiao claimed. He didn't know how to finish his sentence, so it was best to just believe Cao Xiao for now.

This highland was only twenty or thirty meters high. In less than two minutes, everyone reached the top. When the sight before them met their eyes, they were all so shocked they were speechless.

"Xiao Xiao, don't tell me you made this thing too. How did you do it?" After the initial visual impact, Elder Chen was the first to react. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm his mind. His body was still trembling slightly as he asked.

"Teacher, don't get excited. This isn't natural; it's just a bit realistic," Cao Xiao quickly explained, fearing his teacher's body couldn't handle the shock.

"I know it's not natural; amethysts don't come in sizes this large. I'm asking if you were the one who made it," Elder Chen said, glaring at Cao Xiao.

"Little Cao, you're not being fair. My old heart isn't very good; you'll have to find a way to calm my nerves in a bit," Ren Pingnian said, finally coming to his senses, his breathing somewhat hurried.

"You brat, you should have explained it earlier so everyone could be mentally prepared," Chen Huaiyu said with a wry smile.

"Uh, I didn't expect you all to have such a big reaction. I thought it was just a bit large, nothing major!" Cao Xiao said, scratching his head with a look of grievance.

"Come and take a look. This isn't carved; the crystal is all one piece. There are no signs of carving at all. It looks more like it was cast in a mold in one go, but if someone really tried to use a mold, I don't think anyone in the world could achieve this. It wasn't cast either, so how was it made? Each of these scales has fine textures, and every single one is different. The surface hasn't been polished, yet it looks even more real. Countless different scales are messy yet orderly. Not just the scales, the details in other areas are also perfectly executed. The dragon's form and posture are very fluid, and with its movement, it appears very vivid. How should I put it...? I feel like I can sense a faint majesty from it." After snapping out of it, Wang Chengan ran straight to the crystal divine dragon and muttered to himself while examining it closely.

"Actually, this divine dragon isn't as miraculous as everyone thinks. I asked a factory to plate a layer of crystal over a dragon-shaped stone and then hired several masters to slowly carve the surface," Cao Xiao said, using his prepared lines for fear that their curiosity would lead to relentless questioning.

"Well, if that's the case, it could be done. But who exactly is that master carver to you, to spend so much effort carving for you? If it really was carved by hand, that master... no, he could be called a Grand Master Artisan. His skills have returned to simplicity, reaching a level of divine craftsmanship. I haven't heard of such a person in the country, and no one in other countries has reached this height. Tell us the truth!" Elder Chen carefully recalled all the famous carving masters in his mind and really couldn't think of any who could do this. Even if their skills improved, they couldn't achieve it. Unable to think of anyone, he could only press Cao Xiao for answers.

"Uh, Teacher, I promised not to reveal their information. That master doesn't want to be disturbed by the outside world. This is a matter of principle; please forgive me, Teacher!" Cao Xiao hadn't expected that the results of modeling with the Wisdom Brain and then shaping it in the processing space would be so effective. He had underestimated the power of the Wisdom Brain and the wonder of the industrial mother machine. This led to his fictional master carver becoming someone his teacher cared about so much. But this master didn't exist at all, and he didn't have the ability to conjure a master carver out of thin air, so he could only bite the bullet and refuse to answer.

"Hmm? Very well then. These extraordinary individuals often have eccentric tempers. However, if you have the chance, you must show great filial respect to this master. With his skills, he could already receive special national subsidies; he is a living national treasure. If you have the ability to learn even ten or twenty percent of his skills, it would be enough to bring honor to your ancestors," Elder Chen said seriously to Cao Xiao after a sigh of regret.

"I'll remember that. That elder is a good person, and we have a great relationship. I will work hard to learn from him," Cao Xiao guaranteed.