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Chapter 451: The Imperial Seal in the Root Carving [1]

"Driver, stop the car."

Yang Xiaolan said thoughtfully.

"Well, okay." The taxi driver immediately stopped the car by the roadside. Yang Xiaolan opened the door and looked at the beggar in the distance.

When she looked again at this time, Yang Xiaolan discovered that the beggar was still raising his head and looking towards the road in her direction.

Ahead on the road, there were two girls holding hands with each other, leaving only their slim and beautiful backs.

However, when he looked at the beggar again, the instantaneous feeling of familiarity suddenly disappeared. There were many messy things like scars on the beggar's face.

"Well, what's going on? Am I too engrossed and my eyes are dazzled?" Yang Xiaolan couldn't help but hesitate. At this moment, she stared at the beggar, feeling a little thoughtful.

"No, I definitely didn't see it wrong just now, and the figure of this person is really very similar to him, although this person is a beggar..." Yang Xiaolan looked at the beggar again, and then memorized the figure of this person in her heart.

She seemed to have a very strong feeling that either this matter would become a very serious matter in the future, or this matter was very important!

But she couldn't tell why it was important or why it mattered. She only knew that it wouldn't be wrong to keep this scene in mind!
While I was thinking, the taxi driver spoke: "Beautiful lady, are you still going to Fangda Research Institute?"

"Go, go."

"I have to drive to get there. If you park your car on the side of the road, you will be fined. Although this area is quite remote, you can't ignore the police. It would be bad if you get caught."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry, you drive."

"It's okay, beautiful girl, sit down and close the door tightly. I'm driving."

The taxi driver said this and stepped on the accelerator.

The car started slowly. Yang Xiaolan turned her head to look at the beggar again, then shook her head slightly. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest.

……

Zhang Wuming stood on the tallest building in the city, facing the strong wind, with an indifferent expression.

This kind of life is enough. It is like an invisible big hand has been controlling his destiny. He has always wanted to be a good person, but good people and honest people have no way to survive in this world.

So, he decided to put an end to it all. Maybe he could travel to someplace and become a strong man, and no longer have to be so cowardly...

Thinking of this, he moved his body and was about to jump down. At this moment, a very unexpected voice came!
"Young man, you can fight desperately against the giant snake, why are you so cowardly when facing life? Turn around and look at me!" An old man's voice sounded.

"It's you?" Zhang Wuming turned around and said in shock, "Why are you here? Have you recovered?" It turned out that the person he met was the old man in the mountains, who was looking at him with a smile.

The old man looked at Zhang Wuming's face without any fear, walked to his side and looked down at the whole bustling city, raised his head and looked at him and said, "What? Are you thinking about yourself at such a young age?" His tone was light without much sympathy, but rather a kind of amusement.

Zhang Wuming touched his face and said angrily, "Look at my face, is this a human face?" He said in a deep voice, "Before, I didn't care about the injustice of life and fate to me, and I didn't care if they wanted to play with me, but..." Zhang Wuming closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes and said, "But now, I have become a humanoid monster, a humanoid monster that everyone hates. No one hires me to work, and no one is willing to let me work. The place where I live has been demolished. What else can I do?" He collapsed to the ground powerlessly, holding his head in pain!
"Hahahaha..." The old man laughed wildly, looked at Zhang Wuming's dejected look, handed him a cigarette and said, "Have a cigarette!" Zhang Wuming looked at the old man's sincere look, took the cigarette, lit it, and smoked silently. No one knew what he was thinking.

The cigarette was quickly finished, but the depressing atmosphere had not yet dissipated.

"Why didn't you ask me why I was here?" the old man asked with a smile, and then he and Zhang Wuming lit a second cigarette.

"Why should I ask you? You have the right to exist, but I don't need to know your secret!" Zhang Wuming said indifferently. Looking at the cigarette in his hand made him feel the real warmth. He had become disillusioned with this world!
"Come on, follow me, maybe you will see the courage to continue living!" said the old man with a smile, and walked downstairs first.

Zhang Wuming stood up doubtfully, looked at the not-so-tall figure, and followed silently. However, as he walked, he was somewhat nervous and alert to his surroundings. After all, he had ignored the police just now when he was furious and wanted to commit suicide, but now he had to be careful to avoid all this. He didn't want to go into a place where he ate food from the government.

After going down the entire floor, Zhang Wuming realized how tall the building was. Thirty-three-story buildings are rare in the entire city. The strange thing is that the elderly did not take the elevator at all, but chose to walk.

Only then did Zhang Wuming see clearly that this place looked somewhat like a school, but he had never seen such a great school. The tall buildings and majestic structures were rare. The gardens, stadiums, and various facilities were all very complete. Although the sky was still dim, everything on the university campus was extremely clear under the bright lights.

"Why did you bring me here?" Zhang Wuming walked up to the old man and asked.

The old man looked at Zhang Wuming and said with a smile, "Because I am the principal of this school, I have the right to bring you in. Do you think I would bring you to a place like this to steal?" Then he looked at the group of security guards who were on guard everywhere and greeted them.

"What, you are the principal of this luxurious school?" Zhang Wuming said in surprise. For someone like him who rolls around in the lower class of society, all he meets are ruffians all day long. How could he have ever seen such a high-level figure? It's no wonder he's surprised!
"Yes, I am Lin Zhigang, the president of Founder University. Thank you very much, young man, for saving my life!" I didn't expect that the old man's identity was not simple, but there was no arrogance when he spoke.

"What, Fangda Research Institute...the president of Fangzheng University? Are you Lin Zhigang?" Zhang Wuming said in disbelief. Fangzheng University is not simple. In this city, it is the only university with special authority. It is a university that even the locals are afraid of!

The reason for this is that Founder University has a special research institute, the Amplification Research Institute. The scientific and technological content of this institute is extraordinary!
"Have you heard of me?" Lin Zhigang asked with a smile, then turned an alley and walked towards a residential building.

"How could I not have heard of it? Isn't it often broadcast on TV and in newspapers? I often stand in the Asia Pacific Plaza and see you being interviewed by reporters. You look very handsome!" Zhang Wuming said shyly.

"Haha, so that's how it is!" the old man said with a smile, stopping outside a door and opening it. A fresh fragrance came out. The room was not gorgeously decorated under the bright lights, but the antique atmosphere was filled with a strong scent of books.

"What's wrong? Come in?" Lin Zhigang looked at Zhang Wuming standing outside the door and not following him in, so he turned around and asked curiously.

"Well, look at what I'm wearing...it doesn't seem to be suitable, right?" Zhang Wuming said embarrassedly. He was extremely dirty and exuded a foul odor. No wonder he felt embarrassed.

Lin Zhigang reacted quickly. Looking at Zhang Wuming's honest and simple appearance, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Silly boy, why don't you come in and take a shower? Here, these are slippers!" He handed the shoes to Zhang Wuming who changed into them at the door and then continued, "You look hungry, too, huh? Go take a shower first and throw away your clothes. I'll get you some clothes for my son and then cook for you. Come on?" After speaking, a man went into the room and started looking for clothes.

Zhang Wuming stood there stupidly, looking at the beautifully decorated room and his own dirty appearance with a wry smile.

"What's wrong? Why are you still standing there? Lin Zhigang walked out of the room with some clean clothes in his hands. Seeing Zhang Wuming still standing there, he asked with concern.

"Well, I don't know how to use those things..." Zhang Wuming said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head with his right hand.

"Come on, let me tell you, this thing..." Lin Zhigang said patiently, but there was no trace of impatience, nor any intention of ridicule!
……

Lying on the soft bed, Zhang Wuming held a cigarette in his hand, smiled with some happiness, and fell into a deep sleep.

The woman who had not appeared for a long time appeared in his dream again, and the two of them talked to each other and told each other their true feelings...

As usual, Zhang Wuming got up early, washed his disgusting face with cold water, and then did other things.

He looked everywhere for Lin Zhigang, but he still couldn't find him after searching the entire place, which made him confused.

After fiddling with the TV for a long time, he finally turned it on. The movie channel was playing a trailer for the TV series "Castle in the Sky". It was said that this blockbuster had been spotted by the director of "Avatar", James Cameron, and the first movie was already being filmed. The copyright of the TV series was also acquired by the great director Zhang Jizhong, and they were about to start filming... Looking at the amazing kung fu of the protagonist Li Xuan, Zhang Wuming couldn't help but sigh, "If I were as good as him, I could do it like him! The actions don't seem difficult at all, and they feel very familiar!"

"Oh, really? Do you want to be as awesome as him? It's actually very tiring to be that kind of person. Didn't you see that he had a rough life in the movie introduction?" Lin Zhigang opened the door from outside and happened to hear Zhang Wuming sighing, so he asked him, holding a lot of things in his hands. Zhang Wuming quickly stood up, took the things in Lin Zhigang's hand and saw that they were all daily necessities. He looked at him gratefully and said, "Thank you!" This simple sentence contained thousands of words.

"Haha, young man, you haven't told me your name yet. It's actually very difficult to be a hero. Why do you have such an idea? Why do you have such determination?" Lin Zhigang asked, nodding his head and sitting on the sofa.

"Because I hope there won't be so much evil in this world, and there won't be so much unfairness in this world, but I know I will never have such an opportunity. My name is Zhang Wuming, and I'm an orphan." He said mockingly.

"Oh? Orphan? But you know that evil in this world will never end, and it is impossible to completely eliminate it. If you say that you don't have the ability to do this, I don't agree! A person can actually kill an adult giant snake with his fists. Not everyone can do this. It's just that you haven't discovered the changes in your body. So, let's do this! You will live with me now and get familiar with the environment here first. I will then get you some identity documents and household registration certificates. You can learn something from me for the time being! I have a laboratory there, and I can help you check your body when I have time. Okay, go and take care of it, we'll go out later!" Lin Zhigang said with a smile, his face full of inexplicable expression.

"Well, Grandpa Lin, thank you!" Zhang Wuming didn't know what to do, so he knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"Get up, you are a very kind child. You saved my life, so it is only right for me to help you." Lin Zhigang laughed and said as he pulled up Zhang Wuming's body.

Zhang Wuming didn't say anything else, but started to take care of his personal hygiene.

At this time, Lin Zhigang sped up a bit. After walking out of the room, he came to the passage on the side of the hall. Through this passage, he walked into a basement.

"Mr. Lin!"

A middle-aged man holding a gun said respectfully.

"Well, is Mr. Dai here?"

"He's been here for ten minutes."

"Okay, take me there."

"Yes."

The young man with the gun said this, then waved towards the opposite side, and two men in military uniforms immediately walked over.

"Mr. Lin!" The two soldiers bowed and saluted in the same manner.

"Well, you guys guard this place."

"Yes!"

……

"Old Dai, why are you in such a hurry to find me? What's the matter?"

"The blood you drew yesterday proves that there is indeed a possibility of mutation in his body, and his body tissues, bloodline, etc., have a tendency to be white. To outsiders, this is naturally because there are too many white blood cells, but this is just a topic of self-deception. I think he has the potential for evolution, and I plan to slice him for research!"

"Slice? Yes, sure! That's no problem, but think about it, how likely is it to succeed?"

"Who can be sure of this? Let alone one percent certainty, even if we are not sure that the analysis will be successful, we still have to analyze it, because once we solve this key gene problem, we may be able to overturn Darwin's theory of evolution! In fact, at this time, I have begun to question Darwin's theory of evolution, because his theory of evolution cannot explain this situation for the time being!"

"Oh? You can question it, to be honest, what's the point of the long evolution from monkeys to humans? That's bullshit. The three-eyed fossils and sacrificial statues we found, have you ever thought about it? These have been identified as remnants from tens of thousands of years ago. How can they be compatible with the theory of evolution? Let Darwin explain Erlang Shen and the existence of Jesus. How would he explain it?

As you know, through our research, we found that at the moment of death, a person's weight decreases by 0.24 grams, which means that the person has a soul or spiritual energy, and this person has very strong abilities.

He killed a giant python as thick as a leg with one punch... and knocked down a tree with a few punches... I can't imagine what level of genetic evolution such a person has reached."

Lin Zhigang said thoughtfully. On the surface, he seemed gentle and kind, but at this moment, he didn't care about Zhang Wuming's life or death at all.

"Yes, this is what I expect. If we solve this mystery, we can use his blood for experiments, or cut off part of his body tissue for transplant experiments..." Mr. Dai said with a smile. He seemed to be very much looking forward to the future.

……

The time goes back to four days ago.

"When it comes to calligraphy and painting, Old Li, I admit defeat. You really answered these two questions very well. Now, it's the last question. If you still answer correctly, then my collection room will be open to you at any time in the future. You can take whatever you like to appreciate. But the deadline is only three days! You must return it within three days, otherwise next time, well, there will be no next time!" At this moment, Old Li was also amazed by Li Xuan's strength.

Young people are really amazing. It is true that the waves behind push the waves in front, and the waves in front die on the beach. After being hit by this person, Lao Li felt ashamed and embarrassed.

"Okay, no problem!" Li Xuan said carelessly. He didn't plan to keep anything this time. After all, it was just knowledge about antiques. It was just knowledge and nothing else. Even if he knew more, he was just a genius and it wasn't a big problem.

And once this reputation spreads, he will be able to gain a foothold in the antique world, and then he will be able to appreciate many more antiques!

It was precisely because of this idea that Li Xuan had no intention of keeping a low profile. It was just that in terms of appearance, he would automatically adjust it slightly every once in a while, so that people around him would not notice anything in a short period of time, but under the subtle influence, some people who did not know him would no longer think that he was similar to 'Zhang Wufeng'.

"Well... various sculpture techniques with a long history and exquisite skills, such as ivory carving, wood carving, stone carving, clay carving, face carving, bamboo carving, bone carving, inkstone carving, etc., are a precious artistic heritage in the arts and crafts of Yun State. Ivory carving, jade carving and other crafts have gradually changed from practical items to appreciation items due to the expensive materials and fine workmanship, so they are called "special crafts" by people. This time, what I want to ask is about the "special crafts." Old Li said after thinking for a while.

"Mr. Li, please go ahead."

"Okay! Look at this thing, it's a 'Shize Woodcarving Boxwood Woodcarving Buddha Statue'. First talk about the inherited art of woodcarving, then identify its authenticity, and then explain the reasons for its authenticity." Old Li seemed to have been prepared. The woodcarving he took out casually was obviously not an ordinary item.

Li Xuan glanced at the wooden Buddha statue, pondered for a moment, and then a confident smile appeared on his face.

Seeing this smile, Lao Li's face twitched slightly. He thought that this wood carving was rather obscure and the other party would not be able to know it. But at this moment, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Leng Shaohua, like Li Yingying, just watched with a smile on his face. He was obviously not worried about anything. It seemed that Li Xuan would not lose face no matter he won or lose.

"It is often said that the wood carving art of Yun State originated in the Neolithic period. But in fact, wood carving art, like other sculpture arts, was born along with the birth of human beings; it was just an unconscious behavior at the beginning, and it was not until people developed aesthetic taste that wood carving truly became an art...

As for boxwood carving, there is another story. It is said that boxwood carving was invented by a cowherd named Ye Chengrong in the late Qing Dynasty. Ye Chengrong was from Guangqing County, Mingxia. One day, he was playing in a temple at the head of the village and saw an old man in the temple making a Buddha statue. He was immediately attracted by the old man's skills. He simply ran out of the temple, tied the cow to a tree, dug a piece of very sticky mud, sat at the entrance of the temple, and secretly learned to pile up the sculpture. The old man was a very famous local folk artist. Seeing that Ye Chengrong was smart and studious, he took him as an apprentice and taught him five skills: round sculpture, clay sculpture, coloring, gilding and relief sculpture. He made rapid progress and mastered this skill after a year. One day, Ye Chengrong was making a Buddha statue at Zixia Temple in Baotai Mountain, Guangqing County. A Taoist in the temple broke off a boxwood and asked him to carve a wishful hairpin with the boxwood. During the carving process, Ye Chengrong discovered that boxwood is tough, has fine texture, and has a bright color that is not matched by other woods, making it a good material for carving. From then on, he began to use boxwood to carve works..."

"This boxwood Buddha statue is real, but some parts of it have been restored. The restorer's skills are not high, so it looks like a fake."

"As for the reason for this judgment, it is very simple. It depends on the restoration of wood carvings. Due to the influence of natural and human factors, many wood carvings of our ancestors are damaged, especially those outdoors. In order to let more people see their charm, restoration is an indispensable link. Restoration can also protect more things left to us by our ancestors. Similarly, when we are repairing, we can also learn a lot of knowledge and carving skills. As a person who loves antiques, why not do it?

However, the value of the wood carving and the level of restoration are related to its value after restoration..." Li Xuan said confidently.

"Hahahaha-"

After hearing this, Old Li couldn't help but clapped and laughed.

(End of this chapter)