All Chapters of Rising from the Ashes: Chapter 321 - Chapter 330

Andrew chuckled and said, "There's nothing strange about this. The antiques market has always been like this—full of counterfeits, knockoffs, and replicas with sky-high price tags. "If they find someone clueless, they'll rip them off hard. But when they're dealing with an expert, even a treasure from a king's vault could be marked down to the price of candy in a gumball machine." Elsie chuckled, her cheeks flushing as she gave Andrew a playful glare. "Mr. Lloyd, your analogy is pretty amusing, but you're spot on—that's exactly how it is." Francesca clenched her teeth and muttered, "These shameless crooks! If Ms. Santana hadn't been here, I'd probably have been scammed by that old man." After this little drama, her opinion of Elsie had clearly shifted for the better. Elsie led them around the plaza, where they continued browsing. Francesca was unfamiliar with antiques and mostly picked items based on appearance, gravitating toward colorful or uniquely shaped pieces. She fi

Aspen smiled sweetly and said, "Mr. Kelce, back in Bridgefields, you're considered a legend in the antique world, always sharp with your words." She glanced around dramatically. "I see that even here in Jayrodale, you've kept your genuine style. I must say, I admire your consistency." Orion's face lit up with pride. "Ah, finally, someone who gets me! So many think I'm just showing off or looking down on others, but why would I need to pretend at my level? Like you said, this is just who I am—straightforward and honest. I never sugarcoat my words." Aspen's gaze shifted over the crowd before landing on Andrew, her smile turning icy. "Mr. Kelce, we Bridgefields folk like to let our skills and logic speak for themselves. However, some people here just can't seem to respect us, no matter what." Orion smirked. "Oh? And who's bold enough to disrespect us?" Aspen pointed directly at Andrew. "It's him, Mr. Kelce. His name's Andrew Lloyd. Ever since I arrived in Jayrodale, he hasn't m

One of Orion's followers shouted, "Hey, Mr. Kelce is graciously lowering himself to challenge you in an appraisal contest, and you don't even have the guts to agree?" Another chimed in, "Calling us dogs? Kid, you're biting off more than you can chew. Words like that will get you into real trouble—if you don't crawl out of this appraisal event on all fours today, I'll take your last name!" A third laughed mockingly, "Even Jayrodale's antique experts wouldn't dare utter a word against Mr. Kelce, yet here you are, some nobody playing the hero. Didn't your mom ever teach you that sticking your neck out doesn't make you brave? It makes you reckless, and reckless fools tend to end up regretting it!" No one could believe that Andrew, who was not even part of the antique world, would dare provoke someone as influential as Orion. Christina snapped angrily, "Andrew, apologize to Mr. Kelce and Aspen right now!" Andrew replied nonchalantly, "Why should I apologize?" Gritting her teeth,

"Mr. Lloyd, is that a sacred relic in your hand?" Elsie gasped in disbelief. Andrew casually tossed it to her and said, "Have your Radiant Group experts verify it—that should clear things up right away." Elsie immediately took the pearl for authentication. Orion felt uneasy but still scoffed, "A sacred relic? Kid, you've got some nerves. Do you even know how precious these artifacts are?" "Of course I do," Andrew replied coolly. "When ancient spiritual masters passed away and were cremated, these relics remained. Scientifically speaking, they're just crystallized remains—but in the antiquities world, every authentic relic is priceless. I'm sure the experts here understand what I mean." Many nodded in agreement with Andrew's words. Indeed, any genuine sacred relic was one-of-a-kind, and while it might not have any special physical properties, its cultural and historical significance made it an absolute treasure in collectors' eyes. Seeing Orion's confidence falter, Aspen qui

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Orion's assistant brought two identical porcelain bowls forward. They were pristine white with delicate blue patterns adorning their surfaces. Elsie's expression turned serious as she warned, "Mr. Lloyd, in authentication, the toughest challenge is the twin test." "What's the twin test?" Andrew asked, which made Elsie sigh helplessly. She could not understand how Andrew seemed to know nothing, yet had spotted that sacred relic earlier. She quickly explained, "The twin test is an authentication term. It refers to two identical pieces—one authentic and one fake—that are so similar, they're impossible to tell apart with the naked eye. These two bowls, for instance, appear identical. Usually, we'd rely on professional knowledge, experience, touch sensitivity, and specialized equipment—but the competition rules prohibit using tools, so you'll need another approach." Orion extended his hand with a smirk. "You have five minutes to identify the authen