"This thing doesn't quite look ancient, and the scenes carved on it are too gruesome."

Chen Yiyang picked up this Shell Storage Vessel and took a few glances.

No wonder this thing ended up in an antique stall.

Usually, typical bronzeware or Shell Storage Vessels have animal patterns carved on them.

Occasionally, some Shell Storage Vessels also feature human figures, but most of these depict Ancient Dian Kingdom nobles hunting or traveling in full attire.

However, on this Shell Storage Vessel, a scene of live human sacrifice is carved.

Indeed, the carvings clearly depict how the Ancient Dian Kingdom conducted live human sacrifices.

On this Shell Storage Vessel, a sacrificial site is carved, with an altar in the center. A naked person has their hands tied behind their back, forced to kneel at the sacrificial site, awaiting execution.

The whole scene looks horrifyingly cruel.

"I also think this doesn't quite seem like an ancient artifact."

After Chen Yiyang finished speaking, the stall owner surprisingly agreed with him.

"The scenes carved on it are too sinister. I wonder why I even picked this thing up in the first place."

"How much are you selling it for?" Chen Yiyang directly asked.

"If you buy everything you picked earlier, I'll throw this one in for free."

The stall owner waved his hand and said, "I feel like my sales haven't been going well these days, partly because of this thing."

"Alright." Chen Yiyang nodded in agreement after hearing the stall owner's words.

The things he picked earlier probably have a markup of around ten percent.

But fortunately, they're not expensive, just a few hundred bucks each.

So, in the end, being able to take away this genuine bronzeware Shell Storage Vessel from more than two thousand years ago is quite the bargain.

So, Chen Yiyang happily paid the money, then called up a junior accountant, instructing them to find a driver and truck to come and transport the items.

Shell Storage Vessel depicting the scene of human sacrifice in the Ancient Dian Kingdom.

Because he bought quite a bit, when Chen Yiyang rushed back.

The timing perfectly aligned with the appointment time with A Li's people.

He wasn't late, but arrived just a minute early.

At that moment, several well-dressed business people had been waiting for a while.

"Pleasure to meet you, Chen."

Someone came over to shake hands with Chen Yiyang.

"Hello, hello, how should I address you?"

"My surname is Zhu, you can just call me Zhu Mingzheng."

"Mm-hmm." Chen Yiyang casually responded twice, then sat down.

Seeing Chen Yiyang's casual attitude towards him, Zhu Mingzheng hesitated for a moment before he added, "I hold a p9 rank at A Li."

A Li has so-called sequence position ranks, divided into p and m.

m is the management level, not open to the lower ranks.

At A Li, ordinary employees can reach up to p9 at most.

"I heard that A Li is undergoing reforms and that there won't be any p9 in the future? P8 and above are directly appointed." Chen Yiyang curiously asked.

"What I meant was, before the reforms, I was p9." Zhu Mingzheng blushed a bit.

"Oh." Chen Yiyang lightly acknowledged.

This guy doesn't seem to have been put to good use after A Li's reform, so he still clings to his p9 rank.

According to the cultivation novel analogy.

This person should be someone who was initially in the Mahayana Stage but failed to ascend when the Immortal Realm opened, ending up on the same level as the other Nascent Soul Cultivators.

But couldn't lose face, so still claimed to be a Mahayana Stage cultivator to outsiders.

If you ask Chen Yiyang, A Li really doesn't handle things well.

Why not establish a p8 consummation level?

Those original p9s who didn't rise post-reform could claim to be at the p8 consummation level.

This fits the reform settings of abolishing p9 while allowing the original p9s to continue showcasing their rank to outsiders.

"Chen, let's get down to business," Zhu Mingzheng didn't want to continue dragging out the topic of ranks with Chen Yiyang.

He spoke directly to Chen Yiyang after sitting down, "According to our investigation, the original copy of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence generally has a market value of about two million US Dollars.

We at A Li are willing to offer two hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars to purchase the original copy you hold."

"Uh, did my people not communicate clearly with you before coming here?" Chen Yiyang pointed to himself and said, "I'm willing to talk to you because you found someone, and I need to give others face.

I'm not short of money, so why would I sell such a good collectable for no reason?"

"You would also gain our friendship at A Li." Zhu Mingzheng said.

"Speaking of friendship, you should at least send someone from the m sequence."

Chen Yiyang's words dealt a heavy blow to Zhu Mingzheng.

His biggest regret over the past few years is not advancing into the m sequence.

Within A Li, if you're not at m, you're always an ant.

This sounds a bit adolescent, but aligns quite well with A Li's characteristics.

In some ways, A Li indeed resembles a sect-like organization in modern society.

Zhu Mingzheng stormed off angrily, not continuing the conversation with Chen Yiyang.

Chen Yiyang didn't mind.

He's not particularly enthusiastic about selling the original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

The main reason is they got connected through Yang Chengru.

And since A Li is also Lin'an's largest local taxpayer, it was truly difficult for Yang Chengru to refuse.

However, A Li doesn't even know who exactly wants to purchase this original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Zhu Mingzheng returned in less than an hour.

"I apologize for any offense earlier, and I ask for your forgiveness, Chen." This time, upon returning, Zhu Mingzheng's attitude was much humbler.

He most likely was reprimanded by the already ascended big shots.

Then let's continue the discussion.

"I wonder what you'd like in exchange for this copy of the Declaration of Independence?" Zhu Mingzheng asked directly about Chen Yiyang's requirements this time.

"If there are some good projects within A Li lacking investment, I'd be willing to exchange it for an investment opportunity." Chen Yiyang wasn't sure what to exchange from A Li.

"From what I understand, you've been quite active in the film industry recently? Coincidentally, we at A Li have been heavily investing in cultural and entertainment industries, even establishing A Li Big Entertainment."

"I'm aware of that." Chen Yiyang nodded.

A Li Big Entertainment, truly prestigious.

The head claimed that future movies would be decided through big data, without needing directors or screenwriters.

And then they came up with the movie "Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms," a film of extraordinary abstraction.

How abstract was it?

It overturned Chen Yiyang's belief that the "Goddess of Immortality" could never look unattractive in costume films.

"Our A Li Big Entertainment recently invested in many films and TV dramas. If there's anything you'd like, we're open to your investment."

It seemed like Zhu Mingzheng received high-level authorization, directly signaling Chen Yiyang to choose a project from A Li Big Entertainment.

With that, Chen Yiyang didn't hold back and requested a list to start looking through it.

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