The narrator explains that the painting, which depicts rivers and mountains, was painted by a supreme master who used his lifetime energy and mind to create the image. The supreme master died after the painting was completed, and the painting is a waste. The narrator says that the owner of the painting wants to buy it back, but the owner cannot figure out a way to use it. He wants to sell the painting back to the owner, who cannot decipher the thousands of inscriptions in the painting and cannot understand the meaning of the images. He offers to buy back the painting for 110,000 spiritual stones, which is the starting price. Senior brother yan-yang has made a higher bid, but he refuses to take the painting because he has some interests in it.