Chapter 101: The Secret Map of the Celestial Jade

I nodded, my gaze unwavering as I looked at the Celestial Jade. “That's right. The secret of the Exquisite Jade Ring lies hidden within the seven-orifice heart of this stone.”

Pan Ximi and Old Leopard Chen exchanged glances, a flash of astonishment in their eyes.

“But, Master Wang,” Pan Ximi asked hesitantly, “how does one unlock the seven-orifice heart?”

I smiled faintly, walking slowly to the Celestial Jade. I took the fist-sized jade orb, still encased in its rough stone, and cradled it in my palm.

Then, as if twisting a complex puzzle cube, I began to rotate it!

My fingers moved deftly across the surface of the jade sphere, reminiscent of a seasoned musician playing an ancient melody. With every turn, the orb shimmered with shifting lights, as if responding to some mysterious summons.

Pan Ximi and Old Leopard Chen held their breath, their eyes fixed on my every movement, unwilling to miss even the slightest detail.

“This seven-orifice heart,” I explained as I manipulated the orb, “can only be unlocked by twisting it in a precise sequence and rhythm. Only then will it reveal its secrets.”

Though my voice was soft, it brimmed with confidence and resolve.

With the final twist, a blinding light burst forth from the jade, illuminating the entire room in an instant. When the brilliance faded, the jade sphere had changed form—the granular jade within had turned over, and the surface now protruded and recessed, resembling the movable type used in ancient printing.

Immediately, the luminous patterns projected from these characters!

Pan Ximi and Old Leopard Chen stared in shock at the wall, their amazement plain to see.

Upon the wall, the light cast a cascade of ancient characters and symbols, unfolding a mysterious scroll before our eyes. The script seemed obscure and inscrutable, yet hinted at an underlying, profound order.

“What… what is this?” Pan Ximi muttered, his eyes wide with awe and confusion.

Old Leopard Chen furrowed his brow, as if striving to decipher the meaning behind the symbols.

I drew a deep breath and spoke slowly, “These are the secret inscriptions of the Exquisite Jade Ring. Legend holds that only those who have truly mastered the art of forging the Exquisite Jade Ring can craft jade objects of unparalleled artistry.”

Pan Ximi and Old Leopard Chen stared at the densely projected symbols, their eyes widened in disbelief.

“Marvelous!”

Their astonishment had yet to subside as I continued, “These are more than mere words; they are an ancient craft passed down through generations. To unravel their meaning requires not only wisdom, but also a profound understanding of jade-working.”

Pan Ximi blinked, realization dawning in his eyes. “Master Wang, I am truly impressed. I apologize for testing you earlier.”

I smiled and nodded. “Think nothing of it, Pan Ximi. A measure of caution is only natural. Now, we must focus our efforts on deciphering these symbols.”

But Old Leopard Chen promptly spoke up, “Master Wang, this won't do. The Exquisite Jade Ring should rightfully belong to you. How can the two of us join in your research?”

I glanced at Old Leopard Chen, determination flickering in my gaze. “Chen, these symbols cannot be deciphered by one person alone. The secret of the Exquisite Jade Ring is far too significant. Only together can the three of us hope to unlock its mysteries.”

Pan Ximi nodded in agreement. “Yes, Master Wang is right. We each have our strengths. Only by working as one can we hope to crack these ancient codes.”

Old Leopard Chen shot Pan Ximi a sardonic look. “Easy for you to say. You look more like a rat than a craftsman. Is your tail longer too?”

Had he kept silent, all would have been well, but as soon as he spoke, Pan Ximi flared up.

Pan Ximi glared at him, snapping, “You scoundrel! Keep talking and I'll have my men turn you into a pincushion!”

Listening to their pointless bickering, I cleared my throat.

They took the hint and fell silent.

“Old Leopard, our Ancient Jade Guild is in ruins. Now is the time to unite all our strengths. Let's not quibble over details.”

“Otherwise, we'll only trap ourselves.”

Old Leopard Chen hesitated, then finally nodded. “Very well, let's work together.”

I approached the wall, pointing to one set of symbols. “These may seem chaotic, but they're arranged according to a specific logic. We need to discover the pattern to understand their true meaning.”

Pan Ximi studied the symbols intently, then his eyes lit up. “I think I see something—these symbols seem related to ancient star charts.”

Old Leopard Chen drew closer, scrutinizing the wall. “You're right. The arrangement is similar to star maps. Perhaps we can interpret them from that perspective.”

I nodded. “Exactly. The star charts are an excellent starting point. Let's begin with the simplest symbols and work our way up.”

We divided the tasks—Pan Ximi would seek out the correlations with the star charts; Old Leopard Chen would record the process; I continued studying the arrangement of the characters.

Time slipped by, broken only by our focused breaths and the whisper of pens on paper.

At last, through our joint effort, the meanings of the symbols gradually emerged, and the earth-shattering secret of the Exquisite Jade Ring began to reveal itself before our eyes.

As we deciphered the final symbol, I gave the jade orb a turn as indicated by the clues.

Suddenly, a complete map flashed upon the wall.

The map marked several locations, each indicated by ancient symbols, as if hinting at some special significance.

“The Celestial Jade distribution map!” Old Leopard Chen exclaimed.

Pan Ximi was too stunned to speak.

His eyes gleamed with excitement. “Master Wang, could these sites be the legendary burial places of the Celestial Jade?”

I nodded, my gaze firm. “Indeed. These symbols indicate the likely locations of the Celestial Jade. If we follow the map, we may find more of them.”

Old Leopard Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. “But these locations are scattered far and wide. It will take a great deal of time and effort.”

I smiled. “No matter. The restoration of the Ancient Jade Guild will not happen overnight. To recover the Celestial Jade, we must proceed step by step.”

Pan Ximi and Old Leopard Chen exchanged glances, a look of resolve passing between them. “Master Wang, we are willing to follow you and seek out the Celestial Jade together!”

I gave a dry laugh and looked back at Pan Ximi. “What about your business overseas? Are you just going to abandon it?”

Pan Ximi’s mustache quivered. “Well, perhaps I should report back there first before making any decisions!”