Chapter 124: The Hidden Layer of the Southern Jade Vein Map

Li Tiancheng’s voice brimmed with sudden excitement upon hearing my reply, and he nodded in agreement. "Mr. Wang Hu, you make a valid point. With that kind of conviction, we can certainly focus our efforts on staffing and attracting more discerning clientele."

I smiled faintly, feeling a surge of confidence. "Exactly. We can invite renowned jade appraisers and collectors to grace the event, which will surely elevate its prestige. At the same time, we could host high-end jade exchange forums, allowing clients to experience the allure of the stones firsthand."

"Of course, the main reason I contacted you is that I want the auction of the Jade-Faced Fox to take place at my Bengjian Market. In exchange, I’m willing to offer you an additional one percent commission!"

A flash of excitement crossed Li Tiancheng’s face. The current valuation of the Jade-Faced Fox had already reached the tens of millions; that single percentage point was no small sum.

"If you are satisfied with this deal, we can begin the organization immediately!"

"That’s a brilliant idea! I know several experts with impeccable reputations in the industry. If they agree to attend, it will certainly draw a significant crowd."

I nodded, mentally calculating the feasibility of the plan. "Then it’s settled. Tiancheng, I’m counting on you. Please contact those experts as soon as possible; we need to start preparations right away."

Li Tiancheng nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Mr. Wang Hu, I will do everything in my power to ensure this is a success."

With everything settled, I called Lu Yier in and informed him of my decision to hold the Jade-Faced Fox auction at the Bengjian Market.

Lu Yier was visibly shocked. After all, the Bengjian Market was an old establishment, largely overlooked by industry insiders. Furthermore, auctions of this caliber were typically held in five-star hotels; he questioned whether such a rustic venue could truly suffice.

Frowning, Lu Yier hesitated. "Mr. Wang Hu, are you certain about holding the auction at the Bengjian Market? The environment and facilities are far from ideal; I’m concerned it might negatively impact the client experience."

I smiled and patted his shoulder, my tone firm. "It is precisely because the Bengjian Market is an old venue that it possesses such deep historical roots and unique charm. We can curate a retro yet elegant atmosphere here, which will attract those who truly appreciate jade. Besides, this is an innovative attempt—breaking the mold might yield unexpected results."

"As for the funding, draw it from the twenty million budget."

Lu Yier looked thoughtful. "Are you truly committed to this auction?"

I laughed. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Lu Yier finally nodded, seemingly accepting my vision. He took a deep breath, a glimmer of resolve in his eyes. "In that case, I will give it my all to ensure the auction runs smoothly."

I smiled with satisfaction. "Good. Let the preparations begin. We need to contact a design firm to transform the Bengjian Market into a venue that balances historical character with elegance. Also, do not neglect the publicity; every potential client must understand what makes this auction unique."

Lu Yier immediately pulled out his notebook to record my instructions. "Understood. I will contact experienced design firms to ensure the venue is appropriately arranged. Simultaneously, I will assemble a professional PR team to leverage social media and industry journals for wide-reaching promotion."

"Additionally," I added, "we will set up a Jade Culture Pavilion to host a group of mysterious guests."

Lu Yier’s eyes lit up. "Mysterious guests? You mean…?"

I offered a faint smile. "That’s confidential for now. Get to work!"

Lu Yier nodded and left promptly to carry out his tasks. I stood by the office window, gazing at the distant Bengjian Market, my heart filled with anticipation. This old market had witnessed the brilliance of countless jade trades; this auction would be the moment it reclaimed its former glory.

With the room now empty, I retrieved the map of the Southern Jade Vein I had previously acquired. I wanted to see if, bolstered by my Golden Pupil ability, I could uncover any secrets hidden within it.

I studied the map closely; its dense markings and annotations seemed to conceal countless mysteries. The power of the Golden Pupil gradually manifested in my eyes, allowing me to perceive details invisible to the average person.

Suddenly, a mark caught my attention. It was a tiny red dot located near the center edge, appearing as if it had been intentionally overlooked. My heart raced. I extended my pinky, determined to see what the dot was, but after scratching at it for a while, the dot remained unmoved.

That wasn't right. Could it be on the back?

I flipped the map over, aligning it with the position of the red dot. I touched it gently and tried scratching again, but it still wouldn't budge. I realized then that the map had layers.

My heart tightened. I grabbed a small knife and carefully sliced along the edge of the map. Sure enough, it consisted of three layers—a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom base.

I slowly peeled back the layers, taking care not to damage any details. Finally, the middle layer revealed itself, containing a thin piece of parchment covered in densely packed, blurred ancient characters.

"Ancient Jade Clan script?" I whispered to myself, my heart pounding with excitement. According to legend, the Ancient Jade Clan was a mysterious, archaic tribe that held the secrets and techniques of jade craftsmanship. This parchment could potentially conceal earth-shattering information.

I continued to dismantle the bottom layer, leading to an even more shocking discovery. The entire map had appeared chaotic in its symbols and writing, but once the layers were separated, the situation changed. One map had become three.

I set aside the bottom two and examined the top layer individually. The mystery finally began to unravel. The third layer was actually a modern map—or rather, it dated back about a century, featuring many old addresses I had heard of in my childhood.

A sudden realization dawned on me. Was this map actually a layout of the city? If so, what did the other layers represent? Each layer surely held a specific meaning. I sensed that I had cracked half the code of this map. There were undoubtedly even more significant discoveries to come.

I stared at the map, determined to break it down even further.