Chapter 70: The One-in-Ten-Thousand Ice-Cracked Jade

Chen Leopard and I exchanged a glance, an unspoken understanding passing between us, completely ignoring Gao Youde’s mocking remark.

We approached the stone gambling table, where the staff asked us to pick a number and select several raw stones for the contest.

I spoke calmly, “Five immortals for five stones—fox, white, yellow, willow, and ash.”

The staff didn’t fully grasp my words, but they caught the number five. Immediately, they laid five pieces of raw material before us.

I looked at Chen Leopard and said, “By custom, the elder goes first.”

He glanced at me, chuckling, “You’re quite interesting!” With that, we each chose a raw stone.

As per tradition, the elder acted first. Chen Leopard lowered his gaze, inspecting the stone, then suddenly leaned forward and sniffed it with his nose.

He raised his head, signaling that I could begin.

The professionals gathered around watched our actions in confusion, unable to comprehend our methods. No one had ever seen anyone identify raw material like this.

Gao Youde, standing aside, sneered, “Are these two here to entertain us? Can you really judge jade by sniffing it?”

Chen Leopard and I exchanged another glance, still ignoring their ridicule.

Chen Leopard gently stroked his stone, his gaze intent, as if conversing with it. His fingers swept over its surface, feeling its pulse. He nodded slightly, indicating that I should proceed.

I took my time, flipping my stone over and carefully examining every detail. My fingers tapped lightly on its surface, listening to the unique resonance, as if hearing its story.

“There’s a fine fracture inside this stone,” I said confidently, “but it won’t affect the quality of the jade. In fact, it might create a unique pattern.”

My words sparked discussion among the onlookers. They whispered among themselves.

Normally, people who gamble on stones only make rough guesses, but to describe the internal pattern like this seemed impossible!

A well-dressed middle-aged man in the crowd suddenly burst out laughing, “Young man, this isn’t how stone gambling works. What makes you so sure there’s a fracture inside?”

I smiled serenely and replied, “Stone gambling is not just about sharp eyes, but also a keen mind. You must listen to the stone’s voice and feel its pulse.” I pointed to the stone in my hand, “This stone’s sound tells me there’s a fine fracture inside, but it won’t diminish the jade’s quality—instead, it might form a unique pattern.”

The middle-aged man snorted, “Pretentious nonsense!”

Calmly, I turned to him, “Have you ever watched a fox hunt in the wild? It can hear animal cries from dozens of miles away and detect the size of its prey by scent alone.”

The more I spoke, the more incredulous they became, and the murmurs grew louder. Some shook their heads, others scoffed, clearly unconvinced. Yet a few people seemed thoughtful, perhaps considering the possibility behind my words.

Chen Leopard, unlike the crowd, showed no surprise. He gently patted his stone, urging me to continue. His gaze, cold and detached, strangely reassured me.

I went on, “Stone gambling isn’t just luck; it requires experience and sharp intuition. Like Elder Chen Leopard—he sniffed the stone to sense its breath. Every raw stone has its own unique scent, its ‘soul’.”

Gao Youde sneered, about to retort, but was interrupted by Lu Yier.

Lu Yier stepped forward, scrutinizing the stone in my hand, saying slowly, “You two need to speed up, time is running out!”

“You talk a good game, young man, but can you prove your claim?” The middle-aged man in the crowd clearly wasn’t letting the matter drop.

“I’ll prove your father!” Suddenly, someone in the audience threw a punch at the middle-aged man!

To my surprise, it was Hu San...

This fellow...

I was speechless.

The crowd erupted into a brawl.

“When Tiger says something, that’s how it is. Who are you to question him? You should just listen, where do you get so many opinions?” Hu San’s impulsiveness caught me off guard, but standing on stage, I couldn’t step down to intervene.

Lu Yier quickly waved for control, and several staff members rushed forward, separating Hu San and the middle-aged man.

Gradually, the commotion settled, though the atmosphere remained tense.

“Hu San, calm down!” I called, hoping he’d realize his recklessness.

Hu San, still breathing heavily, shot me a resentful look before being led aside by the staff.

I nodded to him, signaling him to stay calm.

Lu Yier stepped to the front of the stage, his expression stern as he addressed the crowd, “Everyone, please remain calm. Stone gambling relies on observation and discernment, not fists. You’re here to learn and witness, not to quarrel. Now, please continue watching.”

The unrest in the crowd slowly subsided, and their attention returned to the gambling table.

Chen Leopard maintained his cold demeanor, as if the earlier conflict had never happened. He gently tapped his stone, indicating I should proceed.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and continued, “To finish what I started—the fracture inside this stone could form a pine tree pattern. If cut open, it would be beautiful, a rare ice fracture type! That’s my verdict.”

The mention of “ice fracture pattern” immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Jade is usually judged by its color, and it’s rare for anyone to discern patterns; if a jade stone naturally carries a pattern, it becomes a top-tier work of art. Even non-jade stones with resemblance can have immense value—for example, Empress Dowager Cixi’s pork stone, which was partly man-made. If my stone truly matches my description, and the pattern can be seen through, it would be a sensation!

“Ice fracture pattern?” Gao Youde’s expression shifted, clearly aware of the rarity of such a natural pattern.

I nodded and explained, “Yes, ice fracture pattern. It looks just like the cracks on a frozen winter lake—crystal clear, with great aesthetic value. If this stone truly bears such a pattern inside, its worth would be immeasurable.”

The crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on my stone, as if trying to see through its skin to glimpse the legendary ice fracture.

Chen Leopard remained aloof, but in his gaze flashed a hint of approval.

He gently tapped his stone, inviting me to proceed.

I took another deep breath, steadied myself, and said to Chen Leopard, “Elder Chen, this ice fracture pattern could surpass all our previous stones. If you’re willing to concede blindfolded, I won't have to cut it open.”