Chapter 111: The Treasure Acquired

“This Sea Pattern Stone is very nice, how much will it cost me before you’d part with it, Boss Laba?” After closely examining it for a long time, Jiang Xincheng asked Boss Laba, who stood before him with eager anticipation.

Sensing Jiang Xincheng’s fondness for the Sea Pattern Stone, a smile flashed across Boss Laba’s face. “I bought this Sea Pattern Stone at a hefty price from a wealthy merchant. Its size is exceptionally rare worldwide. And it’s also a Mutated Yuan Crystal, which greatly increases its worth. So, sir, if you wish to purchase it, it will cost you thirty million Credit Points.”

“Thirty million!” Jiang Xincheng paused, then smiled faintly at Boss Laba. “Boss Laba, are you joking? It’s just a Sea Pattern Stone. No matter how valuable, it couldn’t possibly cost that much. Sea Pattern Stone isn’t a top-tier Meiyu like Emperor Green, nor is it a genuine high-grade Yuan Crystal. Your price is simply exaggerated.”

Seeing Jiang Xincheng’s indifferent expression, Laba laughed heartily. “Sir, you also collect Sea Pattern Stones. Surely, your collection doesn’t contain one as large or as magnificent as this? This piece can be called the King of Sea Pattern Stones. Even if not utterly unique, there are at most only one or two in the whole world. And it’s a Mutated Yuan Crystal too, possessing immense research value. I paid over twenty million just to buy it. Sir, you surely wouldn’t expect me to sell at a loss.”

Boss Laba’s words drew a faint hint of mockery on Jiang Xincheng’s face. He hefted the stone in his hand. “Currently on the market, the highest price for Sea Pattern Stone is five or six hundred Credit Points per gram. This stone should be twenty-six jin, that’s approximately thirteen thousand grams. Even calculating at the absolute peak price, it would only fetch a little over seven million Credit Points. Adding the premium for its Mutated Yuan Crystal status, eight million at most. Yet you’re asking for thirty million. That’s far too steep.”

“Sir, your calculation is flawed,” replied Boss Laba earnestly. “Your pricing applies only to ordinary Sea Pattern Stones. My piece, however, is a peerless treasure. Combined with its status as a Mutated Yuan Crystal, it is undoubtedly one-of-a-kind in the world. Such a unique treasure is definitely worth thirty million. Honestly, it’s not expensive, and its value will rise soon.” He sounded convincing. “I spent so much acquiring it. Selling it for just a few million would mean a huge loss. This unparalleled Sea Pattern Stone truly deserves that price.”

“I learned about this Sea Pattern Stone from an old hunter,” Jiang Xincheng said with a cool smile, leaning closer to Boss Laba and speaking softly into his ear.

Boss Laba had actually bought it from the old hunter for just over a million Credit Points, not the twenty million from a merchant he claimed. The lie felt too brazen.

Jiang Xincheng’s words made Laba freeze. He let out an awkward chuckle, then forced another. “Well, even so, this Sea Pattern Stone remains an invaluable treasure. Someone selling it cheaply because they didn’t recognize its worth – that’s their failing. But I’m different. Twenty million. I’ll sell it to you for twenty million Credit Points.”

“Eight million. That’s my final offer,” Jiang Xincheng shook his head, naming his figure.

Laba frowned. “Sir, doing business requires earnestness. This Sea Pattern Stone is top-grade, large, and a Mutated Yuan Crystal. It cannot be valued like an ordinary piece. Surely you understand. Eight million is unrealistically low; I wouldn’t sell. At the very least, nineteen million.”

After much haggling, the price settled at thirteen million. Jiang Xincheng sensed this was Laba’s bottom line. Although Laba had bought it cheaply due to the hunter’s ignorance, its true value exceeded a mere million by far.

Thirteen million was indeed a fair price. Laba agreed readily because the stone had been easily obtained and was now sold for many times its cost. Otherwise, in big cities like Tianhai City or Xiyang City, a top-grade Sea Pattern Stone of this size could likely fetch over fifteen million.

With the price fixed, matters proceeded smoothly. Jiang Xincheng only carried one million in cash – he was short twelve million. He did, however, have one thousand Flourishing Tang Points. Each point was worth at least ten thousand Credit Points, meaning one thousand points equated to ten million. Demand far exceeded supply.

Jiang Xincheng took out his Elite Soldier token and accessed his Handheld Computer. He logged into the exclusive trading section for members of the Flourishing Tang Empire. He purchased valuable goods worth one thousand Flourishing Tang Points. He then sold these goods to another member and promptly received twelve million Credit Points in return. If not urgently needing cash, he could have likely sold for even more.

Handing over the thirteen million Credit Points to Laba, Jiang Xincheng successfully acquired the priceless Stone of Wisdom. However, he was now virtually penniless, with only a few thousand Credit Points remaining. He was back to square one.

But compared to the Stone of Wisdom, the money spent was merely a drop in the bucket. Looking at the resplendent, sapphire-blue Stone of Wisdom in his hand, a wide smile spread across Jiang Xincheng’s face.

His gaze unintentionally shifted towards Laba’s simple-minded son, Awang. Awang, who had been sitting dumbly biting his fingers, was now staring wide-eyed. He stared fixedly at the Stone of Wisdom clutched in Jiang Xincheng’s hand, a look of intense yearning on his face.

“Mine! Mine! Give!”

Then, under the shocked gazes of everyone present, the seemingly slow Awang charged towards Jiang Xincheng like a madman. As if sensing some vital personal connection had been severed, some great fortune stolen from him, he glared at Jiang Xincheng with savage intensity – the look one gives a robber.

Jiang Xincheng easily pushed the charging Awang aside. He glanced at Laba. “Boss Laba, farewell. Take your son home.”

Jiang Xincheng felt no guilt over taking Awang’s supposed destiny. Heaven and earth grant treasures to those destined for them. In a past life, Awang might have been destined for the Stone of Wisdom. But in this life, it was his to claim. There was no theft; no need for regret.

“Alright, Mr. Jiang! If I come across any other top-quality Sea Pattern Stones, I’ll be sure to contact you!” Having made over ten million on the deal, Laba was clearly ecstatic. He waved heartily at Jiang Xincheng, a smile plastered across his face.

He had no inkling of what treasure he had truly sold. The genuine worth of the Stone of Wisdom amounted to countless trillions. He merely thought it was a Sea Pattern Stone, albeit a Mutated Yuan Crystal. Useless, except as a collector’s item.

Jiang Xincheng would never reveal the truth. Neither Laba nor his son would ever grasp the magnitude of the opportunity they had let slip through their grasp – a chance for future dominance in their own right. Only the foolish Awang continued to weep and wail in despair, watching what he felt should have been his future fate depart. Laba just smacked him upside the head and dragged him towards the house. “Stupid boy! Acting foolish again! Get inside and sleep! Stop causing me so much trouble!”