Chapter 51: The King of Bids Falls

Chapter 51: The Champion Jade Collapses

The more Xiangnan Liu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He hadn’t realized it before because under Yang Qi’s relentless pressure and facing everyone’s doubts, Yang Qi could only analyze his own advantages and disadvantages, ensuring his own interests before agreeing.

But now, seeing Yang Qi actually revealing jade worth over a million, he immediately understood that Yang Qi must have been confident his jade wouldn't collapse. In that case, Yang Qi stood undefeated.

If he couldn’t win, why would Yang Qi still gamble?

There was no profit; the only possible reason was for fame!

Yang Qi had just started out. Although earlier, thanks to the Blood Jade Pearl, Li Yun had personally acknowledged that Yang Qi had reached the level of a jade gambling master, his actions at the champion jade auction had angered many, and being young, he lacked reputation. In the jade gambling world, to become famous, one either has to possess impeccable jade gambling skills or discover a top-grade jade.

Yang Qi’s skills were not bad, but discovering top-grade jade was not so easy. Shen’s Jewelry had no competition for the champion jade. What could Yang Qi use to become famous? As for the upcoming Myanmar public auction, it would gather jade gambling masters from home and abroad, including those near the jade king level, making it even harder for Yang Qi to gain fame.

But betting against the champion jade was different. Not only could it bring fame, but it also demonstrated Yang Qi’s courage. Ultimately, with the discovery of jade worth over a million, Yang Qi suffered no loss. No loss, yet he gained tremendous fame—that was his true goal.

Having understood all this, Xiangnan Liu’s expression darkened further. At this moment, whatever he wanted to do was useless; Yang Qi had already achieved his purpose.

“Never thought I, Xiangnan Liu, would be outwitted by you!” His face dark and terrifying, Liu was the heir of the Liu Jewelry family, the man who had nearly swallowed up Shen’s Jewelry, yet he had been outplayed by a peer. The rage in his heart was palpable.

“Yang Qi, I will make you know that I, Xiangnan Liu, am not someone to be trifled with.” A fierce light flashed in Liu’s eyes.

If Yang Qi knew Liu’s thoughts at this moment, he would surely say, “Mr. Liu, you’re overthinking. I was just upset with Wu Shan and wanted to win some money.”

Indeed, Yang Qi had no grand designs. Knowing the condition of the two jade stones and provoked by Wu Shan’s ridicule, he simply wanted to teach the Liu family a lesson and make some money on the side.

“It’s rising again, the champion jade is rising again.”

The fourth cut of the champion jade was made, and green hues appeared once more, no less vivid than on the third cut. From this fourth slice, the jade’s size could almost be discerned—about the size of two heads. Even if it were ice-type jade, its value would exceed twenty million!

“Haha…” Wu Shan laughed loudly. Although Yang Qi had revealed jade worth over a million, so what? The champion jade’s continuous rise still captured everyone’s attention.

Below, Xiangnan Liu’s expression brightened considerably. No matter what, with the champion jade soaring, the Liu family still stole the spotlight. Compared to Yang Qi’s little scheme, Liu’s family was the real winner of this exhibition.

“Xiao Yang, a draw is not bad. I was really worried you’d lose—it’s twenty million, after all.” Shen Yuxuan approached Yang Qi, glancing at the champion jade rising across from them, unable to hold back her words.

If the champion jade had risen, she wouldn’t regret it, but compared to that, Yang Qi’s ability to reveal valuable jade from a flawed gamble was impressive. It showed his superb jade gambling skills. To Shen’s Jewelry, a jade gambling master consultant was far more important than a jade worth over twenty million.

“It’s not fully revealed yet. Who knows what will happen?” Yang Qi said calmly.

Shen Yuxuan was momentarily stunned. Indeed, Yang Qi had twice encountered jade stones not fully revealed: once with the Blood Jade Pearl, and now. Despite betting on flawed stones that should collapse, he still managed to cut out valuable jade.

Although the champion jade’s nearly complete cut suggested a clear view of the jade inside, Shen Yuxuan suddenly felt a glimmer of hope after hearing Yang Qi’s words. She faintly sensed Yang Qi might be right.

Could a nearly fully revealed champion jade collapse?

Suddenly—

With the sound of the cutting machine, the last piece of the champion jade was sliced open.

“This is... flawed... how is this possible? Flaws inside the stone…”

“The flaws have extended, it’s all stone.”

“The champion jade collapsed?”

Everyone stared at the last cut in disbelief. Instead of the anticipated rise, a deep flaw appeared.

“How can this be? How?” Wu Shan was stunned. He had carefully examined the stone multiple times from every angle; there shouldn’t have been any flaw.

“Even if flawed, it might still rise. Yes, it could still rise. This jade stone is still that big.” Wu Shan’s face twisted with madness.

But the crowd shook their heads. Unlike the flaw Yang Qi had gambled on, this was a flaw inside the stone itself. Such flaws almost always lead to collapse. Even with miraculous jade inside, its value would be greatly diminished.

“Collapsed?” Xiangnan Liu was stunned. The champion jade, which had been rising all along, suddenly collapsed on the last cut.

“Did he see this coming?” Liu glanced sharply at Yang Qi not far away. Shen’s Jewelry hadn’t even bid on the champion jade from the start, and Yang Qi had even bet that the final jade in the champion jade wouldn’t exceed five million.

He once thought the other party just wanted fame through the champion jade, but now it seemed Yang Qi aimed to win the champion jade’s bidding price.

“Keep cutting! Keep revealing!” Wu Shan’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted at the stone cutter.

The man responsible sighed inwardly but obeyed. After all, a champion jade collapsing was an ill omen. It might make future clients hesitant to hire him.

Fifteen minutes later, a stone piece about one-sixth the size of the original was cut open. On its surface lay a layer of jade resembling eggshells. Judging by the green hue, it was high-quality ice-type jade.

“Is this the jade we saw earlier?”

“The gamble isn’t fully revealed. Who knows if it will rise or fall?”

“I’ve learned a lesson today.”

The onlookers sighed, then turned their gaze toward Yang Qi with newfound respect.

To gamble on a flawed jade stone against the champion jade—and win—showed not only confidence but true skill. Even those master consultants who had been annoyed by Yang Qi now acknowledged his status as a jade gambling master.

At this moment, Yang Qi truly ascended to the jade gambling master tier. A jade master in his twenties, his future achievements could be even greater. Though unlikely to reach the jade king level, he could well approach the stature of a jade gambling grandmaster. No one would dare offend such a person!