331: Chapter 331 Shocking the Entire Audience

“It should be Ice Jadeite... It looks very translucent...”

“How much did that person pay for this stone again?”

“Wasn't it four million?”

“Holy cow, doesn't that mean they made a huge profit?!”

The discussions from downstairs drifted up to the second floor.

Liu Hui turned to look at Lao Sheng and asked, “Did we make a profit?”

Lao Sheng gave Liu Hui and Shen Yan a look that was hard to describe. He pursed his lips and nodded in reply, “This stone is Ice Jadeite. As long as the jadeite isn't palm-sized, you definitely made a profit.”

As he spoke, he thought to himself:

These two are like they have the 'Invincible Newbie Aura' buff; every single time they hit the mark right away. It made him incredibly envious...

Before they knew it,

The professional staff had already finished cutting the stone.

Just as Lao Sheng had guessed, the jadeite cut from that stone was not only very bright in color but also very large. Shen Yan had struck it rich.

The time left for everyone to marvel was not long.

Soon, the auction's Host pushed the next raw stone forward.

As time passed, three of the four stones Shen Yan had purchased had now been cut.

The jadeite from every stone cut far exceeded the price he had paid for it.

At first, Lao Sheng would still feel envy and jealousy, but later on, he had become completely numb.

He thought: How can a mortal body stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a deity?

Shen Yan was clearly a god playing with cheats!

It was better for him not to compare himself to Shen Yan.

Thinking this, he suddenly got an idea.

He sidled up to Shen Yan and quietly asked him, “Hey... Little Shen, I see you have quite good luck. After we go out later, can you recommend a stone for me?”

Hearing Lao Sheng's question, Shen Yan shook his head without hesitation.

The reason he could succeed every time he cut was entirely due to the System's prompts. Without the System's guidance, he would be worse off than Lao Sheng.

Lao Sheng didn't know that Shen Yan relied on the System for such good luck. He thought Shen Yan didn't want to help him. He pleaded with Shen Yan, “Although we've only known each other for a short while, please, I’m begging you, okay?”

“I won't hide it from you, Brother. My entire net worth right now is only ten million, and over eight million of that was acquired through loans.”

“If I fail to buy a stone with good quality, I will truly not only lose everything but also be burdened with massive debt...”

Shen Yan looked at Lao Sheng and asked him in a doubtful tone, “Looking at you, you probably haven't had those loans for long. Why don't you just pay back all the money you currently have?”

As soon as the words fell,

Lao Sheng shot up from his chair with a 'swish' sound.

“No way!”

“I finally managed to borrow this much money, how can I go back empty-handed!”

Hearing this, Shen Yan let out a cold laugh.

He knew Lao Sheng was a gambler.

He also knew Lao Sheng couldn't escape the stone gambling industry.

But he hadn't expected Lao Sheng to be willing to borrow loan shark money, enduring the pressure of potentially losing everything and being heavily indebted, just to stubbornly keep buying stones.

Facing such a gambler, he had nothing to say.

Lao Sheng also realized his tone had been a bit harsh. He softened his voice and said to Shen Yan, “I... I didn't mean anything else. I just... I really need this chance. Please just help me...”

Shen Yan ignored him, looking straight ahead at the auction stage downstairs.

The atmosphere gradually became awkward.

Lao Sheng rubbed his nose and turned to look at Liu Hui, hoping she would put in a good word for him. However, to his surprise, Liu Hui also turned away from him.

Although Liu Hui didn't understand stone gambling, she wasn't a fool.

She understood the principle that 'nine out of ten gamblers lose.'

She also understood the principle that 'a gambler is incurable.'

Since they couldn't persuade Lao Sheng, they decided to keep silent and focus on their own business.

At this moment, the final stone waiting to be cut had been brought out onto the auction stage downstairs.

This stone was the one Shen Yan had purchased as the grand finale.

This stone was not only heavier and larger than the others.

If it weren't for being heavier and larger than the other stones, its price wouldn't have been so exorbitant.

All the audience members downstairs were captivated, holding their breath as they watched the professional staff.

Their current feelings were actually very conflicted.

They hoped the stone would yield fine jadeite.

Yet, they also hoped the stone would *not* yield fine jadeite.

The reason they hoped for fine jadeite was that they wanted to see the legendary top-grade jadeite.

The reason they hoped it wouldn't yield fine jadeite was because this stone didn't belong to them.

If this stone truly yielded top-grade jadeite, they would at best have broadened their horizons; the one who truly struck it rich would be the owner of this stone.

Harboring this contradictory feeling, they nervously stared at the staff's movements.

“Vroom vroom vroom!”

The familiar sound of the cutting machine rang out again.

Everyone took a synchronous deep breath.

It was starting.

The staff made the first cut.

The green jadeite inside finally saw the light of day.

“Holy cow! What translucent jadeite!”

“Oh my god!!! Is this the legendary Glass Type?!”

“Holy cow! This green color is significant—could it be Imperial Green?!”

“Everyone calm down! This is only one side that’s been cut!”

As the voices of the guests downstairs faded, the professional staff began to cut the other side.

“Vroom vroom vroom!”

Another cut fell.

This time, the guests downstairs could no longer restrain themselves.

They erupted in a small burst of screams.

“Ahhh!!!”

“It really is Glass Type Imperial Green!”

“Heavens! This is the first time I’ve seen someone cut out Glass Type Imperial Green!”

“Worth it, worth it! This trip was truly worth it!”

“Are we supposed to go congratulate the people on the second floor later?”

“Who exactly are the people on the second floor? None of the stones they cut have resulted in a loss!”

“Let’s go take a look later. In the future, we’ll chant his name when we buy stones; maybe we’ll get lucky too!”

It wasn't just on the first floor.

The atmosphere in Private Room 201 on the second floor was the same.

Lao Sheng stared blankly at the auction stage, feeling a pang of heartache.

Although he hadn't brought enough money to buy this stone, he couldn't help but think:

If he had truly bought this stone, would the crowd below be cheering for him now?

Shen Yan was unaware of Lao Sheng's thoughts.

Compared to everyone else, his reaction could be described as extremely calm.

After all, he already knew through the System that there was high-quality jadeite in several of these stones.

“Aren't you happy?”

Suddenly, Liu Hui tugged his hand and asked him.

Shen Yan didn't know why Liu Hui would say that. He shook his head and replied to her, “No, I’m quite happy.”

Liu Hui pursed her lips and said, “But you haven't even smiled...”

Shen Yan replied with a wry smile, “This is called being composed, not being unhappy. Alright, have you decided what you want to eat later?”