Chapter 6: The Tumult of Jade Gambling

After advancing successfully to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, Li Hongjun mastered the art of sword flight to perfection. As soon as winter break arrived, he boarded a plane, driven by a thirst for cultivation resources, embarking on a journey to the city famed for jade gambling. His first stop was Ruili, a legendary metropolis known as the capital of jade gambling.

Upon setting foot in Ruili, he was immediately enveloped by an atmosphere thick with excitement and tension. The streets were lined with all types of raw jade stones, bustling crowds haggled and bargained in a lively cacophony. Strolling through the raw stone market, Li Hongjun’s unique aura as a cultivator made him stand out, yet he paid it no mind, scanning the stalls with gleaming eyes for stones suitable for arranging a spirit-gathering formation.

As he was engrossed in his selection, a heated argument broke out nearby. Curious, Li Hongjun moved closer, only to see a young woman in her early twenties, dressed in an elegant cheongsam with delicate features and arched brows, glaring fiercely at a slick-haired, heavily made-up man. Beside her rested several raw stones, evidently just chosen. Li Hongjun instantly recognized her as Gongsun Linglong, a jade merchant from the capital, frequently seen on TV and official websites; she was a minor celebrity in Ruili, famed for her discerning eye and a gambling win rate exceeding forty percent. The man was Wu De, a local gambling king, and the notorious son of Shangguan Jinhong—Shangguan Wude, who had pursued Gongsun Linglong relentlessly.

“Gongsun Linglong, just accept my offer. Follow me, and I’ll guarantee you a life of luxury. Why bother struggling with raw stones here?” Shangguan Wude’s shameless grin was reminiscent of a lapdog, yet tinged with self-important arrogance.

Gongsun Linglong cast him a contemptuous glance, snorting coldly. “Shangguan Wude, stop dreaming. I, Gongsun Linglong, do business uprightly, relying on my own skills. I’d never depend on an idle wastrel like you. You think having a gambling king for a father lets you do whatever you please?”

Shangguan Wude’s face alternated between green and pale, infuriated. “Don’t be ungrateful! I want these stones—move aside if you know what’s good for you. There’s nothing I can’t get when I set my mind to it.”

Gongsun Linglong crossed her arms, undaunted. “Why should I? I painstakingly picked these. If you want some, pick them yourself. Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

Watching from the sidelines, Li Hongjun couldn’t help but interject, “Hey, friend, forcing a sale is hardly proper. Broad daylight, and you’re trying to bully your way through? What are you, a bandit?”

Shangguan Wude turned, seeing an ordinary young man, his pride bruised. He snapped, “Who are you? Mind your own business. Don’t think you can stay in Ruili if you cross me. One move from me and you’ll regret it.”

Li Hongjun raised a brow, mocking, “Oh, I’m so scared. If you’re that capable, why not pluck stars from the sky? Picking on a weak woman isn’t much of a feat. If you’ve got guts, try your luck against me—bullying women doesn’t make you a hero.”

Gongsun Linglong shot Li Hongjun a grateful look. “Thank you for speaking up, sir. But this is between me and him; you’d best stay out of it. He’s vindictive and won’t hesitate to use dirty tricks.”

Li Hongjun waved it off with a smile. “No worries. I’d like to see what he can do to me. I’ve no special skills, but I’m not afraid of threats.”

Shangguan Wude, livid like a cat with its tail stepped on, pointed at Li Hongjun and yelled, “Fine! You’ve got guts! Since you love meddling, let’s gamble—on these stones. Each picks three; whoever’s jade is worth more wins. If you lose, you buy my three stones at double price and leave Ruili for good. If I lose, I buy your three at double price and apologize to Gongsun Linglong. Dare to take the bet?”

Li Hongjun rejoiced inwardly—he’d wanted a chance to test his ability to select stones using cultivation energy, and Shangguan Wude had just handed him one. “Alright, let’s gamble. I’m not afraid. How do we judge? No cheating, mind you.”

Shangguan Wude smirked darkly. “Simple. We each pick three stones from here and have them cut open on-site. Whoever’s jade is higher quality and more valuable wins. We’ll have the master cutter here witness—fair and square. Agreed?” He gestured to the nearby stone-cutting master, who nodded reluctantly.

Li Hongjun agreed, channeling his spiritual energy to carefully sense the energy fluctuations within the surrounding stones. He found that stones containing high-quality jade emitted strong and stable energy waves. Soon, he picked three seemingly ordinary stones, but their inner energy was vibrant and lively—bright beacons in his spiritual vision.

Shangguan Wude relied on so-called experience, selecting three stones with attractive surface patterns, muttering as he picked, “You dare challenge me? I grew up among jade gamblers—I know more than you.”

Their selections made, they approached the stone-cutting master. The crowd, hearing a gambling match was underway, gathered eagerly to watch the spectacle. Some whispered, “This young man’s unfamiliar—daring to challenge Shangguan Wude, he’s bold.” “Yes, Shangguan Wude may be a wastrel, but his jade gambling skills are real. The newcomer’s bound to suffer.”

The master deftly took his tools and began with Shangguan Wude’s stones. As the cutter whirred, the stones gradually split open. Shangguan Wude watched anxiously, sweat beading on his brow, fists clenched. When a faint green appeared, his face lit up. “Ha! You’re doomed. See this color? High-quality jade for sure. I knew I wouldn’t misjudge.”

Li Hongjun remained calm, arms crossed and a faint smile on his lips, confident in his choices. The master continued, revealing more of Shangguan Wude’s jade. While the color was decent, the texture was coarse—just average quality. The other two stones yielded only poor jade with negligible value.

Next came Li Hongjun’s stones. As the master cut, a surge of pure energy washed over the onlookers, refreshing as a spring day in the mountains. As the cut deepened, a piece of stunning, crystalline jade emerged, vivid green and almost dripping with color, its silken veins shimmering brilliantly under the sun. The other two were slightly lesser but still rich and refined.

“Wow, that’s gorgeous!” a young girl squealed from the crowd.

“Top-grade jade—priceless!” exclaimed a seasoned gambler.

A jade expert in his fifties, peering through his reading glasses, examined the stones. “These three pieces are worth fifteen million. The finest is a rare treasure.”

Shangguan Wude’s face turned ashen, as if seeing a ghost—he could not fathom losing to an unknown youth.

Gongsun Linglong looked at Li Hongjun with delight and admiration. “Mr. Li, you’re amazing—able to pick such top-grade jade. Your eye is sharper than most experts.”

Li Hongjun scratched his head with a smile. “Just lucky, perhaps. Maybe even the heavens are on my side today.” Turning to Shangguan Wude, he teased, “Well, Shangguan, are you going to honor the bet? Don’t tell me you plan to cheat—everyone’s watching.”

Shangguan Wude bit his lip, face flushed and pale, furious but unable to back out under everyone’s gaze. He reluctantly pulled out his phone, trembling as he transferred three million to buy Li Hongjun’s stones at double price. Then, he dragged himself to Gongsun Linglong, squeezing out a barely audible apology, “Gongsun Linglong, sorry.” He left in disgrace, shooting a venomous glare at Li Hongjun that seemed to promise revenge.

Gongsun Linglong thanked Li Hongjun warmly. “Mr. Li, I owe you today. To thank you, I can help connect you with buyers and sell your jade at market price. I know plenty of people in the trade and can ensure a good deal.”

Li Hongjun considered—he needed funds for cultivation resources—so he agreed. With Gongsun Linglong’s help, his twelve high-quality jade pieces quickly found buyers, fetching a staggering fifty million. Seeing the numbers on his phone, Li Hongjun was overjoyed, unable to conceal his delight.

Gongsun Linglong, intrigued, asked, “Mr. Li, your stone selection is unusual—not the typical gambling technique. Do you have a secret? Don’t just say it’s luck—no one’s luck is that precise.” She tilted her head, her eyes probing.

Li Hongjun was startled—he had no intention of revealing his identity as a cultivator. Laughing, he deflected, “No secret, really. I just have a special sense for jade—maybe it’s luck. Who knows, maybe I was a piece of jade in my past life and have a connection to them.” He joked, hoping to shift the topic.

Though Gongsun Linglong felt his answer was evasive, she didn’t press further. Smiling, she said, “Regardless, you’ve helped me greatly today. If you ever need anything in Ruili, just ask. I can solve a few problems here.”

Li Hongjun thanked her, “Much appreciated, Miss Gongsun. If I ever need help, I won’t hesitate.”

Just then, a man wearing a black hat, his face mostly concealed, pushed through the crowd and approached Li Hongjun. In a low voice, he said, “Mr. Li, my master wishes to meet you—there are matters to discuss.”

Li Hongjun eyed the mysterious man warily. “Who is your master? Why not talk here?”

The man glanced around. “Too many eyes and ears. My master means no harm, just wants to make your acquaintance.”

Gongsun Linglong whispered, “Be careful, Mr. Li. It might be Shangguan Wude plotting something.”

Li Hongjun pondered—perhaps there was opportunity here—and replied, “Alright, I’ll go with you. But if you try anything, you won’t get away easily.”

The man nodded, leading Li Hongjun to a black luxury car. Gongsun Linglong watched their departure, uneasy.

Li Hongjun entered the car, which set off toward an unknown destination. The man was silent, the atmosphere tense. Li Hongjun finally asked, “Where are we going? Who is your master?”

After a pause, the man replied, “You’ll know soon enough. My master is a prominent figure in Ruili—you’ll understand everything when you meet him.”

The car stopped before a lavish estate. The man guided Li Hongjun inside, through gardens blooming with flowers and buildings elegant and old-fashioned—clearly the residence of someone wealthy and powerful.

In a spacious living room, Li Hongjun met the master—a kindly old man in traditional attire, sipping tea from a grand chair. Rising with a smile, he greeted, “Mr. Li, welcome. I am Qin Yue. I’ve long heard of your skill in jade gambling. Meeting you today, I see the rumors were true.”

Li Hongjun scrutinized him, guessing his intentions. “Mr. Qin, may I ask why you invited me?”

Qin Yue gestured for him to sit, smiling, “No need for formality. To be frank, I have some expertise in raw jade myself, and after hearing of your match with Shangguan Wude, I’m intrigued by your technique. I’d like to collaborate with you in the jade gambling business—profits are negotiable.”

Li Hongjun’s interest was piqued—he needed a steady source of funds for cultivation resources, and this seemed a promising opportunity. But he hesitated; his skill came from spiritual energy, and exposure would spell trouble.

He replied with a smile, “Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your appreciation. But I’m used to working alone, not much for partnerships. I’m just dabbling in jade gambling during my stay in Ruili, and will be leaving soon.”

Qin Yue seemed prepared for refusal, undeterred, “Don’t be hasty, Mr. Li. I can provide the best resources; all you need to do is select stones with your technique. I won’t interfere in your private affairs. Consider it—it benefits us both.”

Li Hongjun wavered, thinking carefully. “Mr. Qin, let me think it over. It’s all rather sudden—I need some time.”

Qin Yue nodded, smiling. “Of course, Mr. Li. Take your time—I await your answer. Here’s my card—contact me whenever you’re ready.” He handed Li Hongjun a business card.

Li Hongjun accepted it. “Thank you, Mr. Qin. I’ll take my leave now.”

Qin Yue stood, personally escorting him to the door. “Take care, Mr. Li. I look forward to your reply.”

After leaving the estate, Li Hongjun pondered Qin Yue’s offer—aware of the risks, but also the rare opportunity. Returning to the city, he told Gongsun Linglong about it.

She frowned thoughtfully. “Mr. Li, Qin Yue is indeed influential in Ruili, and his reputation is decent. But in business, anything can happen. You should be cautious and not accept too quickly.”

Li Hongjun nodded. “I know, Miss Gongsun. I’ll consider carefully. By the way, with your expertise in jade gambling, what do you suggest I do?”

She thought a moment. “If you’re genuinely interested, working with him could be worthwhile—but make sure to clarify terms and protect your interests. And be careful not to let him discover your true method.”

Li Hongjun thanked her sincerely. “Thank you, Miss Gongsun—your advice is invaluable. I’ll think it over.”

Meanwhile, Shangguan Wude had no intention of letting the matter rest. Returning home, his anger simmered and he resolved to teach Li Hongjun a lesson—to make him regret crossing paths.

Dialing a number, his tone was icy. “Leopard, I need you to rough up someone—the kid who beat me at the jade market today. Gather your best men and give him a good thrashing. Let him know Ruili isn’t a place to offend me.”

A deep voice on the other end replied, “No problem, Shangguan. But this job will cost.”

Shangguan Wude snapped, “Money’s not an issue—just make sure he’s dealt with. Name your price.”

“Alright, Shangguan. Wait for good news.” A sinister laugh followed as the call ended.

Sitting on his sofa, Shangguan Wude’s face twisted in a devious grin. “Li Hongjun, you dared humiliate me—I’ll make you regret ever coming to Ruili.”

Elsewhere, Li Hongjun remained unaware of Shangguan Wude’s plans. He continued discussing strategies with Gongsun Linglong and weighed Qin Yue’s proposal. The night in Ruili was ablaze with lights, yet a crisis was quietly brewing… Would Li Hongjun see through Shangguan Wude’s plot? Would he partner with Qin Yue? Everything remained unknown, as the storm of jade gambling in Ruili was just beginning.