At this moment, Wang Guan carefully examined the object retrieved from the Golden Toad’s mouth. It was roughly the size of an egg, circular, though slightly more elliptical than perfectly round. Still covered in dust from its time in the toad's maw, the item felt surprisingly heavy in his hand.

Wang Guan carefully weighed it, then took out some paper currency and gently wiped the object’s surface. Soon, all the caked mud and lime scale were cleared away, revealing the item’s true appearance.

Holding the round object, Wang Guan scrutinized it closely, yet a sense of disappointment washed over him.

To the naked eye, the thing was utterly unremarkable. It was a dull grayish-brown color, possessing not a hint of luster. Touching it, the surface felt rough, inferior even to an ordinary pebble.

However, when Wang Guan activated his special perception, the bead in his hand appeared to shimmer with swirling violet light, radiating such intense brilliance that it was almost painful to look at directly.

This stark contrast left Wang Guan astonished, but also intensely curious, urging him to uncover the deep mysteries held within the sphere.

Yet, no matter how Wang Guan studied it, turning it over and over, the object seemed utterly mundane. The only truly strange aspect was that even now, Wang Guan could not fathom what material composed it.

It certainly couldn't be metal; when held, he felt none of the hardness or coldness associated with metal. If it were stone, it felt slightly too light, lacking the density of rock.

It looked even less like wood, as Wang Guan had already judged that its heft was significantly greater than that of timber.

Neither metal, stone, nor wood, and certainly not like a pearl or jewel—lacking crystallization, smoothness, or sheen. Thus, after prolonged examination, Wang Guan only knew the sphere was a treasure; as for why it was valuable, he remained utterly baffled.

Wang Guan, however, did not intend to immediately consult Gao Dequan. As Yu Feibai had said, if one constantly relied on others, true progress would become impossible. Therefore, he resolved to study it himself for a few days, only seeking advice if his own efforts yielded absolutely nothing.

With this mindset, Wang Guan remained almost exclusively within his room for the next two days, focusing all his energy on researching the suspected treasure-bead.

Gao Dequan and Yu Feibai naturally found this behavior peculiar. Wang Guan offered a casual excuse, pretending to pore over several ancient artifact books, which thankfully aroused no suspicion from either man.

They simply assumed Wang Guan was dedicating strenuous effort to prepare for the upcoming Treasure Exchange Meet. In fact, Gao Dequan specifically praised Wang Guan for this diligence, which, on the final evening, inspired Yu Feibai to grab a massive volume and begin frantically reading as well...

Time flowed like water—deceptively fast—and before he knew it, the day of the Treasure Exchange Meet had arrived. Gao Dequan, as a participant, reached the venue early, conferring with others to finalize the exhibition order of the various artifacts.

Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were not far behind; they washed up, dressed quickly, and hurried out.

On the way, Yu Feibai suddenly slapped his thigh and cried out, "Blast it all..."

"What is it?" Wang Guan asked, somewhat bewildered.

"I forgot my jade belt," Yu Feibai exclaimed, striking his palm with a clenched fist in agitation. "I was planning to show that to Elder Zhou for consultation right after the exchange concluded."

"What should we do? Perhaps you should go back and fetch it now; you should still make it in time," Wang Guan suggested.

"Good idea." Yu Feibai nodded quickly and hopped out of the car in haste. It was understandable he was so frantic; Gao Dequan had mentioned that a private banquet would follow the exchange, after which everyone would disperse.

Of course, some might linger for a few days to catch up with friends they hadn't seen in a long time. However, others were burdened by worldly affairs and could not stay long, inevitably departing immediately. Elder Zhou fell into this latter category. His mere attendance at the exchange, despite his overwhelming schedule, was considered a great courtesy. Wang Guan had heard that the Elder had already booked his flight, intending to leave as soon as the banquet ended.

Thus, missing this chance today meant losing the opportunity for a direct consultation. Although communication technology was advanced, a conversation across distances always lacked something; an in-person meeting yielded far greater benefits.

Watching Yu Feibai’s receding figure, Wang Guan quickly calculated the time—it was more than enough for Yu Feibai to make two round trips. A wave of relief washed over him. After waiting in the car for a short while, he arrived at the location hosting the exchange.

It was a manor-style hotel situated near the outskirts of the city, surrounded by lush greenery, creating an exquisitely serene environment. Especially in the morning, the crisp chirping of small birds in the branches was delightfully melodious. The air was fresh, and a gentle morning breeze carried a hint of moisture that immediately uplifted the spirits.

Wang Guan followed the shaded path to the hotel entrance. Flanking the main door stood two servers, greeting the arriving guests with professional courtesy.

As Wang Guan stepped inside, he was stopped.

"Sir, may I see your invitation, please?" The attendant was extremely polite, offering a warm, friendly smile that displayed all eight of his teeth.

"Invitation... Oh, that's with Yu Feibai."

Wang Guan paused, then offered an apologetic smile. "It’s with my companion." Without asking if an exception could be made, he discreetly stepped aside two paces and took out his phone to dial Gao Dequan.

The pleasant ringtone sounded, but after a minute, there was no answer, and the call terminated automatically.

"What's going on?" Wang Guan frowned, feeling helpless, and resigned himself to waiting for Yu Feibai to return.

"Hey, isn't that Wang Guan? What are you doing here?"

Just then, a voice gratingly unpleasant reached his ears. Lin Hai, impeccably dressed in a brand-new suit and gleaming leather shoes, walked out from the hotel lobby, an expression of feigned surprise on his face.

However, in a blink, a sarcastic smirk spread across Lin Hai's features. "You're such a grown man, yet you still manage to get lost. This is a restricted private area; all outside visitors are politely turned away."

Wang Guan was momentarily stunned, then realized Lin Hai clearly mistook him for a tourist visiting the grounds. While finding the situation absurdly comical, Wang Guan maintained his composure, glanced dismissively at Lin Hai, and paid him no further mind.

To his surprise, this very act of ignoring him only fueled Lin Hai’s anger, causing him to bark, "Wang Guan, are you deaf? Didn't you hear me? The entire hotel has been booked out; no loiterers are allowed near. If you know what's good for you, you'd scram. Otherwise, I’ll call security."

"Who are you calling a scram?" Wang Guan’s brow furrowed; a flicker of annoyance stirred within him.

"I'm talking to you, of course."

Lin Hai scoffed, looking smug. "Do you even know who is gathered inside? They are nationally renowned entrepreneurs, company chairmen, and social elites. A mere sneeze from any one of them could cause national economic tremors. If you dare cause trouble here and disrupt their gathering, I only need to mention it inside, and with a few words, they could blacklist you nationwide..."