The Jade of Nuwa mending the Heavens was hardly an idle tale; after all, according to Cao Xueqin’s description in Dream of the Red Chamber, the Spiritual Luminous Jade was the very stone left over from that mythical repair, which was then reincarnated as Jia Baoyu, born with the jade in his mouth.

"The Spiritual Luminous Jade!" Elder Qian exclaimed with palpable shock. "This thing actually exists?" Elder Zhou slowly expounded, "As large as a sparrow's egg, brilliant like the rosy clouds of dawn, smooth and lustrous as congealed cream, encircled by swirling patterns of five colors..." "It matches perfectly. If this isn't the Spiritual Luminous Jade, what else could it be?" As he spoke, Elder Zhou gently touched the object, his certainty growing absolute: "No doubt. This crystalline texture, this warm feel—it is absolutely jade, and it hasn't been dyed."

"Meaning, this is the Spiritual Luminous Jade, and further, the legendary, almost extinct Crimson Jade."

Crimson Jade, also known as Red Jade, specifically Hetian Red Jade. Ancient people primarily categorized jade based on color, leading to the saying that jade is divided into five colors: crimson, yellow, white, blue-green (qing), and black (ink). The descriptions read: white like cut fat, yellow like steamed chestnuts, black like droplets of lacquer, and red like a cockscomb, or slightly muted, like rouge. Blue-green jade and white jade were the most common materials, while ink jade and yellow jade were considerably rarer. However, the rarest of all was the Crimson Jade, now relegated to legend. The scarcity and value of Hetian Crimson Jade meant that even in antiquity, it circulated only within the imperial courts and royal families. The old saying goes: "Jade stone bearing red, a treasure beyond measure," referring precisely to the value of Crimson Jade. Historical records describe Crimson Jade as vivid as a cockscomb with the luster of congealed fat. Its purplish-red parts resembled solidified blood, and its scarlet parts like cinnabar, possessing a fine, smooth texture. Oily and smooth as cream, it matched the characteristics of the Spiritual Luminous Jade exactly, which explained Elder Zhou's firm conviction that the jade in question was the legendary Hetian Crimson Jade. One can imagine that a piece of chicken-blood stone with a similar oily texture already commands prices hundreds of times that of gold; this is even more true for Crimson Jade, which is translucent as congealed fat and radiates a magnificent, rosy glow from within. Add to that the cultural added value of the Spiritual Luminous Jade. Jia Qin’s asking price of four hundred million was by no means exorbitant; in fact, it was somewhat on the low side.

While examining it closely, Elder Zhou quickly inquired, "Wang Guan, where exactly did you discover this?" "I bought it." Wang Guan hesitated, then recounted, "The original owner, you probably know him too—it was Old Master Jia." At this point, Wang Guan felt a pang of wistfulness. He had thought his own luck was quite good, but compared to Old Master Jia, he seemed rather insignificant. After all, a large part of his "luck" was manufactured, whereas the old man’s was genuine fortune: he merely purchased an old, worn official robe and discovered the Spiritual Luminous Jade tucked inside the official cap. Such a stroke of fate was enough to inspire envy and resentment.

After explaining the provenance of the Spiritual Luminous Jade, Wang Guan couldn't help but express some doubt: "Are you truly unaware of this?" As major collectors within their circle, even if they weren't intimately acquainted, they should have heard whispers during their interactions. "If we knew, we wouldn't be this surprised," Elder Zhou replied, shaking his head with a sigh. "Brother Jia certainly kept his treasures well hidden. To possess such a marvel and never reveal a single clue... Though, one can understand his thinking. Such a precious item truly must be guarded in secret, lest the scholars of the Redology society swarm him with incessant inquiries."

Elder Qian gently nodded, taking the Spiritual Luminous Jade from Elder Zhou’s hand. While admiring it closely, he asked, "Since the Jia family kept it secret, why did they suddenly transfer it to you?" "Jia Qin is fond of jadeite, and fortunately, I happened to have a number of top-grade pieces. So, we exchanged them." Wang Guan breezed through the process in a few words, causing Elder Qian and Elder Zhou’s eyes to fill with awe; they immediately categorized Jia Qin as a top-tier prodigal son. "It was destined to fall into your hands," Elder Zhou conceded, believing that with Wang Guan holding it, the treasure would at least be safe from any mishaps for the next fifty or sixty years.

Wang Guan smiled and pointed to the five-colored markings on the Spiritual Luminous Jade. "By the way, Elder Zhou, do you know how these patterns formed?" "That is the rind color..." Elder Qian felt around it slightly, then smiled and explained, "The precursor to this Spiritual Luminous Jade was likely a nugget of Crimson Jade. Before any fine carving was done, the nugget naturally retained some of its original rind. After the piece was discovered, it was meticulously sculpted by a master artisan, resulting in its current form." "During the carving process, the jade master cleverly preserved the rind color, creating beautiful ornamentation and lending the Crimson Jade an added touch of ancient patina." As he spoke, Elder Qian was full of praise: "Excellent material meeting excellent craftsmanship—they complement each other perfectly. Truly worthy of being a rare treasure."

"The primary value lies in its cultural significance, which is extraordinary..." While the two elders discussed, Wang Guan simply listened, feeling he benefited immensely. It wasn't just the added value from Dream of the Red Chamber; he gained a deeper understanding of jade culture itself. In any case, this day marked a season of harvest. Not only did he obtain the Spiritual Luminous Jade, but more importantly, those supreme-grade jadeites also sold for a great price, enough to cover the costs of taking over the project without worrying about a shortage of funds. Furthermore, with coordination from the relevant departments, the Monk Banshan safely returned, bringing a consignment of precious cultural relics that arrived at the capital airport the following day.

Wang Guan hurried to the airport to meet them; whether he was there to greet the person or the objects was another matter entirely. After a proper reception ceremony, and under the personal guidance of a high-ranking official from the Bureau of Religious Affairs, Monk Banshan was officially settled in, becoming one of the local monks. The monk then wasted no time, enthusiastically heading to Banshan Temple to begin preparations for establishing the monastery.

Arriving once more at the foot of the mountain where Banshan Temple stood, Wang Guan was met by a scene of bustling activity at the resort center construction site. Vehicles and crowds surged, and the roar of various machinery thundered—it was extremely lively. Wang Guan was quite satisfied, believing that professional matters should indeed be left to professionals. If it had been up to him, even after successfully acquiring the project, he would likely have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of loose ends and uncertain where to begin. Unlike now, where construction started the very day after the project negotiations concluded. Looking at the momentum, he suspected the work might be completed in three to five months, rather than taking a full year.

However, compared to the construction site, Monk Banshan was far more concerned with the temple itself. He hurried up the mountain and, seeing that the temple structure remained unchanged, finally felt relieved. There was good reason for his deep concern: with the "license" issued by the Bureau of Religious Affairs, this was the place where he would establish his roots, the very grounds for reviving his sect. No amount of focus on it would be excessive.

Entering the temple grounds, Wang Guan also noticed the cleverness of the architecture. Due to the obstruction of the forest and the insulation provided by the temple’s high walls and thick ramparts, the clamor from the construction below could not penetrate at all. It truly possessed the feeling of a secluded, ancient mountain temple—serene and ethereal. At the same time, Wang Guan began to ponder: "But it feels like something is missing?"

"Missing something?" Monk Pi Qiu was perplexed. He looked left and right, then chuckled, "Perhaps you feel the community of monks is too small." Not too small, there's clearly only one Monk Banshan, Wang Guan thought with internal complaint, yet he admitted that Pi Qiu was right; the severe lack of resident monks was indeed a major issue. This was a large monastery capable of housing hundreds of monks, not a tiny shrine meant for just two or three residents. A single hero needs three helpers; a fence needs three stakes—this was the most basic wisdom. Back when the Buddha spread his teachings, he had a retinue of disciples assisting him with sundry affairs, allowing him to focus entirely on enlightenment and ultimately achieve greatness. If Monk Banshan intended to glorify the temple and revive his lineage, he certainly couldn't do it alone. But where would the helping hands come from? Temples situated in famous mountains and rivers rarely suffered this worry, because they had orderly traditions, centuries of history, and profoundly deep roots, earning a reputation that spoke for itself. Even if accidents occurred or the temple was destroyed by war, as long as it was rebuilt, they could immediately gather a crew and re-establish their standing. In contrast, Banshan Temple had no foundation whatsoever; it was starting from scratch, and the difficulty of such an endeavor was obvious.

Of course, if there were truly no other options, they might have to seek the help of "professional monks."

"Professional monks?" Monk Banshan looked astonished. Having lived overseas for so long, he was unfamiliar with the situation in the country. However, after Wang Guan and Pi Qiu explained clearly what professional monks were, Monk Banshan immediately shook his head, stating he could not accept the existence of such people—it was an insult to Buddhism.

"Amitabha!" With Wang Guan and Pi Qiu at a loss, Monk Banshan gazed into the distance. "It seems I must make a trip back to Hangzhou."

"Hm?" In an instant, Wang Guan and Pi Qiu realized that Monk Banshan was not entirely without connections in China. His master had been a fellow disciple of Master Hong Yi. Although he had gone to develop his career in Singapore due to wartime turmoil, he still belonged to a branch lineage of a certain temple in Hangzhou. Setting aside the shared lineage and familial bond, the very reason of establishing a temple and expanding the sect’s influence would surely prompt that temple to offer vigorous support, providing both personnel and resources without question. Upon this realization, Wang Guan and Pi Qiu stopped worrying about Monk Banshan and continued wandering through the mountain temple.

However, as they reached the Bell and Drum Tower, Wang Guan suddenly grasped it: "I finally know what this place is lacking. It’s not just monks; it’s a Buddha Bell."

"Right, there’s a Bell and Drum Tower here, but no ancient bell," Pi Qiu chimed in. In many famous ancient temples, the high-hanging bell is a solemn ritual instrument that enhances the temple's majesty. A bell at a scenic spot is especially captivating. Perhaps ever since Zhang Ji’s famous line, "The midnight bell tolls to the boatman on the cold river at Hanshan Temple outside Suzhou City," became so renowned, it left a deep impression on Wang Guan, making him instinctively think of the sound of a bell upon arriving at any temple. Of course, how the ancient bell became intrinsically linked with the temple is a profound philosophical question that cannot be answered immediately. Regardless, once they realized the temple lacked an ancient bell, everyone felt it was a major defect... (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets.) (Mobile users, please read at RT)