Elder Qian practiced not the common Tai Chi, but five peculiar movements. Wang Guan glanced over, feeling a flicker of recognition, and upon closer inspection, realized they mimicked the forms of the tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird.

"Is this Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics?" Wang Guan whispered.

"Mm," Yu Feibai nodded softly. "Elder Qian has practiced it for over a decade now, with remarkable results. Not only does he rarely fall ill, but his energy levels rival those of a young man."

Elder Qian seemed to sense their conversation, continuing his stretches as he spoke, "When one is old, if you don't pay attention to keeping healthy, you soon become a burden."

"Elder Qian, what are you saying? You're no burden; you are clearly the purple-gold pillar supporting the sea, the white jade column holding up the sky. See, whenever we run into a difficult problem, we come running to seek your guidance," Yu Feibai said with a smile.

"What kind of problem is it that even Ah De can't figure out, making you rush over here so early in the morning?" Elder Qian asked, suddenly intrigued.

"Elder Qian, you wouldn't believe it."

Yu Feibai exaggerated dramatically, "Wang Guan has done something earth-shattering again! He actually slew a three-legged Golden Toad that had cultivated for a thousand years and brought back its inner core. He needs you to take a look!"

Wang Guan, hearing this, felt three black lines appear on his forehead.

"Stop talking nonsense again."

Fortunately, Elder Qian didn't believe it at all and smiled faintly, "Wang Guan, you tell me."

"I hope I'm not disturbing your morning practice, Elder Qian," Wang Guan said hesitantly.

"Not at all. When one is old, it’s easy to lose sleep. I woke up at six and have already practiced for an hour; it’s time to wrap up," Elder Qian chuckled, slowly concluding his movements. There were faint beads of sweat on his brow, but his face was ruddy, radiating remarkable vitality.

"Elder Qian, don't listen to Feibai's ramblings. I just obtained a rather peculiar bead and wanted you to examine it," Wang Guan smiled, handing over the dark purple orb.

Elder Qian reached out to take it. The moment the bead settled in his hand, his expression shifted subtly, and he smiled broadly, "This item is interesting. It looks like submerged Zitan wood..."

"Submerged Zitan wood!"

Wang Guan started. He had certainly heard of Zitan, but submerged wood was a term he heard much less frequently.

"It should be correct," Elder Qian nodded. Seeing Wang Guan seemed somewhat confused, he proceeded to explain, "Scientifically speaking, this submerged wood can be termed carbonized wood. Because it is generally jet black, people in the Southwest often use the descriptive term 'Wumu' (black wood)."

"The formation of submerged wood is almost accidental. Certain timbers, due to events like earthquakes, floods, or landslides, get buried in the earth's strata or riverbed mud. In an anaerobic, high-pressure state, under the influence of bacteria and other microorganisms, it undergoes a carbonization process lasting thousands of years before finally forming."

Elder Qian smiled. "It is precisely this characteristic that makes submerged wood so precious. The ancients used submerged wood as an object to ward off evil, crafting artifacts, Buddhist statues, and protective amulets from it. Furthermore, there is a saying: 'A small space of Wumu in the house is worth more than a chest of treasure.'"

"The Qing Dynasty scholar Yuan Mei also described submerged wood in his work, Zibuyu (Unspoken Words)."

At that moment, Gao Dequan added, "This is what he said: 'It is rumored that submerged wood comes from trees that existed before the creation, sinking into sand and waves. After surviving the cataclysms that overturned heaven and earth, they re-emerge into the world. Thus, when buried again, they remain undegraded for ten thousand years. Its color is deep green, the grain resembling brocade. Placing a piece on the ground repels flies and mosquitoes for a hundred paces.'"

"How miraculous," Yu Feibai exclaimed in astonishment.

"Of course, records like that contain a degree of embellishment. However, the preciousness of submerged wood is undeniable," Gao Dequan stated. "The ancients believed that wood remaining intact for ten millennia underground made it the best material for a 'longevity wood' coffin. Therefore, the Commentary on the Water Classic also records: 'There is a stream next to the village, and the stream is rich in spiritually enduring wood.' Even in folk tradition, there is the saying: 'Ten thousand taels of gold sent to the underworld cannot buy Wumu to offer to the Heaven Spirit.'"

"There are many types of submerged wood, the common ones being from the Maliu tree, Cork Oak, or Camphor tree. However, the most treasured varieties are submerged Zitan and submerged Jinsinan (Golden Silk Nanmu)."

Elder Qian chuckled, "For ancient emperors and generals, perhaps their greatest dying wish was to obtain submerged Jinsinan as material for their coffins. Unfortunately, Jinsinan and Zitan were already rare, and the probability of them forming submerged wood is extremely low. Thus, their wishes were destined to go unfulfilled."

Gao Dequan agreed. "Strictly speaking, submerged Jinsinan has moved beyond the scope of mere wood and should be categorized as a treasure. Due to its scarcity, low yield rate, non-renewability, and immense aesthetic value, it possesses extremely high scientific, cultural, and economic added value—it can truly be called a national treasure."

"A national treasure..." Yu Feibai suddenly shook his head. "But I feel this bead is even more valuable than a national treasure."

"Feibai, aren't you exaggerating a bit?"

Elder Qian looked surprised, lowering his gaze to examine the bead in his hands, slowly commenting, "The texture is hard as stone. For its size, it feels slightly heavy when held. The grain is fine, the entire body dark black with a purple tint, and there's a faint, subtle fragrance. These are all characteristics of submerged Zitan wood. However, the best way to verify it would be to scrape a tiny bit of powder to examine the interior."

"Don't scrape it..."

In that instant, Wang Guan and the other two spoke out simultaneously to dissuade him.

"What's wrong?" Elder Qian looked utterly perplexed.

"Don't scrape it; you'll ruin it."

Just then, Yu Feibai suddenly clapped his hands and burst into laughter. "Wonderful! I never expected Elder Qian to be mistaken."

"Elder Qian mistaken? Who is making jokes this early in the morning?"

Suddenly, Fang Mingsheng's hearty voice echoed from outside the courtyard. He strode in, face beaming. "Ha, everyone's here. What interesting topic are you discussing? Can you share it with me and bring me some amusement?"

"Heh heh," Elder Qian wasn't offended by the jab about being mistaken. Instead, he smiled gently. "When one is old, the eyes grow dim; it's perfectly normal to misjudge things. However, I can confirm that this bead is indeed submerged Zitan wood."

"Submerged Zitan wood? Really?" Fang Mingsheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over. "Who managed to find another excellent treasure?"

"Wang Guan's," Yu Feibai called out. "This kid’s luck is defying the heavens; it fills me with envy, jealousy, and hate."

Elder Qian frowned upon hearing this. "Feibai, mind your manners. While submerged Zitan wood is rare, it's not unheard of. It can still be purchased in the markets of the three southwestern provinces."

"Elder Qian, you don't understand. If this bead were available for purchase, I would bankrupt myself to acquire it," Yu Feibai shook his head and sighed, forcing a bitter smile. "The problem is, for a singular, unparalleled marvel like this, even if I wanted to buy it, Wang Guan probably wouldn't agree."

Wang Guan smiled faintly, nodding in agreement. ........................ Thanks to book friends "I Am Not Who, The Fall of the Star General" for the tips. Also, those urging for more chapters, please stop submitting requests. Whether it's nine thousand or twelve thousand words, I cannot handle that pace for now. Finally, please continue to support with collections and recommendation votes. C