“Truthfully, I was so excited and thrilled after obtaining the treasure that I was completely engrossed in admiring it myself, forgetting to call everyone else over,” Wang Guan admitted sheepishly. In fact, if Yu Feibai hadn’t caught him, due to the natural instinct to keep fortune private, he might have kept the discovery entirely secret.

“Haha…”

The others laughed good-naturedly, understanding Wang Guan’s state of mind completely.

After all, the first time anyone witnessed the extraordinary phenomenon of that Zitan sunken wood bead, even when others were present, they couldn't help but become captivated. It was only natural that when alone, he would be utterly mesmerized, unable to pull himself away.

A moment later, Wang Guan asked humbly, “Elder Qian, can you discern the approximate age of this bead?”

“It’s very difficult.”

Elder Qian pondered for a moment, then shook his head, offering a wry smile. “The material itself, the sunken wood, has been buried underground for thousands upon tens of thousands of years. Even with scientific instruments, at best, we can only verify the age of the raw material. As for when it was carved into a bead and microscopically engraved with patterns—that part is nearly impossible to date.”

“The only certainty is that the bead must have been formed sometime after the Spring and Autumn or Warring States periods.”

The group nodded slightly; this sounded almost redundant, yet it served as a piece of corroborating evidence. After all, legends of Laozi’s journey westward would have to precede anyone engraving such images onto a bead.

However, many modern forgers of antique artifacts disregard history, thoughtlessly adding elements to relics based purely on their own wild imaginings—things that never existed in that historical era.

Yet, frustratingly, even the most contrived forgeries often find a buyer.

“It’s been over two thousand years since the Spring and Autumn period. Imagine, sometime within those two millennia, a master craftsman of exceptional skill—perhaps through accumulated expertise, perhaps through a sudden flash of inspiration—created this. He might not have understood the concepts of physics, buoyancy, or refraction, but that didn’t stop him from utilizing those principles to fashion this earth-shattering Zitan sunken wood bead: the ‘Laozi Exits Hangu Pass, Purple Qi Descends’ Bead…”

Elder Qian’s tone carried astonishment and admiration, but beneath it lay a profound sense of sorrow and regret.

The others somewhat understood his feelings. China boasts thousands of years of history, and while the culture never fractured, continuing unbroken to the present day—a source of immense pride for everyone—it has also been marred by constant dynastic shifts and frequent warfare, with very few true periods of sustained peace. Such tumultuous eras inevitably led to shattered families, separation, and loss.

Furthermore, several invasions by foreign powers resulted in the brutal oppression of sophisticated Han culture. Not only were central plains traditions severely damaged, but technical crafts, often undervalued to begin with, were naturally lost to time.

This is why, when we look at ancient objects today, so many mysteries remain. Modern people find it hard to imagine how such exquisitely refined, unbelievable treasures were created with the technical limitations of antiquity.

Thinking of this, the group once again studied the Zitan sunken wood bead—a tangible result of wisdom that had been buried deep within the long river of history.

After a long silence, Fang Mingsheng suddenly spoke, “Little Brother Wang Guan, about this treasure…”

“Boss Fang.”

In that instant, Wang Guan understood what Fang Mingsheng was about to propose and immediately cut in with a smile, “You must understand, I have no intention of parting with an object like this.”

“Sigh.”

Fang Mingsheng sighed, yet remained unwilling to give up. “Wang Guan, consider it again. I can offer…”

“Ahem, Mingsheng.”

At this point, Elder Qian intervened, shaking his head. “What I say might sound a bit esoteric, but I believe treasures possess a certain spiritual quality, and possessing them often requires a specific alignment of fortune.”

“Elder Qian,” Fang Mingsheng frowned, showing a degree of helplessness. However, he knew that the older generation tended to believe in such matters, and it was difficult to openly contradict Elder Qian, so he fell silent. But his expression clearly indicated he had not abandoned his desire.

Elder Qian waved a hand, cautioning, “Wang Guan, this object is indeed more precious than an ordinary national treasure. You must guard it carefully. This is the crystallized wisdom of our ancestors; its loss is unacceptable.”

“Yes, Elder Qian, rest assured. I will deposit it in a bank vault immediately,” Wang Guan said solemnly.

“Isn’t that a terrible waste?” Yu Feibai exclaimed. “Why not lend it to me for a couple of months to admire?”

“Feibai, don’t speak carelessly.”

Gao Dequan’s expression grew serious as he offered earnest advice. “Wang Guan, storing it in a bank vault truly buries the bead’s potential. If you trust Elder Qian, perhaps you should entrust its temporary safekeeping to him. During that time, Elder Qian could invite specialized experts to research the bead’s complete secrets. I suspect this bead isn’t just ordinary Zitan sunken wood; it seems to have integrated some special substances during its millennia-long burial, which is why it refracts that purple light in the water.”

While Gao Dequan spoke, Elder Qian remained silent, but his subtle facial expressions showed he was extremely moved by the suggestion. It seemed only a lack of deep familiarity with Wang Guan prevented him from speaking up himself.

“That presents no issue whatsoever,” Wang Guan replied crisply. After several interactions, he deeply trusted Elder Qian’s character. Moreover, he had always wanted to repay Elder Qian’s kindness, and this was the perfect opportunity he could not possibly miss.

“Excellent, Wang Guan, thank you for your trust,” Elder Qian said, now visibly excited. “I guarantee that during the research process, not one speck of the bead will be damaged.”

“It’s fine,” Wang Guan responded. Having entrusted the greatest treasure, he certainly wouldn’t be stingy in other aspects. He chuckled, “As long as the strange phenomenon in the water isn’t destroyed, even scraping off a little powder for study would be acceptable.”

“Absolutely not. The textures on the bead are incredibly intricate, almost like precision machinery. Even the slightest disturbance could ruin the overall integrity. This is a treasure of our nation; not the slightest lapse in protection is permissible, no matter how carefully it is handled.”

Elder Qian shook his head in rebuttal, then called for staff to prepare a custody agreement for the Zitan sunken wood bead. Wang Guan naturally hurried to refuse; having trusted Elder Qian, there was no need for a written contract on paper.

However, Elder Qian also possessed a meticulous side to his nature. No matter how Wang Guan persuaded him, he insisted on personally writing the custody agreement, signing it with his own hand, and affixing his private seal.

Wang Guan resigned himself to the situation, accepting the agreement. After admiring the bead’s marvelous effects in the hall for another half hour, he departed with Gao Dequan and Yu Feibai.

Once outside Fang Mingsheng’s villa and settled into the car, Wang Guan said sincerely, “Uncle De, thank you.”

“Why thank me so suddenly?” Gao Dequan smiled, though his eyes were full of appreciation, delighted that Wang Guan understood the sincere motive behind his counsel.

“What are you two talking about?” Yu Feibai asked, confused.

Wang Guan did not answer directly, only sighing softly, “Treasures stir the heart.”