"Could it be for suppressing the Dragon Vein or something?" At the same time, Lu Chongming sized up the large stone, hesitating, "Like you said, to prevent the dragon qi from dissipating." "Maybe so," Wang Guan replied casually, scraping away all the moss clinging to the edge of the stone, then stood up and gestured, "Come on, give me a hand." "For what?" Lu Chongming was momentarily stunned. "To push." Wang Guan was already braced, pressing both hands onto the large stone, sinking his waist slightly, and suddenly driving force through the soles of his feet.

In that instant, his bones and joints cried out, the muscles in his arms bulged, and he pushed forward, gritting his teeth. "How could you possibly move a boulder this size..." Before Lu Chongming finished speaking, he was suddenly struck dumb.

The massive stone, which should have been rooted to the earth, was actually beginning to wobble precariously. "No way, getting slapped in the face that fast." Amidst his shock, Lu Chongming reacted swiftly, reaching out to help push from the side.

This push was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, directly toppling the giant stone over. "Bang!" With a dull thud, the stone fell, exposing its bottom, which was smeared with mud and moss.

Wang Guan also let out a breath of relief, smiling as he remarked, "The weight of the stone seems much lighter than expected." "Exactly, all flash and no substance." Lu Chongming hadn't had a direct tactile sensation, but he agreed with Wang Guan's assessment. After all, a stone too large for both arms to encircle should have been tremendously heavy; to find it was merely superficial was unexpected.

"Is that so?" At this moment, Wang Guan pondered for a second, then suddenly kicked out, driving his foot directly into the side of the stone. The scene resembled someone attempting to smash a rock with an egg, unafraid of the stone kicking back and jarring his foot.

Lu Chongming was surprised by Wang Guan's action and hadn't even managed to utter a word of caution when he heard a hollow "Thwack," followed by the astonished realization that Wang Guan's kicking foot was unharmed, yet the stone itself was cracking apart. "...Is that the Invincible Buddha Palm?

Or the Mandarin Duck Chain Kick? Or perhaps the Pō Chuī style?

Tan Tui?" "Stop spouting nonsense, look quickly." Wang Guan squatted down, excitement bubbling up, "Just as I suspected, the stone is hollow. No wonder it was so light." "What?" Lu Chongming's focus immediately shifted, and he hurried over to examine it, immediately noticing that the bottom of the stone had indeed been chiseled out, merely masked with a layer of sand and mud.

After prolonged soaking from the rain, the sediment had become loose and brittle, which is why Wang Guan's casual kick shattered it instantly. Of course, their main focus wasn't the mud.

After exchanging a look, they both began smashing away the concealing sediment and uncovered a small, hidden box. "Treasure again?" In an instant, Lu Chongming was overwhelmed by a mix of surprise and disbelief.

In contrast, Wang Guan, having experienced more, was certainly less agitated, though he felt a measure of quiet satisfaction. "I knew something was fishy." As he spoke, Wang Guan reached out and retrieved the small box.

After a brief examination, he saw that it was quite ancient, fashioned from a particularly hard wood, and secured with a seemingly delicate lock. However, the lock was already somewhat rusted, suggesting it might not open easily even with a key.

After observing it for a moment, Wang Guan set the box aside and continued to inspect the interior of the stone to ensure nothing was missed. He then stood up immediately and called out to Lu Chongming, "Stop daydreaming and help me set the stone upright." "...Oh." Lu Chongming snapped out of his trance and hurried over to help lift the large stone back into place, piling the moss and mud back underneath as camouflage.

Of course, the traces would be obvious, but it didn't matter much. A couple more showers would allow the moss to grow back, restoring everything to its original state.

Having completed all this, the two acted in perfect synchronization, taking turns carrying the small box down the mountain. Before long, they arrived back at the car, drove off without stopping, and sped away.

After a series of twists and turns, they reached Lu Chongming's suburban residence, quickly opened the door, locked the main entrance as if warding off thieves, and then gathered in the living room, bursting into hearty laughter. Moments later, they managed to calm down.

"What do you think is inside the box?" Lu Chongming speculated, "The private collection of that Vice Minister of Rites—gold, silver, and trinkets? But it doesn't feel that heavy..." "Why guess?

We’ll know as soon as we look," Wang Guan chuckled, asking Lu Chongming to fetch a small hammer, and with a single strike, he smashed the rusted lock. Tossing the lock aside, Wang Guan casually flipped open the lid, drawing Lu Chongming's curious gaze.

Yet, contrary to expectations, the box did not contain the gold and silver he imagined, but rather a package. "So cautious?" Lu Chongming took out the bundle, finding it wrapped in coarse cloth.

Peeling away the cloth revealed a layer of oil paper. Once that was peeled back, the contents finally became clear.

"Books?" Lu Chongming froze for a moment. "It's all books." At this point, Lu Chongming was not only surprised but also somewhat disappointed.

In his mind, even if the box didn't hold gold and silver, it should have contained precious gems or jewelry. To find only a stack of books was a letdown that dampened his good mood, making him feel the joy was fleeting.

"So what if they're books? Ancient texts can be quite valuable," Wang Guan, much more optimistic, reached out and picked up a book to look through it.

After a moment, he suddenly smiled, "If you don't want them, they're all mine. But don't regret it later." "Hmm?" Lu Chongming caught a hint of deeper meaning in Wang Guan's words, sensing the books might not be ordinary.

He casually picked up a volume and began leafing through it. At first glance, he seemed indifferent, but after a couple of lines, he froze, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"They're books on the art of jade carving!" "That’s not the key point," Wang Guan offered a friendly reminder at the same time. "Look at the author." "The author..." Instantly, Lu Chongming's heart trembled, as if he realized something, his eyes blazing with excitement, his hand shaking slightly as he slowly examined the cover, finding nothing of note.

This was normal, as these texts were technically not printed books but manuscript drafts—completed but never officially submitted for printing. Thus, the covers lacked a title or an author's name.

However, at the end of the manuscript volume, there was a signature: the two characters, 'Zigang,' inscribed with a strong, iron-like brushstroke, explained everything. After a long while, Lu Chongming finally reached the signature.

The feeling at that moment was beyond description. Flowery metaphors like blooming flowers or dazzling fireworks seemed utterly inadequate.

Wang Guan felt that Lu Chongming was probably grinning in his sleep, radiating an emotion called pure happiness. It was the sensation of being struck by a mountain of gold that had fallen from the sky—not enough to kill him, but enough to leave him dazed, stupefied, and utterly incredulous, as if still dreaming.

"Is this real? Am I dreaming?" At this point, Lu Chongming was showing signs of turning into an endless complainer, repeatedly questioning the reality of the situation.

At first, Wang Guan patiently insisted it was real—these were indeed Lu Zigang’s manuscript drafts, his very secrets to jade refinement. With these materials, Lu Chongming’s ascent to master status was imminent, perhaps even offering a shot at the Grandmaster realm.

The chance was only 'potential' because reaching the Grandmaster level required enlightenment and a significant degree of fortune. However, with Lu Zigang's secrets, Lu Chongming’s odds of becoming a Grandmaster were surely several times higher than anyone else's.

Regardless, these manuscripts would be useless to others, but in the hands of a jade carver like Lu Chongming, they pointed directly toward the broad avenue of success, illuminating the path ahead... Understanding this, Lu Chongming was beside himself with excitement and couldn't calm down.

But hearing his incessant questioning, Wang Guan grew slightly irritated and cut him off, "It's fake. All fake." "Without a doubt, these manuscripts are forgeries, someone trying to capitalize on Lu Zigang's name.

In reality, they weren't written by him. Think about it: how could a mere craftsman be literate enough to write and publish books?" Wang Guan deliberately found flaws to pick at, naturally locating reasons.

Lu Chongming immediately countered, "Who says a craftsman can't read? Our Ancestor was no ordinary craftsman.

Which common craftsman would have the guts and spirit to sign their name on their work? Our Ancestor set the precedent; his 'Zifeng' mark on his pieces already shows his literary talent..." "Furthermore, look at these manuscripts.

Without several hundred years, the paper wouldn't turn this yellow. And if they were forgeries, they would have been published long ago; why hide them secretly..." Lu Chongming refuted his points one by one, arguing logically, looking ready to turn hostile if Wang Guan pushed further.

"So, you are certain they are real?" "Confirmed and certain. They are absolutely the manuscripts left by our Ancestor." Lu Chongming swore solemnly, and Wang Guan simply smiled, "If that's the case, why do you keep asking me?" "Uh..." In an instant, Lu Chongming understood, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

"Well... this item is too important.

I was overcome by anxiety and couldn't calm down." "Calm down now?" Wang Guan chuckled. "Think about it: I worked for days only to get a box of manuscripts.

I feel a bit like bitterly regretting spending years pressing gold thread only to tailor a garment for someone else. No way.

I have to take something. The box is mine.

Don't let its unremarkable appearance fool you; this is made of sandalwood, which prevents insects and ants from biting..." Since their relationship had grown close, Lu Chongming was equally candid, laughing, "It's fine if you want the manuscripts. I can help you photocopy them.

The problem is, you don't study jade carving; they're useless to you." "Who says they're useless? I can publish them, and they'd definitely sell tens of thousands of copies, earning me a small fortune..." It was rather pathetic, really; with the rise of web and mobile reading, print publishing had declined so much that selling tens of thousands of copies could be considered a bestseller—a testament to the times' helplessness.