Guo Xuyang, along with Cheng Xiuping and a few others, entered the Pargen mine site. The layout was similar to the Damakan mine site, with rough jade stones of various sizes stacked in layers.
"Why don't you guys pick some?" Guo Xuyang turned and asked.
If he continued to pick for them, the sensation it would cause would be too great. It would be perfect if they picked their own, and then he could give each of them a high-quality rough jade stone.
The group understood Guo Xuyang's intentions and walked over to pick their stones.
Li Minxi and Su Ran each picked a stone weighing around ten catties, both black wusha. Their luck was indeed exceptional; one contained a positive bright green jade, and the other a high-ice purple jade, both capable of yielding two sets of bracelets.
Guo Xuyang picked out five more stones of varying sizes for them, some weighing a hundred catties or more, others twenty to thirty catties.
After he finished picking, Cheng Xiuping and Wu Youzhi had also finished selecting theirs. The group called for staff to help push the stones for cutting.
"Brother, are there any other rough stones here?" Guo Xuyang stopped a staff member.
"This entire floor is filled with them. If you want better ones, you'll need to go upstairs. Upstairs, they have stones with half-opened windows; the better the material, the higher the price."
"Thank you, brother." Guo Xuyang said, turning to head upstairs.
"Brother Guo, aren't you waiting to go up?" Cheng Xiuping called out.
"You guys go ahead and cut the stones, no need to wait for me. I'll be down shortly. Once you're done, don't come up; just wait for me by the car."
Guo Xuyang was wary of attracting unwanted attention. Today, everyone's luck had been good. Cheng Xiuping and Wu Youzhi had picked stones containing high-ice and imperial green jade, respectively. Combined with the five he had picked, it was likely to cause a stir in the establishment. Although a restaurant owner wouldn't fear a glutton, clearing out seven to eight hundred million worth of jade in one go would certainly give the owner a headache. Therefore, he hadn't disclosed the prices to them.
It had to be said that the owner of this establishment certainly had a discerning eye; selecting so many good pieces was no easy feat.
The rooms on the third floor were not large but numerous, resembling a tenement building. There seemed to be forty to fifty rooms in total. Each room was brightly lit, with many people moving about inside.
Guo Xuyang entered one of the rooms, which contained stones with half-opened windows. However, the prices were astonishing; some were marked at over a hundred million Shenzhou currency. Stones priced in the hundreds of millions were either imperial green or close to it. Only a tiny window had been opened, leaving much to the imagination. He certainly wouldn't be a sucker and buy such jade.
A familiar figure flickered in the distance before walking into another room.
"Li Mingze?" A name popped into his mind. It was the same Li Mingze who had seemingly discovered the Eye of the Devil rough stone but then abandoned it. He was curious and quickened his pace to get a closer look.
It was indeed Li Mingze, selecting jade. He suddenly remembered the woman in a qipao he had seen with him last time. He focused his gaze; the woman was still trailing closely behind him. Guo Xuyang hadn't paid much attention then, but now, familiar with his abilities, he knew he could see through illusions. This woman was not human; she was likely a soul entity of some kind. He wondered what nefarious deeds Li Mingze had committed to have this woman follow him so devotedly.
Guo Xuyang retracted his ability and followed Li Mingze, observing his selection of jade. He saw Li Mingze examine a half-opened window ice-jade rough stone priced at twenty-three million. He shone a light on it, and it was indeed very translucent, with significant potential for further discovery. The rough stone weighed around three hundred catties. If it could yield ten catties of such material, it wouldn't be a loss. Any more, and it could be a significant profit.
Li Mingze hesitated for a moment before calling over a staff member.
"Can this be negotiated down at all?"
"I'm sorry, sir. For stones with marked prices, bargaining is not permitted. Of course, if you are a member here, you can receive a discount."
"How can I become a member?"
"The minimum is fifty million, and the maximum is one billion. Fifty million will grant you a regular membership with a five percent discount on all purchases in the store. One hundred million allows for a silver card membership with a ten percent discount. Three hundred million for a gold card membership with a twenty percent discount. Five hundred million for a diamond card membership with a thirty percent discount. One billion for a supreme card membership with a fifty percent discount. May I know which membership level you are interested in, sir?"
"Please issue me a regular membership card," Li Mingze said, taking out a bank card.
"Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment." The staff member took the bank card and left.
Guo Xuyang focused his gaze on the half-opened window rough stone Li Mingze was examining. The window was opened very cleverly. While the exterior looked excellent, the interior was riddled with spiderweb-like cracks, mixed with a lot of cotton-like inclusions, which completely marred the jade's appeal. If Li Mingze bought this rough stone, he would lose his shirt. Could it be because of the woman?
The staff member returned, handed Li Mingze the membership card, and presented a POS machine for him to swipe his card. Guo Xuyang saw that Li Mingze's balance was less than a hundred thousand. For someone who made a living from jade, this amount was mere pocket change. He didn't intend to intervene. What goes around comes around; these were all Li Mingze's choices. He had no reason to arbitrarily alter this karma. This woman wouldn't be satisfied until Li Mingze was penniless.
Guo Xuyang suddenly recalled the rough stones in the safe on the second floor of Pi Xiaoqian's shop, which Li Mingze had helped select. Had this woman been following him even before that?
Guo Xuyang glanced at Li Mingze again, preparing to head downstairs. Suddenly, he saw the woman nod towards him. A chill ran down his spine. Could the woman have discovered something? Guo Xuyang waved his hand in a farewell gesture. The woman raised her hand as well. He was sure she had indeed noticed him. He turned and went downstairs.
When he reached the second floor, Cheng Xiuping and the others were gone; they must have gone downstairs. He then went to the main hall of the Moxiasha mine site and selected about ten rough stones weighing twenty to thirty catties each, asking the staff to send them to the car downstairs.
"Sir, the total is twelve million. Will you be paying by card or check?"
"Transfer it," he said, taking out his phone and transferring the money.
When he arrived downstairs, the group was excitedly discussing something.
"Come help me move these stones into Boss Wu's car," Guo Xuyang called out.
Wu Youzhi opened the trunk, and along with the staff, they loaded all the rough stones into the trunk.
"Boss Wu, these rough stones cost a total of twelve million. Once they're cut, you can sell them in Kyoto," Guo Xuyang instructed.
"Alright, Brother Guo. I'll transfer it to you right away," Wu Youzhi said. "The young folks today are all going crazy, insisting on going singing."