Chapter 34: Top-Grade Violet Jade 

Voragoshe's jade stone had turned out to be a complete failure. Despite the jade-cutting master's best efforts, no jade was found inside, leaving the stone shattered and worthless. The crowd around Voragoshe exchanged sympathetic glances, aware of the magnitude of his loss. Spending six million dollars on a worthless stone was no small matter, and such a misfortune had never occurred before at the prestigious Silverstream Gemstone Market. "Mr. Capet, I deeply apologize," Corruptor said with a bitter smile, looking at Voragoshe's fuming expression. "We at Imperial Boutique can offer you another jade stone of equal value to make up for this." Corruptor had hoped to use the jade stone to impress Voragoshe, but things had backfired. Now, instead of earning his favor, Voragoshe had lost face. If Voragoshe harbored a grudge, it could damage Imperial Boutique's reputation. Voragoshe waved him off with a cold expression. "No need. It's only six million dollars. I can handle it," he said, stepping aside to watch as Ruxley's jade stone was brought to the cutting machine. Though Voragoshe's face remained impassive, inside, he was seething. He hoped Ruxley would suffer the same fate. Watching him lose everything would offer some small comfort. All eyes were now on Ruxley. The air was tense with anticipation as everyone waited to see if Ruxley, who had shown no deference to Voragoshe, would uncover any jade. Fafnian pushed the jade stone forward, placing it before the jade master. "Sir, how would you like the stone cut?" the master asked Ruxley. Ruxley stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm and indifferent. "Cut as you see fit." The jade master nodded and began carefully slicing a window into the stone, hoping to reveal a glimpse of what lay inside. Suddenly, a brilliant purple light shone out from the cut, dazzling everyone present. "Purple? It's actually purple!" "Am I seeing things? That's violet jade!" "Look at that color and purity! That's ice-grade violet jade!" The entire marketplace erupted into excitement. The vivid purple glow left no doubt—Ruxley's stone contained a rare, top-grade violet jade, something unseen for over a decade. Violet jade, known for its noble and elegant hue, was one of the rarest and most sought-after types of jade. Its value rivaled that of the royal green jade, and it was highly coveted by collectors and jewelers alike. The portion visible through the window cut was enough to show that this was no ordinary jade. This was an exceptional piece, and its full value was likely immense. Voragoshe, standing nearby, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with jealousy. After years of gambling on jade, he had never uncovered anything close to this. How could Ruxley, someone he despised, have such incredible luck? "Don't celebrate yet," Voragoshe muttered, trying to regain composure. "There's a chance it's just a surface layer. The real value is determined by the quantity of jade inside." He wasn't wrong. Many stones appeared promising from the outside but contained only a thin layer of jade beneath the surface, making them worthless in the end. Voragoshe hoped that would be the case here. Ruxley, unfazed, simply smiled. "Let's reveal it all," he said to the jade master. The jade master nodded and resumed cutting with intense focus. The stone was slowly polished away, and as it was fully revealed, the violet jade inside took shape—a piece as large as a basketball, pure and flawless. The crowd fell into a stunned silence. The violet jade was beyond anything they had imagined; its brilliance and size made it one of the most valuable pieces of jade in recent history. Voragoshe's face twisted with fury. "Damn it! That jade should have been mine!" he hissed through gritted teeth. If only Ruxley had handed over the stone earlier, it would be him standing in triumph. His envy was overwhelming, and he knew he wouldn't let this go. Stealthily, he pulled out his phone and sent a message. He intended to make Ruxley pay. As the jade gambling event came to an end, Ruxley was clearly the day's biggest winner. The excitement over the violet jade was palpable, and soon, eager buyers began to approach. A man in his forties walked up to Ruxley with a broad smile. "Sir, I'm Darnell, the general manager of Regal Jewelry Company. Would you be willing to sell this violet jade? Regal Jewelry is prepared to offer 30 million dollars." Before Ruxley could respond, several other buyers rushed forward, eager to make their offers. Fafnian stepped in front of Ruxley, blocking the crowd, but they continued shouting their bids. "35 million! Eterna Holdings will offer 35 million!" "40 million! Azure Core Group will pay 40 million for the jade!" "50 million! Eterna Source Group offers 50 million!" The bidders, all representatives from major jewelry companies, knew the value of the violet jade was astronomical. The size and quality made it one of the most valuable finds in recent history, and acquiring it would guarantee massive profits. But Ruxley paid them no mind. Without a word, he picked up the violet jade and turned to leave, ignoring the offers entirely. The merchants were left standing in frustration. Normally, they might have tried to pressure or coerce a seller, but with Ruxley, they didn't dare. His power was too formidable. As Ruxley and Fafnian left Imperial Boutique and headed to the underground parking lot, Ruxley reflected on the day. He was satisfied with the outcome—the violet jade was of exceptional quality, and its size was more than enough to craft several protective talismans. Just as Ruxley opened the car door and was ready to leave, Voragoshe burst into the parking lot, flanked by a group of men.