Inside the box was a yellowish-orange stone, its surface glossy and shining, resembling the color of topaz. That warm aura was emanating from this yellow stone. Looking closely, the stone seemed to have a shape somewhat like the Maitreya Buddha.

“Fire Rock Warm Jade?”

The steady man was also taken aback. He quickly reached in and took out the golden-yellow stone. This piece of warm jade wasn’t very large, only about three inches square, irregular in shape, and resembled the Maitreya Buddha. At a glance, it was clear that it was naturally formed, with no traces of carving or chiseling.

Strictly speaking, warm jade cannot be considered jade in the narrow sense, but rather a type of mineral, formed under high temperature and high pressure geological conditions. Fire rock warm jade is considered top-grade among warm jades and has medicinal value. Wearing such warm jade jewelry for long periods can greatly replenish yang energy and is mainly used to treat weakness and coldness of the body. It is a favorite item for men who have overindulged in wine and women.

Moreover, this piece of warm jade was of moderate size and naturally formed in the shape of the Maitreya Buddha. Just in terms of appearance, it was a tasteful ornament. Wearing it would not diminish one’s status at all; on the contrary, it was impressive and brought prestige.

At first, the steady man’s face was full of excitement. He was successful in his career, handsome, charming, and very popular with women, always mingling among them. Despite his glamorous appearance, his face had a bluish-gray tint, and his body had long been hollowed out by excessive indulgence. For years, he had relied on strong tonics to keep going. Now, seeing such a rare piece of fire rock warm jade, it was just what he needed.

However, after he carefully examined the warm jade, his expression suddenly became confused. His brows furrowed slightly, and he muttered to himself.

“How strange, how could this be…”

The onlookers also became curious along with him.

The steady man was a regular at the trade fair, and records showed he was from Mingzhu, a seasoned medicinal herb merchant with a keen eye. Could there be something wrong with this piece of warm jade? Appraising warm jade isn’t just about appearance; it also requires a tactile examination and relies on rich experience.

“Big Brother Reed, this piece of warm jade, it’s been a while since you mined it, hasn’t it?”

The steady man’s expression shifted, and after a moment, he looked up and asked.

Thomas Reed was burly, standing more than half a head taller than him, so he had to look up to speak to Thomas Reed.

“Collected seven months ago.”

Thomas Reed replied coldly, not saying a word more than necessary.

The steady man was taken aback, then forced a smile and said, “Big Brother Reed, you must be joking. This is indeed top-quality fire rock warm jade, and the shape is especially beautiful, but… the spiritual energy inside this warm jade has dissipated quite badly. In my experience, at most only ten or twenty percent remains… If you say it was collected seven months ago, I really can’t believe it. It must be at least five or six years old, right? Otherwise, how could so much spiritual energy have dissipated?”

Fire rock warm jade is both an ornament and a medicinal material. But in the eyes of ordinary people, since it’s a stone, it naturally has nothing to do with medicine. However, from the steady man’s words, it was clear he had a deep understanding of fire rock warm jade; he could tell at a glance how much spiritual energy it contained.

“Take it or leave it!”

Thomas Reed reached out and took the warm jade back from the steady man’s hand, tossing it onto the coffee table with a “smack,” as if he wasn’t the least bit worried about it getting damaged. Judging by his attitude, what others saw as a valuable piece of fire rock warm jade was, to him, just a worthless rock.

David Harris, who had been watching from the side, had a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Sure enough, Thomas Reed was highly skilled—his movements were as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, the warm jade was back in his hand. Yet it didn’t seem abrupt at all; his actions were as smooth and natural as flowing water.

The steady man’s expression changed slightly, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes. No doubt, in all these years, no one had ever dared to be so rude and overbearing in front of him. But this was Yidong, not Mingzhu, not his own turf. Facing a fierce man like Thomas Reed, no matter how angry he was, he could only force himself to hold back. With a self-deprecating smile, he said, “Big Brother Reed, I still want it. Here’s my offer.”

As he spoke, he held up three fingers.

“Thirty thousand.”

This time, Thomas Reed couldn’t even be bothered to reply and simply ignored him.

The steady man could no longer hold back. He gave a cold “hmph,” his face darkening, his jaw clenching as if he might explode at any moment. Thomas Reed didn’t care at all.

The others looked on with gloating expressions. Let’s see if this Mingzhu guy dares to turn against Thomas Reed. If a fight really broke out here, it would be quite a spectacle. Judging by the looks of it, this Mingzhu merchant, whose body had been hollowed out by indulgence, probably wasn’t even a match for one of Thomas Reed’s fingers.

“Oh, it really is top-quality fire rock warm jade. Let me, Old Miller, have a look.”

Just as the steady man was stuck in an awkward position, neither able to leave nor stay, someone stepped in to help him out—it was the chubby James Miller. Mr. Miller squeezed in, didn’t bother asking Thomas Reed for permission, picked up the warm jade and examined it carefully. A look of surprise gradually appeared on his plump face, and he also looked up and asked, “Old Reed, was this jade really collected seven months ago?”

Thomas Reed still couldn’t be bothered to say a word.

He and the steady man had just been talking, and James Miller had been standing by watching the whole time, so he must have heard everything clearly. Asking again now was just redundant, wasn’t it?