I couldn''t tear my eyes away from the pulsing blue crystal nestled within the split stone. The energy radiating from it was unlike anything I''d encountered before—ancient and powerful, practically singing to my senses.


    "What is it?" Leopold whispered, his face illuminated by the crystal''s glow.


    Alvin Ward stepped closer, his expression shifting from dismissive to calcting in an instant. "Just amon phosphorescent mineral. Visually striking but ultimately worthless."


    Something about his immediate assessment struck me as off. The energy I felt contradicted his wordspletely.


    "I disagree," I said firmly. "This crystal has significant qi fluctuations."


    Alvin''s eyes narrowed slightly. "With all due respect, Mr. Knight, I''ve been evaluating rare stones for over thirty years. This type of mineral often tricks amateurs with its appearance, but it has no practical value."


    A small crowd had gathered around our table, drawn by the unusual glow. I noticed Leopold shifting ufortably between us, clearly torn between his friend''s expertise and the evidence before his eyes.


    "Perhaps," I said with a smile, "we should continue looking. I see several more stones that interest me."


    I moved to another table whererger, more expensive specimens were disyed. My hand hovered over them until I felt another distinct energy signature—this one more subdued but equallypelling. The stone was massive, easily four times the size of my first selection, with a rough gray exterior that gave no hint of its contents.


    "How much?" I asked the attendant.


    The man cleared his throat. "That particr piece is four million, sir."


    Leopold gasped. "Liam, that''s—"


    "I''ll take it," I said, pulling out my guild token which was linked to my personal ount.


    Alvin''s face reddened. "This is absurd! Mr. Shepherd, please talk some sense into your friend. That stone is worthless!"


    Leopold ced a hand on my arm. "Liam, I respect your enthusiasm, but perhaps Alvin should examine it first? His reputation is well-established."


    "Of course," I agreed, stepping back with a polite gesture.


    Alvin approached the stone with obvious irritation. He ced his hands on it, closed his eyes for a moment, then scoffed loudly. "As I suspectedpletely ordinary. Not even trace minerals of value."


    His certainty struck me as excessive. Why was he so determined to dissuade me? I focused on him more carefully, looking beyond his physical appearance. There was something about his aura—extremely charming and persuasive on the surface, but underneath, I detected a coldness that didn''t match his outward persona.


    "Thank you for your assessment," I said, turning to the attendant. "I''ll still purchase it."


    Leopold looked increasingly concerned. "Liam..."


    Alistair stepped forward. "It''s his decision, Leopold. Every gambler has their own method."


    The transactionpleted, we moved to the cutting station. The artisan examined the massive stone with apprehension.


    "This will require specialized tools," he exined. "Perhaps if you return tomorrow—"


    "That won''t be necessary," I interrupted.


    Before anyone could respond, I ced both hands on the stone. Focusing my energy, I sent a controlled pulse of qi into the rock. With a sharp crack that echoed through the room, the stone split perfectly down the middle.


    Gasps erupted around me. The artisan stumbled back, his face pale with shock.


    "What... how did you...?" Leopold stammered. <i ss="frag-e5c23f">Content<i ss="node-sep"></i>first<i ss="node-sep"></i>released<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</i>


    I ignored themotion, my attention fixed on what the split stone had revealed. Nestled in a natural cavity was a sword—not of metal, but of a translucent green material that resembled jade but was clearly something more exotic. The de was approximately three feet long, unadorned yet possessed of a deadly elegance that spoke of ancient craftsmanship.


    "Impossible," Alvin whispered, his facade of indifference cracking.


    I carefully lifted the sword from its stone prison. It was surprisingly light, and the moment my fingers wrapped around the hilt, I felt a surge of energy running through my arm. The de hummed faintly, as if awakening from a long slumber.


    "A Dharma Treasure," Alistair breathed, his eyes wide with recognition. "A weapon crafted in the Founding Era, when the boundary between heaven and earth was still thin. They''re exceedingly rare."


    The crowd pressed closer, murmurs of amazement filling the room. Dealers who had been watching from afar rushed forward, already calcting offers in their minds.


    "Ten million for the de!" someone called out.


    "Fifteen million!" countered another voice.


    I held up my hand, silencing the impromptu auction. "It''s not for sale."


    Amidst themotion, I noticed Alvin Ward''s expression. For just a moment, his mask slippedpletely, revealing intense greed and something far more dangerous—murderous intent that shed in his eyes before he quicklyposed himself.


    "Congrattions on your extraordinary find," he said smoothly, though his smile didn''t reach his eyes. "It seems your instincts were correct after all."


    "Thank you," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "Interesting how differently we assessed the stone''s potential."


    "Even experts make mistakes," Leopold interjected with a nervousugh. "This calls for a celebration! Drinks on me!"


    As the crowd began to disperse, Alvin leaned slightly closer to me. "A word of advice, Mr. Knight," he said, his voice pitched so only I could hear. "Fortune favors fools only once. The next time you cross paths with true mastery, the oue may not be so pleasant."


    He bowed slightly and departed with Leopold, who was excitedly recounting the evening''s events to other patrons.


    Alistair approached, his expression thoughtful. "That was... unexpected."


    "The sword or Alvin Ward''s reaction?" I asked quietly.


    "Both, actually." He nced in the direction Alvin had gone. "Leopold has known Alvin for years. Says he''s one of the most respected appraisers in Eldoria."


    "He''s also dangerous," I said, carefully wrapping the sword in a cloth provided by an attendant. "And he didn''t want me to find this weapon."


    Later that evening, as Leopold escorted us out of the Jade Chamber, his mood jovial from both the evening''s excitement and numerous celebratory drinks, I decided to test my suspicion.


    "Mr. Shepherd," I said casually, "how long have you known Alvin Ward?"


    "Almost a decade!" Leopold dered. "One of the most knowledgeable men I know when ites to precious materials."


    "Andpletely trustworthy?"


    "Absolutely! Why do you ask?"


    I paused, then decided direct honesty was best. "Mr. Shepherd, this Alvin Ward wants to kill me."


    Leopold''sughter burst out immediately. "Kill you? Oh, Liam, that''s absurd! Alvin''s many things—exacting, sometimes brusque—but he''s no killer."


    But as our carriage pulled away, I caught sight of a figure watching from the shadows near the Jade Chamber''s entrance. Even at a distance, I recognized Alvin Ward''s distinctive silhouette, his eyes tracking our departure with an intensity that confirmed my suspicions.


    A new enemy had revealed himself tonight, and the Dharma Treasure at my side had somehow been the catalyst. The question was—why did a stone appraiser care so deeply about an ancient weapon buried in rock?