Chapter 233 - -

Chapter 233: 232 Chapter The jade box—a jade box entirely carved from jade, held in Uncle Wang’s hands, was roughly the size of a router, yet it caught many eyes straight on. Even Ye Tianchen momentarily forgot about the Buddha Beads that held some mysterious power and turned his gaze toward the jade box. This was no ordinary box; everything from the craftsmanship to the very essence of the material was unique, perhaps even one of a kind.

Jade itself is known as the ’king of stones.’ A complete, high-quality jade stone is far more valuable than ordinary gold or diamonds because its history dates back to the New Stone Age. Ancient people believed jade had several meanings: 1. The Master of All Things: jade was thought to represent the gods of the four directions, heaven and earth, and the emperors of the Human World, enhancing communication between gods and humans, conveying the messages and will of the heavens, and governing the fortunes and misfortunes of the universe and the Human World. 2. Essence of Heaven and Earth: This belief posits that jade is formed from the essence of all things under heaven and possesses magical powers. 3. The Five Virtues of Jade. 4. The Exorcism and Safety Theory: This view considers jade to have supernatural powers that, when worn, can protect against evil spirits, securing the safety and auspiciousness of the wearers. 5. The Prolongation of Life: It was believed that jade had the power to prolong life, and by wearing and consuming jade, one could remain eternally youthful.

"Such a beautiful jade box..." someone couldn’t help but exclaim.

"No, jade is the king of stones, but this jade is the essence of jade itself. It is carved from Jade, and if I’m not mistaken, this jade box was crafted from a single large piece of Jade, hollowed out and carved inside. Whether it’s the shape of the box or the joints of its closure, everything is naturally perfect. It’s incredible; I can’t imagine which era’s craftsman possessed such divine carving skills!"

"I’m afraid even the most advanced modern technology couldn’t replicate this."

"Look at the jade box, the front and directly in front are carved with dragons, while the back and directly behind are carved with phoenixes..."

"Could it be... could it be the legendary Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box?"

When Uncle Wang took out the jade box, and before it was even opened to see what was inside, some of the Luo family members couldn’t help but discuss it among themselves. These were uncles and cousins of Luo Yan, belonging to the same generation as her father, Luo Yansong, naturally experienced and knowledgeable, especially being part of such a prominent family that thrived in various aspects, they knew quality artifacts when they saw them.

Ye Tianchen stood on the side, listening to these unstoppable discussions, also somewhat astonished. Although he didn’t know what this Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was, the surprised expressions of these people told him it was no ordinary item, and he too, immediately activated his Superpower Perception to see what was inside the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box.

It goes without saying, if just the box itself, the priceless Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box, held such value, then what could be inside? Moreover, hearing the exclaims of surprise from the older generation of the Luo family, it was clear they too were seeing this highly valued item for the first time, certainly, it had to be something extraordinary.

Just as Ye Tianchen’s powerful Superpower Perception stealthily spread out and reached toward the jade box, he encountered resistance. He couldn’t perceive what was inside the box because it was crafted from the world’s finest Jade, possessing a special power. Ye Tianchen only felt a chill coming over him.

"How is that possible? The Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was supposedly once owned by the First Emperor of Qin, an item that descended from the heavens when he unified the country and ascended the throne..."

"How could something from legends appear here?"

Nobody had expected the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box to have such an extraordinary origin, dating back to the era of the First Emperor of Qin. How far back did that go? And to be in Old Mrs. Luo’s possession now—if word of this got out, it would likely shake the world, as it was itself a thing of legend.

Now, many people were extremely excited internally, especially the members of the Luo family present. Just this one Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box might astonish the world. If one were to assess its value, it would be priceless... So, what exactly was inside the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box? What kind of heaven-defying object could it be?

This revelation made many realize the magical and mysterious nature of the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box. If it really were something from the era of the First Emperor of Qin, having survived for over two thousand years, even the best-preserved objects would decay, showing signs of age. Yet, this Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box had no such marks, not even a speck of dust, as if it had just been crafted, which was truly miraculous.

"This item is very mysterious; there must be something fishy about it!" Ye Tianchen frowned and thought to himself.

"Cough cough... Old Wang, open this box..." Old Mrs. Luo weakly opened her eyes and spoke while looking at the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box.

"Yes!"

Uncle Wang stood to the side, holding the jade box in his left hand and carefully opened it. When the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was opened, many people involuntarily crowded around to see for themselves, curious about what kind of heaven-defying treasure was contained within such a precious box...

When the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was opened, many people did not see any golden light or strange scenes, but instead saw only a half-piece of broken jade quietly lying within. The jade box held a round piece of broken jade, which puzzled everyone. They had thought it would be some incredible treasure hidden in the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box, but it turned out to be just a piece of broken jade without any luster, lying there lifelessly with a trace of blood on it. Plain and ordinary, many people did not understand why such a priceless, even priceless, Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box would contain only this half piece of broken jade. What did it mean?

"Yaner... when you got married, your mother-in-law was unable to give you a gift, which has always been a regret of mine. Let the half piece of broken jade in the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box be my wedding gift to you..." Old Mrs. Luo paused a long time after each sentence. She was nearing the end of her life, with not much time left, barely a few minutes.

"Mother-in-law... this is..." Luo Yan also did not understand why her mother-in-law would give her this half piece of blood-stained broken jade.

Of course, Luo Yan did not, like others, think the gift too light in value; anyone could see that this half piece of blood-stained broken jade was worth much less than the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box. Was Old Mrs. Luo confused? She should have given the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box to Luo Yan but instead mentioned the blood-stained broken jade. However, even if some thought this way, they would not speak out, because by now many people were thinking about how to acquire the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box. With it, generations could live without worry, and even establishing a great family like the Luo family would not be an exaggeration. The Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was truly priceless, both for the box itself and its historical legacy, as an artifact from over two thousand years ago with incalculable archaeological value.

"Yaner, your mother-in-law only hopes that you can live safely and happily. The Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box is not ours to keep, but this half piece of blood-stained broken jade belongs to our Luo family. Many years ago, your grandfather and I obtained this half piece of broken jade, and to preserve it in the best possible way, we borrowed the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box from an old friend..." Old Mrs. Luo recounted the past, seemingly lost in memories.

"Mother-in-law, then this broken jade is..." Luo Yan found it strange. The broken jade had nothing special about it. Why keep it in such a valuable Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box?

Old Mrs. Luo looked at Luo Yan and, forcing herself, sat up. Ye Tianchen quickly supported her; he knew it was the elderly woman’s final moments and let her narrate the story to fulfill her last wish.

"According to the unofficial historical records, when the First Emperor of Qin unified all under heaven, the last country to be destroyed was Country Qi. At that time, the First Emperor of Qin adopted a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones, gradually absorbing other states. But as Country Qin unified the others, Country Qi was also growing stronger. They knew that a final battle with Country Qin was inevitable, and they were waiting, waiting for Qin to destroy the other states before going to war with Qin. At that time, just as they were close to being defeated by the million-strong army of Qi, Heavenly Thunder exploded. A piece of blood-stained broken jade fell from the sky, wiping out the entire army of Qi. The First Emperor of Qin obtained this piece of blood-stained broken jade, and afterward, he ordered that this event should not be revealed; in fact, the famous burning of books and burying of scholars was to cover up this event and to find an excuse to destroy all the historical records..."

Everyone listening to Old Mrs. Luo’s words was utterly astonished, almost dropping their jaws. While they had already thought the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was an incredible, priceless artifact, they had not anticipated that the blood-stained broken jade would have such a legendary story. However, many did not believe it, as the blood-stained broken jade seemed to have no value, resembling just a piece of jade that had faded over many years.

"Mother-in-law, I understand. I will keep this piece of broken jade with you always..." Luo Yan said, unable to hold back her tears.

"No, that’s not it... I’m about to die, and I have no use for this. I want to give it to you. Though it’s just a legend and may not be practical, I believe that this piece of broken jade can attract good fortune, ward off calamity, and keep one safe for life, which is more important than anything!" Old Mrs. Luo said weakly, shaking her head.

"Mother-in-law..." Luo Yan clenched her teeth, forcing herself not to cry in front of the elderly woman.

"Take it, Yaner, and as for... as for the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box, someone naturally will come to take it, to retrieve it..." Old Mrs. Luo said these words and then closed her eyes forever, her hands falling to her sides, her face adorned with a satisfied smile, content to have seen her most beloved granddaughter at the last moment of her life.

"Mother-in-law, mother-in-law... mother-in-law..."

Luo Yan threw herself onto her grandmother’s body, crying heartbreakingly. She knew that the only person in the world who loved her the most was gone, never to be seen again! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please feel free to vote and support on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)