While the other contestants were eagerly selecting their stones, Yu Nian walked unhurriedly to the table.
Yu Nian murmured a few incantations. When she opened her eyes again, the whole world had changed.
The colors of everything around disappeared, turning into a black - and - white world. Only the stones on the table were emitting colorful lights.
The intensity of the light from each stone was different. Yu Nian carefully scanned them all but always felt that the stones on the table were not quite right.
Just then, an extremely dazzling white light shone out from under the table. It was unique and incredibly brilliant.
Compared with this stone, the others were like fireflies beside the bright moon.
Yu Nian bent down and took out the stone that was propping up the table leg.
She blew the dust off the stone and then without hesitation stuck her number plate on it.
Fu Sui saw it all. He had expected Yu Nian to be inexperienced, but he didn't think she could be this stupid.
Such a person wasn't worth his time.
Fu Sui sneered and looked away.
Unlike the others who hesitated, he scanned the stones indifferently and finally stood in front of one.
It was a stone with fine skin and small crystal grains. If he guessed correctly, there should be a glass - type jade inside.
After sticking his number plate on it, Fu Sui closed his eyes to rest.
At this time, the big screen switched to the judges' seats. All the judges showed expressions of appreciation.
"Sure enough, he's the young master of the Fu family. Truly young and promising!"
The old master Fu nodded slightly, his expression unreadable: "You're overpraising me."
Zhong Yaya wavered between two stones for a long time before finally making her choice.
She looked at Yu Nian and saw that she was still standing quietly. So she asked, "Nian Nian, why haven't you chosen yet? The time is almost up."
In Yunnan in August, the sun was blindingly bright. Yu Nian rubbed her eyes and said calmly, "I've already chosen."
"Which one?"
Zhong Yaya looked in the direction Yu Nian was pointing and saw a long, flat, dusty stone that was used to prop up the table leg.
Zhong Yaya:... Are you serious??
The stone was hidden in the shadow. Its outer skin was rough, its shape was strange and heavy. She could hardly sense any spiritual energy from it.
So she reminded Yu Nian, "Nian Nian, did you make a mistake? This stone isn't even a low - grade spiritual stone... Do you want to choose another one?"
Xue Yier also came over and mocked, "This stone has been here all the time, stepped on by thousands of people every day. If it were really a treasure, it would have been discovered long ago. It seems you're nothing special after all."
Yu Nian just smiled and said, "I won't change it."
Seeing that Yu Nian had made her decision, Zhong Yaya didn't try to persuade her anymore, but secretly worried for her.
This scene was shown on the big screen, causing a stir among the audience.
"This contestant actually chose a doorstop??"
"Such a person can even participate in the competition. I think I could do better than her."
...
As time ticked by, after a clear bell rang, the competition time was up.
Immediately, the staff came forward and used machines to carry out the stones with the contestants' name tags on them.
Among the judges was a middle - aged man with a beard named Zhou Zhen, who was a well - known "venomous tutor" in the field of metaphysics.
Sure enough, the moment he saw the stone Yu Nian had chosen, he sneered.
"Which fool chose this doorstop? It's really embarrassing for people in the metaphysical world. Did the program team find such a clown to lower the level of the competition?"
Although the other judges on the judges' seat didn't express their opinions, they all showed expressions of disgust when they saw Yu Nian's stone.
Feng Chengyuan turned his head slightly and gave them a cold look, saying calmly, "Don't speak too soon."
The reason the program team chose Feng Chengyuan as a judge for the stone - gambling competition was not only because he was the investor but also because he had a deep understanding of gemstone raw materials.
When he was young, he had once gambled on stones for fun and unearthed an imperial green jade, which had shocked the entire jewelry industry.
Each judge had two votes and could bet on the contestants. The judges' votes were different from the audience's and were extremely valuable.
The selected contestants' stone - cutting order could be decided by the judges.
When the judges saw the stone Yu Nian had chosen, they all shook their heads, sneered, and walked away.
When it was Feng Chengyuan's turn to vote, his handsome features were magnified infinitely on the screen, causing many audience members to scream.
Feng Chengyuan strode up to the stones and cast all his votes on Yu Nian.
The old master Fu stopped in his tracks and asked Feng Chengyuan, "Mr. Feng, isn't this a bit too absolute? Aren't you leaving any room for yourself?"
As a well - known CEO, every move of Feng Chengyuan would be magnified infinitely. Especially in this kind of competition, although he seemed to be betting on a contestant, in fact, he was also building prestige for his company.
If he made the wrong choice, it would not only cause a lot of public controversy but also have a serious impact on his own reputation.
Feng Chengyuan looked at the old master Fu after he had cast his vote and said calmly, "I'm not not leaving room for myself. I just absolutely trust Yu Nian. Her ability deserves to be seen by more people."
The old master Fu was stunned for a moment and didn't say anything else.
Zhou Zhen walked up to Feng Chengyuan and said with a smile, "Mr. Feng, you're really spending a fortune for a beauty. It's a pity she'll probably disappoint you."
Feng Chengyuan didn't even look at Zhou Zhen. He said calmly to the program team, "Cut Yu Nian's stone last."
Zhou Zhen looked at Feng Chengyuan and said leisurely, "Mr. Feng, are you feeling nervous? Are you trying to divert attention by leaving the stone to the end?"
Feng Chengyuan suddenly sneered, and his eyes looking at Zhou Zhen were full of pressure.
"Don't you understand the principle of throwing out a brick to get a jade? Of course, the best should be left for last."
After saying that, he ignored Zhou Zhen's stiff expression and sat back in his seat on the judges' bench on his own.
At the same time, Yu Nian's phone in the rest area suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from Feng Chengyuan.
"Nian Nian, relax."
Yu Nian curved her lips. After replying with an "Okay", she turned her attention back to the big screen.
The camera had switched to the stone - cutting site. Dozens of highly skilled professional stone - cutters stood in front of the operating machines and started cutting the first batch of stones. Everyone was a bit nervous.
After cutting several stones in a row, they were all mediocre water - type jadeites.
When it came to the second batch of stones, there was an immediate stir at the scene.
The stone had its outer skin cut off in the roar of the machine, revealing its pure and transparent interior. The green jade body was shining brightly in the sun. It was obviously a rare high - grade spiritual stone.
It was Fu Sui's stone.
The judges all stood up excitedly.
"Glass - type jade! Sure enough, he's the young master Fu. It seems the champion of the preliminary round is non - other than him!"
But the old master Fu slowly shook his head: "Not necessarily. There's still one stone that hasn't been cut."
The judges looked at each other awkwardly.
Zhou Zhen snorted, "The situation is already clear. Yu Nian's stone is destined to be a laughingstock."
The old master Fu looked at Feng Chengyuan and asked, "Mr. Feng, shall we cut it?"
Feng Chengyuan didn't hesitate at all: "Cut it."