The group carefully examined the Ruby on the Golden Mask and soon discovered there were indeed some issues.
Most gemstones are considered better the larger and cleaner they are. However, this Ruby was quite large, but not particularly clean, with some inclusions that looked like color paste.
"Is this a fake Pigeon Blood Ruby? Has it been heated or color-enhanced?" Kun Sha asked.
In the past, Ruby could be treated with heat to reduce inclusions, enhancing its color’s brilliance.
Such heat-treated Ruby is called "burned" Ruby, whereas non-heat-treated Ruby is termed "non-burned" Ruby.
Burned Ruby is not considered fake but is far less valuable than non-burned Ruby. Unscrupulous merchants sometimes sell burned Ruby as non-burned, which is deceitful.
As for color enhancement, that is true fakery and is extremely unethical.
On such a valuable Golden Mask, it’s unlikely to use such an inclusion-rich Ruby, so Kun Sha thought this was a fake Ruby, and the original Ruby might have been replaced.
Unexpectedly, Shale shook his head and said, "No, this is a real Ruby and indeed a Pigeon Blood Ruby. The current standard for Pigeon Blood Ruby is to be as clean as possible, but during that Ancient Country’s era, true Pigeon Blood Rubies were ."
"Was the standard for Pigeon Blood Ruby so low in that Ancient Country?" Kun Sha exclaimed.
"You’re mistaken; the standards from that era were far from low, they were extremely high. Not just any inclusion or color band could be considered a Pigeon Blood Ruby." While saying this, Shale took out his phone, turned on the flashlight function, and shone it on the Ruby in the Golden Mask.
The group was surprised to find that under the light, the Ruby inside looked like the color of magma, displaying a flowing fireworks effect.
The marquise-shaped Ruby glowed with flowing red light, resembling burning flames.
"According to legend, the Princess Bride already had a beloved, but was forced by the Emperor to marry a powerful noble. On the wedding day, she leapt into the roaring fire wearing the Golden Bride Mask, sacrificing her life to defend her love and dignity. After the fire was extinguished, only the Golden Bride Mask was found among the ashes, and the originally pure Ruby on the mask had turned into this. Later, this Ancient Country’s standard for Pigeon Blood Ruby also became this form. Only this kind of Ruby in that Ancient Country could be termed Pigeon Blood, representing the most top-tier Ruby." Shale caressed the Golden Mask and said, "Although it’s just a legend, whether the Golden Bride Mask and the Princess existed is unknown, yet the Ruby on this is indeed priceless, incomparable to ordinary Pigeon Blood Ruby."
By this point, Li Xiu understood why Qin Shi had a persistent high fever.
However, Li Xiu still didn’t comprehend why Qin Shi had the Princess Mask, nor the reason for her collecting Ruby.
The Ruby on the Princess Mask, though precious, and with a beautiful, poignant story behind it, had a legend no less striking than that of the Ominous Diamond.
Why could he contract with the Ominous Diamond but be rejected by this Ruby?
Qin Shi’s fever was unyielding, her temperature steadily rising. At this rate, in a few days, she might be cooked alive. Unable to form a contract with the Ruby, Qin Shi couldn’t be saved.
Actually, Li Xiu had serious doubts; even if Qin Shi was saved now, her brain might have already been damaged by the heat.
With temperatures exceeding fifty degrees, how could an ordinary human body withstand it?
Li Xiu reached out and took the Golden Bride Mask from Shale’s hands, then directly pried off the Ruby.
"Don’t, this thing sells for a higher price with the Golden Mask," Shale said, somewhat pained.
Ignoring him, Li Xiu placed the Golden Mask back into the box and quietly popped the Ruby into his mouth, swallowing it directly.
If blood didn’t work, he had to resort to the original method.
The Ruby went down Li Xiu’s throat. Fortunately, his body’s degree of enhancement was sufficient; otherwise, swallowing such a large Ruby would have been difficult.
Moreover, with both ends of the Ruby being sharp, swallowing it might injure the esophagus.
Once the Ruby was in his stomach, Li Xiu immediately felt as if he had swallowed a ball of fire, a burning sensation pulsing in his stomach.
With a thought, Li Xiu exuded a white glow, the Light Energy from the Forbidden Spear.
With the Light Energy’s blessing, the burning sensation in Li Xiu’s stomach lessened considerably and gradually calmed down.
As the burning sensation in the stomach subsided, everyone was delighted to see Qin Shi’s high temperature start to gradually decrease.
"Li Xiu, you’re something else. Is that your Symbiotic Contract’s light? It can also heal and treat?" Shale marveled, inspecting Li Xiu.
"It can’t save just anyone, nor cure any disease. It just happens to be able to help Qin Shi," Li Xiu replied, not in the mood for chatting with Shale.
Though the burning sensation in his stomach had dissipated, the Ruby hadn’t turned into a Demon Spirit Ring on Li Xiu’s finger, indicating it hadn’t been fully subdued.
Li Xiu’s method proved more effective than high-powered fever medicine; Qin Shi’s fever subsided in no time, and her body temperature soon returned to normal.