Chapter 81: Stone Gambling Workshop

Damn, to describe this emperor's heroic and majestic bearing like that is totally outrageous.

Big Black Dog turned its head and cursed, feeling that the word 'cute' really didn't match his demeanor.

After walking for a while, several people stopped in front of a splendid palace.

If it weren't for the signboard over ten zhang wide above the Mysterious Jade Gate bearing the three large characters 'Pure Workshop Garden', one would really think they had arrived at an immortal palace.

The Stone Gambling Workshop before them belongs to the Shaking Light Holy Land, guaranteeing both its scale and credibility.

Pure Workshop Garden is divided into three parts: the front, middle, and rear courts, each with over a dozen pavilions, terraces, and halls.

Each pavilion has its own character; every spot could be a unique scene, and simply strolling inside draws one in.

"Welcome, honored guests, to Pure Workshop Garden. We absolutely have everything you want inside; please come in."

Yang Zhu and his group had just entered when someone warmly greeted them.

"Which court would you like to visit, sirs? I'll lead the way."

"Court' by definition means different areas; here there are three sections, and the deeper you go, the higher the stone quality."

"Of course, not everyone can enter; the first outer court is open to all with no requirements."

"But to enter the second court, one must have ten thousand catties of source; usually only people of status and position are found here."

"Upon reaching the third, innermost palace, one must demonstrate a strength of one hundred thousand catties of source to gain entry."

"Normally, those who can come and go there are either holy sons, masters versed in source technique, or terrifying old monsters."

"Let's just look around; you go attend to your business."

Ye Fan sent that person away, planning to first stroll the first court.

The first court has the most people—over a hundred at a glance—most came to cut stones, while some came to buy them.

In the Stone Gambling Workshop, many buy a stone and cut it on the spot; if a treasure is revealed, it's auctioned immediately, drawing many bidders and settling the deal face‑to‑face.

If a valuable treasure is cut out, the stone‑cutter will choose to keep it.

"They're just worthless trinkets."

Yang Zhu walked through once without pause, glancing over hundreds of source stones.

"Do you still know how to cut stones?"

Ye Fan couldn't believe it; even though he cultivated the Source Heavenly Scripture, he couldn't tell at a glance like Yang Zhu does.

"It's nothing special—just a feeling."

Yang Zhu is naturally attuned to the Dao, sensitive to the fields of all things, and can discern them well.

Having cultivated the Scripture of No Beginning, he can probe the primordial source; stone skins that block perception are useless to him.

In Yang Zhu's eyes, these source stones appear transparent, fully visible.

Before Ye Fan could respond, a disdainful voice came from the side.

"The art of stone cutting is profound; how could it rely on mere feeling?"

Yang Zhu followed the sound and saw the speaker—an old man with half‑white hair and beard, looking impatient and dissatisfied with his words.

"How dare you, old coot, say that just because you can't doesn't mean others can't?"

Tu Fei rolled his eyes, naturally showing no mercy to such an old‑fashioned braggart.

He was just trying to show off in front of them, to appear more experienced.

As a petty bandit, Tu Fei sees through such petty tricks, and his frank nature means he certainly won't back down.

"Today's youth are truly arrogant; with little talent they still refuse advice."

The old man stood with hands behind his back, utterly self‑satisfied, his face full of mockery. "I say you old…"

Tu Fei wasn't about to take it; he was about to retort when Ye Fan stopped him.

"I see your bearing, senior; your stone‑cutting skill must be superb."

"I've been cutting stone for decades; naturally you youngsters can't compare."

Hearing Ye Fan's words, the old man instantly gained confidence, flicked his sleeves, turned to face the pile of over a dozen stones ahead, and spoke.

"If you're not convinced, we can have a match; the stake shall be a hundred catties of source—how about that?"

The old man had long seen that Yang Zhu's group was extraordinary; he spoke this way on purpose to provoke their anger, then spar with them to profit.

One highlight of the Stone Gambling Workshop is that people can compete in stone cutting: after setting a wager, each side picks a stone, and whoever cuts out the more valuable item wins.

The winner not only takes the stake but also must forfeit the opponent's cut treasure.

Little did they know, Ye Fan had the same idea.

"Fine, but a hundred catties of source is too little; how about raising it to a thousand?"

Seeing the commotion, people gathered around, all wanting to watch the excitement.

"Right, you wouldn't chicken out, would you?"

Tu Fei shouted from the sidelines; this was all too familiar to him—he'd done plenty of it before.

Yang Zhu knew Ye Fan cultivated the Source Heavenly Scripture, so he didn't worry and went with Hua Yunfei to the second court.

Upon entering the second court, though certain qualifications were required, the attendant saw their appearance and knew they were not ordinary, wisely letting them pass.

Here the stone quality is noticeably better than the first court; some pieces Yang Zhu can't discern at a glance need time.

"What do you think of that Shaking Light person?"

Although the Shaking Light Holy Son and Hua Yunfei both inherit the Ruthless Person's lineage, their fates have diverged.

Hua Yunfei, as a pawn, will eventually become nourishment for the Shaking Light Holy Son once he reaches a certain stage.

The Heaven Swallowing Demon Technique harms heavenly harmony, is incomplete, and its later practice brings great side effects—this is why the Ruthless Person later created the Indestructible Heaven Skill.

"He's very strong… could it be that he's like me?"

Hua Yunfei is exceedingly clever; knowing Yang Zhu wouldn't ask pointlessly, he suddenly understood.

"Yes, but he's not like you…"

Yang Zhu told the other party the details of the matter and warned him to keep a close eye on this person in the future.

The Holy Son of Yaoguang is one of the strongest heaven‑chosen of the present age, and his disguise is superb.

In the early stage he never used even a bit of the Ruthless Person's technique, fooling everyone.

I understand.

Hua Yunfei nodded thoughtfully; he had not noticed the slightest sign before, and now the more he thinks about it, the more terrifying he finds him.

After a leisurely stroll, Yang Zhu took a liking to several decent medicinal food ingredients and bought them on the spot, though he did not cut them here.

In less than half an incense stick's time, the result of Ye Fan's match also came out, and as expected Ye Fan won.

He not only obtained a thousand jin of source, but also obtained the medicinal herbs the other party had cut.

That is a bead of elixir that can preserve one's appearance for several decades; for male cultivators it is somewhat useless, but it is highly sought after by female cultivators.

In the end Ye Fan successfully sold it for eight hundred jin of source.

At that moment the old man's face turned green; refusing to believe it, he insisted on continuing the match, but ultimately lost three rounds in a row, losing nearly two thousand source, and he was so angry he wanted to vomit blood on the spot.

(End of chapter)