Chapter 225: Where I, Anlan, Stand, the Heavens Stand

The Holy Land Stone Workshop, to put it plainly, is actually a place for stone gambling, except the customers of this kind of stone gambling are cultivators.

"This kind of occasion should probably let Klein come over and pick a few." Su Lin picked up a palm-sized greyish-white stone and examined it, his eyes flickering but unable to make anything of it at all. "After all, he's the King of Yellow and Black who presides over good fortune, his luck should be pretty good."

This was a matter of course. If one could tell what was hidden within a stone's source just by cultivation, then there would simply be no room in this world for the weak to pick up bargains.

There is only one method that can influence stone gambling: Source Arts.

Source Arts can change one's appearance, can be used for stone gambling, can alter the lay of mountains and rivers, and when cultivated to the highest level, can even possess the might to slay gods.

"Give it a rest, the King of Yellow and Black who presides over good fortune lost thirty pounds gambling." Ye Fan quipped.

It's just like the Mora in Zhongli's wallet—

—something you can count on, but not completely.

The source stones in this world are a kind of pure energy stone, belonging to solidified spiritual energy. Cultivators can use them for cultivation, and high-quality sources also hide demons and devils, primeval creatures, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures from countless ages past.

If a living being is wrapped within a high-quality source, it will fall into slumber, no longer eroded by the passage of time in body and soul.

For those beings who cannot achieve the Dao and pin their hopes on a distant future, or who wish to evade powerful enemies, they will take the initiative to bury themselves or their outstanding descendants within the source, hoping to awaken on some day in the future.

Time flows on, the sun and moon change.

No one knows what stories will unfold over the long ages, or what upheavals will arise in this universe.

Powers that flourished ten thousand years ago may have fallen into the dust of history, great clans will ultimately split apart, and the descendants and factions originally meant to awaken them in a given era have vanished due to uncontrollable factors. These primeval beings buried within the source will then drift through the world, awaiting the moment of their awakening.

And these primeval beings will also bury their personal wealth along with them—things of great value such as magic treasures and divine medicines.

In rare cases, the source will also nurture some rare treasures.

"Is there a face-slapping scene tonight?" Su Lin casually tossed the palm-sized stone in his hand back into the pile, drawing the displeasure of some nearby cultivators.

Even though it was already deep into the night, there were still many people inside the stone workshop, yet there was no clamor—tranquil and natural, giving one a sense of returning to simplicity.

"Save it." Ye Fan shook his head and said, "We're here to earn opportunities, not to actively stir up trouble and slap faces. Being passive about it is another matter, of course."

"Hearing those words come out of your mouth is even more absurd than the sun rising in the west." Su Lin said with a strange expression, "Don't you have any idea what you've done here yourself?"

"It's just to maximize benefits, that's all." Ye Fan said with a smile.

If there were no benefit, he wouldn't have chosen a way that drew attention either.

Su Lin felt a bit of regret—as a system-flow protagonist, he still hadn't experienced the face-slapping scene of pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.

He casually picked out a stone the size of a millstone and prepared to cut one open himself to try. Naturally, Ye Fan was the one paying; he didn't have this world's currency, so he considered it a consulting fee. The rich tycoon wasn't short on money anyway.

Though a gambling dog has nothing, if it's not his own money, that's another story.

Thinking of this, Su Lin casually picked back the palm-sized stone he had tossed out earlier, and under the strange gazes of the cultivators nearby, looked left and right: "Where's the checkout?"

"First time at the stone workshop?" A group of several people walked over. One of them glanced at Su Lin, then at the few people and a dog behind him, and laughed, "Naturally at the person in charge's place, but someone dragging their whole family to the stone workshop like you is a first for me."

Ye Fan had the appearance of a young man, and was carrying little Xiao Nannan on his back. The big black dog beside him was rather eye-catching.

During the previous capture of the Sacred Body and the Red-Haired one, a dog demon had bitten quite a few cultivators, so now a young man with a dog would inevitably draw cultivators' gazes.

"Thanks." Su Lin thanked them and was about to go find the person in charge of the stone workshop, but Ye Fan's expression turned a bit strange.

"I should be thanking you." That person shook his head and said, "I never expected to see the scene of someone dragging their whole family out to buy a watermelon stone—too ridiculous, it's practically provided me with a year's worth of laughs."

"Can't I buy a souvenir?" Su Lin raised an eyebrow and said.

"One look and you can tell he's a foolish person who wants to get rich but is too stupid to achieve it." A lean man mocked, "Turn back while you can, this isn't a place you people can come. Brother Wu, let's go."

"Brother Li, wait a moment. I see he's pitiful, let me give him some advice." Wu Ziming burst into laughter and said sarcastically, "The source you can cut out of a watermelon stone is no bigger than a watermelon seed. Someone like you shouldn't have come to the Holy Land Stone Workshop—you disgrace the Holy Land's name."

"Thank you." Su Lin looked at the other party with a forced smile, but this word of thanks was spoken quite sincerely.

There really is a face-slapping scene!

Wu Ziming's face was full of arrogance as he said, "Mm, Ruzike Sect."

After saying this, he paid no more attention to Su Lin and headed deeper into the stone workshop with the other seven people.

"Why are you grabbing me?" Su Lin looked at Ye Fan in confusion, only to see the other shaking his head at him.

"I'm afraid if you go up and beat him into pulp, I won't get to slap his face." Ye Fan said.

Su Lin: "In your eyes, am I the type who, if someone offends me, makes them body and soul disappear?"

Ye Fan: "Mm, no, but the custom on our side is like this. I'm afraid you'll go along with the local ways."

Su Lin was left speechless.

Dao Yi Stone Workshop had a total of eighteen levels. The group headed deeper, their target being the Heaven-ranked stone garden among them.

Ye Fan hadn't expected that even though he had deliberately chosen the deep night, this fellow Wu Ziming could still bump into them. This guy was practically a professional villain, and his dutiful spirit truly made him feel ashamed.

When a face is delivered right to your door to be slapped, how could there be any reason not to slap it?

Ancient trees grew in clusters. The deeper they went, the more bustling this stone workshop became. Bright lanterns floated in the air, illuminating the entire sleepless city together with the starlight falling from the sky.

"Brother Li, look, that pack of country bumpkins actually came too." Wu Ziming pointed at Su Lin's group from beside a pool of clear spring in the eighteenth-level stone garden and said.

"Heh heh." Li Zhongtian laughed, and actually waved at Su Lin's group, saying, "Come, come, I'll give you some watermelon stones. Take these watermelon stones and hurry back."

Pebbles paved a long path, and the spring pool gurgled as it flowed.

The exchange and actions between Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian still attracted quite a few cultivators who knew the two of them.

"Wu Ziming, the chief disciple of the Five Elements Palace's Zhang Sect, and Li Zhongtian, the son of the Illusory Extinction Palace's Zhang Sect." Someone recognized their identities and turned their gaze this way.

"Aren't you afraid of causing trouble for your fathers by being so arrogant day after day?" Su Lin asked curiously, "Do you know who I am?"

"Ridiculous!" Wu Ziming snorted with laughter, his expression fearless, and mocked, "Stone gambling has always relied on skill, not background. I pity you—you can't even be considered a layman. I'll give you a few watermelon stones as souvenirs. So what, who are you? Want to bully people with your power? Tell us, let's all see which sect and faction's disciple you are?"

They both knew the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens of the various Holy Lands. So what if he was a Holy Son? Could their identities possibly fear him?

"My name is Anlan." Su Lin said coldly.

Seeing his attitude, Wu Ziming's group exchanged glances.

"Do you recognize him?"

"Don't recognize him. I do know the An family of Zhongzhou has some reputation though."

"An... could it have something to do with An Miaoyi..."

"Look at the way he looks—does he really deserve to be associated with Fairy An?"

"But I think he looks pretty good-looking."

"Brother Zhang... you..."

Anlan Su Lin's self-introduction was truly powerful; even Ye Fan hadn't expected it.

"Oh? You two are quite confident in your stone-gambling skills." Ye Fan placed little Xiao Nannan on Black Emperor's back, set up a spell, then stepped forward and said, "So, do you dare to make a bet?"

Wu Ziming: "Bet on what? Are you even worthy?"

"Bet on who can cut out something good tonight." Ye Fan said lightly, "You can freely invite people to help, because honestly you two don't look like you have any real skill."

"What a joke—you country bumpkins hugging watermelon stones are really getting too big for your britches." Wu Ziming laughed angrily, "Look at the two of you, you don't even have much Source. Can you even afford it?"

Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian were still trading words with Ye Fan. It looked like a battle of sharp tongues, but one side was gradually getting serious. As the old saying goes, the moment you get serious in an argument, you've already lost.

These two pampered young masters had already fallen into the emotional trap Ye Fan had set for them.

Su Lin felt a wave of familiar feeling rushing back—back, all back! That traditional plotline was back!

"Fine, then you two cut open a watermelon stone and show us. If you can cut something out, all five thousand jin of Source on me is yours." Wu Ziming waved his hand grandly, cutting off Ye Fan's words. Clearly, he had already been enraged by these utterly clueless fellows before him.

Li Zhongtian chimed in: "The three thousand jin of Source I have here is also yours."

Ye Fan curled his lip dismissively. These pampered scions nowadays don't even bother bringing more money when they go out—eight thousand jin of Source is just one day's revenue for their shop.

"Fine then." Ye Fan wore an expression that said they were getting the bargain of a lifetime.

"Hold on. If you lose, what will you use to pay us?" Wu Ziming sized up Ye Fan and Su Lin for a few seconds, then said, "How much Source do you have?"

Ye Fan revealed a little, saying, "If you win, we'll pay you whatever amount you bet."

Among Wu Ziming's group, seeing someone cutting watermelon stones and handing out money, people hurriedly piled in to follow the bet, and even passing cultivators joined the bandwagon.

Seeing Ye Fan's attitude, Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian felt a faint sense that something was off, but it was too late. Before they could think it through, Ma Xianhong beside them had already started his sales pitch.

"Folks, folks! The peak showdown of stone gambling!" Ma Xianhong held a loudspeaker and shouted, "Come look, come see! A once-in-a-thousand-years stone-gambling battle! Walk on by, don't miss out!"

Among Wu Ziming's group, someone rebuked:

"What are you yelling about with that strange magic artifact?"

"Don't shout in the Dao One Stone Workshop! Silence!"

'I only told you to draw some attention—why are you so down-to-earth?' Su Lin was a little surprised by Ma Xianhong's hawking. The effect was achieved, and it was roughly along those lines, but Old Ma, don't you want any dignity?

The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger. Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian could no longer worry about much, and immediately laughed: "First time seeing someone rush to embarrass themselves. Fine, then I'll grant your wish!"

Li Zhongtian said viciously, "Go ahead and cut it open!"

Everyone coming and going inside the Dao One Stone Workshop was a cultivator, especially in this district—usually only those with deep pockets would come here, and most of them were scions of noble clans, holy lands, and divine dynasties.

"Let me do it." Su Lin stopped Ye Fan for a moment. He already knew what Ye Fan had come here to find today, but how could he miss such a rare moment?

Moreover, with Ye Fan's current Source Technique level, finding a Stone King would be very difficult, so the Stone King probably wasn't part of Ye Fan's plan.

In that case, it was better to let him be the one to slap their faces—at least he had a way to cut out the Stone King right now at this stage.

Under Ye Fan's surprised gaze, Su Lin paced forward, hands clasped behind his back, his brows brimming with arrogance, a complete change from his previously lazy and easygoing demeanor.

"Ignorance is the courage drug of the foolish; arrogance is the death warrant of the incompetent."

Su Lin snapped his fingers, and a transparent rectangular card about twenty centimeters long instantly appeared in his hand. He said casually:

"To deal with you, this card is enough."

Ye Fan narrowed his eyes. Back in the Road Mingfei world, Su Lin had also taken out a somewhat different card and then turned into a sword immortal.

This was exactly the temporary skill card Su Lin had just redeemed from the Veil of Heaven World limited shop—【Fourth Generation Source Heaven Master (Source Technique)】: effect lasts 30 minutes, provides no additional attributes or skills, priced at 3000 Manifestation Points.

"Granted to you."

The skill card in Su Lin's hand burned as if touched by invisible flames, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

"A helpless defeat."

Su Lin's words brought a momentary hush over the scene. Everyone looked curiously at this youth who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, named 'Anlan'.

"Ridiculous." Li Zhongtian directly kicked over a half-person-sized watermelon stone and shouted, "I'm waiting!"

Su Lin paid them no heed, and instead said to Ye Fan, "I'm stealing this spotlight."

"Don't be polite with me. Rather," Ye Fan said with a smile, watching him, "I couldn't ask for more! Show me your performance."

Just as they had discussed before coming, Ye Fan wanted Su Lin to make a name for himself in the Shengcheng, so they could later use the Shengcheng as their base to run the Veil of Heaven Trading Guild as a legitimate business.

Ma Xianhong's skill in crafting ordinary magic artifacts was no longer an issue, and this place could be handed over to him to manage.

Magic artifacts made with the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements and other worlds' weapon-refining techniques would surely attract the purchasing power of the lower-end cultivator market, and bulk orders could be handled by assembly lines like Ruhua and some craftsman cultivators.

The projection would have to wait until Weigong Shilang's cultivation rose in the future, before going to deal with those holy land higher-ups and the Ancient King Clans.

'Yin-Yang Holy Land, Wanchu Holy Land, Fuyao Holy Land, Purple Mansion Holy Land, the Ji family's Ji Hui branch...' Ye Fan silently recited the holy lands and noble clans that had once hunted him—some for greed over the Xuanhuang Mother Qi Cauldron, others for the secret arts on his person.

These holy lands and noble clans were all key future clients!

"Hey, what are you two muttering about?" Wu Ziming urged, "So many people are watching. You wouldn't be chickening out, would you?"

Su Lin glanced at the watermelon stone at his feet without paying it any attention, and instead walked straight toward a patch of grass nearby.

The Source Heaven Art resonated with his divine soul. His eyes lit up. He picked up a watermelon stone universally recognized as scrap waste, said nothing more, and with a light slash, the stone split apart as if answering his call.

Dreamy blue light scattered like twinkling stars, capable of drawing eyes even in the sleepless Shengcheng.

"A rare Source!?"

"There are so many of them—though not large, the quantity is high. It probably equals over a thousand jin of pure Source."

Beside them, many people revealed strange expressions, all feeling it was inconceivable.

This kind of probability wasn't nonexistent, but it was practically about the same as jumping off a cliff and stumbling into a Mystical Realm.

The number of watermelon stones far exceeded the population of the Shengcheng. To cut out this kind of rare Source from a watermelon stone—this youth's luck is way too good, isn't it?!

Wu Ziming's face was full of bad luck, as if he had just swallowed a fly. His companions also wore ugly expressions.

"I know you two aren't convinced." Su Lin placed one hand behind his back and pointed the other toward the outside of the stone workshop: "Go back and bring the Source Masters you know to duel me."

"On what grounds?!" someone demanded indignantly. "You're just good with Source Arts—what makes you think you can talk like this?"

Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian felt the same; they had already suppressed their anger while handing over the Source Stone to Ye Fan, and now, hearing Su Lin speak so boldly, they cursed out loud:

"Blustering like this, you'll swallow your tongue in the wind! Do you even know who I know among Source Art masters?!"

They had no idea where this backcountry Source Art master had come from, daring to speak so boldly.

"It doesn't matter who they are—you only need to know one thing."

Su Lin shook his head, proudly declaring:

"At the Peak of Source, I, An Lan, am the sky itself!"

End of chapter