Chapter 227: Using Power to Oppress Others?

"A mad cultivator claims to be the Source Summit!"

"The heir of the Tuoba clan has personally intervened! The arrogant shall fall bleeding!"

"How dare you injure someone! This audacious rogue has entered the Tian-character Stone Garden!"

"Tuoba Chang, heir of the Tuoba family, faces off against Anlan in a stone gambling duel!"

"Master Anlan acts—miraculous treasures emerge from Dao Yi Stone Shop! Divine herbs, divine sources, sacred relics!"

Cultivators' rumors spread faster than newspapers; every event within the Dao Yi Stone Shop was transmitted instantly, as if live-streamed.

In the Sacred City, cultivators who initially came to laugh now watched with intense interest—this Anlan, who appeared from nowhere, possessed such extraordinary ability!

Divine sources were one thing, but the others—those were divine herbs and dragon-patterned black gold! Plus a slightly damaged royal weapon. Good heavens, forget becoming rich overnight—this was crossing the dragon gate in a single night!

In a guesthouse, many felt admiration; someone said, "Even Tuoba Chang lost. Anlan might become the next Source Tian Shi."

"Those rare treasures have proven his strength," murmured a white-robed woman, filled with longing—but the stone garden was now completely surrounded, "It's a pity I can't witness Master Anlan's grandeur."

At another table, a drunken man retorted, "None of the Four Clans' top disciples have shown up—what is he?"

Someone raised his cup, took a sip, and sighed, "Alas, when a tree towers above the forest, the wind must break it! He's too arrogant."

Envious ones eagerly agreed.

At that moment, new news arrived.

"Elder cultivators use their power to oppress and seize by deceit! Master Anlan pays the price for his arrogance."

"See? Now all that effort was for nothing," sneered a man with protruding cheekbones. "No matter how valuable the treasures, they still end up in the hands of the powerful."

A rat-eyed cultivator with a bony nose raised his cup and clinked it against the man's. "Tsk tsk tsk—I heard he's a lone cultivator with no sect or clan. He's probably got a death sentence coming~~"

Their conversation dripped with mockery.

"Coward!" someone cried indignantly. "Do either of you have that kind of ability?!"

"What good is ability if you can't protect it? Watch—he won't live more than a few days!" The cheekboned man laughed loudly, his face flushed from alcohol emboldening him. "His strength makes him a threat to any major sect—he'll never be allowed to live. Even if they spare him, he'll just become someone else's bride gift!"

At that moment, a spiritual message came from deep within the stone shop.

"The supreme Saint King Anlan and his loyal followers are about to depart for the Ji Family Stone Shop!"

The cultivators who had mocked him moments before turned pale with dread.

"How is this possible?!"

Mist swirled, radiant light filled the sky; the modest Tian-character stone shop seemed as if the ancient Immortal Realm had descended—figures flew like celestial immortals, fragrances filled the air, and shimmering lights spun in spirals.

Amidst these auspicious omens, Su Lin was surrounded by rare treasures; he had not yet cut open the nine-orifice stone figure containing the dragon-patterned black gold sword, but all other divine sources, precious gems, and incomplete divine herbs floated before him.

"Black Ice Jade! There's a piece of Black Ice Jade inside that variant source!"

"So many divine sources..."

"Is that a divine herb?! No—it's incomplete. What a pity!"

More dazzling than Su Lin's source art were the treasures hidden within the stones! Within a large variant source lay a black-glowing jade artifact—likely a Dao instrument from some ancient being. Even sealed by the variant source, the Dao patterns woven upon it sent shivers through all who sensed them.

Of course, the divine sources themselves were priceless—Su Lin had unearthed at least ten million jin of pure source. It was as if the Dao Yi Sacred Ground had gifted him all these stones!

Most captivating of all was a rare treasure hidden within an ice-and-snow variant source: a plant, its faint fragrance seeping through the source. It had pale blue roots, crystal-clear like sapphire.

Its tuber resembled a foot, not large—only one inch long, silver-white.

It was an incomplete divine herb, its rootstock alone remaining—this was one of the very reasons Ye Fan and Su Lin had come here.

Incomplete? Ungrown?

Hey, Liu Li Ge? Business has arrived.

Plant a tiny tuber, grow a mighty divine herb.

In Ye Zhetian, even the mere presence of a divine herb in a region brings immense benefits—especially for cultivators, akin to a condensed paradise!

"Enough!" Su Lin snapped, his gaze like a biting winter wind.

The elders who had tried to communicate with him froze, then surged with shock and fury—they had never imagined this youth would dare such disrespect!

"Young master, if you're unsure what to do with these treasures, you may entrust them to us, the Tian Yao Pavilion, for auction," said Yuelongkong, clad in purple, now thoroughly impressed by Su Lin's source art.

"If you wish to sell, contact the Great Xia Imperial House directly—we will offer the highest price!" added the Imperial Prince.

"I don't intend to sell," Su Lin shook his head, and before their stunned gazes, declared: "I'm keeping them all."

Saying this, Su Lin turned to Tuoba Chang and asked, "How much did you learn?"

Tuoba Chang blinked, then slowly shook his head. "Your source art is unparalleled. I submit, humbled and convinced."

The way he wielded source art had opened his eyes—he faintly sensed traces of Dao rhythm within those source patterns. Alas, if his clan's elders had been here, they might have gained much. Though this man was arrogant, his words rang true—it truly was a rare opportunity.

He deserved his arrogance.

Tuoba Chang: "May I ask, which sect's source art do you follow?"

Su Lin: "A hermit of the mountains and wilds."

Tuoba Chang placed the incomplete royal weapon before Su Lin.

Su Lin nodded slightly, tossed it to Yuelongkong, and said: "Auction this one."

Tuoba Chang then offered a jade pendant to Su Lin. "If you have time, please visit the Tuoba Clan for a gathering."

With that, Tuoba Chang turned and vanished into the crowd. He paid no mind to Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian's sour expressions—loss was loss.

Su Lin felt a dull emptiness. Today was enough. He prepared to store the treasures and head to the Ji Family Stone Shop to find the Stone King and unearth the "Divine Child Emperor Yufeng."

He was a child born from the spirit of the Emperor's Immortal Cauldron, transformed from a divine weapon's spirit into a human infant, born with Saint-level power.

"Wait!" An old man's face darkened. "I am Li Yishui of the Huanmie Palace. I wish to purchase that precious pearl."

"Not for sale," Su Lin said coolly.

No sooner had Su Lin spoken than a new group of elders surrounded him.

"Young Master Anlan, the price of these treasures is negotiable!"

"Little Brother An, could we discuss this? My Yin-Yang Sect wishes to purchase this divine source and the creature inside it."

Su Lin glanced sidelong at the old man who claimed to be a Yin-Yang Sect elder and said, "You're from the Yin-Yang Sect?"

The other's heart leapt with joy.

"Get lost!"

How dare a faction that traffics in gifted children to raise them as cultivation bases, and bullies mortals with impunity, speak to him like this?

Before the Yin-Yang Sect elder could rage, another elder shoved him aside.

"Yeah, get lost! Old man Wang, stand behind me!"

One after another, numerous sacred sects and noble families approached him with overtures. Seeing this, Su Lin merely raised his hand and said:

"Gentlemen, I've already said it: I'm not selling anything I've brought."

"Move aside—I still need to go to the Ji family's stone garden."

The scene fell deathly silent, then a chilling killing intent spread—dozens of them, their origins unknown.

Su Lin wasn't surprised; this was normal. Even in ordinary worlds with rule of law, envy existed—how much more so in a star domain where cultivators reigned supreme?

Without strength, you cannot protect what you wish to protect.

"Young man, we've humbled ourselves to purchase rare treasures from you—how can you be so disrespectful?" A sturdy, white-haired elder stepped forward with the bearing of a dragon and tiger; his eyes radiated authority without needing to anger.

"We believe our offer is fair. If you think it insufficient, we can negotiate further. If all else fails, take it to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion for auction." An old woman hobbled forward, leaning on her cane, her gaze sharp as ten thousand needles. "Such arrogance—didn't your elders ever teach you how to behave?"

Some stepped back. Though they felt forced purchase was wrong, no one spoke up for Su Lin—after all, he was far too arrogant.

Others stepped forward, joining the white-haired elder and the old woman, speaking one after another to pressure Su Lin.

"Insulting senior elders is a grave sin—he should be suppressed for years." Some envious disciples of source-art sects, unlike Tuoba Chang, sneered and echoed in agreement.

"Brother, I see you seem to be together. Why not kindly persuade this Brother An Lan?" The Imperial Prince walked up to Ye Fan and said, "If absolutely necessary, you could first put one or two items up for auction at the Heavenly Demon Treasure Hall—this would secure fair returns and calm these elder powerhouses."

He understood that geniuses had genius arrogance—but steel too hard breaks easily. Though this man had sharp edges, he could not cut through everything.

If possible, he must find a way to protect this Master An Lan. A genius of this caliber could alter an entire faction's fate. If he could join the Great Xia Imperial Court, best of all; if not, they must still earn his favor.

Yao Yuekong also urged caution. Seeing that Ye Fan and Master An Lan were close, he intended to use this connection.

Crack crack

Ye Fan was crunching sunflower seeds. Seeing his two old acquaintances approach, he said nothing, merely grabbed a handful and placed them in their hands.

"Eat. Don't be polite," Ye Fan smiled.

"Brother…" Xiao Nannan rubbed her eyes as she climbed off Hei Huang's back.

"Nannan's awake? Come here, little one." Ye Fan hurried over and picked her up. "When that divine herb grows, shall I give it to you as a snack?"

"Nannan doesn't want medicine," Xiao Nannan said, pouting. "Can I have candy instead?"

Everyone exchanged glances, utterly unprepared for Ye Fan's attitude.

Hei Huang, seeing Xiao Nannan awake, stretched his body and stepped aside, eyeing the elders surrounding Su Lin with disdain.

"Are you friends with that source-art master?"

The speaker was none other than the Yin-Yang Sect elder whom Su Lin had scolded. Now his eyes flickered as he openly scanned Xiao Nannan with probing gaze.

"Perfect. I am Wang Ke, elder of the Yin-Yang Sect. I invite you all to visit our sect for a few days." Wang Ke sneered.

In his view, capturing these juniors—how could the source-art master possibly escape his grasp? If the man dared call himself the Peak of Source, he must value fame immensely; he would never abandon his companions.

As for the Yin-Yang Sect's reputation? Ha—we're merely inviting them as guests.

"Elder, this is inappropriate," the Imperial Prince spoke up firmly.

"What's inappropriate?" Li Yishui, elder of the Illusion Annihilation Palace, stepped forward. "Our Illusion Annihilation Palace and the Yin-Yang Sect are jointly inviting them—what's wrong with that? Your Highness, don't misunderstand."

"Add my Five Elements Palace to this. I, the Zhang Sect of the Five Elements Palace, personally invite you—please don't refuse my face." A middle-aged man wearing a jade crown appeared beside them, his face pale yet radiating an aura that chilled the heart.

The Five Elements Palace Zhang Sect!

"Elder, have you returned from Zishan?" Yao Yuekong exclaimed, but immediately noticed the man's unstable aura—he must have suffered severe injuries.

Hadn't this man gone to Zishan with other Zhang Sects to search for the Emperor's relics? Yet here he was?

The Five Elements Palace Zhang Sect nodded, saying nothing further. He needed the divine herb to heal his wounds and prepare for his next expedition to Zishan. He'd just heard from his top disciple about this place—a source-art genius, if he could be won over, would ensure no shortage of sacred-grade herbs.

He took a step forward, ready to "invite" this group away.

"Your hearts are filled with greed, blocking my path—that alone is no small matter. Take one more step, and the heavens will overturn!" Su Lin coldly roared, his voice thunderous. Unmasked killing intent surged outward from his center.

In the works, in the works—the outline's nearly finished; I'll add more whenever I can.

End of chapter