Chapter 164: line with translation of chapter title

Yan Buji looked at Hua Fei, his expression growing increasingly solemn, and knew that this mysterious Stone-Resolving Secret Technique of unknown origin might truly be very important to them.

It was so important that when Hua Fei turned his head, the murderous intent in his eyes was unmistakable for an instant, yet Yan Buji remained indifferent.

"What relationship do you have with the Stone-Resolving Master?"

"Stone-Resolving Master? I don't know who you're talking about. This Stone-Resolving Secret Technique was given to me earlier in Huang Du by a crazy beggar."

"Crazy beggar? What did he look like? What did he tell you?!" Hua Fei crossed his arms, clearly showing signs of intending to act.

Yan Buji gave a faint smile; although he was indeed somewhat worried about the other's move, since the other asked, he would simply answer truthfully.

After recounting his earlier encounter, Hua Fei was stunned for a moment, furrowed their brows and thought for a long while.

"So it was him? You kid... you're lucky. Since he gave it to you, I won't kill you. Looks like you're really not a descendant of the Stone-Resolving Master."

"Oh? Does Shopkeeper Hua know the background of that crazy beggar?"

"Hmph, you don't need to know much about that. I was also surprised how you, with only three layers of refined Qi, could obtain the Stone-Resolving Secret Technique. If that's the case, I have to give you some face. Fine, I've agreed to your request, and you don't have to pay ten thousand Spiritual Stones, but the condition is that you must not disclose this technique to anyone else; you must swear a Dao Heart oath."

Yan Buji stretched out his hand: "I swear, if I pass the Stone-Resolving Secret Technique to a second person, my Dao Heart will collapse and I will die!"

Hua Fei nodded, and their gaze toward Yan Buji also held a hint of apprehension.

Yan Buji didn't understand why the other was like this; it seemed that the crazy beggar had a bigger background than he had imagined.

"Let's go, I'll accompany you in this performance."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Hua."

As they left the main hall, the surrounding cultivators looked at Yan Buji with envy.

Hua Fei's complexion changed instantly; smiling, he led Yan Buji to the large source stone behind: "Daoist companion, take a look—do any of these large source stones catch your eye?"

Although he already knew that one of the large source stones contained nothing, Yan Buji looked at the one Hua Fei pointed to and suddenly felt something was off.

Is this really empty?

"Hahaha, Shopkeeper Hua, after finally making a windfall today, I also want to bet big! This one, I'll take it!" Yan Buji spread his arms, laughed loudly, looking exactly like a newly rich man.

The cultivators around stared, stunned: "Kid, you actually swapped a High-grade Spirit Stone for a large source stone—how daring!"

"Aren't you afraid you'll lose your entire stake?!"

Yan Buji turned his head, dissatisfied: "You lot are afraid to gamble, but if that large source stone hides some rare treasure, it'd be far better than that High-grade Spirit Stone!"

"Tch, stop bragging and hurting your back; who do you think you are, getting so lucky?"

"My luck is obviously great!"

Yan Buji, looking unconvinced, clasped the large source stone and walked over to Old Zhao.

Old Zhao also received the transmission; after glancing at Yan Buji a few times, he asked: "What do you plan to do with it?"

"Old Zhao gave me so many treasures, all thanks to Old Zhao's blade!" Yan Buji laughed.

Old Zhao examined the large source stone; it resembled a withered tree branch, with few places suitable for cutting; it could only be split in two to see whether a treasure was hidden inside.

Immediately, Old Zhao picked up a small knife and began to split the stone, while Yan Buji squinted.

Indeed, Old Zhao's cut went from the tip to the top, splitting it in two, but the adjacent branch remained unmoved.

Because those few branches were so tiny, cutting them any way was useless, and such slender branches could not possibly conceal any treasure.

Yet after seeing the Stone-Resolving Secret Technique, Yan Buji formed his own understanding of such large source stones: in this branch-like stone, the most likely place to hide treasure was not the thick part but the tiny ends.

Of course, he might be wrong; after all, Hua Fei deals in this business and had already explained that this stone contained no treasure, indicating they had a way to inspect it beforehand.

Even if not thorough, there was still a considerable chance that there was no treasure.

"There's nothing."

"Ah?! Impossible!" Yan Buji was stunned, eyes wide in disbelief, grabbed the opened stone to examine, then stepped back a few paces and plopped onto the ground.

"Impossible, impossible, how could there be nothing! I don't believe it! I even mortgaged all my family assets to buy this stone, how could there be nothing!!!" Yan Buji roared wildly, like a gambler whose eyes had turned red.

"Hahaha!"

"You really thought your luck was good, huh?"

"Greed is the culprit; had I known earlier I should have stopped, instead of ending up empty‑handed and penniless!"

The surrounding cultivators burst into laughter, while a cultivator observing from the side furrowed his brow.

"This kid's ambition is huge; he won't really gamble away all the Spiritual Stones the emperor gave him, will he?"

"Doing the math, it's about right: that High-grade Spirit Stone sells for ten thousand low‑grade Spiritual Stones, plus another twenty‑to‑thirty thousand Spiritual Stones, which matches the price of that large source stone."

"So what do we do now?"

"Find a chance to kill him, wasting time!"

Hua Fei stepped in front of Yan Buji, chuckling: "Daoist companion, as previously agreed. The High-grade Spirit Stone is discounted to eighty thousand low‑grade Spiritual Stones, plus the twenty‑nine thousand Spiritual Stones you gave, still short by two thousand Spiritual Stones..."

"Stop talking, you swindler!!" Yan Buji gritted his teeth, rose from the ground, looking unwillingly at Hua Fei.

Hua Fei snorted coldly: "What? You still dare to default?!"

"I...."

"I'll give you two choices: either hand over two thousand Spiritual Stones now to settle the debt, or work in my shop to repay it; otherwise I'll have to show you my methods!" Hua Fei snorted coldly.

"I!.... sigh, fine. But can these two source stones stay with me as a reminder, so I remain vigilant against greed?" Yan Buji said helplessly.

Hua Fei waved his hand: "As you wish."

The cultivator who had been watching secretly widened his eyes instantly.

"What should we do?"

"This Precious Stone Hall has an unusual background... never mind, let's not waste effort on this gambler."

"But how do we explain this here?"

"Just say it straight, does the emperor still dare to trouble Precious Stone Hall?"

Thus, after the observing cultivator left, Yan Buji also became an employee of Precious Stone Hall.

For half a month, Yan Buji spent his time doing odd jobs and showing up inside Precious Stone Hall.

Afterwards.

Yan Buji proactively sought out Hua Fei and explained his intention to leave temporarily.

"You plan to leave now? Aren't you afraid your enemies will find out and cause trouble for you?" Hua Fei frowned.

Yan Buji smiled: "I'm now also a member of Zhenshi Zhai, so even if they want to cause trouble, they'd have to consider the shopkeeper's face. Besides, I won't be gone too long; I'll come back later."

Hua Fei gave Yan Buji a meaningful look: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"That won't trouble the shopkeeper." Yan Buji said with a smile.