Chapter 331: Stone Soaring Immortal
The watermelon stone had a surface covered with streaks, resembling the pattern of a watermelon rind. Even if Source could be cut from it, the amount was very small, like melon seeds, mostly in granular form—that was the origin of its name.
Of course, things were not absolute. A long time ago, someone had cut out several dozen grains of Divine Source in the shape of melon seeds, causing a sensation in Divine City.
Now, cutting out forty-nine grains of purple crystal melon seeds, though incomparable to Divine Source grains, was still quite astonishing.
At this moment, it was Li Heishui’s turn to laugh heartily, while Wu Ziming and the others had dark faces. Over forty thousand jin of Source was truly dizzying—an excessively massive amount.
“Don’t just stand there, honored guests. Pay up—forty-two thousand jin. Your generosity truly moves us,” Ye Fan and Li Heishui said, stepping forward to collect the Source, extending their hands to the dozen or so people.
Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian were extremely uncomfortable, feeling more stifled than words could express. It was as if they had been soaring high in the nine heavens, only to be suddenly raked down into a cesspit by a rake.
They had intended to mock the two, treating them as a joke, but in the end, they themselves became the fools, each inexplicably having to fork over three thousand jin of Source.
It was truly infuriating. All dozen or so felt that tens of thousands of jin of Source—even a hundred thousand—might not be enough to stop this!
“If that’s the case, why doesn’t the Holy Land cut them open themselves? Why offer them for others to choose stones?” someone asked.
“Do you think the Holy Lands want this? They themselves cannot be sure if there are treasures inside the stones. To maximize profit, they place them here at sky-high prices for people to gamble on.”
“Indeed, that’s the fundamental reason for the existence of the Holy Land stone workshops.”
…
The Great Xia Prince hesitated only briefly before readily agreeing. “Fine, in that case, let’s go to the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden.”
At once, the crowd erupted in excitement. They knew that today would surely see a major move!
“Are you sure you want to go to the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden?” Wu Ziming, Li Chongtian, and the others were all shocked.
Now it was Li Heishui’s turn to act smug, leisurely speaking, “You’ve never gambled before, have you? This time, you’ll get a good lesson.”
“To be… looked down upon by these two country bumpkins!”
Wu Ziming and his group were utterly frustrated, all fuming with indignation.
“Dark kid… next time, I’ll settle scores with you!” Several among the dozen spoke up one after another.
“I’m not dark at all. Don’t mention the word ‘dark’ to me again. Also, next time, bring enough Source. I, the Gambling Saint, will gamble until your faces turn green.”
“The dark kid is too arrogant!”
“You’re the dark one! Your whole family is dark!” Li Heishui rolled his eyes in rebuttal.
Inside the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden, there was an ancient vine, so thick it was jaw-dropping—ten meters in diameter, like a gray dragon lying across the ground, crawling in all directions.
This wasn’t a tree; it was just a vine, yet so massive. The Dao One Holy Land’s grounds were vast, with its tendrils covering entire rows of Daoist temples.
Beside the ancient vine was a well, built from Source stones, with ropes having worn deep grooves into its rim over countless years of use.
“This ancient vine is tens of thousands of years old…” Li Heishui introduced to Ye Fan.
Legend had it that it was almost about to transform into a dragon, but in the past, a master had turned it into an ordinary plant, and all its spiritual energy nourished this stone workshop through the ancient well.
Another saying held that within Divine City, no matter how ancient the plant, it could never become a demon or spirit; all gathered spiritual energy could only nourish the city itself.
The purple-clad young master of the Demon Clan, Yao Yuekong, stepped forward. He was imposing, with the aura of a demon god, his sharpness concealed. In the depths of his star-like eyes, one could faintly sense a divine charm of dominance.
“Two young brothers, if you cut out some treasures later, would you consider auctioning them at my Heavenly Demon Treasure Pavilion?”
“No problem. If we cut out something valuable, we’ll definitely trouble Brother Yuekong.” Since the other party extended an olive branch, Ye Fan was naturally willing to befriend him.
The Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden was usually quiet, with few people around, but now it suddenly became lively.
People from other stone gardens were drawn over, and many gathered.
“I thought those eight madmen had come, but it turns out others are entering the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden to choose stones.”
“It’s the Great Xia Prince betting against someone. There’ll be a good show.”
…
There were experts stationed here. Ordinary people couldn’t enter and could only watch from the periphery; only those selecting stones could go in, as the stones here were too precious.
Inside the garden, an old Daoist nun sat cross-legged on a cushion, her age impossible to tell, motionless. There were also four or five elderly people selecting stones.
When the Great Xia Prince, the White-Robed Little Nun, Ye Fan, and Li Heishui entered, she remained still, like a withered old tree.
The others stopped their noise, gathering around the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden, watching quietly. Fortunately, there were no walls, only vegetation, so everything was visible.
As soon as Ye Fan stepped into the garden, he felt the aura of Tai Chu—very strong. It was as if he had returned to that night, standing inside the forbidden zone.
These were definitely all precious stones!
Ye Fan guessed that many of these stones were likely transported from within the forbidden zone, or were extremely close to the Tai Chu Forbidden Zone.
“I’ve walked around the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden a few times before, but this is my first time inside,” Li Heishui transmitted telepathically.
Ye Fan smiled and replied via telepathy, “There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. All the Holy Lands are waiting for us.”
The Great Xia Prince and the White-Robed Little Nun were clearly not first-timers, looking very familiar with the place.
Many were puzzled as to why the Great Xia Prince always brought his sister. Only Ye Fan guessed that this Great Xia Princess was attached to the Buddhist faith and might be undergoing worldly cultivation.
The Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden had many emerald bamboo groves, lush and green, adding a touch of tranquility.
There weren’t many stones here, but each had its own place. The Dao One Holy Land’s staff checked them daily because they were too precious.
However, the stones were arranged very naturally—under the green bamboo, beside bubbling springs, or among the green vines.
The stones and scenery blended harmoniously, giving a sense of returning to simplicity, of unity with heaven and earth.
A dedicated Source master followed them, constantly introducing the stones.
Even with prior mental preparation, Ye Fan was still startled. Many stones were small but worth thousands of jin of Source.
More absurdly, some stones cost a thousand jin of Source per jin, making even him feel overwhelmed and unable to bear it.
“Old master, isn’t this too outrageous? Can anyone afford it?” Ye Fan asked.
The Source master said, “On ordinary days, few young people come here. It’s prepared for the old antiques. You do find it hard to bear. For those people, if they can gamble on a hope and a future here, they’re willing to give everything.”
“What treasures have been cut out here?” Li Heishui asked.
“Divine Source has been cut out, and some rare wonders have been unearthed—indescribably marvelous,” the Source master said with a smile.
“This stone is worth a hundred thousand jin of Source?!” Li Heishui exclaimed.
This stone, so expensive it was hard to accept, weighed over a hundred jin and lay quietly in the bamboo grove, with a Dao rhythm flowing from it.
“That’s too ridiculous. Are you selling stones or Divine Source?!” Li Heishui muttered.
“It’s worth that price,” the Source master said.
Li Heishui secretly transmitted, “This stone is indeed special, as if it has a Dao rhythm. My spiritual sense is naturally sharp, and I’ve sensed it.”
Ye Fan shook his head. “It’s hard to say about this stone. Even I can’t see through it. The inside might not match the outside. It could have been cut from another main stone with a great Dao divine rhythm. It’s not a good choice. Otherwise, why would it have been left here so long without anyone choosing it?”
“That’s true. The Dao rhythm is moving, but no one dares to touch it. There must be a reason. After all, the old antiques who come here to choose stones are all sharper than foxes,” Li Heishui realized.
After looking at many stones, Ye Fan’s heart shook. The Holy Land’s Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden was truly extraordinary. He had to be cautious.
“This stone…” Li Heishui was surprised.
They saw another stone, only about a foot long, but it had nine orifices, very much like a stone man.
“Was this naturally formed or carved?” Li Heishui asked.
“Naturally a strange stone, of course. Otherwise, why would it be worth ninety thousand jin of Source?” the Source master said.
“Can you see anything?” Li Heishui secretly asked Ye Fan.
“This stone is unfathomable. Don’t touch it for now,” Ye Fan shook his head.
The Great Xia Prince called out from not far away. He had already selected a stone, only seven or eight jin in weight, but priced as high as two squares of Source.
“Prince, you only have a little over ten thousand jin of Source. Now you’ve spent two squares, leaving only one. How will you bet with us?” Li Heishui asked.
“I still have more!” the White-Robed Little Nun spoke up, her big eyes dark and round, glancing at the two a few times.
“Don’t cry if you lose later…” Ye Fan teased.
The White-Robed Little Nun wrinkled her nose and gave him a big roll of her eyes, while the Great Xia Prince snorted coldly.
Ye Fan walked back and said, “We’ve also chosen. It’s this one.”
He had selected a very large stone, over a man’s height, but the price wasn’t too outrageous—three thousand jin of Source.
Of course, it was still extremely expensive. Relative to the stones in this garden, such a large piece was already a floor price.
Around the stone garden, the onlookers were very surprised. The two had spent too much.
However, Wu Ziming still taunted, “You really think picking a big stone will let you cut out something rare? You don’t know anything!”
Li Chongtian also sneered, “Choosing stones like that in the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden is laughable.”
Li Heishui directly dismissed them, “You’ve already lost all your Source, and you’re still giving advice? Just watch and learn.”
“Let’s see what you can cut out!” Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian said coldly.
“Then watch closely and learn slowly!” Li Heishui laughed heartily.
Ye Fan looked at the Great Xia Prince and said, “Prince, this round is for ten thousand jin of Source. Whoever cuts out the more valuable precious Source wins. Agreed?”
“Fine. Cut the stone,” the Great Xia Prince nodded.
“Good!” Ye Fan replied. This time, he was very careful, cutting the stone himself, slowly peeling away the stone skin.
“Do you have confidence?” Li Heishui secretly transmitted.
“This stone should yield something. I feel there’s a rare item inside, but I can’t be sure until it’s cut open,” Ye Fan responded.
“Crack!”
The stone skin slowly fell off. Ye Fan made careful cuts. This time, he was no longer as casual as when he had smashed the watermelon stone. Every cut was cautious, afraid of damaging something.
“Crack!”
Suddenly, Ye Fan made another light cut, and the stone naturally split open. A dazzling light shot out, extremely brilliant, and then a shadow of light rushed up, flying into the sky.
“Heavens, what is that? How is it flying?!” many exclaimed.
“It looks like a human figure!”
“Exactly! Did a person fly out?!”
Outside the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden, the onlookers erupted in excitement.
“A stone soaring immortal!”
“It really does look like a human figure!”
Ye Fan was truly stunned. At the same time, the old Daoist nun, who had been sitting motionless with closed eyes, suddenly opened her eyes.