Chapter 345: Immortal Linglong
The great Dao heavenly sound lingered endlessly, the priceless strange stone was unadorned and plain, captivating all. Ye Fan selected this stone, his words resounding with firmness, spreading across the small island.
Many were stunned—this stone actually emitted Dao sounds, triggered by the Source Heaven Divine Sense, echoing through heaven and earth, truly astonishing.
Immediately, figures from major powers transmitted messages, offering astronomical prices to purchase this stone, including people from the Holy Lands, all vigorously courting Ye Fan.
Those present were greatly surprised. This was indeed a grand Source Art duel; both prodigies had chosen stones that shocked everyone.
"Something extraordinary will definitely be cut out—mysterious heavenly sounds are actually emerging."
"Could it be an ancient scripture? Rumor has it that the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty's 'Supreme Emperor Scripture' was cut from a stone."
"The Great Dao is boundless, lofty and profound, making one want to sink into it."
"Perhaps it will be an immortal scripture."
No one remained calm; all were astonished and envious, watching closely.
"Young master, if you cut out something good this time, don't forget us old fellows." A group of elderly men looked on with fervent eyes, rubbing their hands excitedly.
They speculated that something world-shaking would likely appear. If it were an ancient scripture, it would trigger an enormous upheaval, and even the Holy Lands wouldn't be able to sit still.
If not for the old man with skin like jade sitting cross-legged under the ancient tree at the island's center, someone might have already snatched these two stones.
"Cut the stone! Cut the stone quickly!"
Many shouted, eager to know what rare treasures would emerge.
The faces of the Ji Family members were extremely grim. These two stones were too precious; if they yielded world-shaking treasures, it would be heartbreaking.
After selecting such a stone, Li Heishui finally let out a long breath, feeling it could rival the Dragon Head Stone.
Wu Ziming sneered coldly: "What rare treasure can compare to a true dragon? Even if you cut out a divine object, you'll inevitably lose and present it to Brother Tuoba."
"That's right, this is like giving a grand gift to Brother Tuoba." Li Chongtian also sneered.
"Cut the stone!" Li Heishui ignored them, only uttering these two words. Now, only cutting the stone could decide victory or defeat.
At this moment, everyone was tense, all watching, waiting for the treasures within the Dragon Head Stone and the Immortal Sound Stone to emerge.
After a brief commotion, the small island fell silent, so quiet that the sound of falling petals could be clearly heard.
"You go first." Ye Fan made a gesture of invitation.
The brocade-clad man Tuoba Chang didn't speak. He took out a five-colored beast-skin pouch containing over a dozen sharp knives of various shapes.
The ancient Source Art aristocratic clan was very particular—different knives were used to cut different source stones. Tuoba Chang took out a silver dragon knife, shimmering with divine radiance, holding it in his hand.
"Crack!"
The first blow fell, cutting off the dragon's horn. With a light scrape, it turned into stone powder, revealing nothing inside.
"Crack!"
The sounds continued without end. Tuoba Chang struck with his knife repeatedly, his movements light and graceful. It didn't seem like wielding a blade, but rather like dancing with fingers—technique approaching the Dao, full of aesthetic beauty.
From these details, one could see that Tuoba Chang had profound attainments in the field of Source Art, with a sense of nearing the Dao.
Dragon scales fell like petals, fluttering down to the ground with a rustling sound. A third of the massive dragon head was cut away, with a thick layer of stone debris on the ground.
At this moment, it was extremely quiet. No one dared to disturb; all held their breath as they watched.
Tuoba Chang was completely focused. The silver knife was like a dragon, heaven and earth silent, as he danced with the silver blade, or like playing a musical movement.
Time passed slowly. His movements grew slower and gentler, afraid to break this tranquility, to damage the divine object within the dragon head.
Everyone's nerves were taut, nearly suffocating. Their eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the center of the field, where the brocade-clad Tuoba Chang became the absolute focus.
"Ding!"
A crisp sound, like a dragon's cry piercing the nine heavens, echoed in everyone's ears. The silver knife halted, suspended in the air, as a trace of mysterious aura spread out.
"Dragon Qi, dragon Qi is rushing out!"
Many people's eyes widened. From the cut-open dragon head, wisps of dragon-shaped gas were seeping out, extremely eerie.
"Black kid, you're finished. This stone will definitely cut out a divine object that shakes the world!" Wu Ziming sneered repeatedly, glancing at Li Heishui.
"Swish," "Swish," "Swish"...
Tuoba Chang moved his knife like flying, suddenly accelerating, the rhythm quickening. Stone chips fell like snow, scattering everywhere.
"Ding!"
When the final light sound was made, the millstone-sized Dragon Head Stone was completely carved open. Aside from a floor of stone powder, only a bowl-sized round orb remained.
It was dark cyan, without luster, but with streaks of dragon Qi swirling around it, as if something inside was about to break out of its shell.
"This is... a Dragon Pearl?!"
"That's right, it looks exactly like a Dragon Pearl, a soul treasure born from heaven and earth."
"It might contain a true dragon inside—this was born from the union of heaven and earth!"
The small island erupted instantly. Everyone was excited, except for the Ji Family members, who had no smiles, only grave expressions.
"Hurry, I can't wait any longer. Cut out the rare treasure quickly!"
"I desperately want to see a young true dragon emerge."
Everyone urged. Even the Great Xia Prince and the White-Robed Little Nun dropped their reserve, pushing to the front. An Miaoyi and Jin Chixiao were the same.
Tuoba Chang held the Dragon Pearl in his hand but didn't continue cutting. He turned to look at Ye Fan and said, "Your turn."
Ye Fan had no superfluous words. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and a small black knife, about an inch long, appeared between his fingers.
"That's... a Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Knife!"
"It's the Holy Spirit Sword cut from the Nine-Orifice Stone Man!"
Everyone was dumbfounded. This was too extravagant—Ye Fan was using this sacred sword to cut stone.
"Tch..." Many were completely speechless.
Wu Ziming taunted: "What's there to show off? When nothing comes out, I'll be waiting to see his sour expression."
The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Holy Spirit Sword was as crystal clear as black jade, naturally formed. Ye Fan held it between two fingers, constantly moving it across the Immortal Sound Stone, sending stone skin flying.
He used this knife to cut stone to prevent accidents. Last time, cutting the Nine-Orifice Stone Man had been very dangerous; if he hadn't retreated in time, he would have been pierced through.
Ye Fan's eyes flashed with purple light, turning into two beams that fell on the Immortal Sound Stone. The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Holy Spirit Sword moved with the two purple lights, slashing swiftly.
A melodious, wonderful sound suddenly arose, coming from within the stone. Everyone waited in anticipation, wanting to see what would emerge.
Ye Fan's movements were light and graceful, also possessing beauty, like a living melody dancing. The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Holy Spirit Sword turned into a black dragon, coiling and flying.
"What could it be? Can it compare to the Dragon Pearl?"
"Could it really be an ancient scripture?"
"Silence!"
There was no noise. The island was exceptionally quiet. Unbeknownst to all, the guardian of the Sacred Stone Garden—that old man—had raised a curtain of light, as if afraid a rare treasure might escape.
"Ding-dong"
A pleasant sound was made as Ye Fan shook the small black sword sharply. Stone chips flew, and the Immortal Sound Stone was completely split open.
A jade cocoon appeared, about the size of a fist, crystal clear and glowing. What was nurtured inside was unknown.
"Another cocoon. Last time, the small black cocoon yielded the Holy Spirit Sword. What will it be this time?"
Suddenly, wonderful sounds arose—not the great Dao heavenly sound, but an enchanting immortal melody that made one's mind want to sink.
When Ye Fan grabbed the jade cocoon in his hand, the immortal music stopped, and heaven and earth became peaceful again.
From outside the field came a chorus of exclamations. Many people's minds had nearly lost control just now.
At this moment, everyone acted with great tacit understanding. The younger generation stepped back, while a group of old men came forward, ready to act at any moment.
Because something unusual might appear. To prevent accidents, the senior figures prepared to join forces to suppress it.
"You go first," Ye Fan indicated.
Tuoba Chang said nothing. Carefully, he brought the silver knife down on the Dragon Pearl. The dark cyan stone orb split open with a sound.
"Boom!"
A powerful aura rushed out, making hearts tremble with fear. The dragon might was terrifying!
"A dragon! I saw a dragon!"
"A true dragon flew out!"
Many shouted, all shocked, staring at the field, almost forgetting to breathe.
From the stone orb rushed out a half-meter-long dragon, flying in the air, its dragon might spreading everywhere, extremely astonishing.
"No, it's formed from dragon Qi, not a real dragon."
When calm returned, people saw the small dragon clearly—it wasn't a true body.
The Dragon Pearl had shattered, empty inside. Tuoba Chang's face was filled with disappointment.
"What a pity. Only a wisp of dragon Qi, nothing else."
"This is just a strand of essence born from heaven and earth, taking dragon form. It's not true dragon Qi."
Many shook their heads. It was far from what they had expected. The gap was too great, and many sighed.
"Why is it like this?" Wu Ziming clenched his fists.
Li Chongtian was also extremely disappointed, stomping his foot forcefully.
"Haha..." Only Li Heishui shook his head and laughed, making Wu Ziming and the others' faces turn ashen.
"A true dragon does not descend to the world. What a pity for this stone orb. In this world, it's impossible to nurture a true dragon. If there were an immortal realm, without a doubt, when the time came, this orb would transform into a true dragon."
The Ji Family's guardian of the stone garden spoke these words, then fell silent.
The dragon Qi was about to disperse, vanishing into heaven and earth. The Great Xia Prince rushed forward in one step, extremely excited, saying: "I want this dragon Qi! Ten thousand catties of source!"
He raised his hand to seal the space, trapping the wisp of dragon Qi.
Everyone showed strange expressions. The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty inherited the Supreme Emperor Scripture, which recorded the supreme offensive art—Imperial Dao Dragon Qi.
To cultivate this, besides innate talent, some secret methods were needed. It seemed this dragon Qi would be greatly beneficial to him.
Tuoba Chang nodded without speaking. Spending a hundred thousand catties of source to buy the Dragon Head Stone, only to cut out no rare treasure, was a blow to him.
The Source Heaven Precious Wheel had reflected a true dragon within the stone, but it turned out exactly as Ye Fan had said—a dream, an empty flower.
Tuoba Chang stood silently in the field, expressionless.
It was Ye Fan's turn to cut the jade cocoon. Without hesitation, he stepped back, swung the small black sword, and with a clang, split open the jade shell.
"Ding-dong..."
Immortal music sounded, colors dazzling. The center of the field was brilliant, making hearts sway, as if some demonic force was making people sink.
"This is an Immortal Linglong. What a pity..." An aged voice was filled with regret, saying this, but almost no one heard it.