Chapter 330: Nine-Orifice Stone Man

Welcome.

Green bamboo groves and gushing spiritual springs created a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

A high stone platform faced the sun, gathering its essence. Ye Fan stood on it, observing the stone figure against the sunlight. He was deeply focused, slowly turning the strange stone with meticulous care.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. When the stone figure's right eye caught the sun, he seemed to glimpse a faint flicker of sunlight, which vanished almost instantly. Was it a trick of the light? He couldn't be sure, as he suspected the prolonged exposure to the sun had dazzled his eyes.

Ye Fan remained motionless, holding the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure directly towards the sun, his concentration intense as he observed it carefully.

By this point, everyone knew that this refined young man was a master of Source Arts; his various techniques were sophisticated and even unheard of.

"Could he be a young man from a Source Art family? His methods are very unique, never seen before."

"For a true Source Art master, choosing stones is half luck and half skill—it's a fifty-fifty split. This young man likely has a significant background."

"Didn't some people from a Source Art family visit last time? They also examined the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure, but their techniques were vastly different from his. It's clear he doesn't come from the same lineage."

Nearby, a group of elderly onlookers whispered among themselves, their eyes gleaming with eagerness. If this young man was a genius in Source Arts, he would undoubtedly be worth winning over.

Outside the Sky-Domain Stone Garden, although many people had gathered, it was remarkably quiet. Ever since Ye Fan began working on the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure, all chatter had ceased, and everyone watched in silence.

Jiang Yifei, ethereal in his white robes, waited with a look of interest. Even his long boots were white and spotless, adding to his incomparably elegant and scholarly aura.

An Miaoyi's dark hair lightly swayed, her spiritual charm contained within, her eyes shifting as she observed Ye Fan. Her flawless, jade-like body was like a flowering tree laden with snow, stirring the hearts of those who beheld her.

Ye Fan remained still for a full quarter of an hour but observed no further anomalies. The stone figure's right eye was dry, with no unusual glinting, nor any vibrant energy.

Suddenly, Ye Fan moved. His right hand emitted a radiant glow, multicolored and dazzling, creating a dreamlike sensation.

This was not a cultivator's technique; it was a profound Source Art, gathering the essence of plants, absorbing the azure brilliance of the sun, and drawing forth the primordial essence of heaven and earth, all converging.

Ye Fan's right hand gracefully swept over the figure, guiding the multicolored light into its nine orifices. His eyes sparkled with tiny points of light as he stared unblinkingly at the stone figure.

"He truly is a master of Source Arts, with unique methods and profound techniques never before seen."

"Can this Source Art detect rare treasures within the stone?"

Nearby, all the elders showed surprise and felt great anticipation, eager to see what other ingenious methods he possessed.

Ye Fan displayed no divine power fluctuations; he was purely demonstrating Source Art. This was the first time he had been so serious, for the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure was truly exceptional.

After a long time, the multicolored light flowing into the nine orifices produced no change. The strange stone remained simple, natural, and unchanged.

Ye Fan frowned, then lightly jumped down from the stone platform. He stopped observing it in direct sunlight, realizing these methods were ineffective.

Li Heishui sent a voice transmission, saying, "Can't you see through it clearly? Then just leave it alone. I just heard someone say this stone has been here for years, and even if people thought well of it, they gave up at the last moment."

The purple-robed Yao Yuekong also spoke up, reminding him, "Little brother, if you're not confident, don't touch it. Many Source Art masters have examined it and ultimately left without taking it."

Ye Fan remained calm and said, "I'll take another look."

He placed the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure on the fragrant grass. After carefully measuring the figure, he began to act swiftly, repeatedly tapping his finger downwards.

One could clearly see one inch-long golden ray after another entering specific locations, like tiny golden particles falling.

"Stone-Turning-to-Gold Hand!" exclaimed the white-haired Master Yuan, his voice particularly striking in the crowd.

"What? Is that really the legendary and highly renowned Stone-Turning-to-Gold Hand from Source Arts? Even experts from Source Art families might not be able to perform it!" some elders exclaimed in surprise.

"Is it real or fake? Is this young man really performing the Stone-Turning-to-Gold Hand? This... this is incredible. He truly is a Source Art genius!"

Around him, a group of older individuals all showed expressions of shock. They had heard of this Source Art but had almost never seen anyone perform it.

Outside the Celestial Stone Garden, Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian exchanged glances, their faces clouded with ill fortune, feeling as bitter as if they had bitten into a Coptis root.

While surprised, the Great Xia Prince became even more attentive. He stood at the very front, almost pressing against the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure.

The purple-robed Yao Yuekong also leaned down for a closer look. He felt that Ye Fan's Source Art was even more extraordinary than he had imagined, and if they could build a good relationship, it would be greatly beneficial to the Heavenly Demon Treasure Pavilion in the future.

A full one hundred and eighty-eight inch-long golden rays were struck into the stone figure by Ye Fan. This was not divine power, so there was no worry of shattering the stone.

Master Yuan, in the crowd, exclaimed repeatedly in awe, "He actually performed it continuously! It's the complete Stone-Turning-to-Gold Hand!"

Ye Fan was deeply focused and unaffected by the onlookers. He began to tap the stone rhythmically, listening carefully with both ears, and only stopped after a long time.

"How is it?" Li Heishui asked nervously. Being watched by so many people and spending a sky-high price to choose this stone, it would be difficult for anyone to remain calm.

"I still can't be sure, but I'll choose it anyway. I'll buy it!" When Ye Fan uttered the words "buy it," the stone garden finally lost its calm, erupting into a clamor as everyone began to discuss.

The Nine-Orifice Stone Figure was a sky-high priced strange stone that had been displayed there for many years. No one had dared to touch it, and it had almost become the Dao One Stone Workshop's treasured centerpiece.

Today, someone was finally going to cut this stone. Everyone was somewhat impatient, eager to see what exactly was contained within the stone figure.

"Today's visit was certainly not in vain! It will fulfill our long-held desire!" some elders repeatedly sighed with emotion.

"Heroes emerge from the young; he truly has drive. Many people have examined this stone, even those from Source Art families, but ultimately none bought it."

Inside and outside the stone garden, the noise was unbearable, with everyone discussing their opinions.

Wu Ziming sneered, "I think he's about to have bad luck. So many experts carefully pondered over this stone and didn't favor it, yet he dares to buy it, hehe!"

Li Chongtian also sneered, "Let's see him stumble and get badly hurt in a while. Let's see how he'll deal with this!"

Inside the stone garden, Li Heishui frowned and said, "You can't see through this stone and aren't certain about it, so why are you still buying it?"

"What is stone gambling? Before placing a gamble on a stone, if even Source Arts cannot provide certainty, one can only take a bold chance."

Ye Fan had deeply studied the Origin Heaven Book, but his Source Art had not yet reached a perfect state, so he couldn't compare to an Origin Master. He truly couldn't see through this stone, but he faintly sensed a trace of abnormality.

He felt it definitely wasn't an ordinary stone; he just didn't know if he could cut out an unparalleled treasure. He didn't want to miss it, because a few people from a Source Art family had visited not long ago, and he feared attracting even more powerful figures.

"Good, good, good!" Master Yuan was the most excited, his body trembling. He had guarded this garden for decades and was not a cultivator. All his life, he had wanted to see someone cut open the stone figure to discover its secrets.

Even the usually calm old Daoist nun showed a trace of unusual emotion, no longer so indifferent.

A young Daoist nun from Dao One Holy Land also appeared nearby, clearly wanting to witness it.

The moment Ye Fan held the knife, all sounds vanished. The vast stone garden became utterly silent, with only eager gazes remaining.

The entire stone garden was hushed; one could hear a leaf fall. Ye Fan began to cut the stone, cautiously and carefully, with small, steady, and precise cuts.

"Crack!"

When the first sound rang out, everyone tensed. This sound signified that the Dao One Stone Workshop's treasured centerpiece was finally about to be unveiled!

Stone chips flew. Ye Fan expertly wielded the knife, not holding back, working quickly. In just a short while, he had cut open the stone figure's arms.

The result: nothing but a pile of stone dust on the ground; not even an ordinary source stone was cut out. The interior of the stone figure was visible and very ordinary, plain white, clearly not the kind of material that would yield rare treasures.

"It's bad!" Li Heishui knew the situation was dire.

"Indeed, no wonder those Source Art masters ultimately shook their heads and gave up. This Nine-Orifice Stone Figure looks special, but its interior is white stone; it definitely won't yield any source!"

Some elders were very disappointed. They had anticipated this stone for many years, and today someone finally cut it open, only for it to be so ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it.

Some elders even suspected that this was a trap set by Dao One Holy Land, deliberately designed to trick someone highly skilled in Source Arts.

"Good thing I resisted the impulse back then and didn't buy this stone."

Ye Fan paid no attention to these comments and continued to wield the cutting knife. Before long, he had also cut off the stone figure's legs, which were still plain white.

"Alas, for so many years, this stone has always been on my mind, yet it turns out like this."

"If it contained an unparalleled treasure, there would have already been visions of flying immortals from within the stone. Now there's not even a ripple; it's disappointing."

These elders all shook their heads.

Li Heishui was the most nervous; this was a sky-high priced stone. If nothing was cut out, even their previous divine medicines would be lost to fill the deficit.

Ye Fan said nothing, continuing to wield his knife. He cut open the stone figure's abdomen, which was still plain white, then sliced open its head. Finally, he brought the knife down on its chest. Stone chips flew, and still, there was nothing.

Cold sweat trickled down Li Heishui's face. He had been full of hope, but now he was utterly disappointed.

At this moment, there was still a fist-sized piece of stone on the ground that hadn't been cut open. It was located at the heart area. Additionally, the frontal bone of the head had not yet been touched by the knife.

By now, the area outside the stone garden was no longer calm. No one had high hopes for the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure anymore. Having been cut down to plain white, such stone material was almost impossible to yield rare treasures.

"Haha..." Wu Ziming laughed loudly, saying, "Overestimating yourself! All these years, every master shook their heads and left, no one choosing it. Do you really think you're a Source Art Grandmaster?!"

Li Chongtian also gloated, sarcastically saying, "There are always some people who don't know their place, thinking they can dictate the world, only to end up getting badly hurt. In reality, they're nothing at all!"

All of them burst into laughter, and the area outside the stone garden became a noisy clamor.

Some were sarcastic, some scoffed, and some were sympathetic; all kinds of expressions appeared, showing the diverse faces of human nature.

Now, no one remained quiet. It was a cacophony, and no one had any hopes for the Nine-Orifice Stone Figure anymore.

"Heh heh..." A deep, meaningful sneer echoed from nearby. Li Yishui, the Grand Elder of the Illusory Demise Palace, had also appeared.

At this moment, even Yao Yuekong and the Great Revival Prince were deeply disappointed, standing silently to the side, wondering if they had misjudged Ye Fan.

In the distance, Jiang Yifei also slightly frowned, no longer paying as much attention to the scene.

An Miaoyi also shook her head slightly, and the expression on her beautiful, flawless face turned placid.

A group of elders quietly watched beside Ye Fan, no longer saying much.

The divinely elegant young Daoist nun stood to the side, still very calm, showing no reaction.

"Damn it, this is truly infuriating!" Li Heishui was greatly frustrated, glaring fiercely at Wu Ziming, Li Chongtian, and the others in the distance.

At this moment, only the small nun in white still squatted on the ground, propping up her chin. With pure innocence, she curiously stared at the fist-sized stone, blinking her large eyes and asking, "Why aren't you cutting it anymore?"

Ye Fan remained unfazed. He stood up and shouted to the surroundings, "Is there anyone willing to make a bet with me?!"