Chapter 339: Strange Stone's Cosmic Growth

The lake was a clear, pale blue, bright and transparent. Along its shores, lush vegetation flourished, dotted with pavilions, creating a beautiful scene.

At this moment, people were everywhere, a bustling crowd of men, women, young, and old, filling the air with a cacophony of sounds.

Wu Ziming strode forward, a cold sneer on his face. "Black boy," he taunted, "you finally dare to show your faces. Couldn't you hold out any longer after hiding for so many days?"

Li Heishui retorted with a sneer of his own. "Couldn't hold out? My heart is simply thrilled! I've come out of seclusion specifically to demand the source from you. Have you brought enough? We require 100,000 catties of source. If you have less, just go back where you came from; we won't accept it."

By the lakeside, everyone was speechless. These two had immediately launched into a fierce confrontation, thick with tension. It was clear this source art duel would be intense.

"Brother Tuoba certainly has 100,000 catties of source," Li Chongtian scoffed, "but don't you dare imagine it's for the likes of you!"

Tuoba Chang remained completely unruffled, ignoring the exchange. He stood quietly, gazing at the small island in the lake, silently observing the falling, glistening petals.

"As long as you actually have the 100,000 catties of source," Li Heishui said, a hint of coldness at the corner of his lips. He was wary of them trying to bluff their way through without any actual source, which would yield no profit.

Wu Ziming smiled nonchalantly. "Do you truly believe you can take it?" he asked. "In my opinion, the hundreds of thousands of catties of source you acquired from auctioning those spirit medicines would be a perfect contribution."

"Precisely!" Li Chongtian laughed heartily. "Brother Tuoba's grandfather's 300th birthday is approaching. You could say you're delivering a most generous gift."

"Enough with the idle chatter," Li Heishui declared. "Let's have the real source art duel and see who ends up delivering the source."

Everyone nearby watched in eager anticipation. Both parties were brimming with confidence, facing off like needle points against sharp blades. As they were all super masters of source art, it was highly probable that astonishing rare treasures would be unearthed today.

"Exactly!" someone shouted. "A source art duel! Cut open some peerless rare treasures and let us witness something spectacular!"

"Everything else is empty talk," another voice chimed in. "It all comes down to cutting the stones to reveal the truth. Let's start the duel now!"

Everyone was very excited, eager to witness the techniques of the source art masters. Perhaps they would even see rare, world-defying treasures emerge.

"The miraculous techniques of the Source Art Families were once praised even by the Source Heavenly Master himself," Wu Ziming announced grandly. "Today, you are all truly fortunate to witness them."

"What a shame to pit them against such rustic, crude techniques," Li Chongtian muttered under his breath, though everyone present could still hear him.

Li Heishui sneered inwardly. "The higher you climb, the harder you fall," he thought. "Go ahead, boast and disparage us with all your might now."

Ye Fan stepped forward, ready to cross the water to the small island where the Heaven-grade Stone Garden was located. To gather the million catties of source he needed, he would now select only the most precious stones.

Tuoba Chang, who had until now acted as if no one else was present, not even sparing a glance at Ye Fan or Li Heishui, finally looked at Ye Fan. "Wait!" he commanded.

Ye Fan stopped and regarded him calmly. Given Tuoba Chang's cold demeanor, he saw no need for extra words and quietly waited for him to speak.

"The Heaven-grade Stone Garden of the Holy Land is a sacred place," Tuoba Chang stated. "True masters of source art duel their way in."

"What do you propose?" Ye Fan asked.

"We don't need to start from the first level of the stone garden," Tuoba Chang replied. "Let's begin here, by the lakeshore. If you cannot cut out a source of equal grade, there will be no need to enter the sacred stone garden for further competition."

"Exactly," Wu Ziming affirmed. "If the disparity in source art is too great, Brother Tuoba wouldn't need to waste his time."

"That's only reasonable," Li Chongtian sneered as well. "If they can't even cut out sources of the same grade, what business do they have entering the Ji Family's sacred stone garden?"

"Very well, you choose the stone," Ye Fan said, having nothing more to discuss with him.

By the lakeside, patches of vegetation and pavilions stood, but stones were surprisingly sparse.

A source master from the Ji family stepped forward, offering a wry smile. "There are no raw stone materials here," he explained, "only a few scattered garden landscaping rocks."

Tuoba Chang shook his head. "No," he said, "in my opinion, there are indeed some precious stones here; one merely needs discerning eyes to find them."

Everyone present was astonished. There were no raw stone materials by the lakeside, only common discarded rocks used for garden decoration, often found near ancient tree roots or old vines.

Ye Fan and Tuoba Chang acted simultaneously, moving swiftly among the most ordinary-looking stones. If there truly were any rare stones, they knew the other would surely select them first.

"The stones he touches turn golden!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"What's happening?!" Many people stared, dumbfounded.

Tuoba Chang moved with incredible speed, his index finger continuously tapping. Each stone he touched turned golden, as if forged from pure gold.

"This is... the Scarlet Gold Divine Hand, a realm of ultimate mastery!" an old man exclaimed, feeling his eyes opened to a new wonder.

Many had only heard of this technique before, and for most, it was their first time witnessing it. Tuoba Chang's finger seemed imbued with a strange, mystical power, turning dozens of stones entirely golden as he moved along.

It wasn't until he had walked more than ten paces away that the stones reverted to their normal state, leaving everyone awestruck.

Ye Fan's heart tightened. The opponent was indeed a master. The Scarlet Gold Divine Hand, having reached such a profound level, allowed him to perceive what lay within the stones.

"Clink!"

Suddenly, Tuoba Chang stopped. He tapped a stone that was riddled with holes, looking like rotten wood, gnawed by insects, and pitted all over.

He picked up the stone and continued his search, but ultimately, he did not replace it, deciding on this very piece.

"That's a Ghost-Cracked Stone; it hardly ever yields any source. Why did he choose that one?" Many were puzzled, and even Wu Ziming couldn't help but voice his concern.

Ye Fan approached the lakeside and surveyed the stones, but he delayed making a move. This was, after all, not a true stone garden; only discarded rocks lay here, making it challenging to select a precious one.

However, no one rushed him. The scene was utterly silent, everyone quietly waiting. Many had confidence in him, believing he could unearth primordial divine medicine.

Ye Fan walked halfway around the small lake, examining all the discarded stones, when his eyes suddenly lit up. He walked directly to the water's edge, pulled out a head-sized stone that had been submerged, carefully examined it, and then chose it.

Tuoba Chang was decisive, saying nothing more. With a tap of his golden finger, the Ghost-Cracked Stone shattered into pieces, and then a dazzling sky-blue light, incredibly magnificent, burst forth, filling everyone's vision.

It was a fist-sized exotic source, radiating light like the concentrated essence of a deep blue sky, shooting out streaks of blue radiance. This was a Blue Diamond Source, and a piece of this size was worth a staggering 1,500 catties of pure source.

Ye Fan also said nothing more. With a gentle slice, the stone shattered, and simultaneously, a vibrant red mist surged forth, brilliantly illuminated.

It was another exotic source, of a similar size, glowing like a fiery red sun. This was called the Fiery Red Source.

Everyone marveled. These masters of source art, with their ability to seemingly turn stone into gold, had casually cut out 1,500 catties of source each. It was a skill one could only envy, never learn.

"Good, to the island!" Tuoba Chang said, boarding a boat to cross the lake. Here, no one dared to fly; they could only obediently travel by boat.

The people of the Ji family's stone gambling hall could only pray silently, feeling that having two such masters choose this location was a misfortune, not a blessing.

Ye Fan and Li Heishui also boarded a boat and began rowing toward the small island in the lake. The true duel was about to begin.

"Let us go and observe the battle," someone suggested. "We can stand on the water and watch in quiet anticipation."

Many cultivators eagerly requested permission, and ultimately, the Ji family agreed. Overjoyed, the cultivators instantly surrounded the small island.

The small island, only a few hundred meters in circumference, was covered in patches of flowering trees, many of them ancient woods thousands of years old, robust and gnarled like old dragons. Petals danced in the air, sparkling, filling the space with fragrance.

The island's layout was meticulously designed, with spiritual springs gently trickling and exotic stones artfully arranged, forming natural scenic views that harmonized with the flowering trees.

It resembled a secluded, otherworldly fairyland. On the island, an old man with skin like a baby's and hair as white as snow sat alone amongst the flowering trees, eyes closed and motionless, showing no reaction.

"Haha... we're not too late, are we?" A group of old men appeared, all with white hair but youthful faces, full of vigor despite their astonishing age.

"We finally made it, thankfully it hasn't started yet," another exclaimed. These were the very same old gentlemen who had observed Ye Fan cutting stones at the Dao Yi Stone Workshop last time.

These individuals held immense prestige, hailing from major religious sects. Many were already nearing the end of their lifespans, and no one dared to provoke them.

Upon receiving the news, this group of elders became as excited as if they'd been given a shot of adrenaline, eagerly rushing to the island and boarding it directly.

The Ji family's Heaven-grade Stone Garden was not typically open for casual entry, but these individuals were long-standing patrons, so it was specially opened for them. Looking around, one could see a large expanse of white-haired heads.

"Sister Biyue, please let Miaoyi go in too," requested An Miaoyi, who had just arrived and spotted Ji Biyue.

Ji Biyue chuckled and nodded her agreement, making an exception. Jiang Yifei, Yao Yuekong, Xu Heng, Jin Chixiao, the Great Xia Prince, the little white-robed nun, and other Holy Land successors also entered the stone garden.

Everyone was astonished at the far-reaching impact of this source art duel, which had drawn so many esteemed individuals to witness it in person.

Not only were there renowned figures from the older generation, but also Holy Land successors like Xiang Yifei and the Saint Son of Wanchu.

"Haha..." an old man laughed loudly, "This young man isn't going to cut open another peerless rare treasure, is he?"

Another person stepped directly forward and said to Ye Fan, "Would you like me, an old man, to give you a tour? The treasures here are no less impressive than those at the Dao Yi Holy Land. Some of these stones have been here for many years; we've long coveted them but could never quite figure them out. They are truly comparable to the Nine Aperture Stone Man."

Hearing this, the faces of the Ji family stone gambling hall staff immediately darkened. They secretly cursed the old men, thinking, "These old troublemakers are just full of mischief!"

Ye Fan smiled and expressed his gratitude to them.

Under an ancient tree, Ye Fan discovered a Dragon Head Stone. It was the size of a millstone, incredibly lifelike, and faintly imbued with the lingering presence of dragon qi.

"This stone..." He was greatly astonished and filled with shock. The stone was truly extraordinary; even an ordinary person could perceive traces of dragon qi, let alone someone with his discernment.

What was particularly striking was that the stone was naturally formed, not carved by human hands, yet it perfectly resembled a dragon's head. It was truly astonishing.

"Well, what do you think?" an old man exclaimed. "Isn't this stone even more peculiar than the Nine Aperture Stone Man? This is the head of a true dragon!"

Ye Fan was indeed startled. After careful observation, he became uncertain again. The stone's surface presented an unusual phenomenon, with dragon qi faintly visible, yet he suspected it might be hollow inside and couldn't confirm. "What about this Dragon Head Stone?" an old man probed. "It's priced at 100,000 catties of source. Do you dare to cut it?"

"Let's leave this stone," Ye Fan said, shaking his head. He was genuinely unsure about it.

"If you don't cut this stone, you'll make us old fellows regret it for a lifetime!" the group of old men urged him.

"If I cut this stone," Ye Fan replied, shaking his head firmly, "I'll most likely regret it for a lifetime myself." It simply wasn't worth the risk.

On the other side, some elders were also enthusiastically introducing the priceless, exotic stones of the Heaven-grade Stone Garden to Tuoba Chang.

"This stone... it's incredible!" Li Heishui exclaimed in surprise, pointing to a priceless, exotic stone weighing over a hundred catties, submerged in a spiritual spring not far away.

The stone was entirely greenish-brown, and as the clear spring water flowed over it, it surprisingly emitted melodious musical notes, as if a zither were being played.

"This stone is truly exceptional," explained one elder. "It's called the Immortal Sound Stone, and we old fellows have coveted it for decades."

This stone would emit beautiful melodies whenever struck by water, an exceptionally peculiar phenomenon that made everyone eager to cut it open and discover its secret.

"80,000 catties of source? That's incredibly expensive."

Ye Fan gently tapped the stone and listened intently. He eventually frowned, finding that it didn't resemble stone material typically found in source mines. After pondering for a moment, he finally stood up.

"What about this stone?" an old man asked, pointing ahead. "It's one we can't forget."

This was a sunny, very dry area, devoid of vegetation, where a single large stone, the size of a tabletop, sat isolated.

"120,000 catties of source? That's just ridiculous!" Li Heishui exclaimed, startled.

"This stone is special," an elder explained. "Heaven and Earth have naturally imbued it with a Dao diagram. Go and see for yourselves."

Ye Fan walked closer and was greatly surprised. Imprinted deeply on the stone was a Bagua diagram.

"This must have been carved onto it!" Li Heishui scoffed.

"It's natural!" Ye Fan, having studied source art, could discern this and felt deeply unsettled. The stones in the Ji family's sacred stone garden were truly extraordinary, each one remarkable.

"Well, young friend, are you tempted?" a few old men eagerly prodded. "Will you cut it open and allow us to witness its secrets?"

Ye Fan studied the stone meticulously, observing it carefully. After a long moment, he finally said, "Aside from this Dao diagram, I don't currently perceive anything particularly unusual about it."

"Young friend is truly composed," an elder remarked. "Then come and see this treasure, the guardian of our garden."

The group of old men led him to another area. There stood a very large stone, over two meters tall, quietly beside some flowering trees. As petals drifted down, the stone seemed to acquire an ethereal quality.

"This stone is priced at 150,000 catties of source?" Li Heishui shook his head. "That's ridiculously expensive. Even if it yielded divine source, it wouldn't be worth that much."

"My friends, you must examine it closely," an old man urged, gesturing at the stone. "This piece is truly unique; it's called the Peerless Beauty." The group of elders highly praised it.

On this fine-grained stone, Heaven and Earth had naturally formed an image. It outlined the head of a beautiful woman, and though not perfectly clear, it conveyed an infinitely ethereal quality, suggesting a peerless beauty.

"Some speculate that a peerless beauty might be sealed inside, her silhouette visible through the stone," an old man said, his eyes burning with eagerness, clearly hoping Ye Fan would agree. "Do you dare to cut it?"

"Let me see," Ye Fan replied, walking around the large stone, constantly tapping and listening. He was truly stumped.

After examining four priceless exotic stones in a row, he couldn't see through any of them. He suspected they might all be hollow, yielding nothing.

Yet, in the faint whispers of his intuition, he felt there might be world-shocking rare treasures within, which made him frown deeply.

"Go on, cut it!" an old man urged, almost tempting him. "Cut this precious stone named Peerless Beauty. Who knows, you might even cut out a female Saint Spirit!"

"If I really did cut out a female Saint Spirit," Ye Fan replied with a smile, "who in the divine city would be able to suppress her?"

"I can tell our young friend is tempted," some elders insisted, appearing even more disheartened than Ye Fan. "This guardian treasure of the garden truly shouldn't be missed!" They tried their best to persuade him.

"There's more good stuff to cut; we earnestly implore you!"