Chapter 368: Immortal Tomb

"We're never arrogant; it's just that people always trip over themselves at our feet, or stick their faces out asking to be slapped, or even eagerly offer us tens of thousands of jin of source," Li Heishui said with a bright smile.

The Grand Elder of the Palace of Illusionary Annihilation's face immediately darkened. Wasn't this like calling a monk bald to his face? It hit him where it hurt. Last time, he dug his own grave and lost so much he turned green; now he still felt like spitting blood.

"Black kid, you're arrogant after a bit of success. Be careful you don't suffer a terrible defeat and die horribly in front of the strange stone later," Li Yishui said sinisterly.

"With Senior Li here, I don't think I'll lose. It's become a pattern; it's been like this every time, haha..." Li Heishui laughed heartily.

"Senior Li, given your status, why bother with an ignorant child? You can rest assured, they'll certainly reap what they sow later," a young man from the ancient Source Technique family sneered.

Li Heishui retorted mockingly, "Is this your place to talk? We're challenging your grandfather's generation in source techniques. As for you... go stand somewhere cool."

"You..." The young man's face turned red, and his neck swelled.

"Too arrogant! I'll be waiting to see you fall hard from the clouds later!" Wu Ziming, standing behind Li Yishui, gritted his teeth.

He and Li Chongtian were definitely among the victims; they had lost tens of thousands of jin of source and considerable face over several encounters.

"Am I wrong? We're challenging his grandfather; what's a junior doing getting involved? He's not qualified to act superior in front of us. If he wants to be high and mighty, he should go study source techniques for another twenty years."

"Fine, fine, fine!" Several young disciples from the ancient Source Technique family, seething with anger, turned and left. Continuing the conversation would only bring further humiliation.

The source technique duel hadn't even begun, but the air was already thick with hostility. If physical attacks were allowed, it would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.

Nearby, a group of elderly onlookers narrowed their eyes. Today was sure to be a fierce battle. With both sides so confident and clashing fiercely, they would likely cut out something astonishing.

Among these individuals were super ancient beings with dwindling lifespans, Grand Elders from sacred lands, and even a hegemon from the demon race, all with astonishing backgrounds.

On the other side, figures of the Eastern Wasteland's young saint-level generation, such as the young Daoist girl from Dao Yi Holy Land, Jin Chixiao, the Holy Maiden of Jade Lake, Xu Heng, and Yao Yuekong, were all watching.

A grandmaster-level source technique duel was a rare sight, happening perhaps once in a hundred years. What's more, with an astonishing bet of 1.5 million jin of source, such a high-stakes gamble hadn't occurred in thousands of years.

An old man from the ancient Source Technique family, with kind eyes and a benevolent expression, spoke up, "Young friend, shall we begin?"

Ye Fan's heart tightened. He sensed a hint of danger and turned to Li Heishui, saying, "You can follow me, but don't stay too close."

"Could that old geezer actually dare to kill someone in broad daylight?" Li Heishui asked, surprised.

"Don't worry about it; just observe from the side," Ye Fan instructed.

The Blood Tear Jade Bamboo was pure white and flawless, shimmering brightly. As the breeze blew, its jade leaves rustled and turned, looking like falling blood-tears.

The bamboo grove was dense and extensive, blocking out the sun, yet the area wasn't dark at all, but rather sparkling with light.

Ye Fan stepped forward, calmly facing the four elders, completely ignoring the young men. He asked, "Which senior wishes to spar with me in source techniques?"

"This old man shall," replied the same elderly man who had spoken earlier. He was from the Nangong family and had been revered as a Source Technique Grandmaster a decade ago, his name being Nangong Qi.

After learning his identity, Ye Fan calmly spoke, "Senior Nangong, how shall we set the rules?"

"If you win, in addition to the 1.5 million jin of source bet, you also get the rare treasures cut out by your opponent," Nangong Qi said with a smile.

"Good, that suits me perfectly!" Ye Fan nodded.

"I haven't finished yet," the old man shook his head.

"Oh, what else does Senior wish to say?" Ye Fan asked.

"1.5 million jin of source is no small sum. Betting on a single stone is too rash and doesn't fully showcase the brilliance of a source technique duel. I suggest each person can choose three stones. What do you think?"

"Good, I agree!" Ye Fan nodded. As even the best can make mistakes, this approach was safer for both sides and allowed them to display their true skill.

"Then let's choose the stones," Nangong Qi said, then led the way into the bamboo grove.

The Heavenly Stone Garden was filled with noise. Elders and saint-level elites all followed, watching how they would choose their stones.

Ye Fan slowly paced, walking among the Blood Tear Jade Bamboos, observing the strange stones. He was in no hurry to make a move, needing to survey the entire area first.

Inside the Heavenly Stone Garden, there were numerous sky-high-priced strange stones. Each one was extraordinary and astounding, with prices that could make anyone hesitate.

In a sunny spot where the jade bamboos were sparse, Ye Fan spotted a sky-high-priced strange stone, valued at 120,000 jin of pure source.

This stone was very unique, spherical and perfectly round, with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. Touching it revealed a gentle warmth.

"This must have been artificially polished!" Li Heishui asserted, because the strange stone was too perfectly regular.

"Young friend, you guessed wrong. This stone is naturally formed this way. If you don't believe me, observe closely."

"It's like a small sun; after being exposed to sunlight every day, wisps of vital energy circulate within it. Some speculate there's a stone embryo inside."

"Back then, many wanted to cut it open. If a Source Technique Grandmaster hadn't rejected the idea, the Yaoguang Holy Land itself would have proceeded."

Ye Fan concluded that the stone was naturally formed, not artificially polished.

This strange stone was named "Demon Embryo." Some speculated that it might contain a Sacred Spirit, making it even more precious than the Nine Aperture Stone Man of Dao Yi Holy Land.

This group of old men didn't comment much, as a Source Technique Grandmaster had dismissed this stone, and Yaoguang Holy Land was already considering lowering its price.

Ye Fan didn't draw a conclusion. He stood there for a long time before leaving to continue examining stones. Suddenly, he felt a dazzling sensation as a stone ahead stimulated the purple glow in his eyes.

He strode forward and approached the stone. The purple glow in his eyes penetrated three inches into it, trying to see through it completely.

However, at that very moment, the strange stone suddenly shattered, and a crimson dragon burst forth, glowing intensely, lunging at Ye Fan's chest as if to pierce it.

This sudden change stunned everyone; no one understood what was happening. Only Ye Fan knew that the seemingly benevolent Nangong Qi had set a trap for him.

The strange stone had been tampered with. Inside, it contained a peculiar type of source called "Fiery Red," which the opponent had transformed into dragon energy using profound source techniques, making it easy to mistake for divine source. Touching it would inevitably cause it to shatter, releasing endless vital energy that would turn into a deadly blade! This demonstrated that source technique duels could indeed be lethal. It was incredibly perilous, but Ye Fan quickly retreated, avoiding the crimson dragon's impact.

"Whoosh!"

A golden light streaked forth. The small golden spirit opened its mouth mid-air and inhaled, drawing the vital energy of the Fiery Red source into its mouth as a divine light. It smacked its lips contentedly, its large eyes blinking brightly.

"Little fellow, you've done well!" Li Heishui laughed.

The divine golden spirit showed no gratitude. It snarled and clawed at both him and Ye Fan, then flew away in a huff, landing on the shoulder of the small nun in white.

Nearby, Ji Ziyue chuckled and held out a divine source bean, shaking it at the spirit. The divine silkworm, showing no loyalty, quickly scurried over.

The small nun in white pouted, clearly displeased. She gently called out, but the divine silkworm feigned deafness for the sake of the divine source bean.

"Yi Lin, don't be angry, this little rascal is so playful you can't keep an eye on it at all. Why don't we manage it together?" Ji Ziyue said with a sweet smile, her dimples showing.

"Oh, you're too easily tempted!" the small nun in white grumbled. The two young girls, both with red lips, white teeth, and bright eyes, stood close together. One pouted in mock grievance, while the other, clever and mischievous, couldn't stop smiling. They made a delightful pair, attracting much attention.

"What exactly happened?" people from Yaoguang Stone Workshop came forward. A strange stone worth 30,000 jin of source had shattered; this was their loss.

"Someone's source technique isn't proficient enough, and they shattered the stone. Just make him compensate," a young man from the ancient Source Technique family said, looking at Ye Fan with a mocking expression.

"Damn it, you clearly harbored malicious intent and tried to kill someone! That's too despicable and shameless!" Li Heishui cursed.

Another young man from the Source Technique family retorted sarcastically, "Are you a novice? Is this your first day in the source technique business? Whoever breaks it, pays for it!"

"Fine, I'll pay!" Ye Fan stopped Li Heishui.

He looked at Nangong Qi. The old man still wore a benevolent expression, but he had immediately given Ye Fan a harsh lesson. Had Ye Fan reacted even slightly slower, he would have died.

Several young men from the Source Technique family all sneered, their mockery undisguised. This was the first lesson for their opponent.

At this moment, everyone knew that Ye Fan had suffered a hidden loss, having not expected a source technique duel to be so treacherous. Even during stone selection, a moment of carelessness could be exploited by an opponent, leading to instant death.

"An ignorant junior who has just met a true grandmaster immediately shows their inferiority. Their level is far behind," Li Yishui, the Grand Elder of the Palace of Illusionary Annihilation, sneered repeatedly.

"This old fossil..." Li Heishui frowned and glared fiercely.

Ye Fan pulled him back, preventing him from saying more. He casually took a few steps, then lightly stomped his foot on the ground.

"Boom!"

Not far away, screams erupted as two young disciples from the Source Technique family coughed up blood and were sent flying amidst a dazzling light.

A strange stone next to them had shattered, and the contained exotic source energy struck them directly.

"Dragon Vein Transformation Technique!" A light flashed in Nangong Qi's eyes as he stared at Ye Fan.

It was Ye Fan who had deliberately acted, using source techniques to transform the exotic source within that strange stone into dragon energy, returning the favor.

"These are just minor techniques. I also have great techniques for slaying lives. If you want to play, I'll see it through to the end!" Ye Fan responded calmly.

Everyone was surprised. The Holy Maiden of Jade Lake, An Miaoyi, Yao Yuekong, Jin Chixiao, Jiang Yifei, and others couldn't help but look over.

Even the older generation showed astonishment, silently observing everything.

"We'll see who wins when we cut the stones later," Nangong Qi said, then turned and left.

Ye Fan walked into the depths of the bamboo grove, where the jade bamboos gleamed with white light. He fixed his gaze on an exceptionally unique stone, unable to move his feet.

"This stone is worth 250,000 jin of pure source!" Li Heishui exclaimed, his face filled with disbelief. This stone was outrageously expensive, the most costly he had ever seen, truly sky-high in price.

"Immortal Tomb?!" Ye Fan was also surprised. This strange stone was named "Immortal Tomb," a peculiar name, but it suited its shape well.

The stone was over two meters tall, shaped like an ancient tomb, with a base diameter of about three meters. It was filled with the marks of time, resembling an antique more than a mere stone.

"This stone really does look like an ancient tomb. If you threw it in a graveyard, it would be almost impossible to tell the difference," Li Heishui said, greatly surprised.

"Young sirs, you must take a good look. This stone is almost certainly the oldest in Yaoguang Stone Workshop, an absolute treasure of the garden, and very peculiar," an old man nearby introduced, his eyes gleaming with excitement, urging Ye Fan to cut it open.

"This stone has a lot of history. Look, there seem to be inscriptions on the front. This old man almost teamed up with someone to buy it back then, but ultimately didn't dare to touch it."

Another old man spoke, pointing to another side of the "Immortal Tomb," hoping to fulfill his long-cherished wish through Ye Fan and learn the true nature of the stone.

Ye Fan stepped closer to examine it carefully and was greatly surprised. On the front of the Immortal Tomb, there were indeed some marks, resembling carved characters or perhaps naturally formed patterns.

"This is too peculiar. Could it really be a naturally formed ancient tomb? It looks so much like heaven and earth inscriptions..." Li Heishui was dumbfounded.

Clearly, the Immortal Tomb's reputation was immense. When Ye Fan stopped there, many old men gathered around, each finding it hard to remain calm.

"In the past, even the Source Master specifically sought such strange stones. He once said that there were naturally formed ancient tombs in the world, containing priceless immortal treasures."

"That's right, the reason this stone is called that is because it's almost identical to what the Source Master described, hence 'Immortal Tomb'."

"Young Master Gu, this old man strongly recommends this stone to you. It's absolutely extraordinary; it's very likely a divine tomb sealed by the heavens."

This group of old men were even more enthusiastic than Ye Fan. In just a few moments, they revealed everything about the stone, even bringing up the Source Master from ten thousand years ago.

Ye Fan activated his Source Heaven Divine Perception, purple light flashing in his eyes as he peered through the stone. Then, he walked around the stone several times, pondering carefully, and frowned.

"How is it? What did you see? It couldn't really contain an immortal corpse, could it? If so, not only the Eastern Wasteland but also Central State, Western Desert, Southern Ridge, and Northern Plains would all be in an uproar," Li Heishui secretly transmitted.

Ye Fan shook his head. "Although my Source Heaven Divine Perception has reached minor completion, it's not a Heavenly Eye after all. It's hard to determine exactly what's inside."

An old man nearby also reminded him, "Young master, you must be careful. If it were truly a naturally formed ancient tomb, Yaoguang wouldn't have placed it here."

Immediately, someone retorted, "Every strange stone is full of uncertainties. I think this immortal stone is worth taking a gamble on."

"How many people have come and gone over time, even old grandmasters of source techniques, yet they all eventually gave up?"

Ye Fan hadn't even given his opinion yet, and the group of old men had already started arguing amongst themselves.

He crouched down and ran his hand over the marks on the Immortal Tomb, wanting to determine if they were indeed naturally formed characters.

Someone said, "Some old geezers have been here and said these carvings resemble ancient texts from before the Primordial Era. Others claim they are indistinct Dao patterns formed by heaven and earth."

Purple light shot out from Ye Fan's eyes again. He stared intently at the ancient marks, then penetrated three inches into the stone with the purple light, investigating deeply.

"Little Brother Gufeng, your source techniques are truly superb! The divine light from your eyes is like lightning; it's quite astonishing!"

"Brother Gu's source techniques have improved again after just over a month."

The Great Xia Prince, Yao Yuekong, and others approached, speaking one after another.

Ye Fan subtly lifted his head, purple light flashing, and noticed many saint-level figures nearby, including An Miaoyi and several other Holy Maidens. He muttered a silent apology to himself.

Li Heishui, however, patted him and chuckled mischievously, "Focus!"

Brothers and sisters, it's the last day of April. Do you still have any bullets left? If so...