Chapter 44: Holy City Specialties, A Must-Try

The Northern Territory is a world of Source, where many businesses revolve around Source as their core. Among them, none is more prevalent than the stone workshops for cutting Source Stones.

Great sacred lands and noble families bring Source Stones that cannot be seen through by conventional means to their own workshops for sale, where cultivators spend Source to purchase and cut them.

Some Source Stones may contain rare treasures; even Immortal Gold or Divine Medicine might be cut out, allowing a cultivator to strike it rich in an instant.

Other Source Stones... contain nothing at all, and the Source spent is simply thrown down the drain.

It can be described as one cut to heaven, and one cut to hell.

Since ancient times, those who have cut out immortal treasures and divine artifacts have been few and far between; the vast majority of people gain nothing and end up "buying houses on the terrace" (losing everything).

Yet, despite this, countless people still find the stone workshops endlessly fascinating.

*What if it's finally my turn to strike it rich?*

Furthermore, cutting stones is not entirely a matter of luck. Some people have mastered special methods that allow them to observe and identify stones, increasing the probability of a successful "yield" to a certain extent.

This method is known as Source Arts.

The four great Source Art families and the lineage of the Source King are the leaders of this path, highly sought after by all.

The Four Symbols Stone Workshop was vast, featuring pavilions, towers, rockeries, and lakes, possessing an ethereal beauty.

The workshop was divided into layers of courtyards, with Source Stones of various sizes and shapes displayed throughout.

Qin Sheng strolled through the first courtyard, carefully observing these stones and making judgments based on the Source Arts he had learned.

"The spiritual energy is overflowing on the surface, looking as though it hides a great fortune, but it is merely a facade; there is a high probability that nothing is inside."

"This stone is spiritually exquisite and unusual. Hmm? The terrestrial energy is not well-rounded. This situation... damn it, the Four Symbols Sacred Land is truly shameless. They've reassembled stones that were already cut and put them back out for sale, even adding special effects."

Qin Sheng reached conclusions about these stones in his mind; some he could see through, others he could not.

After watching for a while, he felt a sense of lament.

"Truly unscrupulous. Out of a hundred Source Stones, ninety-nine are empty. Even the one that actually has something, if cut, probably won't even cover the cost."

Qin Sheng beckoned a waiter and asked, "How are the Source Stones sold here?"

"A thousand-jin Source Stone is priced at one jin of Source," the waiter replied. "For stones of this grade, almost all workshops in the Holy City use this pricing. Please rest assured, the Four Symbols Stone Workshop is absolutely trustworthy."

Qin Sheng nodded and let the waiter leave, continuing to contemplate the stones.

About fifteen minutes later, Qin Sheng made his move, spending five jin of Source to buy five Source Stones and requesting the workshop master to cut them.

This attracted a crowd of onlookers.

"Empty, there's nothing."

"This one is empty too."

"Still nothing. The young man was too impulsive; he's taken a massive loss now."

Qin Sheng's expression remained calm.

"The fourth one didn't yield anything either. It seems the Holy City will have one more disappointed soul today."

It wasn't until the final stone that, once the opening was made, light flowed out from within, revealing a large piece of Source, causing an uproar.

"He hit it!"

"Hiss, this piece of Source is probably around fifteen jin. Not only did he not lose money, he made a huge profit!"

Spending five jin of Source and getting fifteen jin back in such a short time was indeed a profit.

Qin Sheng revealed a smile and nodded slightly.

Of these five Source Stones, Qin Sheng was absolutely certain about two: one was empty, and one was the one containing the Source.

The other three were his first time observing such stones, and due to insufficient experience, he did not dare to make a definitive judgment.

He simply bought them all to see how his judgment held up; regardless, he wouldn't lose money.

"There really is a significant difference between comprehending scriptures and actual hands-on practice," Qin Sheng noted, having gained considerable insight.

"Little brother, your luck is truly good. Do you want to keep cutting?" someone asked.

One success out of five—no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like luck.

"I'll look a bit more."

Qin Sheng continued to make moves afterward, spending all the ten jin of Source he had earned, but nothing else was cut out.

This caused many people to sigh in regret, though this was actually the norm for stone workshops.

Qin Sheng remained composed. His previous stone selections were more for verifying his theories rather than earning Source, so he had intentionally chosen stones with very ambiguous readings.

It was only a few jin of Source; he could afford the practice, and his capital hadn't been lost.

At this time, Zhou Siyang and the others returned from the Ji Family Stone Workshop.

"Junior Brother has already bought Source Stones?"

Qin Sheng glanced at him. "Just bought a few randomly."

A passerby gave them a briefing on Qin Sheng's track record, which made Zhou Siyang and the others laugh.

They thought he was some kind of expert, but it turned out he was just a small-timer.

"Source Stones are not something just anyone can handle," Bai Heming, a candidate Holy Son of the Purple Mansion Sacred Land, chuckled.

"Indeed," Qin Sheng nodded in deep agreement.

"You certainly wouldn't understand, Fellow Daoist."

Bai Heming's smile froze for a moment before he regained his composure and said, "Brother Nangong is an unparalleled genius from a Source Art family."

"The problem is, you still don't understand."

"We had quite a significant harvest at the Ji Family Stone Workshop just now!"

"You still don't understand."

Bai Heming was becoming somewhat frustrated. He asked, "Do you actually know Source Arts?"

Qin Sheng nodded. "I wouldn't dare say I am proficient, but I know a thing or two."

"Heh, you bought fifteen Source Stones and only one yielded. You call that 'knowing a thing or two'? Aren't you afraid the wind will blow your tongue off?" Bai Heming said. "Why don't we have a competition? We each select a few Source Stones and see whose cut items have a higher value?"

"Why on earth would I compete with you for no reason?" Qin Sheng countered.

Zhou Siyang played the peacemaker with a chuckle. "Just for fun."

"Since Senior Brother Zhou has spoken, I suppose it's not impossible. I will give you this face, Senior Brother," Qin Sheng said. "I have heard that the Purple Mansion Sacred Land produces much Innate Purple Qi. A complete strand of Innate Purple Qi is helpful for Dao comprehension. Additionally, Senior Brother Zhou must surely possess the Azure Sun Treasure Pill. Let us use these two items as the stakes. How about it?"

The Azure Sun Treasure Pill was the unique secret medicine of the Azure Sun Peak Master, requiring a vast amount of the Celestial Platform expert's primordial essence to refine.

This pill was sufficient to help a Fourth Pole First Heaven cultivator accumulate most of the foundation needed to break through a realm, aside from Dao comprehension.

Within the Yaoguang Sacred Land, this was also a rare treasure. After all, no one would force a Peak Master to consume a large amount of primordial essence to refine a pill to assist a Fourth Pole disciple; it wasn't worth it.

But Zhou Siyang definitely had it, because the Azure Sun Peak Master was his grandfather.

Hearing Qin Sheng's requested stakes, Bai Heming was unwilling. He sent a divine sense transmission to Zhou Siyang.

"Brother Zhou, we agreed to help dampen this kid's arrogance, but Innate Purple Qi is too precious. I only get a little bit every year; it took me five years to save up one strand. Does this guy named Qin actually know Source Arts? You must be sure."

Zhou Siyang replied, "How many years has he been cultivating? Even if he knows some Source Arts, could he possibly be more formidable than Nangong Fang?"

"His track record is right there, what are you still doubting? Don't worry, the advantage is ours. Bet against him!"

"Fine, I trust you!"

Bai Heming spoke aloud, "I accept."

Zhou Siyang feigned helplessness. "Since Junior Brother Qin has put it that way, I shall participate as well."

He sneered inwardly: *I won't compete with you on strength this time, but could you possibly surpass a genius of a Source Art family in the path of Source Arts?*

*Qin, if you truly have this ability, I'll eat every single Source Stone in the Four Symbols Stone Workshop!*

*The humiliation the Dragon Pattern Peak Master dealt my grandfather back then—I shall collect some interest today!*

*Grandfather, just watch!*

"Who wants to bet on stones?"

"So it's the kids from the Sacred Lands and noble families. Good, good, good! Young people are indeed full of spirit. This is exciting!"

"Interesting, interesting. Seeing them reminds me of the old days, when my brothers and I were just as hot-blooded!"

This wager alerted people in the deeper courtyards, who came out one after another to join the excitement.

"Come, come, place your bets! Who do you think will win?"

"Definitely the kid from the Nangong family. Although the people from Source Art families all act like they're looking down their noses at everyone—making you want to shove two green onions up them—they truly do have the skill."

"I bet on Nangong Fang."

"Me too!"

"..."

These passersby were almost unanimously backing Nangong Fang.

In an era where Source Masters were rare, Source Art families were the pinnacle and the authority in the field of Source Arts.

Qin Sheng of Yaoguang?

He had heard of him—a peerless genius with overflowing talent, whom even the Fourth Pole Heavenly Tribulation could not touch.

But this was Source Stones; little Qin was still green. He still needed practice!

Looking at the onlookers who were more excited than the actual participants, Qin Sheng felt somewhat speechless.

These people were not simple; there were Supreme Elders from Sacred Lands, elders from Ancient Clans, and even those from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm or half-step Great Powers.

That was the nature of the Holy City stone workshops; the old fellows loved to frequent them to watch the spectacle.

"Seniors, since you are so interested, why not join in and try yourselves?" Qin Sheng said loudly.

"Young man of Yaoguang, we only watch these things; we don't touch them."

An old man with a beard reaching the floor waved his hand, looking melancholy.

"The Holy City is a gold-sink; cutting stones ruins a lifetime."

Many people came to the workshops not to buy Source Stones, but simply to watch others cut them for visual satisfaction. The older they were, the more they felt this way; unless they were truly certain, they would never step into the fray.

It wasn't because they had great willpower, but because they had suffered massive losses in their youth.

After some discussion on Zhou Siyang's side, he spoke

"Junior Brother, you and Brother Bai shall each select three Source Stones. Whoever cuts out items with a higher total value shall be declared the winner. How does that sound?"

"Fine."

Nangong Fang spoke up. "Go to the rear courtyards. The stones in the first courtyard have little value."

Qin Sheng nodded. The stones here contained, at most, a few dozen jin of Source internally.

The group moved deeper into the Four Symbols Stone Workshop, finally stopping at the fourth courtyard. Here, a single jin of Source Stone could sell for several jin of Source, making its value extremely high.

Both sides began selecting stones. Qin Sheng scanned the stones, his eyes shining with light.

*I was wondering why I heard magpies chirping when I left the house today; it turns out I'm about to strike it rich.*

*It seems the Source Emperor is still protecting me!*