I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 404 - 253: Stone Cutting Again

The shopkeeper’s sudden shamelessness surprised the onlookers slightly.

After all, Black Stone Workshop, being the property of Prince Yun’s Mansion, is also the largest gambling establishment in Black Stone City, and its reputation and credibility have always been quite good.

This occurrence is indeed rare.

"After all, it’s the treasure worth nine hundred thousand middle grade spirit stones, and most importantly, it was favored by that stone-watching expert. Considering his previous insights, it must contain a great treasure."

"Faced with such a treasure, the old shopkeeper ultimately couldn’t resist!"

"Ha~ I’ve long said, what’s credit in this world? Especially these stone workshops, it’s all about weighing pros and cons. When profits outweigh so-called reputation, reputation becomes worthless!"

"You’re not seeing the bigger picture. The old shopkeeper is exchanging his personal reputation for Prince Yun’s Mansion’s reputation. Think about it, if today the young master unlocks the stone, and the third stone really reveals an unparalleled treasure, would Prince Yun’s Mansion let him go?

Now, even if there is a treasure inside, the spread would only ruin the old shopkeeper’s reputation, making him unable to stay in this field,

yet, Prince Yun’s Mansion’s reputation is preserved.

This move by the old shopkeeper will certainly earn him substantial rewards from the mansion!"

"Indeed, indeed, the elder sees more clearly. With the status of Prince Yun’s Mansion, if a treasure truly appears, they won’t let it go."

...

"Young Master?" Hong Luan, unaware of Li Jizhou and Liu Hongling’s exchange in the Dharma Realm, noted the workshop’s shamelessness, her usually charming face starting to frost over.

Li Jizhou shook his head, snorted coldly, and walked towards the corner.

Hong Luan’s Divine Soul, surpassing Divinity Transformation, stared at the old shopkeeper but eventually followed Li Jizhou.

"Young friend, I am Green Dragon Taoist, wishing to inquire about the art of stone watching. I’ve specially prepared refreshments at Bright Moon Tower across the street, would you honor us with your presence?" The immortal-looking elder greeted with a smile as Li Jizhou reached the pond at the southeastern corner of the fifth courtyard.

Not only him, almost all guests from the fifth courtyard who were not afraid of offending Prince Yun’s Mansion approached with invitations.

Li Jizhou paid no mind, waved casually: "Black Stone Workshop is so shameless, how can this young master leave just like that?"

With that, Li Jizhou deliberately glanced at the old shopkeeper guarding the third treasure stone, amplifying his voice: "I want to see just how far Black Stone Workshop’s shamelessness can go!"

The old shopkeeper frowned slightly, then smiled broadly: "Young master must be mistaken, this treasure stone is indeed one our Crown Prince had chosen long ago. Were it not so, how could I block you?

After all, a business worth nine hundred thousand spirit stones, of course, I’d be willing to make the deal.

Take a step back, unless a Tier Seven Earth Spirit Master, who has already disappeared, has full assurance, no one in the world can see through this. Can the young master surely guarantee that this raw stone contains great treasure?"

As these words came out, everyone looked expectantly at Li Jizhou.

As the shopkeeper said, the Ancestral Spiritual Sea has a history of nearly a million years, and the spirit liquid from the tidal waves has been condensing into stone since ancient times.

However, the only ones with complete assurance are the rare Tier Seven and above Earth Spirit Masters.

They are the ones who can truly be considered Celestial Spirit Masters.

Additionally, Earth Spirit Masters can perceive the original source of the earth, especially after Tier Seven, they not only connect with the power of the earth but can also communicate with the force of heaven. As the saying goes: "Deep emotions don’t last long, great wisdom brings harm"; such prodigies are not tolerated by heaven and earth, they face misfortune in later years, advancement is difficult, and for the last few hundred thousand years, Earth Spirit Masters above Tier Six have almost disappeared.

Although Li Jizhou’s previous performance is considered prodigious, it’s somewhat outside common understanding.

Every gambler hopes to have a super cheat, even if they don’t, they’ve fantasized countless possibilities without evidence.

At this moment, Li Jizhou represents to them a confirmation of hope brought by their fantasy.

Of course, the previous result of thirty-some raw stones being unlocked has indeed proven this.

Including the old shopkeeper, although speaking seemingly distrustfully of Li Jizhou’s stone-watching ability, has long made up his mind.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked the cost of damaging his reputation to prevent Li Jizhou from opening the third treasure stone.

His words aim to hear Li Jizhou candidly speak of his stone-watching ability, or even his method of stone-watching ability, such as Divine Soul Secret Skill, special extraordinary treasures, or a rare constitution.

However, this hope is slim unless Li Jizhou is truly a fool.

Secondly, he wants to reconfirm whether there is truly a great treasure inside the stone, because the Crown Prince was just humiliated in the morning, and if he calls the Crown Prince over again and makes another mistake, the result would be dire.

"Of course, this young master can confirm that you, old thief, are shameless simply because you see this young master interested." Li Jizhou sneered, surprisingly unapologetically, without even a hint of covering it.

"How insolent!" The old shopkeeper, being of Prince Yun’s Mansion, stands above others in Black Stone City, and has never been insulted by outsiders in such a manner.

Especially by a mere Foundation Establishment minor cultivator.

"The insolence is yours!" Li Jizhou left unsaid, but Hong Luan’s Divine Soul pressed upon him.

Thunk~

The Nascent Soul old shopkeeper instantly felt a stabbing pain in his Primordial Spirit, his figure wavering, nearly collapsing.

"You!" The old shopkeeper was startled, not expecting the half-demon beside the Foundation Establishment minor cultivator to be so extraordinary.

"The Crown Prince arrives!" At this moment, the shout of a servant echoed from outside.

The old shopkeeper forcibly suppressed his irritation and hurried to greet him.

"No need for formalities, I’m only here to unlock the raw stone I favored earlier." Li Qingyun seized the moment.

This was all instructed by the shopkeeper to the servant beforehand.

The old shopkeeper smiled, immediately cupping his hands towards the other esteemed guests in the fifth courtyard: "Gentlemen, didn’t I speak truthfully? This stone was indeed specially instructed by His Highness before leaving, just unexpectedly fancied by that young one."

He stood with a shameless grin.

The Crown Prince was pleased.

"Hmm? What happened?" Li Qingyun pretended to inquire.

The old shopkeeper promptly recounted the earlier events publicly.

Li Qingyun looked at Li Jizhou: "Is that young master so extraordinary? Not an Earth Spirit Master yet capable of repeatedly increasing value with over thirty raw stones?"

"Indeed!"

"Hahaha, folks, no need to be perplexed, how wondrous is the Spirit Stone Ore! This Crown Prince has also relied on the power of the Dynasty, hoping to find a deity who can truly see through the Spirit Stone Ore, but alas, in this world, besides high-tier Celestial Spirit Masters, absolutely no one can see through it.

As for why that young master managed to increase value with thirty raw stones, doesn’t it just illustrate the superior quality of spirit stones from our Black Stone Workshop, and that there’s absolutely no prior selection!" Li Qingyun laughed heartily.

Regardless of whether those around believed him or not, Li Qingyun paid no further attention and summoned the master for stone unlocking.

Staring at the third raw stone before him, Li Qingyun’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

This morning, the raw stone chosen by Liu Hongling embarrassed him, leading to reprimand from his father, leaving him truly furious.

If this raw stone increases in value, all would be nullified, and he might even receive a reward from his father.

"Unlock!" With a command, the stone master began to work.

While everyone focused on the process of unlocking the third raw stone, Li Jizhou alone crouched at the corner by the pond, exchanging swiftly between his Divine Sense and Liu Hongling within the Dharma Realm.

"Are you certain the Stone King is within this little pond?"

While sensing the four treasure stones in the courtyard, Liu Hongling suddenly had a flash of insight, perceiving an indefinable aura.

Moments later, she realized it seemed like a raw stone ore that developed intelligence.

Such raw stone ore is referred to as a Stone King.