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Chapter 195: Chapter 199: Source Technique
"I can’t be bothered with you." Wang Shu turned his head to the side, ignoring the person.
"Quite the temper." The person from the Qingxia Sect laughed. "Well, given how many generations it took to accumulate so much Source, what if you lose it all? Better to be careful."
"Stop being so cynical; we don’t want to stoop to your level." The uneducated youth, quite straightforward, glared back.
"Country bumpkins, stone gambling is extremely risky. Coming here to try your luck? You won’t even know how to cry when you lose." The Qingxia Sect’s attendant mocked, "It’s not that I’m saying you don’t belong, but this really isn’t the place for you. Miners should just stick to their own work; that would be better."
"Get lost and mind your own business. I have Source; I can come here if I want. It’s none of your damn business, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong." The uneducated youth was very blunt.
Wang Shu also laughed. "You’d better take care of yourself. Don’t lose everything and end up crawling out of here crying. Remember, out of ten gambles, nine end in ruin."
"People like you... you haven’t seen the world." The attendant, somewhat ashamed and enraged, said, "The mines are where you belong. Don’t be stubborn. Once you go in, you’ll have your moment to cry."
That Young Master Liu from the Qingxia Sect frowned and said to the attendant, "Why bother arguing with people like them?" With that, he stepped forward, and his entourage followed.
Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop had many courtyards, with Source stones scattered everywhere, ranging from tens of thousands of jin in weight to just a few liang.
The first courtyard was evidently the least valuable; very few people lingered here. The Source stones here were the most ordinary; indeed, many seemed to be just cheap fillers.
Ye Fan wasn’t in a hurry to leave. After finishing the foundational Chapters of the *Heavenly Source Book*, he wanted to come out and practice. His aim wasn’t necessarily to gamble on pure Source but to enrich his experience.
He wandered around the first courtyard, patting this stone, then knocking on that one, appearing very earnest.
"Brother Ye, there are no good Source stones here; it’s all to fool people. Let’s head inside," Wang Shu suggested from nearby.
"No worries. Today is mainly for testing the waters. Let’s look around first, no rush." Ye Fan didn’t move his feet.
Not far away, a sneer was heard. The gatehouse was adjacent to this courtyard, and the gatekeeper who had previously blocked them from entering stood by with his arms crossed, watching the spectacle.
"What are you laughing at? Go, pour us a few bowls of tea," the uneducated youth glared and said.
"Pour tea? You’ve got some nerve!" one of the men in the gatehouse responded irritably.
"Anyone who enters is a guest. Don’t you understand the rules?" Wang Shu, hearing this, turned around and said, "Is this how you treat your guests? If we ask for tea, then hurry up and pour it. Less nonsense."
Instantly, one man glared and said, "You little brat! You’re just miners, yet you’re putting on airs with us!"
"Go, get your Source Master here," Wang Shu sneered. "I want to ask him if he intends to run his business with closed doors, letting even a gatekeeper spout such nonsense."
"Alright, alright. Quickly pour them a few cups of tea and get it over with." The men didn’t want to escalate the situation; if they disturbed some important guests, they’d be in for serious trouble.
"You didn’t put enough tea leaves in. Skimping on materials, are we?" the uneducated youth grumbled, dissatisfied.
The gatekeepers’ faces turned livid, their expressions unfriendly, and they shot him several fierce glares.
Ye Fan circled the courtyard and found several thousand Source stones, all of which indeed seemed to be fillers. He sensed that only a limited few contained any Source.
"How are these Source stones priced?"
Almost no one gambled on stones here, so the Source Masters were all in the inner courtyards. Normally, the few men from the gatehouse were responsible for this area. One of them jeered, "The Source stones here are the cheapest. One liang of Source can buy a thousand jin of stone. With the Source you have, you could buy a whole heap."
"Is that so? Then you lot, come over here and move that Source stone for me." Ye Fan pointed to a massive stone in the chaotic pile ahead, one that weighed at least a thousand jin.
The faces of the Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop men instantly turned green. They were ordinary mortals; moving a thousand-jin boulder would exhaust several of them to near death.
"I say, are you just throwing your Source away? Such a huge stone would require one liang of precious Source, and you definitely won’t get anything out of it," one of them cursed.
"Less nonsense. If I tell you to move it, then move it. Don’t you want to do business anymore? Or should I go call a Source Master?" Wang Shu said from the side.
"You two, feel free to pick some as well. No need to worry about anything," Ye Fan said to the uneducated youth and Wang Shu.
"We... we’d better not. We’re alright at excavating Source, but selecting Source stones is far beyond us," the two said, waving their hands repeatedly in refusal.
"If I tell you to pick, then pick. Say no more."
Wang Shu, being quick-witted, whispered a few words to the uneducated youth, and they began to order around the men from Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop.
"Bring that Source stone over to me," Wang Shu pointed ahead.
The men’s faces were ashen; it was another thousand-jin boulder, and the previous one had already left them gasping for breath.
"Fine, you’re ruthless! When all your Source is spent, let’s see how you cry then!" Gritting their teeth, the men lifted the thousand-jin boulder.
However, after they had taken only a few steps, Wang Shu shook his head and said, "What are you doing? I want the Source stone *underneath* that thousand-jin boulder."
"Damn it to hell!" The men were about to explode with anger.
Wang Shu, a mischievous grin on his face, stood behind them, casually holding a Source stone weighing four or five jin.
"I want this one," the uneducated youth said, pointing to a Source stone that was also pinned under a large rock.
The anger that had just begun to rise in the men from Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop instantly ignited. One of them said, "This is bullying, plain and simple!"
"It’s not that we’re bullying you; it’s that you judge a book by its cover," Wang Shu shook his head and said. "If you don’t move it, I’ll go call a Source Master."
"You..." The men pointed accusingly at Wang Shu.
"You what? I have Source, and I’ve taken a fancy to that stone now. Hurry up and move it," the uneducated youth, ever direct, chimed in. He had taken a dislike to these men long ago.
Ye Fan watched from the side, smiling silently. *These two are quite good at putting people in their place.*
After the men from Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop had moved the large rock, exhausted and panting like tired dogs, Wang Shu and the uneducated youth selected new targets.
"That one. Yes, the one pressed underneath."
"And this one. Get it out for me, quickly."
The two of them sipped their tea leisurely while ordering the men about.
"Great masters, we were wrong! We shouldn’t have looked down on you. Please spare us!"
"You are magnanimous sirs; please don’t hold it against us. Please, show mercy!"
These men, tormented by Wang Shu and the uneducated youth until they collapsed on the ground, had completely submitted.
「In the end」
Ye Fan personally took action, cutting open the thousand-jin Source stone he had chosen. He dug out a piece of Source weighing over a jin.
Nearby, the men who were sprawled on the ground, exhausted, looked as if their eyes would pop out. They watched as Ye Fan and his companions entered the second courtyard.
This time, Ye Fan and his group didn’t linger. They merely glanced around before heading further inside.
In the inner courtyards, charming young women were responsible for receiving guests and introducing the various Source stones. Moreover, Source Masters were stationed there, responsible for cutting the stones.
「A short while later」
They arrived at the seventh courtyard and once again encountered the people from the Qingxia Sect.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the three divine miners! What brings you to this courtyard to try your hand?" The grating voice of the Qingxia Sect’s attendant reached them.
"I say, donkey-faced man, why do you keep haunting us like a lingering ghost, always trying to pick a fight?" The uneducated youth rolled his eyes at him.
"What way is that to speak? I can’t be bothered to stoop to the level of a country bumpkin like you." He pulled a long face and said, "How about we settle things with a stone gambling match?"
"What’s your name? How do we gamble?" the uneducated youth asked.
The long-faced man from the Qingxia Sect said, "My name is Liu Sheng. We’ll have a bet within a bet. Whichever side cuts out a certain amount of Source, the other side must compensate with the same amount. How about it?"
Wang Shu and the uneducated youth both hesitated, a little unsure, and didn’t respond.
The long-faced Liu Sheng sneered, "Mud-caked monkeys from the mines, scared to even make this bet? What did you come in here for then? Many people here bet three, five, even ten times the amount! I advise you to hurry back to your mines; that’s where you belong."
Wang Shu and the uneducated youth were filled with indignation. As miners, hearing such words felt like a thorn piercing their hearts.
"Bet with him. Ask him how much Source he has," Ye Fan said from the side.
"Oh-ho, you actually dare to bet?" Liu Sheng’s long face twisted into a sneer. "I’m just afraid you’ll be crying for your mothers and fathers when you lose, perhaps even driven to jump into a well in despair!"
Ye Fan directly tossed Wang Shu two jin of Source, then looked at Liu Sheng and said, "Show your Source first."
Their words immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding people. Many looked over. Even that Young Master Liu from the Qingxia Sect put down the Source stone in his hand, walked over, and tossed two jin of Source to the long-faced Liu Sheng.
"A bet is a bet; winners are grinners, losers are weepers! Everyone here bear witness! These three country bumpkins don’t know their own limits and actually dare to bet with me. Don’t blame me for bullying them," Liu Sheng declared, though his heart was not entirely calm.
"Alright, we’ll bear witness!" many people nearby chorused.
The people from Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop were the happiest of all. No matter what, both sides would buy their Source stones; it was a surefire profitable business for them.
That Young Master Liu patted a Source stone he had selected long ago and said to the horse-faced man, Liu Sheng, "Choose this one."
Liu Sheng respectfully accepted it, then looked at Ye Fan and said, "You three mud-caked monkeys from the mines, hurry up and pick one too."
Ye Fan walked around, selected a watermelon-sized Source stone, tossed it onto the ground before him, and said, "This one."
The Source stones chosen by both were not large, but their cost was considerable. The Source stones in the seventh courtyard were all expensive because the rate of finding Source was very high.
"Source Master, please cut the stone," the horse-faced man Liu Sheng requested.
"Very well. This old man must perform the ritual for the blade." An old man stepped forward, first very meticulously bowing to the Source stone before picking up his knife and beginning to cut it.
CRACK!
The stone skin was slowly peeled away. The stone selected by the Qingxia Sect group became smaller and smaller, but even in the end, no Source appeared.
"Consider yourselves lucky. The next stone will make you cry your eyes out," Liu Sheng said, somewhat resentful. The Young Master from the Qingxia Sect also frowned.
"Master, please cut this one of mine now." Ye Fan’s Source stone was pushed forward.
"This broken rock looks like scrap at first glance. Is there even a need to cut it?" Liu Sheng said with a disdainful look.
Someone nearby also shook their head, saying, "This stone, reddish-brown with white streaks, is clearly the common ’red-in-white’ dross. It’s absolutely a worthless piece of scrap; you know it without even cutting."
"Too obvious. It’s definitely scrap," almost everyone frowned.
Even the Source Master shook his head and said, "It’s probably best not to cut this stone."
Wang Shu and the uneducated youth instantly became tense. They looked at Ye Fan and said, "Since it hasn’t been cut yet, let’s exchange it for another one."
"No exchanges. Otherwise, some people might try to renege on the bet. This is the one." Ye Fan didn’t pay homage to the so-called "Source God." He picked up the cutting knife beside him and chopped straight down.
CRUNCH!
The moment the Source stone split open, a soft light radiated out. A fist-sized piece of Source, crystal clear and translucent, was embedded in the stone layer.
That cut had narrowly missed shattering the Source inside, just grazing past it.
"Ah, it actually produced Source! How can there be Source inside a ’red-in-white’?"
"This piece probably weighs two jin! That’s a big win!"
...
Everyone nearby cried out in surprise.
Even the Source Master was somewhat dumbfounded, muttering to himself, *"That stone couldn’t possibly produce Source... and yet..."*
Wang Shu was overjoyed. He dug out the Source from within and carefully cupped it in his palm. The uneducated youth, on the other hand, swaggered over to Liu Sheng, eyeing the Source Bag in his hand, and said, "Hand it over. We cut out Source, no more, no less, just over two jin. What you have in your hand is barely enough."
Liu Sheng’s face fell, instantly becoming very long. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Two jin of Source was a huge sum for him. Although the Young Master of the Qingxia Sect had provided it, he would definitely have to pay it back.
"This... how is this possible? Even a piece of scrap stone yielded Source!" His face was ashen, and he was extremely unwilling.
"A bet’s a bet; admit your loss. Hand it over," the uneducated youth said, snatching the Source Bag away.
The horse-faced man looked as if all his strength had been drained. He slumped to the ground, utterly dejected.
"Brother Donkey-face, don’t get any ideas about jumping into a well," Wang Shu teased from the side. "Our mine is currently short-handed. How about you come work with me? I’m genuinely recruiting here, you know."
The uneducated youth hugged the Source Bag, grinning foolishly, but didn’t forget to rub it in, "Yeah, food and lodging provided. Come down into the mines with us to dig Source!"
The horse-faced man’s face turned deathly white. He pointed at the two of them, trembling with anger, "You... you..."
He regretted his actions to his very core, cursing himself for needlessly seeking trouble and gambling on stones with a few mud-caked monkeys from the mines. Now, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and humiliation. The rush of fury almost made him faint.
"Interesting. Would the three of you dare to gamble a few rounds with me?" The Young Master from the Qingxia Sect stepped forward, fanning himself with a folding fan, appearing perfectly calm and composed.
Ye Fan smiled and said, "Why not? Never mind a few rounds; even dozens would be fine."
*He felt a thrill of excitement in his heart. The Heavenly Source Book was truly a wondrous scripture! He felt he had gained a preliminary understanding of Source and could now navigate the Gambling Stone Workshops. If he could truly comprehend the Heavenly Source Book, he wouldn’t need to worry even if he went to the sacred city in the future.*
However, Ye Fan’s good luck seemed to have run out. In succession, he cut seven more stones but didn’t see even a sliver of Source.
Conversely, the Young Master from the Qingxia Sect cut out a fist-sized piece of Source, recouping his earlier losses.
"Even if one spends years in the mines, it doesn’t mean they truly understand Source. Digging for Source is crude labor; discerning Source is an art," the Young Master from the Qingxia Sect mocked. "This place is indeed not for just anyone."
"Mud-caked monkeys from the mines also come to gamble on stones. Truly not minding their own business, utterly unaware of their own insignificance."
"Vainly hoping to gamble on some supreme Treasure Source, they’ll only end up bankrupt, losing all the pitiful Source they’ve saved up over many years."
...
Nearby, many people shook their heads and made sarcastic remarks.
Wang Shu and the uneducated youth felt terrible. The continuous losses made them very anxious, afraid that all of Ye Fan’s Source would be wasted for nothing.
Ye Fan frowned. *He was somewhat perplexed. What he had learned from the Heavenly Source Book was definitely not wrong. Why was he making repeated mistakes?*
He squatted down and carefully observed the seven Source stones that had just been cut open without yielding anything, running his hands over them.
"He’s gambled himself silly; he can’t take the blow."
"A mud-caked monkey from the mines, how could he have seen much of the world? Losing so much, he’s naturally dejected. Who knows, he might even consider jumping into a river in despair."
"We’ve seen many like him. After losing a gamble, they lose their minds and are capable of anything."
...
Although some people sympathized, many more were gloating over his misfortune.
The Young Master from the Qingxia Sect, fanning himself, looked down condescendingly at Ye Fan, who was squatting on the ground examining the broken stones. "You’d better hurry back to the mines. That’s where you belong. People like you are somewhat unsuited for a place like this."
