Chapter 138: The Ninth Courtyard

The crowd was startled as the newcomer approached.

"That is... Yang Ling’s older brother, Yang Hong, the man whose reputation in stone gambling is legendary!"

"It’s him indeed, the rising superstar of the stone gambling world, the 'Gambling Saint' Yang Hong."

"I never imagined this matter would actually draw him out."

"Haha, look at his younger brother—he’s nearly lost everything. If Yang Hong hadn't appeared, his brother would have been left with nothing but his trousers."

Amidst the chorus of gasps, Yang Hong approached Li Jiansan, waving his folding fan with an air of composure. "Do you dare to gamble with me?"

Li Jiansan replied indifferently, "Why should I?"

"If you win, all the treasures I have previously unearthed will be yours, and I will pay for all the raw stones used. However, if you lose, your previous bet with my brother is void, and you must pay for the raw stones at full price." Yang Hong stared at Li Jiansan. "How about it?"

Li Jiansan chuckled. "When someone offers to hand over money, there is no reason to refuse. I have no problem with one round, let alone ten."

The onlookers, who had been watching the spectacle, all turned their gaze toward them.

"This kid actually dares to gamble on stones with Yang Hong?"

"Is he unaware of who Yang Hong is?"

"Sigh, he is far too naive. Although Yang Hong’s treasures are incredibly enticing, they are merely bait to lure him into the trap. What chance does he have of winning against Yang Hong?"

"Brother..." Yang Ling looked at his older brother with pleading eyes.

"Shut up!" After Yang Hong’s sharp rebuke, Yang Ling obediently fell silent.

"We shall each select a raw stone from the ninth courtyard and see whose treasure is more valuable."

Upon hearing this, the crowd exchanged looks of disbelief. The raw stones in the ninth courtyard were all priced at astronomical sums. Unless a master stone gambler were present, no one would dare to make a selection there. After all, choosing just one wrong stone could lead to total financial ruin. By doing this, Yang Hong was not merely looking to win; he was looking to assert his authority and establish his prestige.

"It seems not just anyone is qualified to gamble with the Gambling Saint; the cost is simply too high," someone remarked with a sigh.

"You may have had a bit of luck, but you know nothing about stone gambling. It is a profound discipline, not something just anyone can master," Yang Hong mocked as he walked into the ninth courtyard. "A layman like you dares to come here and gamble, hoping to strike it rich overnight? You truly are ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth."

"Those who dream of getting rich overnight will only end up penniless, squandering every scrap of origin essence they have saved over the years."

"Kid, have you lost your mind?" Yang Ling, standing to the side, regained his arrogance. "If you’re scared, you’d better scramble away now. Stone gambling is not a game you can afford to play."

"You are a defeated opponent; what right do you have to speak?" Li Jiansan said coldly before walking into the ninth courtyard himself.

The ninth courtyard contained far fewer stones—no more than a hundred by Li Jiansan’s estimation. However, the prices here were ten, or even a hundred times higher than those outside. Not only was the quantity lower, but the volume of the stones was also smaller; none of the stones here weighed over a thousand pounds.

The raw stones in the ninth courtyard were all from the ancient, deep-vein mines at the center of the old battlefield. Their success rate for containing treasure was several times higher. If one were to unearth a treasure here, they would be set for life.

Li Jiansan picked up a stone at random and examined it. There were no signs of tampering. Outside, he had noticed many stones that had been cut open and resealed with sophisticated techniques. "These ancient battlefield stones must be of such high quality that they are difficult to imitate..." Li Jiansan mused to himself.

Even Yang Hong had not visited the ninth courtyard often. The stones here had always felt strange to him; they were vastly different from those outside. For a moment, he felt uncertain. He took a sharp breath and continued his search.

"Why have they been picking for so long? Is it because there are too few stones in this courtyard?" the onlookers wondered aloud.

"The stones outside are gathered from the outskirts of the ancient battlefield, so there are many of them," a veteran stone-cutter explained. "But these in the ninth courtyard are extracted from the very heart of the battlefield. The difficulty of mining there is such that even a master of the Profound Realm would spend half a month to extract just one stone. It’s a miracle our Source Heaven Pavilion managed to bring a hundred here."

"These stones are priced at heaven-defying levels; few in the Imperial City can afford them."

The old master nodded. "Indeed. Even if they are brought here, how many in the Imperial City dare to gamble on such things? Most of this batch was shipped elsewhere."

"Is that so? Aside from the Imperial City, who else could afford such exorbitant prices?"

"You are unaware, then. Beyond the borders of the Jiang Kingdom, there are many prosperous holy lands that far surpass any Imperial City. Furthermore, stones from the center of the ancient battlefield have a significant chance of containing the ultimate treasure—the 'Source'."

"The Source? What is that?" the crowd asked in shock.

"The Source is a divine energy contained within the raw stone; the very name of 'raw stone' is derived from it. As for its true origin, no one knows, but this magical energy can change one's destiny and fundamentally transform a person!"

The crowd was left in stunned silence. To change one's destiny and undergo a rebirth—was this not the dream of everyone who practiced martial arts?

"I have chosen!" After a while, Yang Hong selected his stone. It was round and covered in moss.

"This stone will surely yield the Source; it is only a matter of how much," the old master nodded. Generally, if a stone contained a rare treasure, the energy would seep through, creating an environment capable of sustaining tiny plants. Therefore, a stone covered in moss had a high probability of containing a treasure.

"Have you chosen?" Yang Hong asked, glancing at Li Jiansan.

"No rush, no rush." Much later, Li Jiansan finally picked a stone. It was a cyan-colored rock with pale yellow cracks running across its surface.

The crowd was speechless, thinking his choice was utterly reckless. "Young man, are you truly determined to throw your money away? Even a novice can see that this is a cracked stone."

"Indeed, it’s a 'cracked stone.' It’s impossible for it to hold treasure. You’re making a grave mistake."

The crack was clearly visible. Any seasoned gambler knew that if a stone contained a treasure, the energy would permeate the entire rock, protecting it from the elements. This stone, clearly eroded by wind and rain, was nothing more than waste.

"Sigh, there really are people with more money than sense these days."

"Some people truly have no idea what they are doing."

"I could pick a stone with my eyes closed and still beat your piece of trash," Yang Ling laughed mockingly. "I’m impressed you have the audacity to gamble when you don't even know the basics."

Li Jiansan wore a playful smile. "Then how did you lose earlier?"

"Hmph! If you manage to cut a treasure out of that, I will swallow the stone shavings myself!"

"Is that a promise?" Li Jiansan asked. "If I cut a treasure from this stone, you will swallow the shavings?"

"Yes!" Yang Ling snapped. "Keep dreaming about finding something good in that piece of junk."

"Everyone has witnessed this," Li Jiansan said to the crowd. "I did not force him. He said it himself. You must all serve as my witnesses when he eats those shavings."

"Cut the stone..."