Chapter 140: The Ambush

After Li Jiansan finished speaking, the crowd fell into stunned silence, not a single soul daring to admit the truth.

At that moment, Li Jiansan’s gaze fixed on Yang Ling. “You said it yourself, didn’t you? Don’t chicken out now.”

Yang Ling’s face flushed awkwardly, his earlier resolve to leap into the river fading. “Well...”

“Such a distinguished young master like you wouldn’t back out of a promise, would you?” Li Jiansan pressed on. “So, while it’s still fresh, swallow the stone skin quickly.”

Stepping forward, Li Jiansan grabbed Yang Ling, urging him to swallow the stone skin. Laughter erupted around them.

An old master from the Source Heaven Studio looked at Li Jiansan and asked, “Young man, how did you know this raw stone concealed a rare treasure inside? You picked a flawed, cracked stone considered worthless...”

“I just went with my gut,” Li Jiansan replied evasively.

His Purple Extreme Demon Eyes could see through any imperfection, making it easy for him to judge the quality of raw stones. But he had no intention of revealing the secret behind those eyes.

The old master chuckled lightly. “Seems you have quite the talent for stone gambling…”

He didn’t believe Li Jiansan’s words but didn’t press further—everyone had their secrets.

With the matter settled, Li Jiansan turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, the onlookers murmured in awe:

“I wonder who this kid really is. Even the Stone Gambling Saint Yang Hong isn’t his match.”

“Could he be a new disciple of some master gambler?”

“But no one’s heard of any master taking on disciples recently. Maybe he’s an expert from outside the Jiang Kingdom?”

“Most likely. When has our imperial city ever produced such a stone gambling prodigy?”

“If his skills surpass the Stone Gambling Saint, then he’s a newly risen god of stone gambling…”

On his way back to the Azure Dragon Academy, Li Jiansan suddenly found several men blocking his path.

Frowning, his expression grew serious, his cold gaze fixed on the men before him.

He had already guessed their intent.

Under the watchful eye of Mo Qingyun, an old man dressed in dark golden robes stepped out from behind them.

The man leading the group was none other than the old master from Source Heaven Studio who had helped Li Jiansan with the stone earlier.

“It’s you!”

Seeing the old master, Li Jiansan’s face darkened, his expression grave.

He hadn’t expected that the previously obscure master would chase after him here for the treasure he carried.

The old master sneered, “Kid, you do have some talent in stone gambling. You should know what to do.”

Li Jiansan replied calmly, “I don’t.”

“Hmph. Hand over the treasure, especially that ‘Source’ you carry!” The old master’s eyes glinted with menace. “If you know what’s good for you, I’ll spare your life. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Li Jiansan glanced at the men around him—one at Foundation Establishment Stage level two, two at level three, plus the old master of unknown strength.

Seeing their overwhelming power, his expression grew heavy. A direct confrontation was impossible.

“Don’t even think about running. You know very well you can’t escape against such power!” the old master sneered.

Li Jiansan replied coolly, “Do you really think I came alone?”

The old master felt a chill. Li Jiansan’s talent was formidable, possibly not even from the Jiang Kingdom. If he offended some foreign prodigy’s faction, trouble would surely follow.

Changing his tone, the old master said, “I’ve been stuck at Foundation Establishment for over a decade. I only need that ‘Source’ you carry. It’s the only thing that can help me advance my cultivation.”

“If you cooperate, I’ll consider you a friend. How about that?”

Li Jiansan retorted coldly, “You can’t advance on your own and want to use my ‘Source’ to help you? Who do you think you are? Get lost!”

Li Jiansan’s firm attitude darkened the old master’s face. If that was the case, then he’d have to be killed.

To him, Li Jiansan was like fish on a chopping block, ready to be carved up.

If he acted swiftly and quietly, no one would notice.

“Attack! Kill him!” the old master shouted.

“Prepare to die, kid!”

Following the command, the surrounding warriors swiftly moved against Li Jiansan.

A low hum resonated as Li Jiansan unleashed his own spiritual energy, gathering power in his palm.

“No time to set up a spiritual array now. I can only use spirit seals,” he thought.

With a boom, Li Jiansan flipped his palm, forming several terrifying spirit seals just as the attackers closed in.

He exhaled deeply and released all the spirit seals.

“Ah…”

Caught off guard, the warriors were blasted back fiercely by the spirit seals, collapsing like dead chickens, pale-faced and utterly unable to continue fighting.

“Useless fools!” the old master sneered at the fallen men.

“Spirit seals!” he muttered warily, his gaze narrowing on Li Jiansan.

“Who exactly is this kid, possessing such monstrous talent and strength…”

Doubt and curiosity surged in the old master’s heart. Li Jiansan felt exceedingly dangerous.

“Kid, one last chance. Hand over your ‘Source’ and I’ll let you leave.”

The old master glared.

“Enough nonsense,” Li Jiansan said, ignoring him and throwing a punch.

“Foundation Establishment Stage, level three!” the old master’s expression tensed.

“Never expected you’d wield such power and skill. But even so, you must die!”

“Blood Wasteland Palm!”

As the words fell, the old master unleashed a fierce spiritual energy, transforming into a gigantic blood-red palm that surged toward Li Jiansan with a terrifying aura.

Li Jiansan’s heart clenched. If that palm struck him, he’d surely be smashed to bits, dead without question.

At that moment, he closed his eyes, then reopened them, purple light shimmering in his pupils.

Quickly, he discerned the flaws in the old master’s martial art.

“Blood Wasteland Palm: a powerful attack but consumes massive energy. Once unleashed, spiritual energy can’t recover quickly, lowering the body’s defenses. Its greatest weakness lies at the brow.”

Hearing this, the old master was shocked.

“How do you know my weakness?”

“Go ask the King of Hell,” Li Jiansan replied.

With a flash, he appeared before the old master, gathering his strength, and struck fiercely at the point between the man’s brows.

With a thunderous crack, the old master emitted a sound of unwilling defeat, eyes wide open as he collapsed to the ground...