Du City isn’t very big, just a small town built entirely from gray-brown stones, yet it’s quite famous.

Most of the supplies like rice and grain needed by various mining areas are procured here; it can be said this is a supply hub for the major mining areas.

Three days later, Ye Fan had a considerable understanding of this Du City. Although Du City isn’t large, all major powers have offices and gambling stone workshops here. It can be said that there’s not a single ordinary person in this small city—all are cultivators!

During these three days, Ye Fan also gained a deeper understanding of the Primordial Ancient Mine area.

The more he learned, the more mysterious Ye Fan found this ancient mine area to be. It’s said to be a forbidden zone of life; except for the Great Emperor, no one can safely enter and exit.

Tens of thousands of years ago, the Emperor of an Immortal Dynasty in the Central Domain, regarded as a heroic lord of his time, marched into the Primordial Ancient Mine for some reason, yet vanished without stirring any waves.

For countless years, many cultivators, not believing in evil, have tried to unveil the mysterious veil of the Primordial Ancient Mine, yet all disappeared like mud cows entering the sea, never to be seen alive or dead!

Among the Five Domains, there are five life forbidden zones, including the Xuanshou Mountain Range in the Southern Domain and the Primordial Ancient Mine in the Northern Domain.

When it comes to mystery, without a doubt, this forbidden zone of life in the Northern Domain ranks at the forefront.

Originally a spirit stone mining area, it inexplicably became a dead zone. Even the heroic lords of great powers went in and never returned.

Named "Primordial," it implies its existence long before the beginning of heaven and earth. It’s hard to imagine just how ancient it is.

One legend claims that this ancient mine wasn’t excavated by humans; it existed before the birth of the human race.

Another saying is that it was excavated by humans but was occupied by some unknown creature, thus forming today’s life forbidden zone!

Whatever the case, this place is a forbidden zone. Even a generation of heavenly pride gets lost here, and it’s unknown how many exceptional people have been buried there.

Outside the Primordial Ancient Mine, large areas are almost entirely occupied by major powers, serving as the most productive spirit stone mining area.

This region is barren, completely desolate.

And Du City is the only human settlement spanning tens of thousands of miles around.

"What exactly is the existence of the Primordial Ancient Mine?" Ye Fan pondered seriously, stroking his chin.

Why did the Earth Master predecessor venture deep into the forbidden zone? What did he intend to do? Could it be that he wanted to contend with the supreme beings in the forbidden zone?

Thinking of this, Ye Fan couldn’t help but laugh. The Earth Master was indeed powerful, especially in places with dragon veins and spirit stone mines, where his combat power never exhausted, enabling him to perform many formidable divine skills. Even so, can the Earth Master really contend with the supreme beings in the forbidden zone?

Ye Fan found it doubtful, as even the heroic lords of major powers entered and vanished without a trace. No matter how powerful the Earth Master was, could he be stronger than a generation of Supreme Holy Master?

"Ye Zi, are you really planning to enter the Primordial Ancient Mine? That’s no good place!"

"Yeah, now that you’ve obtained the Dragon Seeking Formulas, finding spirit stones has become so easy. Why take the risk?"

Hu Fei and Shi Ye, having learned of Ye Fan’s true intentions, couldn’t help but advise against it.

"Don’t worry, I know my limits, and I would never joke with my life,"

Ye Fan said, "I won’t go deep, just observe from a distance on the periphery. It would be great to find clues left by that Earth Master, but it’s fine if I don’t!"

"That’s good, we’ll go with you, broaden our horizons!" the two said in unison.

"Actually, you really don’t need to accompany me in taking risks. The Primordial Ancient Mine is too eerie. My Dragon Seeking Formulas have only been understood one-tenth, and I might not be able to protect you," Ye Fan said seriously.

"Why the chatter? We’re brothers, so don’t be coy unless you don’t consider us brothers!" Shi Ye said straightforwardly.

"Exactly!" Hu Fei nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan could only agree. However, for their safety, he decided to first visit a gambling stone workshop to test how effective his Dragon Seeking Skill was, and to make proper preparations before venturing out.

"If you want to go stone gambling, I strongly recommend Ling Family’s gambling stone workshop. It would be great if we make them turn green with envy!"

Upon hearing Ye Fan wanted to gamble on stones, Hu Fei immediately applauded and recommended the Ling Family’s gambling stone workshop.

"I’m not here to be a fool, but to verify my Dragon Seeking Skill," Ye Fan decisively rejected Hu Fei’s suggestion.

As a Di Clan, the Ling Family surely has experts skilled in Stone Appraisal Technique, otherwise, they wouldn’t dare open a gambling stone workshop. Given my current skills, who knows if I’d get scammed.

In Du City, there are not many other establishments, but gambling stone workshops are everywhere. Every street has a few gambling stone workshops for cultivators to gamble on stones.

Led by Hu Fei, the three wandered for half a day, eventually choosing a gambling stone workshop named "Rongsheng."

"Stop."

Ye Fan and his companions were stopped outside Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop. Several men at the gate looked at the three’s attire, frowned, and said, "Are you miners? If you’re here to sell stone materials, go to the east gate. This is a place for stone gambling."

"We’re here to gamble on stones."

Ye Fan and his two companions just came out from the Immortal Academy’s spirit stone mining area, still wearing clothes similar to the miners’, which led to the misunderstanding.

"Are you here to gamble on stones? Do you have any spirit stones?"

A few people walked out from the gatehouse, all with frowns on their faces. One of them said, "This is not a place where just anyone can enter casually."

Hu Fei was about to explode, but Shi Ye suddenly stopped him and pulled out half a piece of Low Grade Spirit Stones, weighing about half a pound, saying, "Here, isn’t this a spirit stone?"

From behind, there was a mocking laugh, "Half a tael of spirit stone and you dare to come here to gamble? What a country bumpkin; you probably can’t even afford a good piece of old pit stone material."

"Who’s farting? Why is it so smelly?" Hu Fei, never one to suffer losses, immediately turned back glaring.

"This bumpkin is really sharp-tongued; forget it, today I’m in a good mood, and won’t bother with you!" A Young Master Qingben, shaking his folding fan, chuckled as he glanced at the three of them and then strode toward the gambling stone workshop.

One of his entourage, with a look of disdain, said, "Bumpkin, go back and mine properly. This place isn’t for you."

"You..."

Hu Fei was furious; as the descendant of one of the Nine Great Bandits, when had he ever been humiliated like this? Even the saints of the major Holy Lands wouldn’t dare to underestimate him; this young master was practically asking for death.

"Oh, it’s Young Master Wei from the Chi Xia Sect, please come in." The Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop staff smiled apologetically and went forward to greet.

"Hmm!"

Young Master Wei from Chi Xia Sect smiled and nodded, glanced at Ye Fan and his companions, and walked inside.

The attendant beside him turned back, laughing, "Aren’t you dissatisfied? If you have spirit stones, feel free to come in, I’ll play a few rounds with you. If not, go back where you came from, seriously, and mine. Don’t have unrealistic fantasies; this isn’t a place you can come."

"Damn you..."

After seeing them go inside, the barbarian was so angry he clutched his hair, snorting white smoke from his nose; it was too disdainful.

Anyway, they’re disciple of the Immortal Academy with deep backgrounds; not only can they gamble, they could buy the entire gambling stone workshop.

In any field, there are always those eager to see others suffer; Ye Fan naturally wouldn’t bother with the staff of Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop, it was no big deal to go elsewhere; they weren’t necessarily tied to one tree.

However—

Hu Fei and Shi Ye disagreed, urging Ye Fan to go in and win even Young Master Wei’s pants for them to vent their anger.

"Alright!"

Ye Fan nodded, and said to the door guards of Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop, "Your threshold is really high, don’t you know your guests? We are guests, is this how you treat them?"

"Sorry, we have our rules here, not anyone can come and go."

The people in front crossed their arms, casually responded. After Young Master Wei from Chi Xia Sect went inside, their smiles faded.

"How many spirit stones do we need to qualify to enter?" The barbarian asked gruffly.

"We only use top-grade materials from old pits here; without ten pounds of spirit stones, you can’t pass this gate."

With disdainful looks, "Do you have ten pounds of spirit stones? If not, I advise you go back to the mines and be honest."

Ye Fan didn’t say much, he directly took out a Space Spiritual Artifact, pouring out more than a hundred pounds of Mid-Upper Grade Spirit Stones, and a piece of top-grade spirit stone, dazzlingly blinding them.

"Dog eyes looking down on people; now do I qualify to go in?"

Hu Fei patted their shoulders, making them grimace in pain, but they couldn’t utter a word.

"Just wait, soon you’ll cry without finding a place!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Passing the gatehouse, the barbarian muttered, scaring them almost to the ground, regretting they couldn’t slap themselves a few times; they had blocked the God of Wealth outside, if their boss knew, they’d surely be fired from the gambling house.

"Oh, you really came in."

Seeing Ye Fan and his companions come in, Young Master Wei’s attendant was surprised, his tone strange, "Ten pounds of spirit stones, your ancestors must have dug for a long time, accumulated over many years, truly difficult. How about we gamble within a gamble?"

"Sure, what kind of gamble are you proposing?" Hu Fei asked, with a sinister smile, sizing up Young Master Wei’s attendant.

"Simple, we each choose stone material to cut; whoever cuts out more spirit stones, the other pays the same amount and covers the cost of purchasing the stone material, how’s that?" Young Master Wei’s attendant said with a smile.

"Fine, I’ll gamble with you, but before we gamble, we need to take a look."

Hu Fei acted with feigned reluctance, coldly sneering.

...

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