Chapter 1634: Chapter 1504: Improving Skills

A fist-sized, multicolored Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was in Ye Fan’s palm, emitting dazzling multicolored light, making him appear dreamlike.

Everyone around was dumbfounded. In their understanding, Night Sky Star type stone material was absolutely worthless, and it shouldn’t have Spirit Stones contained within it.

Yet, everything in front of them clearly told them that in this world, nothing is impossible. Even Night Sky Star can yield Spirit Stones, and in fact, it was a decent quality Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

This two-pound Mid-Grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to twenty pounds of Low Grade Spirit Stones, which for an average cultivator is definitely considered a massive fortune.

Hu Fei walked toward Young Master Wei’s attendant with a smile, saying, "Hand it over, we’ve uncovered Spirit Stones, not much, just over two pounds, what you have should barely be enough."

At this moment, the attendant happened to be holding a bag filled with Spirit Stones, and judging by its shape, it held a little over two pounds.

Young Master Wei’s attendant’s face immediately grew long, and sweat formed on his forehead. Two pounds of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was a large amount for him, even if provided by his master, it would surely need to be returned.

"This... how can it be, a Waste Stone actually yielding Spirit Stones, it’s unreasonable!"

His face was bleak, filled with extreme unwillingness.

"A bet is a bet, hand it over."

Shi Ye unceremoniously snatched the Source Bag away.

Young Master Wei’s attendant seemed drained of energy, sitting on the ground with a vacant, lost look.

"Interesting!"

Young Master Wei of the Chi Xia Sect, in his blue robe fluttering elegantly, appeared calm and composed. He said to Ye Fan and the others, "Would you dare play two rounds with me?"

Ye Fan smiled and said, "Why not? Don’t say two rounds; twenty rounds are no problem at all."

He was quite excited inside; the Dragon Seeking Formulas were indeed extraordinary. He felt he already had a preliminary understanding of the Stone Appraisal Technique and could freely enter and exit gambling stone workshops. If he truly comprehended the Dragon Seeking Skill, where in the world could he not go in the future?

However—

Ye Fan’s luck seemed to have run out. In the following rounds, he cut open seven or eight stone materials, but didn’t find a trace.

Conversely, Young Master Wei of the Chi Xia Sect cut out a fist-sized Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, reclaiming his previous losses.

"Even though working in mines doesn’t mean truly understanding stone materials, mining is rough work, while stone appraisal is a science." Young Master Wei from Chi Xia Sect mocked, "Not just anyone can come here."

"Muddy monkeys from the mines running here to gamble stones, truly not doing their proper work, ignorant of how vast the world is."

"Dreaming of gambling up top-grade Spirit Stones, only to end up broke, betting away every pitiful Spirit Stone accumulated over the years." Many nearby shook their heads, sneeringly commented.

"Which one of you looks like a miner?"

Hu Fei’s comment made those around roll their eyes, but no one said anything further.

Because although Ye Fan and his companions were dressed in mining clothes, from their aura, none truly seemed like a miner.

Ye Fan, without question, had undergone cultivation in Nine Heavens Profound Skill, naturally possessing a kind of authoritative presence, although not obvious, still noticeable.

Shi Ye bore a barbarian-like image, with messy hair and swinging a Stone Staff, seeming more like a hunter than a miner.

Hu Fei even more so with his bandit-like face, hardly appeared like any honest miner.

Ye Fan frowned, what he learned from the Dragon Seeking Formulas was definitely not wrong. Why was he failing consecutively?

Thinking of this, Ye Fan found the seven or eight pieces of stone materials he had ruined, then squatted to carefully observe and perceive the differences through touch. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Gambled stupid? Can’t withstand the blow now?"

"Muddy monkeys from the mines, haven’t seen the world, losing so much is naturally soul-crushing, maybe they’d think about jumping into the river."

"Seen many that act crazy after losing a gamble, capable of doing anything."

The attendants beside Young Master Wei of the Chi Xia Sect gloatingly ridiculed.

Young Master Wei gently waved his folding fan, looking down condescendingly at Ye Fan squatting and examining crushed stones, he said, "Quickly return to the mine, that’s where you should be. People like you don’t belong here."

Ye Fan continued squatting there, ignoring them, staring at the crushed stones for a long time. Then he suddenly realized, secretly cursed Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop for deceit and shamelessness.

What he learned from the Dragon Seeking Formulas was correct; it was this gambling stone workshop cheating. They had opened up these stone materials, removed the Spirit Stones inside, and then filled them with stone material, sealing them with secret techniques.

"Deceptive merchants!"

Ye Fan secretly cursed in his heart, Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop really overdid it with this fraud.

He wanted to cause a scene, but restrained himself.

Because, even if revealed, people likely wouldn’t believe him, and those who dared to operate gambling stone workshops in the Northern Domain all had some backing, supported by powerful forces.

In the upcoming gambling, Ye Fan was much more cautious. Without absolute certainty, he wouldn’t easily act, but doing so slowed his pace in choosing materials significantly.

In the next rounds, Ye Fan continued to lose, either cutting Spirit Stones too small or with none at all, yielding nothing.

In just an hour, the Spirit Stones Ye Fan carried were lost entirely, leaving only one top-grade Spirit Stone, which he vowed not to gamble away under any circumstance.

"Looks like my Stone Appraisal Technique is still not up to par!"

Ye Fan sighed, using Dragon Energy in battle and stone appraisal are two different things, especially here, where most of the stones have been tampered with; with his current power, he can’t see through them.

"Ye Zi, I still have some spirit stones here, why don’t we continue gambling, I just don’t believe in evil!" Hu Fei took out his spirit stones, weighing at least a dozen pounds, and stuffed them into Ye Fan’s hands.

"No need, I can’t see through them now, continuing to gamble is pointless. Let’s go, I’ll go back and study the Stone Appraisal Technique properly and return, let’s call it a day!" Ye Fan shook his head, returned the spirit stones to Hu Fei, and turned to walk away.

"Haha!"

Young Master Wei laughed, "Good luck won’t always be with you, you mud monkeys, the mine is most suitable for you."

"Damn it, are you looking to die?" Hu Fei was furious, a killing intent burst out from him, directly ready to make a move.

"What are you doing? You want to make a move here? Try touching me?" Wei Xuantong from Chi Xia Sect also looked displeased, not expecting three mud monkeys to dare have killing intent towards him.

"Forget it, willing to bet and accept loss, let’s go!"

Ye Fan stopped Hu Fei; in someone else’s gambling stone workshop, making a move is clearly unwise. Furthermore, it was his loss, his fault to begin with, no reason to make a move.

"When have I ever taken such crap? Chi Xia Sect, remember this," Hu Fei grumbled, following Ye Fan out, secretly determined.

"Dig more spirit stones when you return, I look forward to you sending more spirit stones my way again!"

As Ye Fan and his friends walked out of the gambling stone workshop, Wei Xuantong from Chi Xia Sect mocked them from behind.

"Alright!"

Ye Fan frowned slightly. Indeed, Young Master Wei has some skill in gambling stones, choosing materials with precision, hardly missing. There must be some secret technique, but he didn’t back down, instead directly confronting him.

Later, Ye Fan and his friends returned to the gambling stone workshop at the Immortal Academy.

In the gambling stone workshop at the Immortal Academy, Ye Fan naturally couldn’t take it easy, but he could practice stone appraisal.

Like other major forces, the Immortal Academy also manipulates stone materials; spirit stones are too precious, especially some strange stones that might contain rare treasures. If someone gambles and wins them, it would be a great loss.

After returning to his residence, Ye Fan secluded himself, thoroughly studying Stone Appraisal Technique in the Dragon Seeking Formulas, deeply researching the characteristics of various stone materials, which ones contain rare treasures, which ones are waste materials, all firmly remembered.

Five days later, Ye Fan emerged from seclusion, but instead of directly finding Hu Fei and them, he started wandering around the gambling stone workshop at the Immortal Academy.

Of course, Ye Fan wouldn’t cut open these stones to verify his judgments; instead, he marked each stone he believed contained rare treasures.

"Xiao Fan, have you truly learned the Dragon Seeking Formulas?"

The person in charge of the gambling stone workshop at the Immortal Academy found Ye Fan, solemnly asking.

"Not completely learned, but I have some confidence!"

Ye Fan honestly replied, then told the person in charge about the stones he believed contained rare treasures.

"That’s great, I’ll seal the garden, then we’ll cut open all the stones you believe contain rare treasures!"

The person in charge of the Immortal Academy was overjoyed, issuing a slew of orders, the gambling stone workshop at the Immortal Academy was immediately sealed off, no entry or exit allowed.

Later, the person in charge summoned the oldest spirit stone master in the Immortal Academy to personally cut open the stones, extracting the rare treasures inside, then filling the stones with other materials and sealing them with secret techniques.

This method is almost identical to Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop, but higher-grade. Unless someone knows, generally no one can tell these stones have been tampered with.

The spirit stone master at the academy was over 500 years old, extremely experienced; he could determine with a glance what stone materials could be cut to yield things, having unique techniques for sealing stone materials, not having personally wielded a knife for years, usually only advising.

After sealing the garden, the master personally cut open the stones Ye Fan chose, almost all yielding spirit stones, even top-grade spirit stones and Heaven Grade spirit stones. The person in charge of the gambling stone workshop was delighted, this was definitely a great harvest.

Through this stone cutting, Ye Fan became more confident in his Stone Appraisal Technique; any tampered stones can’t escape his eyes because he personally witnessed how to seal stones, aware of the flaws therein.

In a flash, ten days passed. Ye Fan’s stone appraisal skills greatly improved, and his understanding of the Dragon Seeking Formulas advanced another step.

"Let’s go, let’s get revenge. This time, we’ll gamble until that Wei Xuantong turns green!"

Ye Fan found Hu Fei and Shi Ye, and the three boldly headed to Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop again.

These days, through Hu Fei’s investigation, they’ve learned the name and background of Eldest Young Master Wei from Chi Xia Sect.

Wei Xuantong, the cherished grandson of Sect Leader Wei Zongyi from Chi Xia Sect, a typical playboy, not much in cultivation but intensely passionate about gambling stones, reputed in this field.

Of course, his skills were nurtured by Chi Xia Sect with spirit stones, and Ye Fan unexpectedly discovered Chi Xia Sect does the same plundering as Hu Fei, an extremely shady sect.

In the Northern Domain, such sects abound, though they dare not touch the spirit stone mines of major forces like Di Clan and Holy Land, but rather extort regular miners, doing endless evil.

"This time we must make that bastard Wei lose completely!"

On the way to Rongsheng Gambling Stone Workshop, Hu Fei appeared excited, as if already seeing Wei Xuantong’s tragic end.

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