Capítulo 390: Chapter 508 — The Main Event Arrives
Chapter 508 — The Main Event Arrives
The Cangqiong Guild held its stone gambling once every thirty years. In the years leading up to it, the guild scoured the Tianyuan Realm, collecting forbidden stones from every corner. By the day of the, the vast majority of these rare stones were brought together, laid out for the countless cultivators who had gathered to make their selections.
On this particular day, the second floor of the guild had already grown crowded. Visitors wandered along the stone paths of the exquisite courtyard, examining the forbidden stones displayed with great care among flowering trees and babbling streams. As the hour of Yǒu approached, the murmur of anticipation spread through the crowd. Everyone knew what was coming: the highlight of the—the unveiling of the guild’s most treasured forbidden stones.
The clang of the guild bell resonated through the hall, silencing conversations and drawing all attention to the center of the courtyard. This was the mont everyone had been waiting for.
“Finally!”
“I wonder what rare treasures will erge today…”
“Could there even be an Emperor-level relic hidden among them?”
“If an Imperial Weapon appears, the Seven Kings will surely take notice.”
“And not just the Seven Kings—other hegemonic powers across the realm will co rushing as well.”
Indeed, Saint-grade tals and weapons were already relatively common among the top-tier powers, but the raw materials for forging Imperial Weapons—or the weapons themselves—were exceedingly rare. Each piece was coveted fiercely, capable of shifting the balance of strength within a power. A single Imperial Weapon in the wrong hands could alter the dynamics of entire city-states, or even the alliances of multiple clans.
However, in the history of the stone gambling, such appearances were rare. While materials for Saint-grade weapons occasionally surfaced, a complete Imperial Weapon had yet to be revealed in public.
At the center of the second-floor courtyard, a small landscaped hill served as the stage. From here, all eyes were directed to the master of ceremonies, the guild’s custodian, Wan Zhanggui.
He raised his hands and perford a few intricate hand seals. A subtle hum of energy emanated from him as he extended his focus toward the hill.
“Whoosh!”
In an instant, the hill transford. Rocks and earth shifted seamlessly, flattening into a broad, open platform. Upon it, a series of square and circular stone tables erged. Each table held a forbidden stone, carefully positioned. Unlike the stones displayed throughout the courtyard, these were unique: strange shapes, shifting colors, faint pulsations of energy. To the experienced eye, it was clear that these stones were far from ordinary; each seed to contain secrets waiting to be unlocked.
Regular attendees of the, seasoned in the art of gambling stones, were imdiately entranced. Their eyes glead, hands itching to inspect these rare stones. The effect was akin to a starving man encountering a sumptuous feast—the kind of opportunity that could change a life in a single purchase.
Wan Zhanggui ascended the platform, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. “Esteed guests, before you are ten extraordinary stones selected by the Cangqiong Guild. Each is priced at a minimum of one thousand premium spirit stones. Interested parties may approach to inspect and select.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
“This is why it is called a gambling stone,” he continued. “Once a forbidden stone is purchased and opened, the remaining stone becos worthless. The risk is high, but so too is the reward.”
Imdiately, figures began to move toward the platform. So approached with the confident calm of experience, so with the focused intensity of specialized cultivation techniques, and others relying on strange magical artifacts to aid in detecting hidden treasures. Each had only one goal: to peer into the soul of the stone and reveal the riches it might conceal.
But despite their efforts, the secrets remained hidden. Energy scans, divination, and even rare sight-enhancing treasures failed to pierce the stone’s mysteries. Frustration spread quickly among the would-be gamblers, with so muttering threats, wishing to smash the stones open with sheer force. Yet the guild’s stones remained impervious.
Except, of course, for Fang Chen.
He stood slightly apart from the crowd, observing each stone with ticulous care. His brow furrowed as he noticed subtle shifts in color across several stones—a phenonon he had rarely seen in his years of treasure-hunting. These color fluctuations indicated that the stones’ value was not fixed, but variable, prone to sudden surges or drops. A single misjudgnt could cost an imnse sum. Fang Chen’s expression hardened. He would need patience and precision, analyzing each stone carefully before making a choice.
Fang Luo leaned slightly toward him and asked casually, “What do you think?”
Fang Chen’s eyes never left the stones. “We’ll see. Let’s study them first.”
anwhile, Fang Mu Ge and Fang Ying, having reunited after many years, were engrossed in their own conversation. Their focus was not on the stones. They had co to Seven Kings City for the Ice-Fire Secret Realm, and the was a side diversion—a chance to enjoy the atmosphere rather than pursue profit. Laughter and smiles punctuated their discussion, filling the space around them with warmth and familiarity.
At that mont, Fang Mu Ge’s laughter rang out, echoing faintly across the platform. It was a carefree, genuine sound, but it imdiately drew the attention of one particular figure: Nie Zhe.
Nie Zhe, standing in front of a forbidden stone and carefully observing it, scowled. “You’re laughing? What are you laughing at, Fang?”
Fang Mu Ge feigned ignorance, tilting his head innocently. “I don’t understand what you an.”
Nie Zhe’s eyes narrowed. “I’m here examining the stones, and you’re laughing—are you mocking ?”
Fang Mu Ge chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of scorn. “Oh, so that’s it? Tell , did the Cangqiong Guild hire you to oversee my laughter? Or perhaps you think the stones belong to your Nie family? Let remind you, this is a public event. You are not in charge here. And anyway, you don’t even understand what you’re looking at.”
Nie Zhe bristled. “You think you understand? Why don’t we settle this in a proper gamble?”
Fang Mu Ge’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Since you insist on throwing away your money, I suppose I will reluctantly help you out again.”
Nie Zhe’s jaw tightened, a mixture of frustration and anticipation flashing in his eyes. In his mind, the rivalry with Fang Mu Ge had always been bitter, and now, with Fang Chen and Fang Ying nearby, Fang Mu Ge was confident enough to strike boldly. The tension between them thickened the air.
The stage was set. The main event of the stone gambling had officially begun, and all eyes in the courtyard—curious, envious, or eager for profit—were now locked on the platform.
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