A man from the Big Dipper, starting his charlatanship at Mount Tai.

Someone gave an on-the-spot valuation.

The old man with the goatee stroked his beard and smiled, a smug look on his face. He held the fiery red source in his palm, looked at Lin Xiu, and said slowly.

"Your turn, young friend. Would you like to borrow my knife?"

The onlookers looked at Lin Xiuxuan's dusty, cracked stone and shook their heads, believing the outcome was already decided. The hearts of the newly recruited disciples of Tianxuan Holy Land were in their throats, but Wei Yi remained calm.

Lin Xiu can even calculate "the reincarnation of the Emperor," "the Dao Fruit of the Empress," and "the reincarnation of the Underworld Emperor." Asking him to gamble on stones? It's really a waste of his talents.

Since returning from the Tomb of the Azure Emperor, Wei Yi has been completely laid down.

Since the Tianxuan Holy Land already has "Lin Xiu," "Ye Fan," and "Little Nannan," why should he bother to revive the Holy Land? He can simply lie down and the Holy Land will naturally be revived, right?

Wei Yi was more interested in Lin Xiu himself than the outcome of the jade gambling.

[When the Supreme Holy Lord suppressed the illusory image of the Azure Emperor, he called himself a Celestial Venerable. Could it be... that he is truly a reincarnation of a Celestial Venerable?]

.......

Feeling uncomfortable under Wei Yi's gaze, Lin Xiu quickly walked to the cracked stone he had chosen.

He didn't use a knife; he simply extended his right index finger, a tiny golden light shimmering at the tip, and gently traced a line on the stone surface.

"Click~"

The stone surface cracked open with a neat fissure. No light shone through, nor did any essence emanate from it.

The old man with the goatee's smile widened, almost bursting out laughing. The onlookers sighed and shook their heads, thinking that the young man had lost his mind and chosen a real piece of trash.

Lin Xiu remained calm and composed, his index finger making a series of strokes, and with a few light strokes, the stone skin peeled off piece by piece.

Soon, the stone dwindled to the size of a baby's fist, remaining dull and gray, showing no signs of origin, just like an ordinary, stubborn rock.

"Sigh, he really is a piece of trash."

"This time, Tianxuan Stone Workshop is probably really going to be ruined..."

"Young man, you're too impulsive. Source techniques are something that improves with age. How can you challenge someone with such seniority?"

The passersby began to murmur among themselves, and many were already preparing to leave, feeling that there was nothing interesting to see.

Weiwei clenched her little fists nervously and gave Lin Xiu a trusting look.

Of course, if we're talking about who trusts Lin Xiu the most, it has to be Xiang Yang.

Because... Xiangyang had no interest in watching the excitement and was still cultivating in the inner courtyard.

Under Weiwei's watchful gaze, Lin Xiu picked up the last piece of stone, weighed it in his hand, then gripped it with his five fingers and applied slight pressure.

"Click~"

With a soft sound, the stone shattered completely, turning into a handful of gray stone dust that fell through his fingers.

However, in the instant the stone dust was scattered...

A faint glimmer of light, shimmering with golden glow, flashed by and disappeared in an instant!

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable, wonderful fragrance filled the air!

The aroma is so refreshing that just one breath makes you feel invigorated and relaxed, as if you've become a few years younger!

"This is?!"

The nearest old man with the goatee's expression changed drastically. He suddenly moved closer and stared intently at Lin Xiu's hand.

Lin Xiu opened his palm. Among the stone powder, there lay a small, translucent, crystal-clear, gelatinous object, no bigger than a fingernail, with golden light flowing slowly within it, like a dream.

That intoxicating fragrance emanates from this object.

“Stone… Stone marrow! And it’s… Golden divine marrow!” A knowledgeable old cultivator exclaimed in a trembling voice, his tone filled with disbelief.

"What?! Golden Divine Marrow? The legendary life-extending artifact that can extend lifespan by thousands of years and is powerful enough to cause even a Saint Lord-level figure to fight to the death?"

"My God! Golden Divine Marrow was cut out from a piece of waste rock! Although it's only a small amount, its value... definitely exceeds hundreds of thousands of kilograms of Origin! It's priceless and unavailable!"

"Really?! Let me see! This fragrance... no doubt about it! It's the fragrance of chalcedony! And it's the Golden Divine Marrow, one of the finest chalcedony!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

Everyone stared intently at the golden light in Lin Xiu's palm with burning, greedy, and utterly shocked eyes!

Who would have thought that such a rare treasure could be hidden in a piece of unremarkable, cracked "waste"!

The old man with the goatee was struck dumb, his face turning ashen, and he staggered back several steps. He stared intently at the golden marrow, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The fiery red source he cut out was worth 25,000 catties, which was already a good harvest and enough to make him famous.

But what the other party cut out was a life-extending sacred object worth hundreds of thousands of kilograms of Origin, and priceless and unavailable on the market: the Golden Divine Marrow! Although there wasn't much of it, its value was enough to drive countless old monsters whose lifespans were about to end mad!

The difference in their abilities is stark, like comparing heaven and earth! He lost completely, utterly and utterly!

Lin Xiu held the small ball of golden divine essence in his palm, the golden light reflecting on his calm face.

The next second, Lin Xiu turned to look at the ashen-faced, absent-minded old man with the goatee, and said calmly:

"It seems I've won by sheer luck. According to the bet, this piece of fiery red source, along with the sources you cut out in the front yard, are mine. Also..."

"Just find a signboard and hold it up in the bustling city center!"

The old man with the goatee trembled, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. His companions behind him also looked extremely grim. Among them, the young man in brocade stepped forward, forcing himself to remain calm, and cupped his hands to Lin Xiu.

“Fellow Daoist, please be lenient. Today’s matter was our fault for not recognizing your greatness and offending your esteemed Stone Shop. We don’t need these resources anymore, and the bet is over. How about that? My master… we are willing to compensate you with some additional resources.”

"Let it go?"

Lin Xiu smiled, a very bright smile.

Seeking reconciliation only after the fact? Are you kidding me?

"You agreed to the bet, you signed the agreement, and everyone here is a witness. Now that you've lost, you think you can just let it go? There's no such logic in the world."

"Or do you think that my Tianxuan Holy Land is easy to bully? That you can come and go as you please, and humiliate me as you please?"

With his last sentence, Lin Xiu's voice suddenly turned cold, and an invisible pressure spread out, causing the young man in brocade robes who had spoken to catch his breath.

Dragon Transformation Realm!

The young man before them had actually reached the Dragon Transformation Realm! He far surpassed the current generation of young holy sons and daughters!

Add to that his superb Source Technique skills... Is he really from the younger generation? Or is he some old codger pretending?

The old man with the goatee knew there was no way to resolve this peacefully. His expression shifted, and finally, under everyone's gaze, as if he had used all his strength, he said in a deep voice.

"I... Zhou Butong... was blind and incompetent, and offended Tianxuan Stone Workshop. Please... please forgive me!"

After saying this, he took out a piece of scrap stone, engraved words of apology on it, hung it around his neck, and went out for a procession.

From this day forward, Zhou Butong's reputation as a "Master of Source Arts" is utterly ruined. In this Holy City, and even throughout the entire Northern Region's Source Arts world, he will likely become a laughingstock.

Lin Xiu stopped looking at him, raised his hand, and the Origin on the ground, along with the fiery red Origin, flew into his sleeve. Then he cupped his hands in greeting to those around him:

"Please excuse my poor performance today. Tianxuan Stone Shop is an honest business, dealing with everyone, young and old, and offering genuine products at fair prices."

"If any of you have real skills, you are naturally welcome to gamble. But if anyone harbors ill intentions and deliberately causes trouble, this is what will happen to them."

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now. Please make yourselves at home."

The onlookers gazed at Lin Xiu with eyes filled with awe and apprehension. No one dared to underestimate the seemingly dilapidated Tianxuan Stone Workshop anymore; they all bowed and departed with varying expressions.

Besides the excellent quality of its source stones, Tianxuan Stone Workshop also boasts a young man whose strength has reached the Dragon Transformation Realm! His cultivation surpasses that of the current generation of young holy sons by one or even two major realms!

Today's events will surely spread rapidly throughout the Holy City.

.......

After everyone had left, Lin Xiu's smile faded, and he turned to look at Ye Fan and Qin Yao:

"Send men to follow those people, especially the old man with the goatee. Investigate their background, who they've been in contact with recently, and whose favors they've received."

Ye Fan's spirits lifted.

"The Holy Lord is suspicious..."

"It's not a doubt, it's a certainty." Lin Xiu said indifferently, looking at the golden divine essence in his palm that was slowly losing its luster.

“Ordinary Source Masters, after winning a Source battle, might say a few polite words and boast a little, and that’s it. They wouldn’t deliberately and systematically tarnish the reputation of Stone Workshop.”

“I have already figured out the forces behind them. The reason I asked you to investigate is simply to obtain concrete evidence.”

"Yes!"

A cold glint flashed in Ye Fan's eyes, and he immediately discussed with Qin Yao how to arrange reliable personnel.

.......

Lin Xiu walked back to the inner hall and handed the small ball of golden divine essence to Wei Yi.

"Elder Wei, this item has some effect on prolonging life, please keep it."

Wei Yi's eyes were full of satisfaction as he pushed his hand forward and said:

“Your Majesty is kind. I have no interest in the Great Dao anymore. I only hope to see the Tianxuan Holy Land prosper again.”

"You should keep this Golden Divine Marrow for yourself, Holy Lord."

Without saying a word, Lin Xiu forcibly shoved the stone marrow into Wei Yi's hand.

"Old Wei, just accept it as I told you to."

"At six or seven thousand years old, you should be at the age where you dare to fight and take risks. How can you remain so quiet and waste your talent?"

"Furthermore, I can foresee that there will definitely be situations in the future that require your full effort, and even if you do your best, you may not be able to resolve them."

"Therefore, please make sure you are in good condition before then, Mr. Wei."

"The future~"

Holding the warm, life-giving golden marrow in his hand, Wei Yi looked at Lin Xiu's expression that said, "You'll definitely make a move in the future," and finally accepted the marrow.

Well then, since Lin Xiu said there might be a time in the future when he needs to give it his all, then... he'll give it his all one last time before that moment arrives, and keep himself in top form.

........

The next day, at the construction site in the Qixia Mountains, Lin Xiu was infusing the surrounding area with immortal spiritual energy as usual.

Ye Fan and Qin Yao were reporting from the side.

It turned out that after fulfilling their agreement, the old man with the goatee and his group did not linger in the Holy City, but instead split up. In the end, they all entered the Yao Guang Holy Land and several properties owned by the Jiang family in the Holy City.