Chapter 1963: Betting on Stones

Lingxin Stone Shop.
This is the most famous gambling stone shop in Yucheng.
As the name suggests, this is the property of Lingxin Holy Land in Yucheng.
In the business of gambling stones, Lingxin Stone Shop is second to none in Yucheng, and no one dares to claim to be the first. (Translated:
No matter the scale or other aspects, Lingxin Stone Shop is second to none.
However, after gaining a basic understanding of the matters concerning betting on stones, Mo Wangchen became quite interested.
每一个行当都有着属于自己的特殊秘法，用以开启奇石。
其中便属凌心圣地的秘法最为神奇。
他们开出来的奇石，从不会损坏石中之物，且也是能够保存的最为完好。
No wonder Lingxin Stone Store's business is so booming, renowned throughout Yucheng.
After walking for a while on the bustling streets, Mo Wangchen soon arrived at the entrance of Lingxin Stone Store.
放眼望去，石行中修士不绝，生意十分火爆。
Mo Wangchen walked into it and glanced around, noticing the presence of many wooden shelves throughout the market.
Each shelf was filled with various oddly-shaped stones, differing in size and appearance.
The largest one can reach about half a person's height, while the smallest one is only as big as a fist.
The so-called stone gambling lies in this word "gambling".
Mo Wangchen discovered that each and every stone in this field is exceptionally unique, with a mysterious energy enveloping its exterior, as if it were naturally formed.
这层能量的存在，非人为，而是在古遗迹、秘境中带出来时便已这般。
It is precisely due to the existence of this layer of energy that no one, using any means, can see or uncover the secrets within the stone.
However, there are rumors that in Yucheng, there is a 'Wang Family,' said to have risen to prominence through stone gambling.
The Wang family's ancestors once had a revered elder who reached the half-step Heaven Emperor realm, famous throughout the world. In a single year in Yucheng, he forged two Supreme Divine Weapons, which made him renowned across the land.
Since then, the Wang family gained its name and was known to the world as the Stone Betting Family.
Legend has it that they are familiar with a special secret technique called Source Art, which allows them to glimpse the mysteries within extraordinary stones.
Back in the day, that elder ancestor roamed through the various stone shops in Yucheng using this secret technique. It is said that among the stones he gambled on, at least six out of ten would yield something, with a probability above fifty percent.
However, in this era, although the secret techniques of the Wang family have not been completely lost, they pale in comparison to the ancestral master of the past.
Nowadays, among the descendants of the Wang family, it is considered good if two out of ten strange stones can yield any results. Reply: The secret techniques of the Wang family have indeed declined over time. It is unfortunate that the current generation can only expect a low success rate in finding valuable items from the chosen stones.
However, even so, the Wang family is still a prominent gambling stone family in Yu City.
After all, being able to cut out two pieces from ten is not something that just anyone can achieve.
Most people, even if they spend dozens or even hundreds, may not necessarily get anything in return.
It’s easy to imagine how slim the chances are.
Mo Wang Chen wanders through the Lingxin Stone Shop, lingering in front of those wooden racks.
Each stone displayed above is marked with a corresponding price.
The cheapest ones cost only a few thousand spirit stones, while the more expensive ones are over a million.
“Guests, are you interested? Would you like to select a few curious stones to cut open and take a look?”
A servant responsible for reception laughed and asked Mo Wangchen.
He could tell that Mo Wangchen seemed unfamiliar with the gambling stone aspect, perhaps because as a cultivator who recently arrived at Yu City, he had no knowledge about it. Translated: "
"Is the energy on these stones natural?" Mo Wangchen asked curiously.
The servant nodded and replied, "These extraordinary stones are all found by our team from Lingxin Stone Company in various ancient relics and secret realms. The energy encased in each stone is naturally formed. Even we, from Lingxin Stone Company, cannot fully understand the mysteries hidden within the energy. The Wang family, who are renowned for their gambling skills in stone, can only make a rough estimate using their expertise, but still not completely accurate."
"So magical."
Mo Wangchen puzzled, walked to the front of the Mu family, couldn't help but reach out and touch, wanting to see what exactly these so-called energies were.
"Buzz..."
As soon as his palm touched a stone on the Mu family house, suddenly, Mo Fangchen sensed that a thread of eternal life force within his spiritual sea seemed to be triggered, becoming active.
What's going on?
He didn't understand.
Could it be that there is some kind of connection between the eternal life force and the special energy on these stones?
Thinking this way in his mind, he placed his hand on another stone. Translated:
Calm and serene.
This time, the power of eternal life displayed no abnormalities.
He once again placed his palm on the same stone as before.
"Buzz..."
The power of eternal life surged, as if it resonated with the stone in some way.
"Could it be..."
Can the power of immortality glimpse the secrets within these stones?
Thinking of this, Mo Wangchen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, eager to verify it.
Just choose this stone and help me cut it open."
There is a connection between this stone and the power of everlasting life. If something can truly be cut out of it, it will prove that my previous idea was correct.
Quickly, he paid eighty thousand spirit stones and bought this piece of stone. Led by the servant, he arrived at a place specifically for cutting stones.
He saw several old men sitting in front of wooden tables, and on the tables in front of them were many stones, evidently purchased by cultivators from various factions with spirit stones and waiting to be cut open here.
And these elders are responsible for opening the stones.
Many of the stones in front of them have already been opened, but there is nothing inside, which is disappointing and sigh-inducing.
"Liu, could you please help open this stone for this young friend? He seems to be gambling on stones for the first time. The servant brought the stone in front of an elder."
The old man nodded in response and didn't ask any further questions.
After all, he experienced such things tens or hundreds of times every day.
"They say that Liu, the manager, has the best stone-cutting technique. Today, I carefully selected over ten stones, so I ask Liu, the manager, to help open them for me first."
Just at this moment, a man in his middle age came from behind and squeezed his way forward. He spoke up like this.
"This..."
The servant immediately paused, and then smiled, saying, "Please wait a moment, sir. This young guest arrived first, so let us help him first, shall we?"
“What does it matter what comes first? It's just a piece of stone, and it doesn't look like it's priced very high. Each of my ten or so pieces is worth hundreds of thousands; can’t you see who the real big client is?” The middle-aged man frowned.
"Hmm..." the servant looked somewhat troubled.
"What the heck, I heard it just now. This kid must be gambling for the first time, right?"
The middle-aged man glanced at Mo Wangchen, "First time gambling, and it's just a simple stone. It would be a miracle if something valuable comes out. Who can have such incredible luck to open something valuable on their first try? He should just throw away this stone since it won't yield anything anyway."