Shrouded Sky

Chapter 337 - A Duel of Source Arts: The Gathering Storm

The lake was pale blue and crystal clear. Grasses and trees flourished along the banks, pavilions dotted the landscape, and the scenery was picturesque.

At this moment, people filled the area, men and women, old and young, a restless sea of chatter and movement. Wu Ziming strode forward with a cold smile. “So, the black brat dares to show his face at last? Couldn’t bear hiding any longer?”

Blackwater sneered back. “Bear it? I’ve been itching for this. I came out of seclusion just to collect source from you. Did you bring the hundred thousand jin? If not, turn around and crawl back where you came from.”

The crowd at the lakeshore fell silent. The two sides clashed immediately, every word charged with fire. It was clear this duel of source arts would be fierce.

“Hundred thousand jin? Tuoba here has it, but you’d better not dream of taking it,” Li Chongtian said mockingly.

Tuoba Chang remained calm and silent. He stood quietly, gazing at the island in the lake, watching the flower petals drift like crystals in the air.

“As long as you have the hundred thousand jin, that’s fine,” Blackwater said coolly, worried the others might try to play tricks or come empty-handed.

Wu Ziming smiled faintly. “You really think you’ll be the ones walking away with it? If you ask me, that pile of source you got from auctioning the godly medicine will make a perfect offering today.”

“Indeed,” Li Chongtian laughed loudly. “Tuoba’s grandfather turns three hundred soon, you’ll be providing the perfect birthday gift.”

“Enough talk,” Blackwater said coldly. “Let’s settle this in a true source duel and see who’s actually giving up their source.”

Everyone’s anticipation grew. Both sides were brimming with confidence, two master-level prodigies, facing each other head-on. No one doubted that rare treasures would soon be revealed.

“Yes, a duel! Let’s see who can cut out the most extraordinary treasures!”

“Talk is empty, only the stone reveals the truth. Let’s begin!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement. To witness the techniques of top source masters, perhaps even watch a mythical treasure emerge, was something few could ever hope to see.

“The ancient source clans’ arts were once praised by the Source Grandmaster himself. You’re all in for a rare show today,” Wu Ziming boasted loudly.

“Too bad they’re up against backwater hacks,” Li Chongtian muttered just loud enough for all to hear.

“Keep talking,” Blackwater thought to himself, smirking silently. “The higher you climb, the harder you’ll fall.”

Ye Fan stepped forward, ready to cross the water and enter the sacred island known as the Heavenly-Rank Stone Workshop. To reach the goal of a million jin of source, he would only choose the finest stones.

Tuoba Chang, who had ignored them completely until now, finally turned to look at Ye Fan and said, “Wait.”

Ye Fan stopped, expression calm. Since the man was so cold, he had no intention of saying more, he simply waited for him to speak.

“The Heavenly-Rank Stone Workshop of a sacred land is a holy place,” Tuoba said slowly. “True masters of the source arts must earn their way inside through successive duels.”

“What do you propose?” Ye Fan asked.

“We needn’t start from the first stone garden. Let’s begin here, at the lakeshore. If you can’t cut out a source of the same tier, there’s no need for you to step foot in the sacred garden.”

“That’s right,” Wu Ziming chimed in. “If the difference in skill is too vast, there’s no point wasting Tuoba brother’s time.”

“Exactly,” Li Chongtian sneered. “If you can’t match his level, why even bother entering the Ji Clan’s workshop?”

“Fine,” Ye Fan said calmly. “You choose first.”

Along the lakeshore, vegetation grew thick, and small pavilions stood here and there, but stones were rare.

A source master from the Ji Clan stepped forward with a wry smile. “There are no source stones here, only a few decorative ones used for the scenery.”

Tuoba Chang shook his head. “No. There are still a few rare stones here. You just need the eyes to see them.”

The onlookers were astonished. Around the lake were only ordinary decorative stones, worn, weathered, used to complement the trees and vines.

Ye Fan and Tuoba Chang moved at the same time, walking swiftly among the scattered stones. Both moved fast, unwilling to let the other claim any potential treasure first.

“Look! The stones he touches are turning gold!” someone cried out.

“What?!” The crowd gasped in disbelief.

Tuoba Chang’s finger moved rapidly, pointing from stone to stone. Wherever it touched, the rock would glow gold, as if cast from molten metal.

“That’s... the Crimson-Gold God-Hand, a perfected art!” one elder exclaimed, amazed beyond words.

Many had never even heard of it before, let alone witnessed it. Tuoba Chang’s finger seemed to possess mystical power, stone after stone turned entirely golden before fading back to normal several steps later.

Even Ye Fan was impressed. His opponent was indeed a true master. The Crimson-Gold God-Hand could peer into the heart of stone itself.

Then, ding!

Tuoba Chang stopped before a cracked, decayed stone. It looked like rotted wood, full of holes, as if eaten by insects.

He lifted it in one hand and continued selecting, but in the end, that was the one he chose.

“That’s Ghost-Fissure Stone, it almost never contains source. Why pick that?” people murmured in confusion. Even Wu Ziming couldn’t help but ask.

Ye Fan walked along the lake, scanning the scattered stones. He hesitated for a while, this wasn’t a true stone garden, after all. These were scraps, discarded stones. Finding a treasure here would be difficult.

Still, no one hurried him. The crowd fell silent. After all, this was the man who had cut out a Godly Medicine, many believed in his eye.

Ye Fan circled halfway around the lake, studying carefully. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He walked straight to the water’s edge, reached down, and lifted a stone the size of a human head from beneath the surface. After examining it closely, he chose it.

Tuoba Chang didn’t waste words. His golden finger struck, shattering the Ghost-Fissure Stone. A dazzling blue light burst out, azure brilliance flooding the air.

A lump of alien source, the size of a fist, shone like condensed sky-blue essence, Blue Diamond Source, worth at least fifteen hundred jin of refined source.

Ye Fan said nothing. With a single light stroke, his stone split apart, and scarlet radiance flared like a rising sun.

Another alien source appeared, about the same size, glowing fiery red. Crimson Flame Source.

The crowd gasped in awe. Two masters, with casual gestures, each cut out a rare alien source worth fifteen hundred jin. Such skill could only be admired, not imitated.

“Let’s go,” Tuoba Chang said simply, stepping into a boat. No one dared to fly here; all crossed the lake by boat.

The Ji Clan’s stone masters could only pray in silence. For them, the arrival of these two prodigies was not a blessing, it was a looming disaster.

Ye Fan and Blackwater also boarded a small boat and rowed toward the island. The true duel was about to begin.

“Let us go too, let’s stand on the water and watch,” many cultivators begged.

The Ji Clan eventually agreed. The spectators cheered, surrounding the small island.

The island was only a few hundred meters across, covered in flowering ancient trees, some thousands of years old, their twisting trunks like dragons, petals glowing softly in the air, filling the place with fragrance.

The layout was exquisite: spirit springs, strange stones arranged naturally among the trees, forming a paradise-like retreat.

Under one tree sat an old man, skin like a baby’s, hair as white as snow, meditating silently with eyes closed. He didn’t react at all to the commotion.

“Haha! We’re not late, are we?” a group of elderly men appeared, white-haired, bright-eyed, full of spirit despite their age.

“Just in time! It hasn’t started yet!” They were the same old men who’d watched Ye Fan gamble at the Absolute Dao Stone Workshop before.

These elders were not ordinary, they hailed from various great sects and were so aged that few dared to offend them. When they heard of this duel, they rushed over with the enthusiasm of youth.

Normally, no one was allowed into the Ji Clan’s Heavenly-Rank Stone Workshop, but these elders were long-time patrons. For them, an exception was made. Soon, the island was filled with a sea of white heads.

“Sister Biyue, let Miaoyi go in too,” said An Miaoyi, who had just arrived.

Ji Biyue smiled and nodded, granting her entry. Jiang Yifei, Yao Yuekong, Xu Heng, Jin Chixiao, the Crown Prince of Grand Xia, the white-robed little nun, and several holy heirs followed.

Everyone was astonished, the duel had drawn an incredible crowd. Ancient elders and youthful saints alike.

“Ha! I wonder if this young man will cut out another divine treasure today,” one old man chuckled.

Another stepped forward toward Ye Fan. “Young friend, shall I give you some pointers? The stones here are no less mysterious than those of Absolute Dao. Some have sat here for decades, and none of us have dared to cut them. They might rival the Nine-Aperture Stone Man.”

Hearing this, the Ji Clan’s faces darkened.

Damn these old men, they cursed silently. Can’t they just sit quietly?

Ye Fan smiled and thanked them.

Beneath an ancient tree, he found a stone shaped like a dragon’s head, the size of a millstone. It seemed to radiate faint Dragon Might.

“This stone…” he murmured in surprise. It was extraordinary, anyone could sense the dragon aura, let alone someone trained in source arts.

More amazing still, it was naturally formed, no sign of carving, its contours a perfect dragon’s head.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” said one old man. “This stone’s more wondrous than the Nine-Aperture Stone Man. A real dragon’s head!”

Ye Fan was truly astonished. Yet after careful observation, he grew uncertain. Though it exuded strange energy, he sensed it might be hollow inside.

“How about it? This stone’s priced at a hundred thousand jin. Dare to cut it?” one elder teased.

“I’ll pass,” Ye Fan said, shaking his head. He couldn’t be sure.

“If you don’t cut it, we old folks will regret it for life!” they urged.

“If I do cut it, I might regret it for life,” Ye Fan replied firmly. It wasn’t worth the risk.

Meanwhile, other elders were enthusiastically introducing Tuoba Chang to the island’s heavenly-grade stones.

“Whoa, look at that one,” Blackwater said, pointing to a boulder in the nearby spring.

It was greenish-brown, about a hundred jin in weight, and the water striking its surface made soft, melodious tones, like a zither being played.

“This one’s truly special, the Celestial Melody Stone. We’ve coveted it for decades,” an old man explained.

The stone produced music whenever struck by flowing water, so strange that everyone longed to know what lay inside.

“Eighty thousand jin of source, what a price,” someone muttered.

Ye Fan tapped it lightly, listened, then frowned. “It doesn’t sound like a true source stone,” he thought, puzzling for a while before standing back up.

“How about that one?” another elder pointed ahead.

It was a sunny, barren spot with no vegetation, just a single flat boulder, about the size of a table.

“Twelve thousand jin of source? That’s outrageous!” Blackwater exclaimed.

“Because it’s unique,” an elder explained. “The heavens and earth have birthed a Dao diagram upon it.”

Ye Fan stepped closer and was shocked. Etched deep into the stone’s surface was a natural Yin-Yang, an Eight Trigrams pattern.

“That’s man-made carving for sure,” Blackwater scoffed.

“It’s natural,” Ye Fan said quietly. His training let him tell the difference. His heart grew heavy, these stones of the Ji Clan’s sacred garden were truly extraordinary.

“How about it, young friend?” the elders urged. “Feeling tempted? Care to open it for us?”

Ye Fan studied it carefully for a long time before shaking his head. “Aside from this Dao Rune, I see nothing unusual, at least not yet.”

“You’re calm indeed,” one elder said. “Then come see the treasure of the garden.”

They led him to another corner, where stood a massive stone, over two meters tall. Blossoms drifted around it, lending it an ethereal beauty.

“Fifteen thousand jin of source?! That’s excessive,” Blackwater said. “Even if it held godsource, it wouldn’t be worth that much.”

“Look closely, young friend,” the elders said. “This one’s special, it’s called Peerless Beauty.”

On the smooth stone surface, the natural lines formed the faint outline of a woman’s face, delicate, indistinct, yet filled with unearthly grace.

“Some say a peerless woman is sealed within, and her image shows faintly through the stone. Dare to cut it?” an elder asked, eyes burning with excitement.

“Let me see.” Ye Fan circled the stone, tapping, listening, analyzing. It truly baffled him.

He had examined four of the garden’s most prized stones, yet none he could fully read. All seemed possibly hollow, yet faintly hinted at something unimaginable within. His brow furrowed deeply.

“Cut it, cut the one called Peerless Beauty,” an elder urged. “Perhaps you’ll reveal a female Paragon Spirit.”

“If I really cut out a female Paragon Spirit,” Ye Fan said with a grin, “who in this city could suppress her?”

“I think you’re tempted, young man,” one of the old men laughed. “This treasure shouldn’t be missed.”

The elders were more eager than Ye Fan himself, pleading with shining eyes.