Shrouded Sky

Chapter 338 - The Living World of Mystic Stones

Each of the heaven-grade strange stones was extraordinary, true treasures of the garden. Even Ye Fan could not see through them completely. The more he studied, the more he realized how vast and profound the art of source truly was, an endless path with no final peak.

In ancient times, the Celestial Source Master was called an unparalleled genius for good reason, he could see through the ancient veins of the earth at a glance, roam freely across the world, and perceive the secrets hidden within all stone.

Even Tuoba Chang’s brows were slightly furrowed as he walked through the stone garden. Here, amid the mists and spirit air, even he felt pressure, some stones were shrouded in mystery, resisting all attempts to pierce their secrets.

The island was small, no more than a few hundred meters across. The ancient trees were mighty but not dense. Each one resembled a coiled dragon, its bark like scales, its branches heavy with blossoms.

Petals drifted down in pink, white, sky blue, and pale violet, each crystalline and fragrant. The scene felt like a sacred land of gods, serene, pure, and divine.

At the center, beneath a massive ancient tree where flower petals rained down, sat the old guardian of the Ji Clan’s stone garden. His skin was soft as an infant’s, his hair as white as snow. He looked like a sleeping god.

The old masters who had come did not disturb him. From start to finish, the old man remained cross-legged, eyes closed, motionless.

Ye Fan and Tuoba Chang circled the garden, studying every strange stone before finally standing across from each other beneath the flowering trees, both calm and silent.

Tuoba Chang said, “Anything below the level of an ultimate treasure doesn’t count. Whoever loses must hand over not only the hundred thousand jin of source but also the divine object cut from their stone.”

“Agreed,” Ye Fan replied with a nod.

At once, the two began to choose stones, and everyone held their breath, watching closely.

The Crown Prince of Grand Xia, An Miaoyi, Ji Biyue, Jiang Yifei, Yao Yuekong, and Jin Chixiao all moved closer, opening their divine sight to observe carefully.

The old men were even worse, they crowded right up to the two competitors, following every step like excited children. Their clouded eyes now blazed with divine light; the frailty of age vanished, replaced by eager vitality.

Everyone else stood silently at the island’s edge, utterly still.

Tuoba Chang was the first to act. His entire right hand turned golden as he strode forward, pressing down one by one upon more than a dozen stones he had already taken note of.

The Crimson Gold God-Hand gave him a godlike sense, he could see through everything. His whole body glowed faintly with golden light, as though connected with the stones themselves.

The crowd gasped. One after another, the stones became translucent, their insides visible to all.

Everyone knew that source stones were unique, no cultivator, no matter how powerful, could truly sense what was inside. Yet now, through source arts, the impossible was happening.

“This is the work of a Celestial Source Master!” someone cried. “Legend says that when the Celestial Source Master appeared, no stone held secrets before him.”

“The Tuoba Clan’s techniques are terrifying. Such methods defy heaven itself, no wonder their fame endures!”

“Tuoba Chang truly is a prodigy. To reach this level at his age, he may well become the sixth Celestial Source Master of the Northern Region.”

The old men were awestruck, eyes glowing as if they were staring at a celestial beauty. Some were already scheming how to win his favor.

Everyone else was equally shocked. Such talent was priceless, every great sect in the North would fight to have him.

In contrast, Ye Fan was calm as drifting mist. He passed lightly among the flowering trees, his clear fingers brushing against stones in a quiet, natural rhythm. There was no glow, no spectacle, only the tranquil grace of a mountain spring flowing over stones.

At last, Tuoba Chang stopped before the Dragon Head Stone. His golden hand rested upon it, merging with the ancient form.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. It was clear that the Tuoba prodigy had made his choice. His expression was solemn.

The old men surrounded him eagerly, this stone had sat here for years, uncut and untouchable. Now, perhaps, its mystery would finally be revealed.

An Miaoyi’s hair fluttered as she stepped forward gracefully. Jiang Yifei followed, curiosity bright in his refined eyes.

Even the Celestial Source Master himself might have hesitated before such a stone, how could anyone today hope to see through it?

Tuoba Chang’s golden hand pressed upon the dragon head. The stone remained unmoved, calm as a still lake, but faint traces of dragon energy seeped out.

Ding... ding... ding...

He struck it 365 times in succession, each touch sending a ray of divine light into the stone.

At the same time, his whole body glowed faintly gold, connecting him completely with the massive dragon head.

He closed his eyes, his right hand resting upon the stone, divine light flowing, like a god resurrected.

“There’s a treasure wheel under his palm!” someone exclaimed.

“Yes! A treasure wheel, five-colored and radiant!”

Everyone, elders, nobles, saints, and common spectators alike, was struck dumb by what they saw.

“It’s the Celestial Source Wheel! It can record the secrets within the stone, revealing what treasures lie inside!”

“This is truly the technique of a Celestial Source Master. Tuoba Chang has restored a lost art!”

The old generation turned pale with shock; even those who didn’t understand were deeply moved once the truth spread among the crowd.

Blackwater’s heart pounded, his opponent’s source arts were terrifying. The coming duel might not be easy to win.

Then, light flared. Tuoba Chang staggered back as the Celestial Source Wheel clung to his palm, blazing like a five-colored sun, too bright to look at directly.

But no one turned away. Eyes wide and shining, they strained to glimpse what was reflected within the wheel.

“A dragon! Heavens, there’s a dragon in the wheel!”

The sacred heaven-grade stone garden erupted in chaos.

“The Celestial Source Wheel has recorded a dragon!”

“Could it be true? Is there really a dragon inside the Dragon Head Stone?!”

Within the wheel, a dragon’s shadow swam, its head and tail twisting as though alive. Even from afar, its faint aura of dragon might made people tremble.

Everyone was stunned. Was a true dragon about to emerge from the stone?

The Ji Clan turned pale. They had invited the greatest experts to appraise this garden, how had they missed something so extraordinary?

Even proud figures like Jin Chixiao, the white-clad nun, and Xiang Yifei could not hide their excitement.

Envoys of great powers secretly sent messages to Tuoba Chang, offering heavenly treasures to buy the stone outright.

“I’ve heard that true dragons are born of heaven and earth,” someone whispered. “Could there really be a young dragon inside?”

“Even if not, this stone must contain something extraordinary, something related to a true dragon.”

Everyone’s eyes burned with greed and awe. Some of the oldest experts present actually groaned in regret, they had examined this very stone in years past, yet failed to take it.

Tuoba Chang’s golden glow slowly faded. The Celestial Source Wheel vanished from his palm. He gently patted the Dragon Head Stone and said, “I choose this one.”

No one doubted him now. His mastery of the art was clear, he truly carried the bearing of a future Celestial Source Master.

Blackwater muttered curses under his breath. “No wonder he’s so arrogant, his source arts are frightening. This is going to be trouble.”

Ye Fan could also feel the pressure. If the stone actually contained a True Dragon, no other treasure could compare, unless he cut out an immortal itself.

Expressionless, he walked through the garden again. Choosing an ordinary stone was out of the question, he needed a miracle.

He studied the remaining treasures: the Immortal Sound Stone, the Eight Trigram Dao Diagram Stone, and the Peerless Beauty Stone. He frowned, standing silently among them.

“If a true dragon doesn’t descend into the mortal realm so easily,” he thought, “then perhaps that vision was an illusion. If I can cut out a supreme treasure, it might still be enough.”

He paused before the Eight Trigram Dao Diagram Stone, circling it several times, deep in thought. The natural diagram radiated Dao Resonance, it felt as though all laws returned to one.

But in the end, he moved on, standing before the Peerless Beauty Stone. His hand brushed across its surface, fingers tapping lightly in rhythmic motion, graceful, precise, almost musical.

“You don’t have many choices left,” an old man advised. “Pick one of these, at least they match in level.”

“Indeed,” another added. “If he really cuts out a young dragon, your only chance is to draw out a female Paragon Spirit to match it.”

Ye Fan had regained his calm. After long contemplation, he sighed and moved away from the Peerless Beauty Stone toward another direction.

“What’s wrong, can’t you choose?” Wu Ziming mocked, trying to rattle him. “A rustic trickster dares challenge the sacred art of source, ridiculous!”

“Like a frog at the bottom of a well,” Li Chongtian sneered. “Comparing him to Tuoba Chang is an insult.”

“Shut the fuck up, you morons!” Blackwater snapped. “You’re disrupting the duel!”

Wu Ziming laughed. “He’s hesitating because he’s afraid. What’s wrong with saying it out loud?”

Li Chongtian added, “Even if he finds a rare stone, it can’t compare to the dragon. Better to give up now before he wastes his money.”

Tension flared before the cutting even began. The air crackled with hostility.

Tuoba Chang’s voice cut through it, cold, dismissive. “Enough. Let him choose. I’ll make him lose so thoroughly he’ll wish he’d never come.”

Ye Fan turned and smiled. “In gambling with source, anything is possible. Even if you think you’ve seen a dragon, it might still be nothing but illusion.”

He walked to the edge of the spring and lifted the Immortal Sound Stone from the water. He brushed it dry, the blue-brown surface glimmered in the sunlight, ancient and unassuming.

There was something about it, a feeling he couldn’t name.

The crowd fell utterly silent, holding its breath. Ye Fan’s expression had become grave, it was clear he was about to use a true source technique.

Suddenly, purple light shot from his eyes, piercing straight into the stone.

“Heavens! That’s the Celestial Source Perception!”

“The Eyes of True Insight! The Celestial Source Master’s art, seeing through all illusion! Such divine sight defies heaven itself!”

The old generation trembled. Even An Miaoyi and the Grand Xia Crown Prince were deeply moved, stepping closer in awe.

Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian finally shut their mouths, faces stiff with unease.

Then, the sound of a Heavenly Dao echoed across the island, melodious and profound. It was as if a divine scripture were being recited from the immortal realm itself.

The Immortal Sound Stone resonated in harmony with Ye Fan’s perception, its tones washing over the listeners’ hearts like waves of sacred music.

At the center of the island, beneath the ancient tree, the old guardian suddenly opened his eyes. Crystal petals fell like divine light as his gaze turned toward Ye Fan.

“I choose this stone,” Ye Fan said calmly.