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Chapter 713: The Grand Prize
Chapter 713: The Grand Prize
Upon reaching the spiritual energy barrier surrounding the painted barge, Lu Chen sheathed his Wind and Thunder Sword and, following the crowd, landed on a spirit wood plank.
Stepping into the first level, he found himself in an incredibly spacious hall filled with oddly shaped and sized stones. Each unique stone attracted a crowd of cultivators gathered around it.
Some cultivators, fearful that their desired stone would be snatched away and the opportunity lost, wasted no time and immediately took out their spirit stones to claim their prize.
Expressions of surprise, pain, and sighs filled the air around Lu Chen.
"Even cultivators cannot escape the temptation of treasures," Lu Chen remarked with a spiritual sense scan, observing the varied reactions in the hall.
Without having to fight demonic beasts or worry about being robbed by other cultivators, one simply needed to spend hundreds or thousands of spirit stones for a chance to obtain a precious opportunity. This was an irresistible draw for many cultivators.
"It's a pity that gamblers may win, but the house always has the upper hand." Lu Chen glanced at the barge's cultivators bustling about the hall and smiled enigmatically.
"Of course, in front of me, they might be the exception."
Without lingering in the first hall, Lu Chen made his way upward.
The barge was divided into three levels: the lowest level for low-grade ancient stones, and the highest for high-grade ones. To enter the second and third levels, one had to meet certain cultivation restrictions to avoid unnecessary trouble.
The second level was restricted to those at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, while the third level was exclusive to those at the Core Formation stage or higher.
As Lu Chen entered the second level, he noticed a significant decrease in both the number of ancient stones and cultivators compared to the first level.
The ancient stones here were more extraordinary, emanating spiritual light and displaying unusual phenomena, clearly setting them apart from ordinary stones.
After quietly observing for a while and silently restoring his cultivation, Lu Chen proceeded to the third level.
The cultivators on this level had a minimum cultivation base of the Core Formation stage, and there were about two dozen of them. Among these, three individuals stood out with their profound auras, indicating a strong possibility of being Nascent Soul experts.
Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he tread lightly as he entered the grand hall.
His arrival went largely unnoticed as the cultivators were deeply focused on scrutinizing the ancient stones before them.
The number of ancient stones on the third level was again halved, leaving only a hundred or so. They varied in size, with the largest being as big as a house and the smallest no bigger than a fist.
Each stone presented a divine and unusual phenomenon.
Some had holes and crevices, emitting ancient music that was pleasing to the ear, gently plucking at the heartstrings of those present.
One stone resembled an infant, complete with distinct facial features and limbs, so lifelike that it sent shivers down one's spine, clearly exuding an evil presence.
Another stone shone with brilliant golden light, upon which a Buddha's shadow sat in meditation, reciting scriptures. Approaching it brought a sense of tranquility and peace.
"It feels like each of these ancient stones contains abundant treasures," Lu Chen remarked as he examined each stone in the hall, unsure of which to choose.
"I wonder if it's worth spending two thousand low-grade spirit stones for a chance at stone gambling," he thought to himself.
He had spent less than thirty thousand spirit stones at the Sea Pavilion Commerce Association's auction to purchase the Evil Matriarch Tree Demon sapling. Two thousand low-grade spirit stones could buy a common fifth-grade spirit herb, so he was hesitant about the gamble.
"Is this your first time stone gambling, fellow daoist? If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
Suddenly, a gentle voice reached Lu Chen's ears.
He turned to see a middle-aged cultivator at the late Core Formation stage smiling at him from the center of the hall.
"I am Jade Cosmos, and I'm in charge of the third level of the Ancient Jade Pavilion," the middle-aged cultivator transmitted amicably.
"So it's Jade daoist. Yes, this is my first time here at the Ancient Jade Pavilion, and I'm curious about the unknown treasures within these ancient stones, so I thought I'd give it a try," Lu Chen replied.
"Thank you for the clarification, Brother Huang. So, I'm allowed to touch the stones directly and inspect them with my spiritual sense. If I possess secret eye arts or other treasures, I can use them as well?" Lu Chen inquired, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Indeed, go right ahead. Just remember, no damage to the stones," the middle-aged man replied amicably. It was clear that the Ancient Jade Pavilion had absolute confidence in the ancient stones, despite their resistance to spiritual sense scans.
"In that case, I'm relieved," Lu Chen said, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
With the freedom to handle the stones directly, he could easily determine whether or not they contained Spirit Seeds. However, he didn't immediately resort to that method. Instead, he feigned interest as he strolled around, inspecting the ancient stones on display.
During his perusal, he even asked the Demon Ghost Vine, hidden within his robe, to take a look. However, the vine remained silent, and after several attempts, Lu Chen had to abandon this approach.
He then activated his eyes, causing a faint spiritual light to shine within them as he focused his gaze on the ancient stone before him.
Using his Break Illusion Eye Technique, he noticed the spiritual energy lines on the stone's surface swirling chaotically. As he tried to peer deeper, the transparent lines shifted constantly, obscuring his vision and making it impossible to discern anything clearly.
Circling the room, he discreetly marked several ancient stones that might be related to Spirit Seeds. Some exhibited lotuses, while others were inlaid with golden bodhi stones.
"Alright, I've made my decision," he murmured to himself.
Just then, a voice, impatient and eager, interrupted his thoughts.
A middle-aged man in a green robe with a sharp countenance approached a gray stone the size of a human head. He quickly strode up to Yu Huanzhen of the Ancient Jade Pavilion.
"Friend Yu, here are two hundred medium-grade spirit stones. Please help me open this stone," the man said, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Are you sure about this particular stone, friend?" Yu Huanzhen asked, her tone carrying a hint of caution.
"Yes, this is the one!" the green-robed man asserted confidently.
"Very well," Yu Huanzhen acknowledged. She retrieved a semi-transparent blade artifact from her storage bag. The artifact seemed to possess a unique spiritual power that countered the ancient stones' effects, as Lu Chen observed the spiritual energy lines on the stone being slowly unravelled by the blade.
With a series of cracks, the ancient stone broke apart, revealing a small gray sword, no longer than three inches, that shot out from its center with a sharp buzz.
The green-robed man, prepared for this moment, immediately captured the tiny sword with a burst of spiritual light, cradling it in his palm as he examined it closely.
"A fifth-grade sword fetus! It can be refined into a flying sword artifact! Lady Luck is on my side today!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with delight.
The hall erupted in a chorus of envious exclamations from the assembled cultivators.
"Congratulations, friend! What a grand prize you've won!"
"Two thousand low-grade spirit stones in exchange for a fifth-grade sword fetus. That's a tremendous profit!"
The cultivators buzzed with excitement and discussion.
"Hahaha, thank you, everyone! May you all find even greater treasures within these ancient stones!" the green-robed cultivator said, bowing his hands to the crowd.
The atmosphere in the room immediately turned lively, fueled by the appearance of the fifth-grade sword fetus. Many cultivators felt their hearts stir with anticipation.
Soon enough, several cultivators selected over ten ancient stones each and proceeded to have them opened.
However, the results were underwhelming. Only a few treasures were unearthed, and their value paled in comparison to the sword fetus.
"That green-robed man was probably an inside job," Lu Chen mused to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I guess it's my turn to strike it big now," he added, a hint of anticipation lacing his voice.
(End of Chapter)
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