The Northern Territory was a world of Source. Many businesses revolved around Source, and among them, stone cutting at stone workshops was the most popular.
The major holy lands and great families would bring Source Stones that could not be seen through by conventional means to their own stone workshops for sale. Cultivators spent Source to buy and cut them open.
Some Source Stones might contain peerless treasures. Even Immortal Metal or Divine Elixirs could be cut out, allowing cultivators to become rich overnight.
Some Source Stones... contained absolutely nothing, and the Source spent on them went straight down the drain.
One cut led to heaven; another led to hell.
Since ancient times, those who had cut out immortal treasures and divine artifacts had been exceedingly rare. The vast majority gained nothing and could only buy a house on a rooftop.
Yet countless people still never tired of stone workshops.
What if I'm the one who strikes it rich?
And cutting stones was not entirely about luck. Some people had mastered special methods that allowed them to observe and identify stones, raising the chances of finding something to a certain extent.
That method was Source Technique.
The Four Great Source Arts Families and the Source King Lineage were the foremost authorities in this field, highly sought after by all.
The Four Symbols Stone Workshop was enormous, with pavilions, towers, artificial hills, and lakes. It was elegant and otherworldly.
The workshop was divided into layer upon layer of courtyards, with Source Stones of every size and shape displayed everywhere.
Qin Sheng strolled through the first courtyard, carefully examining these Source Stones and judging them with the Source Technique he had learned.
"Spiritual vitality fills its surface. It looks like it contains Fortune, but that is only superficial. There is most likely nothing inside."
"This Source Stone is naturally imbued with spiritual grace. It is indeed unusual. Hmm? Its earthly energy is not fully harmonious. This situation... damn it, the Four Symbols Holy Land is truly shameless. They reassembled Source Stones that had already been cut open and put them back up for sale, even adding special effects."
Qin Sheng silently reached conclusions about these Source Stones. Some he could see through, while others he could not.
After looking for a while, he sighed inwardly.
"What a black-hearted business. Ninety-nine out of every hundred Source Stones are empty. The remaining one may contain something, but cutting it open probably would not even recoup the cost."
Qin Sheng beckoned over an attendant and asked, "How are the Source Stones here priced?"
"A Source Stone weighing a thousand jin sells for one jin of Source," the attendant replied.
"Source Stones of this grade are priced this way at virtually every stone workshop in the Holy City. Please rest assured, guest. The Four Symbols Stone Workshop is absolutely trustworthy."
Qin Sheng nodded and dismissed the attendant, then continued studying the Source Stones.
About a quarter of an hour later, Qin Sheng made his move. He spent five jin of Source to buy five Source Stones and asked a workshop master to cut them open.
This drew some people over to watch.
"Empty. There's nothing inside."
"This one is empty too."
"Still nothing. Young people are just too impulsive. He's taken a huge loss this time."
Qin Sheng remained completely calm.
"The fourth one produced nothing either. Looks like the Holy City will gain another disappointed man today."
Until the last stone was opened. Brilliant light poured from within, revealing a large chunk of Source and causing an uproar.
"He hit it!"
"Damn, that chunk of Source has to weigh around fifteen jin! Not only did he not lose money, he made a huge profit!"
He had spent five jin of Source and recovered fifteen jin in a short time. He had indeed made a profit.
Qin Sheng smiled and nodded lightly.
Of the five Source Stones, Qin Sheng had been absolutely certain about two. One was empty, while the other was the stone containing Source.
As for the other three, it was his first time observing such stones. His experience was insufficient, so he did not dare make rash conclusions.
He simply bought them all to see whether his judgment was correct. In any case, he would not lose money.
"Simply studying the scriptures and actually putting it into practice are indeed vastly different." Qin Sheng had gained quite a lot.
"Little brother, your luck is really good. Want to keep cutting stones?" someone asked.
One success out of five could only be attributed to luck in anyone's eyes.
"I'll take another look."
Qin Sheng continued making purchases afterward, using up all ten jin of Source he had earned. Then he cut out absolutely nothing.
Many people sighed in regret, but this was actually the normal state of stone workshops.
Qin Sheng remained calm. His previous stone selections had been more about testing theory than earning Source, which was why he had deliberately chosen some particularly ambiguous Source Stones.
It was only a few jin of Source. He could afford the practice, and he had not even lost his initial capital.
At this moment, Zhou Siyang and the others returned from the Ji Family Stone Workshop.
"Junior Brother, have you already bought Source Stones?"
Qin Sheng glanced at him. "I casually bought a few."
Some passersby enthusiastically explained Qin Sheng's results to them, making Zhou Siyang and the others laugh.
They had thought he was some kind of expert. So he was just a nobody.
"Source Stones are not something just anyone can handle." Bai Heming, the Candidate Saint Son of the Purple Mansion Holy Land, chuckled.
"Indeed." Qin Sheng nodded in wholehearted agreement.
"You definitely don't understand them."
Bai Heming's smile stiffened before he quickly regained his composure and said,
"Brother Nangong is an unprecedented genius from a Source Arts Family."
"The problem is, you still don't understand."
"We gained quite a lot at the Ji Family Stone Workshop just now!"
"You still don't understand."
Bai Heming was becoming a little frantic. He asked, "Could it be that you know Source Technique?"
Qin Sheng nodded. "I would not dare claim mastery, but I understand a little."
"Heh, you bought fifteen Source Stones and only one produced anything. You call that understanding a little? Aren't you afraid the wind will make your tongue twist?" Bai Heming said.
"How about a contest? We each choose several Source Stones and see whose finds are worth more after cutting them open."
"Why should I compete with you for no reason?" Qin Sheng asked in return.
Zhou Siyang chuckled as he tried to smooth things over. "It's just for fun."
"Since Senior Brother Zhou has spoken, it is not impossible. I'll give Senior Brother that respect," Qin Sheng said.
"I heard the Purple Mansion Holy Land produces Innate Purple Qi. A complete strand of Innate Purple Qi can aid one's enlightenment. Senior Brother Zhou surely also has Azure Sun Treasure Pills on him. How about using those two items as the stakes?"
The Azure Sun Treasure Pill was the unique secret medicine of the Azure Sun Peak Master. Refining it required a great deal of the Immortal Platform expert's vital energy.
This pill could help a cultivator at the First Heaven of the Four Extremes accumulate more than half the foundation needed to break through, aside from insights into enlightenment.
Even within the Shaking Light Holy Land, it was a rare treasure. After all, no one would demand that a peak master expend vast amounts of vital energy to refine pills that merely assisted Four Extremes disciples in cultivation. It simply was not worth it.
But Zhou Siyang definitely had some, because the Azure Sun Peak Master was his grandfather.
Upon hearing the stakes Qin Sheng demanded, Bai Heming was unwilling. He sent Zhou Siyang a voice transmission.
"Brother Zhou, we agreed to help you blunt this brat's arrogance, but Innate Purple Qi is too precious. I only receive a little each year, and it took me five years to save up a complete strand."
"Does this Qin fellow actually know Source Technique? You need to be certain."
Zhou Siyang replied, "How many years has he even cultivated for? Even if he understands some Source Technique, could he possibly be better than Nangong Fang?"
"His record is right there. What are you still doubting? Rest assured, the advantage is ours. Bet with him!"
"Fine, I trust you!"
Bai Heming spoke aloud. "I accept."
Zhou Siyang put on a helpless expression. "Since Junior Brother Qin has said so, I will join as well."
He sneered inwardly. I won't compete with you in strength this time, but could you possibly surpass a Source Arts Family genius in Source Technique?
Qin, if you truly have that ability, I'll eat every single Source Stone in the Four Symbols Stone Workshop!
I'll collect a little interest today for the humiliation the Dragon-Pattern Peak Master once inflicted upon Grandfather.
Grandfather, just watch!
"Who's gambling on stones?"
"So it's the youngsters from the holy lands and great families. Good, good, good! Young people really are full of spirit. This has some fire!"
"Interesting, interesting. Seeing them reminds me of back then. I was just as hot-blooded as them with a few brothers in my youth!"
This wager alerted people in the deeper courtyards, and they all came out to join the excitement.
"Come on, come on, place your bets! Who do you think will win?"
"Definitely the youngster from the Nangong Family. Although every Source Arts Family member holds their nose so high that you want to stick two scallions into it, they really do have ability."
"I'm betting on Nangong Fang."
"Same here!"
"..."
These passersby almost unanimously favored Nangong Fang.
In this era when Source Heavenly Masters no longer appeared, the Source Arts Families represented the pinnacle and authority of Source Technique.
Qin Sheng of Shaking Light?
They had heard of him. He was an extraordinary genius with unparalleled talent, someone even the Four Extremes Heavenly Tribulation could not do anything to.
But these were Source Stones. Little Qin was still too green. He needed more training!
Seeing the surrounding passersby grow more excited than he, one of the actual participants, Qin Sheng was somewhat speechless.
These people were far from ordinary. There were Supreme Elders from holy lands, clan elders from Desolate Ancient Families, and no shortage of experts in the Transformation into Dragon Secret Realm and even Half-Step Great Abilities.
This was what the Holy City Stone Workshops were like. Old fellows loved gathering here to watch the excitement.
"Seniors, since you're all so interested, why not join in and give it a try?" Qin Sheng called out loudly.
"Young man from Shaking Light, we only watch this sort of thing. We don't touch it."
An old man whose beard dragged along the ground waved his hand, his face full of melancholy.
"The Holy City is a money-burning pit. Cutting stones ruins lives."
Many people came to stone workshops without actually buying Source Stones. They simply enjoyed watching others cut them open, satisfying their curiosity. The older they were, the more they were like this. Unless they were truly confident, they would never participate.
It was not because their self-control was good. It was entirely because they had suffered devastating losses when they were young.
Zhou Siyang's side discussed matters for a moment, then he said,
"Junior Brother, you and Brother Bai will each select three Source Stones. Whoever cuts out items with the higher total value wins. How about it?"
"Fine."
Nangong Fang spoke. "Let's go to the courtyards farther in. The Source Stones in the first courtyard are not worth much."
Qin Sheng nodded. The Source Stones here contained, at most, a few dozen jin of Source.
The group went deeper into the Four Symbols Stone Workshop and finally stopped at the fourth courtyard. Here, a single jin of Source Stone cost several jin of Source, making them extremely valuable.
Both sides began selecting Source Stones. Qin Sheng examined the stones, his eyes shining.
I knew it. Why were magpies calling when I left today? It turns out I'm about to make a fortune.
It seems the Origin Emperor is still watching over me!
Before you continue