Dao One Stone Workshop

Wonderful Desire Nunnery differed from other pleasure houses. It was exceptionally refined and placed great importance on mutual affection; each of the young women was like an immortal maiden.

Only those with "Source" could summon companions, and Ji Hao happened to be a young man with an abundance of "Source."

"Still, the young ladies at Wonderful Desire Nunnery really did dance well."

Suddenly, Ji Hao sat bolt upright as though rising from his deathbed and said, "I should get the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword first. I can't keep going on like this!"

Relying on his "great perseverance," Ji Hao broke out of the encirclement of Wonderful Desire Nunnery's young ladies.

Under the reluctant gazes of the immortal maidens, he resolutely departed. They found it quite regrettable; after all, there were not many young men who had so much Source and were so handsome.

After leaving Wonderful Desire Nunnery, Ji Hao headed directly toward Dao One Stone Workshop.

He had already gathered all the intelligence on Holy City at Wonderful Desire Nunnery. Books always said that brothels and taverns were the best places to gather information.

How could he possibly become obsessed with mere painted bones?

How could he!

Ji Hao wiped a trace of red from his neck and strode away.

He soon arrived at Dao One Stone Workshop. After entering, he did not linger and headed straight for Heaven-Grade Park, where the most astonishing treasures were kept.

Although not just anyone could enter Heaven-Grade Park, Ji Hao wore white robes, possessed handsome features, and gave off an air of nobility. At a glance, it was clear that he had not been raised by an ordinary family. He was either a disciple of some sacred land or a descendant of some great clan, so they allowed him directly into Heaven-Grade Park.

Heaven-Grade Park was very quiet, with scarcely anyone around. Only an old Daoist nun sat cross-legged on a cushion. She was the person in charge here. Apart from her, there were merely two or three old men arguing over their choice of stones.

"The most important item is that humanoid Immortality Elixir. Although it is incomplete, its most important roots remain. As long as I obtain it and place it beside the Divine Spring, I can definitely revive it!"

"The Immortality Elixir said to have been held by Emperor Zun—Heavenly Emperor Ye once watched it revive and lived another Lifetime."

"All signs indicate that it is extraordinary."

It should have drifted out during the collapse of the Ancient Heavenly Court. For some unknown reason, only a pair of feet remained now.

In the original story, Ye Fan found it difficult to revive that divine medicine. Since he was also desperately short of Source at the time, he sold it. Later, the person who acquired it did not cultivate it, but instead exhausted every effort to drain its final wisp of vitality. Thus, even Ye Fan, after reaching the realm of Heavenly Emperor, had to pay a great price to revive it.

"But things are different now. I'm here, so let me cherish you properly!"

The moment Ji Hao entered Heaven-Grade Park, he hurriedly began searching.

He was definitely not trying to return early to Wonderful Desire Nunnery to listen to music. He merely wanted to forge the sword embryo and obtain the Immortality Elixir sooner.

Yes, that was it!

"The stone containing that divine medicine is as tall as a person, yet it costs only three thousand jin of Source!" Ji Hao carefully searched the park while recalling the description from the original story.

There was only one stone in the entire park that met those conditions, and Ji Hao quickly settled on it.

"This is the one!" Ji Hao directly tossed down three thousand jin of Source.

This stone could be called the least valuable one in Heaven-Grade Park. No one had ever thought highly of it; in fact, it had been moved to Tianyu Park only because it looked better here.

After accepting the Source, the stone workshop's Source master immediately smiled. "The rule of our Heaven-Grade Park is that once a stone is chosen, it must be cut open on the spot. Please proceed now!"

"No rush. I want to choose another one!" Ji Hao grabbed the person-tall stone in one hand and walked toward the other side of the workshop.

A trace of surprise appeared on the Source master's face, but he soon nodded and quietly followed behind Ji Hao.

Before long, however, Ji Hao stopped before the Nine-Aperture Stone Man.

This stone was only a little over a foot long, but it had nine apertures and looked remarkably like a stone person.

"Customer, are you planning to cut this stone?" The Source master followed Ji Hao to the Nine-Aperture Stone Man and immediately cried out. "Many people deeply accomplished in Source arts have examined this Nine-Aperture Stone Man, but no one has dared touch it all these years."

"What? Someone is going to cut the Nine-Aperture Stone Man? This old man must take a good look!"

"Will we finally see the Nine-Aperture Stone Man cut open today?"

"Is the Nine-Aperture Stone Man finally going to be opened today?"

At the Source master's cry, the three old men selecting stones in Heaven-Grade Park immediately rushed over.

Even the Daoist nun guarding the park opened her eyes and looked over.

As expected, a peerless and mighty genius like me drew attention wherever I went! Ji Hao thought helplessly.

Without saying anything more, he directly threw down ninety thousand jin of Source, indicating that he had bought the Nine-Aperture Stone Man.

"Good, good, good!" The most excited person was the Source master. He had guarded this place for decades, and at last he would see someone cut open the Nine-Aperture Stone Man. This would fulfill one of his wishes.

Ji Hao did not think much of it. He directly pointed at the stone man's glabella.

He already knew where the treasure was, so naturally he would not put on an act. He pointed directly at the spot containing the precious object.

Crack!

The Nine-Aperture Stone Man's head directly turned to powder.

A powerful killing intent filled Tianyu Park, and a cocoon-like object floated in the air.

Ji Hao grabbed it in one motion and suppressed it within his palm.

"My heavens, is this the supreme treasure contained within the Nine-Aperture Stone Man?"

"A metal cocoon?"

"Hurry and open it! Let's see what's inside!"

"Whatever was nurtured in the Nine-Aperture Stone Man's glabella cannot be ordinary!"

The other onlookers immediately grew excited and began urging him on.

With a slight exertion of force from Ji Hao, the dark-gold metal cocoon rapidly cracked apart. Then a black sword radiance shot into the sky, and a tiny sword just over an inch long appeared before everyone.

The little sword rang sharply, and a world-shaking killing intent spread outward, making everyone's minds tremble involuntarily.

The black sword, less than an inch long, was covered in many naturally formed dragon patterns. It was made from Dragon-Pattern Black Gold.

Five-element runes appeared over Ji Hao's five fingers, firmly suppressing the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword in his palm so that it could not move.

"My heavens, could this really be a divine sword forged from the legendary Dragon-Pattern Black Sword?"

"The Dao and its principles are interwoven within it. It is absolutely no weaker than a Great Ability Artifact."

"It's just a pity there is so little of it."

"There isn't enough material!"

Ji Hao did not say anything more and directly put away the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword.

"Little friend, Dao One Sacred Land is willing to offer one hundred and fifty thousand jin of Source to buy back that Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword."

"No need. I still have use for this sword."

Then, with a sweep of his hand, the Nine-Aperture Stone Man scattered in the wind, leaving behind only a dark-red stone shaped like a heart.

A goose that flew overhead left feathers behind; a beast that passed through left its hide. Though the original story had not mentioned any value in it, who knew when it might come in handy?