"Good!" Luo Yingu laughed with a sinister edge. "However, it's not me who will select the stone, but another person."
At that moment, an old man emerged from the Luo Tian Royal Clan. He was very short in stature, a full head shorter than an average person. Nine small antennae grew on his head, making him appear extremely aged. Moreover, his fingers were noticeably longer than those of ordinary people, giving him a peculiar appearance.
Yet, when this short old man appeared, a wave of astonished murmurs swept through the surroundings. Gu Jiuhua's expression especially changed drastically, turning very ugly as he uttered each word deliberately: "Elder Luo Dun!"
There are three hundred and sixty trades, and every trade has its master.
Just as in the field of stone appraisal, there are indeed specialists. Similar to alchemists, there exists the corresponding profession of Stone Appraiser.
Between heaven and earth, it's not just Chaos Primordial Stones; there are also many mysterious stones that cannot be penetrated by mere eyesight or pupil techniques to discern what lies within. Moreover, among these mysterious stones, many contain treasures or dangers. Some people engage in stone gambling, thus giving birth to the profession of Stone Appraiser.
The Elder Luo Dun before them was precisely a Stone Appraiser.
Perhaps his cultivation couldn't be considered very high; after cultivating for many years, he was only at the second level of the Great Power realm, which was quite ordinary. However, in the field of stone appraisal, he was a top-tier, senior master-level figure.
Having lived for nearly ninety thousand years, the number of mysterious stones he had appraised in his hands was beyond count. Almost every time he appraised a mysterious stone, he could cut out a genuine treasure, making him a fearsome figure in this industry, one whose name alone could strike fear into hearts.
Even Chaos Primordial Stones, he had appraised quite a few, and from them, he had cut out many priceless treasures.
Therefore, upon seeing his appearance, even Gu Jiuhua changed color. He never expected the Luo Tian Royal Clan to have invited this master-level figure. No wonder they dared to gamble on stones with others; they had come prepared.
Beside him, knowing that Ye Chen and the others were unaware of Elder Luo Dun's identity, Gu Jiuhua explained via voice transmission. Ye Chen and the others nodded, directly advising via voice transmission not to act rashly and to give up on the stone gambling.
However, Gu Jiuhua shook his head. Because this matter concerned the reputation of the Chilin Yaolong clan, even if they lost, they could not weaken the clan's prestige.
Seeing this scene, Ye Chen did not try to stop him.
Luo Yingu also showed a degree of respect towards Elder Luo Dun, saying, "We invite the senior to take action."
Elder Luo Dun nodded indifferently and was about to step forward when Gu Jiuhua coldly said, "Wait. Elder Luo Dun is not of your clan; he cannot act on behalf of the Luo Tian Royal Clan."
Hearing this, many people present nodded. For your Luo Tian Royal Clan to gamble on stones with the Chilin Yaolong clan but bring in an outsider to help seemed rather inappropriate.
Luo Yingu, however, sneered, "Although Elder Luo Dun is not of our clan, he has recently become a guest elder of our clan. Now he is considered a member of our clan. How could he not be qualified?"
Gu Jiuhua's expression changed, turning very ugly, but he had nothing more to say.
Having reached this point, he had no way to retreat.
At this moment, Elder Luo Dun personally stepped forward. The various major powers were also curious about Elder Luo Dun's stone appraisal techniques, wanting to see how this world-renowned elder would appraise the Chaos Primordial Stones.
They saw Elder Luo Dun, appearing ordinary and unremarkable, walk straight forward. He first picked up a Chaos Primordial Stone about the size of a washbasin, looked at it, tapped it with his finger, and then set it down.
After repeating this process several times, Elder Luo Dun finally picked up a Chaos Primordial Stone shaped like an ancient palace, about the size of a human head, worth twelve million, and nodded to Luo Yingu: "This one."
Was the appraisal finished just like that?
Many major powers and important figures were dumbfounded, feeling it seemed a bit too perfunctory. They had thought he would display some extraordinary techniques, preparing to broaden their horizons, but now they were somewhat disappointed.
"Good!"
However, Luo Yingu trusted Elder Luo Dun.
"We invite the senior to cut it open," Luo Yingu said respectfully.
Elder Luo Dun nodded expressionlessly. With a swish, a silver, foot-long small knife appeared in his hand, engraved with special patterns, and he began to work.
With a few cracking sounds, layers of stone powder continuously fell from the palace-shaped Chaos Primordial Stone. Finally, dazzling rays of light burst forth from within—a deep azure color. Ultimately, a piece of Starry Blue Silver about the size of a fist emerged, naturally imprinted with special patterns.
"Starry Blue Silver, not bad either. A fist-sized piece is worth about two million catties of spirit stones."
Many people nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Luo Yingu didn't change expression much, because not every Chaos Primordial Stone could yield a treasure; the probability was roughly one in three. Moreover, the Starry Blue Silver worth two million catties of spirit stones, even among the treasures cut out by the various major powers earlier, excluding the most valuable Profound Yellow Essence, could be considered top-tier.
And more importantly, this was stone gambling. Whoever cut out a treasure of lower value had to give their treasure to the other party, and the cost of the Chaos Primordial Stone had to be paid by the loser.
Therefore, Luo Yingu sneered as he looked at Gu Jiuhua, even more confident of victory. He didn't believe Gu Jiuhua could find a Chaos Primordial Stone with a higher value than the one Elder Luo Dun had selected.
Gu Jiuhua gritted his teeth and personally stepped forward. He continuously selected among the numerous Chaos Primordial Stones, picking left and right, finally choosing one that looked like a flying dragon, its value reaching a staggering fifteen million. Under everyone's gaze, he began to cut it open.
At first, Gu Jiuhua was very careful. Even after cutting open two-thirds of it, no treasure had appeared, disappointing many.
Roar—
When he had cut about halfway through, suddenly, the roar of a dragon resounded, startling everyone, especially Gu Jiuhua, who felt the dragon blood in his body boiling. He sped up his cutting.
"A dragon's roar? Is there something of a True Dragon inside? Father is going to win," Gu Qingyang exclaimed in surprise.
However, Ye Chen beside him secretly shook his head.
Crack—
When the entire Chaos Primordial Stone was completely cut open, only a strand of Dragon Qi soared into the sky, shaped like a True Dragon, but not strong. Gu Jiuhua caught it, his expression extremely ugly.
"Only Dragon Qi, no dragon object. I thought a pure-blooded True Dragon would be cut out. What a pity."
Many people secretly shook their heads. It was just a strand of Dragon Qi, and only the size of an infant's arm. Its value was limited; being worth a million catties of spirit stones would already be remarkable. It couldn't compare to the Starry Blue Silver Elder Luo Dun had cut out.
Therefore, this round, Gu Jiuhua lost.
And he needed to pay the cost of the two Chaos Primordial Stones, totaling twenty-seven million catties of spirit stones. The Dragon Qi also had to be handed over to the other party.
Luo Yingu appeared very happy, laughing heartily but filled with mockery: "Fellow Daoist Gu Jiuhua, my apologies for making you spend so much, and you also have to hand over that strand of Dragon Qi."
Gu Jiuhua's face was ugly. Though unwilling, he had no choice. He immediately paid out divine spiritual source worth twenty-seven million catties of spirit stones and also released the Dragon Qi.
Luo Yingu grabbed it and then looked towards Imperial Son Hua Chengdao, showing respect: "Your Highness Chengdao, it has long been heard that the Hua Imperial Dynasty cultivates Imperial Dragon Qi. This strand of Dragon Qi is of little use to our Luo Tian Royal Clan. If Your Highness likes it, we naturally offer it with both hands."
The important figures of the major powers all marveled. This Luo Yingu was truly a shrewd person, adept at pleasing both sides. The Dragon Qi was of little use to them, but using it to befriend the Hua Imperial Dynasty was far more valuable than the Dragon Qi itself.
Sure enough, a hint of a smile appeared on Imperial Son Hua Chengdao's face. Not long ago, he had suffered a hidden loss at Ye Chen's hands, losing four strands of Imperial Dragon Qi. Now, obtaining a strand of Dragon Qi would make it much easier to cultivate it back.
Gu Jiuhua's expression turned even uglier, but he couldn't make a scene within the Hall of Eternal Life.
Luo Yingu, flushed with success, then said, "Fellow Daoist Gu Jiuhua, winning and losing are common matters for soldiers. Now you've only lost one round; there's no need to look so grim. If you're willing, we can continue gambling a few more rounds of stones. My Luo Tian Royal Clan is naturally willing to accompany you to the end."
Gu Jiuhua snorted coldly. Without Elder Luo Dun present, he could still try his luck, but with a master Stone Appraiser here, what was there to gamble?
Luo Yingu's smile widened. "If Fellow Daoist Gu Jiuhua cannot afford to gamble, you can also choose not to. Although I am no gentleman, I do have some magnanimity."
If looks could kill, Gu Jiuhua believed his gaze could have annihilated the other party a thousand times over. Just as he was about to speak and leave in a huff, Ye Chen stepped forward at that moment and said, "If you trust me, let me handle it."
"My lord, you—" Gu Jiuhua was startled, never expecting Ye Chen to be willing to step forward. Although he also felt Ye Chen probably couldn't win against Elder Luo Dun in stone gambling, he didn't want to slight his face. He immediately nodded and said, "My lord, please gamble as you wish. Although my clan has declined, we still have some heritage; we can afford to lose."
Hearing this, Ye Chen patted his shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry. Since I've said it, I won't let you lose."
Gu Jiuhua was taken aback. The people from the various major powers, however, frowned. Who was this young man, daring to speak so boldly before Elder Luo Dun? Did he truly not know Elder Luo Dun's identity?
Luo Yingu sneered even more derisively. "Fellow Daoist Gu Jiuhua, although this young friend's cultivation is somewhat decent, to dare speak so presumptuously before Elder Luo Dun seems rather disrespectful, as if he doesn't place Elder Luo Dun in his eyes."
His words carried a hint of provocation and sowing discord, intending to provoke Elder Luo Dun further.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Elder Luo Dun's face also turned a few degrees colder. He glared coldly at Ye Chen and rebuked, "Where did this wild brat come from? Even your elders would show me some respect upon seeing me. How dare you speak so boldly and presumptuously?"
Ye Chen, however, remained unchanged in expression, smiling lightly. "Whether it's bold presumption or not, we'll see later. But it depends on whether your Luo Tian Royal Clan dares to gamble with me."
His tone carried absolute confidence.
Gu Jiuhua was also somewhat surprised and doubtful. Could Lord Ye Chen also be a Stone Appraiser?
To have reached this level of cultivation at such a young age was already remarkable. If he were also extraordinary in the way of stone appraisal, that would be somewhat excessively monstrous.
Elder Luo Dun flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly. "Then let this old man see what skills you possess."