“Nonsense!
This old monk was sealed within a rock, having experienced who knows how many endless years. How could he still be alive?
How could a living person willingly be sealed in stone!"
"If the Northern Frost Ancient Mining Area was truly once a battlefield, then perhaps this old monk was a participant in that great war of that era?
This monk belongs to an incredibly ancient age!"
"Witnessing an ancient corpse being cut from a Gambling Stone firsthand—this is a first for me!"
……
The crowd gathered around the monk's body, discussing animatedly and exclaiming at the novelty.
"Why is this monk's skin golden? Could it be he practiced some special cultivation technique while alive?"
Suddenly, someone dared to reach out and touch the skin on the monk's arm.
Boom rumble...
An aura of bone-chilling terror instantly erupted from the old monk's body.
Ah!
That person was sent flying backwards on the spot, half of their body shattered, lying bloodied on the ground, motionless, unknown whether dead or alive.
The others were so frightened they hastily retreated, instantly clearing a large open space.
"Is this monk really still alive?"
"Not necessarily. It is said that when some powerful figures temper their physical bodies to an extreme while alive, their bodies can retain terrifying power even after death. This monk must have been a supreme master in life!"
The crowd gazed at the monk with wary eyes.
"He really is still alive!"
Ye Yunfei glanced at the monk, faintly sensing a trace of life force fluctuations.
This trace of life was extremely faint, undetectable by ordinary martial artists.
"I know this monk's origin—he is a monk of Heavenly Dragon Temple!"
Someone suddenly shouted.
"How can you tell?"
The people around asked in surprise.
"Look at his monk's robes! A celestial dragon is embroidered on them!
I've seen it in a collection in my family's library. This is the special monk's robe of the ancient Heavenly Dragon Temple, one no one dared to imitate."
That person pointed at a corner of the robe on the monk's corpse. When everyone looked, they indeed saw an embroidered celestial dragon. Though old, it appeared ferociously coiled and imposing.
"True, this is indeed a robe of Heavenly Dragon Temple. This monk must be from there."
"It is said Heavenly Dragon Temple has a long heritage and is among the oldest temples in the Eastern Barrens. This proves it! This monk comes from an immensely ancient era; Heavenly Dragon Temple existed even back then!"
The shocked crowd broke into lively discussion.
"You all should keep your distance. He may still be alive."
Just then, a voice sounded. An old man leaning on a dragon-head cane appeared beside the monk's corpse.
"Elder Fang, you're saying this monk might still be alive?"
A look of shock covered Lü Dandan's exquisite face as she asked the old man.
This elder was a powerful member of the Four Directions Trading House. It was he who personally escorted this precious shipment of stone materials to Lantai City.
"Uncertain, but I, too, seemed to catch the faintest trace of vitality from him just now.
Regardless, keep your distance. His body contains incredibly potent energy."
The elder's expression was grave.
"What, this monk could actually be alive?"
"Can it be? Cutting an ancient corpse from stone is rare enough, but now we've cut out a living person?"
"Heavens! This monk was a master from the ancient Heavenly Dragon Temple! If he's truly alive, that's terrifying. Even the top powerhouses of the Eastern Barrens wouldn't be his match!"
"This is huge news!
A possibly alive ancient master of Heavenly Dragon Temple cut from a stone in the Four Directions Trading House's Gambling Stone grounds!"
Hearing the elder's words, the crowd was utterly shaken.
Soon, word of what happened at the Four Directions Trading House gambling grounds spread through the entire Lantai City at an astonishing speed. The city was completely abuzz. Nearly everyone who heard the news immediately surged toward the trading house's gambling grounds like a tide.
"Lock it down immediately! No unauthorized entry into the gambling grounds!"
Lü Dandan immediately issued orders, having the Four Directions Trading House's forces tightly secure the area.
Such a massive influx of people could trample this branch outpost of the trading house flat.
Meanwhile, at the gambling grounds...
"I believe this stone gambling contest has been decided, in my favor.
Three million Law Crystals. Pay up."
Ye Yunfei looked at Zhao Tianyu and said lightly.
"You. Kneel to me and kowtow an apology."
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept toward Lu Feng.
"As for you, eat that pile of stone scraps. It's quite a lot, so better get started."
Ye Yunfei looked at the Zhao Family junior disciple.
Zhao Tianyu, Lu Feng, and that Zhao Family disciple all wore extremely ugly expressions.
"Surely you're not thinking of going back on your word."
Ye Yunfei sneered.
"Hmph! A measly three million Law Crystals—our Zhao Family can afford to lose that much!"
Zhao Tianyu snorted coldly and flicked his finger. A spatial ring flew out and landed before Ye Yunfei.
"Here. You won for the Ji Family; these are your spoils."
Ye Yunfei handed the ring to Ji Yue.
"Su Fei, how are you so good at stone gambling?
Even the descendant of Divine Master Lu is no match for you!"
Ji Yue stared at Ye Yunfei with wide, beautiful eyes, still finding it hard to believe, as if in a dream.
"Su Fei, these Law Crystals were actually won by you. You should keep them. Our Ji Family won't take them."
Ji Yan came over and spoke up.
Previously, she wouldn't have given Ye Yunfei a second glance. However, after what just happened in the stone gambling, she suddenly realized this young man before her seemed somewhat mysterious, not as worthless as she had imagined.
"Hahaha…
Brother Su Fei, this money is yours. You've restored face for our Ji Family. You take it."
Ji Wu also walked over and said warmly.
His nature was rather direct and straightforward, speaking his mind frankly.
"Fine then."
Ye Yunfei didn't stand on ceremony either and directly kept it.
"Let's go!"
Feeling utterly humiliated, Zhao Tianyu flicked his sleeve, preparing to leave.
"Zhao Tianyu, have you forgotten? You also promised to verbally admit that your Zhao Family is inferior to our Ji Family!"
Ji Yan suddenly called out to Zhao Tianyu.
"Right! That was the agreement! Zhao Tianyu, are you trying to go back on your word?!"
Ji Wu was even more direct, rushing forward to block Zhao Tianyu's path.
"Ji Yan! Don't push your luck! Do you truly think we Zhao Family members are easy to bully?!"
Zhao Tianyu's face darkened.
Losing a few million Law Crystals was nothing to the Zhao Family. But forcing him to admit in public that the Zhao Family was inferior to the Ji Family would inevitably damage the family's prestige and reputation once word got out.
"Dammit!
It was you who proposed this condition, Zhao Tianyu! Are you really trying to back out now?!"
Ji Wu flew into a rage.
"Other matters I don't care about, but Lu Feng must kneel and apologize to me, and you must eat these stone scraps. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving."
Ye Yunfei also locked onto Lu Feng and that Zhao Family disciple, stating coldly.