Chapter 76: Two Million God Source—A Sky-High Price, Chen Changsheng Gambles on Stones

Chapter 76 – Two Million God Source—A Sky-High Price, Chen Changsheng Gambles on Stones

As Jiang Feng approached, the gathered crowd instinctively straightened their robes, each youth striving to project their most distinguished and formidable aura.

Yet, Jiang Feng’s subsequent actions left every ‘young talent’ in attendance paralyzed with shock.

Ignoring the posturing elites, the Elder walked directly toward Chen Changsheng, who was still engaged in idle chatter.

‘My Kunlun Stone Workshop has been remiss in its hospitality,’ Jiang Feng said, his voice carrying the weight of a seasoned cultivator. ‘I hope you will not take offense, young friend.’

Chen Changsheng ceased his conversation and offered a polite cupped-fist salute. ‘Elder Jiang speaks too heavily. It is my honor to visit the Kunlun Stone Workshop and broaden my horizons.’

Without further ceremony, the two men walked toward a nearby pavilion with the ease of old acquaintances.

The sight left the surrounding geniuses dumbfounded.

Though they bore the title of ‘Young Talents,’ they were insignificant in the presence of true titans.

Jiang Feng was more than an Elder; he was a supreme genius of the previous era, one of the few who had survived the bloody tempering of time to reach his current height.

In terms of latent talent, status, seniority, or raw cultivation, none present possessed the standing to sit as an equal to Jiang Feng.

……

Jiang Feng personally poured a cup of steaming spiritual tea for Chen Changsheng, a faint smile playing on his lips. ‘I heard a rumor that you wished to unseal a few stones for amusement, young friend.’

‘Do you have a specific target in mind?’

Chen Changsheng chuckled softly. ‘I have indeed set my sights on a particular stone. However, I find my pockets somewhat light; I cannot produce such a vast sum of God Source.’

‘I was wondering if I might use a few bits of scrap as collateral. I trust the Kunlun Stone Workshop accepts such trifles?’

‘Hahaha!’

Jiang Feng’s laughter was hearty and resonant. ‘You jest, young friend. While God Source is the standard, it is cumbersome to transport in great quantities.’

‘To be quite honest, I do not even have a hundred thousand God Source on my person at this moment.’

As Jiang Feng conversed with such easy familiarity, a pair of eyes in the distance turned blood-red with suppressed resentment.

It was Zuo Jing, the Third Princess of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

She watched Chen Changsheng’s silhouette, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white.

At this moment, she felt a wave of humiliation unlike any she had ever known.

This man had deliberately obscured his background; he had never viewed the members of their ‘Genius Group’ as anything more than passing dust.

Recalling the condescending attitude the group had shown him over the past few days, Zuo Jing’s complexion turned a sickly shade of ashen-white.

As their casual talk wound down, Chen Changsheng spoke, ‘Elder Jiang, the sun is beginning its descent. Shall I proceed with the selection?’

‘Of course. This way, young friend.’

Jiang Feng personally acted as a guide. After a brief survey of the inner courtyard, Chen Changsheng’s gaze finally locked onto a stone that was in constant motion.

The stone was no larger than a fist, its surface polished to a miraculous, mirror-like sheen.

Unlike the other stone materials that lay in silent stasis, this one rolled perpetually within its jade tray, seemingly possessed by a mind of its own.

Seeing Chen Changsheng’s choice, Jiang Feng began the introduction.

‘This stone is known as the ‘Rolling Pearl.’ It was retrieved from the deepest reaches of the Sacred Ruins.’

‘Intriguingly, this stone was found sealed within another, larger mass of God Source.’

‘The Kunlun Holy Land originally intended to carve it open, but due to certain… peculiar circumstances, it was sent here to the workshop instead.’

Chen Changsheng lifted the Rolling Pearl, turning it over in his palm. ‘Is that so? What manner of peculiarity could stay the hand of a Holy Land?’

‘Since you dare to gamble in the inner courtyard, you must be well-versed in the ores that encase God Source,’ Jiang Feng explained.

‘Typically, the stone skin protecting God Source is impenetrable to both Spiritual Qi and Divine Sense.’

‘However, this stone is an anomaly. Both Qi and Divine Sense can penetrate it with ease—yet, once they enter, they vanish into a void, leaving no trace behind.’

Chen Changsheng scrutinized the rolling orb with his mind’s eye, a knowing glint appearing in his expression.

‘Among the myriad of ores, there exists a rare material known as Black Charcoal Stone,’ Chen observed.

‘It is a substance that voraciously devours both Divine Sense and spiritual essence. Its form is mercurial, making it nearly impossible to track.’

‘More interestingly, its weight is almost identical to that of high-grade God Source.’

‘When Black Charcoal Stone is encased in a thin layer of natural stone skin, it creates a perfect illusion of a massive God Source deposit.’

‘If the outer shell of this ‘Rolling Pearl’ is sufficiently thin, and the core is nothing but Black Charcoal Stone…’

‘The phenomenon of Divine Sense penetrating only to vanish would be explained. It seems the Kunlun Holy Land feared the risk was too great to justify the cost, correct?’

Jiang Feng’s smile widened. ‘Your insight is profound, young friend.’

‘But a Stone Workshop is, by definition, a place of gambling. If we were certain of the contents, the Kunlun Holy Land would have claimed the treasure for ourselves long ago.’

‘Would you not agree?’

‘Elder Jiang speaks the truth,’ Chen Changsheng replied. ‘What is the asking price for this ‘Rolling Pearl’?’

‘Two million God Source!’

Jiang Feng calmly stated the astronomical figure, his eyes fixed on Chen Changsheng’s reaction.

The stones in this inner sanctuary were reserved for the Great Powers and Ancient Sovereigns of the world.

For a youth to stand here and demand a price, his lineage had to be beyond extraordinary.

Had it been anyone else, Jiang Feng would never have bothered to personally host a junior.

Hiss—!

A chorus of sharp gasps echoed through the courtyard as the young talents sucked in cold air. Even Zi Ning’s brow furrowed in visible distress.

Two million God Source was a sum that far exceeded her personal authority.

Though she was the Holy Maiden of the Purple Mansion, the liquid resources she could mobilize peaked at three hundred thousand.

Even if she liquidated her entire personal estate, she would barely scrape together five hundred thousand.

She had always known the inner courtyard was a place for the wealthy, but she had never imagined the stakes would be this staggering.

‘Two million God Source… the price is not high. Quite reasonable, in fact.’

Just as the crowd was reeling from the shock of the price, Chen Changsheng’s indifferent voice cut through the silence.

The onlookers stared, their minds blank.

Did he even hear the number?

Reasonable? If I try to sell you a rock for two million, will you call that reasonable too?

Ignoring their bewildered gazes, Chen Changsheng flicked his sleeve. A massive, dark shadow plummeted from his spatial storage.

BOOM!

The heavy object slammed into the earth, creating a deep crater in the manicured grass. Chen Changsheng didn’t even look down, his eyes remaining on the Rolling Pearl.

‘Elder Jiang, pray appraise this for me.’

Jiang Feng peered into the crater, and his composure finally cracked. ‘Purple Gold Copper Mother!’

Sensing the genuine shock in the Elder’s voice, Chen Changsheng finally shifted his gaze back to the man.

‘Why so surprised, Elder Jiang?’

‘The Kunlun Holy Land is a vast and ancient power. Surely you aren’t lacking in Purple Gold Copper Mother?’

‘I have seen it, of course,’ Jiang Feng stammered, his eyes wide. ‘It is a supreme material for artifact refining, and the undisputed king of materials for alchemy furnaces.’

‘But the Copper Mother is exceedingly rare. To see a piece the size of a washbasin… this is a first for me.’

‘It’s decent enough,’ Chen Changsheng said dismissively. ‘I found it lying by my front gates. Give me a fair price for it, Elder.’

The crowd was speechless.

Why can’t I find top-tier refining materials lying by my front gate?

Jiang Feng composed himself, performing a rapid mental calculation. ‘I can offer eight hundred thousand God Source for this piece.’

‘A fair price,’ Chen Changsheng noted.

BOOM!

With a casual remark, he threw down a second hunk of exotic metal.

The appearance of this second treasure shattered whatever remained of Jiang Feng’s professional mask.

‘Young friend… where in the heavens did you obtain these?’

‘I dug it up while I was farming,’ Chen Changsheng replied dryly.

Jiang Feng: ‘……’

If you are going to lie to me, at least have the decency to make it sound plausible.

Chen Changsheng remained utterly indifferent to the treasures he was tossing about. To him, they were merely spoils of war.

The Thunder Beasts of the Hundred Thousand Mountains possessed a natural instinct for locating the world’s finest ores, which they consumed to strengthen their hides.

Since Chen Changsheng had slaughtered the Thunder Beast clans, their entire ancestral hoard had naturally moved into his pockets.