“Three hundred thousand jin of source!”

The moment those words fell, the auction hall plunged into complete silence, stunning everyone present. The influential figures from the Central Continent, with the overwhelming force of someone who could swallow mountains and rivers whole, had jumped directly to three hundred thousand jin of source.

“Have they gone mad? A damaged divine herb worth at most a hundred and fifty thousand jin of source, and they doubled it!”

Even veteran figures in the hall changed their expressions. Faced with someone capable of such a grand gesture, even the various Sacred Grounds likely had no way to compete.

Inside one of the VIP private rooms, the four mysterious influential figures from the Central Continent wore placid expressions, as though the three hundred thousand jin of source were nothing more than a pile of rocks.

They were all middle-aged men, each one of extraordinary bearing — like celestial kings descending upon the mortal world. All four wore dragon crowns on their heads, carrying an imposing, awe-inspiring presence that shook the soul.

How old they truly were, no one knew.

The four influential figures did not belong to the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, for the Great Xia Imperial Prince and the little nun were in a separate private room, accompanying one of Great Xia’s Imperial Uncles.

“Three hundred and ten thousand jin of source!” An elderly monk from the Western Desert spoke up.

“Three hundred and thirty thousand jin of source!” One of the middle-aged men wearing a dragon crown in a VIP private room stated his bid with unhurried calm.

The auction hall instantly fell silent. Even someone as powerful as Xu Tianxiong sat back down — formidable and terrifying a figure as he was, when it came to source wealth, he still didn’t quite measure up.

“They added twenty thousand jin in a single breath — truly swallowing mountains and rivers, treating source as if it means nothing.”

“After all, these are influential figures from the Central Continent, immortal and ancient imperial dynasties ruling over territories spanning hundreds of millions of li. Truly, no one can compare.”

Everyone was shocked, whispering among themselves.

“The Central Continent has four immortal dynasties, not to mention the Hundred Schools of Thought and many ancient great sects. Which ancient imperial dynasty do these figures come from?”

“Look at the dragon crowns on their heads and the attire they wear — they should be from the immortal Ancient Hua Imperial Dynasty, with an enduring heritage of unparalleled prosperity!”

“They are absolutely here for the Purple Mountain, determined to inherit the legacy of Emperor Wushi, buying divine herbs to preserve their lives.”

As the crowd deduced their identities, they grew even more wary. An immortal imperial dynasty surpassed even the Sacred Grounds — very few powers in the world could stand against them.

“Three hundred and forty thousand jin of source!” The Yao Guang Sacred Ground placed its bid. As one of the Eastern Wasteland’s great sects, they were determined to obtain the humanoid divine herb, and naturally would not fall behind at this critical juncture.

“Three hundred and fifty thousand jin of source.” One of the influential figures from the Ancient Hua Imperial Dynasty spoke again, though this time without the ferocious momentum of the previous bids.

Inside their VIP private room, Ye Fan and Li Heishui exchanged a glance. According to Yao Yuekong’s analysis, if a Sacred Master returned gravely wounded from an assault on Purple Mountain, the damaged humanoid divine herb could be auctioned off for three hundred and fifty thousand jin of source.

Now, that number had been reached — and yet it still seemed to have room to climb further.

Sure enough, someone from the ancient Jiang Family called out a price, pushing the damaged humanoid divine herb to three hundred and sixty thousand jin of source.

“Three hundred and seventy thousand jin of source!” The Yao Guang Sacred Ground continued to raise the price.

The Yao Guang Sacred Master had sustained heavy injuries and needed this humanoid divine herb to recover, to restore himself as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if the delay continued, he might be unable to participate in the next assault on Purple Mountain.

“Three hundred and eighty thousand jin of source.” When one of the influential figures from the Ancient Imperial Dynasty stated this price, his expression was as still as an undisturbed well.

At this moment, the other Sacred Grounds and ancient aristocratic families ceased bidding, and the elderly monk from the Western Desert Buddhist community also withdrew from the competition.

“Four hundred thousand jin of source!” Yao Guang pushed the divine herb directly to a round, sky-high price.

One of the dragon-crowned influential figures from the Ancient Hua Imperial Dynasty maintained an unchanged expression and said: “Four hundred and ten thousand jin of source.”

The Yao Guang Sacred Ground fell silent for a long while — not because they couldn’t bear the cost, but because they felt that continuing further would lead nowhere. The other party hailed from an immortal dynasty with deep and vast reserves; if they were truly determined to win, it would turn into a sky-high bidding war.

“Four hundred and ten thousand jin of source — first call. Four hundred and ten thousand jin of source — second call…”

“Dong!”

The hammer struck. In the end, the influential figure from the Ancient Hua Imperial Dynasty claimed the humanoid divine herb at four hundred and ten thousand jin of source.

“They’ve gone mad — the actual value is only over a hundred thousand jin of source, and yet it reached this number…”

No one could believe it. The figure was far too staggering, too difficult to accept.

“Even the Sacred Grounds get suppressed and overwhelmed by sheer force sometimes. The powers of the Central Continent are truly beyond imagination!” Even Li Heishui was left somewhat dumbfounded.

It had surpassed even the sky-high price they had anticipated — truly beyond their expectations.

Ye Fan said: “Convergence of winds and clouds, nothing more than an opportune coincidence. If the influential figures from the Central Continent and the Western Desert had not appeared, a price like this would never have come to be.”

The centerpiece treasure — the divine herb — had been sealed with the fall of the hammer, and people chattered among themselves as some rose to their feet, preparing to leave.

“Everyone, please stay your steps. We have just received a last-minute consignment, and there is one more rare treasure to be auctioned.” The white-haired elder on the yellow diamond dragon platform spoke up.

“What else could there possibly be? We’ve already auctioned off a divine herb — is there something even more enticing?”

The elder presiding over the auction revealed a smile. “I believe many of those present will be quite interested.”

“What is it?”

“A Source-of-Origin Fruit!” The white-haired elder stood on the yellow diamond dragon platform and uttered those three words.

“What?!” Many people were astonished.

“A Source-of-Origin Fruit cut from within a stone?” Quite a few among the veteran figures were familiar with it.

“Legend has it this thing is extraordinarily difficult to find. Only a Source Grandmaster, or a demon king carrying the bloodline of a true dragon, could discover one through innate divine arts. This fruit is a false dragon pearl brought forth by the earth itself.”

“That is correct!” The white-haired elder nodded.

“Boom!”

The auction hall erupted into a roaring commotion. Everyone sat back down and no longer moved to leave.

“A Source-of-Origin Fruit — this is a life-extending treasure!”

“To think that such a thing was cut out as well. It has been many years since one was even spoken of.”

Everyone present was stunned, all of them talking at once. First a divine herb, and now someone was auctioning off this kind of fruit — it left people utterly speechless.

“While the Source-of-Origin Fruit cannot compare to a primordial divine herb, it can still be called a peerless rarity.”

“Who told you it can’t compare to a divine herb? That’s only because it hasn’t fully ripened. If it continuously absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, it can become a Life Fruit — also known as a False Dragon Pearl — and it won’t be inferior to a divine herb at all.”

Inside their VIP private room, Ye Fan’s horizons broadened considerably. So even this kind of fruit, though born within stone, could continue to grow by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

The people from the various Sacred Grounds were the most unsettled of all. The Yao Guang Sacred Ground in particular — having missed out on the humanoid divine herb, they were overjoyed to learn that a Source-of-Origin Fruit was also available.

“Everyone, please quiet down!” The white-haired elder carried a jade cauldron onto the dragon platform and placed it at the highest position.

“Take it out — let us have a look.” Someone from below called out.

The jade cauldron was opened. A somewhat damaged fruit, sealed within a transparent jade vessel, was displayed upon the elevated platform. Its faint, fresh fragrance was pleasing and refreshing.

“Why is this fruit broken?”

Everyone present was a cultivator, each with eyes sharp as lightning, and they immediately spotted the key detail.

“Something took a bite out of it — the spiritual energy has almost entirely dissipated. What a wasteful, reckless fool!”

“Who bit into this? What outrageous desecration of a treasure — a Source-of-Origin Fruit is meant to be refined and absorbed, not chewed on. It’s a wonder whoever did it didn’t get poisoned to death.”

Hearing these furious voices, Ye Fan felt a vein throb across his forehead, and he had the urge to give the big black dog a solid kick. That wretched dog truly had a talent for ruining things.

“Wait, those look like canine tooth marks to me — don’t tell me this was bitten by a dog?”

The eyes of the people gathered there were each sharper than the last. Many of the veteran figures had seen everything imaginable over their long years, and they identified the tooth marks immediately.

“It really was bitten by a dog — which wretched, death-deserving dog did this?”

“This is a Source-of-Origin Fruit! Who is such a scoundrel that they fed it to a dog?”

Hearing these words, Ye Fan truly found himself at a loss for words.

At this critical juncture, it was still the white-haired elder of the Celestial Demon Treasure Vault who smoothed things over: “Everyone, this item was acquired from the countryside. It was discovered by an old farmer who casually smashed a stone open, and naturally, he had no idea of its precious nature.”

“Even so, you don’t feed it to a dog!”

“Damn it all, this is enough to anger me to death — what kind of nonsense is this? May heaven strike down that reckless wastrel!”

A group of old men were beside themselves with outrage, their curses pouring out without end.

Inside their VIP private room, Li Heishui burst into raucous laughter, while Ye Fan sank into wordless gloom.

“The reserve price for this Source-of-Origin Fruit is fifty thousand jin of source.” The white-haired elder announced, and the bidding began.

From below, a wave of dissatisfied grumbling immediately arose.

“Without the damage, this would be worth over two hundred thousand jin of source — but as it stands, it certainly won’t exceed fifty thousand. So why set the reserve price this high?”

“Agreed — most of the spiritual energy has already dissipated.”

Despite their complaints, everyone still furrowed their brows and began to bid.

Though it had been bitten by a dog, it was undeniably a Source-of-Origin Fruit — a rare and extraordinary treasure with the divine effect of prolonging life.

Among all the bidders, the various Sacred Grounds were the most conflicted. They wanted to give up, yet could not bring themselves to do so — especially the Yao Guang Sacred Ground, who were essentially pinching their noses and reluctantly calling out prices.

“Sixty thousand jin of source!”

“Seventy thousand jin of source!”

“Eighty thousand jin of source!”

“Is this really happening? This thing was gnawed on by a dog, and you’re all fighting me this fiercely over it?”

“If you find it so distasteful, then stop bidding and step aside. I’ll offer ninety thousand jin of source.”

Li Heishui was laughing heartily, watching a group of old men compete over a Source-of-Origin Fruit that had been bitten by a dog — he had the urge to pound the ground.

But very quickly, his laughter froze. His grandfather rose to his feet to place a bid: “Ninety thousand jin of source!”

“I… Grandfather, why are you competing over this dog-gnawed fruit?!” His dark face was written all over with astonishment.

Ye Fan laughed. “This thing is second only to a divine herb. You should be congratulating your grandfather.”

“Easy for you to say, standing on the sidelines!” Li Heishui replied irritably.

“I say, Li the Grand Bandit, you are in the prime of your years with ample lifespan remaining — what business do you have competing with the rest of us?” An old man grumbled with great displeasure.

Li Heishui’s grandfather replied with unhurried calm: “This is being prepared for my grandson. I intend to refine a furnace of spirit elixir for him, to elevate his cultivation.”

“I…” Li Heishui was left completely tongue-tied, utterly unable to speak. He had just been roaring with laughter moments ago, only to realize in the end that he might be the one to consume this dog-gnawed fruit.

“One hundred thousand jin of source.” Just then, the Daoren of the Crimson Dragon, sitting in a corner, spoke up. His voice was not loud — very calm and understated.

When the group of old men saw that it was him, they all sat back down and refused to open their mouths again. Even Xu Tianxiong, the third of the Grand Bandits, said nothing more.

“One hundred and twenty thousand jin of source.” The Yao Guang Sacred Ground placed its bid — only a force of that caliber was unafraid of the terrifying Daoren of the Crimson Dragon.

The Daoren of the Crimson Dragon did not bid again, for he was truly short on source.

In the end, no one competed against Yao Guang. Everyone knew they were determined to have it. The Source-of-Origin Fruit was settled at one hundred and twenty thousand jin of source.

The people from Yao Guang pinched their noses and accepted the result.

The four influential figures of the Ancient Hua Imperial Dynasty, wearing their dragon crowns, bearing themselves with extraordinary majesty, moved with the powerful stride of dragons and tigers, and were the first to depart.

As they emerged, everyone stepped aside to clear a wide path, their wariness running deep. These men were surely terrifyingly powerful individuals advancing on Purple Mountain.

Shortly after, several elderly monks from the Western Desert also left the Celestial Demon Treasure Vault. As everyone watched the divine halos behind their heads, no one could suppress the awe in their hearts.

People knew that the third assault on Purple Mountain was about to begin.

As Ye Fan and Li Heishui were just leaving their VIP private room, they came face to face with Wu Ziming, Li Chongtian, and that brocade-robed young man.

“From this day forth, if you appear in the Sacred Ground’s stone workshops, you will understand what awaits you. Heh heh!” Wu Ziming let out a string of cold laughs.

Li Heishui also responded with a cold laugh: “I remember what you said — that you’d gamble until our faces turned green with envy, and that for the rest of our lives we’d never dare set foot in this trade again.”

“Good that you understand!”

“What a joke,” said Li Heishui. “Since when does what you say go? I just want to know — who exactly have you brought along here? What is his background?”

The brocade-robed young man walked straight ahead without even casting a glance in their direction, paying them not the slightest attention. He only said mildly to Wu Ziming at his side: “Dealing with them is hardly worth calling a wager — it’s a trivial matter handled in passing. My reason for coming to the Divine City this time is to cut a piece of divine source to bring back as a birthday gift for my grandfather.”

Li Heishui let out a cold laugh, watching his retreating figure. “Very well, very well, very well. Then we’ll meet at the Sacred Ground’s stone workshop. A great stone-gambling showdown — we’ll see whose face turns green!”

“You call this a great battle against you two?” The brocade-robed young man cast the two of them a mild glance and walked directly away.

“The crude and vulgar techniques of the countryside, daring to compare themselves to someone from the Tuoba Aristocratic Family? In the old days, even the Source Grandmaster once paid a visit to their clan.” Wu Ziming laughed loudly, then turned back: “As long as you show up in the stone workshop, we’ll naturally be there — and we’ll let you see what true source arts really are.”

A fragrant breeze drifted past. An Miaoyi strolled by and said with a light smile: “So there will be a stone-gambling showdown? Miaoyi will certainly come to watch.”

“Oh, is that so?” The Great Xia Imperial Prince and the white-robed little nun had just stepped out of their private room at that moment. Hearing this, they were immediately intrigued.

Up ahead, Wu Ziming halted his steps and turned back with a smile: “An Fairy, if you would come, that would naturally be more than welcome. A contest like this would perhaps be all the more worth watching.”

He then extended an invitation to the Great Xia Imperial Prince: “Your Highness, you must come as well. This gentleman is the most breathtaking talent from the Tuoba Family — an ancient source arts aristocratic clan — and three years ago he had already found divine source within an ancient mine all by himself.”

“Someone from the Tuoba Family?” The Great Xia Imperial Prince was startled. “That is truly one of the most ancient source arts aristocratic clans in existence. Legend has it they can determine dragon veins and lock down mountains and rivers.”

“Someone found divine source within an ancient mine entirely on their own?” The outstanding talent of the Jiang Family, Jiang Yifei, came walking over dressed in white robes, a refined smile on his face.

Wu Ziming hurriedly made introductions: “It was precisely this genius of the Tuoba Family who cut out divine source all by himself within an ancient mine.”

The brocade-robed young man stopped as well. However arrogant and haughty he might be, he would not dare to ignore figures from the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty and the ancient aristocratic families.

Something stirred in Ye Fan’s heart. The brocade-robed young man of the Tuoba Family was indeed no ordinary person. His source arts were truly astonishing — otherwise it would have been impossible for him to cut out divine source.

An Miaoyi’s dark hair drifted lightly in the breeze; her bright and clear eyes were full of expression. On her flawless jade face, her smile was enchanting and captivating. “A contest between prodigies of source arts will certainly shake the Divine City. Miaoyi will definitely go to watch.”

“Indeed — all of us will certainly attend. This will be a grand occasion. Who knows — perhaps something even more precious than a primordial divine herb may be cut out!”

Both the Great Xia Imperial Prince and Jiang Yifei nodded in agreement, saying they would go to the Sacred Ground’s stone workshop to watch the source arts contest. Even the white-robed little nun’s big eyes lit up with excitement.

The brocade-robed young man, Tuoba Chang, only cast an indifferent glance at Ye Fan — as if he simply did not consider him a rival at all. Yet with An Miaoyi, the Great Xia Imperial Prince, and the others present, he said nothing more.