The great sound of the Dao rang on and on without ceasing. The sky-high rare stone was plain and unadorned, yet utterly entrancing. Ye Fan had chosen it, his words firm and resonant, carrying across the entire island.

Many people were astonished. This stone had actually resonated with Dao sounds, brought forth by the Source-Heaven Divine Sense, reverberating between heaven and earth — truly startling beyond all measure.

At once, people from various major powers sent private transmissions one after another, offering sky-high prices to purchase this stone — including people from the Sacred Grounds, all of them eager to win Ye Fan over.

Everyone present was greatly impressed. This truly was a grand source arts contest — both prodigies had chosen stones that stunned the crowd.

“Something extraordinary will certainly be cut out — the stone resonated with a mysterious celestial sound.”

“Could it be an ancient scripture? There is a legend that the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty’s ‘Great Emperor’s Sutra’ was cut out from within a stone.”

“The Dao is boundless — vast and profound — and one feels the impulse to plunge into it entirely.”

“Perhaps it is an immortal scripture.”

No one failed to change their expression. All were filled with admiration and curiosity, watching with intense focus.

“Young fellow, if something truly extraordinary is cut out this time, don’t forget about us group of old codgers.” The old men’s gazes were burning with eagerness, wringing their hands in agitation.

They speculated that there was a strong likelihood something world-shaking would emerge. If it truly was an ancient scripture, it would set off an enormous wave — none of the Sacred Grounds would be able to sit still.

If it weren’t for the elder sitting cross-legged beneath the great ancient tree at the center of the island — the guardian of this garden — someone might already have moved to seize both stones.

“Cut the stone — cut the stone quickly!”

Many people shouted out, all hoping to learn immediately what peerless rarity was about to come into the world.

The Ji Family’s people wore grim expressions. Both of these stones were far too precious. If they yielded world-shaking treasures, the loss would be deeply painful.

Having seen such a stone chosen, Li Heishui finally let out a long breath, feeling that most likely it could stand as an equal to the dragon-head stone.

Wu Ziming laughed coldly: “What rarity can possibly compare to a true dragon? Even if a divine object of another kind is cut out, it still won’t escape losing, and it’ll be delivered straight to Brother Tuoba.”

“Exactly — this is as good as sending a great gift to Brother Tuoba.” Li Chongtian sneered as well.

“Enough talk — cut the stone and let the cutting decide the winner.” Li Heishui paid them no mind and said only those two words. Now it all came down to cutting stone and seeing who won.

At this moment, everyone was tremendously tense, all watching, all waiting for the treasures nurtured within the dragon-head stone and the Immortal Melody Stone to emerge into the world.

The brief clamor subsided, and the small island rapidly settled into silence — hushed enough for the sound of falling petals to be heard clearly.

“You go first.” Ye Fan made a gesture of invitation.

The brocade-robed young man Tuoba Chang said nothing. With careful, deliberate hands, he raised his silver blade toward the dragon pearl, and the dark-green stone sphere split open.

“Boom!”

A powerful and overwhelming surge of energy rushed out — enough to shake the hearts and souls of all present. The dragon’s might was terrifying!

“A dragon — I see a dragon!”

“A true dragon has flown out!”

Many people cried out. Everyone was stunned, their eyes fixed on the center of the scene — hardly able to breathe.

From within the stone pearl, a dragon half a meter in length rushed out into the air, soaring and coiling, its draconic might overflowing in all directions — deeply formidable.

“No — that is dragon energy taking shape, not a true dragon in the flesh.”

As people calmed down and looked more closely, they saw that the small dragon was not a physical body.

The dragon pearl lay shattered, empty inside. Tuoba Chang’s face was written over with disappointment.

“What a shame — there was only a breath of dragon energy. Nothing else within.”

“This was merely a strand of spiritual essence nurtured by heaven and earth, which had taken on the form of a dragon. It was not true dragon energy.”

Many people shook their heads. It fell far short of what they had imagined — the gap between expectation and reality was too great, and many let out sighs.

“How did things turn out this way?” Wu Ziming clenched his fist.

Li Chongtian was equally overwhelmed with disappointment, stomping his foot in frustration.

“Hahaha…” Only Li Heishui shook his head and laughed raucously, leaving Wu Ziming and the others with expressions dark as iron.

“True dragons do not descend to the mortal realm. It is a pity for this pearl — for in this world, a true dragon cannot be nurtured into being. If an immortal realm existed, there is no doubt that in time this pearl would have transformed into a true dragon.”

The elder who guarded the Ji Family’s stone garden spoke those words, then fell silent once more.

The dragon energy was on the verge of dispersing, about to dissolve into the world. The Great Xia Imperial Prince charged forward in a single step, tremendously excited: “I’ll take this dragon energy — ten thousand jin of source!”

He raised his hand to seal the space, imprisoning the dragon energy within.

The crowd exchanged glances. The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty had passed down the Great Emperor’s Sutra, which recorded within it a combat sacred technique — the Imperial Dragon Breath. To cultivate it required not only exceptional natural talent, but also certain secret methods. It seemed this dragon energy would be of great benefit to him.

Tuoba Chang nodded and said nothing. He had spent a hundred thousand jin of source to purchase the dragon-head stone, and yet nothing of peerless rarity had been cut from it. For him, it was a blow.

The Source-Heaven Treasure Wheel had reflected a true dragon within the stone — and yet, just as Ye Fan had said, it had all proven to be nothing more than an illusion — a flower in a mirror.

Tuoba Chang stood motionless in the center of the scene, his expression blank.

Now it was Ye Fan’s turn to cut the jade cocoon. He did not hesitate. He stepped back and swung the black small sword, and with a sharp ring split open the jade wall.

“Ding-dong…”

Immortal music rang out. Dazzling light burst forth, and the center of the scene blazed with brilliance — captivating the heart and causing the spirit to tremble, as though some bewitching force were pulling one toward surrender.

“This is an Immortal Linglong — what a pity…” A wizened old voice was filled with regret as it said these words. Almost no one heard it.