"Eh?"
"Could it be another stone containing stone?"
"That's what it looks like. But it's strange. This yellow earth is wrapped tightly in hard purple-gold stone. It should have been pressed smooth... why is the surface so uneven?" The surrounding Gu Masters muttered in confusion.
Looking at the clod of yellow earth in his hand, Fang Yuan kept his expression unchanged, but his heart stirred slightly.
He continued rubbing. Blue light flowed like water, and the dirt crumbled into powder. Interspersed within the powdery dirt were quite a few lumps of earth, which fell one after another onto the pile of stone dust at his feet.
"Could there really be something inside?!" Some Gu Masters widened their eyes in amazement.
"Hard to say." The tone of some became less certain.
"I have a feeling there is. I really do." Someone called out softly.
The yellow dirt sphere gradually shrank as it was rubbed down. When it was almost the size of a palm, a person suddenly barged into the tent: "Kid, go easy. I, Jia Jinsheng, am buying this dirt ball!"
Fang Yuan's movements halted instantly. For a moment, all the Gu Masters in the tent fixed their gazes on this newcomer.
The newcomer looked young, around twenty to twenty-five years old. He wore a long golden robe, tied at the waist with a silk belt, in the middle of which was set a square jade piece. Inside the jade piece was a horizontal grain pattern, forming a rare horizontal 'one' character.
Clearly, he was a First Turn Gu Master.
Over twenty years old and still a First Turn Gu Master. It seemed his talent wasn't that great.
But this man's status was somewhat special. Seeing him, the Gu Masters in the tent all bowed respectfully and said in unison, "Subordinates greet the Second Young Master."
"Second Young Master?"
"He just called himself Jia Jinsheng. Could he be the half-brother of the caravan leader, Jia Fu..."
"That would mean this gambling den is his. But for him to suddenly come out and interfere, it seems like he's breaking the establishment's own rules."
The Gu Masters whispered among themselves.
"That's right, I am the owner of this establishment. Little brother, gambling on stones at such a young age? Aren't you afraid your family will scold you? I am offering forty primeval stones to buy the dirt ball in your hand. What do you think? Forty primeval stones is already a lot. There might not even be a Gu inside. This young master is just in a good mood today. Since this is your first time stone-gambling, I don't want you to lose everything. Consider this me giving you back your capital." Jia Jinsheng quickly walked up to Fang Yuan and said.
"Forty primeval stones?" Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced sideways at Jia Jinsheng. He sneered, "It seems you want to force a sale of my fossilized dirt ball? Forcing a sale would break the rules of the gambling den. Besides, we are on Qing Mao Mountain. Do you want to bully me, a member of the Gu Yue clan, in public?"
"Hm?" Hearing Fang Yuan's last words, the other Gu Masters present couldn't stand still. A sense of common resentment against the enemy rose in their hearts. They flocked towards Fang Yuan. Their gazes at Jia Jinsheng also turned hostile.
Jia Jinsheng had originally thought someone as young as Fang Yuan, a fifteen-year-old, would be easy to deal with. A few words would easily sway his heart. He never expected Fang Yuan's methods to be so formidable. With one casual remark carrying heavy weight, he was thrown into a disadvantageous position!
Seeing the Gu Masters flocking forward, Jia Jinsheng's expression immediately changed. He changed his tune and quickly waved his hands, "Little brother, you misunderstand! I am the owner of this stone-gambling den. How could I dismantle my own platform and break my own rules? How would I do business after that? Hehehe. I just found your dirt ball interesting and wanted to buy it. If you don't want to sell, then forget it. But if it turns out to be empty later, don't blame me for not warning you beforehand."
Fang Yuan ignored him. He turned his head and resumed rubbing the dirt ball in his hands.
His movements were very slow, very meticulous. Often, only a few strands of dry dirt powder would scatter after a long while.
With his movements, a dormant Gu gradually revealed itself to the crowd.
"My god, there really is a Gu insect!"
"It really hatched a Gu!"
"Is this for real? Gambling on stones can actually work out like this?"
"This kid's luck is exploding. He actually managed to crash his way into hatching a Gu through sheer dumb luck."
For a moment, exclamations of wonder and disbelief passed back and forth among the Gu Masters.
A female Gu Master instinctively covered her mouth, staring at the scene in disbelief.
She had worked as a clerk, traveling through many settlements, meeting all sorts of people and countless customers, but she had never seen such a dramatic scene.
"There really is a Gu!" A cold light flashed in Jia Jinsheng's eyes, and he was secretly enraged. He was narrow-minded, jealous, and envious. What he liked to do most was take advantage of others. What he hated most was others taking advantage of him.
He opened this stone-gambling den and had placed tight surveillance inside. Once a customer seemed about to unearth a Gu, he would receive the news and appear, usually force-buying it.
Now, in his den, right under his nose, Fang Yuan was unearthing a Gu. Jia Jinsheng felt his heart bleeding.
What was unearthed was a Toad Gu.
It was a sickly yellow all over, with a pale yellow belly, a tawny back, and covered in lumps, full of the warts typical of toads. At first glance, it was somewhat creepy.