Chapter 9: The Finale Rough Stone

“Li Xuan, you’ve screwed me over, I’m going to settle this with you!”

Zhu Yougui had intended to show off, but instead he became the biggest joke of all. Truly, he had failed to imitate the tiger and ended up resembling a dog. With his arrogant and overbearing nature, there was no way he would let Li Xuan off so easily; he immediately launched an attack.

At that moment, several figures descended from nowhere like hawks swooping down on chicks, effortlessly tossing Zhu Yougui aside. The noble sons all turned toward the top-tier suite, bowing in unison and calling out, “Greetings, Princess Chang!”

Gong Jinglin remained silent, her eyes fixed on Li Xuan and Jiang Qingyue. She pursed her lips in a slight smile before vanishing without a trace.

“How interesting—a worthless stone, yet someone actually took the bait. Usually, when asked to contribute to military expenses, they can’t come up with a cent, yet their own noble sons are so generous. Has Li Xuan’s information been gathered?”

Without Elder respectfully presented Li Xuan’s dossier. “Master, this is all we have.”

Gong Jinglin frowned deeply, her voice icy. “Is that all?”

Without Elder immediately knelt. “Your servant could only uncover this much. Because that boy has been dormant for three years, there’s no further information.”

Gong Jinglin stared blankly at Li Xuan’s brief life record.

Li Xuan, male, twenty years old, a student of the Four Academies, had been dormant for three years due to the Tang Ruoxian incident, currently at the early stage of the Spirit Awakening Realm. He borrowed one million Source Crystals from Jiang Qingyue, bribed Elder Xiyue of the Administrative Court with tens of thousands of Source Crystals, was tried at the Court of Justice, and was taken in as a registered disciple by the Star Constellation Elder…

The entire biography, less than a hundred words, was downright laughable.

“My little cousin has always been a money lover with sharp eyes, yet she bypassed Li Chenxi and lent Li Xuan a million Source Crystals—that’s unexpected. Go, send some gambling funds to Li Xuan. I want to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve. Remember, send it under the name of the Stone Gambling House!”

Without Elder hesitated briefly, then turned to make arrangements.

At this moment, the host announced once again, “The stone gambling continues. The remaining raw stones will be auctioned, each with a starting price of five hundred thousand Source Crystals!”

The host also reiterated the rules of the Stone Gambling House—no one was allowed to cause trouble, with Zhu Yougui serving as an example.

“Li Xuan, why the daze? Don’t provoke the people in the top suite. Be careful, or you might lose your life. Keep earning a dowry for your sister, or else I won’t spare you!”

Jiang Qingyue waved her delicate fist teasingly in front of Li Xuan’s eyes, issuing a playful threat before breaking into a bright smile.

With a beauty by his side, Li Xuan was naturally pleased. He took a breath, glanced at the raw stone, and called out, “Six hundred thousand Source Crystals!”

After Zhu Yougui’s lesson, nobody dared to act rashly. No one knew what tactics Li Xuan might employ next—whether he would suddenly raise the bidding price then stop abruptly, causing others to once again buy worthless stones.

Source Crystals were trivial to them, but when it came to face and reputation, recklessness was forbidden.

Li Xuan’s only shortcoming was insufficient funds; otherwise, with his ability to discern raw stones, victory would have been assured.

“Let him have his moment of pride!”

“Don’t stoop to the level of this pauper who lives off women. He’ll regret this later!”

“Yeah, that troublemaker has spoiled the air. Let’s go!”

…

Typical sour grapes.

“Young master, should we—”

An elder bowed and asked Tang Xuan.

Tang Xuan waved his hand, signaling to wait and see.

There was no doubt that Li Xuan had won another raw stone at a reasonable price.

At this point, many noble sons were already preparing to leave, but Li Xuan once again held a raw stone. As his Source Power surged forth, stone fragments shed anew, emitting a pale, soft radiance. The Source Power flowed like water, forming a small whirlpool.

“This is a Jade Spring Stone from the Ancient Era. Legend says it aids cultivation and nourishes the meridians greatly. Its value should be at least a million Source Crystals. What kind of damn luck does Li Xuan have!”

“Wow, I love you! Do you have a girlfriend, little brother?”

The noble young ladies blushed deeply, their hearts secretly decided, falling in love at first sight, and enamored all over again.

“Did God kiss him? So divine!”

The noble sons who wanted to leave looked at Li Xuan enviously, then at the Jade Spring Stone, wishing they could snatch it away, filled with regret.

They immediately took their seats again, determined to crush that ant with overwhelming wealth.

“That boy is bold and insightful. He knows how to manipulate psychology, always pulling off amazing moves at critical moments. While ensuring the Stone Gambling House’s profits, he also gains enormous income! How are the arrangements going?”

Gong Jinglin pondered how to tame him. The Holy Moon Imperial Court was currently in need of talents, and control was paramount.

Without Elder replied, “Your servant has already made the arrangements!”

From then on, everyone united to pounce on Li Xuan.

“Yueyue, how much dowry do we still have?”

Li Xuan and the others engaged in fierce bidding battles, killing each other relentlessly. Occasional losses were inevitable but part of the long game.

Because someone was watching from the luxurious suites atop the Stone Gambling House, if Li Xuan pushed things too far, it would backfire.

The Li family was now in turbulent times and needed to align with powerful forces. Otherwise, those with ill intentions would crush their rise in the cradle.

If the Li family reneged on the engagement, how would they withstand the King family’s wrath? That had to be considered.

“Don’t ask me. You’ve nearly spent all the dowry, and you still have to accompany me!”

Jiang Qingyue’s face was dark with frustration, no longer the spirited woman she was before, now nearly wanting to kill Li Xuan.

Yet judging by the quality of the Source Jade acquired, they had earned triple the Source Crystals, even with Li Xuan deliberately holding back.

“Li Xuan, tell me, are you purposely letting them win? With me backing you, who are you afraid of?”

Jiang Qingyue knew he could have earned more but chose not to, deliberately allowing several rare treasures to slip through, which enraged her.

Li Xuan grabbed Jiang Qingyue’s Qiankun pouch, which was indeed empty. To continue bidding, they’d have to wait until tomorrow to sell the Source Jade, or let the Stone Gambling House buy it back at ninety percent of the actual price—a bargain for the House.

This was the very reason the Stone Gambling House thrived with abundant funds.

At that moment, a waiter approached slowly, bowing. “Miss, young master, this is an investment from my employer, totaling ten million Source Crystals. Please enjoy!”

“No thanks. My people don’t need your investments!”

Jiang Qingyue rejected him mercilessly. The waiter looked distressed, bowing again. “Miss, this isn’t an investment, just pure sponsorship for the two of you to have fun. Don’t read too much into it!”

Jiang Qingyue glanced upward, growing even more irritated. She raised her hand to strike the waiter but was stopped by Li Xuan.

“That young one will graciously accept. Please help me thank your employer properly.”

“You… you’re killing me!” Jiang Qingyue crossed her arms, refusing to engage further.

For Li Xuan, receiving support during his family’s decline was a great favor.

However, this favor came at a price, though the sponsor would remain hidden until the right time.

Li Xuan comforted Jiang Qingyue. “Sister, you’re jealous. Come on, little brother is here to serve!”

Feigning affection, he pretended to massage her knee, his eyes scanning up and down, making her heart flutter and cheeks flush.

“Alright, we earned quite a bit. Let’s sell to the Stone Gambling House at ninety percent of the real price. We won’t take that person’s money.”

Jiang Qingyue still refused the Stone Gambling House owner’s sponsorship, but Li Xuan persisted until he finally convinced her.

Li Xuan continued his strategy of feigning weakness to disguise strength, and vice versa, igniting the Stone Gambling House once more. Tonight’s turnover had already exceeded a hundred million, with many worthless stones sold, pure profit for the House.

Those who won the auctions were naturally happy, while the noble sons who lost large sums hated Li Xuan bitterly.

That night, Li Xuan made many enemies, and his path forward would only grow more difficult. Moreover, his lingering relationship with Jiang Qingyue was blatantly obvious, scattering a heavy dose of “dog food”—those who admired Jiang Qingyue now saw him as a thorn in their side.

The stone gambling had reached its final stage: the last and grandest raw stone was about to be unveiled. It was said to have been excavated from an ancient tomb dating back to the Ancient Era. This very stone had caused the deaths of tens of thousands and was surrounded by ominous occurrences.

Li Xuan randomly raised the bid, leaving everyone physically and mentally exhausted. Few had high hopes for the legendary stone, as stones from that place were said to be sentient, even heavily sealed, and mishandling them could bring disaster upon one’s family—truly a harbinger of misfortune.

Yet no one was leaving; if Li Xuan could handle it, let’s see what he would do.

With the ringing of a copper gong, the raw stone—weighing nearly a ton—was carried out by dozens of people. It bore no trace of Source Jade patterns, nor any detectable Source Power. It was undoubtedly a worthless stone, yet it bore many marks of swords, axes, cuts, and even remnants of Source Heaven’s lightning strikes.

Its notoriety stemmed from its era and the countless lives lost to excavate it.

“Master, as per your orders, the stone has been arranged!”

Without Elder reported, “Master, are you sure you want to try it? But—”

Gong Jinglin’s cold, authoritative voice cut him off. “Silence!”

Without Elder tried to argue, but Gong Jinglin continued, “I know the limits. Unless a Source Heaven Master emerges from that lineage, that stone is truly worthless!”

The Source Heaven Master lineage was born for raw stones. They sought out Dragon Veins and ancient mines, greatly contributing to the Yaoguang Star Region, but also incurring divine punishment, retreating from the world.

Li Xuan’s method of discerning raw stones was strange. Though he deliberately made mistakes, letting a few worthless stones slip through, who could guarantee he wasn’t protecting the interests of the hidden backer? The highest art of stone gambling was never to bankrupt the house. Those who controlled the Stone Gambling House must be extraordinarily shrewd.

This was Li Xuan’s greatest cleverness—not only protecting his own interests but also ensuring the House earned vast turnover. Truly brilliant.

Gong Jinglin herself was initially confused by Li Xuan’s strategy of blending truth and falsehood and easing off at key moments but immediately made these arrangements upon reflection.

Excavating Dragon Vein ancient mines was the specialty of the Source Heaven Master lineage.

“I know my limits. Proceed as arranged!”

Gong Jinglin did not want to waste words. To ensure absolute safety, she naturally kept contingencies in place.