Chapter 60: Bones Within the Divine Source

Everyone was somewhat bewildered, failing to understand why Li Yao uttered those words. Did he have some hidden trump card up his sleeve?

Without keeping them waiting for long, Li Yao turned around, facing away from the divine source. With a single stroke of his silver blade, the stone crust enveloping the divine source immediately split open with a crack.

"Swoosh!"

An even more blinding radiance soared into the firmament, accompanied by a richer divine aura. The dazzling brilliance arrived too swiftly; many were unprepared, and their eyes were instantly stung with pain, forcing them to quickly close their eyelids.

A blinding light shot into the heavens as a head-sized piece of divine source floated suspended in mid-air. Those with weaker cultivation levels could not even open their eyes to gaze upon it, leaving only powerful figures capable of observing it. This was the divine source, glowing with resplendent splendor.

"There is something inside the divine source?!"

"That is a piece of bone! I wonder what creature it belonged to?"

"No, there are inscriptions on the bone... Not characters, but a peculiar kind of Dao pattern... How profound!"

"Such profound Dao patterns, resembling a nirvanic divine phoenix..."

"Ah, why has it vanished? Quickly, take it out for observation! That is undoubtedly a supreme divine art!"

The scene erupted into a tumult as many cried out in astonishment. Within the divine source lay a piece of bone, and upon this bone were carved numerous Dao patterns that, when pieced together, resembled a phoenix burning with the fires of nirvana.

Although it was merely a fleeting glance, who among those present capable of piercing through the divine source's brilliance to look inside was not a supreme expert? Yet, even with just that brief glimpse, they recognized the extraordinary nature of those Dao patterns.

However, it was only a glance, and they had not even seen the whole picture, let alone comprehended it.

Li Yao put away the divine source, looked at the crowd with a half-smile, and said, "Everyone, the outcome is decided now, is it not?"

"Those Dao patterns are exceptionally profound. Though I only caught a glimpse of a corner, it is no less inferior to an Imperial Scripture. Based solely on those Dao patterns, the victor has already been determined," Jiang Xiong quickly stepped forward to declare, backing Li Yao up and seeking to bring this stone-gambling match to a close.

An uproar broke out among the crowd, stunned by Jiang Xiong's words. Comparable to an Imperial Scripture? Could it be that an Imperial Scripture had genuinely been cut out from the source stone?

At this moment, no one could maintain their composure. That was an Imperial Scripture—a truly supreme and peerless treasure.

"It is immensely profound. I, too, caught sight of a corner, far surpassing many ancient scriptures, but it appears... incomplete. The Dao patterns on that piece of bone are less than one-tenth complete."

"I share the same feeling. Yet, despite being incomplete, if one could comprehend the mysteries within, it would yield immense benefits for their cultivation."

Numerous old monsters wrung their hands and sighed with deep regret. Such profound Dao patterns lay right before their eyes, yet they were utterly unable to comprehend them.

"This is a supreme healing technique. Although incomplete, if one can thoroughly understand it, it would be nearly impossible to die from that point onward. Had it been complete, one can only imagine how terrifying it would be," an aged voice filled with profound regret spoke thus.

Even the guardian of the Jiang family's Heaven-tier Stone Garden gasped in admiration, which served to show just how terrifying those Dao patterns truly were.

Li Yao shook his head and walked toward Tuoba Lie. Upon drawing near, he spoke, "Grandmaster Tuoba, I have won."

The numerous old monsters also shook their heads helplessly. Though none wished to see the flawed Earth Fate Fruit fall into the hands of the Yaoguang Sacred Land, the outcome was now glaringly obvious.

Had it merely been a head-sized divine source, they might have still put in a good word for Tuoba Lie. After all, his previous assertions weren't idle talk, but based on genuine expertise.

Yet the Dao patterns that appeared within the divine source, incomplete though they were, possessed an equally immense value—so much so that if Li Yao were unwilling to sell, they would gladly pay three hundred thousand jin of source to acquire them.

Tuoba Lie remained silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, "You have won."

"Incorrect! We have yet to ascertain the true value of those Dao patterns. If you want us to concede defeat, you must hand over the Dao patterns—"

"Shut your mouth!" Before Tuoba Hong could finish, Tuoba Lie cut him off brutally and directly.

"Uncle!" Tuoba Hong cried out in unwillingness.

"Hong'er, the seventh-generation ancestor of our Tuoba family engaged in stone gambling with the fifth-generation Source Heaven Master on several occasions, yet all ended in crushing defeat. Though he fought and lost repeatedly, he knew how to accept defeat with dignity and an open mind. It was precisely because of this that the fifth-generation Source Heaven Master respected him, visiting him multiple times, which eventually led to the creation of the Crimson Gold Divine Hands and the Source Heaven Treasure Wheel."

Tuoba Lie slowly recounted this piece of family history passed down through generations, and then earnestly advised Tuoba Hong:

"Hong'er, defeat is not terrifying. As long as you acknowledge your shame, muster your courage, and continuously improve, you can become stronger. But if you cannot accept defeat, your mind will become lost, and you will completely ruin yourself."

It sounded as though he were lecturing Tuoba Hong, but upon finishing these words, Tuoba Lie's eyes grew significantly brighter, and his previously wilted spirit was restored.

Li Yao was slightly moved. His first impression of Tuoba Lie had been that of an arrogant senior putting on airs, but at this moment, he had to admit that the man possessed grand ambition and immense fortitude.

Such were the cultivators of the Shifting Heavens world: though they fought fiercely and vied for supremacy, they never lacked individuals of grand spirit and indomitable will.

In other immortal cultivation realms, aged ancestors with dwindling lifespans would enter death-seclusion, never to be disturbed until the sect faced annihilation. In contrast, aged ancestors of the Shifting Heavens world would hoist Imperial artifacts and march out of the mountains to drag a host of enemies down with them.

"I understand, Uncle," Tuoba Hong lowered his head and said.

Li Yao silently put away the Human Fate Fruit and the one hundred thousand jin of source on the ground. Originally, he had intended to completely crush their spirits and shatter their pride, but Tuoba Lie's formidable character earned his high regard, prompting him to withhold those piercing words.

"Wait a moment," Tuoba Lie called out to Li Yao as the latter turned to leave.

"What is it? Do you have any pointers?" Li Yao turned around and asked.

Tuoba Lie retrieved a jade pure-water bottle and sent it gliding across the air using divine power. "This is the wager. Twenty thousand jin of source; you may check the count."

Li Yao did not bother to count it. He simply stored it away quietly and prepared to leave once more.

"Your talent is exceptional, and you have the potential to become the sixth-generation Source Heaven Master. Do not squander it..." Tuoba Lie instinctively fell back into a lecturing tone. In the Tuoba family, he was specifically responsible for teaching source arts to his clansmen.

However, he quickly snapped back to reality. The young man before him already possessed a mastery of source arts surpassing his own; he was in no position to offer instruction.

Contrary to Tuoba Lie's expectations, Li Yao nodded seriously and replied, "Thank you for the guidance."

This epic stone-gambling battle thus came to a close. Li Yao reaped an enormous harvest, turning many people green with envy, though none dared to harbor malicious schemes against him.

He did not continue any further, nor did Yun Shang advise him to do so. This trip was merely meant to settle a score and redeem their pride; pressing onward would risk completely burning bridges.

Jiang Ji had plundered the Yaoguang Sacred Land's source district, whereas Li Yao had looted the Jiang family's stone workshop.

If one were to compare the two, Jiang Ji would likely need to pull off several more heists to match Li Yao's current haul.

Moreover, certain treasures defied estimation in mere source—such as the Human Fate Fruit, the divine source, and the Dao patterns inscribed upon the bone within the divine source.

Following the stone-gambling battle, Li Yao's fame resonated thoroughly throughout the Sacred City, subsequently spreading from the Sacred City to engulf the entire Northern Domain, followed by the Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Domains.

This time, his renown shook the entire Eastern Wasteland. He became recognized by all as a peerless prodigy—not for his cultivation level, but for his mastery of source arts.

Over the next few days, Li Yao was swamped with various social engagements, frequenting banquets hosted by major powers and socializing with countless prominent figures.

With his status as a Grandmaster of Source Arts, even though his personal cultivation level remained relatively low, the Supreme Elders of various sacred lands and ancient clans treated him as an honored guest.

Nevertheless, Li Yao exercised strict self-restraint. By the fifth day, he ceased going out entirely.

...

"At leisure at last, Grandmaster of Source Arts." Amidst lush, verdant mountain peaks, Yun Shang sat upon a woven rush mat, leisurely sipping tea. Before him stood a wooden table, rendering the entire scene exceptionally serene and carefree.

"Supreme Elder Yun has chosen to lose himself amidst the mountains and rivers; it is truly enviable," Li Yao said, sitting on the opposite side and raising a cup of tea to his lips.

Yun Shang remarked, "Such rare moments of leisure are naturally meant to be enjoyed."

Thereafter, neither spoke further, quietly admiring the peaks before them and the billowing sea of clouds.

After a long while, Yun Shang finally broke the silence. "The Luoxia Mountain is willing to offer eight hundred thousand jin of source for that Human Fate Fruit."

Li Yao shook his head. "Elder Xun's time is running out. This Human Fate Fruit belongs to him."

"Ah, I figured as much," Yun Shang sighed with regret, shaking his head.

"What's wrong, Junior Brother Yun? You're sighing away," a voice suddenly drifted over. Following the sound, the two looked up to see Zhang Chong, who had been away for quite some time.

"Senior Brother Zhang."

"Supreme Elder Zhang."

The two rose and walked toward Zhang Chong.

Li Yao's sensational feat in the Sacred City had naturally alarmed the sacred land, particularly the rare treasures he had cut out, which had turned countless people green with envy. During this period, undercurrents surged violently within the sacred land.

Fortunately, Luoxia Mountain and the Rising Sun Island exerted their influence simultaneously to deter those harboring greedy ambitions.

Naturally, Luoxia Mountain and Rising Sun Island alone lacked sufficient weight to completely suppress the situation, but at the crucial juncture, the Sacred Master's lineage also stepped forward.

Long before the stone-gambling match, the Sacred Master's lineage had promised that all rare treasures cut out during this event would belong to Li Yao personally.

With the Sacred Master's lineage stepping in to take charge of the overall situation, the tempest was finally quelled. It was precisely because of this that Zhang Chong had only now managed to free himself and arrive at the Sacred City.