Chapter 2333: Treasure Ore Emerges

Just like before, Tang Ming directly had the stall owner prepare the Stone Dissolving Liquid, then placed all the raw stones inside.

“Tang Ming, the City Lord, you’re here. I was just about to go to the entrance to find you. Did you buy so many raw stones again?”

Yao Jian walked over from not far away, saw the Stone Dissolving Barrel in front of Tang Ming, and asked with a smile.

Tang Ming nodded, “Lost quite a bit before. Out of a dozen raw stones, none yielded a Treasure Ore, only some quality Refined Iron. I’m hoping to try my luck here.”

“Ten stones expecting a Treasure Ore? Master Yao Jian, your friend here has quite a big mouth.”

Before Yao Jian could speak, the elder following him cast a peculiar expression toward Tang Ming.

Yao Jian coughed, “Old Tiger, how are you talking? This is City Lord Tang Ming, whom I mentioned to you. City Lord, I’ve shared with you that the likelihood of a Treasure Ore appearing from these raw stones is about one in a thousand. So, it’s normal for you to buy dozens and not find a Treasure Ore.”

“One in a thousand? That’s a pretty low probability. Doesn’t that mean it would take tens of thousands of spiritual coins to open one Treasure Ore?”

Yao Jian’s words made Barton Nake’s eyes narrow.

Hu Wei, standing beside Yao Jian, grinned, “Master, just looking at your hands, I can tell your talent in Artifact Refining isn’t weak, but you’re still underestimating the price of Treasure Ore. Every Treasure Ore’s transaction price is at least around a million spiritual coins. So, opening raw stones is definitely worthwhile.”

“Yeah, and this Immortal Craftsman convention has further increased the price of raw stones. Look, these raw stones have soaked enough, it’s time to dissolve them.”

Hu Wei started causing a commotion beside him.

Tang Ming nodded, then turned his gaze toward Yao Jian, “Master Yao Jian, you do the dissolving. Previously, Nak and I handled it, and we didn’t find a Treasure Ore. This time, let’s let you handle it for a change of luck.”

“No problem, I’m quite experienced in this.”

Yao Jian grinned, then quickly retrieved all the raw stones and set them in place.

According to the Spiritual Pattern and Spirit Vein of the raw stones, he began by tapping them with his small hammer.

Previously, not many paid attention to Tang Ming and Barton Nake. But because Yao Jian was quite famous in Source Stone City, many rushed over when they saw him about to dissolve stones.

The stone skins of the raw stones quickly peeled off, revealing ordinary minerals inside the first few stones. However, two of the stones contained relatively rare Blazing Iron, reducing Tang Ming’s losses significantly.

“Only three stones left, and I won’t be the one to open them.”

Yao Jian walked cheerfully over to Tang Ming’s side.

Tang Ming nodded, “Friend, since you’re here, why don’t you help us open one?”

“Oh, you want me to help with opening a Treasure Ore?”

Hu Wei was initially surprised, and then smirked.

The people standing behind Yao Jian also laughed, “Muddy Stone Tiger, if they trust you, you should help them open it. At worst, it’ll just be a muddy stone, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t miss out on your chance to shine, Muddy Stone Tiger.”

Again, people began to create a commotion.

Hu Wei’s expression wasn’t too pleasant; he was somewhat a legendary figure in Source Stone City.

Although Source Stone City was a large city focused on ores, there were some, like Hu Wei, who did not deal in ore business.

Hu Wei’s family once had great prestige in Source Stone City, even the Feng Family had to dodge the Hu Family’s sharp edges back in the day.

Yet, since Source Stone City’s foundation relies on ores, during Hu Wei’s great-grandfather’s generation, the Hu Family began to decline.

Large families that fall often face more adversities, and the Hu Family was no exception. So now, the only notable figure left in the Hu Family is Hu Wei himself.

Hu Wei coughed and then turned to glare at the onlookers, “What’s all this noise? Do you know what business I want to discuss with City Lord Tang Ming? It’s the muddy stone business. Brothers, good days are coming—City Lord Tang Ming is buying muddy stones. I think if I help him open up muddy stones, he’ll be really pleased.”

“Well, I think Treasure Ore would be better.”

Tang Ming smirked but still handed the Stone Dissolving Hammer to Hu Wei.

Hu Wei had opened quite a few raw stones over the years, aiming to find Treasure Ore, but instead earned the nickname “Muddy Stone Tiger” because the stones he opened never yielded Treasure Ore, and only rarely produced minerals—mostly just muddy stones.

This left his home filled with muddy stones.

When Tang Ming mentioned wanting to purchase muddy stones to Yao Jian, Hu Wei was the first to come to mind.

Hu Wei was genuinely surprised, even though he knew muddy stones were a development stage from mineral to gemstone. Yet, all the Immortal Craftsmen claimed muddy stones were useless.

The reason Hu Wei hadn’t thrown away the muddy stones he opened was twofold: firstly, because there were so many—each purchased with spiritual coins, and discarding them would be wasteful.

Secondly, he wanted to study how to transform muddy stone into Treasure Ore. When Tang Ming expressed interest in purchasing muddy stones, Hu Wei felt Tang Ming must have discovered a way to convert muddy stones into Treasure Ore.

A raw stone was directly cracked open, dispersing the brightness of the Spirit Vein. A red stone appeared within the raw stone.

Upon seeing the red mineral, the crowd around suddenly widened their mouths: “My heavens, Muddy Stone Tiger opened a Treasure Ore.”

“Muddy Stone Tiger opened a Treasure Ore.”

The appearance of every single Treasure Ore sends shockwaves through the raw stone market, as each year’s raw stone trade convention yields just a dozen or so Treasure Ores.

“This is a Treasure Ore.”

While Hu Wei stood in a daze, Tang Ming reached out to grab the Treasure Ore.

Hot and red, emitting scorching energy.

Yao Jian swallowed, “Brother Hu Wei, it seems you won’t be called Muddy Stone Tiger any longer.”

Hu Wei smirked, “I’ve been buying raw stones for nearly a century and never found a Treasure Ore, yet I helped City Lord Tang Ming open one and found a Treasure Ore. Master Yao Jian, I wonder if there’s any record of this Treasure Ore.”

After all, the raw stone was purchased by Tang Ming—so even though a Treasure Ore was found, it didn’t belong to him. Such a loss was quite a blow to Hu Wei.

Yao Jian shook his head, “A Fire Attribute Treasure Ore, judging by the aura, it should be of high quality. Master Nak, this time, you won’t think buying raw stones was a loss, right?”

“Not a loss, not a loss.”

Barton Nake was ecstatic, standing nearby. As an Immortal Craftsman, when the red Treasure Ore appeared, he could tell its value immediately.