Chapter 87 Stone Gambling II

“In a medium-sized stone gambling den like this, five or six out of every ten stones are completely empty. Even among those that contain Gu, nine out of ten will contain Gu that have already died. But if you’re lucky enough to obtain a living Gu, you’ll usually make a considerable profit. And if that Gu happens to be extremely rare, you might become rich overnight… or attract enough attention to be killed and robbed.”

Fang Yuan naturally understood all of this. His five hundred years of experience were not for show.

In his previous life, he had once traveled with a merchant caravan and worked as an assistant in a stone gambling den. Later, he had even operated a stone gambling business of his own, one considerably larger than the place before him. He had profited from countless gamblers, though he had also misjudged stones on several occasions and watched customers walk away with valuable Gu.

Overall, however, Fang Yuan had still accumulated considerable wealth. His experience from his previous life had given him a sharp mind for business, and during that period, he had even fallen in love with a young woman from a prominent family.

Unfortunately, in this world, strength decided everything. Wealth, talent, and cleverness meant little if one lacked the power to protect what belonged to them.

The woman’s older brother had coveted Fang Yuan’s wealth and simply seized it by force, wiping out everything he had accumulated through years of hard work. Even the woman Fang Yuan loved eventually married the young master of another powerful family.

Such experiences had taught Fang Yuan long ago that wealth without strength was nothing more than wealth being kept temporarily for someone stronger.

Meanwhile, Fang Zheng and Jin Zhu followed the crowd deeper into the stone gambling den. Neither had visited such a place before, and their attention constantly shifted between the strange stones displayed around them.

Behind the counters stood shop assistants at intervals of several meters, both men and women. Each wore a cyan belt around their waist, showing that they were all Rank One Gu Masters. Most possessed middle or upper stage cultivation, while a few had already reached peak stage.

Seeing Fang Zheng and Jin Zhu approach, the nearest female Gu Master immediately walked over with a practiced smile.

“Young master, what grade of stone are you interested in? Every stone at this counter costs ten primeval stones.”

She glanced between Fang Zheng and Jin Zhu before continuing, “If this is your first time stone gambling and you and your girlfriend only want to have some fun, I’d recommend the counter on the right. Those stones cost five primeval stones each. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try the better stones farther ahead. Those cost twenty each.”

The female Gu Master had dealt with countless customers and immediately recognized Fang Zheng as an inexperienced newcomer, most likely one from a wealthy family.

She smiled teasingly. “Or perhaps you’d like to hear your girlfriend’s opinion first?”

Fang Zheng’s face immediately turned red. He knew at once that she had misunderstood their relationship.

“N-No, Jin Zhu isn’t my girlfriend! We’re only classmates.”

He hurriedly explained himself. Fang Zheng already had Shen Cui, and their relationship had long since become intimate. Although Shen Cui was only a mortal maid, he had no intention of betraying her by becoming involved with another girl.

After explaining, Fang Zheng glanced toward Jin Zhu, only to discover that she had not even heard him. Her attention had already been completely drawn toward a nearby counter.

Displayed there were several lotus stones. Each resembled a lotus flower carved from stone, with overlapping petal-like layers and a faint crystalline quality. Such stones were usually recovered from ancient ponds and secluded mountain lakes.

“Oh? Little sister, are you interested in lotus stones?” The female Gu Master immediately walked over with a bright smile. “These lotus stones sell very well in our stone gambling den. They have a relatively high chance of containing Water Path or Wood Path Gu.”

“No, actually, we came here to…” Jin Zhu suddenly looked around. “Huh? Where did Fang Yuan go?”

Only then did the two realize that they had lost sight of him.

Elsewhere in the gambling den, another shop assistant was enthusiastically introducing stones to Fang Yuan.

“Let me look around first.” Fang Yuan nodded expressionlessly, then lowered his head and began carefully examining the stones before him. If his memory was correct, it should be somewhere around this counter. However, he could no longer be completely certain.

After all, these memories came from more than five hundred years ago. Five hundred years was an enormous span of time, and even Fang Yuan could only clearly remember a small portion of everything he had experienced.

He vaguely recalled that on the first night the caravan arrived that year, someone had spent ten primeval stones on a fossil whose surface carried a faint purple-gold sheen.

After the stone was cut open on the spot, a living toad Gu had been discovered inside. Later, that Rank Two Mudskin Toad Gu was bought by another Gu Master, allowing the lucky gambler to earn a considerable amount of primeval stones.

That was precisely why Fang Yuan had come here. If he could obtain that Mudskin Toad Gu tonight, he should be able to earn at least five hundred primeval stones from it.

Fang Yuan stood before the counter and silently examined the stones for a while, his brows gradually drawing together. More than twenty fossils here possessed some degree of purple-gold luster.

Which one contains the toad Gu?

Not talking about Xie Han Mo Fang Yuan True Love.