Free Web NovelChapter 278: Chapter 273: Jade Transformation Crystal
"He lost..."
Everyone sighed, even Xu Fei. But then, he became excited again and said happily, "Haha, what does it matter? Stone City’s crisis is finally over! You have to know, we’ve never placed this high before."
Wan Xian’Er frowned, looking at Mu Chen on the high platform. He was calm and composed, holding a single Original Stone in one hand, and a different thought suddenly occurred to her.
’That expression... why isn’t there a single trace of regret?’
Lin Xiao shook his head and looked at Mu Chen and Ma Bi. Then he announced, "The final is over. Mu Chen, I regret to inform you that the final gap was simply too great. You have lost..."
Although everyone had already mentally prepared themselves, when they heard the news from the very lips of the master they revered, Elder Lin Xiao, the expressions of the audience members who had been supporting Mu Chen still fell.
"How could this happen...? Didn’t he select seventy Spirit Crystal Ores earlier? Why did he only end up with one?"
"And he even added a condition to the wager. If there was some trickery involved, he wouldn’t have bet such a huge stake."
Some people, who only saw the surface, expressed their confusion. The reversal was simply too drastic for them to accept. In truth, Lin Xiao had his own doubts. Ma Bi had never lost since his Pupil Technique mutated. But for some reason, Lin Xiao just didn’t like the man; he always felt there was a hint of evil in his eyes.
This had been the case for a long time. Coupled with Ma Bi’s growing prestige, he was even becoming a potential threat to the Imperial Spirit Selection Guild. However, this time, the higher-ups had done something even more extreme—they had allocated a spot for an Honorary Elder, and the location just so happened to be their Fenglan Empire. While this was a form of recognition for the Fenglan Empire, it also planted a potential seed of danger.
An Honorary Elder held a status equal to his own. If this person wasn’t truly dedicated to the study of Spirit Selection, they could use that position to do irreparable damage. This was absolutely not something he wanted to see.
Therefore, Lin Xiao had always hoped for someone to suppress Ma Bi and take on the role of Honorary Elder. He would rather have a mediocre person become the Honorary Elder, because at least that would be someone he could control.
"Wait..."
Just as everyone thought the Spirit Selection Conference was over, Mu Chen suddenly shattered the desolate atmosphere. freёwebnovel.com
"Who says having fewer means you’re bound to lose? Haven’t you noticed that Ma Bi always picks fewer Original Stones than his opponents, but still wins every time?"
Mu Chen’s words stunned everyone, but they also felt something was off. It was true that Ma Bi always chose fewer Original Stones than his opponents, but never less than five. And what was the difference between them now? Fifty! A fifty-stone gap. Even if Mu Chen’s single Original Stone contained a Thunder Attribute Spirit Crystal, was it possible that not one of Ma Bi’s fifty-one Original Stones contained an Attribute Spirit Crystal?
Lin Xiao sighed. "Mu Chen, I know you’re unwilling to accept this, but this match is already decided."
"No! I have not lost this final!" Mu Chen said with absolute conviction.
Hearing this, Ma Bi chuckled lightly. "My dear little brother Mu Chen, the facts are right in front of you. My fifty-one Original Stones include plenty of Rare Attribute Spirit Crystals. What do you have to defeat me? Or are you planning to go back on your word and not hand over the extra prize we wagered?"
Mu Chen smiled faintly. "Heh... Who told you that what’s stored in my Original Stone is a Rare Attribute Spirit Crystal?"
Lin Xiao was stunned. Ma Bi was stunned. Every resident of the Imperial Capital in the audience was stunned. Indeed, everyone knew that Original Stones didn’t just store Spirit Crystals. They could also contain a small number of exotic Medicinal Herbs, forging materials, and so on. These items were rarer, harder to find, and even more difficult to see through than Spirit Crystals. Even Lin Xiao, who could see through Original Stones directly without using a Pupil Technique, had only ever found a few in his entire life. ’For Mu Chen to say such a thing... could it be that he saw through an Original Stone containing some other treasure?’
"Besides, this final is about the value of the items stored within, not the quantity. Isn’t it a bit unreasonable to so carelessly determine the winner and loser? Even if I am to lose, shouldn’t you at least let me lose with a clear understanding by revealing the total value of Spirit Selector Ma Bi’s selections?"
Mu Chen’s expression was calm, but his words held immense confidence. This confidence quickly infected everyone present. Lin Xiao nodded. "Correct. You’re absolutely right. One should never judge a winner and loser based on appearances alone. In that case, I will grant your request and reveal the total value of the Original Stones Ma Bi has chosen!" With that, Lin Xiao pressed his hands firmly on Ma Bi’s long table. Waves of abundant Primordial Power rippled out toward the fifty-one Original Stones on the table.
BANG! BANG! BANG...
Under the constant barrage of Primordial Power, the Original Stones on the long table cracked open one after another like eggs. From within, dazzling Spirit Crystals, Attribute Spirit Crystals, and Rare Attribute Spirit Crystals were revealed.
In less than half a minute, all the Original Stones on Ma Bi’s table had turned into Spirit Crystals. There wasn’t a single Waste Stone. This undoubtedly showcased his powerful Spirit Selection talent; it wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to make him an Elder of the Imperial Spirit Selection Guild. Yet, seeing these Spirit Crystals, Mu Chen remained completely unfazed. An Attribute Spirit Crystal was worth five million, a normal Spirit Crystal was worth ten thousand. Mu Chen wasn’t yet sure of the value of a Rare Attribute Spirit Crystal, but he roughly estimated it to be no less than ten million. Sweeping his gaze over the Spirit Crystals on Ma Bi’s table, a look of rapid calculation flashed in Mu Chen’s eyes.
’Twenty-two Attribute Spirit Crystals, twenty-five Spirit Crystals, and four Rare Attribute Spirit Crystals. Is that all?’ A faint smile appeared at the corners of Mu Chen’s mouth.
Lin Xiao spent about five seconds tallying the value, then let out a breath. "The value already exceeds two hundred million Purple Elemental Crystals. That’s extremely high. Even ordinary forging materials and Medicinal Herbs can’t compare. Mu Chen, what do you think now?"
Mu Chen shook his head and smiled. "Elder Lin Xiao, all I can tell you right now is that even if the value of Ma Bi’s haul were a hundred times greater, it still couldn’t compare to what’s stored in my single Original Stone. Therefore, my opinion remains unchanged."
"Oh?" Ma Bi sneered. "Aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue with such big talk? In that case, I’m quite eager to see what this item of yours, supposedly worth twenty billion Purple Elemental Crystals, actually is."
Mu Chen chuckled and made an inviting gesture with one hand, indicating that Elder Lin Xiao could reveal his chosen Original Stone at any time. A little surprised, Lin Xiao walked over to Mu Chen’s long table. He first gently caressed the stone’s rough surface with his jade-like hands. But what made him frown was that the surface was incredibly coarse and its density was extremely loose. There was no sign of it hiding any treasure. Furthermore, judging by the cracks remaining on the Original Stone, it was, by all accounts, a Waste Stone.
Lin Xiao’s expression darkened. Although he liked Mu Chen and valued his potential, he could not tolerate someone blaspheming the art of Spirit Selection. Thus, Lin Xiao said in a deep voice, "Mu Chen, this Original Stone appears to be a Waste Stone. What... were you thinking?"
"A Waste Stone?" Mu Chen smiled faintly. "Then please, Elder Lin Xiao, open it and see. If this truly is a Waste Stone, I, Mu Chen, will immediately take off this robe that symbolizes a Spirit Selector and never participate in Spirit Selection activities again. How does that sound?"
Lin Xiao froze, a difficult thought crossing his mind. ’If this Original Stone really is a Waste Stone, then a highly potential Spirit Selector like Mu Chen will be ruined by my hands. But if it’s as Mu Chen says, and the treasure hidden inside is priceless, then it means the Spirit Selection skill of this fifteen-year-old boy before me has truly surpassed my own.’
"Heh... I don’t know why, but even though what you’re saying sounds so absurd, I still subconsciously choose to believe you." Sighing, Lin Xiao continued, "Very well. Let us see if you are truly making a fool of us all. If there really is a priceless treasure hidden inside, then even I, Lin Xiao, cannot compare to you, little fellow."
With that said, Lin Xiao gently pressed one hand onto the Original Stone and let his Primordial Power seep in. Soon, his expression became unnatural. As his Primordial Power entered the stone, he clearly felt a much stronger force of Primordial Power repelling his own.
SWOOSH!
With a whoosh, the Original Stone, struck by the Primordial Power, suddenly shot into the air. Everyone stared in shock at this scene. From this sight alone, everyone knew that Mu Chen had been right. There was indeed a treasure hidden inside, and from the looks of it, this treasure was anything but simple.
The Original Stone spun rapidly in the air. As the shockwaves from within grew stronger and stronger, the already loose-textured stone began to crack apart. Dazzling golden rays of light burst forth from within the Original Stone.
Golden light... a Gold Attribute Spirit Crystal? No! Of course not. How could a Gold Attribute Spirit Crystal possess such immense Primordial Power fluctuations? And that was secondary. More importantly, the moment cracks appeared on the Original Stone, people clearly felt the throb of life—or rather, the sound of a beating heart.
THUMP-THUMP... THUMP-THUMP...
Each beat seemed to press down on everyone’s heart...
Sensing the increasingly restless Primordial Power fluctuations within the Original Stone, Mu Chen frowned. He knew the thing was trying to escape. With a flash of thought and a CRACKLE of surging Thunder Light, he shot into the air. The instant the Original Stone completely shattered, he snatched a palm-sized golden crystal. Although the crystal was shrouded in golden light, everyone could still see its true form.
Looking at the crystal in Mu Chen’s hand, which pulsed with a trace of Life Aura, Emperor Fenglan, Shi Feng, shot to his feet and exclaimed in unison with Lin Xiao, "A Jade Transformation Crystal!!"
