C15 The Spectators

When the Stone Cutting Master peeled back the thin layer of stone and glimpsed the contents, he was utterly astonished.

"A Four-attribute Spirit Stone! And it's so symmetrically distributed—this is definitely premium quality!"

"Pure dumb luck! It's got to be pure dumb luck!"

The young man who had just unearthed a Three-attribute Spirit Stone thought he was set to make a name for himself. But before he could savor his triumph, Lau Suifeng showed up with two high-grade Spirit Stones of special attributes, stealing the spotlight effortlessly.

He consoled himself that second place wasn't so bad, considering there was still time to turn things around.

The two high-grade Spirit Stones of special attributes had already wowed the crowd. Yet, in a matter of moments, the tables turned again as a Four-attribute Spirit Stone was revealed, leaving everyone in awe.

The onlookers were stunned, their own stones suddenly seeming lackluster in comparison. Many walked away, their spirits crushed.

The rest remained fixated on the massive raw stone, wondering what secrets the rest of it held.

The Stone Cutting Master proceeded with newfound caution, his respect for Huah Yunfei growing. Initially, Huah Yunfei's claim of a Three-attribute Spirit Stone had impressed him. But his subsequent boasts had seemed overblown, casting doubt on his credibility. Now, with a Four-attribute Spirit Stone cut from the rock, the master's skepticism vanished.

"Huah Yunfei, you've really outdone yourself! How could you be so certain that the Spirit Stone inside was of such high caliber?" Lau Suifeng, once brimming with arrogance, felt his pride wounded by Huah Yunfei's success, fueling a deep resentment.

Previously, at the Endless Depository, Lau Suifeng had been bested by Huah Yunfei, a defeat he couldn't accept. He was convinced that Huah Yunfei's success was nothing but a fluke. Without luck, he believed, Huah Yunfei would never have found the Five-color Spirit Stone.

Lau Suifeng's prior victories over Huah Yunfei were tainted by deceit. Without rigging the stones, he knew he couldn't have been so certain of his wins.

Today, Lau Suifeng was unable to contain his restlessness upon witnessing Huah Yunfei select such an exceptional Four-attribute Spirit Stone. If one were to attribute Huah Yunfei's success to mere luck, then it was the kind of luck that defied the heavens. Lau Suifeng was convinced that Huah Yunfei's fortune was too extraordinary to be true, leading him to believe that Huah Yunfei must be harboring a secret.

"It's all deception!" Huah Yunfei could never reveal the real situation. Should his secret be exposed, he feared that many would set their sights on him. In such a case, he would undoubtedly end up kidnapped, spending his life selecting raw stones for others.

"Fine, if you won't talk, I have my ways to make you," Lau Suifeng said through clenched teeth, frustrated by his inability to get anything out of Huah Yunfei.

Ignoring Lau Suifeng, Huah Yunfei turned his attention back to the Stone Cutting Master before him. As he did so, he was met with a barrage of angry stares.

Their focus had initially been on the raw stone, curious about the potential outcome of the next cut. With each slice from the Stone Cutting Master, their schadenfreude diminished slightly.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating a fruitless cut, yet, to their dismay, the entire surface revealed glistening and transparent Spirit Stones.

"The third cut is starting now!"

Someone shouted, diverting the onlookers' resentful gazes from Huah Yunfei back to the raw stone in the Stone Cutting Master's hands.

"Empty!"

"Empty!"

"Empty!"

The crowd watched the blade fall, their voices rising in a synchronized chant.

The commotion drew the attention of those further away, particularly the examiners in the stands, who could only speculate about the thoughts stirring in the minds of the spectators.

"These kids sure have a mean streak, banding together in their resentment," the chief examiner remarked, shaking his head in resignation.

Hearing this, another examiner chimed in, "It's inevitable. Someone must have uncovered a top-grade Spirit Stone, and since they can't outdo him, they resort to cursing. It's a harmless affair."

"I'm actually curious to see what quality of Spirit Stone that young man has produced to cause such an uproar!"

The examiners themselves were eager to see what the commotion was about. At that very moment, the Stone Cutting Master's third strike revealed a surface shimmering with colors. The crowd, which had been chanting in unison, erupted into frenzied exclamations.

"It's outrageously unfair! It's clearly a top-grade Four-attribute Spirit Stone, yet it's still so massive!"

"Comparisons can be so disheartening!"

...

Witnessing the watermelon-sized top-grade Four-attribute Spirit Stone, the onlookers were green with envy. Their own Spirit Stones paled in comparison, and even the two high-grade special attribute Spirit Stones that Lau Suifeng held didn't amount to half of Huah Yunfei's find.

"Much obliged, much obliged!" Huah Yunfei said with a grin, observing the sour expressions around him as they begrudgingly acknowledged his success.

"Much obliged, my foot!" someone nearby cursed, snatching the other large raw stone from Huah Yunfei's grasp. He promptly placed it before the Stone Cutting Master, demanding, "Master, please cut this stone open without delay."

Huah Yunfei was caught between laughter and tears at the sight. He wasn't the one in a rush, yet here they were, desperate to discover what lay within his stone. Though the second stone was somewhat smaller than the first, it was still a behemoth compared to the others.

Before the Stone Cutting Master could make his cut, the man slapped the stone and boasted to Huah Yunfei, "If you manage to cut another Spirit Stone from this behemoth, I'll eat whatever comes out of it."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Remember what happened to that other guy?" someone immediately cautioned.

Indeed, there had been someone who had boasted in front of Huah Yunfei only to slink away in defeat.

"Hmph! Why is it considered boasting? He just got lucky. Does he really think every stone he picks will be a winner?" Lau Suifeng couldn't stand such talk and sarcastically countered.

The braggart reconsidered, realizing the advice he'd received wasn't without merit, and he began to second-guess himself. Still, he refused to back down, thumping his chest defiantly, "What's the issue? A man's word is his bond! If he cuts another large Spirit Stone, I'll lick this stone clean."

"Tch!"

At first, I thought this guy had some nerve, but his words quickly earned him the scorn of those around him.

The Stone Cutting Master was eager to discover what lay within the raw stone, his interest in Huah Yunfei piqued.

The previous two instances had been miraculous, though luck could not be ruled out. The stone in question was sizable; most people wouldn't dare gamble on such a large piece, knowing that if it were empty inside, the loss would be substantial.

If a Spirit Stone emerged once more, the Stone Cutting Master might just start to regard Huah Yunfei as divine.

As the Stone Cutting Master made his cut, everyone watched intently, not wanting to miss a single detail.

The sound of the knife screeching against the stone's surface, water droplets splashing, made everyone draw in a sharp breath.

Through the tiny cracks, they felt certain there was something inside.

"Damn it!" Lau Suifeng's face contorted with displeasure. The events unfolding were too uncanny, almost beyond belief.

The crowd swelled, drawing the gaze of nearly everyone present. Those at the back clamored for information, peppering those in front with questions.

But those at the front were too engrossed, eyes glued to the stone, unblinking.

"A top-grade Gold Attribute Spirit Stone!"

As the outer layer fell away, the white brilliance dazzled in the sunlight, and the Stone Cutting Master announced loudly to those around him.

At his words, a collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd. This stone was a single attribute Spirit Stone, not the anomaly they had seen before.

But their relief was short-lived as they realized the stone had only been cut once. What lay beyond the next cuts was anyone's guess.

With each successive slice, the same white glow confirmed their suspicions: encased within the large stone was a vast, top-quality Gold Attribute Spirit Stone. The value of such a find soared to incredible heights.

Once the outcome was clear, all eyes turned to Huah Yunfei with a mix of awe and complexity.

Clutching two enormous, top-quality Spirit Stones, Huah Yunfei found himself completely encircled, making it difficult for him to find a way out.

In light of the situation and with only one Spirit Stone remaining, Huah Yunfei tossed it aside.

"I don't need this one!"

As all eyes watched, the small piece of ore hit the ground.

After a brief moment of silence, everyone lunged for the Spirit Stone with a frenzy, abandoning the ones they already held.

Huah Yunfei's talent for assessing stones was well known to them. No one could fathom the quality of the Spirit Stone wrapped inside the ore he had discarded.

Despite being cast aside by Huah Yunfei, no one suspected it was merely an ordinary rock.

As the scene descended into chaos, the chief examiner could no longer remain passive. He bellowed with authority, "Enough foolishness! Everyone stop right now!"

The chief examiner's presence was commanding, his voice booming like a great bell, leaving the crowd with ringing ears.

No one dared to continue their antics in front of the chief examiner. At the sound of his voice, they dispersed immediately, except for those sprawled on the ground over the ore.

"The assessment is concluding ahead of schedule! The evaluation will now commence!"