C3 Soulfire Elixir!

The young lady's discernment was undeniably sharp.

Yet, while it might escape the notice of others, Yu Beigu could see that this girl was likely practicing a certain cultivation technique.

He found himself intrigued. He hadn't anticipated encountering someone akin to himself on his journey to Zliland.

However, the technique she was practicing seemed rather mundane to Yu Beigu, not nearly on par with any of the techniques he knew.

At that moment, the girl also took notice of Yu Beigu. When she laid eyes on him, her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

This boy appeared quite ordinary, so why did she sense an odd connection?

Could he be a cultivator as well? But he bore no trace of a cultivator's aura!

He seemed to be just an average person!

Perhaps she was overthinking it.

With that thought, she shook her head and dismissed the notion.

The girl named Zhao Moqian had quickly become a sensation in the stone gambling scene over the past two years. Dubbed the "God's Right Hand," she nearly always unveiled one or two Stone Kings in her gambles.

"Little brother, see that girl? That's Zhao Moqian, just over twenty years old. But her eye for stones is incredibly keen; she hardly ever makes a wrong call.

It looks like our timing isn't great. Since she's already made her move, chances are she's already claimed the Stone King," Lin Luoyan remarked with a hint of disappointment.

"Oh? Is that so?" Yu Beigu replied with a casual smile.

"See, Zhao Moqian is wrapping up. Basically, if she's done gambling, it's a sign that there are no more stones of value left.

You might be skeptical, and I was too at first. But after seeing it happen time and again, it's become an accepted truth. Once Zhao Moqian steps back, it's a clear sign that all the stones worth anything have been picked over."

As she spoke, a glint of admiration for Zhao Moqian shone in Lin Luoyan's eyes.

"The Lin family's Stone Gambling Enterprise, the Xu family, and even the nation's jade magnates have offered her salaries in the hundreds of millions to recruit her as an appraiser. Alas, she's turned them all down.

This young woman is the foremost prodigy in the world of stone gambling."

"Oh..." Yu Beigu observed that as the young woman rose and departed, nearly two-thirds of the inner circle of stone gamblers dispersed almost immediately.

These individuals were not mere onlookers of the stone gambling scene outside; they were all wealthy tycoons, true hidden dragons and crouching tigers who had the privilege of being in this exclusive space.

"Isn't that the heiress of Lin's Group? Miss Lin, you're a bit late. Most of the prime stones from this batch have already been cut. What's left are just the rejects," someone familiar with Lin Luoyan kindly cautioned her.

Lin Luoyan cast a glance at Yu Beigu and, noting his indifference and intent to proceed further inside, she sighed in resignation and decided to follow him.

"It's okay. I'm just here to have some fun with my brother," Lin Luoyan responded with a smile.

"Why waste the money? You can always come back another time. The Stone King has already been claimed by Zhao," another person chimed in, chuckling.

"Who says the Stone King has been claimed?" Yu Beigu asked with a faint smile upon hearing this.

At his words, someone scoffed, "Do you even know who claimed the Stone King?"

"I only know that the Stone King is still on the table," Yu Beigu replied, maintaining his composure.

At this, everyone around cast mocking and disdainful glances his way, including Zhao Moqian, who gave him a derisive look.

"The Lin family is wealthy, after all. Betting a hundred thousand on a stone and enjoying the thrill isn't too bad," Zhao Moqian said with a hint of arrogance.

"Oh? That confident, are you?" Yu Beigu couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe, if you can produce a Stone King larger than mine, I'll give you both of mine," Zhao Moqian said, her smile laced with scorn. "But what if you lose?"

The tension in the air kept the crowd riveted; those who were about to leave now stayed, eager to witness the unfolding drama.

"Miss Lin, the remaining stones are of inferior quality. The chances of finding a Stone King among them are quite slim," even the jewelry store manager interjected, trying to offer Lin Luoyan a friendly warning.

Before Lin Luoyan could respond, Yu Beigu chuckled and said, "I have a pill here. Would that be an acceptable wager for you?"

"A pill? Haha, what is this, a scene from a martial arts novel?" someone laughed, finding the young man's proposal amusing. They wondered if he had been confused by too many online stories.

When Zhao Moqian caught sight of the small green pill that Yu Beigu produced from his bag, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Is that really... the Soulfire Elixir?" She gaped at the pill in Yu Beigu's hand, her expression one of utter astonishment.

She had come across this type of pill in her grandfather's book. It was the Soulfire Elixir, capable of extending life by ten days!

Forget the two jade pieces she had—ten wouldn't even compare to the value of this single pill!

"Alright, let's make the trade."

The wealthy onlookers who had initially sneered at Yu Beigu, dismissing him as either delusional or suffering from adolescent fantasies, now watched with grave expressions. Those who were savvy and knew more about Zhao Moqian's background regarded the pill in Yu Beigu's hand with newfound respect.

After all, Zhao Moqian's grandfather was that legendary immortal!

A pill that Zhao Moqian treated with such reverence was certainly no ordinary tonic.

Moreover, many of them noticed that after catching a whiff of the pill's fragrance, they inexplicably felt refreshed and invigorated.

Lin Luoyan was completely bewildered, unable to grasp the situation unfolding before her.

Yu Beigu confidently approached the stone shelf.

On the table, only a scattering of twenty or thirty stones remained, all of decidedly average quality.

Out of the original fifty-plus stones, the ones of superior quality had already been selected.

What was left held little value.

Here, gambling on stone, whether jade was found or not, would cost one a hefty hundred thousand silver.

Zhao Moqian kept her eyes fixed on the young man before her, wary that he might attempt to flee or deny the debt.

"Hehe, kid, you might not realize the worth of that pill you're holding, huh? It's a real gem. That's the Soulfire Elixir. No matter the severity of your illness or injury, one pill can sustain life for an extra ten days!

It's a miraculous elixir coveted even by the most powerful figures!" Zhao Moqian whispered to Yu Beigu as she drew nearer.

"Hmm, are you so certain I'm going to lose?" Yu Beigu asked with a wry smile upon hearing her explanation.

"Hehe, I've been mastering the art of stone gambling with my grandfather for ten years, and for the past eight, I haven't made a single mistake," the girl boasted with a confident smile.

"Well, then I'll give you something to marvel at," Yu Beigu said with a chuckle. As he finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes, and a flash of white light darted across his gaze.

With that flash, his eyes seemed to regain the ability to peer through objects, instantly revealing the interior of the remaining raw stones.

In truth, when he first entered, even without employing his X-ray Vision, Yu Beigu had detected the scent of chalcedony.

Chalcedony, the essence of jade, is considered a level above jade itself.

In the current stone gambling market, what's touted as the Stone King is nothing more than a large specimen.

Those in the know understand that only chalcedony deserves the title of Stone King!

To Yu Beigu, a cultivator, ordinary jade is merely a superior type of stone. Chalcedony, on the other hand, is a treasure even to someone of his abilities.

Yu Beigu had disregarded Lin Luoyan's warnings and insisted on coming here because he had sensed the presence of chalcedony.

He had been curious whether the two exceptionally fine pieces of jade in Zhao Moqian's possession might be chalcedony. However, after a careful assessment, he realized they were not.

Since no one else had chalcedony, the answer must lie within this heap of uncut stones.

With his X-ray Vision activated, Yu Beigu confirmed that none of the remaining stones contained jade large enough to match those in Zhao Moqian's hands.

But the worth of a Stone King isn't measured solely by the jade's volume.

Quickly, Yu Beigu identified the chalcedony within one of the stones.

"Cut this one open for me," he instructed the worker beside him.

"Ha, has this kid lost his mind? The one he's chosen is barely the size of a hen's egg, smaller than even the tiniest piece Miss Zhao has! And he thinks he can outdo Miss Zhao?" someone scoffed.

"Shaking my head, this youngster clearly doesn't get what a Stone King really is!"

"Hey, Miss Zhao, aren't you just picking on the rookie?" another onlooker jested.

"A rookie who doesn't know his place. You think you can compete with Miss Zhao just because you're about the same age? Miss Zhao is a prodigy, not some arrogant, wet-behind-the-ears kid like you," the crowd jeered.

"Kid, let it go. I have a bit of a rapport with Miss Zhao. I'll have a word with her; perhaps she'll overlook this," Lin Luoyan whispered, trying to dissuade him.

When she saw Yu Beigu select such a raw stone, she was certain that he was destined to lose.

She was familiar with the tales of chalcedony, yet she regarded them as mere myths.

According to the records of the Qin Dynasty, the Imperial Jade Seal was crafted from chalcedony. However, throughout Fecroyso's history spanning over five thousand years, only a handful of chalcedony pieces were universally acknowledged.

Nobody believed that it was possible to uncover a piece of chalcedony nowadays.

"Hehe, there's no satisfaction in defeating an ignorant newcomer like you. If you're willing to hand over that pill, I can trade you a piece of jade," Zhao Moqian said with a cold laugh.

"You're so sure I'll lose before I've even made the cut?" Yu Beigu replied with an indifferent smile, unfazed by the mockery around him.

"Should I make the cut?" The staff member glanced at Yu Beigu, his eyes flashing with scorn, convinced that the young man was in denial.

"Go ahead!" Yu Beigu chuckled.

Lin Luoyan was so worried that she stamped her foot in frustration.

From Zhao Moqian's behavior, she had begun to suspect that the pill was indeed extremely valuable.

It wasn't just her; the other prominent business leaders present were also intrigued by the pill's origins. What was so special about it that Zhao Moqian would be willing to trade the Stone King for it?

"I've got it! It's a green pill with a fragrant scent, about the size of a peanut. It's likely the Soulfire Elixir mentioned in the Taoist scriptures! This is a panacea that can extend the life of someone on the brink of death for ten days—a treasure beyond value."

At last, some of the cultivators present pieced together the description of the Soulfire Elixir.

"What's the Soulfire Elixir?"

Still, many who were not versed in Taoist texts were puzzled and slow to grasp the significance.

Those who did understand, however, inhaled sharply in astonishment.

Their gazes shifted back to the young man, now filled with a newfound gravity.

Could someone capable of casually producing a legendary panacea from the start be just an ordinary person?