It was just a useless piece of crap. It did not matter how much Dominic asked for it, it could not be worth as much as before.Chase did not name a price. He wanted Dominic to be the one to suggest a price.“I spent 50 grand on this stone. All my cigar money has been thrown in. I won’t sell anything to you if you don’t give me at least ten or 20 grand.”He spoke like a true head honcho. Everyone could see that all that was left of the stone were broken-up pieces.What else was there to be cut open? There was nothing left inside! How could he ask for ten or 20 grand for the crumbled pieces?!He had to be dreaming!“Don’t be stupid.”The man Chase spoke to was worried that Chase would actually take up the offer. He pulled Chase back to stop Chase from saying anything further.Everyone began discussing this.There was not much left of the stone, and it was quite an anxious situation to be in.“Nothing much is left. You can’t bully someone out of town like this, Dominic!” A col
There was no point doing something like that when he could cut a new stone for ten thousand.Chase was not affected by what the crowd was discussing. He took the remaining stones from the stall owner happily. He removed a piece of stone, which was the stone that contained the spiritual crystal.“Do you plan to cut your stone here, sir?” The stall owner asked Chase when he handed the cut-up stones over to him.Chase did not want the stones cut in public. Otherwise, Dominic might create trouble for him. Chase did not mind facing Dominic, but there was no need to give himself so much trouble.The crowd was still hanging around. Chase put away the stones and turned to leave. That was when he saw Enola and Enzo standing at the side.“Hey, Enola, isn’t that man your bodyguard? He’s such a joke. I wondered who that stupid guy was and it turned out to be him.”Enzo and Enola had been there for quite a while, but they could not squeeze through the crowd due to too many people standing aro
“Return it? Hey, what’s the look you’re giving me?! I bought this translucent stone with Enola in the high-end stone area over there. I spent a million on it. There’s bound to be something good in there. Not everyone can be like you, willing to spend money on useless stones.”There were many types of stones available, and the icy gem stone was known to be a more expensive type of gem.“What if there’s nothing inside the stone after you cut it?” Chase asked with a smile.“Nonsense! Who do you think you are? I’ve been around here for years and won’t ever pick a stone with nothing in it. Do you trust me, Enola?” Enzo was enraged to hear Chase doubting him.He was the owner of the underground auction house of Chitara. How could he continue holding his head up if he could not pick a good stone?“You have to trust me, Enola. Let’s go. We should ignore people like him who don’t know what he’s talking about.” Enzo looked at Chase with animosity.“I didn’t say I don’t trust you, Enzo.” En
Enzo sneered and said to Waylan Bolden, “Cut it open. I’ll make sure you reap the benefits as well if there’s something good in there.”“Alright.” This was a good deal for Waylan, and he was quite enthusiastic about it. He spat on both his hands.He grabbed the handle of the stone cutter. Everyone was watching intently, and he could feel the pressure that came with their stares.“Let’s start from the corner.”He marked all four sharp corners of the stone with a pencil before placing the stone under the cutter. He began to cut into it.When he cut the four sharp corners, dust flew everywhere, but there was no sign of any precious gem. If this was an icy gem stone, they would have seen some signs of a gem by now.Waylan was puzzled. However, he continued scooping water and pouring some over the surface of the stone. The water flowed along the gray sides of the stone.He laughed awkwardly. “Don’t be impatient, everyone. It could be because I didn’t cut the corners deep enough, whic
Everyone was surprised by this and laughed at Enzo with pointed fingers.“Look at this. He claimed that it was an icy gem stone. Hahahah! It’s just a useless piece of stone.”“To think he was so gleeful about it!”“That’s right!”“Looks like there’s a limit to the experience of the underground auction house owner. His expertise is just the same as ours!”Enzo’s face turned pale. He did not believe what he saw. He stumbled and fell sitting on the ground in a daze. How was that possible?He had never missed a mark before. Even though it required some luck, there were still some skills to it.Enola felt terrible to see Enzo look so beaten up. He had even wanted to give her whatever treasure was in that stone. A million had gone down the drain just like that!“Impossible!” Enzo suddenly jumped up from the ground. He grabbed Waylan by the collar with great force. Enzo lost control of himself and went a little crazy. He had never felt so humiliated before.“Talk! It must be your sto
“That sounds quite reasonable. After all, he did say he would take responsibility. There’s no comparing a stone worth a million with a stone worth ten thousand.”Everyone began discussing this.“What a waste of time!” Chase said and turned to leave.It would be fine if his stone was cut without anyone of expertise around. They would think that it was a jewel at best. However, if a cultivator spotted it, there would be endless trouble.“If you don’t cut open that piece of crap today, I guarantee that as the owner of this auction house, you'll never buy another piece of stone in Chitara’s stone gambling street ever again,” Enzo threatened Chase when Chase did not agree to this.Chase heard this. He finally turned back. It was not because he was afraid. Chase believed that with Enzo’s capabilities, he would not be able to do as he threatened.However, since someone really wanted to see what was inside the useless stone he had bought for ten thousand, he might as well let them have a
He opened his eyes and began cutting the surface of the stone smoothly.It was not long before he was able to cut out the fire gem. He placed it in a basin and used water to clean the dust off it. He placed it under the sun to have a good look. The fire gem sparkled under the sunlight. It shone through the gem, and he could hardly open his eyes from the bright light.Waylan exclaimed at the reveal of the gem, and everyone on the street could not stop staring at the shining fire gem. It was gorgeous. They wondered how many people had ended up bankrupt on this street just to have a gamble to become rich overnight.Yet, Chase managed to buy this piece of stone for a mere ten thousand.Some people had mistaken Chase for someone who had no idea what this jewel was worth. A man shouted out loud, “I’ll pay you a million for it, buddy! You bought that with ten thousand. I’ll pay you an additional 99 thousand for it. Sell it to me…”Before he could finish, another man called out louder wit
After all, someone managed to find a fire gem here. This was an encouragement for them, but they had forgotten that not everyone could be this lucky.Waylan took out a box and carefully put the fire gem into it. He was also a little reluctant. He passed it to Chase. “Have a safe trip back. Remember to come to my shop the next time you need to cut a stone. I’ll give you a 50 percent discount.”“You’re much too kind, Mr. Bolden. I’d like to ask you something. Do you know where this stone came from?”Chase took the box and asked in a whisper.“You’re putting me in a spot, young man. The stones I have here were sourced on my own. I don’t have a fixed channel to get them. It’s very difficult to find out the origin of your stone.”Waylan told Chase with slight embarrassment.There was nothing else Chase could do. He was not meant to find out where it came from.Chase had thought he would be lucky enough to obtain some clues to lead him to a bunch of spiritual crystals. Even so, one wa
"Spencer!" Chase's eyes were filled with rage, and murder boiled within them. "Die!"Spencer waved his weapon around and made an attack directly at Chase.The sounds of weapons clashing did not stop.It was not long before the look on Chase's face changed.Chase had vastly underestimated Spencer's abilities, especially after Spencer used the Violent Blood Technique. His power surged severalfold, and his physique's strength increased as well. It did not take him long to beat Chase back."Do you think you can defeat me?" Chase smiled coldly at him.He suddenly leaped into the air. True energy burst out fiercely from his body and formed into a brilliant gold light that lightened up the skies. The brilliance of his body made him look like a huge, burning sun."What's this?!" Spencer's eyes widened as his heart beat wildly."Suppress!" Chase roared.The lightning coiled around Spencer's body broke apart like glass. His clothes were ripped to pieces, and cracks appeared on his skin.
"You killed my brother, Chase Collins, and you took everything my father left to me. We need to deal with this sooner or later!" Spencer attacked while roaring.There was a sharp look in his eye as he clenched his teeth while saying, "If you want to kill me, I'll make sure you die with me!" Spencer shouted.Chase immediately sensed the energy within Spencer began to surge. Spencer was covered with lightning-like marks, which emanated powerful waves."Oh no!" Chase instantly guessed that Spencer must have taken some sort of pill that temporarily heightened his protective energy.A notion moved in Chase's mind. A soft, milky light glowed on his storage ring and eventually enveloped Chase. The next moment, a vast power descended to shield him, and it instantly shot out. Everything happened fast.Chase had reacted quickly, but Spencer was even faster.He could not continue to stay where he was in such circumstances. Chase decided to escape right away."Trying to run?" Spencer sneere
Chase emptied everything in there and prepared to leave. However, he suddenly sensed strong murderous intent from afar.There was a loud gush of the wind.He turned to look and saw a group of martial artists dressed in black coming at him in an attack. A young man was leading the group. The man stared sinisterly at Chase and asked coldly, "Were you the one who ambushed the Hawkinses' library?" He was tall and slender and had a good-looking face. He looked like a gentleman, but his eyes were cold and cruel."Are you Spencer Hawkins?" Chase narrowed his eyes and recognized the young man. "What do you want?""Cut the crap! You stole valuable books from the library. I have to detain you in the prison located in the Hawkinses' ancestral land. You'll suffer a fate worse than death!" Spencer said sinisterly.The prison was used to lock up members of the Hawkins family who committed crimes. Most of those locked up in that prison were guilty members or extended members of the Hawkins fam
Outside the library, the guards were startled by the sudden commotion."Intruder alert!"Within moments, hurried footsteps echoed as guards approached the library in a frenzy.Chase casually tossed the long spear into the air and lightly pushed off the ground with the tip of his foot. His figure darted forward like a phantom.…Meanwhile, from the opposite direction of the library, two figures were rapidly closing in."The library is under attack!""I can feel a surge of energy that's far beyond the capability of a martial arts saint. Could it be a martial arts overlord?"These two stage-five martial arts saints were skilled fighters stationed by a branch of the Hawkins family to guard the area.As they rushed to investigate, a deafening explosion filled the air.The roof of the library collapsed, releasing a violent energy wave that swept outward, making their robes billow wildly."This is bad!"The two guards were furious. They rushed into the library, only to see a crims
"How could it not be here?" Chase muttered, narrowing his eyes. He was certain the Hawkinses' treasured manuals should be stored in this library.Suddenly, his expression shifted as he sensed something unusual.A faint breeze seemed to manifest out of nowhere, followed by a soft green glow that gradually expanded, forming a hazy barrier.Chase focused his mental energy, triggering a subtle yet profound ripple from the depths of his consciousness."Break for me!"His spiritual force surged like thunder, tearing through the barrier in an instant."So, the library not only holds cultivation techniques but is also protected by a spiritual restriction formation! For an ordinary martial arts saint, even someone at the peak stage, breaking through this would be impossible!"With a cold snort, Chase strode confidently toward the center of the library.There, in the heart of the room, sat a skeleton cross-legged. Its surface glowed faintly with a greenish hue, and it radiated a powerful
"Hmm? Someone's approaching," Chase muttered, his brows furrowing together.He sensed several figures drawing near, their presence becoming increasingly apparent."It seems some people aren't ready to give up. Fine. If they've come, they won't be leaving," Chase said, a glint of cold determination flashing in his eyes.Without warning, Chase leaped out of the window and slammed his foot into the ground.The courtyard erupted in a cloud of dust and debris."Chase, prepare to die!"Several figures in black emerged, their auras sharp and menacing. All of them were martial arts saints who were exuding lethal intent.Four blades streaked toward Chase, each gleaming with deadly precision."Child's play," Chase remarked with a sneer. With a casual wave of his hand, he deflected the incoming attacks.The sheer force of his strike was overwhelming, like the weight of a mountain crashing down.In an instant, two of the martial arts saints exploded into clouds of blood and gore, leaving
"Fine! As long as you spare my life, I swear eternal loyalty to you. I'll serve as your slave or servant if that's what it takes!" Luis declared without hesitation. He knew too well that if he refused, death would be his only outcome.Luis was not afraid of dying—he simply could not accept defeat. A lifetime of prestige was ruined in an instant."I, Luis Hawkins, swear to the heavens that I'll submit to Chase Collins and never betray him. Should I break this oath, I vow to meet a terrible end!" Luis raised his hand and spoke in a firm, resolute tone.Chase scoffed, his expression tinged with disdain. He had no intention of believing Luis, and the mockery in his eyes was evident. "Luis, you think I don't see through your games? Do you think I'm unaware that you're merely stalling for time?""H-How do you know that?" Luis narrowed his eyes, a murderous glint flashing within them.Chase chuckled coldly. "Luis, I've dealt with countless schemers and liars. Your petty tricks? They don'
"You can try," Chase said with a faint smile."You…" Luis was consumed with rage.Suddenly, a pitch-black spear shot out from the side. It was aimed directly at Chase.Chase's expression shifted. With a light tap of his toes on the ground, he leaped back several yards, creating distance between himself and the attacker."I see the Hawkinses really are cunning!" Chase's gaze turned icy. "But since you're so desperate to die, I'll gladly oblige."Sword energy erupted, sharp and unforgiving. A single flash pierced through the head of a guard."Y-You're breaking your word!" Luis roared, his face turning an ashen shade.He had planned to use the family members as leverage against Chase, but instead, Chase had struck preemptively."I won't lay a single finger on your family," Chase said coldly. "But as for the others... Don't blame me for what's about to happen."He stared at Luis, his expression devoid of emotion. "Do you really think I care about the Hawkinses' wealth? To me, your
Luis was utterly stunned upon hearing Chase's words. He had never imagined Chase's appetite would be so insatiable. He wanted the entirety of the Hawkins family's assets!"Mr. Collins, pardon me for being frank, but if it's money you want, the Hawkinses are not lacking in that. I can offer you five times the amount you desire," Luis said, attempting to negotiate.Chase chuckled. "Mr. Luis, you've misunderstood. Money means nothing to me." He then added while shaking his head, "I'm after more than just your resources. What truly interests me is the Hawkinses' forging techniques. Surrender those, and I might spare your life.""The forging techniques?!" Luis's eyes widened with disbelief. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The Hawkinses' ancestral rules strictly forbid passing those techniques to outsiders. We can only offer you finished products!"The forging techniques were a legacy painstakingly developed by generations of the Hawkinses' forebears. They were the family's lifeblo