This gambling den took around 1333 m² of land; it was considered a large-sized tent.
Fang Yuan stepped inside the tent, where three rows of counters lined the sides. The counters were stacked with pieces of amber and fossils, ranging from palm-sized to face-sized, with some even as large as a person and placed directly on the ground due to their size.
Unlike other tents, this one was quiet. A few Gu Masters stood in front of the counters, some studying the rocks intently, others gently rubbing the fossils in their hands. There were a few quiet discussions—some negotiating with shopkeepers, others discussing the rocks with companions—all trying not to disturb the calm atmosphere.
This was a rock gambling den.
In the Gu world, Gu worms came in all shapes, sizes, and effects. Most needed specific food sources to survive; without them, they would die quickly. However, if a Gu worm lacked food, it could enter a state of self-sealing, going into hibernation to conserve energy. For example, the Moonlight Gu would turn from a glowing crystal into a grey rock, eventually becoming a boulder. Similarly, the Liquor Worm would form a cocoon around itself, falling into a deep sleep.
Though this hibernation was rare, when it did occur, the Gu worm could survive until awakened. If a Gu Master stumbled upon one of these sealed worms—hidden inside rocks or cocoons—they could unknowingly awaken the Gu and gain immense fortune. Such lucky finds were legendary, sparking rumors and hopes among Gu Masters.
This gambling den was based on these rumors. The rocks all looked the same on the outside, and only by cracking them open could one discover if a dormant Gu worm lay inside.
"It still looks the same." Fang Yuan thought
Seeing Fang Yuan before a counter, a female Gu Master who was nearest by walked towards him and smiled, softly saying, "Young master, what Gu worm do you need? Every rock on this counter is sold at ten primeval stones each. If this is your first try, just for the sake of it, why don't you go to the right counter, the rocks there are sold at only five primeval stones. If you are seeking thrills, you can go to the high-end counter at the middle, the rocks sold there are at twenty primeval stones each."
This was an experienced female Gu Master, having worked at the rock gambling den for quite some time already.
She looked at Fang Yuan who entered, and determined that he was a student from his appearance, age and height etc.
Those that came to gamble were all Gu Masters. Students were only considered second-rate Gu Masters, just starting their cultivation. Because they're often tight on finance due to feeding their Gu worms, where would they find the money to come and gamble rocks?
Students like this, normally they just came to take a look and to get an eye-opening experience, satisfying their curiosity. Most were only window shoppers, though if some had well to do families, they might attempt to buy one to try. But most only bought the cheapest fossil.
Thus, the female Gu Master had no expectations towards how many rocks Fang Yuan could buy.
"Let me look around first." Fang Yuan nodded at her expressionlessly, then started to look seriously into the pile.
Thanks to his Great Grandmaster level for wisdom path his memory is still fresh. Fang Yuan knew where the Mudskin Toad is, but if he were to just pick one rock and straight up obtain a Mudskin Toad is will truly be to unrealistic and the workers at the gambling den here will investigate Fang Yuan.
Therefore, he decided to just follow his previous path.
"I want to purchase some rocks." Having picked his targets, Fang Yuan said to the female Gu Master.
"Newbie!" The female Gu Master immediately thought.
Although the female Gu Master thought this, she did not show any difference in her expression, but continued to smile like a flower, saying softly to Fang Yuan, "Then which piece are you choosing?"
Fang Yuan pointed and said, "This piece."
She immediately retrieved it.
Fang Yuan pointed again and said, "This piece."
She felt perplexed, not expecting this youngster to buy two pieces.
"It seems like this youngster is the type to gamble heavily," she evaluated mentally.
But next, Fang Yuan pointed yet again, "And this piece, that piece, I'm buying them all."
The female Gu Master was stunned, feeling extremely surprised, she could not help but assess Fang Yuan again.
"It seems like this ordinary looking youngster has a really good family background. Otherwise, how would any ordinary Gu Master have the spare cash to spend like this?" Thinking of it, the female Gu Master's smile became more gentle and friendly. To think that the youngster in front of her was a real customer.
This was an unexpected joy!
However, Fang Yuan surprised her once again as he pointed to the furthest purple gold rock, "Oh yeah, and those two pieces as well."
The female Gu Master could not help but feel shocked internally, "Which young master is this from the Gu Yue Village? It looks like he's the main family branch's inheritor. If I can hook up with him, I may not need to stay here and slog as a shop clerk anymore."
With this thought, the female Gu Master's smile became even more gentle and she even looked towards Fang Yuan seductively.
Six rocks were placed in front of Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan took out sixty primeval stones and passed it to the female Gu Master.
His act of payment attracted the attention of all the other Gu Masters in the tent.
"Oh? Someone is going to rock gamble."
"We've been watching for over an hour, but we haven't acted yet. Now that someone is giving it a try, we might as well watch."
"It's a student, he actually took out sixty primeval rocks at once, his family must be affluent. He looks like a greenhorn, hmph, gambling rocks isn't so easy. He's gonna get hurt real bad."
The Gu Masters stood on the spot, discussing softly, all directing their gaze towards Fang Yuan.
"Young master, do you want to open the rocks on the spot? Our gambling den provides free service to open the rocks." The female Gu Master gently advised, sending seductive glances with her eyes.
Fang Yuan used the corner of his eye to take a look at the crowd, his lips curling into a mysterious smile. He waved his hand, rejecting the female Gu Master. "Purple gold is my lucky color, and this is my first time betting, it is very meaningful. I'll open the rocks myself!"
The female Gu Master's eyes shone brighter, thinking, this heroic demeanour, as expected of a rich young master.
Never in her dreams would she be able to imagine that Fang Yuan could be said to be kinless in Gu Yue village, a drifter with no backing, having to rely on himself for everything.
"Tsk, so what if you have money."
"I wonder which rich kid this is, coming here to waste his parent's hard earned money!"
"Ignorant young lad, how can one choose the rocks based on lucky color, sigh, this act is simply akin to throw primeval stones into the water, and waiting to see the ripples for fun."
The Gu Masters in the tent quickly lost interest when they realized Fang Yuan was just another reckless young man. Their expectations, already low, vanished entirely. Some even turned away, refocusing on the fossils on the counter.
However, Fang Yuan remained unaffected. He calmly activated the primeval essence within his sea, channeling it into the Moonlight Gu.
A faint, water-like blue light emanated from the crescent mark on his right palm. With that hand, he grabbed a purple gold rock, holding it firmly. As he closed his fingers and gently rubbed the surface, the blue light intensified, rippling like water. The rock began to shrink, with fine shavings of powder falling from between his fingers, landing softly on the carpet.
"Young master has good handiwork!" The female Gu Master took the chance and immediately praised.
"This youngster, he isn't a good-for-nothing. What great skills." Seeing this sight, the Gu Masters' eyes shone across with a complicated glint. They had started to see Fang Yuan in a new light.
Fang Yuan used the blue light to rub against the surface of the rock; this was a form of meticulous usage of the Moonlight Gu. Normally, one would have to use the Moonlight Gu for two to three years to be able to reach this level.
With Fang Yuan's age and student identity, being able to do this is really remarkable.
"See, he's using our Gu Yue clan's specialty, the Moonlight Gu." Some of the Gu Masters found this and instantly felt proud, gaining affection for Fang Yuan.
"But opening the rocks with this method, it's still too rough." Some of the older and more experienced Gu Masters shook their heads.
The purple gold rock got smaller and smaller, from being slightly larger than a palm into the size of a fist, being gripped tightly by Fang Yuan's fingers.
The blue light intensified as the fossil became pearl-sized. Until finally, what was left was a pile of rock powder, falling on the carpet to form a small hill.
This was a solid rock, there was no Gu worm inside.
"As expected, he's unreliable." The Gu Masters shook their heads.
"Young master, there's still five pieces left," the female Gu Master encouraged.
Fang Yuan's expression was calm, being completely unaffected. He grabbed the second piece of purple gold rock and continued to grind. But the result of this piece was still a solid rock; there was no Gu worm inside.
The third piece was still the same.
The Gu Masters grew impatient. "Stop looking. By relying on color to pick the rocks, there's no point in this gamble."
"If he can get a good Gu from this, I'll eat the pile of rock powder on the floor!" Someone laughed insultingly.
"Don't lose heart young master, isn't there 3 pieces left, you're only halfway through," the female Gu Master continued to edge Fang Yuan on.
Fang Yuan grabbed the fourth piece, and when he got it to palm size, he suddenly stopped all action.
"Oh? There's something!"
"The rock composition changed, it's not purple gold sediments, but a kind of ink-black colour."
"Don't tell me he really got super lucky from blinding guessing?"
The surrounding Gu Masters exclaimed lightly.
"Young master, you have to be careful from here onwards. Don't make sudden movements, hibernating Gu worms are very fragile. If you use too much strength, you'll kill the Gu worm inside." The female Gu Master did not expect such a situation to occur. After getting stunned for a moment, she immediately advised carefully.
Fang Yuan's movements slowed, his fingers slowly rubbing as small powder slowly fell. Continuously repeating the action with many intervals, he was no longer as fluid as earlier.
The black coloured rock powder slowly fell off, and as the rock got smaller, Fang Yuan's movements became slower and gentler.
On the carpet, the rock powder continued to gather as Fang Yuan's black colored rock was finally scrapped clean.
"Sigh, what a pity, it's a rock in a rock."
"What a waste of my emotions, I really thought there was a Gu worm inside."
"You are all too easy to fool, is rock betting so easy? Nine out of ten are all empty, how else is the shop going to make money?"
"Young master, your luck is already not bad. Getting a rock in rock the first time, normal people cannot do it." The female Gu Master tried another way to console Fang Yuan, similarly it was to pave way for the result that awaited him.
Getting nothing out of gambling rocks was very common, a nine out of ten occurrence. In her opinion, Fang Yuan was choosing at random, the chance of getting a Gu fossil was close to zero.
Fang Yuan smiled but did not reply, and he continued to take out the fifth rock.
He carefully grinded, and in ten breath's time, the surface of purple gold coloured rock were all rubbed away, revealing a rough-surfaced yellow mud ball.