152: Chapter 152 Are you sure this stone is genuine?

Beneath Canglang Mountain, the marketplace was bustling.

Cultivators from all corners of the land gathered here, exchanging goods on the eve of the grand assembly.

Rude stalls were lined up along both sides of the mountain path, stretching for several miles, with shouts and bargaining echoing incessantly.

Shen Qingyuan walked lazily through the crowd, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

Luo Qingyue followed half a step behind him, her white robes as snow, looking cold and ethereal.

There weren't many good items at the market, but it was lively enough.

There were people selling Spirit Medicine, Magical Artifacts, Yao Beast Materials, and even Cultivation Technique Jade Slips—true or false, it all depended on one's discerning eye.

Shen Qingyuan strolled casually, his gaze shifting from one stall to another, though he lacked interest.

Until—

His footsteps faltered slightly.

Three yards ahead, a crowd had gathered around a dilapidated stall.

The stall owner was a thin, withered old man wearing a patched gray robe, sitting cross-legged on the ground with a few mediocre Magical Artifacts and several Jade Slips laid out before him.

But what attracted Shen Qingyuan was not these things.

It was a dirty-looking stone in the corner.

The stone was the size of a fist, covered in cracks, gray and unremarkable, tossed carelessly into the corner of the stall; even the owner couldn't be bothered to look at it properly.

Shen Qingyuan's gaze landed on that stone, and his Spirit Eye Divine Pupil quietly activated.

The next moment—

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Interesting.

"Young Master, what is it?" Luo Qingyue noticed his change in demeanor.

Shen Qingyuan didn't answer, stepping toward the stall.

Just then—

"Move aside! Move aside!"

An arrogant voice came from behind, followed by the crowd being rudely pushed aside.

Three or five Cultivators in fine clothing swarmed around a youth in white, walking over with an arrogant swagger.

The youth looked about seventeen or eighteen years old; his features were decent, but his eyes were filled with haughtiness, his chin slightly lifted, nostrils pointing to the sky, and his whole body exuded an aura that said, "I am not to be trifled with."

"People from the Shi family!"

"The Shi family from Tianshi City? Why are they here at the market?"

"I heard the Shi family brought quite a few experts this time, even the Third Young Master of the Shi family, Shi Tianhao, is leading the team personally..."

Whispers erupted everywhere, and the surrounding Cultivators hurriedly made way, their eyes filled with wariness.

Shi Tianhao ignored the surrounding gazes and walked straight to the stall, his eyes sweeping casually over the items on the stall before finally landing on that dirty stone.

"This stone, I want it." He reached out to take it.

"Hold on."

Shen Qingyuan spoke lazily, his tone unhurried, "I saw this item first."

Shi Tianhao's hand paused in mid-air, and he turned to glance at Shen Qingyuan.

Meridian Opening Realm, sixth level.

A disdainful curve appeared on the corner of his mouth: "You saw it first? Who do you think you are?"

The few Shi family attendants behind him also wore mocking expressions.

"A piece of trash at the Meridian Opening Realm, and you dare to snatch things from our Young Master?"

"Get lost if you know what's good for you, don't go looking for trouble."

Shen Qingyuan remained with his hands tucked in his sleeves, not even raising an eyelid, his tone flat: "I saw the item first, so naturally I should be the one to buy it."

Shi Tianhao sneered, pulled a Storage Pouch from his chest, and tossed it onto the stall: "I'm buying this stone. How many Spirit Stones?"

The stall owner was a thin, withered old man. Seeing the Shi family's display, his face turned pale, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no Spirit Stones needed, Young Master can take it if you like..."

"Wait."

Shen Qingyuan spoke, his voice still lazy, but it made the stall owner pause.

He walked up to the stall, squatted down, picked up the dirty stone, and weighed it in his hand.

"This thing, I want it."

Shi Tianhao's expression darkened.

He stared at Shen Qingyuan, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Kid, do you know who I am?"

Shen Qingyuan glanced at him: "Who are you?"

"Shi Tianhao of the Shi family in Tianshi City!" The youth lifted his chin, his tone full of arrogance, "My Shi family is the number one clan in Tianshi City, with an Old Ancestor at the Void Piercing Realm guarding us! You, a tiny piece of trash at the Meridian Opening Realm, dare to snatch things from me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding area was in an uproar.

"The Shi family! It really is the Young Master of the Shi family!"

"A Void Piercing Realm clan... that kid is probably going to be in trouble."

"Indeed, offending the Shi family over a broken stone isn't worth it."

Shen Qingyuan turned a deaf ear to these discussions, merely looking down at the stone in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Since you want it so much..." He put the stone back on the stall, stood up, and tucked his hands back into his sleeves, "I'll let you have it."

Shi Tianhao was taken aback, then laughed triumphantly: "You know your place!"

He reached out and picked up the stone, examining it back and forth, but his brow gradually furrowed.

This stone...

It was gray, the surface was rough, and there was no fluctuation of spiritual power; no matter how one looked at it, it looked like something picked up from the side of the road.

He probed with his Divine Thought, but the inside of the stone was empty; there was nothing.

He exerted force with his palm, and the stone was instantly crushed into powder.

Clearly, this was just a stone as ordinary as could be.

"How is this possible?" Shi Tianhao's face stiffened.

The surrounding Cultivators also looked over, and some couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahaha, you spent Spirit Stones to buy a broken rock?"

"The Young Master of the Shi family has such a good eye!"

Shi Tianhao's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger, and he whipped his head around to look at Shen Qingyuan: "You dare to play me?!"

Shen Qingyuan chuckled, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Luo Qingyue followed, her cold eyes glancing at Shi Tianhao, a trace of chill flashing in her eyes.

"Stop!"

Shi Tianhao's voice came from behind.

Shen Qingyuan did not stop walking.

"I told you to stop, are you deaf?" Shi Tianhao chased after him in large strides, blocking Shen Qingyuan's path, his face gloomy, "Kid, did you swap that stone?"

Shen Qingyuan stopped and looked at him lazily: "Did you see it? Or did someone else see it?"

"Hmph!" Shi Tianhao gritted his teeth, his eyes full of rage, "I think it was you who swapped the stone; that was clearly a Tongming Stone!"

"If you know what's good for you—hand over the Tongming Stone!"

Shi Tianhao clenched his fists until they cracked, spiritual power surged within his body, and an aura belonging to the third level of the Soul Fire Realm burst forth.

The surrounding Cultivators retreated one after another, their expressions changing drastically.

"Soul Fire Realm! As expected of the Young Master of the Shi family, to actually reach the Soul Fire Realm at such a young age!"

"This kid is in trouble..."

Shen Qingyuan stood where he was, not moving an inch.

Shi Tianhao saw he had no reaction, and his heart burned with even more anger. He took a step forward, his fist wrapped in spiritual power, and smashed toward Shen Qingyuan's face!

"Since you are seeking death, I will grant your wish!"

The fist wind howled, tearing the surrounding air, emitting a sharp sound of breaking through the air.

Shen Qingyuan didn't even raise an eyelid.

Just as the fist was less than a foot from his face—

"Hmph."

A cold snort came from the side.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, exploding in Shi Tianhao's ear!

His whole body stiffened, his fist stopped in mid-air, and his entire person seemed to have been hit by a freezing spell, unable to move.

An aura, terrifying to the extreme, quietly permeated from the crowd, precisely enveloping Shi Tianhao.

The aura was cold and brutal, as if he had been targeted by an ancient Vicious Beast, causing his hair to stand on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

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