Gu Daoist Master

Chapter 40 – Toad Gu Slumbering Within the Purple Gold Rock

The further one walked, the more flourishing and prosperous it was. Small street vendors lessened while large tents increased in number.

There were all sorts of large tents to be seen – red, blue, green, yellow, in different shapes and sizes, several being a cylindrical shape. Some erected two door pillars at the entrance of their tents, while others hung large red lanterns instead. Inside, some tents had vibrants lights, whereas others were dim and dark.

Fang Yuan observed his surroundings as he walked, finally stopping near a grey-coloured tent.

“It’s here,” he evaluated while looking at the tent; it had two pillars at the entrance, and there were carvings on the pillars, two lines of antithetical couplet(1).

The left side wrote, “Small display of courage, obtain good fortune during the four seasons.”

The right side wrote, “ Large display of skills, obtain good prosperity in all four directions.”

In the middle there was still another line: “Luck changes with time.”

That’s right, this is a gambling den.

This gambling den took around one mu(2) of land; it was considered a large-sized tent.

Fang Yuan walked inside. Inside of the tent, there was three rows of counters on a side. On the counter were pieces of amber or fossils. Some were as big as a palm, others were as big as a face. There were also others which were even bigger; those were as tall as a person. It obviously could not fit on the counter, thus it was directly placed on the ground.

Different from the other tent shops, it was silent in here.

Several Gu masters stood before the counters, some meticulously observing rocks on the display counter while others took the fossils and rubbed it in their hand to get a feel of it. There were some that were discussing quietly with their companions, and some were discussing the price with their shop clerks.

But no matter what they discussed, they spoke softly, doing their best not to disturb others.

This was a rock gambling den.

In the Gu world, there were all types of Gu, coming with different shapes and sizes and all sorts of effects. Guworms have their respective food to consume. Without food, they can only last a short amount of time before dying.

But nature, towards lifeforms, was both uncaring and benevolent.

If they lacked food, the Gu worms still have a chance of survival. That was to hibernate, undergoing self-sealing.

not only would the blue glow on its body dissipate, it would also turn from a transparent crystal state into a grey rock, covered in a layer of rock shell. Eventually, the rock crust will get thicker and

Liquor Worm, if it underwent self-sealing, it would form a white cocoon around

this situation of sealing and hibernating may not happen to every Gu worm. It has a small chance of occurrence, and in most cases, the Gu worm will not fall into hibernation but instead starve to death. Only a small number of Gu worms may, under

sealed Gu worms’ rocks or cocoons would awaken the Guworms that were slumbering within. Thus they would have a stroke of fortune. Some of the Gu masters became successful due to this, it being a turning point in their lives. These situations

the idea behind this rock gambling den originated from these rumours. Of course, these rocks all looked alike on the outside.

they may not be living worms, most of them are dead Gu. But once someone hits the jackpot

clear about this in his heart, being very familiar

operated his own rock gambling den, even larger than this one; it was a medium-sized rock gambling den. He managed to con some gamblers, and also misjudged at times, allowing other gamblers to win a precious

the door for a while, taking a glance around him

coloured belt, showing that they were not ordinary people but Rank one Gu masters. Most were initial stages, while a selected few were

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

experienced female Gu Master, having worked at the

Yuan who entered, and determined that he

they’re often tight on finance due

were only window shoppers, though if some had well to do families, they might attempt to buy one to try.

expectations towards how many rocks Fang Yuan

first.” Fang Yuan nodded at her expressionlessly, then started

his memory, it should be at this counter in this particular rock

been too long. Many things were vague to him already, especially when 500 years of memory was a huge

year on the first night the caravan arrived, a lucky bird spent ten primeval stones to buy a fossil with purple

the spot, he obtained a Mudskin Toad. Afterwards this toad Gu was bought

frowned after observing for

this counter, fossils with a purple gold glow numbered up to twenty. In which rock was there a

rock here was sold at ten primeval stones each. Right now Fang Yuan had ninety-eight primeval stones with him, and he

could

any sort of risk and gamble, one had to consider the

were blessed by heaven. Those who thought they were blessed by fate were usually those who fell under the

with no relatives or friends that can help me. I have to save some primeval stones to survive, as well as to

gold is dotted like the stars, but it’s flat as a pancake,

but it is only fist sized. if there really is a mudskin toad inside, the rock

fossil, well it’s big, but the surface is extremely smooth, while the mudskin toad’s skin is supposed to

continued to observe and evaluate, using

would form into a natural fossil, being undetectable from most of the world’s detection methods. The remaining detecting methods