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.

to consume, it may undergo self-sealing. It will try to maximise the conservation of its strength, like winter hibernation, falling into a deep slumber. At this time, 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,

underwent self-sealing, it would form a white cocoon around it, curling its body and falling into a

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 specific

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

rumours. Of course, these rocks all looked alike on the outside. Only after opening them can one determine

may not be living worms, most of them are dead Gu. But once someone hits the jackpot of a live Gu, under most situations, one would be able to earn a huge fortune. If the Guworm is a rare species, they either become a successful person in life or get murdered and

this in his heart, being

being a clerk in the rock gambling den. Some time later, he even 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 Gu

while, taking a glance around him before slowly walking to the counter on the

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

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

Gu Master, having worked at the

that he was a student from his

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

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

no expectations towards how many rocks

Yuan nodded at her

memory, it should be at this counter in this

it had been 500 years, it’s been too long. Many things were vague to him already, especially when 500 years

the first night the caravan arrived, a lucky bird spent ten primeval stones to buy

spot, he obtained a Mudskin Toad. Afterwards this toad Gu was bought by another person, thus

Yuan frowned after observing for a

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

ten primeval stones each. Right now Fang Yuan had ninety-eight primeval stones with him, and he could buy up to a maximum of

realistically, he could

of risk and gamble, one had to consider

were blessed by heaven. Those who thought they were blessed by fate

that can help me. I have to save some primeval stones to survive, as well as to buy food for my Gu worms.”

dotted like the stars, but it’s flat as a pancake, there’s definitely no

striking purple gold colour, but it is only fist sized. if there really is a mudskin toad inside, the rock should be at least 30%

fossil, well it’s big, but the surface is extremely smooth, while the mudskin toad’s skin is supposed to be rough and uneven, this is evidently not the

and evaluate, using the method

the world’s detection methods. The remaining detecting methods were too rough, and once used, it would instantly kill the Gu worm within