Sky Tower—Observatory.
A black figure and a white figure are sitting at the chess table, engaged in a duel.
If Xiao Jie saw this scene, he would certainly be very surprised—the one in a black robe is Tongtian Taoist, and the one in white is unexpectedly Shen Jizi, who had long traveled to the Void.
The chess ga has reached its mid-point, black and white pieces entangled like dragons and tigers contending, at a critical mont for victory and defeat.
Yet the deanor of both players reveals a glimpse: Tongtian Taoist leisurely sips tea with a cloud-like calmness, even yawning with boredom, while Shen Jizi furrows his brow, looking solemn, unable to place the white piece in his hand.
Finally—
Snap!
A white piece gently lands on the chessboard, skillfully joining two small dragons, whose heads and tails are hard to manage, seemingly into one. This move is exquisitely brilliant, instantly bringing montum to the entire ga, making it difficult to break them one by one.
Shen Jizi exhales a breath, looking defiantly at the opposite.
Tongtian Taoist remains unresponsive, casually drinking tea and carelessly placing a black piece—this piece is set far from the center of the board, seemingly irrelevant to the central battlefield.
Surprise flashes in Shen Jizi’s eyes, he frowns and scrutinizes the chessboard, becoming more perplexed the more he looks.
[It Transformation Freedom Heart] quietly activates, billions of chess variations swiftly deduced in his mind, yet those eyes capable of perceiving Heavenly Secrets, cannot at this mont see through this peculiar arrangent.
Tongtian Taoist still leisurely drinks tea, until—
"I lost." Shen Jizi sighed, threw the remaining pieces in his hand back into the chess bowl, and shook his head in self-mockery, "Divine calculations ultimately can’t rival knowing Heavenly Secrets."
"Why belittle yourself, Daoist?" Tongtian Taoist said with a smile, pointing casually at the chessboard, "The ga is only at mid-point, the win and loss is yet undecided, why not strive hard? With a change in the tis, there might be a chance for victory."
Shen Jizi glanced at him with discontent.
At their level of mastery, countless variations of the ga have long been within their sight. A mortal seeing ten moves ahead is a master, in the eyes of an Immortal, seeing a hundred or a thousand moves ahead is ordinary, no need to finish?
"A loss is a loss, can’t compare to Daoist’s mystical skill."
"Haha, thank you, thank you, it’s just a few unique pieces in my hand, gaining occasional success."
"Speaking of unique pieces..." Shen Jizi changed the topic, "That Sui Feng Daoist must have arrived at the Great Thousand Worlds by now, right?"
"He certainly has."
"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Tongtian foresaw the end of the ga when he placed that piece?" Of course, he wasn’t talking about the chess ga, but the fate of the Great Thousand Worlds, Jiuzhou World, and the whole universe.
Shen Jizi wished to obtain a clear answer, but Tongtian Taoist shook his head: "How could it be that easy? Heavenly Dao can be sought, human hearts are hard to predict. The future is constantly changing, every choice could lead to vastly different outcos."
He paused, then said, "Moreover, with this kind of ’unique piece,’ there are always a hundred and ten. Who can know which one will be the key to winning?"
A hundred and ten...
Shen Jizi sighed and spoke no more.
Even though he masters the techniques of calculation, has calculated the cycles of Heavenly Dao in Jiuzhou World to the end, he is still lost when looking at the whole universe.
Jiuzhou is already inescapable from the calamity, only these "Heavenly Dao’s Sons," "Heavenly Destiny," might wrest out a ray of hope.
However, placing hope on the elusive Heavenly Mandate, he ultimately feels uneasy.
"Daoist, since you know the marvel of Heavenly Destiny, why choose to lead the masses to flee to the Void?" Tongtian Taoist asked leisurely, "Why not wait for the outco to be revealed before making plans? I see Daoist hasn’t truly given up the ga, otherwise, why leave this Avatar?"
Shen Jizi shook his head: "It’s just a precaution. If the great calamity can truly be overco, I can inform the main body to return to this land."
He paused and chuckled bitterly: "As for why flee... oh, Daoist, why ask knowingly? Even though Heavenly Destiny individuals can turn misfortune into fortune, achieve the impossible, create extraordinary achievents, those around them don’t enjoy such favor."
"As the saying goes, ’the bones of thousands are dried for one general’s success.’ Luck has highs and lows, gathers and disperses, those bearing Heavenly Destiny are unscathed by calamity, but those around them, instead, will be crushed to dust by the force of Heavenly Dao and Heavenly Destiny."
"How many friends and relatives of Hidden Moon Following Wind have died along the way? I dare not gamble my life."
He gazed sharply at Tongtian Taoist: "When Fellow Daoist Tongtian told Hidden Moon Following Wind he is ’Heavenly Destiny,’ did you ntion such truths?"
"Hahaha—" Tongtian Taoist laughed aloud, "Naturally wouldn’t say, these are just minute details, irrelevant to the big picture, why elaborate? Even if so die for it, it’s the doing of ’Heavenly Destiny,’ not my fault, and shouldn’t concern it."
Saying this, he waved his hand indifferently and picked up the teacup to drink again.
Shen Jizi sneered inwardly.
Knew it would be like this. You sit back and enjoy the fruits, treating thousands of beings and even Immortals as chess pieces. As Sui Feng’s little friend goes, wonder how many more unfortunate Immortals will fall.
Just hope he can eventually achieve remarkable feats, without letting so many lives perish in that apocalyptic wasteland.
——————————
"Let’s go, you two, let us forge ahead in this Great Thousand Worlds!"
Xiao Jie spoke, waving his arm with boundless spirit, pointing straight to the distant wasteland of doom.
"By the way... where are we going?" Guan Shanhai looked at the endless desolate wilderness before him, asking hesitantly, "Do you know where the main city is?"
"No need to worry, I have my ways."
Xiao Jie said, directly opening the private ssage function—sure enough, after leaving the range of the Returning Ho Platform, communication was restored.
He imdiately sent a ssage to Heavenly Venerate.
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