"That's all the information you need for now." Chess Paragon flicked his finger, and three rays of light descended from the chessboard. The rays fused together, forming a shimring gate.
"Each of you possesses one piece. Once you enter the chessboard, your other two pieces will take form imdiately."
"The gate will remain open for sixty minutes. Choose wisely who your team mbers will be." After delivering these instructions, Chess Paragon vanished instantly, leaving behind a sense of anticipation and uncertainty.
Clearshadow approached Dong Rui, his face wreathed in a radiant smile. "Sister Rui, which pieces do you hold?"
Dong Rui's expression remained cold and distant. "None of your business."
Clearshadow was unfazed by her curtness. "Co on, we're about to be engaged. You can at least tell ."
Dong Rui's eyes flickered with a hint of contempt. "Engaged? Hmph, do you think you're worthy?"
"Worthy?" Clearshadow laughed, his voice laced with a hint of self-assurance. "Sister Rui, have you forgotten that I'm the person with the highest chance of becoming a Divine Paragon among this generation?"
Dong Rui snorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Divine Paragon? That's where your ambition will lead you!"
"You!" Clearshadow's face turned grim, his amusent replaced by a cold anger. Aspiring to beco a Divine Paragon was a noble and widely shared ambition. Why did Dong Rui mock him for it?
***
"It seems like you've beco more powerful." Evana's gaze lingered on Liang, who stood beside her, his presence radiating an aura of newfound strength.
"Just so luck," Liang replied, a hint of amusent playing on his lips.
"It seems like you weren't lying. It appears that you really have no connection to the Dong Clan saintess."
"I told you before, we have the sa goal." Liang's gaze shifted to Dong Rui, who was engaged in a heated argunt with Clearshadow.
"How do you plan to achieve that?" Evana gave him a suspicious look. "To obtain the technique, you'll have to convince her to hand it over willingly."
"How?" Liang chuckled. "I don't think that's any of your concern."
"Oh?" Evana raised an eyebrow.
"You have your thods, and I have mine. I rely helped you out of convenience," Liang said nonchalantly as he turned to walk away.
Evana watched him go, her mind racing. She had no idea what Liang's true intentions were, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was more than he seed.
***
"Liang Yifie?" The woman in the azure gown gasped in surprise, her eyes wide with astonishnt. "How is that possible? He shouldn't be here!!"
"Is it because of ? Did my transmigration cause so changes to his life?"
In her tiline, the na Liang Yifie was virtually unknown in Spiritdrift. After the devil invasion, he had simply vanished without a trace.
As for the gathering, it was supposed to be attended by only twenty-two people, not twenty-four like it was now, with the addition of Liang and Evana.
***
"Hey stop there!"
Liang stopped in his tracks as he pivoted towards the woman garbed in armor.
"What's your connection to Dong Rui?"
"None of your business."
"You don't know ?" Dong Wan'er's eyes widened in astonishnt.
Liang shot her a quick, disinterested glance before resuming his walk.
"You!" Dong Wan'er stamped her foot in frustration. "I told you to stop!"
Liang chuckled softly, ignoring her.
Dong Wan'er's temper flared. "This is unacceptable!"
Dong Zi Long appeared beside her, trying to calm her down. "Now's not the ti or place for this."
"He treated with contempt!" Dong Wan'er hissed, her pride bruised.
"We have more pressing matters. The Origin Pieces," Dong Zi Long said solemnly.
"Easy," Dong Wan'er scoffed. "We'll crush them."
***
"Brother Lolas, are you sure about this?"
"Absolutely, Chess Paragon is the most formidable and enigmatic figure in our realm. Becoming his disciple would be an imnse honor!" Lolas Mast explained calmly.
"But..."
"Sister Seni, let's not argue. Only by becoming his disciple can our clan free itself from the Dong Clan's grasp."
Left with no other response, Seni could only nod in agreent.
***
"Brother Lin, don't worry. If we play our cards right, we'll have a chance to reach the Origin Square," Dong Xian'er said confidently.
"I'm not worried," Lin Xue replied gloomily. "It's just that there are so many powerful experts. I didn't expect the alliance to gather so many."
"That's true," Dong Xian'er agreed.
"The alliance has assembled ten powerful experts: Azurefeather, Sky Wolf, Cataclysm, Windchaser, Verdant Sage, Divine Alchemist, Ironclad, Fist Emperor, Shadowbane, and Greenthump. All of them are powerful paragons, which shows how serious the alliance is about this. Becoming Chess Paragon's disciple ans inheriting his legacy and belongings, which is essentially a part of Solitude."
***
"Azurefeather, what are your thoughts on this gathering?" Sky Wolf asked.
Azurefeather chuckled. "It's certainly more lively than we expected. With so many experts gathered, the competition for the Origin Pieces will be intense."
"Indeed," Cataclysm agreed. "But if we work together, we have a good chance of securing our share."
"Let's not forget about the others," Verdant Sage cautioned. "The competitors from Dong and the Nexus are formidable as well."
"We have faced them before," Divine Alchemist said confidently. "We will prevail again."
Ironclad nodded. "Our alliance is strong. We have nothing to fear."
"Well said," Fist Emperor agreed.
Shadowbane remained silent, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I'm not interested in becoming soone's disciple, but the second reward is intriguing."
Greenthumb smiled. "A request granted by Chess Paragon."
"Fist Emperor, Greenthump, Divine Alchemist, Verdant Sage, and I are Monarchs," Azurefeather said. "That ans half of us have a higher chance of claiming the Origin Square."
"It doesn't matter," Fist Emperor said darkly. "Each of us will act as we see fit. But if the other party decides to play dirty... hmph."
Shadowbane laughed. "Brother Fist Emperor is right. This is not just a mission, it's a competition between ourselves."
"Don't be so smug, Shadowbane," Cataclysm snorted. "Don't think you'll win just because you're good at chess."
"Hmph, I've been practicing for a ga with Chess Paragon for a while now. I've put in the effort," Shadowbane smirked.
***
"Brother Liang!"
Liang's eyes flickered as he looked in Dong Rui's direction. A playful smile appeared on his face as his gaze fell on Clearshadow standing near Dong Rui.
"Sister Rui, who is this person?" Clearshadow's face turned gloomy when he saw the way Dong Rui addressed Liang.
"As I have said before," Dong Rui replied coldly, "it's none of your business!"
Clearshadow turned to Liang, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Who are you?"
Liang arly give him one glance before turned to face Dong Rui," What kind of piece have you got?"
"You dare to ignore ?!" Clearshadow exploded, his voice laced with fury. He took a threatening step towards Liang, his arrogant deanor replaced by a cold, nacing aura.
"Who are you? Why is Sister Rui acting so strangely around you?"
Liang t Clearshadow's gaze with unwavering calmness. "You wouldn't believe if I told you."
Clearshadow's anger intensified. "Try ."
Before Liang could respond, Murong suddenly materialised beside them "Clearshadow, that's enough. There is no need for this. You must concentrate on our primary goal; everything else is secondary."
Clearshadow hesitated for a mont before glancing at Dong Rui. "Fine. But I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Murong pulled Clearshadow aside as Liang turned back to Dong Rui. "What kind of piece do you have?"
Dong Rui's eyes flickered with uncertainty. She hesitated for a mont before eting Liang's gaze. "The Queen piece."
Liang's lips curled into a slight smile. "Interesting. That makes things easier."
"It doesn't matter; becoming the chess paragon's disciple isn't really my goal," Dong Rui explained calmly.
"The Dong Clan?" Liang asked, his gaze shifting towards Dong Wan'er and Dong Zi Long.
"They are here independently, not to aid ," Dong Rui said, his brow furrowing slightly.
Liang chuckled, "Now, tell about the rules and the details."
Dong Rui nodded and began to lay out the specifics to Liang...
"Interesting," Liang comnted, his eyes alight with amusent upon hearing everything.
"And what do you find so interesting?" Dong Rui inquired, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Which elent do you perceive as the most formidable obstacle?" Instead of responding directly, Liang posed the question with a sly grin.
"Securing the Origin Pieces?" Dong Rui ventured after a mont of reflection.
Liang shook his head, his lips curled into a mischievous smile. "The paragon made it clear that only the individual who places their Origin Monarch Piece on the Orgin Square will qualify as his disciple."
"And your point?" Dong Rui arched an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Consider this - reaching the center to place the Monarch Piece is an even greater challenge than collecting an origin piece. How about that?"
"You an that..." Dong Rui's voice trailed off.
"Indeed, crossing and traversing the board itself wouldn't be an easy matter," Liang said solemnly, his gaze shifting towards the colossal chessboard suspended in the sky.
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