"That freak Sima Qing, twenty moves? Why doesn't a thunderbolt from the heavens strike him dead!" Su Afo exclaid in jealousy.
Su Afo wasn't alone in his jealousy; many of the chess experts surrounding them wore envious expressions. After all, even the close advisor to the Sacred King, Taichu's top strategist Mr. Li, had only managed fifteen moves, while Sima Qing reached twenty. How high must his realm be?
Whether they participated in the ga or just watched, everyone knew one thing: once engaged in the Soul Ga, one's mind was entirely invested in the chessboard. Each move consud endless thought, facing the calamities of heaven made each step feel impossible.
Though Sima Qing ultimately lost, he lost with honor. The celestial phenona earlier were the best testant to that—they weren't caused by magic, but by the chess ga itself, which had resonated with the Dao of Heaven.
"Zhong Shan, you must defeat the Chii Chess Sage," the Nine-Tailed Princess urged Zhong Shan.
Su Afo felt speechless. What was the Nine-Tailed Princess thinking? Did she still hope for soone to defeat the Chii Chess Sage? He was the foremost Chess Sage in the Feng Tomb Domain; how could he be defeated?
In the distance, the Chii Chess Sage, without looking at the chess players on the surrounding peaks, suddenly raised his head and said calmly, "The visit of the Zixiao Master is an imnse honor. However, does a dignified master hide in the shadows, unafraid of tarnishing his esteed na?"
At the ntion of the Zixiao Master, almost everyone was taken aback.
Zixiao Master? The Master of the Zixiao Dojo in the Feng Tomb Domain? What was he doing here?
As everyone marveled, a bolt of purple lightning flashed on the terrace where the Chii Chess Sage stood, and a man in a purple robe, with a pair of nacing bones protruding from his forehead, appeared.
The mont the Zixiao Master appeared, a terrifying aura radiated from him, making it hard for the lower cultivators around to breathe.
The oppressive presence of a superior being was unmistakable.
The Zixiao Master was one of those who had once pressured the Lingxiao Heavenly Court. Seeing the Zixiao Master in the distance, Zhong Shan narrowed his eyes.
"Zixiao Master, what brings you here uninvited?" the Chii Chess Sage asked calmly.
"The Soul Ga at Yan Hai Yun Mountain happens once every thousand years. Why not?" the Zixiao Master responded.
"This is a matter for the fox clan. The fox clan is the national beast of Taichu. What does this have to do with the Zixiao Master?" the Chii Chess Sage asked sternly.
"How could it not? The Zixiao Dojo also has mbers of the fox clan. Why doesn't my Zixiao Dojo have the right to participate?" the Zixiao Master replied slowly.
"For tens of thousands of years, the Zixiao Dojo has never shown interest in Yan Hai Yun Mountain. Why now? I am puzzled. I hope the Zixiao Master can clarify," the Chii Chess Sage said with a frown.
"Because I want to participate this ti and see the results myself," the Zixiao Master said lightly.
Everyone knew that the Zixiao Master wasn't telling the whole truth, but who could argue with a dignified master? No one dared to speak up.
"Is the Zixiao Master here solely to participate in the Soul Ga? No other reason?" the Chii Chess Sage asked gravely.
"I am here for the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm," the Zixiao Master said with a faint smile.
Ancient Immortal Secret Realm? Upon hearing the Zixiao Master's words, the Chii Chess Sage's face changed, and he stared intently at the Zixiao Master.
"The Zixiao Master is already an Ancient Immortal, yet you're interested in another Ancient Immortal Secret Realm? And it belongs to the fox clan. Aren't you afraid of offending the entire Qingqiu?" the Chii Chess Sage said sternly.
"Ancient Immortal? Yes, I am an Ancient Immortal, but the Ancient Immortal within the secret realm once followed a Saint, the ancient Saint. Today, I am determined to play this ga. You wouldn't want the world to know about this, would you?" the Zixiao Master said with a serious yet amused tone.
The Zixiao Master was threatening the Chii Chess Sage? It was obvious to everyone. Many of the chess players were angry, but since it didn't affect their own interests, no one stepped forward. After all, opposing the Zixiao Dojo would be suicidal.
After giving the Zixiao Master a deep look, the Chii Chess Sage said, "Very well. According to the rules, if the Zixiao Dojo can break my Heavenly Calamity Chessboard, the Zixiao Dojo will be allowed to participate in the Soul Ga at Yan Hai Yun Mountain. If not, the Zixiao Master will have to excuse himself."
The Zixiao Master sat down lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He picked up a black piece and made his move.
As a grandmaster, his chess play was astonishing, and his moves were even faster than Sima Qing's and Mr. Li's.
"Ancient Immortal Secret Realm? Wow, could there be ancient immortal artifacts?" Su Afo's eyes lit up.
"Uncultured! Taichu also has ancient immortal artifacts. Is it such a big deal?" the Nine-Tailed Princess scoffed.
Feeling the disdain from the Nine-Tailed Princess, Su Afo was left speechless.
"Princess, how can I compare to you? My grandfather is only a duke. The most valuable things in our house are just grand immortal artifacts. Unlike you, who enters and leaves the palace freely, even the treasures of the Sacred King aren't hidden from you. Co on, tell , does the Sacred King have ancient immortal artifacts? The Sacred King should be at the ancient immortal level, right? Having ancient immortal artifacts is normal. Plus, with our Taichu Sacred Court's long history, there must be so treasures," Su Afo eagerly looked at the Nine-Tailed Princess.
"I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" the Nine-Tailed Princess retorted bluntly.
Su Afo was left speechless again, while Zhong Shan continued to focus on the chess ga.
The Zixiao Master was indeed formidable. Within the infinite starry sky of the Heavenly Calamity Chessboard, it was as if a powerful torrent of lightning swept through, shattering stars along its path. The lightning torrent was unstoppable, demonstrating the Zixiao Master's overwhelming power and majesty.
However, the Chii Chess Sage, known as the top Chess Sage of the Feng Tomb Domain, wasn't easily defeated. He responded move for move.
At the sixteenth move, the Zixiao Master began to experience what Sima Qing had gone through. Dark clouds covered the sky, and lightning flashed continuously. The oppressive power of the heavens manifested once again.
"I didn't expect the Zixiao Master to enter the Dao Conception realm as well!" Zhong Shan frowned.
"Yes, I wonder how long he can last," Su Afo nodded.
Move after move, the Chii Chess Sage displayed his formidable chess skills, his face growing more serious, while the Zixiao Master beca increasingly intense.
The Zixiao Master was engulfed in lightning, crackling and flashing, making him look like a giant ball of electricity.
"The Zixiao Master has placed the twenty-third piece," many chess players were astonished.
But after the Chii Chess Sage placed his twenty-third piece, the Zixiao Master couldn't make another move.
Staring at the chessboard, he seed trapped in it. Though he didn't speak, lightning continued to shoot out from his body, wildly and uncontrollably.
Like this, the Zixiao Master stayed for another night, his body appearing increasingly unstable.
"Boom～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"
With a thunderous explosion, the Zixiao Master's body suddenly exploded.
Everyone was stunned. Exploded? The Zixiao Master exploded? And nothing was left? Not even a trace?
The Zixiao Master dead? Almost no one could believe what they saw. It was too unreal. How could a dignified master die just like that?
"The Chii Chess Sage is ruthless!" Su Afo remarked with a strange expression.
Many thought that the Chii Chess Sage had killed the Zixiao Master. But the expressions on the faces of Mr. Li, Sima Qing, and Sima Zongheng on the opposite peak grew increasingly solemn. They stared intently at the distant terrace.
Suddenly, the previously exploded lightning reappeared, converging towards the center. In an instant, it coalesced back into the figure of the Zixiao Master.
The Zixiao Master had revived? After the initial shock, most people were bewildered, struggling to process the sudden change.
"The Chii Chess Sage, as the foremost Chess Sage of the Feng Tomb Domain, your reputation is well-deserved!" the Zixiao Master said heavily.
"Your 'Purple Thunder Projection' is also quite renowned. While you are at the Zixiao Dojo, your projection was sent here. I am impressed!" the Chii Chess Sage replied.
"You managed to detonate my projection with the Way of Chess. The title of Chess Sage suits you!" the Zixiao Master's face was grim.
"Zixiao Master, as an Ancient Immortal, how powerful is your projection?" the Chii Chess Sage countered, turning the threat back on the Zixiao Master.
The Zixiao Master's brow furrowed as he glanced at the Chii Chess Sage and said, "Since the Chess Sage has bested , I won't interfere any further."
With that, the Zixiao Master's figure flashed and disappeared from sight.
Although the Zixiao Master had left, the Chii Chess Sage and Mr. Li looked around, seemingly confirming whether the Zixiao Master had truly departed. This ti, no one could detect him.
Mr. Li shook his head slightly at the Chii Chess Sage, who nodded in response.
"Who else?" the Chii Chess Sage asked, surveying the chess players on the surrounding peaks.
However, after witnessing the experiences of Sima Qing and the Zixiao Master, no one dared to step forward.
Sima Qing's earlier madness was still fresh in their minds. Although Sima Zongheng had interrupted his frenzy, the mory of his crazed state lingered. The deeper one delved into the ga, the more one succumbed to madness. While Sima Qing had soone to stop him, the Zixiao Master had no such restraint. As a grandmaster and leader of a dojo, he had self-destructed? Though it was only a projection, it had still terrified anyone harboring delusions of success.
Playing this ga? It was a death wish!
The Chii Chess Sage scanned the crowd, seeing no one willing to step up. He sighed slightly and was about to speak when a voice called out from a distant peak.
"Zhong Shan, it's your turn. Defeat the Chii Chess Sage and bring glory to the Nine-Tailed Princess' Mansion!" the Nine-Tailed Princess shouted.
Defeat the Chii Chess Sage? Everyone's face twitched at her words. Defeat the Chii Chess Sage? Such arrogance!
All eyes turned towards the voice.
With everyone looking, Mr. Li furrowed his brow, and Sima Qing showed a hint of curiosity. "Is he the one who defeated both of you?" Sima Qing asked.
"Yes," Sima Zongheng nodded, without any concealnt.
The other chess players looked on with disdain. Su Afo, feeling the weight of their scorn, wished he could disappear. His face was full of bitterness. Little ancestor, even if you don't understand chess, you should see how powerful the Chii Chess Sage is! Defeat him?
The Chii Chess Sage looked towards Zhong Shan. "Who are you?"
"I am the Nine-Tailed Princess, and he is my retainer. Zhong Shan!" the Nine-Tailed Princess called out imdiately.
Since the Soul Ga was only open to those from Taichu, the Nine-Tailed Princess quickly declared their affiliation to legitimize Zhong Shan's participation.
"The Nine-Tailed Princess? It's been a long ti since anyone in Qingqiu has been titled 'Nine-Tailed.' Even in the Taichu Sacred Court, this is the first ti. Are you the new 'Nine-Tailed'?" the Chii Chess Sage asked, slightly surprised.
"The Nine-Tailed Princess was conferred the title by the Sacred King three hundred years ago," Mr. Li interjected.
"The Nine-Tailed Princess? My apologies!" the Chii Chess Sage said respectfully.
The Chess Sage's deferential attitude left everyone astonished. The Nine-Tailed Princess? What was her true identity? The Chii Chess Sage knew? Curious eyes turned towards her.
The Nine-Tailed Princess's origins were extrely mysterious. In all of Qingqiu, perhaps only the Sacred King knew her true identity. Since her appearance three hundred years ago, she had road Qingqiu unimpeded, destroying anyone in her path, human or divine. No one dared offend this little demoness.
Of course, driven by curiosity and interest, many had investigated the Nine-Tailed Princess but found nothing. She seed to have appeared out of nowhere, baffling everyone.
But what did the Chii Chess Sage's attitude an? Did he know sothing?
"Very well!" The Nine-Tailed Princess nodded with satisfaction, seeming to enjoy the astonished expressions of those around her.
"The Nine-Tails is just a title. May I ask for the Nine-Tailed Princess's na?" the Chii Chess Sage asked.
"Uh?" Everyone was slightly taken aback.
Isn't she just called Nine-Tails? She has another na?
"The Sacred King said that my na is not to be revealed. I won't tell you!" the Nine-Tailed Princess shook her head.
Everyone was speechless. Why couldn't her na be revealed? Was this a joke? A na was just a label; why keep it a secret? Most people thought the Nine-Tailed Princess was just ssing around, feeling exasperated.
Only Zhong Shan was slightly taken aback, as he suddenly rembered that Mr. Shi's na couldn't be revealed either. Why couldn't their nas be known?
The Chii Chess Sage's expression shifted, as if he had thought of sothing, and he nodded. "My apologies for being presumptuous!"
The crowd grew even more perplexed. Had the Chess Sage gone mad from playing too much chess?
"Alright, Zhong Shan, you go ahead! Rember, bring glory to the Nine-Tailed Princess' Mansion. Even if you can't win, at least surpass twenty-five moves. Those fools, with so many empty spots on the board, why can't they just fill them in? Just place the pieces, over twenty-five moves should be easy," the Nine-Tailed Princess advised Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan was speechless. It was complicated. The Nine-Tailed Princess made sense. If one didn't know how to play chess, placing pieces randomly could easily surpass twenty-five moves, or even two hundred moves. But could Zhong Shan do that?
"I'll do my best!" Zhong Shan said, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Zhong Shan stepped onto the terrace.
"Zhong Shan!" he announced his na with dignity.
"I won't go easy on you because of the Nine-Tailed Princess. Give it your all!" the Chii Chess Sage said calmly. With a wave of his sleeve, the pieces placed by the Zixiao Master returned to the bowl, ready for Zhong Shan to start.
Zhong Shan nodded, picked up a black piece, and prepared to make his move.
At the sa ti, in the Underworld, in Changjing, within the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.
Zhong Shan's shadow body and Nangong Sheng sat in a courtyard with a chessboard set up.
"Nangong Sheng, this is the Heavenly Calamity Chessboard from the Yang Realm. Do your best to break it!" Zhong Shan said solemnly.
"I will do my best!" Nangong Sheng responded.
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