Chapter 172: 156: Teaching the Path of Chess 1
Jiang Li had just sat down when he noticed the chessboard and froze in place.
“This… how can this be… No, it’s impossible!”
He muttered to himself.
The moment he sat down, he felt a boundless and vast sensation, as if he were looking upon a limitless world of interweaving black and white, good and evil!
It was a terrifying manifestation of a great path!
And it was emanating from the dull, dusty chessboard before him.
“Intersecting lines of black and white, endless and without bounds… Could this be the legendary chessboard mentioned in the tales?”
His heart was shocked to the sky!
The Chess Immortal Sect was no ordinary sect; it had a foothold within the Immortal Domain and was a branch of the Regretless Immortal City in the Central Immortal Domain!
And the Regretless Immortal Monarch of the Regretless Immortal City… was one of the strongest Immortal Monarchs in the Central Immortal Domain.
He attained immortality through the path of chess!
It was for this reason that the Chess Immortal Sect was privy to certain secrets. Having once been the Saint Heir of the Chess Immortal Sect, Jiang Li had heard that… the reason the Regretless Immortal Monarch was able to certify his immortality was merely because he had, in his youth, followed a figure of unimaginable terror and served that terrifying figure for three days!
In just three days, he became an Immortal Monarch of an era!
And according to legend within the sect, the Regretless Immortal Monarch had been fixated on an object throughout his life…
That object was the chessboard used by that terrifying figure from years past.
No one in the world had seen this chessboard; even the Chess Immortal Sect only knew that it was referred to as the “Black White Chessboard” or “Boundless Chessboard”!
Black White… Isn’t the chessboard right here lined with black and white?
Boundless… Isn’t the chessboard right in front of him without limits?
And this aura of vastness and terror…
He was nearly certain at this moment… This was most likely the legendary chessboard!
The chessboard was in the hands of the senior before him…
So, could this senior be…
His pupils shrunk!
Not just him, even Gong Ya Demon Marshal and Xinning beside him were extremely shocked.
“Demon Monarch… could this be that chessboard?”
Gong Ya spoke in astonishment.
As a Demon Marshal of her generation, she too had heard of some legends within the Immortal Domain!
This seemed to involve a legendary figure, an Immortal King…
Moreover, history had seen a monumental war between immortals and demons that lasted for thousands of years due to a rumor that the chessboard had appeared in the Demon Domain!
To think that this chessboard would appear here…
“Eight or nine… out of ten.”
Xinning’s face was etched with complexity.
Such a chessboard… and the Big Brother had carelessly tossed it in a pile of firewood, even splitting it with an ax…
If those powerhouses in the Immortal Domain were to find out, they would probably vomit blood!
Seeing Jiang Li staring unceasingly at the chessboard, Li Fan felt somewhat embarrassed; after all, it was already worn and even had two cracks chopped into it…
He said:
“Ahem, this chessboard may seem a bit shabby, but it’s still usable, so don’t mind it.”
Hearing this, Jiang Li hurriedly responded:
“Senior, you are too kind, far too kind!!!”
Shabby??
Could that word be used to describe such a priceless treasure?
If it were to be taken out, the Immortal Domain would turn upside down!
Yet, seeing the two cracks at the edge of the chessboard, his feelings grew even more complex!
Such an object, which already possessed the power of eternity, could be called a true artifact of immortal permanence, impervious to the ravages of time, and even the bombardment of the laws of heaven and earth couldn’t harm it.
But it had actually been cracked by an ax used for chopping wood??
What kind of level must that ax be??
The more he thought about it, the more he trembled.
“You are the guest; please take the black pieces.”
Li Fan spoke.
“By your command!”
Jiang Li immediately took a black piece from the chess box.
But when he lifted the piece, everyone around them was taken aback!
“What a powerful force, this single chess piece feels like an entire world…”
“It possesses infinite might; casually throwing one out would likely be an unbearable weight for the Myriad Realms!”
“This is too terrifying…”
Nan Feng and the others were amazed!
They were used to seeing Li Fan casually, effortlessly play chess against himself day after day.
Only now did I understand that the chess piece harbored such a terrifying power.
Both Fire Spirit and Mu Qianning’s beautiful eyes widened in shock in an instant.
“This aura… is even more fearful than the one in Chen Xuanbei’s hand!”
Fire Spirit trembled.
“Senior Li truly knows everything, each of his chess pieces is a supreme treasure…”
Admiration filled Mu Qianning’s eyes!
But Li Fan remained oblivious, casually picking up a white piece and placing it down!
When Jiang Li lifted the chess piece, everyone clearly felt the terrifying Dao principles that shook the world, a breath that made them tremble.
Yet when Li Fan made his move, it was as smooth as flowing water, as if what he held in his hand was nothing more than the most ordinary chess piece, with not a trace of aura spilling out!
Natural, casual!
Everyone was even more bewildered!
“No wonder we couldn’t perceive the secrets in our daily practices. The Teacher handles these terrifying chess pieces as if they are no different from grains of sand…”
Long Zixuan murmured.
“Rumors say that if the great Buddha made a move, he could hold the Myriad Realms in one palm, and it is indeed so… The power of the great Buddha, capable of supporting heaven and earth!”
Qing Chen got excited, his eyes as if on a pilgrimage!
“Every action of the Teacher is the highest Dao. We have understood too little on a daily basis, too superficially!”
Nan Feng also murmured.
Both sides played several moves in succession!
At first, Jiang Li was focused, but then he felt a kind of ease and pleasure he had never experienced before.
He clearly felt as though he was traveling in a world full of rules.
It was as if his soul had grown wings, freely expressing himself!
Unconsciously, he was expressing himself, displaying to his heart’s content!
All he felt was exhilaration, as if he were riding a horse at full speed, as if flying in the sky or burrowing into the ground…
His expression was ecstatic, having completely lost himself!
And the surrounding disciples, witnessing this scene, were utterly astonished.
“He’s actually able to keep up with the Teacher for so long?”
Dugu Yuqing was taken aback as he looked at Jiang Li.
After all, he had seen the Teacher’s skill at chess!
With just a casual move, he could point out the path to immortality!
How could Jiang Li, no matter how talented, possibly be a match for the Teacher?
It was impossible.
“No… The Teacher is guiding him… haven’t you felt it, how his aura is changing? He isn’t just playing chess, it’s clear he’s on the path of enlightenment!”
Zi Ling spoke up, breaking down the mystery!
Being most sensitive to the fluctuations of the Dao, she had noticed.
Upon hearing this, everyone had complex expressions.
So that’s how it was…
The Teacher was indeed giving guidance in every casual gesture!
And Gong Ya at this moment was also filled with shock, murmuring to herself:
“This child is truly fortunate, to be bestowed with such a great opportunity by the Master!”
She understood very well what this opportunity signified…
In the past, the Regretless Immortal Monarch had followed that terrifying existence for three days, but he was merely a servant and couldn’t receive teachings from that existence!
Today, Jiang Li had received personal instruction from Li Fan!
If this were known in the Immortal Domain, even Immortal Monarchs would be envious!
Soon, the chess pieces dwindled.
The game ended.
Li Fan, placed the last piece.
He appeared as if he was stepping out of a world that belonged only to him, now awake as if from a dream. He looked at the game on the board and was stunned.
What… had just happened?
Had he… actually played a game with this terrifying existence?
“No, this black piece… why is it so exquisite? So profound? Laden with hidden killing intent, it changes in countless ways, truly a celestial game!”
He was shocked, looking at the black pieces, doubting himself.
Could this really be chess he had played?
“How could I possibly have such high skill in chess… Such a realm, even the Sect Master could not possibly achieve…”
He murmured, finding it unbelievable!
And at this moment, opposite him, Li Fan gave a slight smile and said,
“Now do you know how to beat that reborn individual?”
He scattered the chess pieces in his hand back into the chess box.
With an ultimate grace and carelessness!