The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 473 The Ingenious Chess Game, Broken!

Su Xinghe seemed not to hear Xu Xingchen's meaningful words. His eyes were blank, his mind was dazed, and his expression was neither crying nor laughing.

His junior brother Ding Chunqiu betrayed their master back then because he wanted to learn the ultimate martial art of the Xiaoyao Sect, the Beiming Divine Skill, from Wuyazi.

Later, when his wish was not fulfilled, Ding Chunqiu was very unwilling. Combining his poison skills, he created the Huagong Dafa, which had some similarities to the Beiming Divine Art.

The similarity lies in the fact that both the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the Dissolving Power Technique can make an enemy's internal energy, which they have diligently cultivated for many years, disappear.

The difference lies in the fact that the Beiming Divine Art can absorb, transform, and make one's own internal energy into one's own; while the Huagong Dafa can only dissolve the internal energy of others, and cannot absorb and transform it into one's own.

The effects of the two are not comparable.

However, Ding Chunqiu was able to create the Huagong Dafa, which terrified people in the martial arts world, and his talent and aptitude in martial arts surpassed that of the vast majority of people in the martial arts world.

Now, the supreme divine skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect, which Ding Chunqiu has longed for and which Su Xinghe has also coveted, has been learned so easily by two young juniors.
This unexpected turn of events left Su Xinghe, the eldest disciple personally instructed by the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, with mixed feelings.

Shock, astonishment, disbelief.
Then there was a hint of indescribable bitterness and regret.
Little did he know that Xu Xingchen deliberately revealed that he and Duan Yu had once learned the Beiming Divine Skill, actually to tell Wuyazi, who was very likely hiding in those wooden houses.

Whether it's Li Qiushui, the Sword Lake Palace of Wuliang Mountain, or that jade statue that's unclear whether it's Li Qiushui or Li Canghai, plus the highest martial art of the Free and Unfettered Sect: the Northern Darkness Divine Skill
All of these events are closely related to Wuyazi.

Xu Xingchen refused to believe that Wu Yazi could remain calm and continue to feign death there.

If Wu Yazi can truly remain calm and not reveal himself, then Xu Xingchen will break the intricate chess game he himself set up, completely extinguishing his last hope.

Read the stories in the book.
The Zhenlong Chess Game was likely a self-indulgent endgame game set up by Wuyazi for his own amusement.

But as you play, you suddenly realize that you can't break the puzzle you've set up. You feel that the puzzle is ever-changing and infinitely mysterious, and you are reluctant to give it up.

Over time, it became an obsession in his heart.

Otherwise, in the story, Wu Yazi wouldn't have used the method of "who can solve the Zhenlong Chess Game" to select his disciples.

If it weren't for a deep-seated obsession, Wu Yazi would never have used such absurd methods to take on disciples, pass on internal skills, and pass on the position of sect leader.

Because his actions were completely illogical and far beyond the bounds of common sense.

In this real world, Xu Xingchen wondered if Wu Yazi had ever experienced the tragedy of being knocked off a cliff by his own wicked disciple Ding Chunqiu.

It's unclear whether he's afraid to show himself because he's seriously injured and hasn't fully recovered.
Or is it because he is paralyzed and unable to move that he cannot appear?
There are significant differences between the two, but for an elderly person nearing the end of their life, there seems to be little difference.

Xu Xingchen didn't know if the Zhenlong Chess Game was Wuyazi's obsession.

But if it's broken, then so be it!

In Xu Xingchen's opinion, Duan Yu, as Wu Yazi's disciple, is far more suitable than Xu Zhu.

Su Xinghe snapped out of his daze, looked at Xu Xingchen and Duan Yu with a complicated expression, and slowly said, "Didn't you want to kill all the disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect in the world? When are you going to kill me?"

Xu Xingchen waved his hand: "No rush! No rush! Let's play chess first and see how the two of us break the Zhenlong Chess Formation."

"Hmph, the Divine Chess Puzzle isn't so easily solved." Su Xinghe subconsciously wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but remembering Xu Xingchen's martial arts skills, which were beyond his imagination and had already thoroughly embarrassed him, he swallowed his words and only said, "I've been trying to solve it for decades and haven't been able to. I don't believe there's anyone in this world whose chess skills can surpass mine."

As they spoke, they passed by Xu Xingchen and returned to the pavilion.

“Mr. Congbian, do not underestimate the people of the world, and do not overestimate your Xiaoyao Sect.”

Xu Xingchen responded with a faint smile, and invited Duan Yu to enter the pavilion together, where they stood opposite Su Xinghe.

Looking at the jagged black and white pieces on the chessboard, Xu Xingchen pressed Duan Yu down onto the stone bench and said with a smile, "Brother Duan, I will have a martial arts contest with Mr. Congbian, and you will play chess with Mr. Congbian; let's have a contest of both literature and martial arts, one game each."

Upon hearing these words, Duan Yu's previously uneasy heart immediately calmed down.

He was already very confident in his chess skills. Although he did not delve into the intricate chess game in the Sword Lake Palace of Wuliang Mountain, he was still quite confident in playing a game against Mr. Congbian.

Su Xinghe restored the intricate chess game on the table to its original unfinished state, glanced up at the two confident individuals, and sat down on the stone bench beneath him.

With a wave of his hand, he said indifferently, "Master Xu, you have told me not to underestimate anyone in the world, nor to overestimate my Xiaoyao Sect; such words have greatly angered this disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect."

"Don't be fooled by your recent victory over me in martial arts. It's only because my skills are utterly insignificant within the Free and Unfettered Sect that it means our sect's martial arts are truly inferior to yours."

"But in Go, I am confident that I still possess some genuine skill."

"I'd like to see how you solve the Divine Chess Puzzle."

"Young Master Duan, please!"

Next, Su Xinghe played the black pieces and Duan Yu played the white pieces, and they began to play against each other on the Zhenlong Chessboard.

Duan Yu's skill in Go was indeed extraordinary. His match against Su Xinghe was a true clash of equals, with both sides trading blows.

If Su Xinghe were not the one playing the game, Duan Yu would not be the one breaking the deadlock.
If the two of them started from the beginning and played a proper match...
The final outcome remains to be seen.

In no time at all, the two had played more than a dozen pieces.

Even with Su Xinghe's pride and arrogance, he had to admit that the chess skills of the young master of the Dali Duan family opposite him were absolutely not to be underestimated. The game continued...

Duan Yu spent increasingly longer periods contemplating his moves.

Su Xinghe's speed in placing the pieces remained constant.

He had played this intricate chess game for two or three decades, and was thoroughly familiar with all its variations.

Duan Yu, on the other hand, had seen the Zhenlong Chess Game once, but he was in a hurry at the time and did not study it seriously.

Nowadays, when playing chess, one must think for a long time before deciding where to place a piece.

Xu Xingchen pursued a path of specializing in martial arts and did not delve deeply into other areas such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Thanks to his precise control over his own strength, he might be able to write words as sharp as swords, or he might be able to fully present the images in his mind on paper.
However, for something like Go that requires mental effort, it's difficult to achieve anything without putting in a lot of hard work.

Therefore, after glancing at the chessboard on the table, Xu Xingchen turned around and looked around at the surrounding scenery.

On the grass outside the pavilion, the disciples of the Deaf-Mute Sect were filling in the craters created by the battle between Xu Xingchen and Su Xinghe.

In the valley, the pines rustle and the bamboo forest whispers, while various flowers are distributed in an orderly fashion.

Although she couldn't see anything clearly, Xu Xingchen distinctly felt a sense of comfort and ease arise spontaneously.

It's likely that there's some reason behind the layout of this garden.

Just as Xu Xingchen was admiring the scenery around her, she heard Duan Yu say, "I lost this round!"

He snapped out of his daze and looked down at the chessboard on the table. He saw that the black pieces were connected, surrounding and trapping the white pieces in one corner.
Even someone like him, an outsider, could see that Bai Zi had no way out.

Su Xinghe was impressed by Duan Yu's superb chess skills, and his arrogance lessened slightly: "Young Master Duan's chess skills are superb. If it weren't for this rare chess game, I might not have been able to defeat Young Master Duan."

After saying this, he glanced casually at Xu Xingchen beside him, with a hint of mockery: "Master Xu, are you going to personally step onto the stage and play a game against me?"

"I don't have Brother Duan's level of chess skills." Xu Xingchen waved his hand, picked up a chess piece from the chess box, and looked around the chessboard. He looked at the places where a large number of white pieces were surrounded, and said, "Besides, this game is not over yet, you still have to continue playing."

As soon as he finished speaking, he placed a white piece.

Su Xinghe stared intently, then angrily shouted, "Master Xu, if you don't know how to play chess, why are you making such a mess of things? By placing your pieces here, aren't you just forcing a large number of your own pieces to their deaths? This is outrageous! Outrageous!"

He has always been obsessed with various arts such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, especially the chess game left by his master, which he has studied for many years; he cannot tolerate the slightest disrespect from others towards the Zhenlong Chess Game.

In Su Xinghe's view, Xu Xingchen's reckless moves that forced a large number of his white pieces to their deaths were nothing short of blind fooling around and a desecration of the precious chess game left by his master.

That's why he lost his temper!
Duan Yu was also somewhat confused about the intricacies of Xu Xingchen's move, and looked up at Xu Xingchen, completely baffled.

After placing his piece, Xu Xingchen stopped paying attention to the subsequent moves and turned to the bewildered Duan Yu, saying, "Put yourself in a do-or-die situation; it's up to you now."

Duan Yu picked up his captured white pieces, put them back in the chess box, and stared at the empty chessboard, lost in thought.

A moment later, his eyes suddenly lit up.

He picked up a white piece from the chess box and slammed it onto the chessboard.

Su Xinghe, who was originally quite angry and annoyed, was stunned when he saw the new situation on the chessboard after removing a large number of white pieces.

Then, seemingly lost in thought, he picked up a black piece from the chess box and placed it on the chessboard.

The two engaged in another rapid-fire duel.

*Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!*
The sound of black and white pieces falling onto the chessboard was crisp and loud.

The two descended faster and faster, their hearts filled with joy.

Towards the end.
The sound of chess pieces abruptly stopped!

Duan Yu stared at the crisscrossing black and white pieces on the chessboard for a long while, then looked up at Xu Xingchen and exclaimed with delight, "The Precious Chess Game is broken!"

"The Divine Chess Game is broken?"

"The Intricate Chess Game has truly been broken!"

Looking down at the chessboard, Su Xinghe muttered to himself, his voice filled with surprise and disbelief, growing louder and more joyful with each exclamation.

Finally, he suddenly looked up and burst into laughter.

"It's broken! It's broken! Master's intricate chess puzzle is truly broken!"

"Hahahahahaha."

(End of this chapter)