Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 50: The Great Battle, A Single Touch is Enough to Drain It

"boom!"

The jade wall crumbled, revealing a hidden "Great Dragon Slash" technique hidden among the shattered jade fragments—several sword energies soared into the sky like dragons, attacking from all directions of the chessboard. Each sword energy contained the killing intent of the chess game, blocking all of Lu Chenyuan's escape routes.

Lu Chenyuan began to move, dodging and observing the entire chess formation, searching for a way to break the deadlock.

There is no perfect formation in this world.

Everything has its gains and losses, its light and shadow. The stronger the killing move, the stronger the weakness. There is no such thing as only benefits and no drawbacks. This chess formation cannot only have unparalleled offensive power. It must have a fatal weakness hidden somewhere!

Lu Chenyuan moved like lightning, weaving through the gaps in the sword energy. However, the game had changed. With each step he took back, the chess lines beneath his feet were cut like blades, forcing him into a deadly situation!

"Lord Lu, the next move is the 'Ten-Eyed Encirclement and Kill'."

Lan Xiuyi sneered, "You'll be doomed by then. It's not too late to beg for mercy now!"

Lu Chenyuan kept walking: "Your senior brother's mouth was just as stubborn as yours at first!"

court death!

Lan Xiuyi gritted her teeth and threw out ten white pieces, which landed on the chessboard.

The falling stars on the chessboard startled even ghosts and gods!
"Rumble--"

The sky within the formation suddenly cracked open, and meteorites wrapped in flames fell from the heavens, each containing the power of stars, crashing towards Lu Chenyuan's vital points.

The attacks were too dense and too fast. Lu Chenyuan unleashed his full movement technique, his figure flashing like lightning across the chessboard. The meteorites that missed their target transformed into weapons.
The first move transforms into a sword formation to block the east; the third move solidifies into an iron chain to block the west; the fifth move transforms into a fire wall to cut off the south; and the seventh move forms an ice barrier to block the north.

Lan Xiuyi shouted sternly, "Beg for mercy now!"

She came to avenge her senior brother, not to kill anyone, and even if she did hurt someone, it wouldn't be right.

This is, after all, the capital city, a vital area. And this man is Princess Taiping's lover. If he is really injured, even if the Prince of Wei intervenes, he may not be able to escape unscathed.

As the killing intent drew ever closer, Lu Chenyuan's space to maneuver dwindled, and he observed with lightning-fast eyes.

suddenly.

After the ninth turn, Lu Chenyuan suddenly stopped. He discovered that all the black pieces' attacks were following a certain pattern—like the "big knight's move" in Go, which was gathering momentum in the center of the board.

"I see……"

His eyes flashed with a sharp light. "This is a killing formation, but it's not just a killing formation. She's raising a dragon! The most intense attack is when the dragon is fully formed. At this time, the attack is the fiercest, but also the most vulnerable!"

next moment.

When all ten black pieces are in place, all the attacks suddenly converge.

Dark clouds surged in mid-air, and thousands of sword energies converged like rivers flowing into the sea, forming a ten-zhang-long black dragon. Its eyes were two dazzling stars, and its scales were formed from sword energy. Each scale was breathing out killing intent. The dragon's body coiled, stirring up the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and the entire Luo Bridge trembled!

With the great dragon formed, calamity is imminent!
Lu Chenyuan wasn't in a hurry, but Lan Xiuyi was.

If he doesn't beg for mercy, he'll either die or be seriously injured; the Four Deadly Bone Fiends are still watching!

Just as she was considering retreating, Lu Chenyuan advanced instead of retreating, his figure as fast as lightning, charging straight towards the black dragon!

A crimson light surged from the tip of his right finger, and the Taiyi Beacon Cloud Finger Technique was unleashed with overwhelming force—

【Venus Crossing the Sky】!
"laugh--"

The sharp finger strikes, like a spear piercing the sky, precisely penetrated the black dragon's reverse scale!

The black dragon's claws were already close, but before it could strike, its scales exploded, its sword energy dissipated, and the black dragon let out a mournful roar, its body twisting and turning before finally vanishing like clouds.

Lan Xiuyi was shocked: "How could this be..."

Lu Chenyuan stood in mid-air, spun around and landed, his right hand forming a blade, and the Heaven-Slaying Hand killing move crashed down!
【White Emperor Cuts Autumn】!
A beam of white-gold light swept across the sky, as if the Heavenly Emperor were cutting paper, splitting the entire ten-zhang chess formation in two!
"Click——"

The Star Chessboard emitted a metallic sound, and golden light burst forth!

The moment the chessboard collapsed, the chessboard in front of Lan Xiuyi reflected a flash of light.

Lan Xiuyi couldn't dodge in time, let out a muffled groan, blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and she staggered backward.

With a light tap of his toes, Lu Chenyuan stepped on the fallen fragments of fallen leaves, moving like a lone goose soaring through the air, heading straight for the second floor of the inn where Lan Xiuyi was.

Lan Xiuyi's expression changed drastically. She hurriedly raised her hand to form a seal, but the backlash from the chess formation caused her meridians to become disordered, and she was unable to raise the yin and yang energies in her body for a moment!

Lu Chenyuan broke through the window and went straight for the chessboard.

Lan Xiuyi was shocked and quickly reached out with her delicate hand. The two of them each held one end of the chessboard.

"Buzz!"

The chessboard artifact suddenly trembled, its spirituality arising spontaneously. It even wrapped around Lan Xiuyi's powerful true energy and forcefully pulled it back!
Lu Chenyuan held the chessboard in one hand, his body as steady as Mount Tai, not even the hem of his clothes moved an inch.

Outside the window, the scattered sword energy of the black dragon fell like rain, making the entire long street shimmer with light.

"you--"

Lan Xiuyi's face flushed red. She pushed her true energy to the limit, but still couldn't regain any of it. She cried out urgently, "Let go!"

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "Since it's a chess match and the outcome is already decided, you should at least show some appreciation. You come from Zongheng Peak and have studied chess extensively. Haven't you heard of 'Bonus Chess'?"

Lan Xiuyi's anger intensified. "Caiqi is a vile trick of commoners. Does it even deserve to be in the court of my Zongheng Peak?"

A faint golden light flashed at Lu Chenyuan's fingertips as the "Golden Treasure Scroll" quietly began to operate. The golden energy and spirituality in the chessboard flowed like a trickle through his meridians and into his dantian.

He remained composed, still chatting and laughing, "But I only play for money. How about this, you can exchange it for something else."

"To demand a prize during a friendly sparring match is shameless!"

Lan Xiuyi gritted her teeth, flipped her left hand, and three jade pills appeared in her palm: "[Heavenly Origin Pill], in exchange for my chessboard!"

【Tian Yuan Dan】is a spiritual medicine refined by Yun Zhe Jun. It has the effect of healing serious injuries and increasing power for those without injuries.

Lu Chenyuan pretended to ponder, but in reality, he secretly accelerated his devouring.

When Lan Xiuyi could no longer bear it, he suddenly let go: "Deal."

Lan Xiuyi threw out the pills and retrieved the chessboard. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, her palm suddenly felt light.

"Click——"

A very faint, crisp sound, like the first crack in spring beneath the ice, made her look down and see the Star Chessboard, personally crafted by her master, silently crumbling in her hands—the gilded patterns faded rapidly like withered vines, the black jade chessboard turned into pale powder, and the spirit beads inlaid on the "Heavenly Origin" and "Star Position" went out one by one, like stars being extinguished.

"Do not……"

Lan Xiuyi looked bewildered and panicked. Her fingers instinctively tightened, but she only managed to grab a handful of quicksand-like gold dust.

Several gasps of shock came from the shadows.

"The Golden Treasure Book..."

Lan Xiuyi trembled with rage, her inner energy erupting, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Lu Chenyuan: "Lu Chenyuan! You...you actually dared to destroy my magic weapon!!"

"There are many things I dare to do."

Lu Chenyuan had retreated to the window, toying with the pills between his fingers, and smiled meaningfully: "Didn't Gao Jian tell you who was right and who was wrong? Didn't you ask others? He acted like a fool, and you actually stood up for him and taught him a lesson... It's only fair that I return the favor, what's the problem? You should really be glad this is the capital, otherwise it wouldn't just be a chessboard. The outcome is decided, the deal is done, no need to see me off!"

Having said that, his robes fluttered as he landed back on the long street, strolling leisurely toward Zhengpingfang.

"..."

Lan Xiuyi stared at his departing figure with murderous intent, cursing his ancestors in her heart. Suddenly, her master's sigh when she left the mountain flashed through her mind: "Xiuyi, you are exceptionally talented, but you lack one thing... a crushing defeat."

I didn't expect it to come so quickly! Lu Chenyuan!
This score won't be settled so easily. If you're so capable, then never be out of your mind again!

Lan Xiuyi suppressed her murderous aura and forced back her grief as she gathered up the gold dust on the ground.

"Failed..."

On the banks of the Luo River, diagonally opposite the inn, a young master held a folding fan, slowly fanning himself despite the cold weather. He shook his head and said, "Taiyi Fengyun Finger and Caitian Hand have broken the Zongheng Peak's Tianyuan Yishen Technique. Anyone who says he's a good-for-nothing who relies on his looks to be a gigolo, I'll spit in their face! By the way, whose martial art is this Caitian Hand? I remember the general moves, but I've forgotten whose it is."

A middle-aged servant behind him thought for a moment and shook his head slightly.

"Emperor Wu of Chen, Chen Baxian".

A waiter approached with small, respectful steps, but spoke in a calm and indifferent tone: "Although it was classified as a fifth-rank technique by Bai Xiaolou, Li Jing highly praised it, saying, 'This palm technique cannot be mastered without ambition, and this skill cannot be forged without iron will.' If that is true, this Lu Chenyuan is not to be underestimated."

The young master glanced at him and said, "You're too late. You've missed a good show."

"The number of spies from the Kite Guard is increasing, and they've changed faces a few times along the way. It doesn't matter; I've already seen them."

The waiter said, "His eyes are extraordinary. The Thousand Illusions Technique is useless against him. Even if I arrived early, I would have to avoid his sharp edge. If I appeared in his field of vision, he would likely see through my disguise and I would have to stay far away."

"so smart?"

The young man asked doubtfully, "What if one cultivates the 'Illusion Scroll'?"

The waiter said, "That should be able to deceive you, after all, it's a secret technique of the hidden immortals, affecting your mind as well... You don't need to be envious, with your talent, even he might be envious."

The young gentleman smiled slightly, unfolded his folding fan, and accepted the gift with composure.

The waiter asked, "Did you bring the goods?"

The young master said, "Everything is ready. King Yama and your master, King Five Senses, have also arrived."

The waiter nodded: "Then I'm relieved. Now, just wait for things to turn upside down!"

The young master frowned and said, "Are you sure the 'Heavenly Craft Scroll' can be successfully published? We've asked so many people to no avail. If we come all this way for nothing, I won't take responsibility for you with the Palace Master."

The waiter said, "Several exceptionally talented individuals have arrived this time: the young master of Baixiaolou, the young Zhuge from the Zhuge family, and the junior uncle from the Celestial Master's Mansion. Perhaps they can succeed... I even feel that Lu Chenyuan can break it. He created something called the 'Myriad Forms Cube,' which is exquisitely crafted! At his age, with such a level of mechanical skill, if even he cannot obtain the inheritance of the Hidden Immortal, then what is the point of creating the 'Heavenly Craft Scroll'?"

"That's true."

The young master nodded: "The Hidden Immortal has always insisted that a good martial art is one that everyone can practice... Although the ones he created are all incredibly difficult, like this 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Book,' hahaha..."

The waiter didn't laugh. He said seriously, "The 'Heavenly Craft Scroll' is secondary. There's something else inside that absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the Demon Queen. Otherwise, she'll be one step closer to the elixir of immortality, and the whole world will depend on her for eternity!"

The two fell silent.

"【The Elixir of Immortality】..."

The young man sighed and said, "Why do you think Emperor Taizong didn't take this medicine? Given his relationship with Yin Xian, if he really wanted it, Yin Xian would probably have given it to him... Wasn't Princess Pingyang's 'cause of death' rather suspicious?"

"perhaps……"

The waiter sighed and looked up at the sky: "His initial thought was that he didn't want the people of the world to depend on him for generations to come..."

……

Lan Xiuyi carefully carried the golden sand back to the guest courtyard of the Prince of Wei's mansion.

Just as she arrived at the entrance of Qinglian Residence, she suddenly felt something and turned to leave.

“Xiuyi”.

A weak but firm voice came from behind me.

Lan Xiuyi's body stiffened, a smile appeared on her face, she slowly turned around, and softly called out, "Senior Brother..."

Gao Jian stood at the door, swaying precariously. His face was as pale as paper, with a deathly gray hue. Traces of blood from his previous vomiting still lingered at the corner of his mouth, resembling a hideous bloodline. His spirit seemed to have been drained away, and he was no longer the spirited man he once was.

Lan Xiuyi felt increasingly heartbroken and filled with hatred for Lu Chenyuan: "Senior brother, why are you up..."

Gao Jian looked at the handful of gold dust in her hand, his expression calm: "Did Lu Chenyuan make this?"

Lan Xiuyi remained silent.

Gao Jian said, "He broke your chess formation and destroyed your chessboard. Is that right?"

Lan Xiuyi opened her mouth as if to say something, but could only remain silent.

"Come in."

Gao Jian uttered these two words and turned to return to his quiet room.

Lan Xiuyi hesitated slightly, thinking of what to say as she followed him into the room. She placed the handful of gold dust on the table, put it away in a porcelain bottle, and then sat on the futon opposite Gao Jian. She briefly explained the process and concluded, "Such a despicable and shameless person will surely perish because of his many evil deeds! Why should you lower yourself to his level, Senior Brother?"

"hehe."

Gao Jian laughed, a laugh filled with helplessness and self-mockery.

He shook his head slightly, his eyes dimming, and said softly, "Our sect has always upheld the way of Heaven, but never relied on the Heavenly Dao. When necessary, we will punish evil on behalf of Heaven. Junior sister, you are also a person of unparalleled beauty and extraordinary intelligence. Now that you have said such words, I think you are also helpless against him."

Lan Xiuyi paused, about to speak.

As if talking to himself, Gao Jian continued, "I initially thought he was just relying on his keen eyesight and had an exceptional talent for solving mechanisms, but when I learned that he was the one who created the 'Myriad Forms Cube,' I realized that this person understood how to utilize his keen eyesight even better than the Venerable Huineng. He didn't specialize in one thing, but rather drew on the strengths of many..."

Lan Xiuyi understood what he meant.

The Venerable Monk Huineng devoted his life to studying Buddhism. His profound Buddhist knowledge was unparalleled in his time. In terms of Buddhist knowledge alone, even the Imperial Preceptor Pei Xuandu could not compare. His martial arts skills were also comparable. The reason why he was neither included among the two saints nor selected as one of the ten grandmasters was simply because the sect he founded emphasized sudden enlightenment—seeing the purity of one's own nature, cultivating oneself to create one's own Dharma body, practicing Buddhism on one's own, and attaining Buddhahood on one's own.

Those who understand will understand, and those who don't won't be forced to.

He spent his years cultivating his Buddhist and Taoist practices at Baolin Temple, never engaging in martial arts competitions or vying for victory, and even declining to see the Empress Wu when summoned.

Such a person is certainly a high-ranking monk, but at the same time, he did not fully utilize his unique talent of insightful vision.

Lu Chenyuan is different.

He is skilled in martial arts, knowledgeable in mechanisms, fluent in poetry, capable of painting, and can play the piano...

Gao Jian had assumed that Huineng, like him, had used all his talent on solving puzzles, which was why he was mediocre in other areas. He was secretly glad that Huineng had wasted his talent. But when the Rubik's Cube appeared, even this last hope vanished.

From replicating musical instruments to creating a Rubik's Cube that is difficult for others to solve.

The difference in their abilities and talents is like heaven and earth!

The only explanation is that he has only recently awakened his talent, and all his abilities are still in the accumulation stage. But once he has accumulated enough, he will surely unleash it, just like his mechanical skills, just like his military strategy...

The true art of warfare is about crushing the enemy with a single blow, not about meticulous refinement. Your master claims to be a learned man of unparalleled wisdom, didn't he even teach you this?!
"Just yesterday, the King of Wei advised me to compete with him in terms of talent and win the princess's favor, and I agreed..."

Lan Xiuyi suddenly looked up, quite surprised.

She wasn't jealous, but shocked that her senior brother would do such a thing!

Gao Jian seemed oblivious and indifferent. All light had vanished from his eyes; his former pride and confidence had been utterly crushed. His spirit felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, extinguishing it completely: "I even felt that, with what my master had taught me, victory was already in my grasp... But... how laughable..."

He stared blankly at his hands: "Is this the gap of talent? Is this fate? All that I've gained through twenty years of agonizing, sleepless nights of grueling training has been so easily surpassed by him..."

"Senior brother..."

Lan Xiuyi noticed that her senior brother was not in a good mood. Normally, she would have countless examples to show that success does not necessarily require talent; talent just makes the path easier. But in his current state, her senior brother was probably not listening to any of these things.

She reached for the brocade pouch behind her, and said with some difficulty, "Senior brother, Master asked me to bring you something that might help you... but it doesn't come without a price..."

(End of this chapter)