Starting with Hyuga, traversing countless heavens

"No, I am the son of a gatekeeper at General Lin's mansion. It's just that when Xiahou massacred General Lin's mansion, my father, an honest and simple gatekeeper, wanted me to take the blame for General Lin's son, so I ran away."

"It's alright. I, Yan Se, am a contemporary divine talisman master. Xiahou wouldn't dare to do anything to you."

Ning Que smiled. He suddenly felt a little tempted to acknowledge this master; he was quite protective of his own. However, he was already a disciple of Master Fu, so he probably couldn't take on another master.

Hinata Hoshino cleared his throat. "Ahem, on behalf of Master, I'll convey his meaning: Ning Que, if you wish, you can become Master's disciple while also becoming Yan Se's disciple."

"I am willing. Master, please accept my bow."

Ning Que was like this—when he kowtowed, there were people on both sides. He felt that the more people protecting him, the better.

The Master watched as Ning Que resolutely kowtowed and became his disciple in the academy, and couldn't help but chuckle. Indeed, those who save the world are all shameless.

Hinata Hoshino smirked; the master was using a veiled insult.

Hinata Hoshino put his arm around Acha and left the room. "Chacha, do you want to see the one in this world who is known as the King of the Underworld?"

"Interesting, let's go."

Sang Sang looked anxiously at the room where Ning Que lived on the back mountain of the academy. Chen Pi led her to the back mountain, but their activity area was fixed.

When Sangsang saw Hinata Hoshino embracing Acha, a sense of hostility rose in her heart, as if the other party had stolen something from her.

Acha was very enthusiastic and stepped forward to take Sangsang's hand. Sangsang couldn't hear Acha's provocative words, but Haotian might not be able to.

"Hey! Isn't this His Majesty the Jade Emperor? How come you're so weak? You didn't even dare to utter a sound after I stole your power!"

Haotian couldn't stand it, so Sangsang farted.

"I've let it go, what can you do about it?"

Acha cupped Sangsang's face in her hands. "Little girl, you're just a bit dark-skinned, but you have a good foundation. Do you want to learn makeup from your older sister? I guarantee you can make any stinky man fall head over heels for you."

Sangsang blushed and pushed Acha away, saying, "Bad woman."

Acha smiled. Sangsang was too weak to push her away. She raised her hand and pinched Sangsang's cheek. "I'm not a bad woman. Look at him."

Acha pointed at Hyuga Hoshino, "This man is incredibly promiscuous, yet he can't live without me. Isn't it because I'm naturally beautiful and good at makeup? How about it, aren't you tempted?"

As Acha drew closer to Sangsang, Haotian within Sangsang began to roar, "Stay away from me!"

Ning Que left the room with Chen Pi Pi's help. As soon as he came out, he saw A Cha teasing Sang Sang. He quickly pulled Sang Sang behind his back.

"what do you want to do?"

"cut."

Acha rolled her eyes, gracefully walked to Hinata Hoshino's side, and took his arm.

"You can talk to this little girl. If you don't want to, then forget it."

"Let's go, Acha, let's discuss how to send troops to conquer this world."

Ning Que was completely baffled. "Can't you guys even discuss how to have children? Stop causing trouble for the world, okay?"

"Old Que, to be honest, I still have quite a few kids."

Seeing that Ning Que clearly didn't believe him, there was nothing he could do; if he didn't believe him, he didn't believe him.

In the wilderness's main tent, Hyuga Hoshino and Acha were looking at the sand table, pondering how to deploy their troops.

"Cao Chun!"

"The end will be here."

"If I order you to lead an executioner and divide your forces into eight hundred groups to launch a lightning attack on the Moon Wheel Kingdom, can you guarantee victory?"

"of course."

Hinata Hoshino looked at Cao Chun and asked, "Are you kidding me?"

"It's my lord teasing me."

Hyuga Hoshino looked at Jia Xu, "Is there any way to let Cao Chun know who the boss is?"

"I have three strategies, superior, middle, and inferior, which will surely be able to get General Cao Chun to talk."

"Tell me about it..."

"This humble general is willing to lead an executioner and divide his troops into eight hundred groups, with only one request."

Clearly, Cao Chun trembled at Jia Xu's words. Hyuga Hoshino held Jia Xu back from speaking, as he wanted to save some merit points.

"tell me the story."

"Could the executioner be our lord?"

"Oh ho, you wish! Jia Xu, continue."

Even Acha couldn't stand it anymore and stopped Jia Xu from speaking.

"Hoshino, you're really putting me in a difficult position."

"Right."

Hyuga Tokuma stroked his chin as if in thought, "Then Cao Chun, I order you to infiltrate the White Pagoda Temple in the Moon Wheel Kingdom alone and kidnap Qu Ni Ma Di."

Acha slapped Hinata Tokuma in an annoyed tone, "Why did you kidnap her?"

"I'll offer her to Ning Que, the thirteenth student of the academy, as a concubine. As the saying goes, a wise man knows when to yield, and someone as experienced as Qu Ni Ma Di should be able to pry Ning Que's legs open."

Hyuga Tokuma seemed to remember something, "If only I could bring Lu Chenjia and Long Qing back with me."

"What are you doing?"

"A wave of minotaurs in front of Longqing."

Acha rolled her eyes. "Cao Chun, just follow the normal procedures. Don't listen to him."

"The last general takes orders."

Cao Chun ran off, and Hyuga Tokuma looked at Wang Li. Wang Li clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "My lord, please forgive me. I forgot to feed the horses today. I'll go now."

Hyuga Tokuma glanced at Li Guang, who clutched his leg and began to wail, "My lord, please forgive me, my old leg pain has flared up again, ouch..."

With all the military officers gone, Hyuga Tokuma turned his gaze to Jia Xu, "Little Jia, what strategy can take over the entire world immediately?"

"I have three plans: superior, middle, and inferior."

"explain."

"The best course of action is for our lord to simply eliminate all those who refuse to submit."

"A bit brutal."

"The best strategy is to have Lord Hades summon his underworld officials and wipe out all those who refuse to obey in one fell swoop."

"This is not good. Acha needs to leave some merit behind."

"A less desirable option is to... I've noticed some plague outbreaks these past few days, and my lord, the world where Hades lives seems to be quite sick lately. Perhaps we could release them all into the water sources, and then..."

"I knew I shouldn't have asked you. Go now."

"promise!"

Jia Xu withdrew, and Hyuga Tokimi looked at Lai Junchen, "Why are you a strategist?"

"I'm just here to make up the numbers, so I'll take my leave."

Hyuga Tokuma looked at Acha and said, "You, the King of the Underworld, have countless capable subordinates, yet you can't even find a single civil or military official who suits my taste."

"The military generals are alright, but the strategists with a conscience have long since passed away. It's just that these ruthless and cruel officials are still around. Don't expect to find a barely qualified and moral strategist."

"Forget it, let's fight first and talk about it later."

Xue Rengui raised the great banner, the character "Xue" on it shining brightly in the sun.

"All troops, listen to my command! Form ranks!"

"Yes!"

The commander of the Xiling cavalry opposite, Luo Kedi, was filled with fear, even though he was also a cultivator, and even though there were many cultivators among the cavalry.

Faced with the white-robed veteran's army formation, he was equally powerless and overwhelmed by fear. The Mo Dao troops, like a meat grinder, were a nightmare to behold.

He could only hope that the armies of other countries could arrive quickly to help him resist this terrible army.

The hospital was peaceful, with Hyuga Tokuma playing chess with Song Lian.

Hyuga Hoshino took a single step and went wherever he wanted, naturally roaming the whole world.

"Universal harmony between heaven and earth."

Hyuga Hoshino made his move, leaving Song Lian incredulous. "Opening at the center?"

What seemed like an insignificant move to Song Lian later amazed him.

In Song Lian's eyes, the chess game was like a fierce battle, with black and white pieces, one attacking and the other defending, neither giving an inch. It was also like two armies clashing, arranging their troops, outwitting and outmaneuvering each other, making it captivating.

Song Lian displayed remarkable patience and perseverance; after all, for Song Lian, forgetting to eat while playing chess was a common occurrence.

Song Lian became increasingly focused, his breathing became rapid, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. It was as if what was in front of him was no longer a chessboard, but a chip. He was the recorder, but he didn't know where to start.

He discovered that the chess game before him had no resemblance to any chess manual he knew, yet it possessed a natural perfection that he could not alter.

Ning Que, as the youngest of the thirteen disciples of the Master, was responsible for delivering meals to Song Lian, which was transferred from Chen Pi Pi to Ning Que.

"Why are you here?"

"Playing chess with your senior brother, I must say, his chess skills are quite good, and he also has a lot of perseverance. Put the food over there, I'll let him eat in a bit."

Song Lian raised his hand, but hesitated to bring it down. He had reached his last chance, and the situation was hopeless and beyond saving, which made him sweat profusely.

Ning Que leaned closer and felt the chessboard looked somewhat familiar. "Isn't this the Great Harmony of Heaven and Earth?"

"Oh, you can do this too?"

"I don't understand Go, but I've watched the anime. It seems that the only opening move for the center point is 'Heaven and Earth Harmony'."

"You still say you don't understand? Come on, you follow along."

Hinata Hoshino took out a chessboard and placed it in front of Ning Que. Ning Que had no choice but to sit down and start guessing.

Hinata Hoshino laughed, "I really don't know how to do this?"

Ning Que noticed that Hyuga Hoshino did not start with the center point, and as the two made their moves, the situation on the board gave Ning Que a strange sense of familiarity.

"The Intricate Chess Game?"