Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside Tingzhu Pavilion, the mountain mist gathers and disperses as usual, and the sound of the bamboo sea remains the same.

Qingyouzi opened his eyes in the quiet room, his eyes shimmering with azure light, his aura as smooth and refined as unpolished jade.

Once the trade fair concludes, we can attempt to target the medium term.

The third chapter of "Seven Chapters of Refining the Spirit" has been completed, and the divine sense is stable at 150 miles, with a sharper perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The insect swarm breeding is progressing smoothly. Under the leadership of the Insect King, the ten thousand Crimson Fire Demon Insects are at your command. The Soul-Shaking Bell and the Hundred Demon Net have both been refined to your liking, awaiting only practical testing.

Today is the day we agreed upon.

Yun Yun's master, Xu Changxing, has emerged from seclusion today.

Qingyouzi changed into a plain blue Taoist robe, her long hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, her appearance simple. When she pushed open the door, a mountain breeze brushed her face, and the morning dew had not yet dried.

Xu Changxing's cave dwelling is located on Qixia Peak in the east of Xuanxian City. This peak is rich in spiritual energy and is a place where many Nascent Soul cultivators in the city cultivate in seclusion.

Qingyouzi arrived on his escape light and landed in front of a secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and the sound of a zither could be heard from inside, like a spring flowing over stones.

He pushed the door open and entered.

Several pine trees stand in the courtyard, beneath which sit a stone table and benches. A Go board is already set up on the table, with black and white stones placed on either side. The Go box is half-open, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafts from it.

On a stone bench, a Taoist priest in a blue robe sat with his back to the courtyard gate, pondering over a white chess piece.

The Taoist turned around upon hearing the voice. He had a lean face, black hair and beard, and eyes as warm and gentle as an ancient well. His aura was deep and restrained, undoubtedly indicating that he was at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyou," Xu Changxing stood up, cupped his hands and smiled, "I am Xu Changxing, and I have long admired your name. I hope you will not take offense at my invitation today."

His tone was gentle, without any hint of condescension.

Qingyouzi returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist Xu is too kind. Congratulations on breaking through to the mid-stage; the Great Dao is within reach."

"It was just a stroke of luck." Xu Changxing waved his hand, gesturing for Qing Youzi to take a seat. "After years of seclusion, I almost missed the opportunity to meet you, fellow Daoist. In the past two years, my disciple Yun Yun has received much guidance from you and has made rapid progress. I thank you for your help."

"Fellow Daoist Xu need not worry about matters of mutual benefit."

The two sat facing each other.

Xu Changxing played white, and Qingyouzi played black.

Before the game even started, the conversation had already begun.

"I've heard you're from overseas?" Xu Changxing placed a piece, seemingly casually.

"A wandering cultivator, making the world his home." Qingyouzi responded calmly, "I happened to come to Zhongqing and found that this place has many opportunities, so I will stay in Xuanxian City for the time being."

"Oh?" Xu Changxing looked up at him, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes. "What do you think of Xuanxian City, fellow Daoist?"

"Prosperous, orderly, and full of opportunities." Qingyouzi paused, "but... there are undercurrents."

Xu Changxing smiled.

He placed another piece, and the game gradually gained momentum.

"Fellow Daoist has keen insight. Xuanxian City appears calm on the surface, but in reality, various forces are intertwined. The Wanxian Dynasty is embroiled in internal strife, the Guixian Sect is eyeing it covetously, and the overseas demon races are making unusual moves... Even within this city, there are those who are secretly plotting, hoping to profit from the chaos."

Qingyouzi remained calm and composed, while Heizi played steadily and cautiously.

"As the head of the Xuanxian City Patrol Division, Fellow Daoist Xu must be very familiar with this matter."

"I know a little bit," Xu Changxing sighed. "It is precisely because I know a little that I feel like I am walking on thin ice. Some situations seem like opportunities, but they are actually traps; some moves seem like casual moves, but they actually conceal deadly intentions."

He changed the subject:

"I've heard that you wish to participate in the Nascent Soul Trading Conference?"

"Exactly." Qingyouzi nodded. "We need to find several materials, among which the 'Demon Spirit Stone' is the most important."

"Demon Spirit Stone..." Xu Changxing pondered, "This item is born in extremely Yin Demon Lands, and only one piece appears every hundred years. Three years ago, one appeared in the 'Demon Burial Valley' and was exchanged for an astronomical price by a demon cultivator from the North. Perhaps someone will bring it to this trade fair, but the price will certainly be exorbitant."

"It's alright," Qingyouzi said calmly. "As long as it appears, there's always a way."

Xu Changxing glanced at him, his eyes flashing with approval.

As the game progresses to the middle stage, the black and white pieces alternate, and the situation gradually becomes more complex.

Xu Changxing suddenly said in a slow voice:

"Fellow Daoist, do you know that everyone in this world wants to be the one playing the game?"

Qingyouzi, still holding the piece, looked up at him.

"The player who wields the chess pieces has a panoramic view of the entire game, sets the course with each move, and manipulates the winds and clouds—what a delightful experience!"

Xu Changxing spoke in a leisurely tone.

"But the more you think this way, the easier it is to get caught up in the situation and become a pawn on someone else's chessboard without even realizing it."

He placed a piece, blocking one of Qingyouzi's large dragons' paths.

"Take Xuanxian City for example. It seems neutral and detached, but in reality, it has already entered the game. Some people are using the Demon Hunting Order to hoard demon materials, some are using the internal strife of the dynasty to transfer resources, and some are using the name of righteousness to do shady things... Each side makes its move, thinking that it is playing the game."

Xu Changxing looked at Qing Youzi, his gaze deep:

"But the real chess player is probably sitting in a higher place, laughing as he watches these people's self-righteous games."

Qingyouzi remained silent.

He picked up the black piece, but didn't put it down for a long time.

On the chessboard, the white pieces have a strong advantage, and although the black pieces have not yet shown signs of defeat, they are already subtly surrounded.

"Fellow Daoist Xu's words," Qing Youzi slowly began, "are they a reminder to me?"

"It's a reminder, but also a reflection," Xu Changxing sighed softly.

"Fellow Daoist is no ordinary person; you are destined for great things. However, the situation in Xuanxian City and the other two major powers is too complex and murky. If you have obtained what you need after the trade fair, you should make plans as soon as possible."

He paused, his tone sincere:

"The Tianque Continent is vast and full of opportunities. To the east lies the Guixian Sect, which possesses ancient secret realms; to the west, the Wanxian Dynasty, which houses its royal treasury; to the south, overseas islands teem with demonic beasts; and to the north, glacial wastelands yield naturally rare treasures... Where can't we go? Why be trapped in this vortex?"

Qingyouzi finally made his move.

With a single move, a gap was torn open in the predicament of the black stones, putting a group of isolated white stones in danger.

"I appreciate your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Xu."

He looked up and met Xu Changxing's gaze:

"But I, Qingyou, have never liked being told what to do. When it's time to leave, I will leave; when it's time to stay... even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I will still venture in."

Xu Changxing was taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"Good! What a fine saying, 'If it's time to stay, even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, one must still venture in!' I was being too attached to appearances."

"I have already stated what needs to be said. Whether it is wisdom or tiger, fellow Daoist, you can make your own decision."

He said no more and focused on the game.

The game ended in a draw.

The two sides were evenly matched, and neither was able to completely overpower the other.

"Fellow Daoist's chess skills are profound, I admire them greatly," Xu Changxing said with a smile as he pushed the chessboard aside. "Regarding the trade fair, I have prepared an introduction jade token for you. In three days, at the top floor of the Juxian Pavilion, you can enter with this token."

He took out a jade token and placed it on the table.

The jade plaque is engraved with the character "玄" on the front and has flowing cloud patterns on the back, which also contain the unique magical power imprint of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Thank you." Qingyouzi accepted the token.

"Furthermore," Xu Changxing pondered for a moment, "if you truly need Demon Spirit Stones, you might want to keep an eye on an old man in black robes. This man calls himself 'Mr. Mo,' and he sells demonic materials at trade fairs year-round. He is elusive and asks for extremely high prices, but he does have genuine goods."

"Mr. Mo..." Qingyouzi noted down the name.

When he got up to say goodbye, Xu Changxing saw him off at the courtyard gate.

The mountain wind stirred up the pine trees, and in the distance, the buildings of Xuanxian City stood like a forest, shimmering with a faint golden glow in the morning light.

"Fellow Daoist," Xu Changxing suddenly said, "Although the game is chaotic, there is a way to break it. But sometimes... stepping out of the game board is the only way to see the true nature of things."

Qingyouzi turned around and glanced at him.

She smiled slightly, but did not answer.

It transformed into a blue rainbow and descended the mountain.

In the courtyard, Xu Changxing stood alone under a pine tree, gazing at the departing light. After a long while, he sighed softly.

"This matter concerns the fate of my immortal city, and we cannot afford the slightest mistake."

"The world is like a game of chess; where do you and I stand?"

He turned and went back to the courtyard, sweeping his sleeves to collect all the chess pieces and chessboard pieces from the stone table.

Only the rustling of the pine trees remains, as if whispering secrets.

Down the mountain, as Qingyouzi sped along, Xu Changxing's words echoed in his mind.

The player, the pieces, a game within a game...

A slight smile played on his lips.

"Xu Changxing, although you mean well, you overestimate my Qingyou."

"I never wanted to be a chess player."

The azure rainbow accelerated and disappeared into the vast buildings of Xuanxian City.