“Blocked?”
“An Earth-rank artifact? No... perhaps even higher!” Ming Xi drew back her hand, a flicker of surprise glinting in her beautiful eyes.
To block a wrathful strike from her so easily, this chessboard had to be at least Low-grade Earth-rank—or perhaps even higher!
Seeing that even Ming Xi could do nothing against the chessboard, Zhuge Hong's frightened face instantly gave way to a triumphant, smug sneer.
He had indeed been intimidated by Ming Xi's aura moments ago, but now he felt completely secure.
“Despicable coward! Have you no shame at all?!” Ming Xi shouted in anger.
“Tag out! Let me up there! I'll forfeit the chess game directly, and if I don't beat you until your own father can't recognize you today, consider yourself lucky!”
Hearing this, Zhuge Hong merely shrugged, spreading his hands. “My apologies, Young Pavilion Master Ming. Once the Liangyi Chessboard is activated, it can only accommodate a single opponent. Those are the rules, and my hands are tied.”
With that, he turned to the calm Su Yi, his tone dripping with unmistakable pride. “Young Manor Lord Su, before our sword match, playing a game of chess with me first... you shouldn't mind, right?”
His voice feigned calmness, but his boastful demeanor made his scheming obvious to anyone watching.
“Young Manor Lord Su might be in trouble,” Murong Yue whispered, her eyes filled with complex emotion, unlike Ming Xi and the other Divine Might Manor disciples.
“Why?” Qiu Ning asked with a frown.
“Zhuge Hong slacks off in his cultivation, spending all his effort on pastimes. His skill in chess, in particular... as far as I know, among his peers both inside and outside the sect, he has never lost a single match. No matter the type of chess game, he excels at it.”
“But this is blatant cheating! Is your Ancient Sword Mountain not going to do anything about it?” Seeing that she couldn't break the chessboard, Ming Xi immediately turned her indignation toward Murong Yue, appearing even more agitated than Gongsun Lin.
Murong Yue's face turned somewhat unsightly as well. She explained, “The Liangyi Chessboard is used to temper disciples and is usually kept by the Elders.”
“I never expected Zhuge Hong to bring it out, let alone use it here.”
“How could you not expect it? He's your Sect Master's only son!” Ming Xi took a step closer, her golden eyes locked onto Murong Yue with intense scrutiny and suspicion. “Murong Yue, you aren't in cahoots with this fellow, are you?”
“Young Pavilion Master Ming!” Murong Yue's voice chilled. “I, Murong Yue, disdain to use such vile tricks. Nor do I owe you an explanation.”
In truth, she felt equally bewildered and displeased, but what struck her as even stranger was Ming Xi's attitude.
She had felt something was off all along the way.
Hearing that Su Yi might suffer a disadvantage, the Young Pavilion Master of Perching Phoenix Pavilion reacted so violently, looking practically like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Normally at a time like this, shouldn't the first person to step up, scold, or even attack directly be...
Murong Yue subconsciously glanced to the side. Although Gongsun Lin also looked furious with arc lightning flickering around her, her state was more of intense anxiety focused on the sword platform. She lacked Ming Xi's razor-sharp, almost pathological possessiveness and aggression.
...
Meanwhile, on the platform, Zhuge Hong was brimming with smug satisfaction.
'Su Yi, you can't possibly win. Once your spiritual energy drops by fifty percent, even your sword path might not beat me.'
His eyes shone with feverish excitement. He wasn't like Murong Yue, who would suppress her own cultivation base for a fair fight.
Yet, facing Zhuge Hong's triumphant expression, Su Yi merely let out a laugh.
The laugh was soft, carrying a hint of unreserved mockery.
He didn't even look at the chessboard before him, which was already gathering spiritual light to manifest chess pieces, nor did he spare Zhuge Hong another glance. He simply bounced the borrowed ordinary longsword casually in his hand.
Then, under everyone's astonished gazes, his wrist flicked, and his spiritual energy erupted violently!
“Buzz—!”
A sword momentum far more majestic and sharp than before soared into the sky, causing even the barrier of the Liangyi Chessboard enveloping the sword platform to emit a strain-filled hum!
That sword intent, condensed almost into tangible substance, was like an invisible giant sword.
Su Yi actually intended to accept the suppression with his powerful sword cultivation and fight Zhuge Hong directly!
“What... what is he trying to do?!” “Foregoing the chess match directly? His spiritual energy will drop by fifty percent! Is he really that bold?!”
The crowd below immediately erupted into an uproar. Everyone was stunned by Su Yi's simple, brute-force, completely unconventional choice.
“Su Yi! Don't you dare!” Zhuge Hong was also startled by this sudden turn of events.
He had intended to suppress Su Yi in both the chess match and the sword trial. But if Su Yi refused to engage in the chess game, wouldn't his plan fall flat?
Moreover, seeing Su Yi completely unperturbed, he felt a sudden creeping dread.
'Could this guy really be confident in beating me even with his spiritual energy suppressed by fifty percent?'
Fifty percent suppression! If he still lost to Su Yi, who was a generation younger than him, he would truly be humiliated beyond repair!
Thus, he hurriedly channeled his spiritual energy, trying to accelerate the activation of the chess game. As long as the chess match officially began and the force of the rules fully descended, no matter how strong Su Yi's sword intent was, he would be forcibly pulled into the game!
Even if Su Yi could truly beat him under fifty percent suppression, at least let him win the chess game first!
Watching the developments on stage, Ming Xi felt her heart beating even faster.
Su Yi's fearless actions further reinforced her belief that he was a dish perfectly suited to her taste.
'Ah, I can't take it... I suddenly want to see his expression as he begs for mercy after a crushing defeat.' Her cheeks flushed red, and she bit her lower lip. Remembering the events of that night, she felt a mixture of regret and excitement.
Honestly, she didn't want to make Su Yi unhappy, but...
She didn't know what was wrong with her either. Ever since she came to understand her own heart, she constantly wanted Su Yi to yield to her. The more he resisted, the more excited she became.
No one knew the side effects of her heaven-defying talent.
This primitive urge terrified her slightly. She was afraid of being overwhelmed by the Heavenly Phoenix Blood. If her bestial nature ever surpassed her humanity, it would not end well for her.
'Su Yi... please, stop refusing me...'
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