bookandnovel Chapter 1232: The Fallen Genius
Chapter 1232: The Fallen Genius
Bei Xiao Man won again effortlessly, naturally due to Ning Fan’s handiwork.
Ordinary Chess Soldiers, limited by their cultivation, could not escape the constraints of the Four Corners Chess Realm, but for Ning Fan, such limitations were insignificant.
He was not a chess piece to be manipulated by others.
At any time, he could disregard the rules of the chess game, attack autonomously, and move freely.
His cultivation was too advanced, which resulted in one outcome: the battles of the Chess Soldiers in the Four Corners Chess Realm couldn’t capture his interest.
No matter how many the enemies were, no matter how skillfully they used the Chess Realm Talisman, they still couldn’t withstand even a single Calamity Flash from him.
Initially, Ning Fan could still sit in place, waiting for the enemy Chess Soldiers to attack before countering them one by one.
Later, he completely lost interest in this game, simply disregarded the limits of the Chess Realm, initiated the attack, and easily located all the opponent’s Chess Soldiers and Generals, eliminating them with a flick of his finger.
"The only one in this realm that concerns me is that Wang Zhi..." Ning Fan thought of the old woodcutter before, his expression becoming somewhat solemn.
It was not only because of the ancient cultivation level of that old woodcutter but also because there was a force of Metal that greatly restrained him.
Among the Five Elements, Metal conquers wood.
The old woodcutter was undoubtedly a Metal attribute cultivator, and his proficiency in Metal was extraordinary, able to give Ning Fan a slight sense of suppression on his Wood attribute.
One must understand that Ning Fan’s Wood attribute was at the Divine Status level, even if the opponent had Metal Control Positions and titles, it shouldn’t pose such a threat to Ning Fan.
There could be only one explanation; the opponent’s Metal attribute was a power beyond Control Positions and titles, possibly the Source Stream of Dao, or even of a higher level...
While Ning Fan was pondering, suddenly the long-lost voice of the Ant Lord came from his divine sense.
"That Wang Zhi has deep causal connections on him, you better not provoke him!" came the Ant Lord’s warning voice!
Ning Fan’s gaze showed slight surprise, "Are you warning me? That’s not something you’d usually do."
"Hmph! Our destinies are intertwined, that’s why I’m giving you a heads-up. That Wang Zhi is beyond your reach, stay away from him as much as possible..." Speaking of Wang Zhi, even the distinguished Saint status Ant Lord seemed a bit terrified. The fear wasn’t of Wang Zhi himself, but of the karma.
Ning Fan was even more puzzled, suppressing his emotions, he said solemnly, "You are a Saint, why do you fear an Ancient Great Cultivator so much?"
"The legend of observing chess and the rotten axe handle is commonly spread in the cultivation world, I reckon you’ve heard of it." The Ant Lord said.
Ning Fan nodded.
He had indeed heard the story of observing chess and the rotten axe handle. It’s said that in ancient times, near Stone Chamber Mountain in Xin’an County, there was a woodcutter named Wang Zhi. One day while chopping wood, he saw some Immortals playing chess on the mountain. Wang Zhi approached to watch, and by the time he finished watching the game, he was amazed to discover that the wooden handle of his axe had completely rotted away. When he returned to the human world, a hundred years had passed, and everyone he knew in his era was gone.
It’s said that Wang Zhi only then realized he had encountered Immortals, so he was overjoyed, returned to Stone Chamber Mountain, and became a disciple of the Immemorial Immortals, forsaking the mortal world and dedicating himself to cultivating the Dao.
There are also tales where Wang Zhi, witnessing the death of his loved ones, became disillusioned, and this led him to the Dao. However, he didn’t cultivate at Stone Chamber Mountain but went elsewhere and apprenticed to others.
Such tales about cultivation have countless versions and are naturally not credible. Later generations even speculated and created a poem in Wang Zhi’s tone.
Observing chess and the rotten axe handle, chopping wood Ding Ding, walking slowly at the valley entrance beside the clouds. Selling wood for wine, laughing wildly to comfort himself. On the grey path in autumn, resting by the pine roots under the moon, waking in the morning. Recognizing the old forest, climbing cliffs over ridges, holding an axe to sever dead vines. Gathered into a burden, singing at the market, trading for three pints of rice. No more schemes or cunning, content and at peace. Meeting here, none but Immortals or Daoists, sitting quietly to expound on the ’Yellow Court’.
This poem’s artistic conception is extremely high, depicting the woodcutter as tranquil and carefree, like a sage beyond this world.
In the eyes of the ordinary world, fishermen and woodcutters are the most carefree people on earth, yet they don’t realize that there’s truly no such thing as freedom and ease in this world, this poem’s strength lies in its artistic conception, but it is far removed from reality.
The fisherman in the cold river doesn’t fish to admire the snowy scenery, merely enduring the bitter cold to sustain his life.
The woodcutter chops wood to sell, not for seclusion in the mountains. If not for survival, who would have the leisure to wander around chopping trees and ending their lives?
A white-haired fisher and woodcutter meet by the riverbank, sharing a jug of turbid wine with joy; these are fantasies of those without material concerns.
Freezing hands steering the pole, the painter unaware of the fisherman’s hardship; this is the true depiction of the poor fisher and woodcutter’s life.
Ning Fan’s thoughts drifted far away, yet it was a sneer from the Ant Lord that brought him back.
"I kindly reminded you, and you let your mind wander like that, is that really alright?"
"..."
"Back to Wang Zhi! My master had particularly emphasized this person, my master said, in the Stone Chamber Mountain that year, Wang Zhi saw not just a game of chess, but the origin of the entire cultivation world. The few Immemorial Immortals who played chess there, their identities are even more frightening, but the master didn’t go into detail..."
The Ant Lord’s master is Grandmaster Hongjun of Fourth Step Cultivation, and even Grandmaster Hongjun regarded their identities as frightening, this indicates their transcendence.
"Hehe, the origin of cultivation... So, does that mean those Immemorial Immortals are of even higher status than your master?" Ning Fan asked casually, not really interested in such secrets.
"Nonsense! My master Hongjun is the first Immortal of the Profound Sect, how could anyone be more esteemed than him!" The Ant Lord retorted displeasedly, but the confidence in her words was noticeably lacking.
The retort was driven by sheer loyalty, but the Ant Lord clearly remembered the reverence and esteem her master had when mentioning those Immemorial Immortals back then.
"In any case, you should avoid provoking Wang Zhi! The cause and effect surrounding him are too terrifying, and once you get involved, it’s harmful rather than beneficial. Ordinary people aren’t aware of this, but those Fourth Step Immortal Emperors in the Real Realms mostly know. That’s why no Immortal Emperor ever troubles Wang Zhi; even Saints tend to stay away from him. Yet those who don’t know any better always want to gain something from Wang Zhi, truly recklessly courting death..."
"Oh." Ning Fan was already uninterested in Wang Zhi, contemplating how to best utilize his upcoming time.
"Hey! I’ve said so much; have you been seriously listening?" Ning Fan’s indifferent tone genuinely displeased the Ant Lord.
"Hmm."
"Nonsense! Your emotions show no fear, no worry, no surprise, no focus... You really haven’t been paying attention to my words at all!"
"..."
"..."
The conversation reached a standstill.
The Ant Lord snorted coldly, deciding not to continue reminding Ning Fan! She realized that Ning Fan didn’t value her warning at all, considering it a waste of words!
She naturally felt a bit irritated inside, but this time, the Ant Lord actually hesitated to lash out at Ning Fan, only sulking in silence, which was quite uncharacteristic of her.
That’s right, she was hesitant!
She was a dignified Saint, supposedly above the fear of a Second Step junior.
Yet ever since Ning Fan cultivated a trace of Demonic Spirit Bloodline, she faced Ning Fan during this time with a diminished sense of Saintly confidence.
Previously, when Ning Fan only possessed the Spirit Bloodline, she felt no suppression facing him, since Spirits are defeat hands of Immortal Spirit descendants, and however noble a Spirit might be, it is insignificant.
But now, Ning Fan had cultivated a trace of Demonic Spirit Bloodline.
The Ant Lord hadn’t heard a bit about Demonic Spirits; this Great Secret of Heaven and Earth is unknown even to many Nirvana Saints, let alone her.
She only knew one thing: facing Ning Fan in this moment, she felt a tremor and meekness from the depths of her soul!
It’s a kind of... natural beings’ powerlessness in front of their creator!
Just like humans fear fire, fear sky thunder, fear the deep ocean... That’s a formidable aura only felt by cultivators of the Third Step and above!
Thus...
The Ant Lord, in her grand Saint identity, was reduced to silent anger after Ning Fan ignored her, dared not quarrel or curse at him like usual.
In Ning Fan’s eyes, this was naturally seen as extremely unusual, yet he didn’t give it much thought.
He inherently disliked the Ant Lord; even if she kindly reminded him, he was reluctant to engage in deeper conversation.
In the external world, one breath of time equals several hours in the Four Corners Chess Realm.
Bei Xiao Man had just completed the second chess game and still needed some time before the third game commenced.
Before the third game’s start, Ning Fan had at least hundreds of days available for intensive cultivation.
"Having accomplished the Five Elements Primordial Body, with ample time ahead, I might as well cultivate the Liangyi Four Symbols..."
Mastering the Five Elements Primordial allows cultivation of the Liangyi Four Symbols; mastering the Liangyi Four Symbols enables cultivation of Taiji Life and Death.
The Liangyi Four Symbols are an extension of the Five Elements Primordial Body, a profound sect’s Great Divine Power requiring the practitioner’s self as a foundation to cultivate the guardian spirits of the four directions.
The self occupies the center, the guardian spirits positioned to the east, south, west, and north.
In the cultivation world, the term ’Four Symbols’ has long been described variously: some claim it represents spring, summer, autumn, winter; others assert it refers to the four great profound sect divine beasts - Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Xuan Wu; some say, it represents the principles of change in terms of old Yang, lesser Yin, old Yin, lesser Yang; others opine it signifies the constellations of all directions.
Of course, such academic matters can vary in interpretation; each holds their perspective, and that’s fine.
Ning Fan fetched the jade scroll given by the All-Knowing Elder and carefully studied the Liangyi Four Symbols section.
Suddenly, as he read between the lines, there was a sentence describing the All-Knowing Elder’s own cultivation of the Liangyi Four Symbols.
"Eastern Wood Sage Mu Guijia, Southern Fire Sage Huomoyi, Central Earth Silver Bone Demon Crane Inverse, Western Metal Sage Jin Shenbing , Northern Water Sage Shui Xian Ding."
Ning Fan recalled that the All-Knowing Elder had previously summoned the Four Symbols twice in his presence, namely Huomoyi and Shui Xian Ding.
In other words, aside from Huomoyi and Shui Xian Ding, the All-Knowing Elder cultivated two other Four Symbols: Mu Guijia and Jin Shenbing.
As for that Demon Crane Inverse, it probably referred to the All-Knowing Elder himself...
"Jin Shenbing, Huomoyi, Demon Crane Inverse, Shui Xian Ding, Mu Guijia, combined they seem to correspond to God, Demon, Spirit, Immortal, Ghost. Could it be that the All-Knowing Senior cultivated his Liangyi Four Symbols based on this?"
"However, there’s one thing I don’t quite understand. Jia represents Yang Wood, which is correct, but Yi is Yin Wood. Why does it correspond to fire... Bing is Yang Fire, yet corresponds to Metal; Ding is Yin Fire; why is it Water..."
Ning Fan pondered slightly and mused that perhaps the All-Knowing Senior’s Liangyi Four Symbols has reached a level where the Five Elements Yin Yang can be reversed, allowing him to ignore the inherent properties of the Five Elements?
He then thought that reversing the Five Elements might not be too difficult, since his Yin Yang Transformation has similar abilities that can turn water into fire, thunder into ice...
"Haha, you probably don’t know, the reason that the All-Knowing old thief cultivates such an eccentric Four Symbols is that he’s actually terrible at naming..." The Ant Lord suddenly let out a mocking laugh.
She recalled some interesting legends she had heard in the past.
It was said that a long time ago within a branch of the Hongjun Holy Sect, there emerged a genius idiot, none other than the All-Knowing Elder in his youth.
Calling him a genius was because his talent was so extraordinary that it could be compared to being the first Nascent Soul in all ages.
Calling him an idiot was due to his utterly atrocious naming ability.
That day, with only Nascent Soul cultivation, the All-Knowing Elder refined a skill that even Saints found difficult, the Liangyi Four Symbols, stunning the entire Real Realm!
That day, the All-Knowing Elder summoned the Four Symbols, and in front of them, he started naming them, a process that disgraced the Liangyi Sect entirely.
All-Knowing Elder: "Naming is such a bother, you four will be named A, B, C, and D in order."
Gold, Wood, Water, and Fire Symbols: "Symbol of self! Aren’t you being hasty with these names? A, B, C, and D don’t align with the Five Elements properly!"
All-Knowing Elder: "Stop the nonsense! Who’s the leader here, you or me? A young follower should listen to the leader! Alright, now pants off! I want to see your ’ding ding’!"
Gold, Wood, Water, and Fire Symbols: "!!!"
All-Knowing Elder: "Your ’ding ding’ is the longest, you’re Mu Gui Jia! You’re the second, Huomoyi! You’re the third, keep working on it, you Jin Shen Bing, your ’ding ding’ is only half as long as Mu Gui Jia’s, what’s the point of such a life! You’re the fourth, Shui Xian Ding... Hey! Why are you crying, Shui Xian Ding! Face life with courage, Shui Xian Ding! Pfft, Jin Shen Bing is twice your size, pfft, and this is your hardened length, pfft, I can’t take it, let me laugh for a while longer... How dare you, Shui Xian Ding, you’ve dared to pull down my pants! No peeking, nobody peeks!"
Shui Xian Ding burst into laughter, rolling on the ground: "Hahaha! Leader, you’re even shorter than me! Won’t this make you feel inferior!"
All-Knowing Elder: "You know nothing! This is called Xiang Ma Yin Zang, Xiang Ma Yin Zang is good! The shorter the ’ding ding’, the deeper the mystique, the deeper the mystique, the higher the Taoist ability! No laughing, nobody laughs!"
On that day, the All-Knowing Elder became the laughingstock of the Real Realm.
It wasn’t due to the length of his ’ding ding’ being ridiculed. In fact, the higher the deep mystique of Profound Sect practitioners, the shorter their ’ding ding’. On this point, the All-Knowing Elder wasn’t lying.
The reason Immortals laughed was due to how the All-Knowing Elder named the Four Symbols. Naming them after ’ding ding’ lengths was indeed a disgrace! How exactly the Liangyi Sage raised such an odd disciple was truly baffling, completely wasting this youth’s top-notch talent as the first Nascent Soul...
...
"Isn’t this story hilarious?" The Ant Lord, suppressed by the All-Knowing Elder for many years, would make every effort to mock the All-Knowing Elder whenever she got the chance.
Ning Fan’s face turned frighteningly dark!
In the depths of his mind, he felt a certain kinship with the All-Knowing Elder, akin to that of senior and junior brothers, so he could never tolerate others mocking the All-Knowing Elder.
"Shut up! Dare to laugh again, don’t blame Ning Fan for punishment!" Ning Fan was very angry! The result of his anger was the oppressive aura of Fiendgod Spirits, shaking the Ant Lord to the core!
"Little ant child, what’s with the fierceness! Can’t you just say no laughing nicely?" The Ant Lord was intimidated.
This was truly the wrath of Fiendgods!
It gave her the illusion of a Grandmaster Hongjun, Bloodline Awakening, Master of Calamity Thought level existence being furious!
Ning Fan ignored the Ant Lord and continued watching the jade scroll.
The jade scroll recorded not only the All-Knowing Elder’s Liangyi Four Symbols but also those of others.
Though Liangyi Four Symbols is an absolute skill of the Liangyi Sect, it wasn’t created by the Liangyi Sage but is an ancient Great Divine Power.
Thus, its cultivators were not limited to the Liangyi Sect disciples, but included others.
He began trying to cultivate Liangyi Four Symbols. The Four Symbols were not achieved in one go but needed to be cultivated one by one.
Ning Fan closed his eyes, his Heart Spirit world immersed, as he set about cultivating the Liangyi Four Symbols, within his heart world materialized a grand five-point formation.
"Strange, why is it a five-point formation..." Ning Fan was slightly surprised.
Typically, the cultivation of Liangyi Four Symbols involves a four-point formation, yet his was five-point aligned...
This occurrence might relate to the peculiarity of his Founding Primordial Spirit Body.
In his five-point formation, positions were aligned by God, Demon, Immortal, Spirit, and Old Monster!
His primal self sat at the formation’s Divine position, among other four positions three remained empty, only the Demonic Spirit position seated an illusory young man!
The eyebrows of that Demonic Spirit young man mirrored Ning Fan’s.
The cultivation of that Demonic Spirit young man was very weak, very weak, only at the level of Vein Opening.
That Demonic Spirit young man seemed incomplete, his eyes never opened, making no conversation with Ning Fan.
The Yin energy of that Demonic Spirit young man was potent!
The so-called Yin energy was actually relative, compared to Ning Fan his existence seemed more ethereal, hence referred to as having potent Yin energy. If Ning Fan met True Realm Cultivators, he would appear equally potent in Yin energy by comparison.
Ning Fan attempted to establish a Heart Spirit connection with the Demonic Spirit young man.
He felt an illusion.
That Demonic Spirit young man was neither a second Primordial Spirit nor a body double but rather another self.
He had remarkably created another self based on his primal existence.
"If this Demonic Spirit young man could open his eyes and establish a true Heart Spirit connection with me, my Four Symbols first symbol could be achieved. But... how can this be done..."
Ning Fan kept his eyes open, staring at the Demonic Spirit young man. Regardless of how he gazed, how he communicated, the Demonic Spirit young man never opened his eyes, ignoring him.
Suddenly, Ning Fan had an epiphany.
He abruptly closed his eyes, detaching from the five senses, as though drifting into slumber.
At that moment, the Demonic Spirit young man eerily opened his eyes, a trace of bewilderment within...
...
In the world, countless parallel cycles exist.
Not all parallel cycles have the four heavens and nine worlds.
Not all parallel cycles possess the universe’s cultivation star.
No one can see through all parallel cycles, for in theory, the number of parallel cycles is infinite, even Fourth Step Immortal Emperors’ cultivations are constrained within finite cycles.
Within an unremarkable small cycle, there existed a world named the Human World.
Above the Human World, there was said to be the Spirit Realm.
Above the Spirit Realm, there was said to be the Immortal Realm.
In the Human World, Buddhist sects were numerous, and there were many Buddhist countries. This was a cultivation world where Buddha cultivation reigned supreme, while Taoism declined, and talents were sparse.
Children from a young age had to undergo Buddhist enlightenment; disciples from cultivation families learned and practiced Buddhist Scriptures from youth, striving to enhance Buddha Power, become a true monk.
So-called monks referred to the rank of the lowest Buddha cultivator.
At this moment, within Posuo Kingdom’s Bai Family, a Buddha Power test was underway.
"Third Layer of Buddha’s Power!"
Looking at the test stele which displayed the five bright words, the black-clad youth named White Fan had an expressionless face, lips carrying self-mockery, and tightly clenched fists pierced deeply into his palm, causing intense pain.
"White Fan, Buddha Power, Third Layer! Level: Low!" Next to the test stele, a middle-aged man responsible for assessments glanced at the information displayed on the stele, announcing White Fan’s results indifferently.
Instantly, Bai Family was filled with laughter, mocking the fallen genius of Bai Family, Buddha Power becoming weaker by the year, not only failing to increase but instead declining annually.
White Fan himself felt deeply troubled.
For some unknown reason, from childhood, he hated Buddhist Law, despite not being incapable, he simply couldn’t find interest in learning Buddhist Law.
He loathed the monotonous morning, noon, and evening classes!
He despised reciting those Buddhist Scriptures that taught enduring hardships and accepting destiny!
None of the Buddhist Supernatural Powers seemed fitting for him, none exceeded ten percent compatibility!
Despite a deep inner aversion to Buddhist Law, he still compelled himself to diligently cultivate Buddha Power for success.
Perhaps his talent was truly extraordinary, though he resisted Buddhist Law, his cultivation speed remained remarkably swift!
At seven, he reached the Tenth Layer of Buddha’s Power, then quickly advanced, entering the Foundation Establishment Stage, a proud monk and Buddha cultivator.
At ten, he reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, nearing the breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.
Posuo Kingdom’s cultivators had ranked Top Hundred young talents, White Fan was impressively within the Top Ten!
He was Bai Family’s hope, a genius highly valued by Posuo Kingdom’s cultivation world.
But then, a bizarre occurrence ensued, thereafter began his series of misfortunes!
When he was twelve years old, a man as handsome as a god suddenly appeared in his inner world!
The man’s appearance was almost identical to his, except he looked extremely weathered, as if he had experienced countless ages.
That man sat cross-legged, always with closed eyes in slumber, never opening them, nor speaking to him.
White Fan didn’t know who this godlike man was, nor could he drive this man out of his inner world.
Since this godlike man’s appearance in his mind, his bad luck began to come one after another!
His Buddhist cultivation could no longer progress; instead, it started to regress!
From almost stepping into the Golden Core Stage, he fell all the way down to the third layer of Buddha’s Power!
He became the laughingstock of the entire Bai family!
More unfortunate yet, he received the news that someone would soon come to annul the engagement.
Indeed...
Shortly after White Fan’s performance in Buddha’s Power was assessed, a group of cultivators arrived, riding on Immortal Clouds.
These people were guards of the royal clan of the Posuo Kingdom.
Leading these guards was a girl of about fifteen, the daughter of the Posuo Kingdom’s ruler — Princess Lingjiu.
Back when White Fan’s talent was unparalleled, to win his favor, the ruler of the Posuo Kingdom personally contacted the Bai family, and arranged a childhood engagement between White Fan and Princess Lingjiu.
But later, the exceptional talent of White Fan disappeared...
Princess Lingjiu came today to annul the engagement, she haughtily glanced at the testing stele, surprisingly finding that her fiancé White Fan’s cultivation had regressed again!
Last year, he was at the fifth layer of Buddha’s Power, and this year, it was only the third layer, how weak!
Therefore, Princess Lingjiu’s resolve to annul the engagement became even more determined, she broke off the engagement with the Bai family on the spot.
The old clan leader of the Bai family suffered a huge loss of face, his old wounds flared up, causing him to spit blood and collapse on the spot.
Humiliation, such humiliation!
White Fan gritted his teeth, supported the old clan leader, and glared angrily at Princess Lingjiu, wanting to say something, but was too angry to speak.
So furious he was, that flames of demonic fire burned in White Fan’s eyes, and Demonic Qi surged around him!
He was never a Buddha cultivator!
Deep in his heart, resided a demon!
"What! White Fan is actually a demoness! On this vast Buddha land, he dares to learn from those evil sects, cultivating the path of evil!" Everyone was shocked!
As the Buddhist disciples were on the rise, there were hardly any demon cultivators in the Human World. When they occasionally appeared, they were often suppressed and enlightened by the multitude of Buddha disciples.
At the sight of White Fan falling into the Dao of Devils, Princess Lingjiu instantly wanted to order his capture and imprison him in the capital’s great prison.
But at that moment, a light voice accompanied by countless flying flowers descended from the sky.
It was an extremely pleasant, yet slightly cold woman’s voice.
The voice sounded so familiar to White Fan, but he simply couldn’t recall where he had heard it.
"He is my demon, harm him even a little, and I will slaughter your entire nation!"
A sword-bearing woman with a cold face, riding on flying flowers, came to rescue White Fan!
Everyone was amazed upon seeing the woman arrive, "It’s the Yin Plucking Finger! Ranked tenth among the North Region Demon Sect’s women of evil sects! How could she appear here!"
White Fan wanted to lift his head to see the face of the Yin Plucking Finger.
But before he could raise his head, his vision turned black, and he fainted on the ground, oblivious to everything.
...
In Ning Fan’s Heart Spirit World.
Ning Fan opened his eyes, and at the instant he did, that demonic spirit boy seated within the five-fang formation array of the demon spirits eerily closed his eyes, his aura turning dead and silent again.
"White Fan... Yin Plucking Finger..."
Ning Fan muttered to himself. When he closed his eyes, it seemed he transformed into another identity, living in another parallel reincarnation.
In that parallel reincarnation, he seemed to be named White Fan.
He seemed to have experienced some unlucky event, but now, as if waking from a dream, he couldn’t remember the exact details at all.
He vaguely remembered someone wanted to capture him, then a woman named Yin Plucking Finger came to save him...
Ning Fan tried hard to recall, but could never really remember what had happened in that reincarnation as White Fan.
Accidentally glancing at White Fan once more, Ning Fan was suddenly speechless.
Before closing his eyes, he remembered the demonic spirit White Fan was at about the third level, but now, upon awakening, White Fan’s cultivation had astonishingly decreased back to the first level.
"This demonic spirit is very bizarre, how is the cultivation getting lower and lower..."
"White Fan, White Fan... this name, I once used it as one of the names for the Black Turbulent Separation Art’s body double, and now there’s another White Fan..."
Ning Fan still didn’t fully grasp the principle of Yin Yang Four Symbols, and couldn’t understand why such parallel reincarnation occurred. He was uncertain whether it was his peculiarity, or this was typical for Yin Yang Four Symbols.
He wanted to close his eyes again and live as demonic spirit White Fan once more, to test it out.
But just then, he received a summons from Bei Xiao Man.
The third round of the match had begun!
He exited the Heart Spirit World, needing to act as a Chess Soldier for Bei Xiao Man in the third battle!
"Let’s make it a quick battle..."
Ning Fan’s figure flickered and disappeared from where he was.
Ten breaths later, he returned to his original place, resumed his sitting posture, and his heart sank back into the inner world.
...
At the foot of Stone Chamber Mountain in the Sea of Ages.
Bei Xiao Man’s opponent in the third round was a Chess Master dressed as a wandering monk, affiliated with the Eastern Palace, named Xiuce!
"Namo Amitabha, casting lots to decide who goes first is boring, I have a suggestion, would the Fourth Mistress be willing to listen!" Xiuce squinted, smiling.
"What does the master wish to teach?" Bei Xiao Man remained courteous initially, as the name of Xiuce Monk was well-known in the Northern Region Chess Realm.
"The old monk wishes to trade a toe for the Fourth Mistress’s first move, is that acceptable?"
Xiuce’s words were shocking, and as he spoke, he took out an iron pestle and smashed his left big toe with it. The pain was excruciating, blood flowing freely, yet his expression remained unchanged, showing how incredible his endurance skill was.
Bei Xiao Man’s expression shifted.
Xiuce Monk had already smashed one toe, if she didn’t forfeit the first move, she would also need to sacrifice a body part or have no face to compete for it?
But then a problem arose.
It’s said that Monk Xiuce’s opening moves are formidable, undefeated thus far with first moves...
This person must have seen her effortless wins and smelled something fishy, thus intentionally competing for the first move, wanting to capitalize on it to crush her advantage...
"What now? Fourth Mistress, will you allow me the first move? Or do you think just one toe is not enough? Very well then..."
Clang!
Xiuce Monk smashed his right big toe as well!
Bei Xiao Man was left speechless.
Seeing Xiuce Monk’s resolve, having smashed two toes, if she still didn’t allow the first move, it would be quite unreasonable of her indeed.
Very well, allow it she shall.
She even wanted to see, after letting him the first move, if she’d still win effortlessly as before, perhaps she might not this time...
Ten breaths later.
Bei Xiao Man was shocked, unable to close her mouth, for opposite her, Xiuce Monk fell silent.
Monk Xiuce sacrificed two toes, finally gaining the first move, but before even finishing placing his pieces, his "spirit general" exploded!
Astonishingly, he lost effortlessly!
"The victor, Mistress Xiao Man!"
Bei Xiao Man won three matches in a row!
The Great Elder of the Eastern Palace looked grim, unable to believe what was happening before his eyes.
"Can anyone tell this elder! What exactly did that little wench Bei Xiao Man do to keep winning so easily? Why can’t even Monk Xiuce handle her!"
The elders of the Eastern Palace were silent as cicadas in winter, unable to answer.
Unlike the Western Palace elders, they were unaware that Ning Fan was hidden in Bei Xiao Man’s estate.
They didn’t know about Bei Xiao Man’s involvement with the ancient cultivator Zhao Jian!
They naturally couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation!
Only those few Western Palace elders knew the truth.
They certainly knew why Bei Xiao Man could win!
Bei Xiao Man used a backdoor, arranging Ning Fan to enter the Four Corners Chess Realm in advance, this was personally handled by those old fellows!
They were eager to allow Ning Fan into the Four Corners Chess Realm early!
After all, when the chess soldiers officially enter the realm, they are watched by countless spectators, and someone might recognize Ning Fan’s identity.
By entering the realm ahead of time like Ning Fan, no one would notice, laughable that others remain oblivious.
After exchanging glances, the Western Palace elders all clapped their hands and laughed, rushing to the Eastern Palace to stir things up.
Western Palace Elder A: "Marvelous, marvelous! This is the divine hand, winning the whole game before it even begins!"
Western Palace Elder B: "The fourth young lady’s chess skills have surpassed the game itself! She must have touched the legendary chess Dao traces! Only thus can she cause her opponents to concede without a battle!"
Western Palace Elder C: "When the king spares lives, there is submission; when the chess pieces remain untouched, there’s a victory. I predict the fourth young lady’s win, relying on major influence!"
Western Palace Elder D: "Who stands atop the pinnacle of the chess path, one look at the fourth young lady and the Dao clears! Not someone to provoke, not someone to provoke!"
"Nonsense! I’ve lived many years and never heard of any chess Dao traces allowing someone to win as soon as the game begins! You Western Palace must be cheating!" the Great Elder said furiously.
"Haha, Great Elder, mind your words!"
"How can the Great Elder slander others without reason!"
"A relaxed win can’t be considered cheating! Can the affairs of cultivators be called cheating!"
"Don’t make fun!"
Subsequently, the Western Palace elders spoke to the Great Elder about "unwavering principles," and "noble gentlemen," which drew laughter from the crowd, filling the entire audience at Stone Chamber Mountain with joyous air.
The Great Elder of the Eastern Palace was livid; he wasn’t foolish, and at this moment he could see that something was amiss.
Something must be beyond his control!
The Western Palace elders, with their smug faces, were clearly hiding something!
"Someone, go investigate, find out what remarkable persons have arrived at Western Palace Island recently!" the Great Elder commanded in a low voice.
Unfortunately, Ning Fan’s information had long been deliberately hidden by the Western Palace elders, even keeping it from Palace Master Yuan Yao, let alone outsiders.
The Great Elder sent people to investigate but came up empty-handed.
Thinking it over, he still believed Bei Xiao Man used some special means to cheat, but he couldn’t find the evidence.
"Great Elder, what should we do now?" the other Eastern Palace elders asked with ugly expressions.
The Eastern Palace had manipulated things for this second round, determined to win.
But if Bei Xiao Man really cheated all the way, their arrangements might fall through.
"Wait and see! This elder doesn’t believe Bei Xiao Man can win all the way!" the Great Elder said sternly.
...
Parallel dimension.
White Fan opened his confused eyes, awakening from his coma.
Upon opening them, he no longer remembered his identity as Ning Fan.
He only remembered being White Fan, a fallen genius of the Bai Family, who had been captured by Princess Lingjiu after his evil cultivation was exposed, and then rescued by a demoness named Yin Plucking Finger.
"Young lady, may I ask how long I have been unconscious, and where is this place?"
White Fan noticed a servant girl beside the bed, so he questioned her.
"To answer your question, you’ve been unconscious for ten days, and you are currently at Blood Martial Mountain," the servant girl replied respectfully.
Her words were quite peculiar.
She addressed White Fan as ’madam’!
White Fan was clearly a young lad, how did he become a ’madam’!
However, White Fan did not ponder this matter deeply, thinking he had just awoken and his mind was foggy, hearing incorrectly.
"Wait, did you say I am currently at Blood Martial Mountain!"
White Fan suddenly became anxious!
Blood Martial Mountain was demon territory, but he was from the Buddhist Kingdom, how did he end up in demon lands, was he kidnapped by that Yin Plucking Finger?
Speaking of which, he didn’t know much about the demon forces in Posuo Kingdom; is Yin Plucking Finger part of Blood Martial Sect?
"May I ask, where is the young lady Yin Plucking Finger who saved me now..."
White Fan’s words caused the servant girl’s face to change dramatically, angrily saying, "The Revered Snow saved you kindly and took you as her husband, and you repay her by calling her names like Yin Plucking Finger, such disrespect!"
Um, is Yin Plucking Finger an insult, he didn’t know that, he heard others call her that before his coma.
Wait, what do you mean by taking me as her husband!
White Fan’s face instantly darkened, sensing a bad omen.
Upon checking his Dantian, he sighed repeatedly.
His third level of Vein Opening cultivation had fallen again, this time only down to the first level...
No, wait...
What is the first level of Vein Opening...
His cultivation should actually be called the first layer of Buddha’s Power, why did strange terminology suddenly pop into his head.
"Oh? You’ve awakened, young one..."
A fragrant silhouette walked in from the door.
On seeing her, the servant girl immediately knelt, offering greetings of ’Revered Snow be blessed.’
White Fan looked up, his gaze fixing on the newcomer’s face.
She was a cold beauty in a blue robe, sword slung on her back.
Her beauty was striking, but that was not the point; the point was that White Fan felt he had seen her somewhere before.
"Qing, Qing Ling..." White Fan involuntarily called out, then fell into confusion.
He did not understand why he would call her Qing Ling.
It was as if merely a habit.
"Oh?"
Ji Qingling exclaimed softly.
She was puzzled why this was their first meeting, yet White Fan could exactly call her name.
The name she had abandoned for years, now known as the Blood Martial Master among demon Daoists and scorned as Yin Plucking Finger by righteous Buddhists.
She happened to pass by the Bai Family, witnessing White Fan being rejected, his magical Qi expelling, being captured.
And she too did not know why she should meddle and save White Fan.
It was driven by instinct, so she saved him.
No reason, nor need for a reason.