Winning Over Every Famous Scholar in Ji Province

"Even subordinates like Zhang He and Gao Lan could understand the chess records, while I couldn't. That was too embarrassing. It seemed I needed to study this properly whenever I had the time."

Unable to understand the game, Pan Feng quietly asked Zhang He beside him about the situation.

Zhang He wore an expression of astonished admiration as he said, "All I can say is that the battle was incredibly fierce. Ding Ling's moves in particular were as unfettered as a Heavenly Horse, utterly unconventional. He constantly did the unexpected, catching Xun Chen off guard again and again and leaving him in a sorry state. If you ask me, Xun Chen is bound to lose!"

"He's that strong?"

Pan Feng was astonished. "That's Xun Chen of the Xun Family!"

"Exactly."

Zhang He sighed as well, looking at Ding Ling as though he were a god. "That's why I said Ding Ling is simply inhuman! I really have no idea what he ate growing up. How can he know everything? And he has reached transcendent mastery in every field. It is truly breathtaking!"

"He's incredible!"

Cheng Huan was so excited that his heart surged with emotion. "Discovering Ding Ling when he was at his lowest may have been the most correct, fortunate, and praiseworthy thing I have ever done in my life!"

Watching Ding Ling cut through every obstacle and crush one famous scholar after another—

Cheng Huan felt honored by association.

Gao Lan felt the same way!

After all, compared with the others—

His relationship with Ding Ling was exceptionally good.

The more capable Ding Ling became, and the higher his future status rose, the happier and more honored Gao Lan felt!

"This guy is way too damn awesome, isn't he?!"

Among the two rows of elite soldiers guarding the entrance to the council hall was an old Player.

He had watched everything unfold, and he was utterly shaken!

Especially when he watched Ding Ling defeat famous scholars from all across Romance of the Three Kingdoms, battering them into doubting their lives until they voluntarily conceded defeat, he could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

"Could this guy really have come from some Hidden Family?!"

He pondered the matter.

"What kind of Hidden Family could raise such a monstrously gifted figure? This isn't even human! He's a walking beast!"

More than half a day later—

"I lost."

Xun Chen's face was deathly pale. Trembling, he rose to his feet and was about to bow to Ding Ling, but Ding Ling stepped back and indicated that there was no need.

Xun Chen sighed.

"That single game nearly exhausted all my mental and spiritual energy. I'm mentally drained right now, yet my mind has never felt clearer."

He stared at Ding Ling with bright eyes.

"Ding Ling, your chess skill is truly earthshaking. I want to become chess friends with you. What do you say?"

Could Ding Ling refuse?

Rejecting such a request in public would only put Xun Chen in an awkward position.

Ding Ling could only nod in agreement.

Xun Chen was overjoyed. He immediately bowed to Ding Ling and said that this was the etiquette between chess friends.

Achievement Medals: Your chess skill has stunned everyone present!

Note: Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and the others have reproduced this game in its entirety. Without question, this game will spread throughout the Four Seas and eight wildernesses. Your name is destined to be engraved upon this game and every one of these chess records!

You will become renowned for generations to come!

Perhaps you may gain the title of Chess Saint in Three Kingdoms World in the future!

Achievement Medals: You have gained Xun Chen's friendship!

Note: Xun Chen's chess skill is unmatched within the Xun Family! Since making his name, you are the only master he has ever encountered! After his crushing defeat, he originally wished to take you as his master and learn chess from you. But considering that he is older than you and bound by his family's rules, rashly becoming your disciple would be highly inappropriate! Thus, he conceived the idea of becoming friends with you!

Before he had thoroughly learned all of your chess skills—

He was afraid he would not casually let you leave Yecheng.

Even if you left Yecheng—

He would most likely follow you.

His obsession with chess far exceeded your imagination!

Ding Ling glanced at the Character Panel. While delighted, he was also slightly taken aback by the special note about Xun Chen.

But he quickly stopped thinking about it.

If Xun Chen wanted to follow him, then let him follow.

In any case, Ding Ling would never throw in his lot with Han Fu or Yuan Shao!

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

Han Fu applauded and praised him. "That game was truly intoxicating to watch."

He looked toward Ju Shou.

"Remember to make a copy for me. I want to study it carefully when I get home!"

Ju Shou nodded.

Only then was Han Fu satisfied. When he looked at Ding Ling this time, the more he looked, the more pleasing Ding Ling became to his eye!

It was true that scholars had always looked down on one another.

But scholars also banded together and were naturally opposed to military officers!

Although Han Fu was Governor of Ji Province, he still valued the opinions of scholars more highly. Pan Feng was the sole exception.

That was because Pan Feng had saved his life and was also his fellow townsman! On top of that, Pan Feng's abilities were truly unmatched, so it was only natural that Han Fu would place great importance on him.

The reason Han Fu now viewed Ding Ling differently—

Was naturally because Ding Ling had proven that his learning and talent were truly extraordinary!

He was a master who was no weaker than, and perhaps even superior to, most famous scholars!

Naturally, such a master had to be treated as an honored guest!

"Does anyone else wish to compete?"

Han Fu looked around eagerly.

He now wanted to see exactly where Ding Ling's limits lay.

Geng Wu immediately stepped forward to compete with Ding Ling in Geography.

After that, Min Chun competed in playing the guqin.

They competed in all sorts of fields one after another.

By nightfall—

They had no choice but to stop.

At that moment, no matter who it was—

They all looked at Ding Ling as though he were some kind of monster!

"What the hell..."

The elite soldier standing guard—the old Player—had not logged out. He had kept staring at Ding Ling, equally curious about where Ding Ling's limits lay.

But after watching until now, his scalp had gone numb. He was utterly stunned and blank-faced!

"Is this really a human being?!"

"This is too unbelievable!"

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe this was real?!"

"Terrifying beyond words!"

The old Player felt exhausted and hungry. He immediately switched shifts with another elite soldier and logged out.

He intended to spread this news everywhere!

To let the world witness what the strongest newcomer was!

What the heir of the most badass Hidden Family was!!

Ding Ling's group, meanwhile, had food and drink in the council hall.

Ding Ling was not tired, but he got hungry easily. Fortunately, there was more than enough food.

After eating and drinking their fill—

They continued competing.

All the way until now—

Achievement Medals: 20!

That was the glorious result!

He had truly struck it rich!

Needless to say, the strength he improved next would definitely be brought back perfectly to the Real World. Perhaps he might even unlock storage space along the way?

"Come, come, come. General Ding, a toast to you!"

At the evening banquet—

Cups clinked and wine flowed.

Every scholar raised a cup to Ding Ling with faces full of astonished admiration.

Ding Ling could be called an all-around king!

Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, song, astronomy, Geography, farming, cultivation, and more—he had nearly reached the pinnacle in every field!

How could that not leave these scholars so shocked that their hair stood on end?

Even Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, had nearly had his jaw drop several times in astonishment.

Ding Ling simply knew too many things.

And in every field, he could crush the overwhelming majority of those present!

Such heaven-defying displays—

Were enough to move, shake, and terrify anyone.