Ying and Zhong Shan

"The Emperor is waiting inside. Go in, and you'll see him!" Lu Buwei said.

Zhong Shan nodded and stepped into the main hall.

The instant he entered the main hall, Zhong Shan saw Ying. He was still dressed in a black dragon robe, but he looked much more casual now. He was not wearing the Flat Sky Crown, and thus did not appear so solemn.

Ying stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Zhong Shan in the center of the hall as he looked at a wall.

It was a white-jade wall covered in strange tadpole script. Each tadpole-like character was actually writhing eerily.

Zhong Shan followed Ying's gaze. Countless tadpole characters seemed to move slowly along bizarre trajectories. The longer he watched, the more captivated he became.

Perhaps the trials in the Hundred Lifetimes Cave Heaven had elevated Zhong Shan's spirit. With a sudden jolt, he awoke! He stared at the jade wall in alarm. What was this jade wall?

When Zhong Shan came to his senses, he discovered that Ying had already turned around to look at him. A trace of satisfaction flashed through Ying's eyes.

"Zhong Shan?" Ying called.

"Ying!" Zhong Shan nodded in reply. Yet he still felt lingering trepidation over the jade wall.

"This jade wall—what did you see?" Ying asked with a faint smile.

"Strange and unfathomable, ever-changing. This Zhong Shan is unworthy; I only saw chaos!" Zhong Shan shook his head.

"This jade wall is called the 'Heavenly Secret Diagram.' In ancient times, two Saints entered this Small Chiliocosm World. Using the world as a chessboard, they gambled and fought one another. This is the compensation left behind by one of those Saints." Ying waved a hand, indicating that Zhong Shan should sit.

Along one side of the hall stood