Rupture Dao Heart

The more people watched the game between Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng, the more of them began to feel overwhelmed.

A terrifying pressure bore straight into the depths of their hearts. Was this really a game of chess? This was a battlefield—a vast killing ground where two armies clashed.

Both armies could draw upon the power of heaven and earth in all directions. The slaughter was immense, with blood flowing like a river.

It was a duel that felt like being plunged into an illusion. The terrifying battle made more and more chess players afraid to watch, yet after looking away from the board for only a moment, they could not bear to keep their eyes elsewhere and turned their gazes back.

Then, forced out once more by the pressure of the two armies' slaughter, they retreated again.

Just like that, a day and a night passed. During that time, the two people dueling showed little reaction, but the crowd watching the game had long since become utterly drained. Some even sat cross-legged to steady their minds. One frail chess player had flown away from the plaza, found a secluded place, and begun vomiting.

Sima Qianjun was drenched in sweat. At this moment, he finally understood how powerful Zhong Shan was. In the past, Zhong Shan had not merely humiliated him—was the gap between their chess skills really that enormous?

In Qingqiu, inside a residence. Mr. Li sat in his own courtyard, watching a chessboard before him, when a servant came rushing over.

"Master!"

"Mm. Have they made new moves again?"

"Yes! Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng have each placed five more stones."

"Lay them out for me to see!"

"Yes!"

...Although Zhong Shan had become the Nine Tails Princess's retainer, he was still being watched by countless people. Sima