Fusheng Realm.
A sheer cliff, a lone pine.
Across the go board, black and white stones intermingled in a tense standoff. Twenty-two white stones were scattered like stars, while a far greater number of black stones surged like a cold tide, surrounding them completely.
Pei Ling sat on one side of the board, quietly watching it as he waited patiently.
Suddenly, a hand emerged from the void across the board, its wrist wrapped in a black sleeve. Pinching a lustrous black stone between its fingers, it lowered the stone onto the board.
Tap!
Before the faint sound had faded, Pei Ling placed a white stone without hesitation.
His opponent continued to play, and Pei Ling did the same.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...
Amid a rapid string of clicks, black and white stones erupted into fierce combat.
The white stones were fewer, but Pei Ling played several brilliant moves in succession, instantly turning the tide. The scattered white stones were like dragons and serpents stirring up wind and clouds, deftly weaving through the black stones' encirclement.
Tap, tap, tap...
The clicks grew faster and faster, like a rainstorm beating on banana leaves.
At last, Pei Ling placed another stone. The entire board seemed to shudder, and the victor was decided! The game was settled!
The white stones were about to win!
Pei Ling couldn't help flashing a victor's smile. But at that very moment, the hand reached out from the void across the board and placed another black stone.
Tap!
It was a seemingly inconsequential move, one that couldn't change the hopeless state of the board. But then...
Several white stones in crucial positions suddenly took on a tinge of ink. In the blink of an eye, they turned black!
In an instant, the game was reversed. The white stones,