Careless, He Was Actually on the Fifth Floor!

The chessboard shifted rapidly, black and white stones sending ripples spreading out like flowers in a mirror, the moon in water.

In an instant, it became two armies facing each other!

Thousands upon thousands of troops spread across the field in formation, awaiting only a single command before plunging into a life-and-death battle.

The white army stood ready in a strict formation, their ranks neat and orderly, holding every advantage of timing and terrain.

The black army, meanwhile, was scattered and disorderly. The moment battle began, their formation would likely be crushed by the white army's charge.

Jiang Ping shook his head. It seemed he could only place one more stone before losing.

He casually dropped a black stone.

It was as though a tremendous force had slammed into Yuanshi's mind. This black stone swiftly sounded the horn of battle.

The black army surged up in an instant, joining into an unbroken tide. With the speed of thunder, before one could cover one's ears, grass snakes left ash trails, ambushes stretching a thousand miles.

Though the white army's formation remained intact, it simply could not withstand the black army attacking from all directions.

The black army struck from both flanks, crashed in from front and rear, and laid siege from every side.

In an instant, they shattered all of the white army's defensive lines. Without powerful reinforcements, defeat was inevitable.

Yuanshi panicked and immediately picked up a white stone, intending to send aid.

But the front lines and rear lines were collapsing as a whole, and for a moment, he had no idea where to begin.

Impossible!

This game should not have been lost!

Yuanshi's eyes turned bloodshot.

In an instant, he ran through thirty-eight thousand deductions in his mind.

Yet without exception, none of the moves could save the situation.

In the end, he did not place that stone.

With a bitter expression, he said, "Young Master, your chess skill is truly extraordinary. I have lost."

Jiang Ping was stunned. He was conceding just like that?

I threw the game this hard, and you had such a huge advantage just now. How did you end up conceding?

Tongtian and Laozi both sighed in regret. Yuanshi had truly been far too careless. To lose like this—what a pity, what a pity.

Yuanshi put away his disdain and sincerely handed the jade pendant to Jiang Ping. "Young Master, this is for you."

Jiang Ping did not stand on ceremony either. They were all adults; there was no need for empty politeness.

He examined it from left and right, then said happily, "Then I'll accept it without further ceremony. This jade pendant looks all right. It should look nice hanging around Da Huang's neck."

"Da Huang?" Yuanshi was somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Ping froze, then immediately called out, "Da Huang, come here quickly. The next time you see these three gentlemen, don't make a fuss. They aren't bad people."

A silly dog came running over cheerfully, circling Jiang Ping affectionately.

The Three Pure Ones suddenly understood. Da Huang was a silly dog.

Hiss! No, wait—he had just said he would hang that jade pendant around Da Huang's neck?

This expert truly was extraordinary. That jade pendant was a top-grade Houtian Spirit Treasure, containing the power of water and fire. Once activated, it would produce the visions of a dragon's roar and a phoenix's cry. It was exceedingly precious.

Who would have thought that the expert would casually give it to a silly dog? What a waste.

The Three Pure Ones smiled bitterly. They treasured it like a priceless gem, yet to this expert, it was worthless.

The expert did not think it worthy of a second glance.

Yuanshi stared eagerly at the Five Elements Pagoda. Although he had lost a spirit treasure earlier, it would mean nothing so long as he could win a round.

After all, the Companion Spirit Treasures of Chaos Demon Gods were scarcely any weaker than Xiantian Spirit Treasures.

This Five Elements Pagoda was even comparable to a Xiantian Supreme Treasure. Its power was immense, and its uses inexhaustible.

"Young Master, is this truly your first time playing chess?" Yuanshi probed once more.

Jiang Ping nodded. "That's right. I only know a little. I didn't know how to play this kind of chess before. It was only after coming to this little courtyard that, when I was bored, I took these books and played against myself. I've never played against anyone else."

Yuanshi was greatly reassured. Given an expert's realm and bearing, he certainly would not lie about something like chess.

It seemed I had been careless just now, while the expert had merely stumbled into it by chance.

This next game, I must give it my all.

"How about another game?" Yuanshi said with a light smile.

Jiang Ping nodded. "All right, that suits me perfectly."

Yuanshi casually took out another fan. "I lost one round earlier, so I'll use this as the stake as well."

Jiang Ping said sincerely, "There's no need to take it so seriously, is there? You and I can simply play. There's no need to have stakes. Otherwise, I'll put this little pagoda away."

Yuanshi hurriedly spoke up, his expression solemn. "How could that be? How could I go back on my word so casually?"

Jiang Ping said helplessly, "All right, then we'll do as you say, sir."

Tongtian was greatly surprised. This spiritual treasure was no ordinary item—it was the Five Birds Fan, refined from the feathers of five top-tier birds of the five elemental attributes from the Primordial World.

It could fan out five different kinds of flames at once, making it an exceedingly powerful offensive spiritual treasure.

Senior Brother truly was generous. If he lost this, he would probably ache over it for quite some time.

Laozi thought to himself, This junior brother really stepped in dog shit.

"Please, sir. You take the first move this round," Jiang Ping said with a faint smile.

Yuanshi picked up a black stone. Unlike Jiang Ping, he was not so overconfident, and he decided to proceed steadily and cautiously.

The two took turns placing their stones, and for the first half of the game, they scarcely needed to think before making their moves.

Relying on his exquisite Chess Skill and formidable powers of deduction, Yuanshi gradually regained the upper hand.

"Your Chess Skill truly is extraordinary, sir," Jiang Ping could not help but praise.

By now, he had already realized that he had fallen into a disadvantageous position.

Yuanshi shook his head with a light laugh. "Young Master's Chess Skill is no slouch either. Let us make this clear first: we are gentlemen playing chess, so do not yield to me under any circumstances."

Jiang Ping was full of admiration, and his impression of Yuanshi improved by several degrees.

At the same time, he deeply despised himself.

The way of chess was like the fellowship of gentlemen. How could he hold anything back? Win or lose, he had to take it seriously. That was a form of respect for one's opponent!

With that thought, Jiang Ping felt ashamed beyond measure and began to scrutinize the entire board in earnest.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. There happened to be a perfectly suitable dragon-slaying move below.

Without a moment's hesitation, he placed his stone.

Yuanshi, who had practically held victory in his grasp, saw it, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

That one and only winning move had actually been played by this master.

He could not help feeling discouraged. He had held the advantage only moments ago, yet with this one move, he had immediately fallen into a losing position.

After another twenty moves, Yuanshi was utterly dejected. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I lost."

Jiang Ping smiled faintly. "You let me win, sir."

Yuanshi gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Again."

As he spoke, he took out several more spiritual treasures.

Jiang Ping repeatedly waved his hands. "How could I accept this? These things are clearly no ordinary items. They are far too precious."

Yuanshi hesitated before saying, "To be honest, these may be Magic Treasures used by immortals!"

Jiang Ping was thoroughly shocked. "Magic Treasures used by immortals? These are far too precious!"

He secretly thought, Next, I must use every ounce of strength I have. I have to win these treasures. Perhaps I can glean the mysteries of cultivation from these Magic Treasures.

Yuanshi, meanwhile, made up his mind. These treasures were indeed precious, but if he could luckily win just one round, he would earn everything back.

That Five Elements Pagoda was far more precious than all these treasures combined!

In the third game, no matter where Yuanshi placed his stone, Jiang Ping could always find a suitable move in his memories to counter it.

It seemed the books bestowed by the system were not entirely useless after all.

Half an hour later, Yuanshi's breathing began to grow heavier.

Tongtian and Laozi secretly shook their heads. Seeing Yuanshi like this, it was obvious that he had lost again.

Yuanshi kept shaking his head. "Impossible. How strange—why did I suddenly fall to defeat again in this game?"