Ten Consecutive Losses, Who Said My Calculations Were Invincible?

Kunlun Mountain, Nuwa's abode.

Fuxi, who had been traveling abroad for a long time, returned today. Discovering that his younger sister was in seclusion, he was greatly puzzled.

"She only gained insight not long ago—how could she suddenly enter seclusion again?"

As Fuxi pondered, he was about to turn back toward his cave abode.

Just then, he seemed to sense something and looked into the distance.

A few breaths later, a streak of fleeing light descended.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, what brings you here?"

Houtu smiled. "Fellow Daoist Fuxi, it has been a long time."

Fuxi laughed heartily. "No need for such courtesy, Fellow Daoist. Are you here to see my sister?"

Houtu nodded. "Indeed. I have missed Nuwa greatly since we last parted. I happened to encounter some problems in my cultivation, so I wished to ask her for guidance."

Fuxi said apologetically, "Then I'm afraid you've come at an unfortunate time. My sister appears to be in seclusion."

Houtu was slightly disappointed. "No matter. I'll come again another time."

With that, she was about to leave.

"Wait. Houtu, why are you still so impatient?" Nuwa emerged with a smile.

Fuxi and Houtu's expressions shifted slightly. The moment Nuwa appeared, they instantly sensed an indescribable change in her.

"Younger sister? Could it be that you encountered some extraordinary opportunity during this time?" Fuxi examined her curiously.

A strange gleam shone in Houtu's eyes as well. "Nuwa, your cultivation seems to have risen a little."

Nuwa smiled. "To think you could both notice even such a slight change. There is no one else here, so there are some things I need not hide."

Fuxi and Houtu's expressions immediately turned solemn.

Fuxi quickly waved his hand. "Though we are siblings, prying into another's opportunity is a great taboo in cultivation."

Houtu nodded as well. "Indeed. Nuwa, there is no need for you to tell us."

Nuwa pondered for a moment, then said softly, "In truth, this can indeed be considered a heaven-shaking secret—one that may even rival an opportunity to attain the Dao and become a Saint!"

The words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving Fuxi and Houtu utterly stunned.

"Truly?"

"Such a tremendous opportunity exists?"

Nuwa nodded. "It concerns an eminent expert, one who is even comparable to the Dao Ancestor."

"I cannot conveniently speak of the details. In the future, I will pay another visit. At that time, I must think of a reason to let Elder Brother and Fellow Daoist witness the expert's bearing as well."

Fuxi and Houtu sucked in a breath of cold air. They knew Nuwa's temperament well and naturally understood that she would not joke about such a matter. Amid their shock, anticipation quietly rose in their hearts.

Nuwa's thoughts, meanwhile, drifted away. The next time I go, I must find a suitable reason.

At this moment, Jiang Ping and Yuanshi had already begun their fifth game.

Yuanshi's eyes were bloodshot by then. Having lost four games in a row and handed over four spiritual treasures, his heart ached as well.

A moment later, Yuanshi let out another deep sigh.

"I lost again."

"Again. Junior Brother, lend me a sword."

In the seventh game, Yuanshi's hands trembled, and even his voice transmission quavered. "Eldest Brother, lend me a spiritual treasure!"

Laozi said worriedly, "Junior Brother, I don't think you can defeat this eminent expert. Why not just stop?"

Yuanshi said unwillingly, "No. I think this expert's Chess Skill is very rigid, not very flexible. Though he has beaten me several times, I have more or less figured out his patterns."

"As long as I can win even one game, it will all be worth it!"

Laozi helplessly took out a spiritual treasure.

Jiang Ping was grinning from ear to ear. Good heavens, these three looked utterly ordinary, yet who would have thought their fortunes were so abundant? They actually had so many Magic Treasures.

I have to win them all back and study them properly in the future. Maybe I'll be able to find the knack for cultivation too.

Wait, could these three be some great powers of the Primordial World?

The thought gave Jiang Ping a start. This was bad—he had won several games in a row without leaving those great powers even a shred of face. What if he angered them and they decided to murder him for his treasures? Wouldn't he die a wronged death?

Those old monsters of the Primordial World all had exceedingly strange tempers; they could not be judged by ordinary reasoning.

But Jiang Ping quickly dismissed the thought.

How could these three possibly be great powers of the Primordial World? Look at how grimy they were—they must have exhausted themselves climbing over mountains and crossing ridges all the way here.

A great power of the Primordial World could travel hundreds of thousands or even millions of miles in a single flight, and their Magic Treasures and spiritual artifacts would be too numerous to count.

Though the treasures they had brought out looked quite new, upon closer inspection, they were actually about the same as the pile in the corner of his courtyard.

The eighth game...

Again!

I still have these treasures!

The ninth game...

Yuanshi gritted his teeth. "Young Master, again. I refuse to believe I'll keep losing all day!"

The tenth game!

A crazed look appeared in Yuanshi's eyes.

He viciously took out the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi and slammed it onto the stone table.

Clack!

"Final game. This is my last treasure!"

Laozi and Tongtian cried out at once and hurriedly sent voice transmissions. "Junior Brother, Senior Brother, this is a treasure for proving the Dao. You absolutely must not!"

But Yuanshi's expression was resolute. "Senior Brother, Junior Brother, don't try to dissuade me. If I lose this game, I'll finally give up."

Jiang Ping felt a little embarrassed as well. Winning so many treasures from his guests in one go truly went against the courtesy of a host.

"Uh, sir, your stakes are far too high."

Yuanshi regained a sliver of reason and said dejectedly, "It's fine. I can only blame my own inferior skill. Young Master, don't overthink it."

"Then all right, let's continue."

The tenth game lasted a full half-day. In the end, Yuanshi suffered a narrow defeat.

Jiang Ping took the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, rubbing it between both hands as he examined it carefully.

The treasure felt warm and smooth in his hand. Its material was crystalline and jade-green throughout—clearly extraordinary.

No wonder the three gentlemen were staring at it so eagerly.

Jiang Ping chuckled, then handed it back.

"This treasure must be exceedingly precious to you, sir. I absolutely cannot accept it."

Gratitude showed in the Three Pure Ones' eyes. Yuanshi had just been about to take it—

When his body suddenly jolted, and he immediately withdrew his hand.

No, this expert is testing my character!

What is wagered must be surrendered!

I absolutely cannot go back on my word. That would be like slapping my own face, and it would only make the expert look down on the three of us brothers for nothing!

Yuanshi immediately changed his gesture and pushed Jiang Ping's hand back.

With a solemn expression, he said, "Young Master, what is wagered must be surrendered. Do I look like the kind of person who reneges on a bet?"

Tongtian and Laozi could not help but find this strange. Why had Yuanshi become a different person today? Normally, he was not this generous.

Jiang Ping couldn't help giving him a thumbs-up in praise. "Sir, you truly are magnanimous. I'm deeply impressed."

"How about this? These treasures are of no use to me anyway. The stakes from earlier were merely a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously."

"If there are treasures you cannot bear to part with, sir, feel free to take them back."

Only after hearing Jiang Ping's words did Tongtian and Laozi come to a realization.

Sure enough, Yuanshi was still the one with the most tricks up his sleeve.

He had made up his mind from the start, knowing that the expert would not fancy his treasures, so he deliberately acted this way.

First, he could win the expert's favor. Second, if he happened to win by sheer luck, he would strike it rich.

Why don't I spar with the expert as well? But my skill at chess is lacking—what should I do?

Tongtian pondered secretly. Then his eyes suddenly lit up when he spotted a copy of [Ten Days to Master Gomoku] beside him!