The Swollen Tongtian: Isn't This Something Anyone With Hands Can Do?

Tongtian pretended to casually pick up [Ten Days to Master Gomoku] and flipped through it at random.

Then his eyes lit up. The more he read, the more fascinating he found it.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

Jiang Ping was drawn over by Tongtian's voice. Seeing that he was reading the gomoku book, he immediately smiled. "Sir, you know how to play this too?"

Tongtian was completely captivated by gomoku's entertaining gameplay and replied vaguely, "I know a little. Oh, and Young Master, just call me Third Mister. The one who played chess with you earlier can be called Second Mister, and the remaining one is First Mister."

Jiang Ping nodded. "Very good. That way, it'll be easier to tell us apart."

Tongtian quickly flipped through the book once and swiftly mastered the rules of gomoku. He said confidently, "Young Master, how about we play this so-called gomoku?"

Yuanshi flatly refused. "Second Brother, don't fool around! How could you possibly be a match for the Young Master? Even after immersing myself in the Dao of chess for years, I still lost ten straight games to him."

Laozi spoke up as well. "Indeed, Third Brother. You've only just learned this so-called gomoku. How can you contend with the Young Master?"

Tongtian said easily, "It's all recorded in this little booklet. Gomoku is very simple—it really can be learned at a glance."

Yuanshi and Laozi were immediately surprised. They rarely saw Tongtian this stubborn. Could it be that their junior brother had suddenly awakened a talent for the Dao of chess?

Half-believing and half-doubting, Yuanshi took the book and looked through it. With his powerful Spiritual Sense, he understood in an instant. It was not that Tongtian possessed any talent; it was simply that this gomoku was far too easy.

There was no need for calculations at all. Even if ordinary Heavenly Immortals and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals played against one another, they would still be evenly matched.

"Eldest Brother, take a look." Yuanshi handed it to Laozi.

After reading it, Laozi too came to a sudden realization.

The Three Pure Ones unanimously agreed that this gomoku could be played.

Though they were sharpening their spears at the last minute and stepping onto the battlefield as novices, at the very least they could go fifty-fifty against this great expert!

"Junior Brother, I support you. Have a couple of matches with this great expert!"

"That's right, Junior Brother. If you win, the spirit treasure is yours. You must win back a little face for your Senior Brother here. Otherwise, if word gets out that I lost ten games in a row, I'll never have the face to mention playing chess to other Daoists again."

"Good. Rest assured, Senior Brothers. I won't dare promise too much, but I'll win at least one out of three games!"

Tongtian was instantly brimming with confidence. Turning to Jiang Ping, he said, "Young Master, how about I accompany you for a few games of gomoku?"

Jiang Ping looked at the sky and said hesitantly, "How about I go make some food first? Third Mister, you can read this book a little more while you wait."

Tongtian hurriedly grabbed Jiang Ping, who was about to rise, and casually tossed the book aside. "Young Master, there's no need to trouble yourself. We aren't hungry either. This Ten Days to Master Gomoku is very simple—I already understand every method of play."

Jiang Ping nodded and pulled out another book.

"This one is Gomoku Winning Strategy. Third Mister, would you like to take a look?"

Tongtian laughed heartily. "Young Master, you're joking again. How could such a simple game possibly have a winning strategy?"

Jiang Ping still earnestly advised him, "Third Mister, although gomoku is easy to pick up, mastering it still takes more than ten days of practice."

Tongtian gave a light laugh and shook his head, saying proudly, "More than ten days? To tell the truth, I've already comprehended it in this brief moment."

"Alright then. Let's play a few games, and then I'll make you some food." Jiang Ping said no more.

"Let's start quickly." Tongtian said eagerly.

"Oh, right. Young Master, you go first," Tongtian added.

Jiang Ping was speechless. Gomoku is what I'm best at. You're a complete beginner, yet you're this confident?

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The two traded moves, placing more than ten stones in the blink of an eye.

Tongtian quickly examined the board, inwardly delighted.

Hehe, once I place this move, I'll win.

Tongtian placed a stone with complete confidence, then said smugly, "Young Master, your turn."

Without even looking, Jiang Ping directly placed a white stone.

"Young Master, you were far too careless. Look—after this move of mine, I can form a seven-star formation, with at least seven consecutive-bead lines!" Tongtian shook his head regretfully.

Jiang Ping smiled faintly. "Is that so? Look more carefully. Or place another stone and see who is faster."

Tongtian was half-believing and half-doubting. It's so simple—it's just connecting them into a straight line. With my insight and experience, how could I fail to see the changes on this board?

This great expert is about to lose, yet he wants to use psychological warfare to disrupt my state of mind. How interesting.

Then I'll place my stone right here and see how you respond.

"Are you sure?" Jiang Ping asked with a smile.

Tongtian remained utterly composed. "Of course. Young Master, your turn."

Jiang Ping laughed heartily. "Thank you for going easy on me, Third Mister."

As Jiang Ping placed his stone, Tongtian understood in an instant. He immediately clutched his forehead and cried out repeatedly, "Careless, too careless! I shouldn't have been so negligent."

"Again! This round, I definitely won't be careless again."

After one exchange, Tongtian had already grasped how to play gomoku, and for a time, he actually gave Jiang Ping quite a headache.

The two went back and forth, and before long, the board was densely packed with stones.

At this moment, it came down to eyesight—whoever could swiftly spot the flaw would win.

Tongtian studied the board carefully.

Lines like ravines crisscrossed the board, running horizontally and vertically.

Black and white stones formed chains and lines among them.

They merged with one another, yet repelled one another as well.

It seemed to faintly reveal something.

Tongtian gently shook his head. Within his mind, a strand of Dao Rhyme slowly began to take shape.

As he continued scrutinizing the game before him, Tongtian's brow gradually furrowed.

The scene on the board suddenly began to shift, and he seemed to find himself in a void.

As far as the eye could see, countless densely packed threads twisted together.

In his senses, innumerable nodes intersected with one another. This seemed to be some kind of formation!

Tongtian's heart jolted, followed at once by wild joy.

He had never expected that merely playing such a simple game of Gomoku with an expert would allow him to enter a state of enlightenment.

Laozi and Yuanshi also noticed Tongtian's abnormality.

Feeling the Dao Rhyme emanating from Tongtian, they were startled and deeply envious at the same time.

One had to know that enlightenment was a spontaneous state of comprehending the Dao, something that could only be encountered by chance and never sought.

Once a cultivator entered enlightenment, it was an immense stroke of fortune.

They might comprehend the Great Dao, cultivate their own divine abilities, or greatly elevate their cultivation realm!

Who would have thought that merely playing a game with the expert would grant Tongtian such a tremendous opportunity?

Seeing Jiang Ping nearby, utterly unconcerned and calm as ever, Laozi and Yuanshi felt even greater admiration.

The expert truly was unfathomable. He had bestowed such a great opportunity upon Tongtian, yet remained as light as drifting clouds and as calm as a gentle breeze.

Even more shocking were these inscrutable divine methods that could not be fathomed through Heavenly Secrets.

With a turn of his hand, he summoned wind and thunder; with another, he stirred clouds and rain. He truly was a divine being!

Tongtian suppressed the excitement in his heart and swiftly immersed himself in comprehension.

Like cracked earth that had suffered drought for countless years, he greedily drank in the sweet rain falling from heaven.

Countless Dao Principles and boundless insights were drawn in by him, all pouring into his mind.

Five stones in a row!

Nine upon nine, reaching the ultimate!

Heaven and Earth, Ten Absolutes!

"I understand..."

Tongtian murmured to himself.