Xu Yan had won, and the formation's avatar had lost—in just fifteen moves.
As they watched the formation's avatar gradually fade away, Qin Tian and the others were utterly shaken.
The formation that had left them helpless had been broken so easily.
This was Senior Xu, a true reclusive master!
Watching the formation's avatar disappear, Qiang Di sighed. "Senior Xu's cultivation is probably far above even the elders of our Dao Palace."
A single trip out to gain experience had taught him that there was always someone better, and heaven beyond heaven.
Yun Yao walked over to Qiang Di and said softly, "To think a master like him would live in seclusion in a small city in the Southern Domain. It's truly unexpected."
At the same time, she was very curious about Xu Yan's real age. He looked so young—around twenty, at most.
Qiang Di said, "That's what true reclusive masters are like. They've grown indifferent to the changing tides of time, or perhaps they're comprehending the true Supreme Great Dao. In any case, we can't presume to understand the thoughts of reclusive masters."
His temperament had improved considerably, and he had truly become more composed.
Before, he had only pretended to be humble. Now he was genuinely humble, because he had met the most unassuming person of all: the reclusive master Xu Yan.
Qin Tian noticed that the formation was still there and sensed something was amiss. He suddenly cried, "Wait—the formation hasn't disappeared! It hasn't been broken!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the chessboard returned to its original state, and an even more solid formation avatar appeared.
Ji Bai Bian, the sect master of the Hundred Transformations Sect, exclaimed in astonishment, "There's a second round to the formation's test?"
He hadn't even been able to beat the first game, and now there was a second. His opponent would surely be even stronger.
"Another one? Perfect. I wasn't done yet." Xu Yan said with a smile.
He had just been thinking that the formation's avatar wasn't all that impressive, since it had lost to him in only a dozen or so moves. He hadn't expected there to be a second round.
The new exchange began. This time, the formation's avatar was far stronger than the first, and every move contained wisps of Dao charm.
Yet before Xu Yan, it was all for nothing.
He made a move, and his Dao intent swept out, swiftly overwhelming his opponent.
On the twentieth move, the formation's avatar lost again.
The formation still hadn't disappeared. Everyone waited calmly for the next formation avatar to appear.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, the chessboard returned to position, and an almost fully solid formation avatar appeared.
Perched on Xu Yan's shoulder, the Golden Emperor Ant felt conflicted.
This formation avatar looked exactly like the Chess Saint.
And the moves it played were the very ones the Golden Emperor Ant had taught the Chess Saint, one by one. He had scolded the Chess Saint countless times for being stupid and slow to catch on.
Now, he could scold him no more. The Chess Saint would never hear his insults again.
The formation avatar in the third round was stronger than the first two combined. It battled Xu Yan all the way to the thirtieth move before finally losing.
This time, the formation avatar and the chessboard vanished together. The formation had been broken!
Everyone was thrilled. The Chess Saint's test had been overcome, which meant his legacy would now fully open.
Still, no one rushed forward recklessly.
No one was foolish enough to forget that the one who had broken the formation was a reclusive master of unfathomable cultivation, perhaps even stronger than the Chess Saint.
If someone like that wanted the Chess Saint's legacy, they had no chance at all.
Boom!
The radiance pouring from the cave abode grew even more brilliant. Then the stone gate shattered, and a chessboard shot out from within.
It flew in front of Xu Yan and slowly came to a stop, glowing with dazzling light.
Four characters were written on the board:
Heaven and Earth Chessboard!
The heavens and earth as the board, all living beings as the pieces.
This was the Golden Emperor Ant's Way of Chess, and as his disciple, the Chess Saint had naturally followed the same path.
With the Golden Emperor Ant's help, the Heaven and Earth Chessboard had been forged into the Chess Saint's weapon!
The Chess Saint of old had been a true powerhouse, a man of great ambition who had set his heart on entering that legendary realm.
Sadly, he had ultimately failed.
The Golden Emperor Ant hadn't even been there to witness the Chess Saint's final moments. It was a regret they had shared.
Xu Yan looked seriously at the chessboard floating before him. "This chessboard looks pretty good, but it doesn't seem as good as mine."
His own chessboards, tea sets, brushes, zithers, carving knives, and other items had all been rewards from the system. He didn't know what level they were, but they felt better than the chessboard before him.
His own chessboard was called the Godfall Chessboard.
Qin Tian, Jiang Taiyuan, Ji Bai Bian, Murong Hai, Qiang Di, the Medicine King's Eldest Disciple, and the others watched Xu Yan nervously, excitedly, and expectantly.
They didn't know whether Xu Yan would keep the chessboard for himself or give it to someone else, but they all knew of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.
It was the Chess Saint's weapon, a Quasi-God artifact!
A Quasi-God artifact could set all of Muzhou ablaze. If word of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard spread today, all of Muzhou would be thrown into an uproar.
The radiance pouring from the cave abode vanished. Those who had yet to reach Tianren Mountain saw the beam of light suddenly disappear and could only sigh.
When the light disappeared, it meant the treasure had already been claimed.
Xu Yan reached out and took hold of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard. After giving it some thought, he held it out to Qin Yudie with a smile. "Miss Yudie, you often come to my place to play chess with me, so you must like the Way of Chess. You can have this chessboard."
He already had a chessboard of his own, so there was no point in keeping this one. He decided to give it to Qin Yudie.
Qin Yudie stared at Xu Yan, stunned and scarcely able to believe it.
This was a Quasi-God artifact, the Chess Saint's weapon. Senior Xu was just casually giving it to her?
Qin Tian was both astonished and delighted. He urged her, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and thank Senior Xu!"
Senior Xu had personally given it to Qin Yudie in front of everyone. That made all the difference.
If they had seized the Heaven and Earth Chessboard themselves, someone else could seize it from them in turn.
But if Senior Xu gave it to them, no one else could take it. To do so would be a slap in Senior Xu's face.
Just imagine: even if these people had a hundred times the courage, would they dare slap Senior Xu in the face?
Even with ten thousand times the courage, they wouldn't dare.
Prompted by Qin Tian, Qin Yudie accepted the Heaven and Earth Chessboard from Xu Yan. She was still incredibly nervous and excited.
Her cheeks flushed, and a strange light appeared in her beautiful eyes. "Thank you, Senior Xu. I, Yudie, will never forget your great kindness."
Xu Yan smiled. "You people are far too stiff and serious. It's just a chessboard, nothing precious. There's no need to make such a fuss."
These little cultivators really have no experience. They're making a huge deal out of a chessboard. If those great cultivators were here, they'd probably dismiss it as beneath them.
Watching Xu Yan's easygoing manner, Qiang Di was deeply shaken and filled with yearning. "Senior Xu's cultivation must have already reached divinity!"
What kind of person could casually give away a Quasi-God artifact while chatting and laughing? Someone who had reached divinity, and who else?
Before you continue