The Heaven and Earth Chessboard Acknowledged Its Master

Qin Yudie looked at the Heaven and Earth Chessboard in her hands, hardly daring to believe it was real.

What she now held was actually a Quasi-God treasure—the Chess Saint's treasure from years ago.

The Golden Emperor Ant watched from Xu Yan's shoulder as Xu Yan handed the Heaven and Earth Chessboard to Qin Yudie. It did not stop him.

The Chess Saint had long since fallen. The Heaven and Earth Chessboard should contain the Chess Saint's inheritance, so Xu Yan's actions could be seen as finding the Chess Saint an heir.

Qin Tian reminded her, "Hurry and leave a Spiritual Sense Imprint!"

Once cultivators reached the Spiritual Consciousness Realm, they could cultivate spiritual sense. They could leave a Spiritual Sense Imprint on a treasure, forming a special connection with it and allowing them to control it as they pleased.

This was Treasure Acknowledging Master.

Qin Yudie nodded. Her spiritual sense entered the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, leaving behind a Spiritual Sense Imprint.

From that moment on, the Heaven and Earth Chessboard became her treasure.

"Alas..."

Someone sighed. Such a Quasi-God treasure, a priceless treasure in the truest sense, had fallen into the hands of little Qin Yudie—and they couldn't even snatch it from her.

Others regretted it bitterly. They should have befriended Xu Yan sooner; then the Heaven and Earth Chessboard would have been theirs.

Still others understood that the rise of the Tianren Sect was unstoppable. It would grow to heights beyond anyone's reckoning.

And all of it was because the Tianren Sect had Xu Yan, a hidden expert, backing it.

Whoosh!

Just then, three figures shot out from a secluded corner not far away, making straight for the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

They were Hall Master Mu and the Fat and Thin Helmsmen of the Evil God Palace. Qin Yudie had only just acknowledged the treasure as her master, and many people had been disappointed and let down their guard. This was the perfect chance for them to snatch it by force.

"Yudie, watch out!"

Qin Tian roared, unleashing a surging wave of Spiritual Power as he charged at the three Evil Cultivators.

He had never imagined that Evil Cultivators were hiding nearby, or that they would launch a surprise attack at a time like this.

"Get lost!"

Hall Master Mu barked, sending Qin Tian flying with a single palm strike.

Then he and the Fat and Thin Helmsmen attacked Qin Yudie from either side, all of them releasing black Spiritual Power.

At that moment, a tiny figure shot off Xu Yan's shoulder, turning into a streak of golden light that struck all three Evil Cultivators in an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three Evil Cultivators took heavy blows, all flying backward and crashing to the ground.

The other cultivators finally reacted. They rushed forward and surrounded the three Evil Cultivators.

Evil Cultivators were the common enemy of all cultivators. Daring to appear and attack now was an insult and a show of contempt toward them.

They were all important figures of the Southern Domain, after all. Did they really have so little dignity?

The Golden Emperor Ant returned to Xu Yan's shoulder. Another barely visible divine pattern on its body vanished.

But this had little effect on it. There were tens of millions of divine patterns on its body. Although each time it released even a trace of power, it had to unlock at least one divine pattern, it wouldn't run out anytime soon.

Wanting to make a good impression on Xu Yan, Murong Hai hurriedly shouted at the three Evil Cultivators on the ground, "How dare you, Evil Cultivators, commit murder in broad daylight! You deserve to die!"

The Evil Cultivators had clearly attacked Qin Yudie, and Xu Yan's relationship with her was no ordinary one. Murong Hai figured that if he was the first to step forward and deal with the Evil Cultivators, he might earn Xu Yan's approval.

What was going on?

Xu Yan himself was somewhat at a loss. Three people had suddenly appeared and tried to attack Qin Yudie, then all three had suddenly been sent flying, and a crowd had surrounded them.

From what Murong Hai had shouted, those three fellows were actually Evil Cultivators...

He felt a little shaken. Without even realizing it, he had nearly gotten caught up in a clash between the Evil Cultivators and these cultivators.

Qin Tian didn't immediately question the Evil Cultivators. Instead, he first made sure Qin Yudie was unharmed, then apologized to Xu Yan. "Senior Xu, thank you for coming to our aid!"

When Hall Master Mu had slapped him flying, his heart had gone cold. That Evil Cultivator was at the Sea of Consciousness Triple Heaven, and there were no cultivators at that level among them. It would have been difficult to stop Hall Master Mu's sudden attack.

But at that critical moment, he had seen a streak of golden light shoot out from Lin Yansheng and knock down all three Evil Cultivators.

Qin Yudie also came to her senses. She bowed to Xu Yan and said, "If Senior Xu hadn't saved me, something terrible might have happened to me. I will always remember every kindness you've shown me."

"If there's ever anything you need from me, just say the word, Senior Xu. I won't refuse."

She no longer saw Xu Yan merely as a kindhearted hidden expert. She now saw him as the person who had saved her life, someone to whom she owed a great debt of gratitude.

Xu Yan glanced at the Golden Emperor Ant on his right shoulder. It seemed the ant had just zipped out and taken down all three.

He could only force a smile. "You're too kind, Miss. But speaking of asking for help, I wonder if you or Old Mr. Qin know any cultivators from the Tianren Sect?"

A trace of confusion showed in Qin Tian's eyes. "Cultivators from the Tianren Sect? I know a few."

He didn't know whether Xu Yan was aware that he and Qin Yudie were cultivators of the Tianren Sect. Neither of them had ever mentioned it to Xu Yan, and he didn't seem particularly interested in such things.

Qin Yudie asked, "Did some cultivator from the Tianren Sect offend you, Senior Xu?"

Cultivators from the Tianren Sect often went to Tianren City, and they naturally had no idea that Xu Yan was a hidden expert. It was entirely possible that they might have clashed with him.

"No, no. It's like this," Xu Yan explained. "A young man I know—the one who sweeps for me every day—wants to take the Tianren Sect's disciple examination and join the sect to cultivate."

"If you know any cultivators from the Tianren Sect, could you ask them to keep an eye out for him? His name is Jiang Li, and he might have a real talent for cultivation."

This was about all he could do for Jiang Li. He had heard that some sects had unwritten rules when recruiting disciples: those who paid were more likely to pass, while the examiners might not even bother paying attention to those who didn't.

Given Jiang Li's circumstances, he definitely had no money to give the Tianren Sect cultivators in charge of the examination. It would be a real shame if he were eliminated for that reason.

That was why he brought up Jiang Li to Qin Tian and Qin Yudie, hoping it might help him, even a little.

Qin Tian replied, "All right. I understand what you mean, Senior Xu."

It was a tiny matter, really: just a young man who wanted to join the Tianren Sect and cultivate.

The Tianren Sect recruited so many disciples every year, and there were always a few useless ones. Since Senior Xu had mentioned this Jiang Li, then even if he had no talent for cultivation, it wouldn't matter—they could simply accept him.

Meanwhile, several cultivators dragged the three Evil Cultivators over and tossed them in front of Xu Yan.

Murong Hai ingratiatingly said, "Senior Xu, I've already given these three Evil Cultivators a good thrashing on your behalf. Please tell us how you'd like them dealt with."