When Chu Tian and the other two rushed to the outer perimeter of the Hongmeng Shattered Ruins' center at top speed, the sight before them brought them to an abrupt halt.
There were no mountains of corpses or seas of blood here, nor were there any bodies of Heavenly Abyss or Starry Son.
In their place stood an incomparably enormous illusory chessboard that nearly covered the entire starry sky—the Taiyi Chessboard!
Upon the crisscrossing board, Heaven Abyss Holy Son and Starry Son had not died. Instead, they had been turned into two tiny chess pieces, trapped tightly in two dead corners of the game. Invisible chains of laws coiled around their bodies, and each time a black piece fell upon the board, a tenth of their Great Path origin was forcibly stripped away!
At this moment, both their auras had weakened to the extreme. Their flames of life were like candles guttering in the wind, liable to go out completely at any moment. This was why Chu Tian had previously sensed their life imprints "extinguish"!
At the other end of the chessboard sat a strange white-robed figure with no facial features. He held a black piece between his fingers, ready to place the final, fatal move.
"Stop!"
Chu Tian roared, drawing the Hongmeng Human Emperor Sword. A streak of violet-gold sword light cleaved viciously toward the Taiyi Chessboard.
"Bang!"
The instant the sword light touched the board's edge, it was silently dissipated by a gentle yet indestructible force.
"Latecomer, do not act rashly." The faceless man in white slowly turned his head. Though he had no features, Chu Tian could distinctly feel a scrutinizing gaze fall upon him. "I am the last guardian of the game among the Hongmeng Survivors. This game cannot be broken by force."
"Quit playing the