"Is that all the Buddhist School can do? The same trick again and again. Its skill goes no further."
Atop the mist-wreathed mountain, a Daoist in a dark yellow robe pressed the stone in his hand onto the board.
Within the board, mountains rose and fell and rivers wove together, as though a world lay hidden inside. As the white stone landed in the northwest corner, a trace of immortal spirit energy grew dense, shrouded in clouds and mist.
Across from him, a ragged Old Beggar snorted. He plucked a stone from the void and held it without setting it down. "You old fox are devious indeed! You send others charging ahead while you hide behind them and scheme, then offer your lofty judgments. Have you forgotten what happened when Longji, Long Xu, and the others descended to the Mortal World? When it comes to losses, the Immortal Sect has suffered no less than the Buddhist School. The Immortal Sect is simply powerful, divided into several branches that govern themselves. Some are friends of Great Hua Mountain, others its enemies, so its losses draw less notice."
With that, he picked a spot and set down his black stone.
Crack!
Ripples surged across the board, engulfing the entire northwest corner and scattering the clouds and mist that had gathered there.
The Old Beggar chuckled, plainly pleased with himself.
"Buddhist School or Immortal Sect, they act of their own accord. It has nothing to do with me. I simply never thought both sides would be so foolish!" The dark-yellow-robed Daoist took another white stone and scanned the board. "The Cycle Tribulation is like a contest among many players, but every stone is placed in the Mortal World. The mortal realm is the board! A son of the Chen Household of the Southern