"The way of chess is the way of deception."
"Get one move ahead, and you stay ahead at every step, until you devour the entire board!"
Before the waterfall, Xu Xuan stood in white robes, pointing at the chessboard before him with an air of effortless calm.
Yun Qingxue's eyes flickered, and a hint of bewilderment appeared on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
After hesitating a moment, she parted her red lips and asked softly, "Young Sect Master, if all living beings are chess pieces, as you say, then who is the player moving them?"
The corners of Xu Xuan's lips lifted. He slowly rose, gazed up at the sky before him, and smiled serenely.
"My fate is mine to command, not heaven's. If heaven wills my death, then I shall overturn the heavens themselves."
At these words, Yun Qingxue's expression stirred.
Ding! The Daughter of Destiny has begun to feel affection for you. Your Fate Points +87... Ding! Tang Chuan's mental state is unstable. Fate Points -66...
Hearing the notifications, Xu Xuan's heart stirred.
The past seven days of drawing Yun Qingxue into daily discussions about life's deeper truths had not been wasted.
During that time, he had made his moves from every angle, from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to saber arts, swordsmanship, and movement techniques.
He had racked up a hefty amount of affection.
At last, he had raised Yun Qingxue's affection to the point where she had begun to develop feelings for him.
At that thought, something suddenly occurred to Xu Xuan. With steady, assured steps, he walked over to Yun Qingxue.
Watching from the shadows, Tang Chuan could not help crushing the rock before him into powder.
His brows twisted tightly together, and his entire face looked somewhat savage.
"Xu Xuan! I swear I'll take your life!"
"And Yun Qingxue, you won't escape either!"
Tang Chuan could not stop himself from growling.
Xu Xuan paid no heed to Tang Chuan's anger. Instead, he approached Yun Qingxue and reached out to remove a fallen leaf beside her ear.
"Qingxue, you don't have to call me Young Sect Master."
"Just call me Xu Xuan."
At Xu Xuan's words, Yun Qingxue's heartbeat quickened beyond her control.
A blush spread over her fair skin.
Like the evening clouds at the edge of the sky, it was especially alluring.
Her pale purple dress made her seem like a crape myrtle in full bloom, so beautiful that one could hardly bear to look away.
Even Xu Xuan was momentarily dazed by the sight.
After a moment's hesitation, he gently slipped an arm around her waist.
The delicate feel of her sent a tremor through his heart.
"Brother... Xuan."
Yun Qingxue squirmed a little and slipped out of Xu Xuan's embrace.
Like a startled fawn, she hurried away.
Yet her expression made it clear that this was mostly bashfulness.
Xu Xuan remained where he stood and could not help smiling.
He had been a little too hasty just now.
She had only just begun to feel affection for him. He still needed time to nurture those feelings.
Once he raised her affection a little further, it should be about right.
At that thought, Xu Xuan's heart grew somewhat restless.
Yun Qingxue truly had taken his breath away just now.
Of course, her current affection was already enough for his purposes.
As he recalled, Tang Chuan's Fate Points had already fallen below 300!
He can be killed!
At last, he could pull out this thorn lodged in his throat!
Xu Xuan glanced behind the artificial rock formation where Tang Chuan was hiding and revealed a cold, sinister smile.
Just as he was about to act, a dark figure suddenly appeared in the distance.
Its speed was astonishing, like a shooting star.
Xu Xuan's eyes flashed. This person was incredibly powerful.
He was definitely an old monster beyond the Sea Transformation Realm!
Judging by his bearing, he should be the envoy from the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace. Xu Xuan had not expected him to arrive so quickly.
While Xu Xuan braced himself, the figure suddenly headed behind the artificial rock formation where Tang Chuan was hiding.
At the same time, Xu Xuan heard a string of notifications.
Ding! Zhao Wuji, envoy of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace, has discovered Tang Chuan's astonishing talent. Tang Chuan's Fate Points +231... Ding! Zhao Wuji has developed an interest in Tang Chuan. Tang Chuan's Fate Points +356... Ding! Tang Chuan's Fate Points +201...
Xu Xuan's face darkened at once.
He had finally managed to push Tang Chuan's Fate Points below 300, only to have all his hard work wiped out in an instant!
Hey! Just one Zhao Wuji, and Tang Chuan's Fate Points shoot up this much?
Are you trying to stop me from killing Tang Chuan so he can slaughter me instead?
Xu Xuan could not help roaring inwardly.
Ding! Tang Chuan is a Child of Destiny with a powerful fate. Eliminating him will not be easy, and many unforeseen changes may arise along the way.
Xu Xuan exhaled in frustration.
He was utterly speechless at these evaluation criteria.
Still, thinking about it, if a Child of Destiny were that easy to kill, he would not deserve the name.
Of course, Zhao Wuji's appearance only strengthened Xu Xuan's resolve.
He would climb to the pinnacle of life, one step at a time!
When that day came, never mind Tang Chuan or Zhao Wuji-even the master of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace would be crushed beneath him.
Looks like I'll have to start with Zhao Wuji if I want to kill Tang Chuan.
Once I win him over, Tang Chuan will be nothing but meat on the chopping block, mine to carve up however I please!
Xu Xuan murmured inwardly.
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji looked at Tang Chuan before him with some surprise.
"Who are you?"
Tang Chuan felt a knot of irritation as he stared at the red-nosed old Daoist who had suddenly appeared.
"Tang Chuan!"
Hearing that name, Zhao Wuji raised his brows.
"Oh? You're not Xu Xuan?"
"To think this remote frontier would have another youth as gifted as you."
Tang Chuan's brows knitted tightly at Zhao Wuji's words.
He stared fixedly at him and asked in a serious tone, "Who are you?"
Zhao Wuji stroked his beard with considerable pride.
"Zhao Wuji of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace."
Tang Chuan's pupils contracted, and his heartbeat quickened. He hurriedly bowed respectfully.
"Tang Chuan pays his respects to the honored envoy!"
The corners of Zhao Wuji's lips rose slightly. Pointing at Xu Xuan in the distance, he asked calmly, "Do you have a grudge against him?"
Tang Chuan clenched his fists and recounted everything that had happened, detail by detail.
Zhao Wuji's expression gradually soured.
His gaze toward Xu Xuan also became somewhat unfriendly.
Xu Xuan heard another notification.
Unlike before, however, this time Zhao Wuji's affection toward him had decreased.
Xu Xuan rubbed his forehead. This Zhao Wuji really was pragmatic.
Without the system, even if he could overwhelm Tang Chuan in strength, he would still lose because of Zhao Wuji.
Sure enough, staying alive in this world was no easy feat.
The slightest lapse could cost him his life.
I'd like to see how you keep jumping around once I've dealt with Zhao Wuji, Tang Chuan!
Xu Xuan was brimming with confidence.
Because Zhao Wuji had one enormous weakness.
He cherished talent!
One crucial reason he had taken a liking to Tang Chuan was that his aptitude was exceptional.
But if he discovered that Xu Xuan possessed the Chaos Body, would he still have the same attitude?
Before you continue