The Chess Player Moves His Pieces, and All Living Beings Fall!

"Bring him to me."

Ye Zichen's calm words carried immense authority.

"Yes, we will take our leave."

Seeing that Ye Zichen had agreed, the two hurried out to the main hall to escort the Taiyuan Holy Lord over.

About fifteen minutes later, three figures arrived at the entrance to the courtyard.

After standing at the entrance for a while, the three waited for Ye Zichen's command.

"Enter."

Ye Zichen's voice reached the three of them. The Taiyuan Holy Lord glanced at the other two and followed them slowly into the courtyard.

The sacred, majestic figure seated before the bluestone table was imprinted on the Taiyuan Holy Lord's mind.

That gaze pierced through layer upon layer of mist, sharp and calm, like a heavenly eye witnessing the birth and death of all things.

Overwhelmed by the oppressive presence emanating from Ye Zichen, the holy lord of the Taiyuan Holy Land hurriedly dropped to his knees.

"This junior, Lin Feng... pays his respects to Senior."

When he had arrived, Ye Tian had told him that the one behind the phenomenon he had seen was actually an Immortal, and he had found it hard to believe. Now that he had seen him, he was awestruck by this being from the heavens!

"Rise."

Ye Zichen motioned for him to get up and set out a fresh set of chess pieces.

"Play a game with me."

In his previous life, he had no other hobbies and had often studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Now, thanks to the system's rewards, his every action had reached the pinnacle, with Dao rhythms flowing around him. To these people, he was a walking fortuitous opportunity.

Lin Feng rose to his feet. When he heard that Senior actually wanted to play a game with him, wasn't this a torrent of riches falling from the heavens onto his head? He rejoiced at the fortuitous opportunity from an Immortal, yet feared he would not play well.

At last, he said carefully, "Then... then I... will respectfully accept your invitation. My skill at chess is lacking, so I beg Senior for guidance!"

Ye Zichen placed a piece, and Lin Feng was instantly drawn into the world of the chessboard.

Everything here was far too terrifying for Lin Feng. Devils danced in wild chaos, and he was terrified they would tear him apart the next instant. Upon the throne opposite him, Ye Zichen's figure was like a devil-subduing lord descended from heaven, a supreme immortal god, the true sovereign! All living beings existed at the whim of a single thought from him.

For an ant like me to see him even once, I must have used up all the luck of my lifetime.

Half an hour later.

Drenched in sweat, Lin Feng trembled as he said gratefully:

"Th... thank you, Imm... Immortal Senior, for bestowing such a heaven-defying blessing upon this lowly one. To play a game with Senior was my supreme honor!"

Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng withdrew from that battlefield of Gods and Devils from across the heavens, the likes of which he had never seen. Having experienced it firsthand, he finally understood just how terrifying this lord was.

Ye Zichen did not reply. If this counted as a fortuitous opportunity, then even his farts would smell sweet to them, wouldn't they?

To him, playing a game of chess was merely a way to amuse himself. Besides, this man played terribly-or perhaps he himself was simply too good.

"What plans do you have for the future, my lord?"

Having regained his composure, Lin Feng asked cautiously.

"Since I have come to the lower realm, I will travel through the mortal world. It is no concern of yours; there is no need to follow."

Ye Zichen gazed into the distance, his thoughts drifting.

"As you command!"

The three answered in unison, but their eyes were full of worry.

With an Immortal descending to the lower realm, he would probably be unable to keep a low profile wherever he went.

"Since fate brought us together, I will give this chess set to the Sword Sect."

The clear blue sky stretched cloudless for ten thousand miles, as crystalline as jade, a sight that lifted the spirits.

Ye Zichen looked toward the horizon, no one knowing what he was doing. Then he gathered his thoughts and vanished from the courtyard, leaving no indication of where he had gone.

And just now, in the direction Ye Zichen had looked, a corpse had been slowly turning to ash among the clouds, unnoticed by anyone. Blood streamed from its seven orifices, and its face was frozen in terror, as though something had frightened it to death!

It turned out that a peeping tom had set his sights on Ye Zichen while spying on the Sword Sect.

Now that the man's malice had shown itself, Ye Zichen did not mind sending this nameless little lackey to a death that left no corpse behind. What did that thing think it was, daring to covet him?

The three standing there in a daze had noticed nothing at all.

They had only heard Ye Zichen's final words. The two from the Sword Sect in particular, old bags of bones though they were, jumped more joyfully than anyone.

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, Exalted Immortal!"

After kowtowing who knew how many times in succession, Patriarch Ye Tian and Sect Master Ye Ling recovered from their excitement and turned to look at the chess set resting quietly on the bluestone table.

With a single sentence, Ye Zichen had assigned the chessboard to the Sword Sect. Patriarch Ye Tian stepped forward and touched it lightly, and could then use it freely.

Feeling the fiercely murderous force within it, unstoppable as a blade splitting bamboo, Holy Lord Lin Feng felt that his Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivation would be slain by this formation the very next instant!

An im... immortal-grade formation!

In the lower realm, the highest-grade Cultivation Methods one could practice were supreme heaven-grade methods. To open the immortal gate and ascend to the Immortal Realm, one had to condense innate immortal Spiritual Qi and comprehend the immortal Dao.

And this was now the only formation in the lower realm containing immortal Qi. No one in the lower realm could break it. It could both aid comprehension and unleash a killing formation, making it a supreme treasure.

Lin Feng's thoughts began to wander in his excitement. His eyes darted about, and after some consideration, he asked Sect Master Ye Ling:

"Might I ask the two of you to accompany me to the main hall for a discussion? This is Senior's place of rest, so we should withdraw quickly."

The Taiyuan Holy Lord's words brought the two back to reality.

"Very well, Holy Lord."

Now that Patriarch Ye Tian was about to break through to Tribulation Transcendence, he was no longer a man nearing the end of his lifespan. Important matters of the sect like this needed to be discussed with him.

"I will not go. Ye Ling, you may decide everything yourself. I am going into seclusion to break through to Tribulation Transcendence. I will surely emerge having reached completion within a year!"

In the main hall,

Ye Ling, seated in the main seat, considered what Holy Lord Lin Feng had said before speaking. "You mean... an alliance?"

"After today, the Sword Sect is no longer what it once was. Within a year, the Sword Sect's Patriarch Ye Tian will break through to Tribulation Transcendence. When the time comes, the Sword Sect will only need to win first place in the prodigy martial competition. I am willing to help the Sword Sect regain its former glory."

Lin Feng was quite satisfied with the Sword Sect. It had enjoyed an excellent reputation in the Eastern Continent for a long time, and everyone praised its outstanding qualities.

Ye Ling held his forehead and said, somewhat uncertainly:

"But to challenge the holy lands' prodigies with that foolish disciple of mine would probably be rather difficult!"

Although the child had good natural talent, he was still a little lacking at present.

Hearing this, Lin Feng smiled confidently and explained:

"Sect Master Ye need no longer worry. Now that the formation has recognized a master, the immortal Qi and Dao rhythms it contains are beyond anything in the lower realm."

"I have long heard that your eldest disciple is exceptionally gifted and calm and composed. In recent years, he could be said to have no equal among his peers. I believe he can definitely surpass himself in a year."

Ye Ling picked up the conversation, a troubled look appearing on his face again.

"The Danyang Holy Land will probably be difficult to deal with. Holy Lord Mu Yang is extremely hostile toward our sect."

Hearing this, Lin Feng's expression instantly turned grave, and his eyes filled with resentment.

"Now, to refine their so-called supreme heaven-grade Tribulation Transcendence Pill and reach the Half-Immortal realm, the Danyang Holy Land burns, kills, and plunders, stopping at no evil! They should have been wiped out long ago!"

Having expressed his dissatisfaction with Danyang, Lin Feng calmed himself and continued:

"Even so, we must make further preparations. The Danyang Holy Land is powerful, and the full extent of its strength is unknown. It has long had friction with my Taiyuan Holy Land and Flaw Light. Even if the Sword Sect defeats the Danyang Holy Land's prodigy, I'm afraid this will not end easily!"

Lin Feng was deeply worried about this. He reckoned a vicious battle would probably be unavoidable when the time came.

"For now, we can only wait for the patriarch to break through and hope that disciple of mine performs beyond his usual ability!"

Ye Ling sighed.

Half an hour later, Ye Ling summoned all the elders to the main hall to discuss the matter together.

After conferring with all the elders, Grand Elder Ye Qing spoke solemnly on their behalf:

"Sect Master, since that senior has bestowed a heaven-defying fortuitous opportunity upon us, we must make the most of it. The entire Sword Sect is united and will respectfully obey your commands."

"Good!"

Everyone in the main hall was very satisfied with the outcome and continued chatting about trivial matters.

"As for what happened today, I ask that the sect master and elders not spread word of it for now."

Lin Feng bowed as he gave this reminder, then left the Sword Sect and returned to the Taiyuan Holy Land.

Ye Ling looked in the direction Holy Lord Lin Feng had departed and sighed. "The Eastern Continent is changing; a great era is upon us!"

When would the Road to Immortal Ascension in the Weiyang Realm open again?

He turned to look once more at the courtyard on the back mountain, long since empty, and thought, My lord, was this also part of your plan?

Ye Zichen: ?