The name Fahai is now known to everyone in the Jianghu.
He rose to fame when he instantly killed Zhaixing Zi with a single move and entered the innate ranking.
Then, he defeated Murong Fu, quickly rising to tenth on the innate ranking.
After that, he annihilated the Qingcheng Sect, slew Yu Canghai, defeated Song Qingshu, and withstood a palm strike from Song Yuanqiao,
which completely made him a prominent figure.
Now, he is a dazzling Genius, attracting the attention of countless people.
“That Little Monk and that woman have been following Fahai; I know about that.”
“But who are those two Young Masters?”
“How did they end up walking with Fahai?”
Everyone was discussing animatedly when finally, someone recognized their identities and exclaimed in surprise.
“It’s Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou!”
“The one with the mustache and the amorous eyes, known in the Jianghu as 'Four-Eyebrows,' is Lu Xiaofeng!”
“The blind Young Master beside him is none other than Hua Manlou, the seventh Young Master of the Hua family from Jiangnan!”
“It’s actually them!”
“How are they with Fahai?”
The crowd was astonished.
Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, “Little Master Fahai, everyone is looking at you.”
Fahai smiled faintly, his expression calm: “That’s because I can solve this chess game.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He considered himself confident enough, but he didn't expect Fahai to be even more so.
“Little Master’s Qi is unmatched by anyone I know.”
Fahai accepted it calmly: “Thank you for the compliment, Brother Hua.”
Those around who heard this looked at each other.
Was that really a compliment?
Wanwan covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling brightly.
This Little Master is truly interesting.
The group chatted and laughed freely, the atmosphere light and pleasant.
Just then, a cold snort abruptly sounded.
“Hmph! Congbian XianSheng invited heroes from all over the world to solve the chess game, not to listen to certain people spouting nonsense!”
Fahai turned his head and saw that it was Murong Fu who spoke.
He curled his lips slightly, his tone mocking: “What, has your old illness relapsed?”
“Do you still need me to treat you?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Murong Fu’s face instantly turned ashen.
This matter was known throughout the Jianghu, and Fahai deliberately mentioning it was clearly to humiliate him.
He was seething with anger but dared not make a move.
Fahai was someone who could directly withstand Song Yuanqiao’s palm strike!
He himself was no match at all; if he really made a move, he would only bring humiliation upon himself.
Fahai pressed on: “Heroes from all over the world? I don’t think so.”
“Right before my eyes, there is a useless person who lacks self-awareness, is weak in strength, and only knows how to play some superficial tricks.”
“Does this qualify as a hero?”
“It’s truly an eye-opener.”
Murong Fu was consumed by anger, his chest tight and his breath short, his face turning green, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Fahai, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Deng Baichuan quickly stepped forward, gently patting Murong Fu’s back to help him calm his Qi.
“Young Master, don’t bother with this monk.”
“Remember our mission.”
Physician Xue also spoke at the right time, easing the atmosphere.
“Since everyone is here to solve the game, then please, everyone, enter the game.”
Murong Fu then glared fiercely at Fahai.
He secretly vowed in his heart that once he solved the Zhenlong Chess Game, he would make this monk regret it!
As Physician Xue finished speaking, everyone’s eyes were burning with anticipation, though their excitement was hard to contain, their rationality still intact.
Before this, it wasn't that no one had thought of challenging the Zhenlong Chess Game.
But those people, one by one, became deeply entangled, almost insane, and unable to extricate themselves.
Because of this, no one dared to try again easily.
Just as everyone hesitated.
Suddenly, a young man in brocade robes walked out slowly; it was Duan Yu.
“Junior Duan Yu, I am willing to try this game.”
Upon seeing Duan Yu, the crowd began to whisper.
“Duan Yu is here!”
“He is a Genius on the innate ranking, a member of the Dali royal family, obsessed with Go since childhood, and highly skilled in chess.”
“Perhaps, he can truly solve this Zhenlong Chess Game.”
Everyone nodded.
“Duan Yu is indeed the most likely person to break the game.”
Before he finished speaking, on the chessboard, black and white pieces intertwined.
Duan Yu had already begun to play against Su Xinghe.
One by one, the chess pieces fell, while the Hanggu Eight Friends, on the cliff edge, placed their pieces in the same manner.
Everyone held their breath, craning their necks, watching the chess game.
After nearly a hundred moves, Duan Yu pondered for a long time, finally put down his piece, and conceded.
Though slightly regretful, his expression was calm.
Unlike others, he was not obsessed with the Legacy of the Xiaoyao Sect.
He yearned more for a free and unconstrained life.
Even practicing martial arts was out of necessity.
Duan Yu came from a prominent background, with a profound family martial arts Legacy, and a detached temperament, so he naturally didn't have much desire for the secrets behind this chess game.
He came this time merely at the behest of his uncle and father, making an earnest attempt.
Losing was fine.
“Duan Yu concedes.”
He rose gracefully and stepped aside.
Everyone sighed.
“What a pity, Duan Yu is already quite strong, able to play nearly a hundred moves with Congbian XianSheng, but unfortunately, he was still a hair’s breadth short.”
“Who else dares to try?”
Just then, Murong Fu slowly stepped forward.
Bao Butong looked at Fahai with cold eyes: “Monk, open your eyes wide and see how our Young Master breaks the game!”
Upon seeing Murong Fu, everyone’s eyes lit up, their anticipation growing stronger.
Murong Fu’s name was even more prominent, twenty-first on the innate ranking, Young Lord of the Murong family; whether he could break this game depended entirely on him.
Murong Fu sat down, cupped his fists, and said, “Congbian XianSheng, please enlighten me.”
Filled with resentment, he began the game with fierce attacks.
As the chess game began, black and white clashed, fighting for every inch.
The small chessboard, barely an inch square, seemed to have become a battlefield, shrouded in war clouds, the situation appearing evenly matched.
Suddenly, someone let out a low cry.
Everyone’s gaze shifted, only to see the black and white pieces locked in an inextricable struggle in the corner, the battle raging.
Su Xinghe and Murong Fu placed their pieces like flying, like charging cavalry, their sharp edges everywhere.
“Even the corners are being fought over so fiercely; Young Master Murong truly refuses to yield.”
One person whispered.
Lu Xiaofeng looked at Fahai and asked, “Great Master, do you think Young Master Murong can break this stalemate?”
Fahai shook his head and said directly: “He can’t even let go of the corners, yet he dreams of contending for the world; it’s just an empty dream.”
This sentence was profound, with hidden meaning.
He knew well that what Murong Fu sought was to revive the Great Yan empire.
These words were both a commentary on the chess game and on the world.
An empty dream?
Everyone’s hearts trembled, and they all felt puzzled.
Young Master Murong refused to give up any territory, and the situation clearly seemed evenly matched.
How could it become a pipe dream?
Everyone began to look at the chess game.
Only then did they discover the hidden meaning.
Every time Su Xinghe made a move, whether it was an insignificant spot,
or a star point, tengen, or the center, Murong Fu would always respond to protect it.
Unbeknownst to them, the situation quietly reversed.
Su Xinghe had become the attacker, while Murong Fu, unwilling to abandon the corners, could only struggle to respond.
The offense and defense shifted, and the situation tilted.
Murong Fu gradually became breathless under the pressure.
The situation rapidly deteriorated, with signs of defeat everywhere.
The overall situation was decided, with no chance of victory.
Murong Fu stared blankly at the chessboard, then suddenly stood up, his face twisted, full of unwillingness.
“This is impossible!”
“How could I lose?”
“Absolutely impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
With the chess game lost, Fahai’s deeply meaningful taunt fueled his anger even more.
He found it difficult to accept, his mind in chaos, almost insane, and he drew his sword, intending to commit suicide!
“Cousin!”
Wang Yuyan cried out in alarm.
“Young Master!”
His four retainers rushed forward in a panic, trying to disarm him.
But Murong Fu’s movements were swift; how could they stop him!
Just at this critical moment,
a clang of metal sounded, and the sword in Murong Fu’s hand was struck down, falling to the ground.
It turned out that Duan Yu had acted, using his Six Meridian Divine Swords to knock the sword away.
Fahai’s expression was calm, but he sighed inwardly.
Duan Yu, that fool, ruined my plan.
