Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 257 - 246: Ziwei Wins Chess Against Tong Tian

Chapter 257: Chapter 246: Ziwei Wins Chess Against Tong Tian

It is said that upon the death of the Jade Emperor, all thirty-three Heavenly Divine Artifacts surrendered of their own will, and the armies of the Demon Tribe surged into the Heavenly Court to reorganize the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

Seeing that the Jade Emperor was dead, the deities naturally did not continue their futile resistance and surrendered one after another.

The Tong Tian Sect Master used the Supreme Holy Mother and the Six Souls Banner to capture the Jie Taoist disciples and Bo Yikao of the Ziwei Great Emperor in the Heavenly Court. Now, holding the Six Souls Banner in his hand and calculating that the Jade Emperor was dead, he shook the banner, and hundreds of Jie Taoist disciples surged out from it.

"Bo Yikao pays his respects to the Lord of Spiritual Treasures." Upon seeing the Tong Tian Sect Master, Ziwei Great Emperor naturally did not dare to act rashly and deeply bowed.

"Ziwei Great Emperor, there’s no need for formalities." The Tong Tian Sect Master slightly raised his hand, and Ziwei Great Emperor respectfully stood aside.

The Jie Taoist disciples knelt down one after another below the seat of Tong Tian Sect Master, their heads touching the ground.

"Disciples pay respect to Teacher Tong Tian," the Jie Taoist disciples shouted loudly.

The Tong Tian Sect Master nodded slightly, and the grand hall of Biyou Palace finally felt somewhat lively. Although it could not be restored to its former glory, at least most of his disciples had returned, which comforted him as a master. He slightly lifted his hand and said, "My disciples, rise."

"Thank you, Teacher Tong Tian!" Upon receiving the intent of the Tong Tian Sect Master, the Jie Taoist disciples all stood up.

The Jie Taoist disciples each took their original places and waited for the Tong Tian Sect Master to speak.

The Tong Tian Sect Master said, "The Jade Emperor committed countless injustices and was intolerable to the Heavenly Dao. Today, the Demon Tribe’s Green Emperor and Buddha Ancestor, Victorious Fighting Buddha, overthrew him, truly in accordance with the Heavenly Dao. Remembering our past mentor-disciple relationship, I did not wish for you to fall into a great calamity and have millennia of cultivation turn into empty rewards. This time, the Demon Tribe’s Green Emperor, Sun Wukong, wishes to rebuild the Heavenly Court and will hold the Investiture of the Gods at Mount Qi. You must all devote yourselves wholeheartedly, support the new Heavenly Court, revolutionize the world, and bring equality to all beings under heaven."

"Disciples obey the decree of Teacher!" the Jie Taoist disciples responded resoundingly.

Ziwei Great Emperor thought to himself, "Indeed, Wukong has saints backing him, no wonder he has developed so rapidly. This journey has been eyebrow-raising yet unthreatening."

Ziwei Great Emperor was an extremely astute individual. Hearing the words of the Tong Tian Sect Master, how could he not understand? They were supporting Wukong while Wukong also became their vanguard, helping them clear all obstacles. However, this matter also involved mutual consent.

The Tong Tian Sect Master said, "This journey requires your utmost effort. You must strive to create a prosperous and flourishing era to face the crisis of the Yuan."

"Yes."

The Tong Tian Sect Master saw hope in the Great Dao; he had already grasped the tail of the Great Dao and was only a step away from ascending to the heavens! It was also because he was about to achieve the status of Great Dao Sage that he glimpsed the changes in the Heavenly Dao—the crisis of the Yuan where heaven and earth would crumble, bringing calamity to all beings. Under the Immeasurable Calamity, only the Heavenly Dao Saints can be spared, but even then, some Heavenly Dao Saints will fall; this is a great terror.

By leveraging Wukong to determine the great situation of the Three Realms, there was no longer a need to strive further, and even Luo Hou had stopped reacting, clearly realizing the severity of the crisis of the Yuan and no longer allowing the demons from the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region to emerge and consume the energy of the deities of the Earth Immortal Realm.

"This world is not safe; only those who attain the realm of Heavenly Dao Saint can seize a slim chance of survival, while the Great Dao Saints are truly immortal and indestructible, beyond calamity and boundlessness." The Tong Tian Sect Master’s mind was as clear as a mirror.

A Heavenly Dao Saint, regardless, is still within this realm of heaven and earth, their Primordial Spirit entrusted to the Heavenly Dao of this realm. If one becomes a Great Dao Saint, then they will be entrusted upon the Great Dao itself; the Great Dao is eternal and undying, unaffected by any crisis of the Yuan, thus only a Great Dao Saint can achieve true immortality through all calamities.

The Tong Tian Sect Master had great fate and determination that other saints did not possess, which is why the Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch valued him most as his disciple.

Soon, the Supreme Holy Mother came to report.

"Teacher, the Jade Emperor has been executed, and the Demon Tribe’s grand army has fully entered the Heavenly Court; the deities have surrendered," the Supreme Holy Mother said.

"Good, I am aware now. Wudang, go find Guang Chengzi, and together, ascend to The Jade Purity Heaven," the Tong Tian Sect Master instructed.

"Disciple obeys the order." The Supreme Holy Mother, upon receiving the instructions from the Tong Tian Sect Master, descended to the Lower Realm to find Guang Chengzi, the eldest senior brother of Chan Taoist, to ascend with him to The Jade Purity Heaven.

The Tong Tian Sect Master glanced at his disciples and said, "Disperse for now, and I will summon you when needed."

"Yes, Teacher!"

After the Jie Taoist disciples left, the Tong Tian Sect Master then said to Ziwei Great Emperor, "I wonder if Ziwei Great Emperor would be interested in playing a game of chess with me?"

Bo Yikao was a master of intrigues, profoundly skilled in music and also extremely adept in chess. In the Heavenly Court, he was considered a chess deity. Even if he gave others a three-move advantage, he could still win decisively. His style of play was elegant, devoid of any mundane qualities, yet it silently delivered lethal blows.

Ziwei Great Emperor naturally did not dare to refuse the Tong Tian Sect Master and thus bowed his hands, saying, "To play chess with the Lord of Spiritual Treasures is a privilege Bo Yikao has long sought."

Tong Tian Sect Master smiled and nodded, having his apprentice set up the chessboard and brew some tea, the finest Mysterious Cloud Mist Tea.

This chessboard, made from thirty-thousand-year-old purple sandalwood could be used as a magical treasure. If not crafted into a chessboard, its power could have increased a hundredfold. Even the Ziwei Great Emperor couldn’t help but feel pained; Tong Tian Sect Master truly did not treat treasures as treasures, using such precious material just to make a chessboard!

As for the chess pieces, they were made from the Yin and Yang energies collected from Heaven and Earth, even more precious than the chessboard itself. It caused Ziwei Great Emperor’s heart to bleed. Such treasures had actually been made into chess pieces and a chessboard—Heavens, Lord of Spiritual Treasures, could you be any more extravagant?

Tong Tian Sect Master said, "Please!"

As the guest, Ziwei Great Emperor naturally took the black pieces. Playing against a saint for the first time, he could not help but feel slightly nervous. After taking a few deep breaths, he placed the first piece at the central position.

"Hmm?" Tong Tian Sect Master was slightly surprised but did not speak, holding the white pieces.

Mid-game, the chess piece Ziwei Great Emperor had placed in the central position played a crucial role, connected the dying dragon, turning the tables and actually counter-attacking Tong Tian Sect Master’s dragon—an incredibly shocking move. Tong Tian Sect Master nodded slightly; of course, he would not demean himself by calculating how the game should proceed next—it would be too boring.

"Good, an excellent move. Kings should be cautious in the beginning. Correct the calendar, change the dress code, follow the central principle and adhere to its intent," Tong Tian Sect Master nodded and praised, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Ziwei Great Emperor remained composed and said, "Lord of Spiritual Treasures, you flatter me too much."

Tong Tian Sect Master laughed heartily and said, "I have lost. Ziwei Great Emperor’s skills in chess are truly extraordinary."

Ziwei Great Emperor said, "It was just a trick. If we were to play another game, I fear I would no longer be a match for Lord of Spiritual Treasures."

Tong Tian Sect Master studied the game repeatedly and exclaimed, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Ziwei Great Emperor picked up his tea cup and sipped the tea lightly. This Mysterious Cloud Mist Tea, even for him as the Heavenly Court Great Emperor, was hard to come by—only half a pound was offered per year, usually savored sparingly.

With a flick of his sleeve, Tong Tian Sect Master separated the white and black pieces, dropping them into the chess container.

"Ziwei Great Emperor, Bo Yikao is truly a talented and clever individual, aptly described as having the spiritual wisdom of Heaven and Earth," Tong Tian Sect Master remarked with a smile.

"You flatter me, you flatter me!" Ziwei Great Emperor hurriedly responded.

"Alas, what a pity! If only you hadn’t gone onto the Deification Platform, earning a name on the Investiture of the Gods, with such talent, becoming a Heavenly Dao Saint was not impossible. It’s a pity, had you not criticized Daji and King Zhou in a moment of anger using the music of the qin, it wouldn’t have come to this," Tong Tian Sect Master sighed slightly, "Your cultivation level can only stop at the Primordial Golden Immortal now."

Those who ascended the Deification Platform could only attain up to the Primordial Golden Immortal and couldn’t touch the principles of the Heavenly Dao.

Ziwei Great Emperor bitterly smiled and said, "I blame my youthful passion for not pondering deeply over King Zhou’s intentions, being misled by the demoness Daji, and instead criticizing through the qin music."

It was lamentable that Ziwei Great Emperor had ascended the Deification Platform, severing his chance to achieve the Heavenly Dao Saint Realm.

Tong Tian Sect Master laughed and said, "Had you not criticized him, you wouldn’t have this everlasting fame. And there’s a poem to prove it: ’Harmonious sounds to clear the mind and eye, earthly music echoes heavenly melody. Offering the heart of all sages through time, to three feet of paulownia wood.’"

Tong Tian Sect Master held great admiration for Ziwei Great Emperor and considering his own chess skills, he was stunned that he had lost.

Ziwei Great Emperor smiled and said, "These are overly kind praises from the people, which I surely do not deserve."

Tong Tian Sect Master stated, "Upon returning, serve the Heavenly Court well, and undertake those great revolutionary tasks of heaven."

Ziwei Great Emperor responded, "I shall follow Lord of Spiritual Treasures’ decree."

After finishing the tea, Ziwei Great Emperor excused himself and left toward the Heavenly Court.

Tong Tian Sect Master returned to his seat, sat cross-legged, and started to cultivate, his hands forming a spell.

"Within three thousand years, I will surely achieve the realm of a Great Dao Sage," Tong Tian Sect Master’s eyes sparkled with determination.

To know what happens next, stay tuned for the following Chapter. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)