Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 328 - 309: When Men Kill, Heaven and Earth Overturn

Chapter 328: Chapter 309: When Men Kill, Heaven and Earth Overturn

Xuan Ming comprehended the marvelous technique of Ninety-Nine Return to Origin, through which he saw through the true essence of chess, thoroughly understanding its mysteries and realized the Heavenly Origin One Finger.

The Heavenly Origin One Finger is derived from the central position in a game of chess; it also symbolizes the center of the myriad worlds and conveys an air of supreme arrogance, as if among the Three Thousand Worlds, I alone am honored! All creations originate from me, and I alone am honored—such is the implication, with profound and extensive implications, and its power is certainly not small.

"Good, Heavenly Origin One Finger! This is a wonderful method I comprehended from the patterns and board of chess, truly demonstrating the boundlessness of the Great Dao, hiding such profound and supreme truths even within the game of chess! To enhance my Heavenly Origin One Finger, it seems I will need to engage in numerous games with others. How about your skills in chess?" Xuan Ming said slowly.

"Me?" Wukong couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter, "I don’t even know how to arrange the pieces, let alone compete in a game."

Known as the restless mind, Wukong is fond of activity rather than stillness. Although he has now tamed his restless mind and become the Fighting Sage, the ultimate deity in the Buddhist Sect, he still can’t be bothered to learn the tedious, contemplative art of playing chess, where life and death fate of black and white stones hang in the balance. After all, it is said that while one can change the nature of the land, one’s true nature is hard to shift. Moreover, he finds playing chess dull and uninteresting, failing to exhibit the kind of overbearing dominance and ferocity that befits a man, hence his reluctance to learn.

A man’s actions should be ferocious, and kindness does not stand alongside such actions!

Since ancient times, excessive benevolence has harmed people; only through killing can one uphold truth! A man should kill.

Xuan Ming shook his head slightly and said, "You rascal, I’m afraid you’re only capable of those outrageous actions like burning zithers and cooking cranes. Such refined activities are simply not for you!"

Wukong retorted with a strange laugh, "I can paint! Don’t forget, I was once known as Sun the Ape, and my painting skills reached the pinnacle of perfection."

Xuan Ming just humphed lightly, saying, "I’ve just comprehended this Heavenly Origin One Finger, and I need a worthy opponent to help me enhance it further. I wonder which Saint out there possesses masterful chess skills that could provide me with a challenging match?"

After Xuan Ming comprehended the Heavenly Origin One Finger, he completely penetrated the true essence and mysteries of chess. His chess abilities had reached the pinnacle, very advanced indeed. To defeat a master of the secular world would probably take but an instant.

Wukong pondered for a moment before saying, "Well, Bo Yikao, the Ziwei Great Emperor, is indeed a chess master! He’s well-versed in music and his chess prowess has reached the pinnacle of perfection. It is said that he even slightly outplayed the Tong Tian Sect Master in a game, and his skills have likely advanced to an incredible degree since then." He paused for a moment, then continued, "You should go find this Bo Yikao. His chess abilities are certainly high enough, and he might deepen your understanding of the Heavenly Origin One Finger."

Only then did Xuan Ming remember Bo Yikao, the genius with heaven-touched talents who had a famed reputation during The Investiture of the Gods Period. He was persecuted by Daji, ascended to the Deification Platform, and became the Ziwei Great Emperor, in charge of the stars in heaven. Now, he was still at the cultivation level of a Primordial Golden Immortal, living a carefree life, taking in the scenery and wandering about.

"Hmm, it’s said that Bo Yikao is a genius skilled in all the arts, particularly excellent in chess. If he could put me under pressure, then I might come to a deeper understanding of my Heavenly Origin One Finger." After hearing this, Xuan Ming nodded lightly and said, "I will challenge him to a game to see if his skills are as formidable as rumored. This Heavenly Origin One Finger is an extremely powerful Divine Skill, and I must practice it to get stronger!"

Wukong waved his hand, saying, "Off you go, I have to continue comprehending the Creation Jade Butterfly, absorb the Power of Creation, and grasp the true essence of the Great Creation Technique!"

Xuan Ming nodded, mounted the clouds, and descended from the Thirty-Three Heavens in search of Bo Yikao, who was once the Ziwei Great Emperor.

When Bo Yikao saw Xuan Ming coming, he was slightly surprised and bowed, saying, "Lady of the Sage King, Bo Yikao awaits your esteemed arrival."

Xuan Ming stated, "Great Emperor Ziwei, there’s no need for such courtesy. I am here because I have heard that your chess skills are peerless, having even surpassed the Tong Tian Sect Master. I have a Divine Skill that I wish to enhance through the profundities of chess, which is why I have come to play a couple of games with you, to test my own skills."

Bo Yikao hurriedly said, "I dare not, dare not!"

He quickly had his Apprentice bring tea, and then he prepared a chessboard.

This chessboard was a gift from the Tong Tian Sect Master, made from the heartwood of a thirty thousand-year-olds peach tree. The peach wood even developed a soul. If it were crafted into a Peach Wood Sword, it would definitely be a formidable Magical Treasure capable of cutting through all evil and annihilating demons!

Back in the day, Biyou Palace was magnificent and unrivaled, amassing great wealth, and the Tong Tian Sect Master was known for his extravagant tastes.

The chess pieces were made from divine stones from the north and south poles, and the natural forming black and white colors possessed a powerful spirit. If one were to play with them every day, they could help make one’s mind serene and thoughts clear, nourishing the Primordial Spirit!

This set of chess equipment is a rare treasure, and even today it would be difficult to replicate due to the scarcity of the materials.

"This chess set is called the Two Poles Divine Wood Chess Set. It is made from the heartwood of a thirty thousand-year-old peach tree and the stones from the two poles, hence the name. It was gifted to me by the Lord of Spiritual Treasures, the Tong Tian Sect Master. Reportedly, this chess set was crafted by the Taoist Duobao to commemorate the Tong Tian Sect Master’s thirty thousandth anniversary, and it’s indeed precious," said Bo Yikao as he sat down opposite Xuan Ming, explaining the origins of the chessboard.

"Oh! It truly is a fine collectible worth preserving. Have you managed to keep it intact throughout the calamitous changes of the Yuan meet?" Xuan Ming asked.

"Hmm, I’ve melded this chess set into my True Spirit. During the tribulations, this essence of my True Spirit was just taken up by Reincarnation. Because of that, this set of chess equipment was preserved. Otherwise, I would be grieving severely now for having lost such an exquisite set," replied Bo Yikao with a sigh.

For someone like him who strives for perfection, these refined items possess a fatal attraction, even more so than the most stunning women could compete against a fine painting, a piece of exquisite music, or a chessboard.

Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting had long been ingrained in his very bones, so at any time, he exuded an air of unaffected elegance and composure.

Xuan Ming said, "Please proceed."

Having said that, he grabbed a handful of pieces from the chess basket, and Bo Yikao, after some contemplation, placed two pieces on the board.

"It’s an odd number."

Xuan Ming spread open her hand, dropping the pieces beside the board and slowly said, "I take the black, I’ll go first."

The landing spot of the first black piece greatly surprised Bo Yikao!

—Heavenly Origin!!!

When Bo Yikao played against the Tong Tian Sect Master, his first move was also on the Heavenly Origin point, ultimately resorting to trickery, connecting the big dragon, and counter-killing the Tong Tian Sect Master’s big dragon, trapping it to death. And now, Xuan Ming’s first move was on Heavenly Origin, which made him wonder if Xuan Ming also planned to slaughter him using this method. However, that was not what Xuan Ming was thinking. She had cultivated the Heavenly Origin One Finger, so the Heavenly Origin point could only be hers to occupy! It had to be her occupying it!

This move had Bo Yikao pondering for an hour or two, but Xuan Ming was not at all in a rush, as time was the least valuable thing to a cultivator.

"Snap!"

Bo Yikao finally made his move, placing the piece on the star point below.

The game had just begun, and it was difficult for both sides to clearly assess the opponent’s skill, so they were testing each other step by step.

Xuan Ming’s skill in chess was also incredibly formidable. Especially after understanding the profound truth of the Heavenly Origin One Finger, she was now playing chess with a fierceness unparalleled; each move she made emanated immense killing energy! At this realm, what was being played was no longer just a game of chess. It was an understanding of chess — the yin and yang within it, the universe within it, the worlds within it...

"Good! Impressive, it’s been a long time since I’ve encountered such a masterful player whose skill is profound and every step filled with murderous intent, giving no quarter, every piece laid down heralds a devastating defeat!" Bo Yikao’s eyes remained calm, but his heart was deeply shocked, glancing at the board only to see a faint killing aura swirling around it.

"Your assault comes like the eight winds, but I stand immovable! Immovable as a mountain!" As Bo Yikao’s piece landed, it seemed to turn into a great towering mountain that blocked Xuan Ming’s vision.

"Hmm? Immovable as a mountain! When the earth harbors a killing intent, dragons and snakes emerge from the land!" Xuan Ming pinched a piece between her fingers and pondered for a long time, actually thinking for as many as nine days, until finally placing a piece down. The earth harbored killing intent, dragons and snakes emerged from the land, and in an instant, the towering mountain before her crumbled into pieces, pulverized by this surge of killing intent.

"Wonderful! Incredible, I must give it my all, perhaps even surpass my usual limits," Bo Yikao exclaimed inwardly.

To encounter such a formidable opponent was truly thrilling, truly invigorating.

Xuan Ming was also secretly astonished; she, a Great Dao Sage who had comprehended the Heavenly Origin One Finger, could not believe that Bo Yikao was able to contend with her in the game without being defeated! This was something nearly inconceivable! Bo Yikao’s insight and talent in the ways of chess were truly incomparable in this world.

"Excellent, most excellent! In playing against such a superior opponent, my Heavenly Origin One Finger is becoming increasingly refined, allowing me a deeper thoroughness of the true essence of Heavenly Origin!" With Xuan Ming’s move, the heavens unleashed killing intent, causing vast areas of Bo Yikao’s white pieces to die, revealing the star points, truly embodying the shifting of constellations.

Bo Yikao was incredibly shocked, "She has actually condensed the slaughter of Heaven, Earth, and Man from the Great Slaughter Technique into her chess play, revealing the star points by unleashing heavenly killing intent, and shifting the stars. All my pieces have been cleanly slain, revealing the star points, truly worthy of the shifting of constellations! But that human-launched killing intent overturns heaven and earth; what kind of shocking scene would that be?"

"Big Dragon Reborn!"

Bo Yikao’s chess play turned decay into magic, as a big dragon was reborn, howling towards the sky, coiling around the board and staring greedily at Xuan Ming’s clump of black pieces.

Xuan Ming nodded continuously in her heart. Now, each move either party made required contemplation for at least nine days, often for several months!

"Good, Heavenly Origin One Finger, human-launched killing intent! The decisive moment!" Xuan Ming placed a slender finger on a black piece and brought it down beside the Heavenly Origin point, interrupting her own piece’s momentum, effectively capturing it, but at the same time revitalizing all the black pieces on the board.

Human-launched killing intent, overturning heaven and earth!

As for the outcome of the game, please tune in next time to find out. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please feel welcome to vote at qidian.com with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to