The grand maneuvers of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect naturally could not escape the attention of outsiders.
Curious about the Golden Flower Maternal Sect’s massive mobilization, everyone wondered what it was all about.
Spies from various forces inquired around and soon received quite shocking news.
"A mysterious cultivator, alone, infiltrated the An’ning Holy Nation under the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. Within ten days, they slaughtered the inhabitants of three cities, killed nearly a hundred cultivators of the Dao-Entering Realm and above, wiped out tens of millions of the Human Race, and even eliminated a high bishop of the Blood-Stained Realm."
"Rumor has it that this mysterious cultivator used an extremely terrifying Thunder Magic when annihilating the first city, wiping it from existence. It’s speculated that this person is very likely a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect."
"Just yesterday, Divine Sorrow Ridge dispatched five hundred thousand Demonic Evil Cultivators to the An’ning Holy Nation, intending to assist the Golden Flower Maternal Sect in capturing this mysterious cultivator. Furthermore, a Dao Body Realm King is reportedly eager to take action."
In a short time, rumors about this mysterious cultivator’s identity and actions spread throughout Dianchuan Province.
Perhaps even Qi Xiu himself hadn’t anticipated that a decision made on a whim would become the talk of the entire province.
Even some disciples from the major righteous sects boiled with excitement upon hearing this news, rubbing their hands together and eager to emulate this deed.
Unseen, a tremendous wave targeting the Golden Flower Maternal Sect’s An’ning Holy Nation had already begun to gather momentum...
「Shenxiao Sect, Yunti Peak.」
Looking at the gazette sent by the Daoist Inheritance, Daoist Yunxiong on Guanlan Cliff had veins popping on his forehead and his mouth twitching. He read the contents of the gazette word by word, confirming it multiple times, before slowly closing it.
"What bad karma have I committed!" he fumed. "The disciples I’ve taken—damn it—not a single one is easy to manage! Each one plays bigger games than the last!"
He crumpled the gazette in his hand into a ball and tossed it aside. Daoist Yunxiong stood up with a long face. "Poor me! Hundreds of years old, and instead of proper business, I’m busy cleaning up after my disciples every day. Darn it all."
Although he was cursing under his breath, his actions were swift. After giving a few brief instructions to a young acolyte, Daoist Yunxiong leaped up, ready to leave the sect.
Cursing was one thing, but he couldn’t neglect his disciple. My disciples, I will handle them myself. If anyone else dares touch a hair on their heads, I’ll strike them dead!
Just as Daoist Yunxiong was preparing to set off to rescue his disciple, an unusual figure in a gray and white robe arrived at Yunti Peak.
"Sect Master? What brings you here?" Surprised by the sudden appearance of Dongfang Qing, Daoist Yunxiong hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.
"Are you going out?" Dongfang Qing asked with a faint smile, lifting the chessboard in his hand. "We haven’t played chess in a long time. How about a game or two?" Google seaʀᴄh 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
"But Sect Master, I..." Daoist Yunxiong began, his expression hesitant, but Dongfang Qing was already pulling him along.
Clouds entwined a cliffside adorned with green mountains and beautiful waters.
Dongfang Qing spread out the chessboard, picked up a black piece, and placed it down with a SNAP, starting the game.
Seeing the Supreme Sect Leader so eager and looking at him expectantly, Daoist Yunxiong could only sigh inwardly and reluctantly picked up a white piece to play.
The two played, piece after piece falling onto the board.
By mid-game, Dongfang Qing rolled up his sleeves and examined the board with a serious expression, seemingly pondering his next move.
Dongfang Qing was calm and composed, but Daoist Yunxiong on the other side was growing anxious.
From the contents of that gazette, he had instantly recognized the mysterious cultivator who had slaughtered three cities of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. It was his own young disciple, Qi Xiu.
Now, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect was mobilizing its full strength, and Divine Sorrow Ridge’s five hundred thousand Demonic Evil Cultivators were offering their powerful support. To send such a monstrous and terrifying force against his disciple, who was merely in the Dao-Entering Realm—wasn’t this outright bullying?
However, after the incident with Ge Ping last time, the Sect Master had personally rushed to the Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder City. This time, even with his thick skin, he was too embarrassed to ask for assistance from within the sect.
Moreover, unlike Divine Sorrow Ridge, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect didn’t have any Primordial Spirit Bosses in residence. His personally going to retrieve Qi Xiu wouldn’t be particularly dangerous.
But today, the Sect Master seemed to be doing this deliberately. Not only had he uncharacteristically sought him out for a game of chess, but the game was also dragging on, slow and tedious.
"Haha, I found it!" Dongfang Qing’s eyes suddenly brightened as he made his move, instantly reversing the board situation where Daoist Yunxiong had held the advantage.
Frowning at the drastically altered board, Daoist Yunxiong glanced up at the smiling Sect Master and continued to make his moves. However, it seemed that single move had severed his control over the entire game.
In less than thirty moves, Daoist Yunxiong stared at the board in astonishment, unable to believe he had lost so quickly.
Returning his black pieces to the chess box, Dongfang Qing looked at Daoist Yunxiong with a smile, his eyes as deep as the Ruins of Return. "One wrong move, and the whole game is lost. The outcome of a chess game often hinges on that crucial ’one move.’ Chess is , and so is the world."
"I’m gifting you this chessboard. Reflect on it well; it will be greatly beneficial to you. The winds are strong outside lately, so you should not venture out. Wait until the dust settles. Those who are meant to return will surely return."
Hearing Dongfang Qing’s implicitly instructive words, Daoist Yunxiong looked at the esteemed Supreme Sect Leader with a complex expression. The trust in his heart prevented him from questioning further. He nodded and replied, "Yunxiong understands."
「Golden Flower Maternal Sect, An’ning Holy Nation」
「Yuantong Prefecture, beneath an unremarkable mountain spring and pool.」
Qi Xiu’s hands formed a loop, and the esoteric principles of the Gourd Sword Skill flowed repeatedly through his mind.