Chapter 1280: Chapter 1280: A Game Remembered Across a Thousand Lives

Within the Dao Fruit conference’s inner arena, there stands a high platform built of divine stone, named the Victorious Sky Platform.

Legend has it that among the previous Barbarian Gods of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, there was one whose chess skill dominated an era. This person was obsessed with the Dao of Chess throughout his life, never losing a game in the Three Realms, reputed to rival even the heavens with a single move. The Victorious Sky Platform was once his place of practice.

Today, the Victorious Sky Platform has become a sacred site in the hearts of many Chess Masters, only those with extraordinary chess skills have the right to play on it.

Xuanji God General chose to match wits with Ning Fan on the Victorious Sky Platform so as to capture widespread attention.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Ning Fan’s action of weeping blood even before the match naturally drew a chorus of shock.

"This Lu Bei, can he really make it? He hasn’t even started the game and is already intimidated by his opponent, blood streaming from his eyes, truly a rare sight..."

At the chess table of the Victorious Sky Platform, sat Ning Fan and Xuanji God General.

The surrounding uproar did not affect Ning Fan’s state of mind,

Within him, the Dao Fruit of Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill was rapidly being digested.

Upon consuming the low-grade Dao Fruit prepared by Stone Ghost True Person for guests, Ning Fan’s memory, divine sense strength, and spirit sense’s resilience all saw slight enhancements.

But the efficacy of this Dao Fruit far exceeds low-grade Dao Fruits by hundreds if not thousands of times.

Ning Fan distinctly felt that his memory had improved significantly. The memory of a Master is already exceptionally strong, often able to recall events from a thousand or ten thousand years ago in detail. However, sometimes memory errors or ambiguities occur, but now Ning Fan finds himself recalling past events with much more clarity.

His divine sense and spirit sense also received considerable enhancement, directly shown by a significant boost to his mental calculation power.

Even so, Ning Fan is not entirely confident in defeating Xuanji God General.

Xuanji God General’s behavior and speech are completely at odds with what a Quasi-Saint should be—most likely a result of some mysterious Saint unsettling his heart spirit, making him lose his nature.

Despite his erratic behavior, his chess skill is indeed extraordinary, which Ning Fan can clearly perceive.

If a chess master among mortals reaches the pinnacle of human ability, their chess skills might rival an Immortal.

If a Chess Master among Immortals reaches a certain height, they can transcend from skill to Dao, where their entire chess prowess becomes unified with Dao, transforming into the Power of Dao Laws.

Xuanji God General’s Chess Dao Laws within his body are very strong. Although not reaching the level of Control Positions, it places a certain pressure on Ning Fan.

Ning Fan has cultivated no Chess Dao Laws. He is not a traditional chess practitioner, nor has he diligently practiced. In practice, his chess might seem not weak, but it is mostly him relying on profound calculation to maintain his grounding.

"Strong they may be, but are we weaker..."

Ning Fan’s gaze grew serious.

"In this game, I’ll give you a three-piece handicap..." Xuanji sneered, about to taunt further, but was interrupted.

"There’s no need. I have no interest in your ’self-decapitation’ or ’cutting my ten fingers’. If you truly want to play, let’s play without handicaps or predetermined outcomes. If not, then abandon the match." Ning Fan stated.

He had no intention of playing a handicap game with Xuanji. With a mysterious Saint behind Xuanji disturbing his intelligence, frequently causing him to act unwisely, there must be some ulterior motive.

Knowing all too well there might be traps ahead, he couldn’t proceed with someone else’s plot.

It was essential to keep control of the choices in his own hands.

Moreover, he didn’t feel Xuanji God General was qualified to grant him a three-piece handicap.

For Chess Masters, granting a piece means there’s a considerable level difference between them, a three-piece concession would be such that even Stone Ghost True Person could win such a game; such words seem more like an insult, an intentional provocation.

Seeing Ning Fan refuse the handicap game, Xuanji’s face darkened at once.

"Hmph! I offered a good gesture, three pieces in your favor, yet you refuse to appreciate it. Very well, since you’re ignorant of benefaction, I’ll play as you wish!"

Guessing First!

In Go, "guessing first" is a method to decide which player makes the first move.

There are many rules in Go within the Real Realms, and naturally, many methods of guessing first.

Xuanji God General used the Northern Barbarians Kingdom’s rule.

He grabbed a handful of chess pieces from the box, letting Ning Fan guess whether the number was odd or even. Guess correct, and Ning Fan would go first with the black pieces.

With the Quasi-Saint Power concealing the view, Xuanji God General was confident Ning Fan couldn’t cheat to see how many pieces he held.

Under the eyes of everyone, Ning Fan disdained to cheat, but just before Xuanji grabbed the pieces, Ning Fan suddenly felt that his Third Gate of Tianren seemed to have encountered some opportunity, unexpectedly opening a crack at that moment; coinciding with this, some fragments flashed through Ning Fan’s mind—that were some broken, disordered scenes, where he saw in the near future, Xuanji would only grab one piece.

"Is this..." Ning Fan was surprised.

Could it be that his long-unbroken Third Gate of Tianren was about to break through here and now?

Was it because of the Dao Fruit I consumed with the Chess Skill of Ten Thousand Years at the scene? Or does my encounter with Xuanji align with some unseen causality?

It is said that once a Master fully opens the Third Gate of Tianren, they can see through all illusions of the world, see through past, present, and future. So, did I see some future scenes?

"Odd, or even?" Xuanji asked in a deep voice.

Ning Fan’s response was to also grab one piece and place it on the board.

The answer was odd.

"Hmph! Quite the luck." Xuanji God General snorted coldly, spread open his hand, revealing the answer.

Thus, Ning Fan successfully went first, taking black, in accordance with the Northern Barbarians Kingdom’s bonus point rules.

"Indeed, only one piece."

"So, was what I saw truly a future scene..."

"Uncertain, drawing a conclusion from just one incident is a bit premature, more evidence is needed. If I could see more future fragments, perhaps I could draw a conclusion, but I still don’t know how to voluntarily see the future..."

Those previous future scenes appeared by chance, like some passively triggered ability. How to actively trigger it, Ning Fan currently has no clue. After all, he hasn’t fully opened the Third Gate of Tianren, he just managed to push it a bit more open recently.

But this undoubtedly increased Ning Fan’s interest in the game.

This game of chess might truly become the opportunity for him to push open the Third Gate... so he must treat it more seriously!

"In terms of calculation power, I’m not afraid of Xuanji. If it progresses to mid-game combat, I should have the advantage, unless the mysterious Saint controlling Xuanji intervenes; but in terms of actual game experience, I surely pale in comparison to Xuanji. The opponent has practiced chess to the level of Dao Laws, clearly expending immense effort, just by game experience, this person surpasses me by hundreds of times; in setting up, I might suffer..."

Just the first move, Ning Fan plunged into deep thought. After the time of one incense stick, he finally fixed his gaze, making a decision.

First move, Ning Fan, at the position four-four, the star point.

Seeing Ning Fan make such a move, Xuanji instantly had a response, within moments, the opening four moves were made, with Ning Fan occupying the left star small point, while Xuanji calmly set a double star.

Fifth move, Ning Fan, fifteen-four.

Sixth move, Xuanji, three-three.

"Such a move..."

Facing the unexpected corner play, Ning Fan frowned slightly. Xuanji’s choice greatly surprised him.

If it were him, having chosen a double star opening, his next move would be to the border star, forming a three-star layout.

But, Xuanji gave a different response.

"In the memory of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor, if someone played a three-three point early on, it would most likely be a blunder. In the Emperor’s understanding of chess principles, the earlier the three-three point is played against the star point, the more disadvantageous it becomes. A star point is meant to seize influence, whereas the three-three point assists one’s opponent in thickening..."

"So, is this a blunder?"

"But, given Xuanji’s hostility towards me, could he deliberately play a blunder in the opening... or perhaps he intentionally did it to humiliate me?"

Even with just six moves down, Ning Fan once again plummeted into deep contemplation.

Leaving the Ant Lord and Duowen speechless.

"In your usual conduct, you are reckless and impulsive, why when playing chess do you become so cautious and timid? This is clearly a blunder on his part. He’s intentionally playing a poor move to insult you, this is the moment to strongly punish him, letting him know the cost of underestimating you." The Ant Lord said speechlessly. She only had a rudimentary understanding of Go, lacking any real interest, but she could somewhat see that there was something odd about Xuanji’s move. After all, she was just a residual soul of a Saint, not deeply understanding chess, certain subtleties eluded her yet she liked to comment.

"With your level of chess ability, I suggest you observe without speaking." Ning Fan said with a straight face. He did not wish to hear the Ant Lord’s nearly amateurish remarks.

"I feel that behind this move, there is much to explore, it’s quite complicated, yet I can’t fully compute it..." Duowen, being named Duowen Wushuang, naturally couldn’t be ignorant of Go, yet being so incredibly broken, survival itself was straining, calculating complex variations in Go was rather demanding for him.

"Indeed, this move looks like a blunder at first sight, but upon fine calculation of subsequent variations, it reveals some subtleties..." Ning Fan affirmed Duowen’s judgment, yet still advised Duowen to observe without speaking.

Not that he cherished the spirit of the Chess Master so dearly or loathed cheating in the game.

It’s true that these two people, despite their impressive backgrounds, are already old and frail. It’s fine for them to offer some life experience, but competing with young people in terms of intellect is a bit difficult for them.

They can’t even give useful advice, they might as well be muted.

"Damn it! Who are you calling old and frail? Don’t think I can’t hear you cursing me in your heart!" The Ant Lord was irate, as a residual soul of a Saint, this was the first time she’d been so despised.

...

After a long contemplation, Ning Fan placed his piece at the third column, fourth row, blocking.

"Hmm? Someone who’s never seen the Five Spirits Chessboard can actually make the correct response?" Originally seeing Ning Fan stuck in long contemplation, Xuanji felt somewhat smug, but now he was a bit surprised.

The position at three-three wasn’t a conventional move from the Third World, but a move often made in the Five Spirits Chessboard!

If a chess master has never played on the Five Spirits Chessboard before, the first time they see the three-three move, they’d usually consider it a poor move. Only those with outstanding strategic insight can make the correct response when first encountering it.

This child’s computation is pretty good, but facing this move, he still needs lengthy contemplation. Your experiential gap with me is too enormous!

Xuan Ji, fourth column, third row, extends.

Ning Fan, sixth column, third row, flies and presses.

Xuan Ji, fifth column, third row, atop.

Ning Fan, fifth column, fourth row, extends.

In the blink of an eye, over twenty moves have passed, and Ning Fan finally sensed something was off.

"Strange, very strange. Xuan Ji’s moves are fantastical, often landing upon my mental blind spots. While I follow established patterns, he suddenly chooses to break away when I’m unprepared. He repeatedly makes unreasonable moves, and only upon deeper thought can one understand their fierce killing intent."

"In just over twenty moves, I’ve been in deep contemplation thrice, yet this person seems to make his moves without hardly any thinking time, as if all my responses are within his anticipation. Is this the experiential difference... no, it’s not just experience, but also the principles of chess and the thinking, this person can always play beyond the thinking of a Master, which is the most bewildering thing..."

"The most terrifying part is, after merely over twenty moves, I already feel my slight disadvantage. Clearly, I’ve been thorough in my contemplation and am confident I haven’t made any mistakes, yet this situation still arose? Even if I were allowed to undo a move, I wouldn’t know which move to take back to reverse the situation."

Ning Fan frowned deeply. Initially, he only knew Xuan Ji had strong chess skills, but not exactly how strong without experiencing it firsthand.

From the discussions of others, Ning Fan learned that Xuan Ji is a Second-Grade Chess Master, but the prowess of a Second-Grade Chess Master was still unclear to him.

Now, he finally has a concept!

Just speaking of the opening phase of this battle, the impression Xuan Ji gave Ning Fan was like a towering mountain blocking him, difficult to cross.

He couldn’t comprehend the other’s chess principles, nor knew how to gain an advantage in the opening against the opponent.

"To defeat this person, relying on past experience and calculative prowess alone is not enough. I need to see deeper, and also need some alternative thinking than before..." The azure glint in Ning Fan’s eyes began to flicker, staring at the little 19-line chessboard as if looking at a new primordial universe.

In another blink, over twenty more moves have passed.

Ning Fan’s feel of disadvantage is getting increasingly apparent.

On another note, Xuan Ji God General was equally astonished.

At this moment, Xuan Ji God General had a hint of ominous black aura flashing in the depths of his eyes, which the increasingly serious Ning Fan hadn’t noticed at all.

As the black aura flickered, Xuan Ji’s eyes seemed to directly read the information on the chessboard, complex calculations turned into strands of data in an instant.

White piece, win rate, fifty-six percent.

Black piece, win rate, forty-four percent.

"This boy has some skills, actually breaking through several of my clever moves. One must know those clever moves are deadly tricks set to ignite thirty to forty moves later, and he can forecast such a distant situation?"

"The child’s calculation is unexpectedly high. As such, as long as he makes no mistakes, defeating him in the mid-game is unlikely. But as long as my win rate keeps accumulating, I will still be the victor in the end."

"Judging by his expression, he probably already realizes he’s at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, a Master’s senses are ultimately limited, even a strong chess master will only perceive it when the win rate drops significantly. But we who serve the Five Spirits chess masters are different! Even the slightest change in win rate is visually clear to us!"

"Compared to this boy’s calculative prowess, his choice of opening is crude and inelegant. Those who’ve never seen the Five Spirits Chessboard probably can’t understand what constitutes the highest efficiency point selection. At this moment, despite sensing the presence of a disadvantage, he certainly does not comprehend where the disadvantage originates. Ha, just so!"

In the blink of an eye, the game has reached its seventy-fourth move.

The opening phase has mostly wrapped up; next is the decisive mid-game.

Xuan Ji showed an expression full of pride. In his eyes, his current winning rate has reached sixty-one percent. As long as the mid-game doesn’t crumble, he’s certain to win this round.

He just didn’t anticipate winning this round would be so difficult. In thinking of this, Xuan Ji secretly felt grateful, glad Ning Fan rejected his proposal of giving three stones. After actual confrontation, he realized this guy was surely not the trash he could easily crush. If he had given three stones, today he might have embarrassed himself.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Suddenly, Xuan Ji began to cough, with a faint sweet taste of blood in his throat.

His complexion changed; he realized he had overextended himself leveraging the power of the Five Spirits Chessboard today, and had to temporarily disperse the ominous black aura in his eyes.

Yet the next moment, a bewitching voice suddenly echoed in the depths of Xuan Ji’s divine sense, nearly causing Xuan Ji’s rationality to falter, originally dissolved ominous black aura gathered anew, condensing back between his eyes.

An expression completely unconcerned about his body being unable to withstand the power of the Five Spirits Chessboard.

On the other side.

Although Ning Fan was intensely focused on the chess game, how could he not hear Xuan Ji’s coughing?

Suddenly looking up, to see what happened to his opponent, he noticed a flash of black aura deep in Xuan Ji’s eyes.

"This ominous feeling, could it be..."

Ning Fan’s brows furrowed.

This ominous feeling is similar to what he encountered before with Bone Chess, but yet seems somewhat different.

Ning Fan tried to discern the nature of that black aura, but it vanished without a trace after a fleeting flash, as if it never existed, merely an illusion of Ning Fan’s.

Was it really just an illusion...

Or perhaps, the Xuan Ji God General secretly used a method akin to Bone Chess, cheating during the game?

For the first time in his life, Ning Fan felt disappointed while playing chess; he didn’t want to believe the Xuan Ji God General resorted to cheating.

Despite starting disadvantaged, this game of chess brought Ning Fan much insight and deep immersion. Such a good game, you tell me someone’s cheating, I really thank you!

Most importantly, all of Ning Fan’s methods didn’t involve cheating, yet you cheated first, how was this reasonable, how was this fair! Who’s truly the villain, me or you!

"Let’s keep watching, maybe I misjudged..."

Ning Fan subtly withdrew his gaze, secretly still observing Xuan Ji.

The Xuan Ji manipulated by the mysterious Saint still had dull senses, not noticing Ning Fan’s scrutiny, or perhaps Ning Fan’s perception was too strong and too covert?

In the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, there is no rain, but rain and snow inherently share some commonality.

If Ning Fan wished, the falling snowflakes from the sky, each could be his eyes.

Thus, several moves later, Ning Fan observed the black aura flickering again in Xuan Ji’s eyes.

Afterwards, observed the third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...

"Good, very good!"

"I want to duel you, you want to play chess with me!"

"I seldom get serious, yet you cheat on me!"

Ning Fan laughed in anger.

He finally understood why those chess masters detest cheaters so much.

This cheating was initiated by you, when it ends, won’t be decided by you!

Ning Fan was planning to do something, to give the Xuan Ji God General a profound lesson. Yet at this moment, he heard a voice from Xuan Ji.

That was a voice unheard by all beings in the world, received by Communication with All Things at some special frequency.

At that moment, a Bone Chess hidden within Xuan Ji’s body remarkably spoke.

[My name is Fan Xuanji, born of the Ninth Branch of Fan Barbarians, died before the Lamp Extinguisher Lotus seat...]

[Lu Bei, little friend, do you still remember me...]

[That game in boyish girl, I remembered for forty-three lives, even in another thousand lives I wouldn’t forget, do you still remember...]

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