Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi
Chapter 875 - 873: Just a Little Understanding, Really Just a Little!

Knowing the past.

This point was not difficult, as long as one thoroughly read history, one could recount parts of the past to some extent.

But predicting the future...

That was almost an impossible task.

At least.

With the knowledge Xiao Yi currently possessed from the Wangu Tomb, even beings as powerful as Zhao Wuji could not calculate the future. If he had truly been able to predict the future, he wouldn't have been sealed within the Wangu Tomb in the first place.

Because of this...

The moment Xiao Yi heard that Fang Tianmiao could actually predict the future for five hundred years,

an intense curiosity about Fang Tianmiao arose in his heart.

After all.

Fang Tianmiao was treated with such seriousness by Nantian Wen, obviously he was not a person with an empty reputation; he must possess some real skills.

The party followed Dugu Li to the Royal Garden.

The vast Royal Garden included countless exotic and mystical plants, many of which were precious species that had grown for years, like the Spirit Ginseng beneath Xiao Yi's feet that was sneakily moving a root across a flowerbed with two leaves.

This was the Spirit Ginseng that had gained a sliver of sentience after living for over ten thousand years.

Even just a bit of its root, if consumed by an ordinary person, could extend one's life for a hundred years and prevent illness and disaster.

"Your Majesty, you have waited quite long for this move..." Inside the Pavilion at the heart of the lake in the Royal Garden, Nantian Wen, with tightly knit brows and a focus on the chessboard before him, held a black piece in his hand. Opposite him, a young man holding a feather fan and wearing a silver metallic mask laughed as he spoke.

Nantian Wen snorted coldly and said, "Act after planning; I merely do not wish to make any mistakes."

As he spoke.

A glimmer of sharpness flashed in Nantian Wen's eyes, and he placed a black piece on the chessboard, forming an encircling maneuver. Nantian Wen began to collect the white pieces he had captured, his tense body gradually relaxing, and the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, "Do you see? After much consideration, with this move, I have sealed all your paths!"

The man in the silver metallic mask was Fang Tianmiao.

He gently waved his feather fan, listened to Nantian Wen's retorts, and with a slight smile, said, "Your Majesty enjoys taking action after careful planning, but do you understand that man's calculations are no match for fate? Sometimes, no matter how much you ponder, the move that is destined to be wrong will ultimately be wrong. Even what was originally right can become a mistake!"

As his words ended.

Fang Tianmiao's white piece lightly touched down on the board.

The white piece, which had initially seemed to be at a disadvantage, was suddenly brought back to life in an instant!

"This..."

Nantian Wen's pupils dilated suddenly, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "How is this possible? I had clearly sealed off all your paths..."

"Your Majesty has extraordinary skills in chess, and your considerations are thorough indeed. You had sealed off all my paths. However..." Fang Tianmiao pointed to a spot on the chessboard, precisely where Nantian Wen had just placed the black piece, "Its appearance has opened a path of life for me, granting me the chance to reverse the game."

Buzz!

On the chessboard, the black and white pieces silently burst forth into a magnificent and dazzling brilliance.

Black and white lights rose up from the board together.

The white dragon, which had been suppressed by Black Tiger and suffered numerous injuries, burst forth with vitality amidst the white light, rejuvenating the board in an instant like autumn leaves swept away by a gust of wind, reviving what had been a certain defeat!

Hiss...

Nantian Wen took a sharp intake of breath, lifted the black piece in his hand, then set it down, eventually giving a bitter smile, "Master Fang is indeed worthy of his reputation. I couldn't have imagined that with such a strategy, I would still lose to you!"

"It is my luck to have won. But with this, the divination that Your Majesty wished for me to perform will no longer count," Fang Tianmiao replied with a light smile, bowing slightly towards Nantian Wen, his eyes beneath the silver mask sweeping in the direction of Xiao Yi and the others, "Your Majesty, your guests have arrived!"

"Hm?"

Nantian Wen, still immersed in the chess game, returned to his senses. It was then that he noticed Xiao Yi and the party, and he immediately burst into laughter, "Xiao Yi, you have finally arrived!"

"Your Majesty!"

Xiao Yi bowed to Nantian Wen and glanced at the direction of the chessboard, smiling. "Has Your Majesty lost the game?"

"Don't remind me!"

Nantian Wen waved his hand in a carefree manner, showing no displeasure, and pulled Xiao Yi over to Fang Tianmiao, saying, "Master Fang, this is the remarkable young brother Xiao Yi I often mention to you. Xiao Yi, this is Fang Tianmiao, Master Fang..."

"Master Fang, I've long admired your reputation!" Xiao Yi said.

Fang Tianmiao smiled. "The feeling is mutual!"

Nantian Wen's eyes twinkled with a mischievous smile. "Xiao Yi, do you play chess?"

Xiao Yi was taken aback. "A little!"

Nantian Wen's eyes twinkled again, laughing. "Hahaha, since you know a bit of chess, let's play a game and see!"

"This..."

Xiao Yi was about to decline, but Nantian Wen pushed him down into a seat and said with feigned generosity, "Black moves first, you go ahead!"

The corners of Fang Tianmiao's mouth held a smile.

Nantian Ao rolled his eyes and whispered, "His Majesty feels losing to Master Fang and being seen in defeat by us all is embarrassing, so he's deliberately pulling Director Xiao along in hopes of regaining face!"

Little Lin was speechless. "Come on, that's just shameless!"

"Cough cough..."

Nantian Wen coughed to hide his embarrassment. "Don't worry, I will go easy on you!" He looked at Xiao Yi with a smile and continued, "Xiao Yi, you don't need to feel any pressure. I've immersed myself in chess for many years; losing to me is no disgrace!"

Xiao Yi said with a wry smile, "I shall give it a try!"

A moment later.

Nantian Wen, holding a white piece, had a face the color of earthen ash, looking at Xiao Yi with immense frustration. "What was that you said about 'a little'?"

Xiao Yi gave an awkward smile. "Truly just a little! Honestly, this is my first time playing against someone!"

He indeed hadn't lied!

This was the first time in his life that he had played chess against someone.

However...

He had previously received the legacy of the Double Star Taoist, which included knowledge of chess.

The Double Star Taoist was not only unmatched in ancient times in the field of Formations, but his mastery in chess was also by no means weaker than his achievements in Formations!

Nantian Wen's eyelid twitched, and he was at a loss for words.

On the chessboard.

Xiao Yi had left Nantian Wen with not a single piece standing, an outcome even worse and more thorough than when he lost to Fang Tianmiao.

Nantian Wen, who had planned to show off and have a blast by catching Xiao Yi, ended up falling flat on his face!

Nantian Wen was utterly frustrated, looking at Little Lin, Nantian Ao, and others trying to hold back their laughter, and said very speechless, "Why hold back? If you want to laugh, just laugh. Could it be that I would blame you for this?"

"Pfft..."

"Hahaha..."

The group could no longer contain their laughter.

Nantian Ao laughed until tears streamed down his face, his voice intermittent, "Hahaha...Your Majesty...hahaha, it's not on purpose..."

"Hmph!"

Nantian Wen snorted and sulkily turned his head away.

At that moment...

Suddenly, Fang Tianmiao, who was beside them, spoke up, "Xiao Yi, how about a game between us?"