Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi
Chapter 876 - 874: The World as a Chessboard, All Beings as Chess Pieces!

"Xiao Yi, how about a game of chess between us?"

Master Fang Tianmiao closed his fan gently, a serene smile on his face, his gaze as still as ancient well water, without a hint of a ripple.

Xiao Yi was taken aback.

Though it was their first encounter, on his way here, Nantian Ao had mentioned that Master Fang wasn't one to readily play chess with others. Even someone like Nantian Wen would need to depend on Master Fang's mood to have a match.

And one simply could not demand it!

Nantian Wen himself was surprised, his doubtful gaze scanning back and forth across Xiao Yi.

He had known Master Fang for centuries.

But...

In all those years, the number of times Master Fang had initiated a game of chess could be counted on one hand, as far as Nantian Wen knew. Among those as young as Xiao Yi, only the top prodigy of the Nantian Holy Institute and the premier Saint Heir from the Nantian holy lands had received such invitations!

Those two were the undisputed future overlords of the Southern State!

Was Xiao Yi also afforded such a privilege?

Nantian Wen realized he might have still underestimated Xiao Yi, his expression shifting slightly before he said with a smile, "Xiao Yi, you mustn't hold back. Do me a favor and viciously crush Master Fang's spirit! All these years, I've never beaten him once..."

While speaking,

Nantian Wen stood up and offered his seat to Master Fang.

Master Fang, smiling, took the seat and made a welcoming gesture to Xiao Yi, asking, "Your move first?"

Xiao Yi replied, "I would be honored to comply!"

Xiao Yi, holding the black pieces, made the first move.

With the heritage of the Twin Star Sage in the game of chess, Xiao Yi was quite confident.

His moves were exceedingly quick.

Master Fang's icy mask emitted a faint silver glow, and although it concealed any changes in his expression, his overall demeanor still emanated a calm and peacefulness as if bathed in a gentle spring breeze.

The two exchanged moves at a staggering pace.

This left the onlookers exchanging surprised glances. Dugu Li stood with his head bowed, his seemingly cloudy old eyes flashing with astuteness, betraying his astonishment. Clearly, he had not expected Xiao Yi to possess such skill in chess and to engage Master Fang in such an intense battle!

Nantian Ao blinked, feeling his throat go dry, "I never expected Xiao Yi to not only have frightening accomplishments in martial arts but to also achieve such mastery in chess. This is what a true genius is, capable of anything, masterful in everything..."

Nantian Wen nodded in agreement, his voice grave, "This young man's future is limitless!"

His gaze had not once strayed from the chessboard.

If Nantian Wen's style of play was strategic and deliberate, and Master Fang was one who left nothing to chance, then Xiao Yi's game seemed to be one of total control.

As if he possessed the Eyes of Heaven.

No matter how intricate the configuration, no matter how nuanced the trap, they were transparent before him!

It was as if he could see through everything.

Because of this...

Xiao Yi's pace of play grew faster and faster; Master Fang, on the other hand, was starting to show signs of strain. Though he could barely keep up with Xiao Yi's speed, it was obvious that each move he made was more hesitant than the last.

Having known Master Fang for hundreds of years, this was the first time Nantian Wen saw a trace of Master Fang's composure slip.

Even if it was only by the slightest fraction.

It was enough to be astounding!

One must know...

Even top players like the premier prodigy of the Nantian Holy Institute and the first Saint Heir of the Nantian sacred lands could only hold their own for a hundred moves in a game with Master Fang.

But Xiao Yi...

He had not only far surpassed a hundred moves, but he was also pressuring incessantly, gaining an overwhelming advantage, relentlessly dominating the prodigious strategist—Master Fang, famed for foreseeing the next thousand moves and planning the subsequent five hundred.

Little Lin looked left and right.

His understanding of chess was limited to knowing there were white and black pieces; the subtleties of the board were beyond him, but that did not affect his trust and admiration for Xiao Yi, shouting, "Boss, go for it, beat him in one fell swoop!"

"..."

Nantian Ao quickly covered his mouth and whispered, "Watch the game in silence, don't disturb them!"

Little Lin stuck out her tongue but said no more.

Beside them, Nantian Wen, with his arms crossed, muttered to himself, "Who knows... Xiao Yi might really win this game!"

While they were talking.

Fang Tianmiao's hand, holding a chess piece, suddenly paused in the air above the board, but he hesitated to make his move. Behind the silver-white metallic mask, those pitch-black eyes looked at Xiao Yi and he asked, "What is chess? What are pieces?"

Xiao Yi was startled and looked at Fang Tianmiao, not understanding.

Fang Tianmiao continued, "What is your Way of Chess?"

Xiao Yi suddenly understood and hesitated for a moment before he said, "Holding the universe and the heavens and earth in the palm, the mysteries of the cosmos are but a mere breath in and out."

Hiss!

Nantian Wen and the others all took in a breath of cold air.

The universe and the heavens and earth in the palm.

The mysteries of the cosmos are a mere breath in and out!

What kind of Way of Chess was this?

Fang Tianmiao was also momentarily stunned. He had heard countless responses and witnessed many grandmasters of chess, but he had never heard of such a Way of Chess, let alone seen it. Upon this thought, Fang Tianmiao took a deep breath and asked the previous question again, "What is chess? What are pieces?"

The same question.

The first time, Xiao Yi did not answer.

But this time...

Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment, then, with emphasis on every word, he definitively answered, "The heavens and earth are the chessboard, all beings are the pieces!"

...

Silence!

Deadly silence...

"The heavens and earth are the chessboard, all beings are the pieces!"

These simple ten words seemed to cast a Paralysis Spell on the space around them, leaving everyone staring at Xiao Yi, dumbfounded.

Even the wide-traveled Nantian Wen was baffled.

Despite being the Emperor of the Nantian Dynasty, holding an incomparable noble status and wielding immense power, he too was deeply shocked by Xiao Yi's answer.

Clack!

The chess piece in Fang Tianmiao's hand silently dropped onto the board, rolling off the edge as everyone finally came back to their senses. Their eyes turned towards Xiao Yi, filled with amazement and uncertainty.

These merely ten words seemed to possess a kind of Magic Power.

"Hahaha..."

Fang Tianmiao suddenly burst into a long laugh, shaking his head as he said, "Excellent, 'The heavens and earth are the chessboard, all beings are the pieces!' No wonder you, with such a small Daqian Dynasty, have managed to develop to this extent in such a short time. Since I lost this game of chess, I will fulfill my promise and divine a reading for you!"

Nantian Wen showed a look of envy, "Xiao Yi, aren't you going to thank Master Fang? He rarely offers divinations!"

"Yes!"

Nantian Ao looked at Nantian Wen as if to say, "This person has asked many times before!"

Xiao Yi smiled and looked at Fang Tianmiao, "In that case, I'll trouble Master Fang to divine a reading for me!"

"Past or future?" Fang Tianmiao asked.

"The future!" replied Xiao Yi.

"No problem!"

Fang Tianmiao confidently smiled, held his breath, and chanted.

Under the watchful eyes of all...

Fang Tianmiao suddenly opened his eyes wide, those calm eyes like an ancient well suddenly bulging as he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yi, "You, you, your future is actually..."

PS: Taking a day off, will make it up tomorrow!

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