Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 746: Divine Power

Yuan Zhen’s eyes were tightly closed, prayer beads rolling in his hands, muttering incantations.

His peaceful face was shrouded in shadow, making him appear somewhat sinister.

At a certain moment, the prayer beads stopped turning, and he slowly opened his eyes. The candlelight immediately extinguished, plunging the room into complete darkness.

A hoarse voice spoke, "Who was that person who came during the day?"

"An ordinary native Cultivator from Chu, merely at the Qi Refining Realm, no need to worry about him," Yuan Zhen’s voice was indifferent, completely lacking the gentle demeanor he had shown earlier.

"It’s just that he seemed to be traveling with Wang Ke."

"If we go by what they say, you are also only at the Qi Refining Realm right now," the hoarse voice reminded him, "Do you need help?"

Yuan Zhen shook his head.

"The most important thing this time is the Divine Ability Relic on Wu Huaguo. To capture the Wu Family head alive in Bei Ya Mountain City, which has Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, only you can do it."

"Besides you, all the participants in the Chess Dao Assembly are ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators. Wang Ke is now just a Mortal. At that time, I only need to instantly kill Wang Ke and then rendezvous with you."

The voice in the shadows remained silent, seemingly acquiescing.

"Calamity is where fortune leans, and fortune is where calamity lurks," in the darkness, Yuan Zhen revealed a strange smile.

"Although my cultivation was abolished by the Head Monk, the Saintly Technique is profound, and your Demonic Body was not much affected. Wandering to this place, you even found clues to the Divine Ability Relic."

"And that Ghost Valley disciple had his cultivation sealed and delivered himself to us."

"This Chu... is truly a treasure land."

Yuan Zhen’s hands trembled slightly, slowly coming together, "This time, this humble monk will surely be able to rebuild his Buddhist Foundation and return to the Realm of Desire."

"Once I seize this Relic, where in this vast world can I not go?"

"Hmm..." The hoarse voice responded dully at this moment. In the evening, Song Yan declined the request to stay at the Wu Family and left with Xiao Ju and Xiao He.

Shanyang Courtyard.

This was a complex of white-walled, green-tiled buildings surrounded by flowering trees. Each courtyard was very spacious, large enough for three or four people to move around in their respective areas.

However, Song Yan couldn’t bring himself to impose on Liang Feng and his wife with his whole family, and he wasn’t familiar enough with Wang Ke, so he gritted his teeth and paid for the lodging himself.

After choosing their accommodation, he sent Xiao Ju and Xiao He ahead but did not go in himself.

Instead, he came alone to Wang Ke’s residence.

Wang Ke held a book in his left hand and a chess piece in his right, quietly studying a game by himself.

"What, could it be that Fellow Daoist Song is also a master of Chess Dao and wishes to play a game with me?"

Song Yan sat opposite him, observing the chess board for a while.

Hearing Wang Ke’s question, he shook his head, "I’m just a terrible player, I wouldn’t dare to play chess with a master like you."

Wang Ke chuckled at this, "Does Fellow Daoist Song think that I was born knowing how to play chess?"

He gently placed the chess piece back into the jar and looked at Song Yan, "Learning Chess Dao and Cultivating the Immortal Dao are no different; both require accumulation over time, and once a piece is played, there’s no turning back."

"Step by step, there are no shortcuts."

He suddenly snapped out of a certain daze, his tone relaxing.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Song. The path to immortality is endless; occasionally taking a break to play a few games is truly a wonderful thing."

Song Yan nodded.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Wang, is Yunmeng Mountain... in the Central Region?"

Wang Ke was stunned for a moment, then nodded frankly.

"That’s right."

Song Yan raised an eyebrow and asked a question that interested him more, "Is everyone in the Central Region as wealthy as you?"

Wang Ke was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "I wouldn’t know that, as I rarely open other people’s qiankun bags."

Song Yan pondered for a moment, then asked again, "Then do you know a Central Region Buddhist Cultivator named Yuan Zhen?"

"Yuan Zhen? Hmm... I’ve only heard of him. He’s one of the eight Chess Dao masters in this Chess Dao Assembly’s finals, but I haven’t met him."

"What about Jingye Zen Temple?"

"Never heard of it," Wang Ke shook his head, looking bewildered, "Among the Buddhist sects in the Central Region, Fuxin Temple and Guanfo Temple are the most famous."

"If Jingye Zen Temple is located in the Central Region, it must be a small temple or a hidden sect."

He paused, then said thoughtfully, "However... Buddhist Cultivators have always been low-key, perhaps I am simply ignorant."

"Why does Fellow Daoist Song ask?"

"Nothing, just curious."

According to Wu Huaguo and Rong Xiaofeng, Yuan Zhen came to Bei Ya Mountain for some purpose, and he is also a visitor from the Central Region.

Could he be here for Wang Ke then? This possibility isn’t high, but it does exist.

Song Yan didn’t know where this feeling came from, vague yet very strong.

Now, this extremely wealthy Chess Dao master is his employer, and nothing must go wrong.

After a few casual remarks, he returned to his residence.

Sitting alone in the courtyard, Song Yan summoned four Flying Swords.

Unmoored Boat, Lianli, Sacrificial Lord Lin, and Tiyue slowly circled around him.

With the nourishing effects of the Tai Xu Sword Nurturing Seal, the power of all four Flying Swords had significantly improved.

Furthermore, when Song Yan was in Lanxi Cave, he used all the yun iron to refine his Flying Swords and upgrade their grades. Now, all four Flying Swords have reached the High Grade Spiritual Artifact level.

Among them, his Lifebound Flying Sword, Unmoored Boat, has even reached the peak of High Grade Spiritual Artifact, subtly possessing the power of a Top Grade Spiritual Artifact.

"If I were to casually pick another ordinary Flying Sword to refine, and gather five, I could just barely cast a new Sword Formation called ’Howling Sun.’"

He frowned slightly, seemingly conflicted.

But after a moment of thought, he ultimately shook his head, "There’s no need."

The Howling Sun Sword Formation is not known for its offensive power, and besides, attempting to cast it now would be too strenuous.

Song Yan recalled that although Yuan Zhen also possessed Qi Refining strength, he had never fought against a Cultivator from the Central Region.

What if this Great Master really did engage him in battle? For some reason, the emotion that arose in his heart was not apprehension, but excitement, like a surge of Battle Intent.

Song Yan toyed with the Sword Sect Jade Chapter in his hand; the hair-thin sword marks on it had already accumulated to nine.

What was so valuable in a remote, impoverished place like Chu that a Central Region Buddhist Cultivator would come here for?

...

Never mind, it wasn’t aimed at him anyway.

If Yuan Zhen were to make a move on Wang Ke before he obtained the third section of Luo Zhen Vine, he would inevitably have to spar with the other party... Two days later.

The Chess Dao Assembly was held as scheduled in Four Palace Chess Valley.

Before the games officially began, the valley was already surrounded by many Chess Dao enthusiasts.

As the chief steward, Rong Xiaofeng stood on a high platform, announcing loudly, "The Chess Dao Assembly finals officially begin!"

...

"Fellow Daoist Chen Qing of Sheyang Sect versus Fellow Daoist Wang Ke, a Loose Cultivator."

"Great Master Yuan Zhen of Jingye Zen Temple versus Fellow Daoist Yuan Yi, a Loose Cultivator."

...

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Ming, a Cultivator from Bei Ya Mountain, quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words into Rong Xiaofeng’s ear.

He frowned slightly, then nodded and loudly added, "Senior Yuan Yi, a Loose Cultivator, has not yet arrived. According to the rules of the Assembly, he is considered to have forfeited, and Great Master Yuan Zhen directly advances."

A commotion erupted all around.

Someone whispered, "How could Senior Yuan Yi be absent?"

This Senior Loose Cultivator named Yuan Yi was the only Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator among the eight chess players who advanced to the finals.

This person was extremely mysterious; no one even knew if he was male or female, as no one had ever seen his true face or heard his voice.

"Could it be that he’s wary of the other players’ chess skills, afraid of losing to younger Qi Refining Cultivators and losing face?"

Song Yan looked at Yuan Zhen, who was meditating with closed eyes in the distance, deep in thought.

In the first round, Wang Ke played against Chen Qing of Sheyang Sect. Chen Qing played black first, starting with a small star, seemingly adopting an aggressive style.

This was the first time Song Yan had watched Wang Ke play a serious game.

He didn’t have a deep understanding of Chess Dao, only noticing that Wang Ke, who was originally calm and defensively steady, suddenly made a risky move.

A 3-6 invasion, directly threatening Black’s thick position.

But as he watched, he began to feel something was off.

"The number of all things begins with one; the path of the board has three hundred sixty-one..."

The Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill began to operate naturally, without any warning.

"Three hundred sixty withered stones, black and white evenly divided, following the Law of Yin and Yang..."

In Song Yan’s eyes, the chess board before him began to transform continuously, just as it had the first time he experienced the Five Stars Seizing Meridians.

Mountains and rivers, trees and plants, battlefields, and surging clouds.

Song Yan blinked in disbelief, shook his head, and then focused his gaze back on the chessboard, only to see an ordinary game of chess.

By mid-game, White’s clamp cut off the Dragon’s path home, and the twenty-odd points of Black on the left side of the board became rootless duckweed.

Chen Qing resigned.

"Fellow Daoist Wang’s chess play is truly like a hidden blade in the mist; I am thoroughly convinced."

In the second round, Wang Ke played against a young local Cultivator from Bei Ya Mountain.

However, this person focused on ’momentum’ but paid little attention to ’territory,’ so against a Chess Dao master like Wang Ke, there was no suspense.

In ninety-seven moves, Wang Ke, playing black, swiftly slayed the Dragon and won.

This time, Song Yan didn’t feel much, but Hu Qing, who was beside him, repeatedly praised the moves and discussed with Xiao Ju what made them so brilliant.

Xiao He couldn’t understand anything at all and was already drowsy, drooling on Song Yan’s shoulder.

On the other side, Great Master Yuan Zhen also won his game.

Finally, the two were to play the deciding game on the central spiritual jade chessboard.

From the previous games, Wang Ke’s chess skill should be superior to Great Master Yuan Zhen’s.

And Song Yan vaguely felt that this was not Wang Ke’s true level either.

Many times, even he knew how to quickly end the game, but Wang Ke would still let the opponent play a few more moves so they wouldn’t lose too badly.

The Cultivators watching the game were also discussing with those around them who would win the match.

In the center of the Chess Valley, Wang Ke and Yuan Zhen sat opposite each other before the spiritual jade chessboard.

"Layman Wang’s chess skill is extraordinary; this humble monk will make a fool of himself."

Wang Ke joked, "Great Master Yuan Zhen, Buddhism emphasizes compassion. You can’t kill my pieces!"

Yuan Zhen clasped his palms and lowered his gaze, his kasaya moving without wind, "Layman Wang, the battles on the board are but illusory struggles. True compassion is not in the chess, but outside the board."

Clack.

The crisp sound of a piece being placed signaled the start of the game.

Each time they placed a piece on the board, the situation would be simultaneously displayed on the giant stone wall, allowing all onlookers to see clearly.

The game progressed little by little, with everyone either pondering the chess theory or praising with claps, only Song Yan looked a bit strange.

It appeared again.

The chessboard transformed before his eyes. Wang Ke’s black pieces were like a great Dragon, while Yuan Zhen’s white pieces were like a vast swamp, gripping the Black Dragon’s throat and locking its Qi.

"Black has many weaknesses, but the most crucial one is here."

If White gains the advantage here, Black will be unable to recover, the great Dragon will be completely killed, and White will win decisively. But if Black gains the advantage, it might be a hidden Dragon emerging from the abyss, and White will suffer a crushing defeat.

Song Yan shook his head, feeling a bit disoriented, and in that moment of distraction.

The great Dragon came alive.

The Black Dragon before him stirred up clouds and rain, toppling spiritual mountains and turning the place upside down.

Across the chessboard, Yuan Zhen’s face was somewhat grim.

Whether it was Buddhist dharma or Chess Dao, the feeling of losing to someone else was always unpleasant, especially when that person was much younger than himself.

He slowly closed his eyes.

Alas, alas.

He was just a dead man anyway.

Yuan Zhen suddenly opened his eyes. At this moment, there was no longer any semblance of an enlightened monk; his face and eyes were filled with ruthless determination.

His appearance slightly startled Wang Ke.

At a certain moment, a thick fog suddenly rose in the Chess Valley.

The fog was chilling, obscuring vision, even swallowing and submerging the radiance of the spiritual jade chessboard.

"What’s happening?"

"What’s going on..."

The surrounding Cultivators watching the game discussed animatedly, but soon everyone became vigilant, because a certain spiritual power fluctuation belonging to a Formation clearly appeared before the Cultivators in the valley.

Wang Ke, however, was not flustered. He merely looked up and said, "Since Great Master Yuan Zhen has neither played a piece nor observed the game in thought, could it be that he intends to concede?"

Yuan Zhen slowly stood up, a golden prayer bead appearing in his palm.

The prayer bead shattered, transforming into a golden ray that shot straight for Wang Ke’s glabella.

This power was a full-strength blow from a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!

Bang!

The Restriction on Wang Ke’s body quickly emerged, a misty green water curtain appearing, forcefully blocking the golden light for him.

The air wave suddenly exploded, the chessboard shattered, debris flew, and countless chess pieces scattered.

Strangely, the thick fog in the valley surged but did not disperse.

Wang Ke’s face was pale, but he was not injured.

He let out a sigh of relief.

But Yuan Zhen showed no surprise. He formed a strange hand seal, and instantly, black Qi surged around his body.

The black Qi, like small snakes, entangled Wang Ke’s protective Restriction, and began to corrode it, the Restriction crumbling inch by inch and eroding inwards.

"Layman Wang, why are the Seniors of Ghost Valley so careless about you?"

"How do you know my identity as a Ghost Valley disciple?" Wang Ke frowned, but did not show any panic, "Who exactly are you?"

Yuan Zhen remained silent, his Demonic Technique operating with increasing speed. Ferocious ghost faces vaguely appeared in the black Qi, snarling and biting at the Restriction.

Yuan Zhen looked at Wang Ke’s calm demeanor, and a sense of disgust continuously surged in his heart.

With a fierce resolve, his whole body glowed, and he reached out with both hands to grab Wang Ke.

Under Wang Ke’s wide sleeve, a white piece quickly condensed.

Buzz--

Just then, from within the thick fog, a black and white spiritual light shot out swiftly, like lightning.

Yuan Zhen quickly retracted his hand and looked over with a frown.

Only to see Song Yan’s figure slowly emerge, standing behind Wang Ke.

Wang Ke secretly dispersed the chess piece in his sleeve, and then suddenly laughed lightheartedly.

"Fellow Daoist Song is so perceptive; this person really does have a problem."