Chapter 314 171: Karmic Affinity (Part 2)
A brilliant, majestic golden light emerged from the void, like a war chariot patrolling the skies to purge the world of evil.
True Monarch Guangcheng did not recreate the mysteries of the Heaven-Opening Yang Thunder and the World-Ending Yin Thunder. However, he still revealed a profound Dao technique that delved deep into yin, yang, and the five elements. Xuzhuang, completely immersed, wore a tense expression as he placed a stone in response.
The next moment, a torrent of flames forged from boundless Great Sun True Flame shot toward the heavens. It streaked across the sky, blotting out the sun, and soon began to faintly radiate an aura that repelled all evil.
"Oh? Five Elements Primordial Divine Light?"
Xuzhuang's Five Elements Dao Technique was clearly far more profound than his understanding of yin and yang. This transformation was entirely different from what True Monarch Guangcheng had demonstrated, yet it seemed as if Xuzhuang had instantly turned the Monarch's wonders to his own use. However, what surprised the True Monarch was that the Dao technique revealed within was extremely familiar.
After a moment of thought, he came to a realization. 'So the karma of the Five Directions Five Elements Dojo has fallen upon the Tai Su Orthodox Sect.'
'So be it. In that case, I'll let you experience this Great Sun Everlasting Profound Light a little more.'
——
As the cultivators held their breath and watched, time flew by in an instant.
After Xuzhuang placed a stone on the board's central point, True Monarch Guangcheng played several more in succession. To everyone's surprise, Xuzhuang was able to respond to each one. In just a short while, they had exchanged over ten moves, and a faint smile even appeared on Xuzhuang's face. It seemed he was facing no difficulty at all!
"Ninety-eight moves!" a cultivator close enough to see the board exclaimed. "Who in the world is he? How can his Dao techniques be so profound?"
But just then, True Monarch Guangcheng placed a stone, straightened up, and let out a soft sigh.
He calmly withdrew his gaze from the chessboard, a hint of regret in his heart. It wasn't because Xuzhuang was unteachable—quite the opposite. The young man's talent had actually surpassed his expectations.
Besides the Heaven-Opening Yang Thunder and World-Ending Yin Thunder, True Monarch Guangcheng also included the Great Sun Everlasting Profound Light, teaching whatever came to mind. Over the course of a dozen moves, he went from yin, yang, and the five elements to nurturing the spirit and refining qi, and even from Dao techniques to artifact forging and Alchemy. And from every topic, Xuzhuang managed to gain some measure of understanding.
'What a pity. As a disciple of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, his destiny is more aligned with them, should he form a Primordial Spirit. Otherwise, I would have taken him as my own disciple, even if it meant asking Jade Longevity True Monarch for the favor.'
True Monarch Guangcheng had existed for an unknown age and taught the Dao to countless students. No small number of his disciples had even formed a Primordial Spirit, yet tragically, not a single one had managed to achieve Pure Yang. To this day, although he had not yet formally stopped accepting students, he hadn't considered taking a new disciple in a very long time. Even the few junior Zhenren from Dinghu Mountain and Mi Zhen Dao under his lineage were his grand-disciples.
Xuzhuang was still unaware that he had just missed the opportunity to become the True Monarch's personal disciple. True Monarch Guangcheng shook his head, turned away from the crowd under the watchful eyes of all the cultivators, and said nonchalantly to the Daoist Child, "My interest has waned. Let the lecture end here for today."
—DONG!—
The sound of a chime suddenly rang in Xuzhuang's ears, followed by the Daoist Child's crisp shout, "The lecture has concluded!"
This was followed by a unified chorus: "We juniors and disciples respectfully see off the True Monarch!"
Xuzhuang's vision swam for a moment. The phenomena above the chessboard had vanished, and True Monarch Guangcheng was no longer seated across from him. Only then did he realize he had been released from the game's thrall.
He subconsciously circulated his Dao techniques to inspect himself from within and was shocked to discover his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Moreover, the gains felt as solid and stable as if they had been earned through fifty or sixty years of arduous training.
Xuzhuang hadn't expected such a benefit and was pleasantly surprised. But before he could examine his progress in detail, he came to his senses and looked up, only to see that the other cultivators were already leaving in an orderly fashion.
Some who saw him awaken had looks of surprise, but they didn't stop, following the Daoist Child's guidance. Many of the cultivators, however, offered him a slight nod of acknowledgment as they passed.
Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow as he heard Cen Fenghong's voice call out, "Brother Xu, you're finally awake."
Xuzhuang turned to see Cen Fenghong, Changhua, and Changxin, who hadn't left yet. They all turned their attention to him as he awoke. Changxin, unable to restrain himself, blurted out, "Fellow Daoist Xu, the True Monarch personally guided you for over a dozen moves. Your gains must have been immense, right?"
'So that's why,' Xuzhuang thought. He realized that others had witnessed True Monarch Guangcheng personally guiding him. 'No wonder they were so surprised.'
But there was no need to hide such a thing. Xuzhuang replied calmly, "Indeed, my gains were substantial."
Hearing this, Changxin's face filled with envy. Changhua, on the other hand, simply smiled faintly and clasped his hands. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist."
Xuzhuang returned the salute and suddenly noticed a change about Changhua. Upon closer inspection, he realized Changhua had a new, sharp edge to his presence and was revealing an aura he normally kept concealed. He had shockingly reached the major completion stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
Although Xuzhuang had suspected as much, he was still surprised. It seemed Changhua had also benefited greatly from the lecture.
Just then, Cen Fenghong said, "The lecture is over, and Brother Xu has woken up from the game. I wonder how much longer Brother Zhong will be!"
Only then did Xuzhuang notice Zhong Shenxiu. He was still in the game's thrall, twirling a piece between his fingers, his brow deeply furrowed, unable to make his move.
Changxin said, "I wonder what the True Monarch guided Brother Zhong on. He's been unable to wake up for so long."
Seeing Xuzhuang's confusion, Cen Fenghong explained, "Brother Xu, you and Brother Zhong were the two who lasted the longest in the game. Perhaps that's why you both received personal guidance from the True Monarch."
He glanced toward Zhong Shenxiu. "I don't need to elaborate on your situation, Brother Xu. But as for Brother Zhong, after the True Monarch made a single move to guide him, he fell into this state and hasn't been able to break free. I can't imagine what sort of mental block he's facing."
'So that's what happened,' Xuzhuang thought, glancing at Zhong Shenxiu. At that very moment, he saw Zhong Shenxiu stir and let out a soft sigh, apparently having broken free from the game.
Xuzhuang's brow furrowed. In that instant, he sensed... Zhong Shenxiu's aura had plummeted, falling from the very cusp of mastery. "Brother Zhong?" he called out, alarmed.
Zhong Shenxiu's expression shifted. He glanced down at the stone he was twirling, then suddenly chuckled. Instead of placing it, he casually took another piece from the bowl and tossed it onto the board, signifying his resignation. Only then did he turn, clasp his hands to Xuzhuang, and say, "Brother Xu."
Seeing this, it was obvious to Cen Fenghong and the others that Zhong Shenxiu had withdrawn from the game. At the same time, however, they noticed something was wrong with him. Cen Fenghong cried out in alarm, "Brother Zhong, are you injured?"
Changhua and Changxin looked at each other in confusion. Zhong Shenxiu had played nearly a hundred moves in the Chess Dao against True Monarch Guangcheng. Even if the True Monarch's personal guidance had trapped him in a mental maze, he should have only benefited from the experience, shouldn't he?
Yet the decline in Zhong Shenxiu's aura was undeniable.
Zhong Shenxiu just smiled faintly at his words. "Brother Cen, please rest assured. I played the Chess Dao with the True Monarch and my gains were immeasurable. How could I possibly have been injured?"
"Well..." Cen Fenghong understood the logic, so he could only say, "As long as you have it under control, Brother Zhong."
Zhong Shenxiu nodded slightly and looked around, seeing few people left in the grove. "Fellow Daoists," he said, "has the lecture ended?"
"It has," Changxin replied. "Since Fellow Daoist Zhong is alright, shall we leave as well?"
"We must return the way we came. Why don't you all come and stay at my residence for a few days?" Changhua offered. "I don't have much else, but my home certainly doesn't lack Miracle Elixirs. They might help Brother Zhong recuperate."
"I wouldn't mind imposing for a few days, but please, no more talk of Miracle Elixirs." Zhong Shenxiu laughed heartily. "I'm in perfect condition right now, more at ease than I've ever been. There's no need for any of you to worry."
"Oh?" Xuzhuang's brow furrowed slightly. With his own level of cultivation, it was easy to tell that Zhong Shenxiu's cultivation had genuinely declined. It wasn't some transformation into purer True Qi or a sign of his foundation strengthening. Yet, from what he knew of Zhong Shenxiu, he wasn't one to feign strength.
'Perhaps, to him, a decline in cultivation truly means nothing.'
With nothing more to be said, the group rose and began to depart. They were the last to leave. After they were gone, the forest clearing was left with nothing but hundreds of chessboards scattered about, their games unfinished. The Guangcheng Dojo seemed to have no intention of tidying up. As a cool wind rustled the leaves, the desolate grove took on a unique, somber beauty.