The Hidden Chess Game in the Old Capital, Taniguchi Sword Duel

The old capital of Dacheng, the forbidden area of ​​the imperial mausoleum.

The stone gate, sealed for a hundred years, opened half an inch inward, and golden-red Qilin Fire surged out from the depths of the forbidden area, but was locked inside by an invisible force, only dyeing half of the night sky dark red.

The Dragon Cauldron, the guardian of the nation, in the center of the forbidden area, trembled violently, and the Qilin totem engraved on its body was gradually lighting up at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A figure dressed in a gray-blue robe stood quietly before the dragon cauldron.

His aura was completely integrated with the national fortune curse power of the forbidden area, and half of a blood-stained Xuanqi jade pendant hung at his waist. Upon closer inspection, it was found to be perfectly matched with the mother-child twin pendant on Xiao Yunsheng's chest!

As his fingertips brushed against the Dragon Cauldron, pale golden Xuanheng runes appeared on his fingertips, and the originally raging Qilin Fire became as docile as a stream at his fingertips.

"Three years of planning have finally come to fruition."

His voice was extremely low, and a condensed Qilin Fire was separated from the Dragon Cauldron, transforming into a streak of crimson-gold light that sped toward the direction of Yanyu Mountain!

"Once the altar is opened, the nation's destiny will be restored, and the clan's lineage will be revived. This is the moment."

He murmured to himself, turned and walked into the depths of the forbidden area, the stone door closing silently behind him.

The flames on the Dragon Cauldron gradually dimmed, but deep within the forbidden area, countless national destiny runes that had been dormant for hundreds of years were spreading along the earth's veins, little by little, toward the direction of Yanyu Mountain!

At the mouth of the valley, the morning breeze blew through the ancient trees, carrying the lingering heat of the remaining fire.

Chan Li gripped the bone blade, staring at the unharmed Xiao Yun Sheng. His surprise quickly turned into a ferocious killing intent.

"You survived being poisoned by my Illusionary Gu? You're incredibly lucky!"

Before he finished speaking, Chan Li leaped forward, his bone blade glowing with a ghostly blue poisonous light, each move aimed straight for vital points, even more ruthless and vicious than his attack five days ago!

The three Jade Toad Sect disciples behind him stood still. The young man in the lead, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a handsome face and unfathomable sinister eyes, even crossed his arms and watched the fight with great interest, as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

Xiao Yunsheng also moved, drawing his Guixuan Sword!

He only studied the Seven Forms of Flowing Cloud Sword Essence for two days, barely mastering the first four forms.

He shifted his feet, his body weaving and dodging amidst the flashing blades, using only the three flowing cloud techniques he knew by heart to maintain his footing and search for Chan Li's weakness in the entanglement.

The clash of metal was deafening. In just a few dozen moves, Xiao Yunsheng's old shoulder wound was struck by the bone blade, and the wound instantly reopened.

Chan Li seized the opening and flicked out dozens of shadow gu from his fingertips, determined to seal off all of his escape routes!

"Use the second move of the Sword Essence! Deflect the force and draw out the Gu, use their own methods against them!" Shen Lingxi shouted, instantly activating the Innate Sword Seal. A golden sword aura cleaved out, severing most of the Gu threads, giving Xiao Yunsheng a fleeting moment to catch his breath.

Xiao Yunsheng instantly understood, and with a flick of his wrist, the Guixuan Sword drew a smooth and seamless arc, which was the second move of the Seven Forms of the Flowing Cloud Sword Essence, "Flowing Clouds Return to the Valley"!

This sword strike lacked any fierce killing intent, yet it carried an extremely strong pulling force. The remaining Shadow Gu were instantly drawn by the sword wind, all of them wrapping around the sword blade. Then, with a flick of his sword, he slammed it hard onto Chan Li's bone blade!

"What?!" Caught off guard, Chan Li was backfired by his own Shadow Gu, and half of his arm went numb instantly!

He never imagined that in just five days, this lowest-ranking disciple of the Heavenly Palace Sect, dressed in blue, would undergo such a complete transformation in his swordsmanship.

"You're courting death!" Chan Li went completely mad, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the bone blade. Black mist surged around him as he fully activated his natal Illusion Gu!

The black mist swept in again, thicker and more intense than five days ago, and illusions of the father's tragic death, the mother's passing, and the mockery of fellow disciples flooded in.

But this time, Xiao Yunsheng's heart remained as steady as a rock!

He closed his eyes, refusing to look at those seductive illusions, relying solely on the sword sense ingrained in his bones, channeling all his energy into the tip of the sword, and unleashed a strike.

The fourth move of the Seven Forms of Flowing Cloud Sword Essence – "Sword Breaks Illusion"

The sharp sword energy pierced through the black mist like the blazing sun melting snow, instantly tearing apart all illusions. In Chan Li's horrified gaze, it precisely pierced his heart!

Pfft—!

Chan Li stared wide-eyed, unable to believe even in death that he would die at the hands of a disciple in blue robes.

Xiao Yunsheng withdrew his Xuan Sword, staggered back half a step, and gasped for breath.

Just then, a slow, steady clapping sound rang out.

The young man in the moon-white brocade robe, who had been standing aside observing coldly, slowly walked forward, a gentle smile on his face, but no warmth in his eyes.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant. You, a mere disciple in blue robes, have actually grasped the essence of the Seven Forms of the Flowing Cloud Sword Essence, personally taught by Pavilion Master Shen. I admire you."

Shen Lingxi's face darkened. She stepped in front of Xiao Yunsheng and demanded sharply, "Who are you?"

"I am Chan Chen, the young sect master of the Jade Toad Sect." The young man's smile remained unchanged as he glanced at Chan Li's corpse on the ground. "Chan Li was just my second uncle's illegitimate son. He had been running rampant for too long. I thank Brother Xiao for cleaning up my sect."

The happiest person about Chan Li's death was actually him, the rightful young sect leader!

Xiao Yunsheng gripped the Guixuan Sword tightly, his eyes warily fixed on the young man before him.

The man stood quietly to the side the whole time, and he didn't even realize the other's true strength!

"Brother Xiao, there's no need to be wary. I have no ill intentions towards you or Miss Shen. On the contrary, I have a win-win cooperation that I'd like to discuss with you both."

Chan Jiuchen waved his hand, his tone sincere, and looked toward the main peak of Yanyu Mountain. "I know that you two entered the Xuanqi Cave and obtained the complete method to open the Qilin Altar."

Xiao Yunsheng's eyes sharpened.

Chan Chen seemed oblivious to the wariness in his eyes and continued, "To be honest, on the main peak of Yan Yu Mountain, there is a nine-layered linked Gu formation set up by our sect, as well as a curse restriction left by Lord Wu Heng. Even if you two have a way to open the altar, you still can't get through this nine-layered Gu formation."

He paused, his smile deepening. "We'll cooperate. I'll help you two safely navigate all the Gu formations and restrictions. After you activate the altar, the Xuanheng Ancient Book and the Gu witchcraft manual within will be mine. Everything else will be yours. How about it?"

These words were perfectly worded, but Xiao Yunsheng knew in his heart that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

A person who can watch their own kind die a horrible death would never want just a few ancient books!

"No interest." Xiao Yunsheng refused decisively, grabbing Shen Lingxi's wrist. "Let's go."

Chan Chen didn't stop them, remaining standing in place, watching their departing figures, and loudly proclaimed, "Only I can break the Ninefold Gu Formation! If you two have changed your minds, you can come find me at the camp below the main peak anytime!"

The smile on Chan Chen's face slowly faded only after the two figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.

The disciple beside him bowed and asked, "Young Sect Master, are we just going to let them go like this? Should we follow them secretly?"

"No need." Chan Chen scoffed, his gaze sweeping over Chan Li's corpse on the ground, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "Go, tell Second Uncle that Xiao Yunsheng killed his son!"

The disciple was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening, bowed, accepted the order, and left.

Chan Chen gazed into the depths of the dense forest, a sinister smile curving his lips.

He didn't care about the altar or the ancient books at all. What he wanted was to use Xiao Yunsheng to get rid of his second uncle, Chan Jiuyuan, who held power in the sect, and then take advantage of the opportunity presented by the altar to completely control the Jade Toad Sect.

Xiao Yunsheng and Shen Lingxi walked deeper into the dense forest for about an hour before stopping by a mountain stream after confirming that no one was following them.

Shen Lingxi took out some medicine and treated Xiao Yunsheng's new wounds: "Chanchen is too scheming. We can't believe a single word he says."

"I know." Xiao Yunsheng nodded, his fingertips tracing the blade of the Guixuan Sword.

Just as the two were talking, a soft sound of a fishing rod hitting the water came from the blue stone by the stream.

The two men tensed up instantly and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw an elderly man with white hair, dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes, sitting on a blue stone fishing.

The old man looked ordinary, like a typical fisherman in the mountains, but the Yan Yu Mountain was in a state of chaotic magic and teeming with ferocious beasts, so it was impossible for an ordinary old man to be here alive.

What shocked the two even more was that they hadn't sensed the old man's presence at all along the way!

The old man slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes sweeping over Xiao Yunsheng, then smiled and said:

"Boy, you've learned the form of swordsmanship, but not the spirit. You value killing over guarding your heart. You think you're wielding the sword, but you're just a pawn charging forward."

Xiao Yunsheng's pupils shrank suddenly. The old man in front of him gave people a kind feeling, and there was not a trace of evil about him.

He bowed deeply to the old man: "Please give me your guidance, senior."

The old man waved his hand, put away his fishing rod, and looked towards the main peak of Yanyu Mountain, leaving behind a cryptic prophecy:

"The curse is not a calamity, the fire of the heart is not a tribulation. You have broken the curse of one person, but others desire a century of national fortune. On the night of the full moon, the altar opens, the gate of life and death is in a single thought."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man's figure vanished into the mountain wind like mist, as if he had never been there.

Xiao Yunsheng and Shen Lingxi stood there, looking at each other in shock.

What did the old man mean by that? And who exactly was the "other person" he was referring to?

A mountain wind blew in, carrying mist, and from the direction of the main peak, a deep, guttural roar could be faintly heard.

Three days from now, on the night of the full moon, the gates of the Qilin Altar will open!

But the hidden chess game had already laid a trap!