Chapter 649: Bamboo Stream Chess Match

"Master Lu, shall we return to the bamboo hut first and discuss in detail?" Qin Lady Yanzhi suggested softly.

"Good." Lu Yuan nodded.

Qin Lady Yanzhi immediately looked at Lu Ran and made a gesture of invitation: "Sect Master, please!"

"You accompany Senior Lu back first; I will go fetch some tea leaves." Lu Ran smiled and nodded.

Lu Yuan said nothing; accompanied by Qin Lady Yanzhi, he walked toward the depths of the bamboo forest.

Watching the backs of the master and disciple, Lu Ran let out a huge sigh of relief.

Good heavens~

Is this the might of a Heaven Realm powerhouse?

Lu Ran had once seen the Heaven Realm Yun Yun Qianzhou, Alliance Leader; in comparison, this old senior Lu, who always loved squinting his eyes, had an aura clearly one step superior!

This must involve matters of personality, right?

After all, Yun Yun Qianzhou is a disciple of Tian Luan, a healer with a benevolent heart.

Lu Ran thought silently as he arrived before Shadow Three.

"Sect Master~" Zhong Ling raised a pair of apricot eyes, looking at Lu Ran with grievance, obvious tear stains still visible at the corners of her eyes.

A mature woman of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and a member of the Divine Guards of the Scorching Blood City!

Scared into tears?

Lu Ran bent down and gently rubbed her head.

Zhong Ling then realized that the illustrious and divine Sect Master's hands were also trembling.

"Alright, alright." Lu Ran's voice was gentle. "I'm giving you leave; go back and rest properly."

As he spoke, he reached to his side with one hand and summoned the ancient bronze mirror.

Lu Ran had four shadow guards in total; under the management of the Evil Shadow Dharma Protector, the entire team shared the same temperament: taciturn and decisive.

Only the third sister of the Zhong family was relatively more lively, and looked more like a human than a machine.

"Sect Master, I will guard you." Zhong Ling hurriedly got up.

"No need; go back and rest." Before Lu Ran's palm, the ancient bronze mirror transformed into a floor mirror, and another woman dressed in a green rain cape and bamboo hat stepped out.

Seeing Yan Yan Shuangzi arrive, Zhong Ling immediately put away her grievous expression, adopting a demure, lowered-eyebrow demeanor: "Captain."

Yan Yan Shuangzi paid no heed to her subordinate; she picked up a package of Misty Rain Tea, her gaze sweeping past Lu Ran's side to look toward the distant bamboo forest.

At the same time, the master and disciple deep in the bamboo forest, at some unknown moment, had stopped and were now turning their heads to look back here.

Lu Yuan's expression was grave: "Disciple, is this person a follower of the Sinful Mirror Demon?"

No wonder the young man had just spoken with such arrogance, claiming to have slaughtered dogs at Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.

So such methods truly exist!

Lu Yuan had never considered Lu Ran to be a disciple of the Dust Shadow Sect.

Because the temperament did not match.

The Dust Shadow Sect had many idle clouds and wild cranes; at most, they were warmly invited and reluctantly entered the world to assist the troops as helpers.

They absolutely do not produce Emperors!

"No, Sect Master Lu is not a disciple of an evil path." Qin Lady Yanzhi hurriedly explained.

"Oh?" Lu Yuan's pair of clouded eyes turned toward his disciple.

Even though their relationship was intimate, Qin Lady Yanzhi's heart still trembled: "Sect Master Lu is not a follower of the Sinful Mirror; he is the Lord of the Sinful Mirror."

Lu Yuan habitually squinted his eyes, pondering the meaning of his disciple's words.

Qin Lady Yanzhi spoke softly: "Actually, that title is not accurate either; Sect Master Lu is beyond the scope of our understanding; he is different from every single one of us.

Sect Master Lu can steal the power of gods and demons and make it his own.

He is the true breaker of the deadlock! Sect Master Lu has also been accumulating strength, attempting to replace the gods and overthrow the rule of gods and demons."

Lu Yuan:!!!

The old senior who loved squinting his eyes opened his eyes wide for the first time!

Qin Lady Yanzhi shivered in fright.

He knew his master well, deeply aware of the master's hatred for the gods, and his powerlessness and indignation toward the current situation.

However, to avoid any other thoughts Master Lu might have, Qin Lady Yanzhi hurriedly threw out a point: "Master, Master Lu, haven't you always been thinking of your wife? Thinking of your daughter.

Sect Master Lu's identity is very special; if he returns to the human world, he will not be punished by the gods; he can help you go check on your wife and daughter.

I was just thinking..."

"Gulp." Lu Yuan's Adam's apple moved.

The always steady and calm Heaven Realm Dust Shadow disciple finally broke his composure.

A huge storm surged in his heart!

"Master Lu, you know, my childhood friend in the human world is a disciple of a reclusive god." Qin Lady Yanzhi thought for a moment and spoke again to add weight.

Lu Yuan made an "Hmm" sound, striving to calm his mind.

"The god she worships is an old friend of the god Sect Master Lu worships; my childhood friend also has a very close personal relationship with Sect Master Lu; that is why she entrusted Sect Master Lu to find and protect the disciple in the Mountain Realm..."

Lu Yuan interrupted: "This child, which divine saint does he worship?"

"Xiang Xiang Xianyang."

"Xiang Xiang Xianyang?" Lu Yuan's expression was one of shock.

Having just managed his expression, his face changed again at this moment.

"Yes, it is that Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang who ranks last." Qin Lady Yanzhi hurriedly said.

Lu Yuan, full of disbelief, turned his head to look at the young man in the imperial robe.

The Dust Shadow Sect does not produce Emperors.

Has the Xianyangyi Sect produced an emperor?

"Did your disciple not say that as the Great Xia's situation stabilized, the styles of the major divine sects all shifted, with the Xianyangyi Sect becoming a gathering place for the weak and cowardly?"

"Let alone an emperor, even producing a decent warrior is difficult."

"That reclusive deity, Lady Lady Wangquan, is actually on good terms with the deity Sister Xian Xiang Xianyang?"

"Heh,"

"Interesting, truly interesting."

Lu Yuan watched as the youth in imperial robes strode over, unable to help but examine him closely.

"Troubling you to wait, senior," Lu Ran said politely, cupping his fists. "This junior has some Misty Rain Tea here for Senior Lu to taste."

Lu Yuan's eyes held deep meaning; he looked deeply at Lu Ran, then nodded slightly. "Good."

The Evil Shadow Protector had already vanished without a trace.

The trio of old and young walked on in silence.

Along the way, Lu Ran several times wanted to say something, but seeing Lu Yuan lost in deep thought, he held his tongue.

By the time they returned to the bamboo hut, Yan Yan Shuangzi had already fetched water from the stream and was brewing tea in the courtyard.

Misty Rain Tea was indeed very bitter, but it was also truly fragrant!

Lu Yuan seemed to have taken an interest; gesturing to the stone table in the courtyard, upon which a chessboard was carved and black-and-white bamboo pieces were scattered, he asked, "Can Sect Master Lu play chess?"

Lu Ran: "."

How would I know how to play that thing!

I could manage a game of Five in a Row... but that wouldn't be appropriate!

Lu Ran shook his head and answered honestly, "I do not understand the art of chess."

"No matter!" Lu Yuan sat down before the stone table. "We can discuss it, and you will learn."

Lu Ran felt a bit numb.

This senior is quite domineering, isn't he?

Faced with an invitation from a Heavenly Realm expert, Lu Ran could hardly refuse; he had to steel himself and sit down.

Suddenly, a thought stirred in Lu Ran's heart!

I don't know how to play chess, but with so many disciples in my sect, surely there must be someone who does?

The next moment, all disciples of the Ran Sect received a divine transmission: 【Who among you knows how to play Go?】

Inside the Flying Immortal Hall, the disciples who were kneeling in devout worship couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

This was the first time the Divine Lord had manifested.

And the result was asking who knew how to play chess?

"Why the commotion?" From the depths of the hall, Bai Yan's tone was unpleasant.

"Elder Bai," Hall Master Song Yu immediately stepped forward to explain the situation to the elder.

"Go?" Bai Yan was somewhat surprised; stroking his long beard, he pondered silently.

【Among nearly two hundred disciples, not a single one knows how to play Go?】 The Divine Lord spoke again, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

The disciples trembled with fear.

Of course there were those who knew, but their skill level...

When the Divine Lord specifically sent a transmission to ask, how would anyone with mediocre chess skills dare to respond?

Song Yu detected the Sect Master's dissatisfaction and worriedly said, "No one dares to respond; the Sect Master seems somewhat displeased. Elder Bai, do you know how to play Go?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Song Yu silently cursed himself for grasping at straws in desperation.

Elder Bai was blind in both eyes; even if he knew how to play, it would be difficult for him to exert his true strength.

Bai Yan, however, handed the divine weapon Earth-Scar Sword to Song Yu. "Draw the chessboard; you will relay the moves."

Song Yu was stunned for a moment, then hastily accepted the divine sword. "Yes!"

At the same time, in the small courtyard of Cloud Bamboo Stream.

Qin Lady Yanzhi stood beside Lu Ran, quietly explaining the rules to the Sect Master.

At first, Lu Ran was an obedient student, listening quietly, but only moments later, holding a dark brown piece, he looked directly at the upper right corner of the board.

"Three-four," Lu Ran murmured in his heart, counting the lines, and placed a piece.

Across the table, Lu Yuan remained expressionless, placing a light brown piece toward the lower left.

Lu Ran continued counting the lines, placing his next piece in the upper left of the board.

As the second piece fell, Qin Lady Yanzhi immediately fell silent.

You... don't you know how to play?

At the very least, you must have dabbled in it superficially.

"Sect Master Lu does not seem like someone who doesn't understand the art of chess," Lu Yuan said with a smile, looking at Lu Ran as he occupied the lower right of the board.

Lu Ran smiled as well, picking up another piece. "Senior Lu already knows now that this junior holds the identity of the God-Demon Lord."

Such four blasphemous words were spoken by Lu Ran so lightly.

Lu Yuan raised his eyes slightly, looking at Lu Ran.

Back in the bamboo forest, the distance between the two parties was not close!

Did this youth hear that conversation?

Or did this youth purely guess, seeing through Qin Lady Yanzhi and knowing that his disciple would be eager to share information?

Lu Ran said softly, "Therefore, what a deity can do, I can mostly do as well."

Lu Yuan watched Lu Ran with great interest, awaiting further explanation.

Lu Ran placed a piece on the lower left of the board. "For example, accepting believers."

Lu Yuan's expression froze slightly.

Qin Lady Yanzhi, however, had finally realized it!

Believers in this world can communicate with the divine my lord they worship; they can transmit voices!

Holy shit?!

Qin Lady Yanzhi looked at Lu Ran, who appeared calm and composed, and four large characters floated up in his mind:

He's started!

Indeed, Lu Ran had started.

Whether you say his interest lies elsewhere, or that he is young and lacks patience, the fact remains: Lu Ran is unwilling to play chess here obediently.

Lu Ran only wants to steer the conversation toward the main topic as quickly as possible!

He just wants to go home!

"Heh heh." Lu Yuan laughed helplessly, having also thought of this layer, "So the person playing chess against me now is not Sect Master Lu."

Lu Ran pretended to ponder: "Mm, why wouldn't it count?"

Lu Yuan actually appreciated Lu Ran's honesty.

But Lu Ran's statement was truly shameless.

Lu Yuan picked up a piece: "Since it is someone else playing against me, what does that have to do with Sect Master Lu?"

Lu Ran smiled instead: "But he is my believer; everything he has belongs to me."

Lu Yuan's brows furrowed slightly.

"His life, his will, his dignity, his very existence, including his soul after death." Lu Ran's voice was light, word by word, yet each struck like a heavy mallet.

Toying with the chess piece in his hand, Lu Ran said softly, "Doesn't his entire being belong to me?"

Lu Yuan's expression turned serious.

Qin Lady Yanzhi grew increasingly silent.

The "he" spoken by Lu Ran actually referred to Lu Yuan, and to Qin Lady Yanzhi.

It referred to the myriad living beings under the rule of the gods.

"His chess skills are also mine, are they not?" Lu Ran looked at the chess piece held between his fingers.

After a long while, Lu Yuan placed a piece down and said slowly, "Sect Master Lu's power blazes to the heavens; for people to escape your control, I wonder how great a price they must pay."

The "he" in Lu Ran's mouth was the myriad living beings.

The "Sect Master Lu," whose flames of arrogance reached the sky in the mouth of the Dust Shadow Believer Lu Yuan, naturally did not refer to Lu Ran himself.

At the very least, Lu Ran did not think so.

What he had done left his conscience clear.

It was undeniable that Lu Ran had already become a sea of clouds enveloping a region of heaven and earth.

But he was pure!

"It matters not!" Lu Ran repeated a phrase Lu Yuan had spoken earlier.

"It matters not?"

"All men must die." Lu Ran lifted his head, gazing up at the sea of clouds in the sky, "To be enslaved like this, generation after generation..."

How bitter it is.

(End of Chapter)