Chapter 457: The Chess Player, the Golden Lotus

Qintian Bureau.

Tong Tian Tai.

Inside the top-floor inner chamber, aside from numerous cumbersome and complex observation instruments, it was also used to store books and bamboo slips; the three walls of bookshelves reached several zhang in height, to the point that multiple ladders specifically for climbing the walls to retrieve books were required.

An old man with white hair and beard, clutching an ancient book under his arm, shuffled out of the inner chamber and arrived at the Star-Plucking Path, which was chiseled out of a wall and protruded outward.

This path jutted out abruptly, inlaid with eighty-one pieces of white marble, crystal clear and translucent; standing here, one could take in the panoramic view of the Imperial Palace.

Suddenly, the old man's expression shifted; he stopped in his tracks, raised his eyes to gaze at the firmament, and a profound radiance suddenly ignited within his dim pupils.

His gaze pierced through the void, and he saw waves of killing intent spreading between heaven and earth; in the lands of Beimang, a pillar of vast energy shot straight into the sky, reaching several hundred or even several thousand zhang in height, directly into the cloud layer.

Furthermore, a black dragon that filled the heavens and earth coiled above the pillar of energy, with countless snakes and pythons prostrating in reverence.

The black dragon's eyes were crimson, gazing south toward the Central Plains, with chilling killing intent in its dragon eyes. Its dragon body coiled, its dragon claws flared, as if it could pounce upon the Central Plains at any moment. Its wolfish ambition was evident.

The lands of the Central Plains were likewise filled with spreading baleful and calamitous energy; these were signs of turmoil. In Beiliang, there was a flood dragon coiled, yet it seemed suppressed by an invisible force, unable to soar into the sky. Just at this moment, another young flood dragon soared into the air, leaped over the Longmen, tore through the wind and clouds, transformed its scales into claws, and turned from a flood dragon into a dragon.

This was not a good phenomenon for Liyang. The old man's brows were tightly furrowed, and just as he was about to carefully discern the location of the flood dragon, a mysterious energy had already covered it heavily, as if shrouded in mist.

"Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor, what are you looking at?"

Beside the old man was a page boy who, seeing the old man's brows tightly furrowed and even vaguely revealing a hint of sinister intent, felt a trace of fear arise in his heart and subconsciously wanted to interrupt.

Since he was called the Monitoring Supervisor, he was naturally the number one person of the Qintian Bureau, Nan Huaiyu.

The sinister intent on the old man's face dissipated, and he returned to his kindly appearance, pulling his outer robe together: "I'm old, I didn't see anything clearly, it was just my eyes playing tricks on me."

The page boy, with red lips and white teeth, overflowing with spiritual energy, said: "Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor, you have the Heavenly Eye, how could you not see clearly?"

The old man smiled helplessly: "Heavenly Eye? Where would there be any Heavenly Eye? That's all nonsense from that fellow Huang Longshi, who wants to use the position under my backside to lay out his plans; it cannot be taken seriously. My Qi Gazing Technique is still far from proficient."

In his heart, he couldn't help but hesitate: "Luck transforming into a dragon, yet it is not a dragon descendant of the Zhao Family; who is the one transferring this luck? And which chess player has entered the game?"

The page boy spoke up for the old man: "That can't be right, didn't Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor play two games of chess with that Demon Huang? You lost the first and won the second; if you kept playing, Huang the Third would only be left with the name Huang the Second."

The Monitoring Supervisor Nan Huaiyu shook his head: "I didn't win, I didn't win; it was just that halfway through, Huang Sanjia was unwilling to continue. Although I occupied the advantage on the chessboard, after pondering it repeatedly over these years, if that Huang Longshi had played just ten more moves, or even five, I would have collapsed. Huang Longshi's true brilliance lies in the mid-game, and only in the endgame does one see the depth of his skill; it is just a pity that no one in the world can play a hand-talk with him until the end."

"Even Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor is no match for him; this demon is truly invincible in the world, no, wait..."

The little page boy clicked his tongue incessantly, then his eyes rolled, as if he had remembered something, and he chuckled: "Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor, you have been staying at Tong Tian Tai these days, so you haven't heard. Huang Sanjia offended someone while playing chess, and had his head smashed with a chessboard, two walls knocked down, and his face stepped on fiercely with a foot."

The Monitoring Supervisor walked unsteadily toward the other end of the Star-Plucking Path and laughed: "Little Bookcase has learned to be bad now, knowing how to lie to Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor. That fellow Huang Sanjia uses the world as a chessboard and is more cunning than a fox; it is not easy for ordinary people to find him. Moreover, that fellow's cultivation is also extremely profound; even a Land Immortal might not necessarily be able to do anything to him."

"Grandpa Monitoring Supervisor, I'm telling the truth..." the page boy called Little Bookcase hurriedly chased after him.

Luck transforming into a flood dragon, the flood dragon leaping over the Longmen... this scene was spied upon by many Qi Practitioners, but it was quickly obscured by another strand of energy; yet all of them sensed that the Central Plains were about to face war again, and the world would be hard to keep peaceful.

For them, this was clearly a great opportunity to incite luck and realize their ambitions. They would inevitably appear one after another, using the world as a chessboard and luck as the stake, to have another hand-talk.

By the side of Dayi Lake.

"Heh, it seems many fellows have noticed, and they all want to enter the game; then don't blame me for coming along and taking it all."

In the pavilion, Yu Liancheng sat casually.

Suddenly, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he grinned, revealing a set of chilling white teeth.

He was also a chess player, only he didn't really like to follow the rules; stealing pieces, flipping the table, or smashing a face with a chessboard were not impossible.

He looked up again at the Second Princess of Beiliang, Xu Weixiong, opposite him.

At this moment, Xu Weixiong sat cross-legged, a Purple Gold Lotus of Luck blooming before her, strands of golden luck drifting in the air like silk threads, all converging toward the Second Princess's forehead.

This Purple Gold Lotus of Luck came from the Dragon Pool of Longhu Mountain; after being consumed by Yu Liancheng, it had absorbed Zhao Kai's luck and was once again shining with golden light.

And Yu Liancheng's goal was to infuse the luck into Xu Weixiong, giving her the qualifications to become the co-ruler of the world.

Since he had already decided to push Xu Weixiong onto the supreme throne of the Nine-Five, then this was a necessary investment.

Once successful in the future, the luck of the world would be his to take or give, and he wouldn't need to care about a small Golden Lotus of Luck.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xu Weixiong opened her eyes again.

A lotus mark had appeared on her forehead, adding a trace of exotic charm to her already outstanding beauty.

At the same time, her whole person seemed to carry an indescribable sense of nobility; born noble, favored by heaven and earth, she was the best explanation of being endowed with the essence of nature.

Yu Liancheng clearly remembered that when this luck was on Zhao Kai, there was no such change; truly, comparing people leads to death, and comparing goods leads to them being thrown away.

He stood up, walked over, and wiped Xu Weixiong's forehead; the red lotus mark disappeared, and he smiled: "This counts as the orthodox imperial luck of the Zhao Family; from now on, you can also be considered a dragon descendant. However, this energy must also be restrained; at least it cannot be exposed now, otherwise, it will only add trouble for you."

Xu Weixiong nodded and closed her eyes again.

After a long while, that indescribable sense of nobility vanished, and she returned to that scholarly, calm, and composed demeanor of a great family.

Yu Liancheng smiled: "The position of Female Emperor is not something an ordinary person can sit in; I will help you clear the obstacles. Xu Xiao is the same; he will pass the position of Beiliang King to you, allowing you to command the Beiliang Army. But for a woman to be called King or Emperor is not an easy matter; it will require more of your own effort."

Xu Weixiong nodded, her eyes full of determination. Since she had decided to walk this path, she would not turn back even if she hit the southern wall; she would go forward, never regretting even a hundred deaths.

"I believe in you, young lady." Yu Liancheng laughed, patted Xu Weixiong on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

"Wait." Xu Weixiong said suddenly.

"What is it?" Yu Liancheng stopped but did not turn back.

Xu Weixiong's eyes flickered: "Why don't you choose to sit in that position yourself? With your methods and the support of Beiliang, it is not impossible."

"I've already been a son once; having had the thrill is enough. I'm not cut out for that; it's too much trouble. In some respects, Xu Fengnian and I are the same type of person; we are better suited for the Edo."

Yu Liancheng pointed his finger upward and strode out again.

After the black silhouette disappeared from her field of vision, Xu Weixiong was still frowning, pondering the meaning of Yu Liancheng's words, her heart stirred.

"He pointed upward; could he be referring to Heaven? To be the son of Heaven, that is the Son of Heaven. But why would he say that? Could he have been the Son of Heaven before?" The Second Princess then laughed at herself, clearly not taking the words seriously.

"Son of Heaven, Female Emperor." Xu Weixiong fell into deep thought again, murmuring to herself.

Then her eyes brightened, vaguely revealing a bit of dominance.

Since Beimang can have a Female Emperor, why can't the Central Plains have one?

This world, if the Zhao Family can sit on it, why can't my Xu Family?!