Capítulo 853: Chapter 853: Breaking the Dao Heart
Watching the chess game between Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng, more and more people found it unbearable.
A terrifying pressure bore down on their hearts. Was this still a chess game? It felt like a battlefield, a vast killing ground where two armies clashed.
Both armies could manipulate the forces of heaven and earth, resulting in immense slaughter and rivers of blood.
This was a duel as if falling into an illusion, a terrifying battle that made more and more chess players unable to bear watching. Yet, whenever they stopped looking at the chessboard for a moment, they couldn't resist turning their gaze back.
Then, driven out again by the oppressive aura of the two armies' slaughter.
This went on for an entire day and night. While the two duelists were unaffected, the spectators were mentally and physically exhausted. Some sat cross-legged, stabilizing their minds, while one frail chess player flew out of the plaza to a secluded spot to vomit.
Sima Qianjun was drenched in sweat. At this moment, he finally understood Zhong Shan's strength. It wasn't just about the humiliation before; was the gap between their chess skills really this vast?
In a courtyard in Qingqiu, Mr. Li sat in his garden, looking at a chessboard. At this moment, a servant came running.
"Master!"
"Hmm, have they made new moves?"
"Yes, Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng each made five moves."
"Recreate them for me!"
"Yes!"
Though Zhong Shan had become a retainer of the Nine-Tailed Princess, many eyes were still on him. Sima Zongheng, being a prominent figure in Qingqiu, had countless eyes watching his every move as well.
The chess moves from their duel were swiftly conveyed to various influential figures.
Though Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng were playing one game, at least ten places were simultaneously recreating it.
One day, two days, ten days.
The duel between Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng had lasted for ten days and nights.
The news of this peak duel at the Second Chess Plaza spread rapidly, attracting more and more chess masters from other chess venues.
They all watched the game with immense anticipation.
As the crowd grew, officials feared it would disrupt the duel, so they set up a large chessboard. Whenever a piece was placed inside, an official would immediately place a corresponding piece on the large board, allowing the spectators to see the entire game clearly.
People watched silently.
"Ah～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"
A sudden scream echoed from the crowd, chilling everyone to the bone.
Everyone looked and saw a man drenched in sweat, his face haggard. He had been so immersed in the chessboard's illusion that he screamed when he felt he had been killed.
No one laughed at him. Instead, they all marveled at the terrifying skills of the duelists.
The Sacred King of Dazheng? Sima Zongheng?
Who would prove stronger between these two peerless chess masters?
The spectators could feel the horrifying oppressive aura of the illusionary battlefield. How much more intense must it be for the two duelists?
At this moment, Sima Zongheng and Zhong Shan were deeply immersed in the game.
Both continued to play without any expression. Sima Qianjun, unable to bear watching the intense game directly, joined the crowd in watching the large chessboard displayed in the plaza, finding it slightly more bearable.
The Nine-Tailed Princess, not understanding chess, was unaware of the tension but felt a great sense of satisfaction seeing the expressions of the crowd.
Zhong Shan stared at the chessboard, feeling like a king commanding the battlefield. Sima Zongheng's chess skills were indeed monstrously strong. After ten days and nights, even Zhong Shan felt his blood surging within him.
Of course, Zhong Shan knew Sima Zongheng must be experiencing the same. The slowing pace of Sima Zongheng's moves indicated that he too was caught in the intense illusion of a grand battlefield.
Sima Zongheng had anticipated Zhong Shan's strong chess skills but hadn't expected them to be this formidable. Five days earlier, Sima Zongheng had already felt his blood surging but had suppressed it to avoid showing weakness.
"Snap!"
As Zhong Shan placed a piece, it was as if countless dead soldiers suddenly revived, charging at the enemy like an endless horde of zombies. A sense of death and destruction directly threatened Sima Zongheng's army.
Holding a white piece, Sima Zongheng's eyes were bloodshot. In the illusion, his army couldn't move, helpless against the onslaught of zombies tearing at their flesh. Even his commander self was being torn apart, unable to move, as if another move would lead to his entire army being overwhelmed by the undead.
Sima Zongheng's face turned deathly pale. He sat for an entire day and night, unable to place the piece he was holding.
Sima Qianjun, after waiting a day without seeing his uncle make a move, turned to look at Sima Zongheng.
Sima Zongheng's face was terrifyingly grim, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, completely entranced. His mental state was rapidly deteriorating, his energy draining quickly.
Seeing this, Sima Qianjun was alarmed.
"Second Uncle!" Sima Qianjun called out in concern.
"Pu～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"
At that call, Sima Zongheng suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the chessboard red.
The Grand Immortal Sima Zongheng, forced by a chess game to spit blood, left everyone stunned.
Everyone watched in shock as Sima Zongheng vomited blood. They had anticipated the difficulty of the game, but no one had expected it to be this extreme.
Sima Zongheng, a Grand Immortal, forced by the Sacred King of Dazheng to spit blood?
With blood staining the chessboard, the game couldn't continue, effectively declaring Sima Zongheng's defeat.
"Snap!"
Sima Zongheng's chess piece fell, and he seemed to age significantly in an instant.
"Second Uncle, are you alright?" Sima Qianjun rushed forward, filled with horror.
Supported by Sima Qianjun, Sima Zongheng glared at Zhong Shan with hatred in his eyes.
"Someone, someone!" Sima Qianjun shouted.
In an instant, a large number of Sima family experts surrounded them.
"Sure enough, when you lose, you resort to dishonorable actions!" the Nine-Tailed Princess sneered.
In truth, the Nine-Tailed Princess was filled with joy. This was immensely satisfying. Sima Zongheng, one of Qingqiu's top chess masters, had been reduced to such a state by Zhong Shan, spitting blood and nearly collapsing. Was Zhong Shan even human? No, he was her retainer.
"Who dares to make a move?" The Nine-Tailed Princess put her hands on her hips, challenging the Sima family's experts.
Sima Zongheng waved his hand and shook his head. "Qianjun, let's go home!"
"But Second Uncle..." Sima Qianjun protested.
"Let's go!" Sima Zongheng said sternly.
"Yes!" Sima Qianjun reluctantly complied.
As they left, Sima Qianjun cast a venomous glance at Zhong Shan, his eyes filled with hatred.
Zhong Shan had won, and the token's '99' turned to '100'.
A hundred consecutive wins. During the game, Zhong Shan had felt a stifling pressure, but once he won, a sense of exhilarating relief spread throughout his body. It had been a long time since he felt such a sense of ease and satisfaction.
For a moment, Zhong Shan felt like the shadows of the past had been swept away, and his mindset seemed to elevate once more.
This was an upgrade in his chess skill realm. Zhong Shan believed that if he played against Sima Zongheng again with his current state of mind, he would win even more decisively.
"One hundred consecutive wins! Now my Nine-Tailed Princess' Mansion can go to Yan Hai Yun Mountain. Zhong Shan, well done!" The Nine-Tailed Princess exclaimed happily, picking up the token. She was in a state of euphoria.
Zhong Shan glanced at the nearly ten thousand chess players around and, feeling a bit overwhelmed, quickly left the Second Chess Plaza with the Nine-Tailed Princess.
Though Zhong Shan had left, he had left behind endless discussions.
"The Sacred King of Dazheng is so powerful!"
"That was Sima Zongheng! And he was forced to spit blood by Zhong Shan?"
"How else do you become a Sacred King? Every Sacred King is a monstrously powerful being."
"Now the enmity between the Sima family and Sacred King Zhong will only grow deeper."
On Qingqiu Mountain, within the palace.
A chessboard was laid out in front of the Taichu Sacred King and Mr. Li, replicating the moves of Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng.
An eunuch placed the pieces for them.
"Reporting to the Sacred King, after Zhong Shan placed the final piece, Lord Sima pondered for a day and night before spitting blood and conceding defeat," the eunuch reported.
The Taichu Sacred King nodded, and the eunuch withdrew.
"Mr. Li, what do you think?" the Taichu Sacred King asked calmly.
"Zhong Shan avenged his past grievances by breaking Sima Zongheng's Dao heart with a game of chess. It will take Sima Zongheng at least a year and a half to recover," Mr. Li replied.
"Zhong Shan, the Sacred King of Dazheng, his chess skills are indeed formidable! Such profound chess!" the Taichu Sacred King remarked.
"No, I think it's you, Sacred King, who played a truly profound game!" Mr. Li smiled.
"Oh?"
"The Sacred King used Sima Zongheng to quell Zhong Shan's arrogance, and then used Zhong Shan to suppress the Sima family's arrogance. Every move is ingenious. The world is your chessboard, and you are playing the most profound game," Mr. Li explained with a smile.
"Is that truly what you think?" the Taichu Sacred King asked mildly.
Seeing the Taichu Sacred King's subtle expression, Mr. Li's brow furrowed, and he smiled bitterly. "The Sacred King's thoughts are deep. I can only guess this much. Beyond that, I do not know."
"Knowing this much is enough. You need not speculate further," the Taichu Sacred King said calmly.
Sensing that the Taichu Sacred King had more to imply, Mr. Li solemnly nodded. "Yes!"
"It's been tens of thousands of years, and Yan Hai Yun Mountain remains unresolved. This time, it's another millennium-long calculation. You will go in my stead," the Taichu Sacred King instructed.
"Yes!" Mr. Li complied.
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