Many powerful figures from prominent factions seemed to notice something peculiar.
They thought of that little girl who defiantly declared she would use her talent to suppress all the so-called Divine Children favored by fate.
In their hearts, many couldnāt help but feel a twinge of unease.
ā¦
ā¦
The Spring Rain grew heavier, cascading down in torrents, drumming against the black tiles of the octagonal, multistory Treasure Tower at the Qintian Observatory, creating a misty haze, as though cloaking the entire building in a layer of white gauze.
Atop the high tower, leaning against the railing.
The gentle spring breeze wafted through the corridors, tilting the rising steam from the boiling water on the charcoal stove.
Rainwater gathered into a curtain, pouring in rhythmic beads from the edge of the Treasure Towerās overhanging eaves.
Supervisor Hong Shifu of the Dao City Qintian Observatory sat cross-legged on a chair, with a black wooden chessboard laid out before him. It was clearly a new boardāhis previous game with Lv Taibai had split the last one in half, and it now lay discarded in the corner.
Suddenly.
The dense weave of the rain curtain was forcibly torn apart.
A rotund and prosperous figure, beaming with a radiant smile, pulsing with vibrant qi-blood, tore through the rain curtain beneath the eaves of the Qintian Observatory. Clad in luxurious silk robes, the figure hovered in the air.
"Supervisor, might I have the honor of challenging you to a game?ā
Daoist Master Yue Huanglong asked with a mischievous grin.
"If youāre going to play, then play. Spare me the insincere smileāafter all these years, who doesnāt know who?ā
The Supervisor shook his head, tidying up the chess pieces on the board and sighing, as though resigned to the fact that another chessboard would soon meet its demise.
Yue Huanglong found a spot and sat down. The faint aroma of sandalwood filled the air as his chubby fingers pinched a white chess piece and placed it on the chessboardās stellar position.
Supervisor Hong Shifu likewise picked up a piece and placed it on the board.
Plop. Plopā¦
Inside the tower, it was so quiet that the subtle sound of chess pieces landing on the board echoed faintly.
The Supervisor squinted, placed his black piece, and captured one of Yue Huanglongās white pieces.
Yue Huanglong, still smiling, picked up another piece and countered by capturing one of the Supervisorās pieces.
"Supervisor, isnāt the Qintian Observatory sending a Divine Child to compete this time?ā
"The Taibai Sect Master is recruiting a Direct Disciple⦠itās nothing short of a grand selection for the next heir to the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.ā
"Even the Small Cave Heaven within the Qiankun Dao Yun Plaque has been opened
Yue Huanglong remarked with a smile.
The old Supervisorās face grew solemn as he placed a chess piece, squinting, āCompete for what? Dao City Qintian Observatory⦠we donāt have any promising candidates.ā
"And thereās no need to compete. If Lv Taibai chooses on his own, at least you could argue āno discriminations in teaching,ā but that guyās sword has never cared for rules
Supervisor Hong Shifu fixed his gaze on Yue Huanglongās pudgy fingers as they plucked a swath of his chess pieces from the board, his face twitching slightly, briefly tempted to pick up the chessboard and smash it into Yue Huanglongās insufferably fake smile.
Eating his chess pieces with that cheerful grin.
Smiling, my ass!
"Oh? Surely you wouldnāt want the position of Qian Yuan Divine Sectās Young Sect Master to fall into the hands of an Alien Race?ā
Yue Huanglong placed another piece, aiming to sever the Supervisorās mighty dragon formation.
Damn it!
The old Supervisor Hong Shifu felt the chessboard summoning his hand with violent vindication.
"That little loach? Worthy?ā
The old Supervisor sneered.
"Oh?ā
Yue Huanglongās pudgy fingers dropped a chess piece onto the board, deliberately making a bad move, allowing the Supervisorās dragon to revive.
Then he asked, āMay I ask⦠who does the Supervisor favor?ā
The Supervisor glanced at the bad move, stroked his beard with a smile, and loosened his grip on the chessboard.
"Gongshu Wentian? Gu He? Xuan Yue? Or⦠Lv Qingxuan?ā
Yue Huanglong inquired.
"Gongshu Wentian? That arrogant tofu-hearted lad from the Gongshu family?ā
Supervisor Hong Shifu let out a mocking laugh, shaking his head lightly, āHe might pass the Talent Test, but the Heart Test will be a challenge. If he can endure the Heart Test, he might have a sliver of potential.ā
Hearing this, Yue Huanglong placed another piece.
"As for your guy, even less chanceāhe might not even pass the Talent Test.ā
Yue Huanglong frowned and made another bad move.
This allowed Hong Shifuās dragon to rejuvenate fully and begin a rampage across the board.
"So, who does the Supervisor⦠think stands the best chance among this batch of Divine Children?ā
Yue Huanglong tossed two chess pieces onto the board.
Supervisor Hong Shifu stroked his beard, laughing heartily. As expected, a Daoist Master was more congenial than a sword-wielding free spirit.
"Who do I favor most?ā
Hong Shifu rose, walked to the railing, and looked out at the misty rain filling the sky.
"The Great Dao conceals like fog.ā
"Iāve pinched my fingers to divine the truth until theyāre cramped
"Still, I canāt see through it
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ā¦
Qian Yuan Dao City.
Outer City.
Deep within Thunder Alley.
A mass of smoke churned, diffusing outward in overlapping circles, akin to spreading donuts, before falling apart under the pelting rain.
A big black dog lay on the ground, raising its head high, its two black ears perked up.
The dogās eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
It got up and circled the restaurantās owner, who, seated casually by the entrance, had one leg crossed over the other, smoking a rolled cigarette and relaxedly watching the curtain of spring rain.
"Alright, I got it.ā
"Donāt worry, Iāve prepared a snack for Xi Xi.ā
"Opening eyes, is it?ā
"No problem, itās a done deal.ā
The owner rubbed the black dogās head, flicked the ash off his cigarette, and spoke nonchalantly.
Upon hearing this, the black dog let out a relieved exhale.
Yawning widely, it shook its fur vigorously.
Then it lazily returned to its original spot and curled up for a nap.
The dog eagerly dreamed of playing with Emperor Xi Xi.
ā¦
ā¦
Xi Xi charged into the Qiankun Small Cave Heaven.
Upon slamming into the Small Cave Heavenās invisible barrier, she did feel some resistance and pressure.
But with soaring determination, her powerful physical body bore through the obstruction and pain, forcing her way through the barrier at the entrance.