Xu Nian couldnât have imagined that heâd encounter Bu Keng here.
At this moment, Bu Keng was playing chess with an elder in a pavilion.
When Xu Nian saw Bu Kengâs cultivation, he was truly taken aback.
Bu Kengâs cultivation had unexpectedly reached the late-stage Immortal Emperor level.
Back when Xu Nian first saw Bu Keng, he was merely a small cultivator.
No matter how fast his cultivation speed, he couldnât surpass him and suddenly reach the Immortal Emperor Realm, right?
Could it be that the Bu Keng before him wasnât the one he had met?
Yet, this guy in front still sported a bald head, with a string of prayer beads around his neck.
When he smiled, his expression was just like Bu Kengâs.
If this guy wasnât Bu Keng, Xu Nian thought itâd be too bizarre.
Xu Nian shifted his gaze to the elderly man across from Bu Keng.
To his surprise, Xu Nian found he couldnât see through the elderâs cultivation.
Given that his cultivation had reached the late-stage Immortal Emperor, only a Peak Immortal Emperor could elude him.
Was the elder truly a Peak Immortal Emperor?
For a moment, Xu Nianâs gaze turned solemn.
In this desolate wilderness, there were two hidden Immortal Emperors?
Xu Nian approached, but the two seemed oblivious to his arrival.
They were still engrossed in their chess match.
When Xu Nian looked at the chessboard, he saw their game had reached a highly tense state.
Each side seemed to have a deep plan.
For a moment, Xu Nian couldnât determine who would win this match.
As he scrutinized the board, Xu Nian became increasingly captivated.
As his focus deepened, he realized the board was no longer just a chess set.
Instead, it was a clash between two laws.
The black and white pieces transformed into two immense dragons entwined.
With each move, the dragons engaged in fierce battles.
The intense scenes left Xu Nian astounded.
"With heaven and earth as the chessboard, and laws as chess pieces, how profound are these twoâs insights into laws?" Xu Nian was stunned.
The profundity among these Law Profound Argumentations was beyond Xu Nianâs comprehension.
Each pieceâs descent altered the battling dragonsâ strategies.
Changeable and unfathomable.
"Such powerful, profound battles," Xu Nian thought, becoming further absorbed.
The dragonsâ battle enveloped him in a wondrous realm.
"Buzz!"
As Xu Nian became more immersed, his aura began to change gradually.
"Hmm? This young one broke through?"
The elder suddenly glanced at Xu Nian, an intrigued look on his face.
Bu Keng chuckled, "Seems his talent exceeded my expectations; just one glance, and he broke through to the State of No Self, Amitabha Buddha."
"Was it him your doppelgÀnger met in the Mortal World?" The elder asked with a smile.
"Yes, it was him," Bu Keng replied with a smile.
"Maybe you invited me to play chess just for this scene; youâre crafty indeed," the elder shook his head.
"We both have our reasons; you came for him too," Bu Keng chuckled.
The elder, exposed, merely chuckled and said no more.
The two continued their game.
Meanwhile, Xu Nian entered a state of epiphany.
His Heart Realm rapidly elevated.
His insights into laws skyrocketed from a concentration of 3,600 times to 5,000 times.
And Xu Nian showed no signs of stopping.
Aiming toward the 6,000 times threshold.
Surpassing 3,600 times meant reaching the Law Heart Great Success Realm.
Xu Nianâs enhancement was undoubtedly monumental.
It lasted full ten days and nights.
Only then did Xu Nian gradually regain clarity from his extraordinary state.
"Did I break through?"
Upon sensing his change, Xu Nian was instantly surprised.
"Indeed, you broke through," Bu Keng had finished the game, smiling at Xu Nian.
"Bu Keng? Is it truly you?" Xu Nian asked curiously.
"I am and am not," Bu Keng grinned.
"What do you mean?" Xu Nian asked, puzzled.
"Itâs the cultivation technique Iâm practicing, the Nine Lives Reincarnation Technique, enabling me to split into nine doppelgĂ€ngers to live varied identities; Bu Keng is one of them," Bu Keng explained.
Xu Nian suddenly understood.
"And Wude too?" Xu Nian immediately inquired.
Bu Keng looked a bit embarrassed, "Yes, Wude is too."
Xu Nian was momentarily speechless.
No wonder the two were so alike; they were both Bu Keng.
"Whatâs your real name then?" Xu Nian asked, curious.
"I am Li Fusheng, but you may call me Bu Keng or Wude," Bu Keng smiled.
Li Fusheng?
Xu Nian found the name too artistic, mismatched with Bu Kengâs image.
"Iâll stick to Bu Keng," Xu Nian said.
"Suit yourself, names are mere labels, Amitabha Buddha," Bu Keng smiled.
Xu Nian nodded in agreement.
"Haha, young one, introduce myself; Iâm Tang Tianhu," the elder laughed.
"A junior greets the senior," Xu Nian replied.
"Senior? Haha!" Tang Tianhu laughed heartily.
"Very good, you called me senior well; it was worth granting you a gift," the elder chuckled.
A gift?
Xu Nian quickly understood his breakthrough was credited to the two before him.
Did they deliberately play chess to help him break through?
"Xu Nian, see what Law Realm extent youâve reached," Bu Keng suggested.
Xu Nian nodded.
Immediately, he tried to channel the Power of Laws.
"Buzz!"
Instantly, a Wind Attribute Law gathered in his palm.
The law was immensely powerful.
"Eight thousand times?" Xu Nian was shocked.
His Power of Laws had surged from 3,600 times to 8,000 times?
It more than doubled?
"How could it increase so much?" Xu Nian questioned in surprise.
Bu Keng and the elder exchanged glances, bursting into laughter.
"Because, my sly old friend and I plotted together, using the Daluo Star Plate to guide you into epiphany; with ten days and nights of realization, this advancement is unsurprising," Bu Keng chuckled.
Daluo Star Plate?
Xu Nian was taken aback.
Had they been waiting here for him?
"Do not worry; we only want your cultivation to progress swiftly to break through the Immortal Emperor Realm soon," Bu Keng continued.
"Assist me to break through to Immortal Emperor? Why?" Xu Nian asked, puzzled.
"This canât be disclosed yet, but a Netherworld secret is underway; once enacted, the Three Realms might fall," Bu Keng said.
"Three Realms fall?" Xu Nian was thoroughly shocked.
"Heâs not exaggerating; itâs a fact, the war between Three Realms and the Netherworld has barely begun; if it erupts fully, Three Realms will face carnage," the elder added.
Xu Nian was deeply astounded.