The Transmigrator's Cultivation

Chapter 29 - Arc 2: The Linyuan Small Secret Realm | Chapter 29: Chess

Translator: Lynn

It has been five years since that time.

Inside the cave, a straw hut had been constructed under the shade of a tree. Within it, a wooden chessboard occupied a prominent position, adorned with numerous chess pieces of two different colors spread across its surface.

Seated to the left of the board was a young man dressed in a single garment. He appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, emanating a tranquil aura reminiscent of a jade stone nestled in a flowing stream—warm and rounded, devoid of any sharp edges. In his hand, he held a chess piece made of light-colored stone, deep in contemplation.

Opposite him sat a man dressed in white. His figure seemed ethereal, yet his presence exuded an intensely sharp aura akin to a celestial sword piercing through the heavens. Although concealed, a hint of murderous intent lurked in his eyes, focused on the chess game before him.

The atmosphere between the two men remained serene, and despite their conversation, there was no sense of tension between them.

The man in white slightly closed his eyes, remaining silent.

The young man in the single garment pondered for a long time before finally placing his chess piece down and smiling, saying, “Brother Yun, I have lost once again.”

The man in white’s tone was icy cold. “You lack the will to kill, whereas I possess it.”

The young man in the single garment maintained his unchanged smile. “Brother Yun’s moves are exquisite, and your spirit is sharp.”

The man in white raised his gaze, causing the chess pieces on the board to levitate before descending into two separate containers. “Do you wish to continue playing?”

The young man in the single garment shook his head. “No, Chonghua must be hungry, and the demon vines need to hunt for food. I should go out.”

The man in white appeared frigid and solemn. “If a demonic beast poses a threat, kill it without hesitation. Show no mercy.”

The young man in the single garment smiled and sighed. “Yes, I will heed Brother Yun’s advice.”

The man in white said nothing further and, in an instant, dissipated into thin air, leaving no trace.

Xu Ziqing lowered his head, smiling at the storage ring on his left pinky finger, extending his hand to caress it as he stood up.

During the years of seclusion he had spent here, aside from advancing to the seventh level of Qi refinement in his cultivation, Xu Ziqing’s most significant achievement was forging a bond with the man in white residing within the ring.

He recalled the day he learned Yun Lie’s name and regarded him as a friend ever since. During moments of loneliness at the lake’s depths, he would converse with him. Despite Yun Lie’s aloof nature, he rarely felt disturbed. Though not particularly close, Yun Lie harbored no apparent resentment and gradually responded to him over time.

Subsequently, Xu Ziqing discovered that Yun Lie, trapped within the ring, could also manifest in physical form. Whenever the mood struck him, Xu Ziqing would occasionally clean the chessboard and invite Yun Lie to play a game of chess.

Now familiar with Yun Lie, Xu Ziqing considered him to possess a genuinely good nature and felt fortunate to have him as a friend. However, Yun Lie’s deeply ingrained propensity for violence left Xu Ziqing feeling helpless.

After bidding farewell to Yun Lie, Xu Ziqing ascended from the lake’s depths, as he had done countless times before. Through years of honing his water skills, he reached the shore swiftly.

While adjusting his clothes, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

The secret realm seemed markedly different from before…

The first time Xu Ziqing laid eyes on it was during the opening of the Linyuan Secret Realm, held every five years, which attracted a significantly larger crowd. On that occasion, he managed to secure a respectable position in the rankings. However, as he was merely at the seventh level of Qi refinement, he knew that he would be no match for the most outstanding scions of influential families if he were to encounter them.

He didn’t have to venture far before he caught the sound of approaching voices. Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but think that luck was not on his side, prompting him to hide behind a tree and observe discreetly.

Two women walked ahead, both adorned in long skirts, with faces exuding beauty. When Xu Ziqing caught sight of them, his heart skipped a beat. “I recognize someone.”

The woman on the left, donning a long purple jacket and her sideburns styled elegantly, was none other than Xu Zitang, the proud daughter from that day. Xu Ziqing concentrated his spiritual energy into his eyes and swiftly scanned them with his spiritual consciousness.

She had reached the sixth level of Qi refinement.

Xu Ziqing had heard about Xu Zitang during his time at the Hundred Herb Garden. Rumor had it that she possessed both thick and thin spiritual roots, displaying qualifications on par with her elder brother. Xu Ziqing, on the other hand, possessed a refined single spiritual root and boasted exceptional qualifications. However, even among the exceptional, there were still varying degrees of strength, and a fine single spiritual root was superior to a dual spiritual root.

It had only been five years since they last met, yet she had already advanced a level, clearly indicating her hard work. Xu Ziqing, who had mistakenly consumed the Essence of Ethereal Wood, was merely one level above her.

Though he admired Xu Zitang, Xu Ziqing hesitated to reveal himself. He had encountered this woman on several occasions before, and cultivators never forget the gaze of others.

With this in mind, Xu Ziqing held his breath. Concealing himself behind the tree, he merged his own Qi with the wood Qi, seamlessly blending into the surroundings without drawing anyone’s attention. It was one of the wonders of the Ten Thousand Woods Seeding Heart Technique. As he continued to practice, he would unlock even more incredible abilities.

Unaware of Xu Ziqing’s presence, Xu Zitang and her friend continued on their way, not sparing a glance toward the tree.

Only when they were at a considerable distance did Xu Ziqing emerge.

The “Wood Containing Breath Technique” proved to be truly useful, although he had only recently become familiar with it. He knew he needed to devote more diligent practice to perfect it. Once he achieved mastery, even if he encountered a formidable opponent, as long as there was a blade of grass or a tree nearby, he would have a chance of survival.

Considering the numerous people present in the secret realm, Xu Ziqing should have returned to the cave at the bottom of the lake and reemerged a few days later. However, the thought crossed his mind that the Linyuan Secret Realm opened once every five years, and if he intended to escape, this would be the opportune moment to do so. After all, he was originally a member of the Xu clan, so he might possess a means of leaving.

With this notion in his mind, Xu Ziqing took a step forward and departed.

He hadn’t sensed it during the day, but now, with more people present in the secret realm, he could feel it. It seemed that the demonic beasts would lurk within the caves of the valley on the day of the realm’s opening. Even the ceaseless battles of the past would come to a halt, with violent and man-hungry creatures hiding in the shadows, eagerly awaiting the arrival of unsuspecting prey.

Although the secret realm held numerous treasures, allowing monks to enter every five years, it didn’t mean that the blood of the monks would be spared by these demonic beasts. As the saying goes, the balance of the heavens does not favor humans over beasts, nor vice versa.

As this realization dawned upon him, Xu Ziqing gained a deeper understanding.

However, in the midst of his contemplation, a surge of bloodlust suddenly assailed him, rudely interrupting his thoughts and causing the spiritual light around him to dissipate.

Xu Ziqing had no time to lament the loss of his concentration, for he could already hear the roaring of a beast and the sound of cursing. Had a demonic beast harmed someone? Without further hesitation, he utilized his spiritual power to take flight.

The commotion was just a few steps away, situated on a steep slope surrounded by a valley below and mountains on the remaining three sides. If he were to become trapped within, escape would prove challenging. Xu Ziqing halted at the top of the slope, refraining from descending. Instead, he positioned himself by a tree, gazing downward.

In the valley, three individuals could be seen. One of them was a burly man, possessing the cultivation level of the seventh stage of Qi refinement, and his face seemed somewhat familiar. Behind him stood a young boy, while a golden flying sword floated in front of him, engaged in a fierce clash with another red flying sword. The clash produced a cacophony of clangs and clashes.

The owner of the red flying sword was a gentleman in his twenties, attired in a silk blue robe, boasting a jade-like countenance and thin lips—a truly handsome figure. However, a sense of melancholy lingered between his brows, hinting at a lack of lightheartedness. Beside him stood a yellow tiger, featuring flesh wings and a prominent white mark on its forehead—a demon pet under his protection. The roaring sound that Xu Ziqing had heard moments ago emanated from its maw.

Using his spiritual sense discreetly, Xu Ziqing scrutinized the young man’s visage. He appeared to be around 15 or 16 years old, possessing a cultivation level that was not weak, but only at the fourth stage of Qi refinement. On the other hand, the young man facing him was at the sixth stage of Qi refinement and had the advantage with his demon pet and numerous magic weapons adorning his person.

A sneer escaped the lips of the young master from the prestigious family. “Xu Chengwu, hand over Xu Ziyu immediately and kill him. If you comply, I might spare your life. Otherwise, all of you will be fed to my little pet today!”

As he spoke, he caressed the tiger’s head, prompting the beast to raise its head and emit a fierce growl, exuding an intimidating aura.

Enraged, the big man retorted, “Who do you think you are, Tian Kui? I can crush you with a mere flick of my hand. How dare you speak arrogantly here!”

Tian Kui responded with sarcasm, “If we had encountered each other on a narrow path without my little pet, I might have spared you. However, now that the circumstances are in my favor, your attempts to save Xu Zilao’s life will be in vain, no matter how eloquent your words!”

Xu Chengwu was astonished, realizing that his intentions had been seen through.

During his previous venture into the secret realm, he had nearly lost his arm due to the tyrannical actions of the Tian family. Fortunately, a senior foundation builder had provided him with a muscle-regenerating pill, allowing him to survive. Over the past five years, he had diligently nurtured his arm, treating it as if it were still fresh, but his progress in cultivation had been modest.

However, Tian Kui’s growth was strikingly different. He, too, was a son of the Tian clan, like Tian Liang, but possessed greater knowledge and education despite being younger. During the last visit to the realm, he had secluded himself to break through to the sixth stage of Qi refinement. Now, after five years, he had already reached the pinnacle of the sixth stage!

Currently, Xu Chengwu harbored no fear when facing Tian Kui alone, but he had to protect Xu Ziyu, which left him in a predicament. He attempted to provoke Tian Kui, yet the young man remained composed, refusing to take the bait, causing Xu Chengwu’s heart to sink.

Unperturbed by Xu Chengwu’s thoughts, Tian Kui swiftly raised two fingers and sliced the tips with a resounding cry, “Ugh!”

The two drops of vivid red blood splattered onto the red flying sword, eliciting a chilling shaking sound as they melded with the sword’s surface, imbuing it with an additional layer of blood essence. Instantly, a wave of scorching heat surged forth, engulfing Xu Chengwu’s face and causing him to recoil.

Xu Chengwu was taken aback by the blood-strengthened sword, realizing that it would now possess twice the power. He had not anticipated Tian Kui’s ruthlessness in his pursuit to eliminate Xu Ziyu. Fueled by his determination, Xu Chengwu disregarded everything else and bit his fingertips to anoint his sword, preparing to engage in a battle against Tian Kui’s red flying sword.

However, his movements were slightly slower, and the red flying sword, belonging to the fire element, held greater power compared to Xu Chengwu’s metal flying sword. Furthermore, the five elements were inherently incompatible, leading to an even more pronounced disadvantage. In a matter of moments, the golden flying sword found itself in retreat.

Observing this unfold, Xu Ziqing deliberated for a moment before extending his right palm. The tips of his five fingers rustled with the presence of tiny grass stems, swiftly intertwining to form a makeshift mask. After donning the mask, he leaped into action, joining the fray.

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