"Master, what do you mean?"
Jiang Wuming looked confused. How could the chess game his master had set up be related to his father?
"This matter begins with the divine war twelve years ago. Although I did not participate in that divine war, I came to the ancient city of Loulan. Besides me, the Palace Lord of the Underworld Hall was also there. He only stayed for a short while and then left, but I sensed something was wrong with him, and judged that he had likely been possessed by an extraterrestrial mental energy cultivator.
Furthermore, while the world believes your father died on the battlefield, that is not the case. After killing the leader of the extraterrestrial enemies twelve years ago, he entered the great curtain. However, at that time, he burned his primordial true energy, and as he unleashed that blade, he touched the threshold of the Half-step Celestial God realm. His speed was extreme, and no one saw this scene except me.
You also know that Earth martial artists cannot enter the great curtain. Why was your father able to do so?"
Tianlong Daoist suddenly channeled his true energy, covering a radius of dozens of meters to prevent outsiders from hearing their conversation, and then spoke.
"The leader of the extraterrestrial enemy army was both a martial artist and a mental energy cultivator. While my father killed his physical body, he used a soul-possessing technique to take over my father's body and escape back into the great curtain!"
Jiang Wuming responded.
This was the thought that had crossed his mind after seeing 'Jiang Zhan' reappear.
At this moment, Tianlong Daoist's words confirmed his judgment!
"Yes, your father was possessed by an extraterrestrial enemy."
Tianlong Daoist's gaze passed through the true energy, sweeping towards the leading extraterrestrial enemy within the great curtain, and said, "And today, the extraterrestrial enemy who possessed your father has descended upon Earth again."
"Master, what does this have to do with your layout? Even if my father was possessed, he became someone else."
Jiang Wuming clenched his fists tightly. He knew that once a mental energy cultivator successfully possessed someone, they would erase the original owner's mental consciousness.
The physical body remained unchanged, but the soul had changed; they were no longer the same person!
"Wuming, you should be very clear that extraterrestrial enemies, due to the limitations of Earth's heaven and earth rules, have their strength weakened when they descend. However, if the person descending possesses Earthling attributes, can they avoid the suppression of heaven and earth rules?" Tianlong Daoist guided.
"Master, you mean that the leading extraterrestrial enemy in the great curtain has not completely erased my father's mental consciousness?!"
Jiang Wuming's heart stirred, and he immediately realized something.
"Judging by the aura, his strength is clearly superior to the other four. If we divide them by minor martial arts realms, the Celestial God realm extraterrestrial enemy on the Mount Qomolangma battlefield can be considered one segment. The other four in the great curtain now are only at segments two or three, while the leading extraterrestrial enemy is at segment nine!
Even in the extraterrestrial world, the Celestial God realm is the final realm for cultivators. In other words, Celestial God realm ninth segment is one of the strongest in the extraterrestrial world! All of this is enough to indicate that your judgment is most likely true."
Tianlong Daoist paused here and continued, "And this was also my deduction from twelve years ago. At that time, I was thinking, if this deduction proved true, how would Earth's martial artists resist?
It was unsolvable.
Because, according to the historical records of the global martial arts world, the Celestial God realm is legendary, with no real data recorded of anyone truly reaching that domain, let alone the peak of the Celestial God realm.
Although it was unsolvable, I thought of another possibility, and that was you.
Because of your identity, I paid attention to you very early on and examined your martial arts talent, which was exceptionally good, even rare once in a century.
At that time, I thought I would cultivate you by any means necessary, have you reach the pinnacle of global martial arts, and then wait for this day to arrive.
At that time, when you encountered the enemy who possessed your father's body, even if you were no match, it would still stir his mental consciousness and create an opportunity for us.
This is what I said earlier: this chess game began with your father, and it will end with your father."
"I see!"
Jiang Wuming suddenly understood.
"Of course, this is only the starting point and end point of this chess game. It was determined when I made the first move.
However, in the process of playing the game, there were countless changes. The biggest change was—you gave me an incomprehensible and unbelievable surprise!
That is also your greatest secret—you possess a mysterious space, which not only contains mysterious energy but also has a different time flow from the outside world.
Do you know?
When I learned of your secret, a thought flashed through my mind: Heaven will not abandon Long Country and Earth. You are the only hope for Long Country and this world!
This further strengthened my resolve to do everything possible, even if it meant turning the world into pawns, to complete this chess game.
In this chess game, Ye Zheng and the Ye family, the Li family, Long Zhe Zhe and Long Qi Sheng brothers, Shen Lun @ Roman, Anthony @ Roman father and son and the Roman family, the Underworld Hall, the City of Sin, and even I and your second senior brother Shen Zui, etc., are all pawns!"
"Second... second senior brother Shen Zui?!"
Jiang Wuming was stunned. He could understand everything Tianlong Daoist had said, including the roles of those people in this chess game, but the last sentence of Tianlong Daoist shocked him.
"Your true senior brother is Dawson, my first disciple, but the world doesn't know. Dawson invited you to the City of Sin, which was my arrangement. You went to rescue Lianyi, and Shen Lun @ Roman secretly moved to attack you, but it was Dawson who stopped him."
Tianlong Daoist explained, revealing some hidden matters.
"No wonder Grandpa Li said at the time that Shen Lun @ Roman was very likely involved in the kidnapping of Lianyi and the attempt on my life, but he didn't appear in the end. It turns out he was stopped. Also, I always wondered why Senior Brother Dawson treated me so well! It turns out he is my senior brother in the true sense of the word!" Jiang Wuming suddenly understood.
"As for Shen Zui, you already know his role. He is responsible for monitoring that extraterrestrial mental energy cultivator in the Underworld Hall, and also laying the foundation for your future counter-possession," Tianlong Daoist continued.
"Master, that extraterrestrial mental energy cultivator is called Nitian. Aren't you worried that Nitian will use puppet techniques to control my... second senior brother?" Jiang Wuming knew Shen Zui's purpose in the Underworld Hall but also had doubts.
"Shen Zui joined the Underworld Hall and used the Daoist sect's internal energy cultivation method as his pledge of allegiance. According to the rules of Long Country and the global martial arts world, unauthorized disclosure of sect cultivation methods is a capital offense.
Because of this, that extraterrestrial mental energy cultivator believed Shen Zui.
Of course, he could not fully trust Shen Zui, but there are two reasons why he did not use puppet techniques on Shen Zui."
Tianlong Daoist continued to clarify, "Shen Zui is his backup possession target. Although Shen Zui's martial arts talent is not as good as yours, he is still a rare martial arts genius. Therefore, before deciding to possess you, he did not use puppet techniques on Shen Zui. Otherwise, it would increase the risk when he possessed Shen Zui in the future.
Furthermore, he was afraid that if he used puppet techniques on Shen Zui, I, or even Anthony @ Roman, would notice."
"I see..."
Jiang Wuming pondered, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that his master Tianlong Daoist's move was brilliant.
In fact, every other move was exquisitely planned, and each pawn had a specific purpose, but the ultimate goal was only one: to make him stronger!
Boom!
Immediately, before Jiang Wuming could say anything more, the great curtain in front of them suddenly began to fluctuate violently, a sign that the extraterrestrial enemies were about to emerge from the curtain!
At the same time, an aura of the Half-step Celestial God realm rapidly approached from the ancient city.
Long Qi Sheng!
As the battle was about to begin, he leaped down from the ancient city and rushed towards the master and disciple Tianlong Daoist and Jiang Wuming, intending to face the extraterrestrial enemies together.
"Long Qi Sheng, your performance today was good. However, you cannot participate in this battle."
Tianlong Daoist sensed Long Qi Sheng's approaching aura and said without looking back.
"Master Tianlong, I know I am no match for the extraterrestrial enemies, but I will do my best, even to the point of risking my life!"
Long Qi Sheng stabilized himself and stood dozens of meters away from Jiang Wuming and Tianlong Daoist, shouting loudly.
Back then, during the Mount Qomolangma war, Long Qi Sheng did not appear at first, and later he replaced Qi Wufu to reap the rewards. At that time, he did it for the position of Marshal of the Martial Department, for power.
Today, he actively participated in the battle because of his promise to the young man, and also because after his transformation, he understood a principle—if this world and this country no longer existed, then his and Long Zhe Zhe's power would be meaningless!
In the face of a common enemy, all beings in the world share the same fate!
"Even if you risk your life, it will be of no use. Retreat."
Tianlong Daoist said emotionlessly.
"Alright!"
Long Qi Sheng nodded upon hearing this and then retreated.
"Wuming, strictly speaking, this chess game, combined with some of my previous layouts, has been played for decades.
Today, as long as you can kill that extraterrestrial enemy who possessed your father, the chess game will be considered perfectly concluded—after this battle, the extraterrestrial enemies will no longer have the courage to invade this world, nor will they have a playful mindset. Because of your existence, they will revere this world!"
After Long Qi Sheng left, Tianlong Daoist looked at Jiang Wuming with anticipation, "This is your mission, and your destiny. No matter what happens, you must complete it!"
This time.
The young man fell silent.
Because.
According to the old man's words, he himself was also a pawn.
The old man's role, besides secretly nurturing and protecting the young man's growth and the two battles at Donghai Martial Arts Academy and Mount Qomolangma, also included today's battle.
This battle was very likely the old man's last battle.
Furthermore, the young man's ultimate enemy was his own father.
Yes.
Even though his father's physical body had been possessed, according to Tianlong Daoist's deductions and the current situation, a wisp of his father's mental consciousness was still retained within that body!
This meant he had to kill his father!!
...