Zhu Xiaoyu said, "Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, can be said to be a traitor of the Three Palaces."

"Haven't you noticed that among those in the world acting on behalf of the Three Palaces, there are only Afang and Weiyang, but the Third Palace is nowhere to be seen?"

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows slightly. "Are you saying that Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, doesn't believe the Emperor is reincarnating? He can't find the Emperor, so he wants to establish a new Emperor?"

"That's right!" Zhu Xiaoyu said, "Both Wu Xing and Wu Xiang are organizations established by Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master."

"Wu Xiang had already infiltrated Nan Weiyang, but no one expected that Qu Zhi, the ghost and god – Ling – would appear in Nan Weiyang."

"After Ling annihilated Wu Xiang in one fell swoop, he reached a reconciliation with Cang Tianji. Nan Weiyang and Dong Afang have become as solid as iron, enough to contend with any organization."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but nod secretly.

Ling is a Calculator (suan shi), Cang Tianji is a Fate Master (ming shi), and Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, is a Luck Master (yun shi).

With the three Masters gathered together, plus the civil and military officials under their command, they are indeed ready to welcome the Emperor's return.

If it weren't for the variable of Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, no one in the art world could compete with the Three Palaces.

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "As for the Nine Coffin Taoist, no one knows his plans except for the Coffin Gate."

"However, my teacher speculates that the Nine Coffin Taoist has already calculated that the Three Star Generals should all come from the Coffin Gate."

"At the same time, he also calculated that Tan Lang will not return."

Zhu Xiaoyu's words were not without reason.

From the first-generation Tan Lang, E Shun, the Tan Lang Star has been good at observing and will not easily place bets. Moreover, as long as he has the opportunity, he will devour his master.

Tan Lang will not do things like following the Emperor to resist the great calamity.

However, he will definitely hide and watch the situation, looking for opportunities to replace the Emperor.

I said in a deep voice: "Then why is the art world still looking for Tan Lang?"

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "The art world believes that Tan Lang can be subdued."

"However, my teacher's speculation is that the Nine Coffin Taoist may want to become Tan Lang himself."

"The Nine Coffin Taoist is learned and capable, and he himself possesses the skills of a Feng Shui Master and a Fate Master. Xie Ban Gui and Wang Hun fighting the Ghost Emperor twice were both deliberate arrangements by the Nine Coffin Taoist."

"If he returns with his memories and becomes the Tan Lang Star General, then he can fully help the Emperor resist the great calamity."

"In this way, the variable of Tan Lang will no longer exist."

I nodded slightly and said, "According to you, there shouldn't be any friction between Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, and the Nine Coffin Taoist, so why is he still blocking the Nine Coffin Taoist everywhere?"

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "I can tell you clearly about this. The Nine Coffin Taoist sees the art world more clearly than anyone else."

"The Nine Coffin Taoist understands that if no one restricts the art world, it will inevitably plot to dominate the world after being integrated by the Emperor. At that time, the world will be filled with rivers of blood and mountains of bones. Therefore..."

Zhu Xiaoyu said: "The Tan Lang reincarnated by the Nine Coffin Taoist will also follow the old path of the Tan Lang Star's destiny—devouring the master."

"It's just that other Tan Lang devour their master for personal gain, while the Nine Coffin Taoist does it for the sake of the world."

"Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, admires the Nine Coffin Taoist, but will never let him join the Emperor's command. Therefore, he is also constantly destroying the Nine Coffin Taoist's reincarnation."

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "Let me put it this way!"

"No organization in the art world wants to see the great calamity coming and causing suffering to the people. However, all organizations want to gain the greatest benefit in this great calamity."

"Similarly, Yi Tianqi, the Chess Master, the Nine Coffin Taoist, the Reincarnation Division, the Ten Yama Kings, and the Civilian Officials all believe that their way of dealing with the calamity is the best choice."

"Therefore, they all want to complete their layout and achieve their goals before the calamity comes."

"What is this considered?"

"Probably, it's like, 'To secure the outside, one must first pacify the inside,' right?"

"Haha..."

I frowned and said, "You said that the Ten Yama Kings and the Civilian Officials are also involved?"

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "You can say that!"

"The Underworld is closely related to the art world. They will not sit idly by and watch the art world be destroyed, but because of the Yin-Yang Covenant, they cannot directly interfere in the human calamity."

"The Ten Yama Kings and the Four Judges formed the Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren. The Civilian Officials allowed people to smuggle across the Yellow Springs, all of which are helping their spokespersons in the human world to deal with the calamity."

I asked: "The spokesperson of the Civilian Officials is the Reincarnation Division? What about the Ten Yama Kings?"

Zhu Xiaoyu said, "Wu Sheng!"

"Wu Sheng is the leader of the Yama Kings in the human world."

"Haven't you noticed that Wu Sheng has never contacted you again after meeting you in the early days of your debut, luring you into Wu Sheng, and donating your lifespan? He hasn't even bothered the Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren under your command?"

I thought about it carefully, and Wu Sheng had indeed never caused me any trouble!

However, Zhu Xiaoyu's words also made me frown. "I didn't expect that the chaotic Jianghu is actually doing the same thing."

"But, aren't they afraid of exhausting the elites of the art world before the great calamity comes by fighting each other like this?"

Zhu Xiaoyu took a deep breath and said, "My teacher speculates that before the great calamity comes, the art world will not only erupt in internal strife, but also undergo an unprecedented integration."

"Because there are still some people who are complying with the calamity."

I suddenly looked up and said, "What do you mean?"