Chapter 1 The Chessboard Above the Cliff

Above the cliff.

As the Exquisite Chess Game was destroyed, a phantom slowly emerged.

Soon, the phantom solidified.

It was an old Daoist.

His hair was snow-white. He stood in the void, appearing to be a Daoist immortal.

"This humble Daoist Linglong greets fellow Daoist."

The appearance of Real Person Linglong astonished countless people.

However, his gaze fell on Lu Changsheng, his eyes full of admiration.

"Greetings, Senior."

Lu Changsheng spoke, not lacking in courtesy.

"There is no such thing as senior or junior. Fellow Daoist was able to crack my Exquisite Chess Game, and in terms of Daoist magic, you have already surpassed me. I am merely older, and cannot be called a senior."

Real Person Linglong spoke. This was not an ordinary primordial spirit phantom, but a primordial spirit phantom with intelligence.

As soon as Real Person Linglong finished speaking, the entire place boiled over again.

Because they did not expect that Lu Changsheng had really cracked the game.

"Senior Linglong, was the chess game really that easy to crack?"

Daoist Qingmu looked at Real Person Linglong with some loss of spirit, asking in a tone filled with unwillingness.

However, Real Person Linglong glanced at the latter and could not help but sigh.

"In the past, I entered the Dao through chess. In order to create a chess game full of infinite possibilities, I became obsessed and suffered a demonic possession, eventually creating the Exquisite Chess Game."

"This fellow Daoist is right, the white pieces are the self, and the black pieces are the inner demon. This game is not played against others, but against oneself."

"I believe that as the realm becomes higher and higher, the inner obsessions will also become greater and greater. Therefore, the Exquisite Chess Game determines life and death upon entering, because the more one wants to crack the game, the more difficult it becomes to crack the game. This is inherently an unsolvable game."

Real Person Linglong spoke, telling everyone the cruel truth.

At this moment, everyone was extremely silent.

No one would believe that the Exquisite Chess Game would be an unsolvable game.

"This is impossible, this is impossible, this is not an unsolvable game, this is not an unsolvable game, I saw hope, Senior Linglong, I saw hope, it's just a matter of time, just a matter of time."

Daoist Qingmu said loudly, not believing that this was an unsolvable game.

Because he did indeed see hope. Just a few more steps, just a few more steps, and he could crack it.

However, Real Person Linglong sighed, with a look of guilt in his eyes.

"Actually, all of this is an illusion. Once you enter the game, the chess player is yourself and the inner demon. You seem to have a glimmer of hope, but it is actually an illusion given to you by the inner demon. The white pieces are the dragon, which is your confidence, and the black pieces are the tiger, which is your obsession."

"You are confident that you can crack this game, so the white pieces will become stronger and stronger, and your inner demon also believes that you can crack this game, so you can see hope. Once you enter the game, you will always think that you can crack this game in your heart."

"In fact, when you are deeply trapped in it, if you know how to let go, if you know how to give up, then you can truly break the game."

"We cultivators are obsessed with the Great Dao of Longevity all our lives, but in reality, there are countless beautiful things in the world waiting for us! Let go of the obsessions in your heart, let go of the chess pieces in your hands, and experience the joys and sorrows of life. This is the way to break the game."

Real Person Linglong said calmly, causing countless people to remain silent.

No one would have thought that the true meaning of the Exquisite Chess Game would be so profound.

However, some people were still obsessed. Daoist Qingmu had completely entered the game.

He was unwilling to accept this fact.

Seven thousand years of meditation.

Seven thousand years!

The result of a lifetime of effort, in the end, is to tell you to let go.

This cannot be truly faced calmly, and madness is inevitable.

Just then, Lu Changsheng's voice slowly rang out.

"Senior Qingmu, in fact, what is life if not a game of chess?"

"Heaven and earth are the chessboard, the mortal world is the chess pieces. Everything in the world is nothing more than picking up and letting go. No matter how deep the obsession in your heart is, you can wake up. What can seven thousand years of meditation do? If you can understand it, ten years are better than a thousand years. If you can't understand it, a thousand years are like one day."

"Everyone, let go of your obsessions, let go of the chess pieces in your hands, and forget the chessboard in your hearts."

"Changsheng has already broken the game. Seize the day, rejoice, and let not the golden cup face the moon alone."

"The so-called giving and taking, giving and taking, how can you get without giving?"

Lu Changsheng had completely understood.

It was not a sudden epiphany.

But under the chessboard, he saw the myriad aspects of life.

He saw those people who were like Daoist Qingmu.

They picked up their obsessions, but could never let go.

The more they could not let go, the deeper they went into the game.

In fact, they had already cracked the Exquisite Chess Game, but they were just playing against their own inner demons.

"It's easy to pick up, but how easy is it to let go? Although I understand, I have not yet comprehended. I understand, but I don't want to understand. I understand, but I can't let go. The chessboard has always been in my heart. What I can't get past is my heart. What I can't beat is myself."

Daoist Qingmu laughed bitterly.

He sat cross-legged under the cliff, his eyes full of sorrow.

Soon, beams of light emanated from his body.

This was transformation into the Dao.

In the end, he still did not cross that step.

The obsession in his heart became a game that could never be cracked.

Even if someone told him that this was just your obsession.

But he had already entered the game. Unless he realized it himself, he would not listen to anyone.

Even if Real Person Linglong appeared, he would not believe it.

It was not just him.

Under the cliff, most of the thousands of people meditating also remained silent. In the end, they closed their eyes.

Chessboards reappeared in their hearts.

Whether it was the Exquisite Chess Game or not was no longer important. They were too obsessed. They picked it up, but could not bear to let go.

However, some people got up. Although they had not completely understood.

They chose not to continue playing chess.

They looked into the distance, feeling the warmth of the golden sun, shook off the dust on their bodies, looked at Lu Changsheng, and bowed deeply.

"Although I have not understood, I still thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for the reminder."

"The chessboard is already in my heart, and it is difficult to crack. However, what Fellow Daoist said is the ultimate truth. What is life if not a game of chess? Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

They spoke one after another, and then gradually left the Linglong Sacred Land.

No one knew where they went.

No one knew what they were thinking.

But at least they chose another way to break the game.

"It is this humble Daoist's mistake! I never thought that I would harm you all. I am ashamed."

Seeing all of this, Real Person Linglong could not help but feel extremely ashamed.

"Senior is not at fault. If there is obsession in the heart, it has nothing to do with the chessboard."

Lu Changsheng shook his head.

He did not think that Real Person Linglong was at fault.

"Alas! Fellow Daoist is so young, yet you can already think to this level. I am ashamed. However, Fellow Daoist has already broken the game. I have nothing of value on my person, and I don't know what to give you. This is the Exquisite Chessboard. It is my favorite treasure, so I will give it to you."

Real Person Linglong said.

Then, a chessboard broke out of the cliff and fell into Lu Changsheng's hands.

The chessboard was crystal clear, and it was a remarkable immortal artifact, but what was terrifying was not the chessboard, but the chess pieces. Each chess piece was also an immortal artifact!

That's right, each chess piece was an immortal artifact.

There were a total of three hundred and sixty-one pieces.

This thing was truly a peerless treasure.

"This is the Exquisite Chessboard. It is a treasure that I have refined throughout my life. If you are fighting an enemy, the chessboard can be transformed into an array disc, and each chess piece can evolve into a celestial soldier. If Fellow Daoist understands formations, you can activate the Heavenly and Earthly Chess Array within, which can slay immortals."

Real Person Linglong said.

In an instant, it attracted countless envious gazes.

"Fellow Daoist, if we are destined, we will meet again in the Immortal World."

Real Person Linglong's voice gradually disappeared.

His figure also gradually disappeared.

Soon, beneath the cliff.

Everything returned to calm.

There was no longer an Exquisite Chess Game in the world.

But looking at the people beneath the cliff.

Lu Changsheng remained silent.

The person who created the Exquisite Chess Game was gone.

The Exquisite Chess Game was also gone.

But in everyone's heart, there was a chessboard.

Lu Changsheng was speechless.

He did not speak, but just quietly watched all of this.

He did not know what he was thinking.

The Linglong Holy Master also did not speak, but just quietly watched Lu Changsheng.

However, soon.

This matter spread without any accident.

In less than half a day.

The world was once again shocked.

The Exquisite Chess Game, which had not been cracked for hundreds of thousands of years.

He never thought that it would be cracked by Lu Changsheng.

However, late that night.

An event suddenly caused Zhongzhou to boil over.