Chapter 1275: Rejoicing in Victory, Finding Joy in Defeat
Chapter 1275: Chapter 1275: Rejoicing in Victory, Finding Joy in Defeat
After some brief pleasantries, the Stone Ghost True Person began arranging accommodations for Ning Fan and Bai Ling.
There were still several months left until the official start of the Northern Pole Dao Fruit Conference. Even so, the exterior venue was already packed with throngs of people, the event unprecedented in its grandeur.
The external venue only provided ten thousand cave residences for those without invitations, yet there were far more than ten thousand masters present, so most did not receive accommodation and had to search elsewhere down the mountain.
Stone Ghost True Person, being a Nine Tribulations Immortal Emperor, would of course not fail to secure even a small cave residence, and had reserved a cave for Ning Fan (Lu Bei) well in advance.
This spared Ning Fan quite a bit of trouble.
"The sky is already getting dark, so I won’t disturb Brother Zhang’s rest any longer. If you have time tomorrow, I hope you can come by for a chat. I have important matters to discuss," Stone Ghost True Person earnestly requested.
...
In the stillness of the night, Ning Fan sat cross-legged in the cave residence, deep in thought.
In this trial space, the person he was pretending to be was named Lu Bei, a close friend of the Stone Ghost True Person, who had arrived from a great distance after receiving a letter from him.
The specific reason Stone Ghost invited Lu Bei remained unclear. The message Ning Fan found was too fragmented and difficult to decipher.
[Lu Bei, my dear brother, seeing your letter is like seeing you in person... The Northern Barbarians Kingdom is in urgent trouble... I specially invite Brother Daoist to come... Northern Pole Dao Fruit Conference... to rely on the renown of the Mixed Kun Holy Sect disciples... to uphold justice... the calamity of the Ziwei Demon Monarch... nine days later... Copper Ship awaits... Your brother, Stone Ghost]
In this trial space, what exactly had caused the Northern Barbarians Kingdom to be in urgent trouble?
And what did the calamity of the Ziwei Demon Monarch refer to?
What kind of justice did Stone Ghost True Person wish to uphold?
If these mysteries could be clarified, they might be helpful for the developments in the Saint Heir’s Trial’s subsequent plotline.
"Speaking of which, my trial points are still at seventy-six stars, and it’s been a while since they increased..."
As Ning Fan was pondering this, he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
It was Bai Ling from next door, visiting late at night.
If another woman were knocking on Ning Fan’s door in the deep of the night, it might have carried a slightly amorous implication.
But Bai Ling’s intentions were entirely different; her late-night visit had nothing to do with romance—it was to play a game of chess with Ning Fan.
[Senior Brother, it’s been ages since our last match. I’m free right now, could you play a few guiding games with me?] Bai Ling requested in her heart.
"Of course. Shall I still give you four stones?" Ning Fan asked.
[Yes, still four stones! Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance!] Bai Ling happily responded in her heart.
Then...
Ning Fan once again heard the sound of his trial points increasing.
[Event Fifty-Six: Winning a guiding game with four stones awarded. One star gained. Current score, seventy-seven stars.]
[Event Fifty-Seven: Winning another guiding game...]
[Event Fifty-Eight...]
[Event Fifty-Nine... Current score, eight stars.]
Throughout the whole night, four chess games were played, and in each guiding game, Bai Ling was defeated beyond recovery.
Even though she had lost many times to Ning Fan, after losing four games in a row, Bai Ling still couldn’t completely control her emotions, becoming tearful.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I used all my strength. You’ve improved a lot recently; with four stones, I have to take it seriously." Ning Fan apologized gently, trying to comfort her.
He didn’t want to make Bai Ling cry. He wasn’t a demon, and he had no peculiar quirks.
But letting Bai Ling win by going easy on her was also something he couldn’t do. It wasn’t that Ning Fan cared about winning or losing, but if he let her win on purpose, Bai Ling, being perceptive, would surely realize it. To a true Chess Master, this behavior would be akin to desecration, an insult not to be done.
[Oh? Have I become stronger? But why do I feel nothing at all? Senior Brother must be trying to cheer me up.] Bai Ling, though doubtful, managed to hold back her tears.
[Please guide me for one more game! This time, I certainly... certainly won’t lose again!] The young lady’s competitive spirit was evident; perhaps such determination was befitting a Chess Master.
"We can’t play any more."
[Why not? There’s still time. Let’s play one more game! Just one! Really, the last one!]
"...It’s already late morning, do you have some misunderstanding about the term ’still early’? I have an appointment with Stone Ghost True Person today, so it’s not polite to delay my visit. I should head out soon, so let’s conclude our games here... and your Heart Spirit’s exhaustion is likely reaching its limit too, so you should rest."
[Oh? Is it that late already? I didn’t notice the time...]
Knowing Ning Fan had matters to attend to, Bai Ling didn’t dare continue being troublesome or interrupting. And having played four games with Ning Fan, her mental exhaustion was significant. Realizing the passage of time, she suddenly felt dizzy.
She fainted directly.
This was the sign of Heart Spirit exhaustion nearing its limit, and the reason Ning Fan refused to play a fifth game with her.
So he carried the fainted Bai Ling back to her room.
Without doing anything extra or inappropriate.
But he still heard the long-absent voice of the Ant Lord.
"So ruthless! Truly a real man, a tough guy! Just for a slight increase in trial points, you made the girl faint from playing chess! I now have a new level of respect for your extreme ways!" The Ant Lord quipped sarcastically.
"I actually don’t find anything improper in this matter. Women only affect the speed at which we masters draw our swords; what could be more important than trial points? At least this time, Ning Fan still left her several living pieces, showing a thousand times more courtesy than back then!" Duowen’s voice echoed as well.
That tone, at first glance, seemed to be defending Ning Fan, but not entirely so.
It had a subtle sense of sarcasm.
"...The reason I exerted my full strength was not for the trial score, but because I couldn’t bear to harm the dignity of the opposing Chess Master." Ning Fan explained.
Unfortunately, his explanation was not believed by the Ant Lord and Duowen.
He was too lazy to explain further.
"Speaking of which, when we encountered the Roasted Chestnut Elder earlier, why did you two stay silent? Yet now you have the leisure to laugh at me." Ning Fan asked.
"Roasted Chestnut Elder? What Roasted Chestnut Elder?" The Ant Lord had no memory of this and could neither probe nor share any memory of this matter from Ning Fan, thus he was confused.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about." Duowen also had no memory of this matter.
All traces were erased by the Roasted Chestnut Elder with a wave of his hand. Even as powerful as the Ant Lord seemed unable to contend with such power.
Only Ning Fan still remembered the previous scenes...
"If you don’t understand, then so be it." Ning Fan didn’t say more about it.
...
This was Ning Fan’s third day in the Northern Barbarians Kingdom.
Today, on North Pole Mountain, the long-absent snow and wind had stopped, revealing a clear blue sky.
Ning Fan came as promised to visit the Stone Ghost True Person.
Outside the dwelling of the Stone Ghost True Person, two young children were sweeping the snow. Upon seeing a guest, they immediately stopped their actions and respectfully greeted Ning Fan.
Then said,
"Our master is currently waiting in the Snow Pavilion, please follow me, Senior."
Ning Fan followed the children into the courtyard, and soon, he reached just outside the Snow Pavilion.
Inside the Snow Pavilion, the Stone Ghost True Person already knew of Ning Fan’s arrival and greeted him with a hearty smile. However, the look in his eyes as he regarded Ning Fan seemed somewhat different from the day before, filled with curiosity and inquiry.
"Brother Zhang, you truly keep your word, arriving so early. Children, quickly brew a pot of my best tea and bring two of my newly cultivated Dao Fruits."
After giving instructions, the Stone Ghost True Person invited Ning Fan into the Snow Pavilion.
On the stone table inside the pavilion, incense was burning, and there was a chessboard laid out. The chessboard’s material was unknown, but it emitted a faint azure glow, seemingly of rather fine quality.
As Ning Fan’s gaze swept over the chessboard, he vaguely felt that the azure glow on the board was somewhat similar to the Azure Spike in his eyes, which piqued his curiosity.
Seeing Ning Fan’s gaze land directly on the chessboard upon entering the Snow Pavilion, the Stone Ghost True Person smiled and said, "If you like it, Brother Zhang, I’ll give this chessboard to you. But before that, you must play a match with me using this board, how about it?"
Ning Fan was slightly taken aback, looking towards the Stone Ghost True Person, not expecting him to also be a chess enthusiast who wanted to play as soon as they met.
But he had no reason to refuse.
So, let’s play.
Thus, the two sat down on opposite sides.
As soon as they settled in front of the chessboard, the Stone Ghost True Person suddenly became serious, a sharp aura emanating from his entire being.
This kind of aura differed from the pressure accumulated from cultivation realms, but rather was a special atmosphere unique to a Chess Master.
When Ning Fan played chess with Bai Ling, he could also feel such an aura when Bai Ling was serious, but Bai Ling’s aura was not as strong as the Stone Ghost True Person’s.
"This person might be a strong player..." Thinking of this, Ning Fan’s gaze also took on a seriousness, seemingly influenced by the atmosphere.
Ning Fan took the white pieces, while the Stone Ghost took the black pieces, as per the Stone Ghost’s request.
In the Real Realms, with countless Immortal Kingdoms, different countries had different cultural heritages and had developed various Go rules.
In some countries, the white pieces played first, while in others, the black went first. Some countries favored the komi system, while others preferred guessing the first move and adding points. In the Stone Ghost’s hometown, the black pieces usually went first, and those who played black were often of a lesser hand.
Evidently, the Stone Ghost True Person deemed his chess skill inferior to Ning Fan, hence regarded himself as the lesser hand.
At this moment, Ning Fan heard the voice of the Saint Child Thunder Scripture.
[A branch of fate appears: Branch one, crush Stone Ghost with absolute chess strength, win in the midgame, obtain a score of ten to fifty stars, extra reward: Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill; Branch two, fight Stone Ghost to the endgame and win, obtain a score of five to twenty stars, extra reward: The first part of "Grand-Grade Victory Formula"; Branch three, lose to Stone Ghost but persist to the endgame, obtain a score of two to ten stars, extra reward: One Inferior Grade Arctic Dao Fruit; Branch four, lose to Stone Ghost and concede in the midgame, obtain a score of one to five stars, extra reward: One Dao-Seeking Stone Chess Set; Branch five, cancel the game before a victory is decided, no reward.]
Ning Fan was slightly surprised.
What is Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill? Can something like chess skill be directly rewarded?
Then thinking it over, since there are secret techniques in the world that can forcibly elevate cultivation through direct infusion, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were ways to forcibly enhance chess skill as well.
While pondering, the Stone Ghost True Person had already made his move.
Four-four, lower-left star point.
In Stone Ghost’s hometown, it seemed that the komi system was not popular. Out of respect for the opponent with the upper hand, Stone Ghost set his piece in the upper right, which was Ning Fan’s lower left, equating to Stone Ghost’s upper right.
Ning Fan reciprocated the courtesy without being rude.
White pieces, sixteen-sixteen, upper-right star point.
Black pieces, lower star and small points.
White stones, double star formation above.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten moves passed, and Shi Gui’s brows gradually furrowed, seemingly puzzled.
Very strange, exceedingly strange. Ning Fan’s (Lu Bei’s) choices in the layout phase today were vastly different from what Shi Gui understood of Brother Zhang from the past.
Not having met for years, could it be that Brother Zhang has changed his past style of play? Shi Gui wondered secretly.
Accidentally raising his head, he glanced at Ning Fan’s face.
In Shi Gui’s view, the face he saw was still that of his Brother Zhang, seemingly no different from the Brother Zhang he had known back then.
Yet somehow, this moment’s Ning Fan brought Shi Gui True Person a sense of unfamiliarity.
Suppressing this absurd feeling, Shi Gui True Person once again focused on the board, integrating each breath and exhale with it—a testament to his heart spirit’s full concentration.
In another blink, another ten moves passed.
The strange feeling in Shi Gui True Person’s heart grew stronger.
"Strange, too strange! This move, Brother Zhang didn’t play his most adept Nanliang Flying Dagger joseki, and this choice is also odd..."
"In the past, playing against Brother Zhang, I felt immense pressure almost from the layout phase, but today, that oppressive feeling isn’t there as it once was. Have I grown stronger over the years? Or is it true, as rumors say, that since his teacher’s passing, Brother Zhang’s chess skills have plummeted, no longer what they were..."
"I might win!"
"Facing Brother Zhang, it’s the first time I’ve thought I might win! I must strive for victory in this game!"
As the game progressed, Shi Gui True Person’s fighting spirit grew, whereas Ning Fan gradually felt overwhelming pressure from the board, like mountains and seas.
"Even though it’s only the layout phase, I already sense my disadvantage. Is Shi Gui True Person’s chess skill truly this high?"
After all, Ning Fan’s Go experience almost entirely came from Ancient Chaos memory, whereas for Ancient Chaos, Go was just one of many hobbies, nothing more.
In terms of strength, Ancient Chaos might be far superior to Shi Gui, but in chess skills, he was greatly lacking. Clearly, Shi Gui True Person had devoted much more effort to Go than Ancient Chaos.
"No, if this continues, I’ll lose!"
"The gap in experience is too vast! Throughout my life, even combined with my Ancient Chaos Master’s lifetime, the number of games might not even match this person’s tip..."
Ning Fan’s brows furrowed tightly, unprecedentedly focusing all his spirit on the game.
Must delve deeper.
Must go deeper...
To Ning Fan, the small board before him seemed to transform into a boundless sea, and his heart spirit was unceasingly plunging into the depths.
Then, in the next move, Ning Fan didn’t play the option given by Ancient Chaos memory but hesitated, delaying his move.
He was calculating the complex and intricate changes in this piece of the board!
The fifteenth change...
The eighteenth change...
The twenty-second change...
The thirty-ninth change...
Inadvertently, he compared them with numerous Go patterns Bai Ling had recently consulted him about.
Azure Spike flickered in his eyes!
Depth of foresight increased!
At a certain moment, Ning Fan suddenly decided and made a move.
This wasn’t the best move, but it was the first move that Ning Fan played using his own chess skills!
This move was not Ancient Chaos’s Go, but Ning Fan’s chess!
"Oh?" Shi Gui True Person murmured lightly and then focused his attention on Ning Fan’s move, his eyes gradually serious.
Accidentally raising his head, he met Ning Fan’s eyes flashing with Azure Spike, suddenly overwhelmed in shock.
"It’s actually the Gate of Heaven Separation Sect! And not merely the first level; it’s almost pushing open the third gate! Unbelievable that after years, even though Brother Zhang’s chess skills weakened, his perception has increased to such an alarming extent. Indeed, his mentor’s passing brought him an overwhelmingly massive impact..."
"This wasn’t the best move, but after this move, I somewhat couldn’t understand his strategy. What is the real purpose of this move..."
Shi Gui tried to calculate the various changes in this piece, and the more he calculated, the more complex it felt.
After a long time, Shi Gui suddenly saw something clearly, and a drop of cold sweat fell from his forehead.
"This is actually a probing move!"
"He’s testing from a very high position, probing what kind of response I’ll make next, and his confidence in doing so must be that he’s already calculated all the local changes here! But how is this possible? To calculate such massive changes in such a short time, even I couldn’t do it..."
"Such weight! Since reuniting with Brother Zhang, it’s the first time I’ve felt this degree of pressure from him, even surpassing the past by far! Although pressure was felt before, that was truly due to the gap in experience. Brother Zhang’s talent far exceeded mine, his experience more than mine, but now, my experience has caught up. Yet today...is this pressure coming from the disparity in calculating ability!"
In a blink, over forty moves passed.
Sweat poured down Shi Gui True Person’s forehead; he could feel the advantage he obtained at the start of the layout phase being entirely consumed by Ning Fan.
Another move landed, and Shi Gui True Person’s face changed suddenly.
Seeing Ning Fan’s subsequent moves, surprisingly echo a move from over forty hands ago, which seemed like just an adaptation then, but now pierces Stone Ghost True Person’s center like a sharp sword!
"He actually set up such a move forty hands ago!"
The defeat is already determined.
There’s no need to continue anymore.
If there were eyes to see the real-time win rate on the chess board, Stone Ghost True Person’s win rate would likely be less than one ten-thousandth at this moment.
So he let out a long sigh, feeling relieved but also regretful and unwilling.
Then he took out two chess pieces, placed them on the board, and conceded.
White wins in the mid-game.
Ning Fan not only defeated Stone Ghost True Person but nearly crushed him in calculation power!
"I originally thought Brother Zhang’s chess skill had declined in recent years as rumors said, but it turns out Brother Zhang merely changed his chess approach, now focusing more on improving calculation power... I admit my loss wholeheartedly. Given Brother Zhang’s calculation power, he might have a chance against even second or third-grade chess masters!" Stone Ghost True Person praised.
Although he lost the game, he valued the spirit of the Dao. Victory brings joy, and defeat is also delightful, especially losing to such a remarkable move, perhaps this game might be recorded as a notable one in chess history!
Thinking that one day he might become part of a famous game, even as a backdrop, Stone Ghost True Person felt immensely happy and honored.
"Boy, has the game record been documented?" Stone Ghost asked the boy beside him.
"Yes, Master, every detail has been recorded." The boy replied respectfully.
"Brother Zhang, how about we review the game now?" Stone Ghost requested.
"Alright." Reviewing the game after it ends is a customary practice; Ning Fan naturally would not refuse.
Though he won this game, his advantage was due to overwhelming calculation power across several levels. If he hadn’t deeply entered the Heaven Separation state, he most likely would have lost.
Ning Fan knew that Stone Ghost’s game experience was absolutely far beyond his own, hence reviewing would certainly be beneficial to improving his own chess skills.
At this moment, Ning Fan himself hadn’t realized he felt the joy brought by Go for the first time.
It’s a feeling different from the bloody battles in the cultivation world, yet its intensity is no less than a desperate fight.
"No wonder Bai Ling loves playing chess so much, this feeling, it seems... I have started to understand a bit."
He then recalled winning against Stone Ghost, seemingly completing the Saint Heir trial task.
He proceeded to check the rewards.
He discovered that the Saint Child Thunder Scripture rewarded him with an unusual Dao Fruit that was white, covered in snowflakes with a snow mountain pattern, inside the storage pouch.
Since Ning Fan crushed Stone Ghost, the Saint Heir trial reward him Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill, this Dao Fruit, to some extent, equates to Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill.
After a review, Stone Ghost instructed the boy to pack up the chess set carefully to gift Ning Fan.
"This is a chess set made from the unique Dao-Seeking Stone of my hometown, just as mentioned earlier, a gift to Brother Zhang!"
Then he also ordered the boy to serve tea and place Dao Fruits on the table to invite Ning Fan to taste.
"Oh? It’s Enlightenment Tea again?" Ning Fan was slightly surprised.
Unexpectedly, Stone Ghost used the precious Enlightenment Tea Leaves to serve guests, which showed his great hospitality.
Looking at the Dao Fruit the boy served, Hmm? Its appearance, how similar to the Dao Fruit from Saint Child Thunder Scripture reward, could it be the same kind of fruit? The only difference might be Stone Ghost’s Dao Fruit used for hospitality has lower quality, less than the trial reward.
"This is a newly grown Dao Fruit of mine, although it’s just of the low-grade Dao Fruit degree, it’s an extraordinary product for us chess cultivators." Stone Ghost True Person invited Ning Fan to eat a Dao Fruit and ate one himself.
Ning Fan thanked Stone Ghost, ate the Dao Fruit, and immediately felt his divine sense expand subtly and his memory enhance slightly, with a slight improvement in spirit sense strength, instantly amazed.
How does one evaluate a person’s chess skill?
A person’s chess skill includes their Go talent and experience. Calculation power, mental strength, memory, chess feeling, joseki proficiency, and even intangible chess luck... many factors determine a person’s chess skill, and improvement in any aspect can promote its progress.
If chess skill could be quantified, this tiny Dao Fruit could provide an average person a ten-year chess skill improvement.
Therefore... the Saint Child Thunder Scripture envisioning the Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill reward as a Dao Fruit was probably considered in this way.
Then a problem arises.
The low-grade Dao Fruit Stone Ghost True Person offered could enhance a master’s ten-year chess skill.
My Dao Fruit, hailed as capable of improving Ten Thousand Year Chess Skill, what quality Dao Fruit is it?
Not knowing, and not appropriate to take it out and ask Stone Ghost, otherwise it would seem like an insult. I kindly let you taste an invaluable low-grade Dao Fruit, and you pull out a Dao Fruit with a quality hundreds or thousands of times higher, what does it mean? Mocking me? That’s not suitable.
Thus Ning Fan decided to set the unknown quality Dao Fruit aside for later consideration.
Today’s visit wasn’t just for chess; Stone Ghost made it clear he had something to discuss.
Now the game is finished, Dao Fruit eaten, tea drunk, it’s about time for him to get to the main point.
Indeed.
After finishing the meal and drink, Stone Ghost True Person ordered the boy to clean cups and dishes, then led Ning Fan to the inner room of the cave mansion.
"Today’s invitation to Brother Zhang is to request your assistance, hoping Brother Zhang would consider past bonds and lend a helping hand!" Stone Ghost requested earnestly.