Chapter 1550: The Chessboard
Chapter 1550: The Chessboard
Wang Wei has some karma with this place called the Non-Causality Heaven. He once found a Dao Lord who was trying to enter the Paragon Realm secretly, but he died and was turned into a Karma Puppet. Wang Wei stole the puppet and used it to improve his Karma Unbound Physique.
’This place should have remembered me, so let’s be careful,’ Wang Wei thought as he entered an invisible state with his power of Nothingness. He also isolated all his causality to prevent this area from detecting him. He headed straight into the depths of this zone before summoning a chessboard.
Anyone glancing at the board wouldn’t be able to tell if it was based on Western Chess, Go, Xianqi, or any of the chess games in the Eternal Ascension World. Wang Wei observed the board and nodded in satisfaction. His clone did an excellent job of using the Karma Jinx Stone from his grandmother to refine this artifact.
’The last step is the pieces,’ Wang Wei thought. As he sat cross-legged in the void, with the board floating before him, he started drawing the power of the Non-Causality Heaven to condense numerous circle chess pieces not bigger than a fingernail.
Exactly 3800 chess pieces were condensed on the board before something else started happening. Characters slowly materialized on the chess piece at the center, and it was the word for [Kong]. The chess pieces around the central one then changed to represent the characters of [Lin Fan] and [Xu Shi]. Wang Wei hesitated a moment before condensing a piece for [Bai Han].
Wang Wei checked there were no issues before condensing more names. Most of the people he had met and had some karma with appeared as chess pieces, including figures like Ying Zheng and the Heavenly Serpent Empress.
’Should I add the ancestors?’ Besides his wife, the people in his sect were the only ones he did not condense a chess piece for. ’I don’t need this to influence them, so better not.’ If his actions are discovered, it could complicate things, so it was better not to do it. Plus, he did not need the board to mobilize the power of his sect.
Wang Wei’s gaze then shifted to a group of pieces with vague characters. These names were all the Primals of the other factions. While he had dealings with their faction, Wang Wei had never met them personally, or formed deep karma with them.
’The assembly is the perfect time to condense these pieces,’ Wang Wei thought. He put the board inside his Sea of Consciousness, but he did not immediately leave. Instead, he condensed a new clone and handed him the negative karma from his time as the Myriad Devourer, tasking him to refine another weapon.
Only did Wang Wei leave and return to the sect. He wanted to see his wife, but figured she was busy. So, he decided they could communicate with arrays when she had time. A few months passed quickly, and it was time to head to the Qin Dynasty for the assembly.
"Is this really necessary?" Wang Wei asked as he looked at this white-gold luxurious chariot with drawings of 3800 unique beasts.
"These events are all about face and fanfare, so yes, we must make a grand entrance. My Origin Chariot has never failed to gather attention," Qiyuan smiled.
"You think this is too much? Wait until you see how those stupid Gods will show up," Yan Hai sneered.
"I always figured you were the showy type," Wang Bo commented.
"I can be in a showy mood, but I’m more about being low-key most of the time," Wang Wei shrugged.
"After you," Qiyuan motioned with his hand.
"I’ve told you guys to stop to know your status. In the cultivation world, seniority is really nothing," Wang Bo sighed.
"It’s never a bad idea to show the young ones an example of respecting their elders," Qiyuan smiled, staying in his position.
"That’s why this kid is my new favorite. He doesn’t care how much I’ve done for the sect," Wang Bo complained as he slowly entered the chariot. Qiyuan and everyone else gave him a look.
"Don’t listen to him. I’ve shown plenty of respect," Wang Wei denied, his lips secretly twitching. ’This bastard.’
"I bet he’s secretly cursing me now," Wang Bo’s voice echoed from the inside.
’That damn old man,’ Wang Wei cursed. If not for the current situation, he would have beaten him up. Qiyuan did not say anything and slowly entered. Yan Hai’s eyes were practically shining with glee.
Yan Shirong followed after her, but it was apparent he was trying to contain his laughter. Miscellaneous and Tang Song – an elderly array master with blue robes with runic symbols — pretended they hadn’t heard anything. Meanwhile, Shadow Ruler was as silent as ever.
Wang Wei entered after Yan Shirong, followed by the others. Once everyone was inside, the symbols on the side of the chariot became alive, condensing into phantoms indistinguishable from real creatures. Then, these rare and mythical creatures started driving the chariot, making the entire expedition even more grandiose than it was.
The interior dimension of the chariot was obviously extended, allowing everyone to have their own room. The other elders secluded themselves, but Wang Wei, Wang Bo, Yan Hai, and Yan Shirong started drinking and talking together.
"Is that your Chaos brew? It’s been a while since I’ve had a taste," Wang Bo commented as he swallowed the contents of his wine bowl in a gulp. By Heaven, the taste is better than I remember."
"The last time you had was before you sealed yourself," Qiyuan said as he slowly sipped. "I’ve improved the refining process more than a dozen times by now."
"You first brewed this after what happened to Li Ming, right? You wanted to drink your problem," Wang Bo said as his wine cup automatically refilled itself. "I know you blame yourself, but there wasn’t anything you could do then." Wang Bo remembered the state Qiyuan was in when he woke him from his seal to talk.
"I know," Qiyuan nodded. After that conversation with Wang Wei, he understood what happened to Li Ming was a plot. It could have happened to either of them. Li Ming might have just been unlucky.
"I’m glad you overcame that mental barrier," Wang Bo nodded before looking at Wang Wei. "Kid, why aren’t you saying anything? Isn’t the wine to your liking?"
Wang Wei glanced at him before continuing his own thing, which was enjoying his wine and observing the outside. His action made Wang Bo laugh boisterously.
"Kid, don’t you know how to respect your elders? Do you want me to take out the bamboo?" Yan Hai threatened. However, Wang Wei just rolled his eyes at her and ignored everybody.
"You!"
"Alright," Qiyuan calmed her down, and Yan Hai snorted coldly.
After everyone was inside, the chariot teleported to the outskirts of the Qin Dynasty’s territory before flying toward the central domain. Wang Wei used this opportunity to check the situation of the dynasty.
Things were nothing like what he expected. Firstly, he saw signs of his Mortal Civilization. Everywhere in the dynasty’s territory, enlightened mortals can be seen, and even if they have not awakened their spiritual powers, their bodies have been modified to be healthy and live a long life.
Wang Wei was not surprised by this outcome, as he had expected these factions to steal his idea. However, he did not expect Qin to incorporate so much of his civilization into their rules. Wang Wei even saw some mortal military using Tier 9 Power Armors.
The second thing that surprised Wang Wei was the culture. The Qin Dynasty played a crucial role in China’s history. It served as the transition from feudalism to a centralized government, making Ying Zheng one of the most famous emperors in modern history.
However, the Qin Dynasty was not without critics. That period was known for its harsh and strict laws. For example, the punishment for stealing was chopping the culprit’s hands, no matter the amount of money involved. Additionally, the Qin Dynasty is famous for its anti-Confucian stance. Ying Zheng is infamous for banning and burning books, and killing Confucian Scholars.
However, Wang Wei saw too many Literary Scholars in many places in the territory, many of whom hold high positions of power. ’Well, it makes sense he would change his views.’ Ying Zheng supported Legalism and rejected Confucianism because the latter had too much power in the court and among the people.
However, in the cultivation world, Ying Zheng now had god-like power, meaning no religion or ideology could threaten his power. So, it was in his best interest to use these ideologies as tools to rule and improve his dynasty.
The journey took three days before the chariot reached the capital. A small battalion of soldiers dressed in black armor waited outside the capital, led by a woman in blue official clothes with a hat. Everyone slowly descended.
"Welcome to Great Qin," the officer said with a bright smile. Wang Wei looked at her and recognized she was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peak Paragon, Fan Xifeng.