Chapter 316: The Great Jing Immortal Dynasty (4)

Song Wuxin froze.

What was he seeing?

The opponent challenging him was only a six- or seven-year-old little girl.

"You're the number one? Today this young lady is going to challenge you!"

"This young lady is here to take first place!"

Nan Hongsang, barely half the height of an adult, stood on the martial stage holding a red-tasseled spear three times her size. She looked valiant and full of spirit.

A six- or seven-year-old girl wanted to challenge him?

Song Wuxin was completely stunned.

Why would the Emperor Mansion elders even allow such a young girl to enter?

"It must be that this little girl has a terrifying force behind her. They want to use me as a stepping stone to build her reputation," he thought. Many ideas flashed through his mind.

He had often heard that in Heavenly Captial, many children of nobles and powerful families would sacrifice the interests of background-less geniuses like him to create momentum for themselves.

Song Wuxin had always believed such setups were far removed from his own life. He never expected to encounter one today.

However…

"I, Song Wuxin, am different from the rest. If you think I'll obediently admit defeat and submit to fate, that's impossible!"

He would never yield to destiny.

Nan Hongsang found the person in front of her strange.

That did not matter.

Looking at the fallen Song Wuxin, she put away her spear.

There was no joy of victory on her face—only disappointment.

"Daddy said the top genius of the Ten Great Martial Mansions is considered first-rate across the entire Great Jing Heavenly Dynasty. Daddy lied to me."

How could a genius be defeated in a single move?

The surrounding Emperor Mansion elders twitched at the corners of their mouths. After all, genius was relative.

As the two small figures walked away, the spectators finally came back to their senses.

"Was that the Nan Clan's Martial Immortal Physique just now?"

"Only six years old, yet she already possesses such strength. Our Great Jing Heavenly Dynasty will surely gain another supreme Emperor in the future."

"Who was the person beside Miss Nan? Why does he look so unfamiliar?"

"I remember now. That seems to be the Ninety-Ninth Prince who was born six years ago."

"The Ninety-Ninth Prince… what a pity. Even the Heavenly Physician Great Emperor declared he cannot cultivate. He's a complete waste… His Majesty is such a towering figure. How could the Great Jing Heavenly Dynasty have a prince who cannot cultivate?"

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"Do you want to die? Even if the Ninety-Ninth Prince cannot cultivate, he is still a member of the imperial family. If the wrong ears hear that, it would be disrespectful to the imperial family."

"Thank you for the reminder, brother."

"..."

Nan Hongsang looked at Su Chen curiously.

"Little Chenzi, what's wrong?"

Su Chen calmly shook his head.

Even after they had walked far away, he still caught many of the discussions about him.

None of it mattered to him.

He let Nan Hongsang pull him along to the next destination.

The capital of the Great Jing Heavenly Dynasty was enormous, forming its own vast domain. It truly deserved to be called the most prosperous place in the entire dynasty.

Even after an entire month, Su Chen and Nan Hongsang had only explored a negligible corner of it.

Su Chen could not remember the last time he had felt this relaxed, strolling through one bustling street after another.

"What's that!" Nan Hongsang suddenly cried out.

She was always drawn to lively scenes.

Su Chen looked over.

A large crowd had gathered, including many nobles.

He followed Nan Hongsang as she squeezed her way inside.

There stood a white-haired elder with his eyes wrapped in black cloth. One hand held a Clear Wind Dao Banner while the other pinched a chess piece. Before him lay an ordinary chessboard.

Sitting across from him was a woman of peerless beauty. Her appearance was so stunning that the heavens and earth seemed to lose their color.

More striking than her breathtaking looks was her temperament—strategic and commanding, as if she held the entire world in her grasp.

She was the number one talented daughter of the longevity Zhuge Clan: Zhuge Yao!

"I have lost, Senior," Zhuge Yao sighed softly.

The chess pieces had not yet reached a dead end, but she knew it was only a matter of time. She disliked wasting time.

"Young one, you are far too clever," the old man said. "People who are too smart often suffer because of it. Your talent and wisdom may become your greatest obstacle."

Zhuge Yao paid no heed. "Senior, are you truly unwilling to consider a deal with the Zhuge Clan?"

The old man pointed at the characters on the banner in his hand: Win by half a move, and you may freely choose any supreme treasure.

Behind his head, a deep wheel of light appeared. At the other end of the wheel, countless supreme treasures shone with dazzling brilliance. Any single one of them would cause a storm outside and draw frenzied competition from immortal sects and longevity clans.

Yet here, no one dared to snatch them. An elder who could openly display so many supreme treasures could not possibly be an ordinary person. Besides, ordinary people could not live in the capital. If one could not see through his cultivation, he was undoubtedly a senior.

Zhuge Yao understood that trying to obtain what she wanted through the name of the Zhuge Clan was unlikely. She turned and left without another word.

Sighs rose from the surrounding crowd.

"Even the Zhuge Clan's number one talented daughter could not win by half a move against the old man."

"What is this elder's background?"

"For half a year, countless geniuses from major sects, peerless monsters, and even Great Emperors have tried and failed."

"To defeat this old man… perhaps only His Majesty could do it."

"Someone else is going up."

"Huh? Two little kids?"

"What nonsense! Whose children are these!"

"..."

Nan Hongsang pulled Su Chen through the dense crowd.

Excited, she called out, "Old Grandpa, can I play a game of chess with you? I'm really good at it!"

Su Chen: "..."

It was "really good," not just good. He mentally corrected her in his mind.

Faced with Nan Hongsang, who was both unskilled and overly enthusiastic, Su Chen would occasionally let her win a couple of games on purpose to prevent her from having a mental breakdown and turning into a little crybaby.

Nan Hongsang felt quite confident.

The old man smiled faintly. "Of course you may. This old man welcomes anyone—or anything—to challenge me."

He gestured toward the chessboard in an inviting motion.

Three seconds later, Nan Hongsang sat there with vacant eyes. She was utterly devastated. Full of enthusiasm, she had been defeated in three seconds.

Su Chen looked at the dejected Nan Hongsang, then took a seat in front of the old man.

"Little one, you want to play a game too?" the old man asked.

Su Chen nodded. "I'd like to try."

He gazed at the ordinary-looking chessboard before him. To outsiders, it was just a simple board, but in his eyes, it was a vast world firmly binding all living beings.

"Win half a move against Heaven…"

The chess pieces in Su Chen's hand represented heroes and geniuses throughout the ages. Manipulating all beings, laying out plans across eternity, and contending with the heavens—this was a brutal slaughter.

Su Chen remained motionless for a long time.