2570 Doubt
Putting away the chess pieces on the chessboard, Jun Yu looked at Su Zimo who was opposite her. She put away her initial contempt and said in a deep voice, “There are two more zugzwangs left. I’ve comprehended the eighth zugzwang for more than 500 years but I still have no clue. Fellow Daoist Su, please guide me without holding back.”
“You flatter me.”
Su Zimo waved it off hurriedly.
He knew his own limits. If he had not seen the black-robed woman’s footwork and did not have the help of the Bodhi Seed, he would not have been able to resolve the seven Ling Long Zugzwangs.
In the past two days and nights, Su Zimo had benefited immensely and had already comprehended the essence of the Nine Palace Subtle Steps!
Waving her robes, Jun Yu scattered more than 200 pieces on the Astral Chessboard.
This game was almost over. However, the situation on the chessboard was even more complicated and profound, far surpassing the seventh Ling Long Zugzwang!
Su Zimo held the Bodhi Seed in his hands and recalled the black-robed woman’s footsteps. He verified them against the chessboard but could not find a way to resolve it.
On the third day, even when night fell, he had no clue.
“This zugzwang is way too complicated and has already surpassed my understanding.”
Su Zimo frowned slightly and shook his head.
Jun Yu sighed gently as well. “I spent more than 500 years deducing this zugzwang, but I couldn’t continue after taking a few steps.”
As she said that, Jun Yu laid out the situation of her chess pieces and suggested some solutions to discuss with Su Zimo.
However, after two hours, the two of them still gained nothing from the eighth Ling Long Zugzwang.
“Let me think about it again.”
Su Zimo said and closed his eyes.
A moment later, he opened his eyes once more and his pupils that were initially clear transformed into two strange purple flames!
Spirit Consonance Art, the ability to convey what he saw!
Although the Martial Dao Prime Body was in Avici, he made use of the power of the Spirit Consonance Art and looked through the eyes of the Green Lotus True Body to see the eighth Ling Long Zugzwang.
The Martial Dao Prime Body was in seclusion and Su Zimo initially had no intention of alarming him.
However, on second thought, Su Zimo felt that the Ling Long Zugzwangs were extremely mysterious and might be able to give the Martial Dao Prime Body some inspiration and help him perfect the Martial Dao.
The changes in Su Zimo’s body were not obvious.
If one did not pay attention, almost no one would notice the abnormality in his eyes.
Jun Yu’s senses were sharp. As though she sensed something, she raised her head and glanced at Su Zimo, frowning slightly.
Su Zimo was still a Grade 8 Heaven Immortal. Apart from the strange look in his eyes, there did not seem to be any changes to his body.
However, there was an indescribable feeling in Jun Yu’s heart.
Su Zimo seemed to have changed!
For some unknown reason, Jun Yu felt an unprecedented pressure as she knelt in front of Su Zimo!
The pressure even made her uneasy.
“How could this be?”
Jun Yu shook her head gently in confusion.
Under normal circumstances, she would not feel this way even against an Immortal King.
At the side, Yun Zhu noticed the change in Su Zimo’s eyes as well.
She knew of the existence of the Martial Dao Prime Body.
She did not know what was happening to Su Zimo’s body at the moment.
However, she guessed that the person before her had probably changed to Desolate Martial of the Fiend Domain!
Mo Qing was drawing quietly at the side and did not notice the commotion. Naturally, she did not notice the change in Su Zimo.
Su Zimo’s eyes burned with two purple flames as he fused the Dharmic Dao and divine charm of the Astral Chessboard into the Martial Dao Furnace to refine it.
In order to perfect the Martial Dao, the Prime Body had browsed through countless cultivation techniques and secret skills and summarized countless Dharmic arts and true meanings.
The judgment and experience of the Martial Dao Prime Body far surpassed the Green Lotus True Body who was still at the Heaven Essence realm.
In the eyes of the Martial Dao Prime Body, the Astral Chessboard was another world.
There were 19 horizontal and vertical lines. In reality, the board was formed by the endless extension of nine square grids.
At that moment, under the gaze of the Martial Dao Prime Body, the black-robed woman seemed to have turned into a chess piece and walked around the Ling Long Zugzwang.
Every single step of the black-robed woman was unexpected. However, upon closer inspection, one could tell that every single step of the black-robed woman had a deeper meaning!
Towards the end, the black-robed woman actually took a step in the void beside the chessboard.
Although that step seemed like it landed nowhere, Su Zimo shuddered!
“I see.”
Su Zimo murmured softly.
“Fellow Daoist Su, have you found a way to resolve it?” Jun Yu asked with a frown, unable to believe it.
Su Zimo did not reply and merely placed a black chess piece.
Jun Yu pondered for a moment before she took on the side of the white chess pieces to go against him on the Astral Chessboard.
Towards the end, Jun Yu’s speed slowed down.
Often, she would have to think for a long time for every step she took.
However, Su Zimo’s moves became faster and faster!
Finally, at daybreak, the eighth Ling Long Zugzwang was over and Su Zimo had already resolved it perfectly.
“Fellow Daoist, please guide me.”
Jun Yu did not dare to be negligent. She stood up first and cupped her fists before asking sincerely.
“This zugzwang was indeed complicated and its intent is even more transcendent.”
Su Zimo’s tone was calm. “The eighth zugzwang describes the power of space. The Nine Palace Subtle Steps does not only exist in a single level; it can traverse in all directions.”
“With that, we can think of it as the creation of an alternate path to carve a way of survival.”
At that moment, although the person sitting opposite Jun Yu was Su Zimo, in reality, the Martial Dao Prime Body had yet to leave.
Therefore, there was a hint of coldness in his tone.
A look of realization flashed through Jun Yu’s eyes as she lamented internally, “So, the way to break out of this situation lies in the dimension of space. It was no wonder why I had no clue at all.”
In reality, even if they comprehended the Nine Palace Subtle Steps of this level, Jun Yu and Su Zimo would not be able to release it given their cultivation realms.
The Nine Palace Subtle Steps of this level required a cultivator to reach the Immortal King realm and open up a Grotto-heaven!
“Where’s the ninth?”
Su Zimo asked.
Without hesitation, Jun Yu set up the ninth zugzwang.
Su Zimo’s eyes burned with purple flames as he deduced the ninth Ling Long Zugzwang together with the Martial Dao Prime Body.
Right then, when Mo Qing heard the conversation at the side, she could sense something odd about Su Zimo’s tone and turned back instinctively.
She happened to see the two purple flames in Su Zimo’s eyes!
“Mmm?”
Mo Qing opened her mouth slightly and froze on the spot.
For some unknown reason, when she saw Su Zimo’s eyes burning with flames, the image of the man in purple robes and silver mask suddenly flashed through her mind.
Back in Avici, the purple flames appeared in Desolate Martial’s eyes as well.
Their eyes were way too similar!
Mo Qing was well-versed in the Dao of painting and was meticulous in her observation of things. Her judgment was even more brilliant than Yun Zhu and Jun Yu!
She had even drawn a portrait of Desolate Martial personally.
Because Desolate Martial wore a silver mask, Mo Qing spent the most effort on Desolate Martial’s eyes in that portrait.
It could be said that Desolate Martial’s eyes were already imprinted in her mind!
Therefore, when she saw Su Zimo’s eyes, Mo Qing immediately thought of Desolate Martial of the Fiend Domain.
‘Both of them must have mastered the same visual technique secret skill, right?’
Mo Qing was puzzled and thought to herself.
Right then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside, as though someone was about to barge in!
Visit freewe𝑏no(v)el.𝘤𝑜𝓂 for the best novel reading experience