Chapter 859: Those Who Tamper with Fate, Die!

Over the Sea of Mist, an infinite number of golden lightning bolts erupted from the heavens. These violent golden lightning bolts seemed to possess an awe-inspiring power. From the distant stars, countless starlight beams were drawn down, transforming into golden mystical lightning that struck all around the Sea of Mist.

Standing high in the sky, the Zixiao Master looked slightly astonished at the endless star power transforming into golden lightning.

Bolts of golden lightning shot past him, each carrying an air of violent energy.

The Zixiao Master reached out his right hand and caught a bolt of golden lightning.

The moment the golden lightning landed in his palm, its violent power instantly shattered his right hand. However, as the Zixiao Master frowned, his shattered right hand quickly regenerated, simultaneously absorbing the golden lightning into his body.

"Such violent celestial golden lightning!" the Zixiao Master exclaimed.

Meanwhile, he looked down at the man directly below who was drawing out the endless celestial golden lightning—Zhong Shan!

"The Great Saint King of Dazheng? Such profound skill in chess. The Nine-Tailed Sky Fox was known as the greatest sage of the Feng Tomb Domain. After tens of thousands of years, a game of 'Heavenly Calamity' shocks the heavens and earth. Who would have thought that a game designed by the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox, who racked his brains to set up this unparalleled endgame, would be stalemated by a man less than a thousand years old? It even looks like he might solve it," the Zixiao Master mused, frowning.

Below, Zhong Shan continued to direct the Chimei Chess Sage in making moves amidst the endless celestial golden lightning. Each move induced a sense of horror among the onlookers.

Watching the violent impacts across the sea, almost all ordinary cultivators felt a shiver down their spines.

Was this really a chess game? It seemed more like a game of life and death.

A single misstep and the endless celestial golden lightning could surge onto the island. And if it did, how many could survive?

Zhong Shan was doing his utmost to solve the game.

In the underworld, Nangong Sheng was also straining his mind to solve the true Heavenly Calamity Chessboard.

Nangong Sheng's hair was disheveled, and his eyes were filled with seriousness. The starry sky above his head was incredibly bright, though not as exaggerated as the celestial golden lightning descending in the Yang realm.

A vast aura emanated from the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, attracting many powerful figures from Dazheng.

Mud Buddha, Wang Ku, Yi Yan, and others landed beside Zhong Shan.

"Sacred King, what is happening?" Yi Yan asked, frowning.

"Nangong Sheng is engaging in a game with a world-shaking endgame. Mud Buddha, set up a grand formation to disrupt the heavenly mechanisms and eliminate all anomalies," Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Mud Buddha replied, then swiftly retreated to carry out the command.

"Wang Ku, scout the surroundings. Do not let anyone interfere. Apprehend anyone attracted by the anomalies," Zhong Shan continued.

"Understood!" Wang Ku responded.

"Sacred King, what is this?" Yi Yan asked, frowning.

"Perhaps I am about to uncover a great secret," Zhong Shan said calmly.

Nangong Sheng's pace in the game was rapid, as if he had fully immersed himself in the chess realm. The calmness he had shown against the Chimei Chess Sage was now completely gone, indicating that the one who set up the true Heavenly Calamity Chessboard possessed terrifying chess skills that defied the heavens.

This continued for a day and a night. After a day and a night, black energy began to envelop Nangong Sheng's face, as if shrouded in a sinister aura.

Staring at the chessboard, Nangong Sheng could no longer make a move. He held a black piece but did not place it, continuing to stare at the board for another day and night. The black energy around him grew thicker, enveloping him completely.

After another day and night without blinking, Nangong Sheng suddenly blinked, then closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged.

Nangong Sheng was shrouded in black energy, which gradually dissipated after another day and night. At this moment, Nangong Sheng's previous weariness vanished, and he regained his former composure.

"Sacred King! I have reached my limit!" Nangong Sheng shook his head.

"Limit?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Yes, the game has reached this point, and with my current realm, I can no longer continue making moves. I can no longer control the whole board. I can't place any more pieces, and it's evident that you in the Yang realm must feel the same," Nangong Sheng said.

"Indeed, beyond the island in the Yang realm, billions of celestial golden lightning bolts are gathered, holding a mysterious stance around the island. The immense pressure is such that even the Ancient Immortal Chimei Chess Sage is extremely terrified. It seems as if, at any moment, those billions of celestial golden lightning bolts could come crashing down upon us," Zhong Shan nodded.

"One move to live, one move to die. The most crucial move. If placed correctly, the whole game will be resolved. If placed incorrectly, it will lead to earth-shattering destruction, and your body in the Yang realm will suffer greatly," Nangong Sheng said.

"One move to live, one move to die?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Yes. In the past day, I have deduced two possible routes for this life-and-death move. One is at this star position, and the other is at this corner," Nangong Sheng pointed to the two positions.

"These two positions? One is the 'life' move, and the other is the 'death' move?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Yes. Placing this piece will result in completely opposite outcomes. I cannot deduce any further," Nangong Sheng said solemnly.

Zhong Shan nodded.

In the Yang realm, Zhong Shan looked at the massive chessboard before him.

Many of the chess players present were filled with regret. Surrounded on all sides as if inside a giant egg, the endless celestial golden lightning bolts seemed ready to pour down upon them. This was not just a game of chess; it was a game of life.

The Chimei Chess Sage also watched this scene with horror, his eyes flashing with worry, but he did not interrupt Zhong Shan's thoughts.

Su Afo's face was pale, while the Nine-Tailed Princess had full confidence in Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan examined the positions Nangong Sheng had indicated.

Which one should he choose? The star position? As Zhong Shan considered placing the piece at the star position, his pupils suddenly contracted, because the Red Luan Pink Lotus at his brow turned dark blue.

An ominous sign? That star position was not the right move.

Turning, Zhong Shan looked at the corner position. As he considered placing the piece there, the Red Luan Pink Lotus did not turn blue but instead became slightly red.

This was the spot.

"Chimei Chess Sage, place it there!" Zhong Shan pointed to the corner.

Looking at the corner, the Chimei Chess Sage swallowed nervously and asked, "Are you sure? I already said that if we can't comprehend this now, we can take our time in the future. But if we make the wrong move, I can't guarantee your safety!"

"It won't be wrong. Make the move," Zhong Shan said confidently.

Perhaps Zhong Shan's confidence influenced the Chimei Chess Sage. The Chimei Chess Sage nodded and, with a solemn hand gesture, pointed to the corner.

A black island slowly rose from the sea.

Everyone watched the island nervously because they could all feel the critical moment, like a giant stone hanging over their heads, suspended by a thread.

Many wanted to leave, to stop Zhong Shan, but the Chimei Chess Sage, with his Ancient Immortal cultivation, forcibly restrained everyone.

No one was allowed to move. The Chimei Chess Sage's methods might have been domineering, but considering his entire life—not just his own but those of his master, his master's master, and countless generations before—after enduring such a long time, the solution was now in sight. Who could control themselves?

With bated breath, everyone watched as the black island continued to rise.

No one was allowed to disturb Zhong Shan!

As the piece was placed, even the Chimei Chess Sage was drenched in cold sweat. The move was made, and the black island emerged.

"Boom!"

Amid everyone's horror, the celestial golden lightning bolts exploded with a deafening roar.

"Aaah!"

A person with weak nerves screamed in terror. However, instead of crashing down on the crowd, the celestial golden lightning bolts reversed direction at a terrifying speed, shooting back up into the sky, heading straight for the distant stars.

"Boom!"

The terrifying beam of light shot up too quickly, reaching the infinite heights in an instant. The Zixiao Master, caught off guard, was engulfed by the endless golden lightning bolts.

The Zixiao Master's projection, which could withstand a single celestial golden lightning bolt, was now faced with billions. His projection was obliterated in an instant.

Ten breaths later, the Zixiao Master's projection reformed from the purple lightning. This time, he appeared much more disheveled, glaring hatefully at the sky before looking down.

Below, the chess game had been broken. It had truly been solved.

From the depths of the sea, two towering columns, each ten thousand feet high, rose up. At the center of the columns, nine different colors radiated, resembling the entrance to the holy land Zhong Shan had once seen in the Small Thousand World.

"The Ancient Immortal's secret realm has opened!" the Chimei Chess Sage exclaimed.

With that, the Chimei Chess Sage stepped into the colossal entrance.

"Zhong Shan, my fortune has come! Let's go inside!" the Nine-Tailed Princess exclaimed excitedly.

Su Afo naturally followed suit.

In an instant, they rushed into the Ancient Immortal's secret realm. On the island, countless powerful figures, seeing the massive entrance, needed no further prompting and dove in one after another, entering the Ancient Immortal's secret realm.

Upon entering, Zhong Shan's brows furrowed. This place was indeed similar to the 'Longevity Realm' and the 'Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss'.

However, this world was extremely eerie, with a blood rain pouring from the sky. Torrential and endless, the blood rain emanated a sorrowful melody, resembling the scene of a Saint's fall.

What kind of world was this?

Entering the Ancient Immortal's secret realm, Zhong Shan grabbed the Nine-Tailed Princess and swiftly retreated to a distant spot, away from everyone's sight to carefully observe this world.

Indeed, it seemed to mimic the scene of a Saint's fall. But it was merely an imitation, as Zhong Shan's shadow body in the underworld did not witness the phenomena of heaven and earth mourning.

"What kind of Ancient Immortal creates such a filthy environment?" the Nine-Tailed Princess remarked.

At that moment, Zhong Shan's expression changed because he suddenly heard a voice. A voice filled with despair and boundless grandeur.

It was 'Qi Luck'. Due to the little Qi Luck Zhong Shan possessed, he could hear this ethereal voice.

"Those who tamper with fate shall die! Die die die die die die die~~~~~~"

The seven 'dies' that followed were filled with infinite despair.