Chapter 316: The Spirit of Chess

"This child, may she cultivate what she desires in this life..."

Lin Shan Hai watched his granddaughter leave and sighed softly.

With Lin Qingying's talent and the sacred bone she possessed, coupled with the frequent revelations of saintly reincarnations and incarnations over the past millennium, it was hard for people not to speculate that she was also a saintly reincarnation. The only mystery was which saint she embodied.

But Lin Shan Hai did not feel repulsed by this idea. At the very least, in this life, she was his granddaughter, whom he had held and raised since she was a baby.

Lin Qingying's parents had passed away early, and it was Lin Shan Hai who had taken care of her as a child, amusing her when she cried. Her playful and well-behaved nature from her childhood days was already imprinted in his heart.

"Old Lin, why are these saints reincarnated?"

Li Hao asked curiously, cupping his tea.

Lin Shan Hai poured himself another cup of tea and looked up at the floating clouds beyond the roof. The courtyard was filled with a gentle breeze, creating a leisurely and relaxed ambiance.

He took a sip of tea and turned with a smile, "You, kid. Still claiming you can't refine pills?"

"If you were a true martial artist, you would know that these saintly reincarnations are seeking the ultimate fluency in the martial path. I've heard that cultivating each realm to its peak will unveil a shocking secret, especially the sixth realm!"

"I really can't refine pills..." Li Hao bitterly smiled. Ever since he displayed his skill in pill purification, the old man had regarded him as a descendant of a declining pill-refining family, and his explanations were seen as attempts to hide his identity, a sign of distrust.

Regarding this, Li Hao naturally wouldn't offer further explanations to avoid causing resentment.

"Is there anything mysterious about the sixth realm?"

Li Hao asked curiously, his interest piqued.

"How would I know? I've never heard of anyone cultivating all the realms to perfection, not even the saints."

Lin Shan Hai shook his head.

"What?"

Li Hao was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at the old man.

The saints had long lifespans, and the history of the Sacred Lands was ancient, far older than the Great Yu Dynasty. While the various martial realms were challenging, beings who had attained sainthood naturally possessed exceptional talent and resources. With enough time, they could slowly forge themselves to perfection.

Yet, these exalted saints had not mastered all the realms?!

Ever since he encountered beings who had mastered several realms upon slaying the Daoist Law realm, Li Hao had subconsciously assumed that saints had perfected all the realms. But now, it seemed that was not the case.

"Your ancestors were pill refiners, so it's understandable if you don't know about the martial path. The realms are not so easily cultivated."

Seeing Li Hao's shocked expression, Lin Shan Hai patiently explained, "If it were any other realm, it wouldn't be a problem. But the third realm, the Heaven and Earth Laws, requires one to be born with the heart of a saint, daring to challenge the very heavens and earth! As for the sixth realm, it's even more difficult. It's acknowledged as the hardest realm to cultivate, shrouded in mystery. According to secret information I've obtained, the reincarnated saints are primarily focused on this realm."

"Hmm..."

Li Hao was taken aback. So, the sixth realm was the most challenging, even driving the saints to reincarnate?

He suddenly felt overwhelmed by this revelation. Could his talent have surpassed that of the saints? When he had cultivated the sixth realm, it had taken him months of contemplation, but he felt that it hadn't been much different from cultivating the other realms.

Perhaps it just required insight and a profound understanding of the heavens and earth.

"This sixth realm is enigmatic. It's not about insight, ambition, or the foundation of your cultivation technique. No one can explain exactly how to attain it, but the saints speculate that it might be a certain state of mind!"

Lin Shan Hai continued, "But the state of mind is the most elusive thing. It's strange to think about it. There are countless geniuses in the world, each with unique experiences and states of mind. Among those with the qualifications to touch upon the sixth realm, not a single one has been able to comprehend this state. It's quite puzzling."

Li Hao was silent, surprised by the difficulty of the sixth realm.

If he had come from the Immortal World under normal circumstances, he might have startled the entire Sacred Lands.

The Void Saint's willingness to take action against him was most likely due to this very reason.

"If saints reincarnate to cultivate the sixth realm, why do they do so?"

Li Hao asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Of course, it's because the sixth realm, like the third realm, is a realm that cannot be revisited once perfected!"

Lin Shan Hai explained, "Moreover, if it's a state of mind, and even the saints with their profound thoughts can't fathom it, then naturally, starting anew with a blank slate is the best option. After all, the will of a saint can sometimes be a hindrance. Once you become aware of certain things, it's difficult to pretend otherwise."

"Experience and knowledge can sometimes be a fearsome invader, changing you beyond recognition."

Hearing Lin Shan Hai's words, Li Hao immediately understood his meaning.

With the weight of the saints' thoughts and the path they carried, trying to comprehend something beyond their own path would only create obstacles.

It was easier to start afresh.

Even if a saint pretended to be as pure as a blank slate, some things, once known, could not be forgotten.

"I wish to buy osmanthus blossoms and drink together, but it's not the same as roaming in youth..."

Li Hao murmured to himself. Perhaps this was the very reason why the saints needed to reincarnate and cultivate anew.

Only by living another life as a true blank slate could they return to the purity of their youth.

Glancing at the jumping poetry and calligraphy experience, Li Hao ignored it.

Beside him, Lin Shan Hai heard Li Hao's murmurings and paused, feeling that there was something enchanting about those words.

As he savored the words again, a look of surprise appeared on his face. Indeed, they captured the very essence of the saints' thoughts on reincarnation and cultivation.

"With your literary talent, you could easily become a scholar in the human dynasties."

Lin Shan Hai commented, impressed.

Li Hao blushed slightly. Becoming a scholar was no easy feat, and it took more than a few poetic lines to achieve such a status.

"Let's not chat about that anymore. We have guests, and these fellows..."

Lin Shan Hai suddenly put down his teacup, flicked the dust off his sleeves, and stood up to greet them. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and his gaze shifted to the teapot as he nudged Li Hao with his elbow and said, "Quickly put this away, and also hide the packet of dragon ginseng tea in the drawer under my table into the stove. Use the fragrance of other herbs to mask it. Those fellows have incredibly sharp noses..."

As he spoke, he put on a pair of plain cloth shoes and walked out of the courtyard.

Li Hao was taken aback but didn't hesitate. With a wave of his palm, he collected the dragon ginseng tea from the teapot and then retrieved the packet from the drawer, storing them both in his spatial realm. He then took out several fragrant medicinal herbs and dropped them into the teapot before pouring a cup for himself and one for his guest.

He gently heated the cups with his palm, accelerating the release of the herbs' medicinal properties, and soon, the aroma of the tea filled the air.

Just then, loud laughter echoed from outside the courtyard, and four elders entered, led by Lin Shan Hai.

"You fellows! Why didn't you notify me before coming?"

"Why bother notifying you when it's just a short distance? We're here to see the new apprentice you've taken in and find out just how extraordinary this talent of yours is."

Four figures strolled into the courtyard. Three elders and a graceful, mature beauty. Aside from one elder adorned in gold and jade, exuding an air of nobility, the others were rather plainly dressed, with wooden hairpins.

Yet, without exception, all four exuded the scent of medicinal herbs.

"Hmm? Is this the young man?"

As the four entered the courtyard, their gazes soon landed on Li Hao.

Since they were guests, they refrained from using their divine sense to probe and merely glanced around casually.

Li Hao also stood up promptly.

Lin Shan Hai noticed the remaining teapot on the table and paused briefly before catching a whiff of the fragrant tea. He gave Li Hao a sideways glance, thinking that this youngster was even more cunning than he was.

"Please, take a seat."

Lin Shan Hai smiled and motioned for them to sit, asking Li Hao to bring out more tea sets and pastries.

Li Hao played the part of the apprentice, serving them cushions, tea, and pastries.

"Old Lin, that recent batch of pills you made—did this young man help you refine them?"

The elder adorned in gold and jade, with a jade thumb ring on his finger, asked with a smile.

Lin Shan Hai seemed to see through his intentions and humphed, "Don't even think about taking him from me. I've already decided to pass on my legacy to him."

"Look at you, jumping to conclusions. Who said we're here to take him away?" The noblewoman beside him covered her mouth and laughed.

"Old Lin is still as temperamental as ever. But speaking of which, I did take a look at those pills you made recently, and they're truly remarkable. The purity is incredibly high, and it's not something you could have achieved on your own." Another elder commented.

Lin Shan Hai acknowledged, "That's right. I have Clear Wind to thank for that. He fell off a cliff in his early years and gained a fortuitous encounter. Later, he was pursued and nearly killed, but luckily, Qing Ying saved him. Now, he's finally found a peaceful life."

Clear Wind was a pseudonym Li Hao had given Lin Shan Hai, as he didn't want to use his real name, fearing that the Saints might trace him through it. Moreover, many people knew his name, and if they spread it, it could cause more trouble.

Hearing Lin Shan Hai's introduction, Li Hao was speechless. The old man had already thought up a background story for him to avoid others' prying eyes.

"I see..."

The four glanced at each other but didn't press further, as everyone had their secrets.

"Could you show us your technique? Don't worry; we won't reveal it. We just want to learn from it."

One of the elders asked.

Lin Shan Hai huffed, "This is his secret technique. How can you just ask him to show it? If you want to learn, bring out two high-grade pill formulas to exchange for it!"

"Old Lin, he hasn't even agreed yet, and you're already haggling. I see you're the one who's eager here. How about you give us two high-grade pill formulas instead? Or we can have a pill-refining competition. Each of us will wager a pill." The elder with the jade thumb ring, Zhao Yingzhen, suggested.

"Who wants to compete with you? I'm not interested." Lin Shan Hai scoffed.

"Alright, alright. That pill-refining duel back then still hasn't cooled your tempers, has it? Don't let the youngsters laugh at us." The noblewoman, Shi Huajin, chided.

Lin Shan Hai stopped bickering and turned to introduce Li Hao to the four elders, who were all senior pill refiners in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land and his old friends.

Li Hao memorized their names and greeted them respectfully.

"Young man, would you mind showing us your technique? Whatever conditions Old Lin offered you, I'll match them." Zhao Yingzhen, the thumb-ring wearer, said.

"That's right. If you're willing to exchange your technique, I can offer a high-grade pill formula in return." Shi Huajin, the noblewoman, said, her eyes shining as she looked at Li Hao intently.

As senior pill refiners, they had analyzed the pills Lin Shan Hai had made recently, which had garnered praise within the Holy Land.

And upon analysis, they found that the pill's extraction technique was extremely advanced, even surpassing their own.

When they inquired further, they learned that Lin Shan Hai had taken in a talented apprentice.

Lin Shan Hai saw the envious looks on his friends' faces and secretly smiled to himself as he picked up his teacup and sipped leisurely.

"Hmm, this tea is too strong. It's hard to drink."

After only a couple of sips, Zhao Yingzhen frowned, his face twisting in distaste.

"This kid doesn't know how to pick good tea..." he muttered to himself, his thoughts turning to the dragon ginseng tea he had collected over a century ago, which had almost been exposed. He felt much better now that the danger had passed.

"If you gentlemen would like to watch, this young one will gladly demonstrate his skills. There's no need to exchange pill formulas," Li Hao said with a smile.

The four elders were taken aback by Li Hao's easy agreement and shared a glance, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.

"Well...there's no such thing as a free lesson, young man. If there's anything you need, just tell us, and we'll do our best to help you, as long as it's within our power," Zhao Yingzhen said, his expression turning serious as he stopped fiddling with the jade thumb ring on his finger.

"Indeed," another elder, Sun Zheng, nodded in agreement.

"I don't need anything at the moment," Li Hao shook his head.

The four elders exchanged glances, feeling a bit perplexed. With Lin Shan Hai present, they couldn't be too shameless and take advantage of a junior without offering something in return.

However, owing someone a favor could be even more troublesome.

Lin Shan Hai noticed their dilemma and smiled. "Since Clear Wind is willing to demonstrate his skills for you, why don't you just watch for now? If he ever needs help in the future, you can return the favor then."

With Lin Shan Hai's assurance, the four elders put their hesitation aside and asked Li Hao to begin.

Li Hao entered the pill refining room and selected some medicinal ingredients, beginning to stir-fry them in mid-air.

As they watched Li Hao's movements, the four elders widened their eyes in surprise.

Stir-frying?

His actions made it seem as though he was cooking a meal instead of refining pills!

Their suspicions were confirmed as the medicinal ingredients were indeed being cooked, the fragrance of the herbs filling the room.

The four elders were astonished, and they quickly extended their spiritual senses to observe more closely. They were shocked to find that the medicinal powers of the ingredients were being extracted through this simple stir-frying process!

Using this method to extract the medicinal powers before pill refining would indeed increase the purity and quality of the pills. What a valuable assistant he would be to them!

"So, it's a unique extraction technique..."

After their initial shock, the elders soon understood that it wasn't a secret art but a special extraction method, and it seemed extremely difficult to master. Merely observing it once would not be enough to replicate.

No wonder he was so willing to demonstrate; this technique was so peculiar that he had no fear of them learning it.

"I never thought there would be such a method of pill refining. Young man, you've truly broadened my horizons," Zhao Yingzhen said, his eyes shining with a newfound understanding of pill refining.

"Is your name Clear Wind?" Shi Huajin, the noblewoman, asked, her eyes fixed on Li Hao. "Clear Wind, would you be willing to assist me in refining a high-grade pill? During the process, I won't hide anything from you. If you can learn from me, it will be your skill. I need your extraction ability to help me refine the medicinal liquid..."

Li Hao was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Lin Shan Hai.

Lin Shan Hai noticed Li Hao's glance and paused, realizing that Li Hao was seeking his opinion. He seemed to be asking if he should agree or not, and if Lin Shan Hai gave his consent, he would oblige, but if he didn't care either way, Li Hao would likely refuse.

This was an invitation from a senior pill refiner, and she was even offering a high-grade pill formula without holding anything back. What a rare opportunity! Lin Shan Hai was baffled by Li Hao's lack of interest.

"Since it's an invitation from Senior Shi, you should agree if you're willing. It's up to you, but this is a valuable opportunity. If you're not interested in the pill formula, feel free to ask for something else. Senior Shi has a wide network and ample resources..." Lin Shan Hai said with a smile.

Shi Huajin was surprised by his response. She had offered to share her high-grade pill formula without reservation, yet this young man didn't seem interested.

"Since Senior Shi has invited me, I shall accept with gratitude," Li Hao said after a moment's thought.

Although it would take some time away from his carving, it wouldn't be too much of a hindrance.

After all, Lin Shan Hai was their mutual friend, and refusing would be impolite. Besides, he owed Lin Shan Hai a great debt of gratitude.

Furthermore, as he was new to this place, having some connections and friends wouldn't hurt.

"What do you need in return?" Shi Huajin asked, her interest in Li Hao growing.

"I don't need anything. If possible, I'd be interested in any valuable calligraphy, paintings, or chess manuals," Li Hao replied.

"Calligraphy, paintings, or chess manuals?"

Shi Huajin and the others were surprised. These items were inexpensive and held little value for cultivators, aside from a few merchants who fancied themselves as connoisseurs of the arts.

Lin Shan Hai had seen Li Hao's carvings during his leisure time and never interfered with his pursuits, already aware of his eccentricities. However, upon hearing this request, even he was taken aback.

Shi Huajin asked Li Hao to confirm his request twice, unsure if she had heard him correctly. Regardless of his reasons, she would find out in due time.

"Old Lin, why are you using medicinal herbs to brew tea? It's terrible," another elder, Liu Dongting, said, spitting out the tea leaves in his cup.

"You don't understand tea. Drinking some medicinal herbs will strengthen your body," Lin Shan Hai replied with a light laugh.

The elders continued their conversation, discussing pill refining, the Holy Land's pill distribution tasks, and eventually turning to Lin Shan Hai's granddaughter, Lin Qingying, and the upcoming Sword God Battle in the Holy Land.

In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, disciples, including the Holy Maiden, revered the sword above all else. Their cultivation and swordsmanship were the ultimate measures of strength, and defeat meant unequivocal failure, with no excuses of weapon differences.

Li Hao sat quietly to the side, listening attentively.

Whenever the conversation veered towards him, he would smile and respond briefly.

As they chatted leisurely, Li Hao gradually became familiar with the names and personalities of the four elders, and they, in turn, remembered this unusually quiet and refined youth.

After they bid their farewells, the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.

Time flew by.

In the following days, in addition to assisting Lin Shan Hai with pill purification, Li Hao was also invited to help these four elders with their pill refining. His presence became increasingly frequent, and he slowly gained a small reputation. The apprentices of these elders, as well as the disciples of the Holy Land who fawned over them, all came to know of a pill refining assistant who had won the favor of several senior pill refiners...

In Lin Shan Hai's courtyard, under the starry night sky, a sword danced with light.

Lin Qingying had just finished practicing a set of sword techniques and wiped the sweat from her forehead when she caught a whiff of a delightful fragrance.

She turned her head and saw the pill refiner she had picked up tending to something in the stove room at the other end of the courtyard.

"Are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?"

Li Hao saw her looking over and smiled, holding up the plate of pastries in his hand.

Lin Qingying's eyes remained calm, and she didn't respond. Instead, she resumed practicing her sword techniques, contemplating the trajectory of the sword's movement.

Grumble...

Perhaps it was the enticing aroma, but halfway through her practice, her stomach let out a soft growl.

Lin Qingying's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she paused in her contemplation of the sword's essence, turning her head towards the pill room. Inside, the old man and the youth were eating and drinking merrily.

These two... When did they become so close? Lin Qingying was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She knew her grandfather's temperament; although he seemed easygoing, he had experienced many dangers in his early years and was always cautious towards others. Yet, he seemed exceptionally amiable towards the pill refiner they had taken in.

"Qingying, if you're tired, come over and take a break. Try some of Clear Wind's culinary creations. They're truly amazing!"

Lin Shan Hai noticed his granddaughter's gaze and immediately held up the plate of pastries, calling out to her.

Lin Qingying glanced at the pastries, remaining silent for a moment before she slowly sheathed her sword and walked into the pill room.

"Here."

Li Hao offered the plate to her, allowing her to take a piece herself. As someone with a touch of OCD, he would dislike food that others had touched with their hands.

Lin Qingying's eyes flickered slightly as she noticed Li Hao's subtle action. Without a word, she used two slender fingers, as white and tender as spring onions, to pick up a pastry and pop it into her mouth.

The pastry melted in her mouth, releasing an indescribable fragrance. Lin Qingying's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and quietly chewed a couple of times.

After a moment of silence, she swallowed and turned to look at Li Hao, nodding. "It tastes good. Thank you for the snack."

With that, she turned and walked back into the courtyard to continue her sword practice.

Li Hao didn't mind her reaction and pushed the plate towards Lin Shan Hai. The old man and the youth casually ate and drank.

Ever since Lin Shan Hai introduced Li Hao to them, Li Hao had become quite close with Zhao Yingzhen and the others, often helping them in their free time or joining them for leisure activities.

Lin Shan Hai only enjoyed pill refining and had no interest in chess, calligraphy, fishing, or other such pursuits.

However, to Li Hao's surprise, Shi Huajin, the female elder, had a rather impressive skill in chess.

Thus, in addition to helping them with pill refining, Li Hao would occasionally visit Shi Huajin's mountain peak during his free time to discuss the game.

The pill refiners resided in the core area of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, a spacious and secluded environment surrounded by medicinal herb mountains. Ordinarily, disciples of the Holy Land were forbidden from disturbing them.

The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was vast, and according to Li Hao's estimation, it was roughly twice the size of the Great Yu Dynasty, equivalent to an area spanning thirty-eight states! The area designated for pill refining was as large as a city, and only a handful of servants and apprentices lived there, making it exceptionally quiet and serene.

The others lived similarly, but Zhao Yingzhen's herb mountain was bustling with activity. Numerous apprentices and disciples adorned the mountain, and the peak was decorated lavishly, resembling an imperial capital.

"You've put quite some effort into your chess skills. It's not something one can achieve by merely dabbling in it casually."

In the pavilion on the herb mountain, Shi Huajin placed a piece, blocking Li Hao's white piece. After spending half a month together, she had become increasingly intrigued by this unusual youth, who was quite different from the people she usually associated with.

"It's just a casual hobby. I've put in a bit of effort to study it," Li Hao replied with a smile.

His attention was focused on the chessboard, and he was well aware that his opponent's skill was around five-dan. If he was too careless, he would lose even with his six-dan skill in the Way of Chess.

Overconfidence leads to defeat, unless there is a significant difference in skill level.

"If you're willing, I can recommend you to the Holy Land. With the endorsement of me and a few others, you can directly obtain the position of an intermediate pill refiner, a status comparable to that of an inner disciple of the Holy Land." Shi Huajin made a serious offer to Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. He intended to stay here only to recuperate and improve his carving skills.

The identity of a pill refiner held little significance for him.

Shi Huajin saw Li Hao's focused expression and didn't press further, focusing on the chess game instead.

Li Hao's entire being seemed to merge with the chessboard as the black and white pieces interacted. The chessboard in his vision seemed to expand, the grid lines stretching infinitely, enveloping him within.

He felt as if he had transformed into one of the pieces on the board.

That elusive glimmer of insight appeared again, and this time, Li Hao managed to capture it.