Divine Farmer City:
Many experts had gathered outside the Qian Nation’s residence.
In a restaurant:
“After getting the news, I traveled for a few days and finally arrived. Unexpectedly, so many people came!”
“What nonsense! That is the Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Go Puzzle, the strongest Go puzzle in the world!”
“Also, that is the Azure Emperor. Where did this Gu Hai come from? How bold of him!”
“Gu Hai, don’t you know? Don’t you know about what happened at the Ten Thousand Sages Convention?”
Countless people chatted excitedly, trying to find the best vantage point. They could now see the Qian Nation’s residence.
The Qian Nation’s envoys stood outside the Qian Nation’s residence, receiving guests.
Many of the Yan Nation’s officials had arrived long ago. They had come to witness this battle to the death because of Jiang Lianshan’s order.
Some islands floated around the Qian Nation’s residence. High-ranking nobles watched from those.
“Presenting, Consecrate Lord Zhang!”
“Presenting, Consecrate Lord Li!”
“Presenting, Marquis Zhenhuang!”
With various major characters of great influence in the Yan Nation coming one after another, countless experts and citizens in the surroundings goggled.
“The Qian Nation’s envoys are too rude. Lord Zhang, Lord Li, and Marquis Zhenhuang are all magnates. They would not respond to the invitations of most people. To think that Gu Hai is not personally receiving them, only sending out these insignificant envoys?” someone said, feeling upset.
“Indeed. Are they looking down on my Yan Nation’s officials? Humph!”
“Hah! If Gu Hai comes out to receive them now, who will receive the Azure Emperor and the White Emperor? Why are you feeling upset? Look, they don’t feel snubbed. Why are you the one feeling upset?” someone at the side said.
The people in the surroundings discussed this, but the facts were as such. It did not matter how high-ranking one was; no one dared to put on airs here, as people of higher statuses would arrive later.
Indeed, as everyone waited, a carriage pulled by a white crane flew over from a distance.
“It’s the White Emperor’s carriage! The White Emperor is here!” The eyes of an alert person lit up.
“Respectfully welcoming the White Emperor!” Countless officials and soldiers saluted respectfully one after another.
The White Emperor’s carriage landed on one of the floating islands, which offered the best view. Many Yan Nation officials stood there, respectfully saluting that carriage.
Tang Gu and others arrived before the carriage and bowed respectfully until the curtains opened and the White Emperor walked out.
“Salutations, White Emperor!” Respectful salutations immediately came from the surroundings.
After the White Emperor stepped out of the carriage, she stood on a high platform on the floating island, looking down coldly at the Qian Nation’s residence.
“Oh? All the guest consecrates are here?” The White Emperor narrowed her eyes.
The Yan Nation’s guest consecrates were all Upper Heavenly Palace Realm experts. They bowed to the White Emperor from another floating island. The White Emperor nodded in response.
“Nearly all the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm experts are there. It looks like the Azure Emperor enjoys great prestige,” Tang Gu said with a cold smile.
The White Emperor nodded.
However, this prestige was nothing. Furthermore, nearly all the experts in Divine Farmer City would give the Azure Emperor face. They were just going with the flow.
Buzz!
The space near the White Emperor trembled slightly. Then, it strangely ripped open. A white-robed childlike man suddenly walked out of the tear.
“Lifespan Dongfang, you came too?” The White Emperor narrowed her eyes at Lifespan Dongfang.
When Lifespan Dongfang appeared and saw the White Emperor, he smiled and said, “Greetings, White Emperor. It is truly bustling here!”
“Indeed. Mister Dongfang, why are you so free to come and bear witness to this?” the White Emperor asked.
However, Lifespan Dongfang showed a cold smile as he said, “Normally, I would not come. However, the Azure Emperor’s opponent is Gu Hai. Hah! I was in closed-door cultivation recently, recovering from my injuries. If not for the Azure Emperor’s invitation, I would not have known that Gu Hai came to Divine Farmer City.”
“Oh? Based on Mister Dongfang’s tone, you also have a grudge against Gu Hai?” the White Emperor said, feeling puzzled.
“A grudge? Humph! This great me’s injuries were caused by him.” Lifespan Dongfang coldly eyed the distant Qian Nation’s residence.
“Imperial Lord, if this subordinate guessed right, Gu Hai must have asked the Unborn Man for help with the former Yuan Imperial Dynasty and injured Mister Dongfang,” Tang Gu whispered.
“Humph! Brat, you better watch your mouth.” Lifespan Dongfang looked at Tang Gu coldly.
Tang Gu bowed slightly and did not say anything more. However, the White Emperor immediately understood.
“Presenting, the Azure Emperor!” A loud shout suddenly came from the distance.
The clamor in the surroundings immediately died down.
A carriage pulled by many azure birds appeared in the distance, flying towards the Qian Nation residence’s plaza.
“Respectfully welcoming the Azure Emperor!” countless officials, soldiers, and citizens saluted respectfully.
When the Azure Emperor’s carriage arrived, the doors to the main hall of Qian Nation’s residence opened.
Creak!
Many Qian Nation envoys poured out from inside.
The Qian Nation envoys surrounded Gu Hai. Long Aotian and Long Sanqian, two Qian Nation royalties, followed behind Gu Hai as he stepped out of the hall.
Many eyes in the surroundings shifted to Gu Hai.
“That is Gu Hai!”
“He is the one seeking death by playing a Go battle to the death with the Azure Emperor?”
“He is the one who wrote the Classic of Changes?”
The countless experts looked at Gu Hai with great curiosity.
When Gu Hai stepped out of the hall, he suddenly noticed the White Emperor and Lifespan Dongfang on a floating island.
Gu Hai’s gaze did not stop roaming around, taking in the surroundings. Based on the news the Qian Nation’s group received, nearly all the important officials and experts of the Yan Nation had come.
“The Azure Emperor has such great prestige. To think that so many of them showed up?” Gu Hai revealed a cold smile.
As Gu Hai smiled coldly, he looked at the carriage that the Azure Emperor arrived in.
“Ensnaring Performance, go receive the Azure Emperor!” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!”
From behind Gu Hai, Ensnaring Performance flew into the sky, heading to the Azure Emperor’s carriage.
When Seven Kills saw Ensnaring Performance by the Azure Emperor’s carriage, his expression immediately changed. Ensnaring Performance’s demonic singing during the Ten Thousand Sages Convention remained fresh in his mind. This fellow who deserves to be stabbed a thousand times is still alive?
“Azure Emperor, my master sent me to receive you. Would the Azure Emperor alight from the carriage!” Ensnaring Performance said gravely.
Whoosh!
A maid in the carriage opened the carriage door, and the Azure Emperor walked out slowly.
The Azure Emperor showed a cold gaze as he swept his eyes over Ensnaring Performance. Then, he looked at the distant Gu Hai.
“Salutations, Azure Emperor!” countless officials and experts saluted respectfully.
However, the Azure Emperor had eyes for only Gu Hai. When he saw Gu Hai, he revealed a faint, cold smile.
“Gu Hai, didn’t you want witnesses? We have invited all the experts of the Yan Nation as witnesses today. Your death will be a grand spectacle!” the Azure Emperor said with a cold gaze.
“Azure Emperor, thank you for going to such trouble,” Gu Hai said with a cold smile.
“The Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Ritual Array. If we guessed right, you have already seen it, thanks to Gu Qin, your adopted son, right? That was why you could beat the sages in Go during the Ten Thousand Sages Convention?” the Azure Emperor said.
Gu Hai shook his head. “Gu Qin does not have a talent for the Go Dao. When he received the inheritance, he did not receive the Go records.”
“Oh? Don’t say your Go skills are comprehended by yourself?” The Azure Emperor appeared skeptical.
“So what if they are? Is that important?” Gu Hai said with a cold smile.
“Indeed. It is not important. Let’s begin,” the Azure Emperor said.
“That’s fine. Azure Emperor, do you see the two floating islands above?” Gu Hai asked.
Two small islands floated in the sky above the plaza. No one had stepped onto these two floating islands; Gu Hai left them empty.
“Oh?” The Azure Emperor looked at Gu Hai, feeling puzzled.
“We will occupy one island each and face each other in Go from there. That will prevent the effects from harming the bystanders. What do you think?” Gu Hai suggested.
“Precisely what we were thinking.” Satisfaction flashed in the Azure Emperor’s eyes.
Then, the Azure Emperor waved his hand.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, many beams of golden light appeared between the two floating islands, intersecting and forming a colossal Go board connecting the two floating islands. This Go board had thirty-two line pairs, looking extremely complicated.
“This humble one came from afar and is a guest. How about I go first and be the black player?” Gu Hai looked at the Azure Emperor.
The Azure Emperor looked at Gu Hai coldly. “This is a battle to the death, so I normally would not go easy. However, we will make an exception this time. Go on first.”
“In that case, many thanks, Azure Emperor. I hope that you will not regret it!” Gu Hai said with a faint, cold smile.
As Gu Hai spoke, he took out the Black Mountain Token.
Gu Hai activated the Black Mountain Token and drove the Lianshan Ritual Array, immediately connecting to the world. Surging energy gushed over from all directions.
Boom!
Strong winds suddenly formed in the surroundings, sweeping through the entire Qian District. Fog arrived with the strong winds, and a black Go stone appeared amid the fog and landed on the Go board.
Clack!
Gu Hai played the nine-five position. Boundless fog immediately filled the surroundings. It was just like when the Azure Emperor used the Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Ritual Array to manifest the Supreme Genesis.
The fog even covered the place where Gu Hai was.
“Azure Emperor, please come in!” Gu Hai shouted.
As Gu Hai spoke, he headed for one of the floating islands while shrouded in fog. Long Aotian and Long Sanqian followed him, stepping onto the island to stand on his left and right as though escorting him.
The fog covered the surroundings, blurring the vision of the surrounding experts. However, that large Go board remained clear and visible.
“Azure Emperor, my master has already made his move. Please make your move!” Ensnaring Performance called out from near the Azure Emperor.
“Imperial Lord will naturally make his move. It is not the place for a servant like you to interfere! Humph!” One of the Azure Emperor’s subordinates immediately glared at Ensnaring Performance.
The Azure Emperor smiled coldly as he took out his Azure Mountain Token and activated it.
Boom!
The Azure Emperor drove the Lianshan Ritual Array as well, bringing out a vast fog as he formed his own Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Ritual Array.
The fog covered the Azure Emperor. When he waved his hand, a white Go stone landed on the Go board.
Boom!
After the Go stone landed on the Go board, the fog thickened.
The Azure Emperor flew to the other floating island with two subordinates.
“Gu Hai, continue. Let’s see whose Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Ritual Array is more incredible, yours or ours. Humph!” the Azure Emperor snorted coldly from the vast fog.
Clack!
Clack!
As the Go match unfolded, they slowly formed the Thirty-Two Line-Pair World Go Puzzle with their Go skills.
Rumble…!
Suddenly, the sky above Gu Hai and the Azure Emperor shook. The ritual arrays manifested cloud beasts.
“I am the Supreme Genesis, the wielder of holy light. Who is seeking death?”
A loud shout rang out as a cloud beast formed above the Azure Emperor. Bright holy light immediately appeared as a Supreme Genesis cloud beast manifested.
“We are the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s Imperial Emperor Xi Yu. Who dares to cause trouble?!”
Boom!
A cloud beast manifested above Gu Hai’s head, radiating a turbulent ferocious aura. Gu Hai had manifested Imperial Emperor Xi Yu amid heavy snowfall.
Last chapter of the month. Also, do remember that I don't post on the 1st of every month. So the will be 48 hours from this chapter's release.
Chapters for July: 30 / 30