Central Plains, Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
Chu Xingchen picked up a black piece and gently placed it on the chessboard. Then his gaze shifted to Cui Hao sitting across from him as he asked:
"Your Eldest Senior Sister has already begun closed-door cultivation, planning to break through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul. Your Second Senior Brother is also catching up. Your Third Senior Sister has gone out for training. Luo Yu is also in bitter cultivation. And here you are, leisurely playing chess with your master?"
Cui Hao's expression was calm as he replied, "Even if both of me cultivated together, I probably couldn't match Eldest Senior Sister. There's no use rushing. Daily cultivation should of course be done, but relaxation is also necessary."
Halfway through his words, a smile appeared on Cui Hao's face. "Master wouldn't expel me just because I'm not a genius like Eldest Senior Sister, right?"
Chu Xingchen's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's hard to say. What teacher doesn't like diligent students? Lazy students generally aren't favored by teachers."
"There's also no teacher who doesn't like clever students."
The smile on Cui Hao's face remained unchanged as he silently made a move.
Chu Xingchen's gaze swept over. Even as a half-novice at Go, he could now see the entire board's territory.
Cui Hao had lost by exactly two points—throwing the game with just the right amount of deliberateness.
If nothing else, compared to Li Xingtian, Cui Hao had far superior skills in managing upward.
Chu Xingchen didn't continue playing. Instead, he picked up a chess piece and gently stroked it as he spoke:
"You should still focus on your cultivation. The world hasn't been particularly safe lately."
Cui Hao heard this and looked at Chu Xingchen with slight surprise. Finding his master's expression rather serious, he didn't ask further questions and simply responded:
"I'll follow Master's instructions. Starting tomorrow I'll cultivate properly. Third Senior Sister isn't here, so let me keep Master company today."
Chu Xingchen's gaze lifted slightly. "You're not as attentive as your Third Senior Sister. She wouldn't make me worry."
"That's true." Cui Hao didn't deny it, lightly pursing his lips. "I miss Third Senior Sister too."
"Your expression doesn't look like you miss your Third Senior Sister." Chu Xingchen smiled lightly. "You're clearly missing the tea Bai Qing brews."
Cui Hao grinned shamelessly. "Same thing, same thing. Third Senior Sister won't mind."
Chu Xingchen's gaze suddenly turned toward the door, his expression showing some surprise:
"Bai Qing is back?"
Cui Hao didn't turn around, his small expression showing some disdain:
"Master, don't try to fool me. What kind of coincidence would that be? If Third Senior Sister is really behind me right now, I'll eat this chessboard."
Chu Xingchen heard this and couldn't help but laugh as he glanced at the chessboard:
"Then you really are a greedy little thing."
"I'd only eat it if Third Senior Sister were really here."
"Then you can eat it now."
Cui Hao heard Chen Baiqing's familiar voice behind him. The smile on his face suddenly froze. Still not turning around, he looked at his master as his tone became much weaker:
"Master... that trick of yours is outdated. I'm clever now..."
Before Cui Hao could finish speaking, from the corner of his eye he saw Chen Baiqing, wearing a pale yellow dress, slowly take a seat in the chair beside his master.
Chen Baiqing looked at Chu Xingchen with undisguised delight:
"Master, why didn't you notify me when you returned? I remember I always send letters to Eldest Senior Sister before I go anywhere."
Chu Xingchen smiled. "I told Ying Ling not to send you a letter. It's good for Bai Qing to go out for training. How did it go? Was this trip smooth?"
Chen Baiqing skillfully took out tea and tea sets from her spatial ring. While brewing tea, she replied:
"It went fairly smoothly. Just discovered some strange things at the end. Bai Qing couldn't make a decision, so I planned to come back and wait for news."
Chu Xingchen was somewhat curious. "What could puzzle our well-read Little Bai Qing?"
Chen Baiqing didn't speak, only carefully brewing the tea. She handed the first cup to her master, then handed the second cup to Fifth Junior Brother Cui Hao. Perhaps seeing her master in high spirits, she suddenly mimicked her master's tone:
"The chessboard might be a bit hard to swallow. This cup of tea will help lubricate Junior Brother's throat."
Cui Hao heard this and his previously somewhat dejected expression changed. Third Senior Sister never teased him like this. He couldn't help but look at his master with grievance.
Chu Xingchen said nothing, picking up his teacup and silently taking a sip before signaling Cui Hao to drink some tea too.
Cui Hao looked confident as he reached for the teacup without backing down.
A moment later, Cui Hao silently set down his teacup, his expression returning to normal as he looked dejectedly at the chessboard.
Third Senior Sister's tea was far beyond what any illusion technique could compare to.
It was definitely Third Senior Sister.
Chen Baiqing glanced at Cui Hao without saying anything. Instead, she took out the bottle containing that strange energy she had saved earlier from her spatial ring and placed it on the table.
"I encountered this by chance during a certain matter in the Eastern Divine Continent. This energy is quite similar to what we encountered at Zhou Family Village. The Heavenly Derivation Sect has already taken all those problematic things back."
"This portion I kept separately. Master, please see if there's anything strange about it. If it's useful, Master can go find Sister Bai to get more. I've already had them deliver it separately to Sister Bai."
Chu Xingchen looked at the faint energy in the bottle, then reached out to touch the white jade stopper sealing the mouth. His spiritual power gently probed inside.
There was no mistake...
Although the manifestation was different and the ability was weak, it indeed shared a trace of similarity to Wan Ban's essence.
So this was also some kind of fragment from the shattered Heavenly Dao, found and exploited by someone?
But... why was there no system task prompt this time?
Chu Xingchen thought for a moment, then looked at Chen Baiqing:
"When did you encounter this energy?"
Chen Baiqing's Blue Sky Treasure Ring radiated light. The appearance of the great hall around them transformed into a forest scene.
They saw three people standing some distance from the tea table, questioning a wild boar demon and a bear demon.
Suddenly the situation changed. The boar demon attacked, Li Qiyun blocked it, and at the same time Chen Baiqing reached out to intercept that strange energy.
Then two black ghostly lights shot out from deep within the forest.
Beyond recreating the scene, Chen Baiqing also tried to simulate the spiritual energy fluctuations and characteristics present at that moment.
Chu Xingchen's gaze quickly locked onto those two shadowy black figures. After a moment, he nodded with a smile:
"I didn't expect Little Bai Qing to gain so much from going out once. Your luck isn't any lower than your Eldest Senior Sister's. It seems Master will have to send you out to wander around from time to time."
Chen Baiqing's face also showed unconcealed joy at receiving confirmation:
"As long as I can help Master, that's enough."
Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded:
"Then I have another task for you."
"Master, please give your instructions."
"Then I'll have to trouble Chen Baiqing to make a trip to the Heavenly Derivation Sect for me and invite Senior Bai back... If Senior Bai really can't make it, calling Ling Yu over works too." Chu Xingchen sighed.
"Right now your Eldest Senior Sister and Senior Brother are both in closed-door cultivation, and I can't leave either. This task can only be given to you."
Chen Baiqing looked at her master, knowing this was him trying to coax her, also wanting to express that he regarded her as a reliable disciple just like Eldest Senior Sister.
This task was actually optional, but Master's affirmation of her definitely was not.
She promised earnestly, "Bai Qing will complete it properly."
Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded. His gaze turned to Cui Hao, finding him still staring at the chessboard:
"No need to look. You're already a Foundation Establishment cultivator. You can digest a chessboard just fine."
Cui Hao heard this and raised his gaze, his expression somewhat aggrieved as if asking—Master, you're really making me eat it?
Chu Xingchen leisurely stood up, walked to Cui Hao's side, and gently patted his shoulder:
"This is my only chessboard. I won't even let you eat it if you want. Let's go, let's go roast fish with your Third Senior Sister."
...
[
Dear Readers,
I am currently posting two chapters every day along with bonus releases and early access to new novels. The workload is steady, and I am putting in the effort to keep the schedule consistent for everyone.
Right now, the financial situation is not great. Patreon support is what keeps this translation work sustainable. If you have been following the stories and want to help, joining a tier makes a direct difference.
Here is what membership offers:
$3 per month
10 chapters in advance of other platforms for all works, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction
$7 per month
15 chapters in advance ahead of other platforms, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction
$10 per month
Now get 30 advanced chapters instantly for the same price as the old 20-chapter tier. That is 56 chapters per month for each fic, and I work on 3 fics simultaneously. You can do the math on how much you are getting to read. This tier also includes access to character images.
Important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30 percent fee because of Apple and Patreon policy. Subscribe through your browser to avoid the extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late, around 2 to 3 months, which makes it much harder to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it would genuinely help continue the daily releases and early access content. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work is also appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Patreon: patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
]