“…That’s the basic situation.”

Somewhere in the wilderness outside Ningqing Mountain.

Man Jia from Qi sat opposite the beggar on a stone platform by the river. The beggar, who had suddenly regained consciousness, recounted the events in a clear and organized manner.

"In other words, the chessboard is a strange object. Fellow Daoist, you were controlled by it just now, unable to reveal anything about it, and all your actions were interfered with by it. But after that flash of light just now, you suddenly regained consciousness?"

"Indeed," the beggar nodded. "This situation has been occurring frequently since the chessboard was taken away by several young monks from your sect. And we, the 'chess spirits,' were also guided by the chessboard to this world."

After a pause, the beggar continued, "It's a pity that before I could figure out the situation, I was sealed away by the immortal of your sect."

Qi Renjia asked again, "Fellow Daoist, what's going on with the chessboard now? Why are you trying to stop me from returning to the mountain?"

"Before, when I regained consciousness, I couldn't sense the existence of the chessboard," the beggar said seriously. "But this time, even after I woke up, I could sense that the chessboard was still there in the city market... and it was in an active state!"

"That's all right." Qi Renjia said, "Senior Geng's cultivation is extremely high. This chessboard should be under her control."

The beggar shook his head and said, "Daoyou, you may not understand what this is."

"This chessboard has an unknown name. In my time, people called it 'Heavenly Chess,' meaning it was a chess game arranged by the Heavenly Dao. Winning against the chess spirit within would allow one to become the master of the chessboard... In that era, countless cultivators fought for the opportunity to play chess, paying countless prices. However, no cultivator, including me, was able to defeat the chess spirit within. Instead, they were controlled by the chessboard and became what they are today..."

Qi Renjia thought about it and felt that the story of the chessboard was somewhat familiar.

However, its details are different from the Tianqi described by the beggar.

He vaguely remembered that in the memory of a cultivator in his body, in a certain era, a great cultivator set up a game of Lan Ke and invited a person who was transcendent in the art of chess in the world to come and break the game.

The propaganda at the time was very powerful, but the cultivator's cultivation was very low and he had no chance to get more information.

Qi Renjia felt that the event in his memory should be the heavenly chess that the beggar mentioned.

"What power does that chessboard have?"

When the beggar heard this question, his first reaction was not to answer.

However, perhaps because he had been holding it in for too long with no one to confide in, or because the equally strange Qi Renjia exuded a reassuring aura, the beggar pondered for a moment before answering seriously, "That chessboard clearly has the aura of a supreme treasure from heaven and earth, but beneath that aura lies an incomparable and strange power! It can open up the universe and evolve all things... Among them, there are countless worlds. Once controlled by the chessboard, becoming like me, I can obtain a piece of one of them... But that world... ah, it's hard to describe in words."

"In short, during the years since I became a chess spirit, dozens of new worlds have appeared on the chessboard... But I truly do not know the chessboard's true purpose."

"Now that the chessboard has awakened, I'm afraid... this chessboard wants to swallow this entire world into its belly..."

"Of course, this is just speculation between me and a few chess spirits."

Qi Renjia was deeply shocked and immediately stood up, saying, "No, I have to inform Senior Geng right away..."

"Fellow Daoist, listen to my advice." The beggar also stood up and said, "This chessboard is beyond the control of any cultivator in the world! You still have a chance to escape... If you insist on returning, it would be best to contact the immortals of your sect first to confirm the situation... As for me, alas, in my current state, it is only a matter of time before I lose my will again."

In fact, Qi Renjia sent a message to Geng Qiaoer as soon as the beggar stopped.

However, I have chatted with the beggar for so many sentences, but I haven’t received a reply yet.

Could it be that something has happened to Senior Geng?!

Man Jia from Qi was quite worried.

As his emotions grew, his thoughts became chaotic. The fragments of his will, formed from countless people's memories, were all expressing his own thoughts. With so many thoughts, Qi Renjia fell into a strange state.

His facial features began to change constantly, and his muscles and bones rolled like waves and smoke, giving people a weird and terrifying feeling.

Seeing this, the beggar couldn't help but take two steps back.

"Fellow Daoist...are you okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Renjia stretched out a hand, signaling the beggar not to panic.

Then, Qi Renjia suddenly grabbed the face and squeezed it hard, turning the changed facial features into a piece of meat the size of a bun, and this piece of meat was still squirming.

It's like using a big net to pull fish out of the water.

The range of the fish's flapping became smaller and smaller, and finally, it could only jump in place.

"I'm fine." Qi Renjia opened his mouth and spoke in a more rational voice. "Fellow Daoist, the magical powers of our sect's masters are beyond your imagination. If you believe me, then follow me back to the mountain. Senior Geng may have a way to help you escape your current situation and regain your freedom."

"If you don't want to, then as soon as the chessboard regains control over you, you'll return to your previous state. Then, I'm afraid I won't be able to show mercy."

"Fellow Daoist," the beggar said, "I suspect the reason I was able to escape control is probably related to the distance, so..."

After hearing this, Qi Renjia immediately let go of the hand that was grabbing his face and let his facial features return to their respective positions.

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