Chapter 4784: Even the Dead Still Fight
Within the chess game there were no friends or kin, and Lin Moyu showed no mercy as he continued to arrange formations.
One grand formation after another rolled forward like towering mountains, and Seeking Knowledge True Lord's forces were trapped and slaughtered by the formations before they even knew who their opponent was.
In Seeking Knowledge True Lord's perception, formations appeared out of thin air and directly enveloped his forces, occupying his territory, while he himself was completely helpless to stop it.
He could only watch as his lands were seized and his troops were crushed and slain beneath one formation after another.
Eliminated.
From beginning to end, he had not even caught a glimpse of his opponent and was inexplicably knocked out just like that.
After being eliminated, Seeking Knowledge True Lord stood outside the chessboard, still unable to figure it out no matter how much he pondered.
He had played the Chess of All Beings many times before, and nothing like this had ever happened.
A short while later, Heaven Cleave Emperor withdrew from the board as well.
His expression was odd, obviously filled with confusion, and his mood did not seem very good.
Seeking Knowledge True Lord's gaze narrowed.
"You were eliminated as well?"
Heaven Cleave Emperor silently nodded.
"I do not know what happened.
Countless formations suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
My territory was occupied in an instant, and my forces were almost completely wiped out."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord said, "It was the same for me.
Is there something wrong with this chessboard of yours?"
Heaven Cleave Emperor grew thoughtful.
"I am not sure.
This chessboard is the progenitor version of the Chess of All Beings.
I have not played it that many times myself, so perhaps there are some peculiar aspects hidden within it.
"But it might very well also be Fellow Daoist Lin's doing.
From what I know, he is extremely skilled in formations."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord said, "Although formations can be used inside the board, their power is reduced to less than a tenth.
They should not be able to become this strong.
The two of us were both eliminated.
At this pace the game will end soon, and when it does we can simply ask Fellow Daoist Lin."
Heaven Cleave Emperor nodded slightly.
"Indeed.
We only need to ask."
Before long, the ever evolving Chess of All Beings halted.
Then a ray of rainbow light shot out from the board, and Lin Moyu appeared within it, the light indicating that he was the victor.
There was no reward; the sole purpose of the rainbow light was to proclaim the winner.
"So it really was Fellow Daoist Lin!"
The two looked at each other, and joy flashed in both pairs of eyes.
Heaven Cleave Emperor spoke bluntly.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, how did you do it?"
Lin Moyu descended to stand before the two of them and gave a slight bow.
"Greetings, seniors.
Upon seeing that this board contained its own rules, this junior simply comprehended those rules and then arranged formations in accordance with them."
Heaven Cleave Emperor shook his head.
"That is not right.
The rules within the Chess of All Beings are completely different from the universal laws, and they are not easily used as a basis to arrange formations."
Lin Moyu said, "What Senior Heaven Cleave says is correct.
The primary function of the board's rules is to suppress.
What this junior meant by 'adapting to its rules' was breaking through the constraints of those rules."
"This junior has studied formations and divided them into two tiers: beneath Heaven and Earth, and above Heaven and Earth.
In the past, my formations had always remained beneath Heaven and Earth.
Through this experience, my understanding of the Dao of Formations has deepened once again, and my formations are now capable of surpassing Heaven and Earth."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord interjected, "So you are saying that the rules of the Chess of All Beings can no longer suppress your formations?"
Lin Moyu said, "There is still suppression, but it is no longer nearly as strong."
Heaven Cleave Emperor said, "Fellow Daoist Lin truly is a prodigy.
This emperor has had the Chess of All Beings in hand for countless years and has never managed to work anything substantial out of it.
To think that on your very first time entering the board, you could gain such results."
Lin Moyu said, "This junior feels that this Chess of All Beings is anything but simple.
The game seems to be evolving into myriad universes, containing all sorts of ultimate principles."
Heaven Cleave Emperor said, "You are not wrong.
What this Chess of All Beings plays out is precisely the myriad universes."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord asked in puzzlement, "How come I did not know that?"
Heaven Cleave Emperor chuckled softly.
"You have only used the replica versions, so how could you know?
Back then, when this emperor accidentally obtained this Chess of All Beings, the board's profound mystery was immediately apparent.
If it could be completely understood, one might be able to grasp the method of stepping into the Forbidden Zone of Life.
"This emperor spent countless years studying it and gained a little, but not much.
So I used this original board as a template and refined a great number of copy boards to distribute, letting others play this game.
"Every game played by others, this emperor observed.
Unfortunately, the original and the replicas are ultimately different, and what I had intended did not succeed."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord said, "One man's wisdom is short, the wisdom of two is long.
Why did you not find someone to work with you on this research?"
Heaven Cleave Emperor snorted coldly.
"How do you know this emperor did not?
Of course I did, but those trash were utterly useless.
Whenever this emperor raised the difficulty of the board to its highest, they could not last at all.
Before they finished the game, they would already have died."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord's eyes flickered.
"And just now?"
Heaven Cleave Emperor said, "I lowered the difficulty to the minimum.
The state you were just in was the lowest difficulty setting; it is only for passing the time, so do not overthink it."
After hearing the entire story, Lin Moyu had fully realized that this Chess of All Beings was indeed extraordinary.
It definitely was not a product of any universe and not even of this era.
Perhaps it came from some Hongmeng universe in a bygone era.
No ordinary universe could possibly give birth to something like this.
Lin Moyu said, "This junior would like to give it a try…"
Heaven Cleave Emperor waved a great hand, and the Chess of All Beings floating in midair rapidly shrank down into a palm sized board.
"Forget talk of trying or not.
Just take it and play.
"This thing is of no use to this emperor anymore.
Keeping it now is just for sentiment.
If I want to pass the time, a single replica is more than enough."
"If Fellow Daoist Lin can gain something from it, that would be ideal.
This emperor is still counting on you, after all."
Heaven Cleave Emperor was bold and generous, handing the Chess of All Beings directly to Lin Moyu.
As the board entered his hand, Lin Moyu immediately sensed the abnormality within it.
The aura hidden inside the board was completely different from that of any universe and was indeed stronger than that of a Nine Cycle universe.
It was likely just as he had suspected: it came from some Hongmeng universe of a previous era.
At the same time, he became even more certain that Hongmeng universes must have existed.
The things from those Hongmeng universes were incomparably sturdy.
They had survived the Great Annihilation and endured until this current era.
"In that case, this junior will respectfully accept."
Lin Moyu was not reserved.
This chessboard was indeed of great use to him.
Just now had only been the lowest difficulty.
If the difficulty were raised higher, perhaps he could comprehend even more from it.
Pressure was motivation, and Lin Moyu very much wanted to see what secrets were truly hidden within this Chess of All Beings.
Seeking Knowledge True Lord said, "This time Fellow Daoist Lin came here, there should be some particular matter, yes?"
Lin Moyu said, "Yes.
I am trying to find the remnants of Nine Cycle universes.
By chance I found one before, and now I wish to search for a second, but have no idea where to start.
I specially came to consult you two seniors to see if you might have any methods.
"Finding Nine Cycle universes is extremely important to this junior, and time is limited.
This junior now has only seven hundred years left."
He did not specifically explain why, and Heaven Cleave Emperor and Seeking Knowledge True Lord did not ask further.
They could both see that the path Lin Moyu walked was different from their own.
With different paths came different goals, so they naturally would not pry.
Heaven Cleave Emperor glanced at Seeking Knowledge True Lord at his side.
"Though this emperor's battle power is unrivaled, in this matter, I am indeed inferior to this old fellow."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord said irritably, "To think that you, old as you are, can actually admit that there are things you are not as good at."
Heaven Cleave Emperor snorted.
"I am only admitting that I am inferior to you in this one area.
Do not get too full of yourself, or this old man will crush you to death."
Seeking Knowledge True Lord clicked his tongue.
"A dead man with only a remnant soul left, and you still dare to brag here."
Heaven Cleave Emperor was not to be outdone.
"Whether it is bragging or not, we can test it shortly and see."
Lin Moyu felt a bit helpless.
These two old fellows had not gotten along when they were alive, and even in death they were still like this.
He cut into their bickering.
"I would like to trouble Senior Seeking Knowledge to take action."