210: Chess pieces and chess players!

Looking up at the Star Gazing Platform from below, it was clearly hidden in the clouds and mist.

Now, standing here and looking around, one could clearly overlook the entire Capital of Great Qian!

Mount Dengxian, as the highest peak within a thousand-mile radius, offered an incredibly vast view.

Even though it wasn't his first time here, standing on this highest peak again still stirred waves in Li Shengyuan's heart.

I will ascend to the highest peak, and all other mountains will seem small!

Every time Li Shengyuan came to this Star Gazing Platform, these two lines of poetry would appear in his mind.

At this moment, the Chancellor was sitting at the edge of the Star Gazing Platform with an old man with half-white hair dressed in coarse linen.

If one's cultivation was lower, they would certainly think this old man in coarse linen was just an ordinary person, but only those with sufficient strength could feel a sharp aura emanating from the old man!

The Chancellor also had a head full of white hair, but both of them had rosy complexions and full qi and blood, showing no signs of the decrepitude common to ordinary old people.

Li Shengyuan looked curiously at the old man sitting opposite the Chancellor, then humbly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Shengyuan greets the Chancellor!"

"Disciple greets Teacher Chancellor!"

"Come and sit!" The Chancellor smiled slightly at the two of them.

His smile was gentle, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

With a wave of his hand, two chairs appeared before them.

After the two sat down, with another lift of his hand, their teacups were filled with spiritual tea.

Chu Chunqiu kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, silently drinking tea without saying a word. At this moment, he was not drunk at all, behaving like a well-behaved child.

No matter how wild or crazy he was outside, in front of his teacher and father, the Chancellor, he dared not be presumptuous in the slightest.

Li Shengyuan, however, was much more casual. The Chancellor wasn't his master, so why should he be afraid of him!

"Did the Chancellor calculate that I would come here today?" Li Shengyuan looked at the Chancellor, full of curiosity.

"No..." The Chancellor smiled and shook his head, "I just felt inspired today, thinking that good fortune would befall me. In terms of good fortune alone, no one in the current Great Qian can compare to you, this meritorious official of the Northern Border!"

"Chancellor, why have you also learned to flatter people..." Li Shengyuan rolled his eyes repeatedly, then said with a playful smile:

"But to be flattered by the Chancellor, this life is worth it."

The Chancellor smiled slightly, scrutinizing Li Shengyuan up and down, and nodded with satisfaction, saying:

"I originally thought you would have a great opportunity in the Northern Border and be able to reach the third rank, so I had Addressing Ye Xingzhou bring you a medicinal pill..."

The Chancellor then sighed, "But I didn't expect you to directly break through to the second rank, and even survive the unprecedented Ten-fold Heavenly Tribulation, and even create a Heavenly Tribulation Dojo that is enough to change the situation in the Northern Border..."

After speaking, he shook his head and smiled, clearly not expecting so many changes to occur during his trip to the Northern Border.

Ever since Li Shengyuan began dealing with the first Son of Destiny, Liu Xiu, his fate had become completely chaotic; even the Chancellor, who was skilled in observing hearts and predicting fate, couldn't see through it...

Li Shengyuan narrowed his eyes and smiled triumphantly, "Does that mean Chancellor, you can't see through my future now either?"

The Chancellor nodded slightly, not feeling embarrassed at all, then calmly said:

"All living beings in the world, as long as they break through to the second rank and survive the Heavenly Tribulation, their fate will become blurred. Even a first-rank expert cannot completely see through it, which is what the common people call 'changing one's fate against the heavens'!

"Only by reaching the second rank does one qualify to become a true chess player, and one can decide for themselves when entering and exiting the game!"

Li Shengyuan was slightly startled, not expecting the Chancellor to say this to him, then he frowned and said:

"Then only by breaking through to the first rank... does one qualify to become the one playing chess, participating in the game, right?"

Before the Chancellor could respond, Li Shengyuan shook his head and sighed, "You old-timers who have lived for a long time always like to be mysterious, saying things that people don't understand, just to mystify.

"To put it bluntly... it's just a lack of strength. If one's strength is strong enough, a single saber or sword can cut through the chessboard you speak of. So, Chancellor, you still need to practice!"

"Hahaha..." The old man sitting opposite the Chancellor stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

"Fellow Daoist Li is right, the Chancellor just likes to be mysterious."

The Chancellor shook his head and smiled, neither denying nor agreeing with Li Shengyuan's statement.

At this point, Li Shengyuan finally scrutinized the old man carefully and asked curiously:

"May I know how to address senior?"

The old man smiled and waved his hand, "Fellow Daoist Li, you're too kind. Although this old man is a few hundred years older than you, with your current achievements, this 'senior' is truly something I dare not accept..."

Chu Chunqiu, who was beside them, said in a calm tone:

"This is the famous Sword Saint Dugu of the Xuantian Sword Sect of Great Qian!"

Old Man Dugu nodded and smiled.

Li Shengyuan was startled by the words, and looked at the smiling Sword Saint Dugu with a bewildered expression.

This old man is Linghu Chong's master?

But why couldn't he feel any sword intent at all?

And...

Linghu Chong's Eternal Sword Body had been plundered by himself. If this old man knew, wouldn't he draw his sword and cut him down?

At that time, let alone 'senior' or 'fellow Daoist', even if the Chancellor tried to stop him, it would probably be useless...

However, Li Shengyuan maintained a calm expression on the surface, smiling and cupping his fists, saying:

"So it's the legendary Senior Sword Saint Dugu, a pleasure to meet you!"