308: Score

Chen Xuan picked up the empty drunken flowing sunset wine pot, poured himself another cup, and then took a chessboard and placed it on the table.

Although he was still an out-and-out terrible Go player, after playing with Wanqing's father for several days and chatting many times, he would study game records alone when he had nothing to do, pondering over some of the basics of the game.

His fingertips rubbed the warm wall of the cup, but his gaze was fixed on the crisscrossing grid of the chessboard.

As Chen Xuan sipped slowly, he deduced the moves of the game by himself. His chaotic thoughts gradually became clear with the rise and fall of the black and white pieces.

He secretly speculated that the Mahayana Stage Cultivator must have obtained that booklet by chance and glimpsed the Yao Race's deeply hidden and shocking scheme, which then attracted the frenzied pursuit of a Great Demon, leaving him in a state where his life or death was unknown.

And that booklet eventually found its way into the hands of Yu Tianxiang of the Haotian Sect.

The reason for this might have been an unexpected gain, or perhaps that Cultivator, on his deathbed, had specially arranged for his subordinates to send it to the Rain God Continent, intending to expose the matter.

The Rain God Continent borders the Flame Continent. The person escorting the booklet most likely encountered an ambush by the Yao Race in the Flame Continent, and the booklet fell into Yu Tianxiang's hands by a strange stroke of luck.

Coincidentally, the thirty-yearly Heaven's Choice Ceremony of the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven was beginning.

Yu Tianxiang was ordered to come and select Sect Prodigies, and this booklet, which concerned the fate of the Human Race, had actually reached his own hands through such a coincidence.

Recalling the time he left the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven with Qin Tianxing, they had encountered an abnormal energy fluctuation. Thinking about it now, it was exactly that Mahayana Cultivator being forced into a corner by the Great Demon, helplessly fleeing into a spatial rift, and finally choosing to self-detonate his Primordial Spirit to keep the secret.

The usually calm Void Shattering Abyss had produced those disturbances precisely because of this earth-shattering self-detonation.

The Great Demon failed to retrieve the booklet and naturally wouldn't let the matter rest. He immediately dispatched his subordinates to track it down, and the final clue pointed directly to the Haotian Sect. Because of this, the Haotian Sect suffered the calamity of Sect extermination, with not a single survivor among them.

Chen Xuan's fingertip, about to place a piece, paused slightly. The more he thought about it, the clearer this logic became. Although many details had yet to be fully sorted out, the general direction should be correct.

Looking at it this way, the Yao Race's scheme was truly calculated at every step, with long-term planning spanning thousands of miles, prepared in secret for an unknown number of years.

As for why the Yao Race didn't search extensively within the Flame Continent's territory, it was likely because they were wary of the Human Race detecting something abnormal. After all, once a large number of Yao Race infiltrated Human Race territory, anyone would become vigilant, and their scheme would likely fail at the last step.

And that Daoist Zhenyue, who betrayed the Human Race, was most likely an expendable pawn thrown out by the Yao Race.

Since they couldn't retrieve the booklet, the Yao Race simply revealed this chess piece to test the reactions of the Human Race and various forces in the Rain God Continent. Seeing that the Human Race didn't notice anything strange, they pushed their scheme forward even more brazenly.

Not to mention, the death of that Mahayana Cultivator had accidentally activated an Ancient Secret Realm, attracting various forces to scramble for it, which provided the perfect cover for the Yao Race's secret actions.

With a god-given Opportunity before them, the Yao Race's ambition expanded even more, and their actions became increasingly unrestrained.

Wait!

Chen Xuan suddenly raised his hand, the piece suspended in mid-air delayed in falling. A flash of inspiration struck his mind as he suddenly remembered a key detail he had completely overlooked.

Once the matter of the Chusheng Sect secretly refining demon transformation pills was made public, the Rain God Continent would surely be thrown into a huge commotion, falling into a mire of internal and external troubles. At that time, the Yao Race would be able to reap the benefits of the conflict.

Such a once-in-a-thousand-years Opportunity was enough for them to take a chance and place a bet, even if the booklet's whereabouts were unknown.

And the reason his two Disciples, Ye Hao and Li Pingan, had initially intervened in the Chusheng Sect's affairs was precisely because that Daoist Yunche had used a spot in the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool as bait to lead them into the trap.

That Daoist Yunche was already a traitor who had joined the Yao Race.

In this way, it made sense why the secret of the Chusheng Sect refining demon transformation pills would be revealed.

This was clearly orchestrated by the Yao Race pushing from behind... After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chu Haotian returned to the courtyard and sat down in front of Chen Xuan.

Seeing that the Glazed Jade Bottle by Chen Xuan's side was already empty, he took another pot from his storage ring and placed it on the stone table, then spoke: "Regarding the matter of the Chusheng Sect refining demon transformation pills, my Tianque Sect originally intended to punish them without leniency."

"It's just that later the Yao Race army invaded, and reinforcements from the Nine Continents were delayed, so we had no choice but to come up with a stalling tactic."

He paused, his gaze falling on Chen Xuan's face as he observed his expression, then continued to explain: "I thought of settling accounts with the Chusheng Sect after the war ended, but I didn't expect they would actually have a conflict with Fellow Daoist's Dao Seeking Sect. Now that they've been slain by Fellow Daoist's sword, it can be considered a fitting death."

Chen Xuan chuckled, "Fellow Daoist might as well speak plainly. Such beating around the bush doesn't quite suit our temperaments."

Chu Haotian was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly, "Fellow Daoist's words... are indeed reasonable."

After a moment of silence, Chu Haotian went straight to the point: "Regarding that booklet Fellow Daoist left previously, our Sect Master and the people from the Five Elders Gate discussed it and finally decided to dispatch two people to investigate and handle it."

"But the Tower Master of the Demon Suppressing Tower is no ordinary person. If those ten-odd people act together, the people we send might be like throwing a meat bun at a dog—never to return."

Chu Haotian looked at the Heaven-rank Divine Ability scroll on the table, reached out and pushed it towards Chen Xuan, his tone sincere: "Can we change the previous transaction with Fellow Daoist? In exchange for this Heaven-rank Divine Ability, I'd like Fellow Daoist's assistance once."

Chen Xuan slowly shook his head, "A Heaven-rank Divine Ability holds no attraction for me. Even if it were a God-Tier Divine Ability, it would be the same."

Chu Haotian narrowed his eyes slightly, not commenting on Chen Xuan's bold claim. He took a sip of wine before saying, "Fellow Daoist previously asked about the whereabouts of Daoist Yunche. Since he betrayed us and joined the Yao Race, if Fellow Daoist acts with us this time, perhaps there will be a chance to meet him. At that time, Fellow Daoist can also settle a matter on his mind."

After saying this, Chu Haotian spoke no more.

If Chen Xuan wouldn't agree, then he and Master Qing Xuan would have to handle the matter themselves. Although it would be more troublesome and dangerous, since they were in the Rain God Continent, they ultimately had to fulfill their responsibilities, even if they occasionally complained.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly and suddenly spoke, "I thought Fellow Daoist would mention my two Disciples impersonating the Tianque Sect."

Chu Haotian shook his head, "Gifting that token to Ye Hao and the other was originally to repay the favor of saving my Tianque Sect Disciples. No matter how they used that token, they should bear the consequences themselves."

"If I had to specifically mention such a small matter, why would I have given them that token in the first place?"

Chen Xuan picked up the Glazed Jade Bottle on the side, tilted his head and drank the remaining wine in one gulp, then pushed back the Heaven-rank Divine Ability scroll, stood up, and walked toward the gate.

Chu Haotian already understood in his heart, and he wasn't particularly disappointed.

Just then, he saw Chen Xuan's footsteps pause. He turned his head slightly and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Chu, what are you still dazing for? This matter, naturally, the sooner it's resolved, the better, isn't it?"