188: chess player

Before everyone could react, the scene before their eyes suddenly changed.

Everything was hazy, with only occasional flashes of colorful light adding a touch of color to the space.

"Where is this?"

Su Meng, one of the Three Heroes of the Su family, asked.

However, no one answered him.

Jun Zidao stood unmoving, looking calm and composed.

It wasn't that he was trying to be mysterious; he simply didn't know where this place was.

He was merely acting on Lin Mu's instructions.

Just as everyone was feeling a little anxious, a majestic voice suddenly rang out from within the space.

"Hold your breath, calm your mind, and meditate!"

The voice seemed to possess infinite magic.

Everyone instinctively sat cross-legged, entering a state of emptiness.

The originally hazy space suddenly became dazzlingly colorful after the voice ended.

Streaks of colorful light darted back and forth among the people.

At the same time, at the other end of the space.

Lin Mu and the Primordial Spirit stood side by side.

Lin Mu still had an indifferent expression, while the Primordial Spirit was full of excitement.

"Haha, after waiting so long, today has finally arrived."

Lin Mu glanced at the Primordial Spirit and said indifferently, "Of this group, how many do you think will succeed?"

The Primordial Spirit pondered for a moment, then said, "Based on This Spirit's experience, at least seventy percent of these one hundred and eight people can directly Breakthrough, and the remaining thirty percent will almost all be able to Breakthrough after Cultivating for a few more years."

Lin Mu listened and said with some dissatisfaction, "Not enough. This Young Master wants a hundred percent Breakthrough. The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches Grand Array cannot be missing even one person."

"Do you think This Spirit's Origin power is inexhaustible? Creating the Four God Emperors back then consumed half of This Spirit's Origin power. If you hadn't opened up this space, allowing Origin power to grow and remain, This Spirit wouldn't have been able to complete the Breakthroughs for over a hundred people."

The Spirit of the God Realm said with displeasure.

In truth, he was merely speaking out of pique. If he exerted his full power, let alone a hundred people, he would have confidence even with another hundred.

He was simply dissatisfied with Lin Mu's arrogant and overbearing attitude, as if Lin Mu treated him like a mere subordinate, ordering him around.

Lin Mu saw through the Primordial Spirit's thoughts at a glance.

He also didn't want to dwell too much on such a minor matter and said lightly.

"You find the solution; This Young Master only wants the result. If you can't do it, our cooperation ends."

After Lin Mu finished speaking, his figure flickered and he disappeared.

The Primordial Spirit looked at the spot where Lin Mu had vanished, gritting his teeth in hatred.

"If it weren't for the fact that you're still somewhat useful, This Spirit would have devoured you long ago," he thought fiercely.

After Lin Mu left the Grandmist space, he arrived at the pavilion where Zhang Daoling was located.

Zhang Daoling, who was playing a game of Go by himself, quickly rose to bow upon seeing Lin Mu's arrival.

Even though he was now a top-tier expert with quasi-Emperor Cultivation, he always maintained humility in front of Lin Mu.

Lin Mu glanced at the chessboard and instantly saw that the game was a draw.

Thus, he also guessed what Zhang Daoling was thinking at the moment.

"Are you wondering why This Young Master didn't let you participate?" Lin Mu said, picking up a black piece and placing it down.

Seeing this, Zhang Daoling, without waiting for Lin Mu's signal, also picked up a piece and placed it down, though he picked a white piece.

He had come across this Go game by chance and had studied it for dozens of days without being able to solve it; no matter how he looked at it, it was a draw.

Now, seeing Lin Mu's move, which was consistent with his own previous approach, an approach he had played countless times, he could place his piece without even thinking.

After the white piece was placed, Lin Mu picked up another piece and placed it down again.

The two of them continued like this, back and forth, neither of them giving it any thought, simply placing their pieces.

Initially, Zhang Daoling didn't pay much attention, but after dozens of moves, each of Lin Mu's moves made him secretly startled.

Lin Mu's moves were exactly as he had envisioned, as if he had completely seen into his thoughts.

Zhang Daoling gave a wry smile, the piece in his hand hesitating to fall.

"I lost."

Lin Mu looked at Zhang Daoling with profound meaning, then said, "Oh? How so?"

Zhang Daoling cupped his hands and said, "Young Master has long seen through all of subordinate's subsequent moves, or rather, every step subordinate took was within Young Master's expectations."

Lin Mu looked at the piece in his hand and said.

"No matter how beautiful a chess piece is made, it is still just a chess piece. Its fate is always in the hands of the player, and you and This Young Master are the players."

Lin Mu's words seemed to awaken Zhang Daoling from a dream, and he could not hide the excitement in his heart.

Ever since following Lin Mu, Zhang Daoling had been on pins and needles.

Lin Mu's Cultivation was unfathomable, and he was ruthless.

He was truly afraid that one day he would anger Lin Mu and bring disaster to the Zhang family.

For today's grand ceremony of ennoblement as God Emperor, he had originally thought that with his qualifications, he would surely have a place.

But who knew, he had waited until now, and Lin Mu still hadn't notified him to go.

He was disappointed and disheartened.

Breaking through to God Emperor was a lifelong goal for every Divine Lord.

And now, with this Opportunity within reach, he could only wait here in bitterness.

Yet, Lin Mu had seen through his thoughts simply from his Go moves, and through the game, told him that he was Lin Mu's own person.

And those who were currently enjoying the Opportunity to become God Emperors were merely Lin Mu's chess pieces.

Lin Mu's words were far more important than becoming a God Emperor.

Zhang Daoling stood up, knelt solemnly on both knees, and sincerely bowed, saying, "subordinate thanks Young Master."

Lin Mu saw this and laughed heartily.

"This Young Master is already from an imperial family; why should others bestow a god title?"

With that, Lin Mu pointed a finger at Zhang Daoling's forehead.

Zhang Daoling felt a momentary darkness before his eyes. A few breaths later, pure and violent Origin power surged out from within him.

For a time, the entire pavilion was enveloped in colorful divine light.

Zhang Daoling incredulously felt the continuous stream of Origin power within him, his face showing a mix of surprise and joy.

Then he revealed a puzzled expression, asking in confusion, "Young Master, when did subordinate have so much Origin power within him? Why has subordinate never noticed?"

Lin Mu did not directly answer his question, but instead said something unrelated.

"Chess pieces have the destiny of chess pieces, and the players also have different destinations."

Before Zhang Daoling could ponder the meaning of this sentence, Lin Mu spoke again.

"Next, This Young Master wants you to complete a task. This task is of utmost importance, and This Young Master can only rest assured if you do it."

So, Lin Mu then fully revealed the matter he wanted to entrust.

The more Zhang Daoling listened, the more alarmed he became, until he heard Lin Mu's last sentence, which made Zhang Daoling fall to the ground in shock.

"Use heaven and earth as the furnace, the Divine Realm as the cauldron, and all living beings as the lead to refine the gods."

This sentence lingered in Zhang Daoling's mind, unable to dissipate for a long time.

So much so that Zhang Daoling didn't even notice when Lin Mu had left.