18: Chapter 18 has been found!

The more Chen Aoyun spoke, the more suspicious he became of trying to lead the target toward another chess piece.

"This 'white-robed, white-horsed' chess piece looks almost exactly like the Heroic Spirit image from the manifestation earlier. You're trying to trick me into choosing the other Heroic Spirit; your intention is too obvious. Do you really think I'd fall for it!" the Sakura Country [Strategist] sneered.

Just as Chen Aoyun had said before, his remaining Construction Power was all spoken for; he didn't have any more Construction Power to 'change the skin' for the Heroic Spirit.

He couldn't change the skin of the manifestation, and there wasn't enough to change the image on the Heroic Spirit Chess Piece either.

The 'white-robed, white-horsed' Heroic Spirit was the one who unleashed "Seven In, Seven Out"; it was Zhao Yun!

The Sakura Country [Strategist]'s choice was correct.

"Suit yourself. Don't blame me if you choose wrong."

The Sakura Country [Strategist] had chosen the right target, but Chen Aoyun still tried his best to hide his tone, keeping his voice so calm that it made the Sakura Country [Strategist] hesitate once again.

"There are two Heroic Spirits with images in the Heroic Spirit Pool. The Dragon Country [Strategist] didn't know which specific chess piece I wanted to use the Forbidden Move on earlier. Even though my intention was obvious—that 'white-robed, white-horsed' chess piece—there's still the possibility he changed his target halfway through.

Is that why the Dragon Country [Strategist] played the Concealment card? But why Concealment? Is the Dragon Country [Strategist] worried I'll check the information on these two chess pieces? Damn it, unseen Heroic Spirits are such a hassle!"

The Dragon Country's Heroic Spirits were all appearing for the first time, with absolutely no corresponding intelligence. Furthermore, the Sakura Country [Strategist] had been inside the game the whole time and, unlike Chen Aoyun, hadn't watched the livestream, so he didn't know how many cards Chen Aoyun had in his hand.

Chen Aoyun's play of Concealment seemed to have flipped the switch of doubt for the Sakura Country [Strategist]; once he was indecisive, he couldn't firmly use the Forbidden Move.

Chen Aoyun didn't forget to add fuel to the fire.

The 'starlight' veil was stripped away, and Chen Aoyun, in the midst of the match, revealed his true appearance!

"You were the one who came to challenge me to a direct match. You are the initiator of the match, and I am the responder. Therefore, as long as I reveal my true image to propose a wager, and as long as the content of the wager isn't excessive, you must accept!"

After stripping away the 'starlight body' veil and revealing his true appearance, the Sakura Country [Strategist]'s true image was also revealed without doubt due to the rules.

"When playing chess, it's only interesting if you can see each other's expressions." Having revealed his true face, Chen Aoyun proposed his wager, "How about we have a 'father-son match' regarding your use of the Forbidden Move this time?"

"If you forbid the right Heroic Spirit, I'll call you 'Dad' from now on. Conversely, you call me 'Dad.' How about it?"

"A small wager for fun. You don't have to accept, but the price of refusal is National Destiny. If you forbid the wrong Heroic Spirit, compensating the Dragon Country with National Destiny isn't out of the question."

A father-son match? It was a bit elementary, but such an elementary wager appearing in the Game of National Destiny created a strong sense of contrast that many viewers found amusing.

Of course, this could also be seen as a provocation by Chen Aoyun.

Besides provocation, it could also be understood as Chen Aoyun messing with the Sakura Country [Strategist]'s mentality to interfere with his judgment.

The Game of National Destiny is a battlefield for all countries, where using every means possible is common. Chen Aoyun playing mind games like this is not shameful in the Game of National Destiny.

"A father-son match? A country like the Dragon Country, which relies on the relief of other countries' Heroic Spirits to survive in the Game of National Destiny year after year, actually dares to initiate a wager in a match?" The Sakura Country [Strategist] felt insulted.

"You don't think that just because your Dragon Country Heroic Spirit is a new one that has never appeared before, you can actually make things difficult for me, do you?"

"You don't think that just because you played a Concealment card, I wouldn't be able to see through the Heroic Spirits in your Dragon Country 'Heroic Spirit Pool', do you?"

While speaking, the Sakura Country [Strategist] flipped his wrist, and a new card appeared in his hand.

"You seem to have forgotten one thing: the Detection card is not a 'hostile' type item!"

A Detection card was flicked by the Sakura Country [Strategist] into the Dragon Country's 'Heroic Spirit Pool'.

As the Detection card was flicked in, the information of the two Heroic Spirit Chess Pieces in the Heroic Spirit Pool gradually appeared:

The 'white-robed, white-horsed' Heroic Spirit displayed its true name—Zhao Yun!

The other Heroic Spirit Chess Piece [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece] also displayed a true name—Liu Shan!

Chen Aoyun, who had already revealed his true face, seemed to heave a long sigh and laughed:

"What a pity. One Detection card only reveals the Heroic Spirit's true name. Relying solely on the Heroic Spirit's true name, you still seem unable to judge the owner of the skill "Seven In, Seven Out"!"

Just as Chen Aoyun was feeling smug, the Sakura Country [Strategist] flipped his wrist again, and a new Detection card appeared once more!

"Who told you I only had one Detection card in my hand?"

"A conclusion drawn from watching the livestream?"

"You wouldn't be stupid enough to think that because you entered the game late, you could rely on the information gained from watching the livestream to completely grasp every dynamic of the Game of National Destiny, do you?"

"As a qualified [Strategist], knowing how to misdirect the livestream content is also a required course."

"I have plenty of these Detection cards!"

Another Detection card was played, and more information about the Heroic Spirits from when Chen Aoyun was constructing them was revealed.

"Heroic Spirit Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, a famous general of Shu Han during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Huaxia..."

"Heroic Spirit Liu Shan, the later ruler of Shu Han in Huaxia..."

As more information about the two Heroic Spirits was revealed by the Sakura Country using Detection cards, the Sakura Country [Strategist] frowned slightly. He thought of the Concealment card Chen Aoyun had used.

"Used Concealment to hide key information?"

"So what if you hid key information with Concealment? As long as enough content is revealed, I can still find clues and find the owner of "Seven In, Seven Out"!"

Another Detection card appeared... and was flicked into the Dragon Country's 'Heroic Spirit Pool'.

Not enough? Then let's keep going!

The fourth... the fifth... the eighth. Detection cards were the most common item. Earlier, while moving pieces on the board to obtain the most important item, the "tree of eternity", the Sakura Country had picked up who knows how many of these cards. Leaving them unused was a waste. Stimulated by Construction Power, Detection cards were played continuously, and more information about Zhao Yun and Liu Shan appeared above the Heroic Spirit Chess Pieces.

Finally, the Sakura Country [Strategist] laughed wildly,

"I've finally found the key information!"

On one Heroic Spirit Chess Piece [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece], information that perfectly matched "Seven In, Seven Out" was clearly displayed:

[At that time, the young later ruler led a Cavalryman in Seven In, Seven Out, unstoppable. After a long battle, his sword cut through iron like mud, his spear thrust like a dragon, appearing like a god descended! Countless enemies died beneath the belly of the horse the later ruler rode, blood staining his battle robe...]