66: Chapter 66 Even the 'Night' is paying homage to him!

In Taoyuan Wonderland, the dense 'nightfall' was just a few meters away from swallowing the Dragon Kingdom's 'tree of morning light'.

Just at this moment of near despair.

Chen Aoyun's familiar movements appeared once again!

He could be seen with his eyes slightly closed, casting aside all distracting thoughts, immersing his entire focus into the depths of his consciousness.

Slowly.

A great figure in the history of the Dragon Kingdom, and indeed in the history of all humanity, became clear and vivid in Chen Aoyun's mind!

At the same time.

Construction Power rapidly gathered at his fingertips.

Soon, a [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece] finally took shape between his fingers, which were pinched in a twisting gesture!

"What kind of stance is this? Is the Dragon Kingdom's [Strategist] condensing a Heroic Spirit? Condensing a Heroic Spirit during the Descent phase? Does he not know that even if one has enough Construction Power during the Descent phase, and even if a [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece] is condensed, ordinary [Heroic Spirits] cannot be placed on the chessboard?"

Chen Aoyun's actions made those watching the live stream curl their lips. Most people thought Chen Aoyun was foolish, while others felt he was arrogant:

"Unless a Heroic Spirit has 'made special contributions to all of humanity', even if a [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece] is condensed, it will shatter after being placed! Is this [Strategist] from the Dragon Kingdom unaware of this, or does he think the Heroic Spirit he is placing meets the requirements? If he is unaware, I would call him stupid for not even knowing the basic common knowledge of the Game of National Destiny; this [Strategist] is truly unqualified. If he is aware and still dares to do this, I can only say he is arrogant enough!"

The text of the barrage could not affect Chen Aoyun in the slightest.

The 'chess piece' at his fingertips had already taken shape, and with a reach of his hand, Chen Aoyun pressed down with his fingertips in an understated manner.

'Placing a piece' is usually silent.

But regardless of whether it was the other [Strategists] observing Chen Aoyun's actions or the audience in the live stream, when Chen Aoyun pressed the 'chess piece' onto the Star Chessboard, they all seemed to hear a 'snap' sound!

Snap—!

The [Heroic Spirit Chess Piece] landed on the chessboard, the sound barely audible.

Afterward.

The Star Chessboard rippled slightly. The scene everyone expected, where the 'chess piece' would shatter, did not occur!

Instead, it embedded itself firmly into the Starlight Chessboard, even causing the entire chessboard to tremble slightly.

"It succeeded? Did the Dragon Kingdom really successfully place a [Heroic Spirit] at this time node? How is this possible! Wasn't it said that [Nightingale] is the only Heroic Spirit that can be placed at this stage? How did the Dragon Kingdom's [Strategist] do it? Could it be that the [Heroic Spirit] placed by that Dragon Kingdom [Strategist], just like [Nightingale], is also an existence that 'made special contributions to all of humanity' in the Old Era?"

This seemed to be the only possibility.

But whether it was the audience or the commentators, the strategy teams of other countries, or even the Dragon Kingdom's own strategy team, everyone felt that the scene before them was somewhat unreal!

Powerful [Heroic Spirits] are common, and there are many [Heroic Spirits] in various countries that fit specific requirements.

But as for [Heroic Spirits] from the Old Era who 'made special contributions to all of humanity', who can be recognized by the Will of National Destiny and placed during the Descent phase, throughout the entire history of the Game of National Destiny, there has only been [Nightingale] and no one else!

And today, the uniqueness of [Nightingale] has been broken!

The country that broke this uniqueness was not a powerful nation in the Game of National Destiny, but a weak nation like the Dragon Kingdom!

Confusion and bewilderment lingered in everyone's hearts.

They stared intently at the live stream, wanting to see exactly what kind of existence the Dragon Kingdom's [Strategist] had placed!

In the live stream.

Above Chen Aoyun's avatar in Taoyuan Wonderland, the Manifestation of [Tao Yuanming] quietly faded away. Replacing it was a simple figure, not tall, yet seemingly capable of holding up the entire sky.

An old man with a kind face and skin deeply etched with wrinkles by time and the sun seemed to walk out from the void.

He was slightly hunched over, as if he were still walking on familiar ridges of fields, his eyes containing endless wisdom, perseverance, and a deep love for the land and life.

Behind him was not a scene of battlefields with golden spears and iron horses, but an endless expanse of rice fields rolling with golden waves!

Every ear of rice was so full that it bowed its head, as if paying the highest tribute to the creator who gave them life!

Sunlight spilled onto the rice ears, and onto the old man's wrinkled face, which was brimming with joy.

His figure was not tall, yet it seemed to carry the weight of the survival of billions!

His body was not strong, yet it seemed to nourish countless hungry lands!

He was none other than—the 'Father of Hybrid Rice', [Yuan Lao]!

A great man who, with his own strength, fed countless living beings on Blue Star, and whose contributions benefited the entire human civilization!

No Heroic Spirit satisfied the requirement of 'making special contributions to all of humanity' better than he did!

An indescribable, gentle yet majestic power quietly rippled out from the center of [Yuan Lao]'s Manifestation, and the entire world seemed to be cleansed by a power called 'Virtue'!

An incredible scene occurred!

The 'nightfall' that was originally spreading ruthlessly under the drive of the rules, upon touching the edge of this power, actually seemed to possess life; it paused slightly, and then retreated like a receding tide!

Chen Aoyun did not try to use him to drive away the 'nightfall'.

Yet, the 'nightfall' was forced to retreat several thousand meters because of his appearance!

It was not just the Taoyuan Wonderland where Chen Aoyun was; the 'nightfall' across the entire Star Chessboard was retreating!

After retreating several thousand meters, the 'nightfall' paused for a full two minutes before yielding to the [Chessboard Rules] and surging toward the Home Bases of various countries again!

If there were still people who doubted whether Chen Aoyun met the limitation of 'making special contributions to all of humanity' when he successfully placed [Yuan Lao], after seeing this scene, after seeing the 'nightfall'—which was bolstered by the [Chessboard Rules]—actively retreat because of the appearance of [Yuan Lao], it was as if the 'nightfall'—bolstered by the [Chessboard Rules]—was expressing its tribute to [Yuan Lao]!

Seeing this scene.

Who would still question it?

What other reason is there to question it!

"From a certain perspective, [Yuan Lao] is the most extraordinary existence of the entire Huaxia Civilization! Truly worthy of my great Huaxia. Whether in ancient times or modern times, there are always BUG-level figures that shock the whole world!!!"

In Chen Aoyun's heart: National pride + 10086!

Even Chen Aoyun himself was moved and shocked by the [Heroic Spirit] he had placed.

Fan Ling and Zhao Hongxiu on the side were even more so!

Although they did not know [Yuan Lao], the power named 'Virtue' that rippled out from [Yuan Lao]'s Manifestation spread even beyond the Star Chessboard, spreading to the 'chess positions' of the players!

Fan Ling and Zhao Hongxiu felt this peculiar energy, and their hearts trembled and were moved inexplicably!

"Who exactly is this old gentleman…" Fan Ling felt reverence and curiosity toward [Yuan Lao]. This was the Dragon Kingdom's own [Heroic Spirit], which meant that this old man was an ancestor of the New Era Dragon Kingdom people. Having such an ancestor, Fan Ling felt honored.

Fan Ling said, "I never thought that a hunched old man could actually be recognized as a Heroic Spirit by the Will of National Destiny, and be so soul-stirring!"

Chen Aoyun thought of something and said with a smile, "Yes, an old gentleman indeed! If I told you there is another similar old gentleman, who holds a fishing rod, fishing without bait, and is an existence similar to [Yuan Lao]…"

Fan Ling was stunned, immediately thought of something, and then his entire person was suddenly frozen on the spot. Fan Ling: "You don't mean…"

Chen Aoyun: "It is just as you think." Fan Ling: "…"