Chapter 341: Acceptance by Mount of Inquiry - Part 1
At the foot of Mount of Inquiry, aside from Li Hao, only a few disciples from various Immortal Dynasties who had set off later remained.
However, before long, they too defeated the Dao Realm incarnations reflected by the mountain and swiftly ascended.
Only Li Hao remained, still calmly placing pieces on the board without haste.
After all, compared to the swift clashes of blades and sabers, the Chess Dao clearly required more effort and time.
Countless people stared in disbelief. While the proud elites of the Southern Region’s Immortal Dynasties were slaying their Dao Realm incarnations and racing to the summit, that youth sat alone at the foot of the mountain, quietly immersed in a game of chess.
“What’s that brat doing, still dawdling like that?”
Li Tiemu, who had previously appeared calm and composed, now showed signs of anxiety upon witnessing this scene.
Though he knew Li Hao's Dao Heart was extremely strong—he had passed the trial of the Pagoda of Inquiry, possessing an Eternal Dao Heart, and had more than enough qualification to reach the Hall of Forgotten Hearts halfway up the mountain—Li Tiemu had no confidence in whether Li Hao could make it to the summit.
If he failed to reach the peak and was surpassed by others beyond the allotted number, he would be eliminated!
“He even understands the Chess Dao?”
Beside him, the Great Dream Master was also taken aback.
She knew that apart from cultivation, Li Hao was also skilled in the Painting Dao, and had comprehended other Dao Realms through artistic insight.
But to think that he had studied the Chess Dao to such a level that Mount of Inquiry itself projected a Dao Realm incarnation for him—this was truly unexpected.
This alone proved that Li Hao’s attainments in the Chess Dao were far from shallow!
She was stunned for a moment, but upon hearing Li Tiemu’s anxious voice, she returned to herself, a trace of worry surfacing in her eyes. Yet, as she was outside the mountain, she couldn’t even send him a sound transmission, let alone urge him in any way.
Still, knowing from Old Li that Li Hao’s Dao Heart was of the highest caliber, she felt there was a strong chance he would reach the top. Even if he lagged in time, he likely wouldn’t be eliminated.
“What an intriguing Chess Dao.”
At this moment, high in the sky, Emperor Chu and other sovereigns of the Immortal Dynasties also took notice of Li Hao’s peculiar behavior.
Compared to the others, the youth’s actions were exceedingly conspicuous—he possessed a unique and transcendent temperament, markedly different from other cultivators.
Emperor Chu, a lover and practitioner of chess himself, often played matches with Yuan Xinggang and that rough fellow Shangguan Hong. Over the years, their skills had all deepened through those endless games.
Now, seeing this youth’s Chess Dao, he found it surprisingly impressive.
Though not yet on par with himself and the others, among youths of this realm, he had never seen one with such exceptional talent in chess.
“He’s quite the promising seedling for chess,”
Emperor Jiang remarked with a smile. He too had delved deeply into the Chess Dao and was genuinely impressed to see such an unorthodox figure among the younger generation.
Though the Chess Dao was considered a lesser path compared to major ones like the Nine Sequences, or the paths of blade and sword used in combat, it was still valuable for honing one’s state of mind during moments of leisure.
“He’s still at the stage of setting up the board. A true game unfolds with seamless spontaneity—each move falling naturally, not through calculated force.”
Ahead, the Supreme of the Celestial Palace, his majestic Dharma Body towering, revealed a faint smile in his eyes as he said, “Yet for someone of his age to have reached such a level in cultivation and chess alike—this is already a remarkable Chess Form.”
Hearing the Supreme praise him, the other emperors from various Immortal Dynasties couldn’t help but be moved.
They held no bias against the so-called lesser path of chess—it was just that with such extraordinary talent, they felt the youth ought to focus more on cultivation at this time.
In a certain sect within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—
“Hao’er…”
An elder in a green robe sat atop a mountain peak, also playing a game of chess. His opponent was a close friend from the sect with a shared interest.
The two played casually as they watched the reflection of the Southern Region’s proud youths battling in the sky. The green-robed elder’s gaze, however, lingered solely on that one youth, so much so that he couldn’t even place another piece.
“Old Feng, that kid is really your friend? His soul lifespan is so short, and yet he still has the heart to play chess? Isn’t that just a waste of time!”
The gray-robed, red-nosed old man across from him couldn’t help but exclaim.
The green-robed elder chuckled and said, “That’s just how he is. How can that be called a waste of time? As long as it brings him joy, it’s not a waste.”
The red-nosed elder was stunned. Mulling over the words carefully, he clapped his hands and said, “Marvelous.”
“A mortal’s life lasts but thirty thousand days. Whether they strive to forge ahead or resign themselves to fate, whether they make countless connections to gain wealth or power, in the end they all turn into a handful of earth—no different from the common folk. What difference is there?”
The green-robed elder smiled. “Only the moments that make one’s heart glad count as truly living.”
“Old Feng, your view is far more detached than mine—I’m ashamed.”
The red-nosed elder sighed with admiration in his eyes.
Yet, while the words sounded good, to truly embody such a carefree spirit was another realm entirely. He admitted he couldn’t do it.
“All those words were first said by that child.”
The green-robed elder stared at the youth seated alone at the foot of Mount of Inquiry, his eyes glowing with deep longing and remembrance.
“Him?”
The red-nosed elder was stunned. He looked at the youth reflected in the clouds—his soul lifespan less than a hundred years—and found it hard to believe someone so young could have such insight.
“What level is that child’s Dao Heart?”
He couldn’t help but ask.
The green-robed elder gently shook his head. “If one obsesses over the Dao Heart, one will never reach true heights.”
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