Crossgate Seal Chapter 424

“To the southern border?” Lu Zheng couldn’t help but ask.
“To the southern border,” Song Kaichuan nodded. “No need to worry, little friend. The southern border isn’t as dangerous as it seems. Not all supernatural beings are man-eating demons or malevolent cultivators.”
“I know that,” Lu Zheng said. “What I mean is, I’ve only been cultivating for less than three years, and my skills are shallow. How could I be of help?”
“It’s not about cultivation, but a chess game in a dream.”
“A chess game in a dream?”
Song Kaichuan nodded. “Every year on the third day of the third month, the old pine tree enters a dream to meet a deity, attempting to solve an endgame set by an immortal. But despite two thousand years, he hasn’t cracked it.”
“Transmitting teachings through dreams?” Lu Zheng’s eyes sharpened, then he startled. “Two thousand years?”
To spend two thousand years just solving a chess game, what kind of cultivation did this pine tree demon possess?
“Oh? You know about immortals transmitting teachings through dreams?” Song Kaichuan was slightly surprised, then nodded knowingly. “That saves me the trouble of explaining.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “I know a bit. It’s said many major sects’ core teachings come from immortals passing them through dreams or divine thoughts reincarnated.”
“Exactly. The old pine tree gained an opportunity, yet not quite an opportunity,” Song Kaichuan chuckled. “If he can’t solve this chess game, that immortal won’t pass him any teachings.”
“I see.”
“The old pine tree and I are close friends, so I’ve always wanted to help him crack the endgame. But my talent is limited, and I couldn’t be of much help,” Song Kaichuan said.
Looking at Lu Zheng, he continued, “In chess, talent is paramount. You’re not yet thirty, yet your chess skills surpass my centuries of study. Truly admirable. Would you be willing to make a trip to the southern border to try that endgame?”
Song Kaichuan added expectantly, “Don’t worry, the old pine tree is mild-mannered and has passed cultivation methods to those fated to receive them. He’s not the blood-sucking, man-eating type of demon.”
“And…”
“No need to say more, senior. When do we leave?” Lu Zheng asked with a nod.
What a joke! A millennia-old demon at a critical juncture, if he could help him cross it, how much fortune light would that yield?
Lu Zheng had been fretting over his dwindling fortune light reserves these past two months. This was a golden opportunity, likely enough to sustain him for half a year!
Go! Of course, he’d go!
Song Kaichuan laughed heartily, pleased. “Your decisiveness suits me well. Rest assured, whether this succeeds or not, the old pine tree and I will offer generous gifts.”
“You’re too kind, senior. Your teaching of the Earth Travel Technique was already a great kindness, saving my life several times. If I can help this time, it’s my honour,” Lu Zheng said.
Look at that, generous gifts! A win-win!
The gifts from such an ancient being were truly something to look forward to!
“No rush, it’s not urgent. A thousand years have passed, a decade or two more won’t matter,” Song Kaichuan said. “Handle your affairs first, little friend. When you’re free, come find me at the cave, and I’ll take you to Ten Thousand Pine Mountain in the southern border.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered. “I’ll prepare a bit more and, in a few days, meet you at the cave, senior.”
Considering that the old pine tree, who could set an endgame to help Song break through, must have exceptional chess skills, possibly not inferior to his own, and a two-thousand-year-unsolved endgame would be immensely difficult, Lu Zheng decided to spend some fortune light to elevate his chess skills further before heading to the southern border.
If the old pine tree’s chess skills were indeed profound, playing against him might hone Lu Zheng’s skills further, perhaps speeding up the cooldown to boost his chess prowess another level with fortune light.
That should make it foolproof.
“Good!” Song Kaichuan nodded. “I’ll head back then and await you anytime.”
“You’re too kind. Once I’ve arranged things here, I’ll come find you,” Lu Zheng replied.
Song Kaichuan nodded, then vanished the next moment.
Lu Zheng blinked, glancing at the undisturbed floor tiles, unable to discern how he left.
Terrifying!
Standing tall, Lu Zheng made a snap decision.
“Jade Seal, enhance!”
“Buzz!”
Twenty-five points of fortune light vanished, and a chessboard appeared in Lu Zheng’s mind. Black and white pieces moved like warring armies, crisscrossing the board.
His long-stagnant chess skills began to soar, and new strategies for solving chess positions flooded his mind.
Seeing the big picture, commanding the board, with cunning and unpredictable moves.
This was the foundation he’d built since his last peak, accumulated over time through games with others.
For most, foundation remains just that, and no matter how deep, it might not translate to strength, potentially stalling at a bottleneck forever.
But fortune light was the key, instantly turning foundation into strength.
That was the beauty of it!
“Done! I’ll rest a bit, and in about ten days, the cooldown should be over, just in time to reach the southern border.”
…
At night, in Pan Hu.
Lu Zheng told Liu Qingyan about his upcoming trip to the southern border.
“The senior demon who taught you the Earth Travel Technique is back?” Liu Qingyan asked.
Lu Zheng nodded. “This trip will likely take until Senior Ten Thousand Pines passes the third day of the third month and we know the outcome.”
“That’s nearly two months?”
“Exactly.”
Liu Qingyan nestled closer to Lu Zheng reluctantly, asking softly, “When are you leaving, Lu Lang?”
“In a few days. I’ll visit Peach Blossom Village again, then leave in three days,” Lu Zheng said.
“Take care, Lu Lang. I’ll be waiting for your return.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Lu Lang?”
“Hm?”
“I still want…”
…
The next day, Lu Zheng visited Peach Blossom Village to discuss the matter, staying one day and night.
Back in the modern era, he told his parents he’d be secluded to write code and informed Lin Wan he’d be taking a long trip.
Travelling with a great demon, Lu Zheng didn’t dare cross worlds carelessly and had to settle modern matters first.
…
Three days later, with affairs in both worlds arranged, Lu Zheng used the Earth Travel Technique to reach the deep mountain cave in the northeast.
“Huh? Senior Song didn’t reopen this cave?”
Emerging in the valley, Lu Zheng looked at the cliff and saw the cave entrance halfway up, still sealed tightly.
“Since I won’t stay long, I didn’t bother opening it,” a faint voice said.
Song Kaichuan suddenly appeared beside Lu Zheng, looking at him. “Ready?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Ready.”
Song Kaichuan stroked his beard with a smile, then placed a hand on Lu Zheng’s shoulder.
The next moment, Lu Zheng’s vision went dark…
And he was underground with Song Kaichuan.