The nine tolls of the Great River Academy’s bell echoed through the clouds. Over a thousand scholars rushed toward the back mountain, while some shrewd ones seized the chance to flee the academy.
Never before had the bell rung nine times.
Nine tolls signified a calamity that could destroy the Great River Academy.
As the disciples gathered in the plaza outside the inner gate, a sudden gust of wind roared in, kicking up sand and stones, making it hard for the scholars to keep their eyes open.
Boom.
A deafening roar came from the sky, drawing everyone’s gaze upward.
Clouds churned, colliding with each other, and a massive face emerged from the cloud layer.
“Kong Shan, old man, it’s time to settle the debt from a thousand years ago.”
A voice like a great bell resounded through the heavens, accompanied by a chilling wind that swept in, instantly plunging the Great River Academy into a freezing cold. Snowflakes the size of goose feathers fell from the sky.
Mo Fan, standing above the clouds, watched the scene below in disbelief, then glanced at the blinding sun above, utterly stunned.
The White Tiger Saint King could alter the heavens themselves?
Above the clouds, the sky was clear; below, the mountain was sealed in snow. It was beyond comprehension.
As the White Tiger Saint King’s voice fell, a white-robed elder stepped out from the inner courtyard, looking up at the ever-lowering giant face in the clouds. A flicker of fear passed through his eyes before he took a deep breath and spoke gravely. “White Tiger Saint King, all karma rests with me, Kong Shan, alone. It has nothing to do with my academy’s disciples.”
“You’ve come to settle scores today, and I have no words to defend myself. I only ask that you spare the innocent and let them live. Do with me as you will.”
With that, Kong Shan took a step, ascending into the void, climbing step by step, his face filled with tragic resolve, as if prepared for death.
“Dean.”
The Great River Academy disciples, seeing this, wept, their clothes stained with tears, gazing sorrowfully at Kong Shan’s selfless sacrifice.
Some female disciples even fainted from crying.
“Dean…”
The academy’s few Golden Core instructors clenched their teeth, glaring with hatred at the giant face in the sky.
“What a touching scene.”
“What a claim of ‘nothing to do with the disciples.’”
“But how could those who joined your Great River Academy be truly innocent?”
“For centuries, the ones most diligent in hunting my demon clan kin have been you sanctimonious scholars, always preaching morality while slaying demons for the people.”
“So rest assured, not only will you die today, but these scholars of yours won’t be spared either.”
“Hahahaha…”
The White Tiger Saint King laughed, his voice like thunder, shaking the disciples below until their ears rang. Some had their eardrums burst, others bled from all seven orifices.
“I hoped to quell your rage with these old bones of mine, but you insist on annihilation.
So be it. Even if I sacrifice my flesh and blood, I’ll show you the spine of a scholar.”
Kong Shan sighed, then stepped forward with resolute eyes.
Buzz.
Instantly, boundless light filled the heavens, the void trembling. Beams of inky light crisscrossed, forming a massive chessboard in the sky.
Kong Shan stood at its centre, like a white chess piece placed at the board’s heart.
He looked up at the enormous face, his expression solemn. “Kong Shan of the Great River Academy invites you to the game.”
As his words fell, the inky chessboard transformed into a vast black hole, swallowing him instantly. Endless dark streams surged upward, staining the entire sky.
The bright daylight turned dim, as if night had fallen.
The giant face in the sky was consumed by the black hole, along with Mo Fan.
In the darkness, Mo Fan saw a colossal chessboard, with two mountain-sized giants seated at either end.
They were Kong Shan and the White Tiger Saint King.
“I’ve long heard the Great River Academy’s Heaven and Earth Chessboard is formidable. But seeing it today, it’s nothing special.”
The White Tiger Saint King sneered, pointing at the chessboard.
A flash of light, and the board transformed into towering mountains and ridges. Beasts emerged, roaring, then turned into ferocious demons.
Kong Shan, expressionless, waved his hand. On his half of the board, towns rose from the ground. Humans appeared, some wielding bows, others spears, while the sound of scholarly recitation echoed from houses.
Mo Fan recognised the sound, having heard it for a month in Pingyao Town. These were private schools or academies.
As the recitation grew, a faint glow enveloped the human territory, birthing golden pythons within.
The pythons swam above the human realm, then lunged at the demon territory.
“Kill.”
The White Tiger Saint King snorted, and the demons on his board surged toward the golden pythons, engaging in fierce combat.
“The Heaven and Earth Chessboard may not be intricate, but it carries the fortune of Southern Border’s humanity, enough to suppress your demonic soul.”
“If you’d come in your physical body, my Great River Academy would fall today.”
“But you were too arrogant, White Xiaosu.”
“Think breaking through to Demon Saint lets you do as you please?”
“A mere soul? Humanity has countless ways to slay you.”
Kong Shan sneered, his body radiating blinding golden light, like a Buddha. Golden lotuses flowed from his lips, merging into the chessboard.
Instantly, the human territory on the board transformed dramatically. Time accelerated visibly, as if a miniature world was evolving at an unimaginable pace.
Mo Fan had never seen such a sight.
The recitation from the academies grew louder, becoming like a great bell. As it intensified, the golden light over the human territory turned into a golden ocean hovering above.
More golden pythons flew out, attacking the demon territory.
Immortal mountains rose, sects were founded, and villagers and hunters joined them, learning countless techniques.
In moments, the once-rustic human territory was filled with academies and towering immortal mountains, with cultivators soaring on swords among the peaks.
“With humanity’s fortune and righteous qi forming immortal mountains, what can you fight me with?”
Kong Shan’s face grew grim. He pointed at White Xiaosu. “Kill.”
“Swish, swish, swish…”
In an instant, all the human cultivators on the board charged at the demons.
In moments, the demons were cornered, pushed to the board’s edge with nowhere to retreat.
“White Xiaosu, you’ve lost. How can you resist the power of heaven and earth?”
Seeing the demons trapped, a smile crept onto Kong Shan’s grim face. He looked at the fading White Tiger Saint King. “Where are the things that demoness left behind?”
“If you hand them over, I’ll spare your life and make you the guardian beast of my Great River Academy.”
“I’ll even grant you equal authority to mine.”
“How about it?”
