“That impressive?” Chu Feng asked.
“Impressive? He’s downright terrifying. Not only is his chess skill astounding, but he’s also a top-tier genius in martial cultivation,” Kong Tianhui said.
“Oh, and Nangong Yifan is Linghu Hongfei’s arch-rival.”
“Arch-rival?” Chu Feng asked.
“Indeed. They’ve clashed privately multiple times, though no one knows their exact win-loss record.”
“Likewise, no one knows Nangong Yifan’s true martial prowess. He only fights Linghu Hongfei and never accepts our challenges, not even from my sister,” Kong Tianhui said.
“In short, he doesn’t take us seriously.”
“That guy’s pretty arrogant,” Chu Feng remarked.
“Arrogant, yes, but he’s got the capital to back it up.”
“We’d heard early on that he was exceptional in both cultivation and chess.”
“We didn’t believe it at first, but after he made his move that one time, we had to admit—he’s the real deal,” Kong Tianhui said.
“So, I keep telling my sister and the others there’s no point studying chess manuals or strategizing. With Nangong Yifan in the Zhutian Starfield, we’ve got no chance.”
“From what you’re saying, does Nangong Yifan show up every time?” Chu Feng asked.
“Of course. He rarely plays, but he’s always there. He’s the Zhutian Starfield’s trump card, an unbeatable one.”
“As long as Nangong Yifan’s around, we’ve got zero shot,” Kong Tianhui said earnestly, his demeanor showing he’d given up hope.
It wasn’t a lack of ambition—he’d been beaten into despair.
“Brother Kong, can you take me to see the chess manuals?” Chu Feng asked.
Having heard about the Ancient Warrior Chess for the first time, Chu Feng was intrigued, not just by Nangong Yifan but even more by the game itself.
He wanted to see what this Ancient Warrior Chess was all about.
“Brother Chu Feng, you’re interested?” Kong Tianhui asked.
“A bit,” Chu Feng replied.
“Alright, since you’re curious, I’ll take you. Plus, I’ll introduce you to Sister Xian Yun and Sister Long Ning.”
“Heh, those two girls may not be as stunning as that red-clothed beauty we saw the other day, but they’re still drop-dead gorgeous,” Kong Tianhui said, smirking mischievously and rubbing his hands, looking like a wolf eyeing prey.
“You even hit on your sister’s friends?” Chu Feng asked.
“Brother Chu Feng, what kind of talk is that? Don’t make me sound so sleazy,” Kong Tianhui said righteously, though his expression was anything but innocent.
Led by Kong Tianhui, they passed through several gardens and arrived at a grand hall.
Inside were only three people: Kong Ci and two other women.
Both were strikingly beautiful, on par with Kong Ci.
They must be Xian Yun and Long Ning, the ones Kong Tianhui kept mentioning.
Together, the three women each had their own charm.
Kong Ci exuded nobility.
Xian Yun, true to her name, radiated an ethereal仙气 (immortal aura).
Long Ning looked more like a youthful maiden, her delicate face brimming with sunny cheer, utterly adorable.
“The idiot who hasn’t heard of any of us is here,” Kong Ci announced to Xian Yun and Long Ning when Chu Feng entered.
But Xian Yun and Long Ning had already been sizing him up from the moment he walked in.
“Long Ning of Ancestral Martial Dragon City. Pleased to meet you, Brother Chu Feng,” Long Ning said, approaching and bowing politely. Her sweet voice and courteous demeanor left a great first impression.
“Xian Yun of Demon Clan Holy City,” Xian Yun followed, her greeting gentle compared to Long Ning’s bubbly energy.
“Chu Feng of the Chu Heavenly Clan. Pleased to meet you both,” Chu Feng replied, returning the courtesy.
He was surprised. He hadn’t expected geniuses like Long Ning and Xian Yun to be so polite, showing none of the arrogance typical of other prodigies.
“Brother Chu Feng, have you decided to join us in playing Ancient Warrior Chess?” Long Ning asked with a smile.
“As Miss Kong Ci said, as someone from the Ancestral Martial Starfield, I should contribute. But you’re the main players—I’ll just assist,” Chu Feng said.
“Brother Chu Feng, I believe in your talent,” Long Ning said.
“Young Master Chu Feng, if you’re interested, start with the rules,” Xian Yun said, handing him several scrolls. “Here are some chess manuals you can look at too.”
The first scroll detailed the rules and gameplay of Ancient Warrior Chess.
The others were chess manuals of varying levels.
After reading the rules, Chu Feng grasped the basics.
The chessboard was like a mountain with three tiers, representing three levels.
Each tier had distinct requirements.
The first tier had low chess force demands, accessible to all.
The second tier required greater chess force mastery, barring those who couldn’t meet the threshold.
The third tier demanded even stricter chess force control.
Chess force was gained upon entering the board, but the initial amount was limited. To increase it, one could defeat opponents to absorb their chess force or use special methods to draw more from the board.
However, higher chess force required greater control. Insufficient control with excessive chess force led to expulsion from the board.
While high chess force was ideal, control was critical.
Yet, even with strong control and chess force mastery, victory wasn’t guaranteed.
Winning Ancient Warrior Chess hinged on teamwork.
No matter how strong an individual was, they couldn’t win alone.
All three tiers had to be conquered for victory, and even the strongest could only claim one tier.
Teamwork and strategy were key, with formations detailed in the chess manuals.
After understanding the rules, Chu Feng turned to the manuals.
Control was important, but he believed tactics were paramount.
A manual titled *Unorthodox Tactics to Break Ten Thousand Armies* caught his eye.
It emphasized surprise moves to catch opponents off guard.
Compared to other manuals, this one was more intriguing and suited Chu Feng’s taste.
“Chu Feng, you’re going too far. A beginner like you is looking at the most complex manual?” Kong Ci teased, walking over.
Her comment drew the others’ attention.
“Brother Chu Feng, don’t bother with that one. It’s useless,” Kong Tianhui said.
“Isn’t this the highest-level manual?” Chu Feng countered.
The *Unorthodox Tactics* manual was marked as the top-tier one.
“Brother Chu Feng, trust me.”
“It’s the highest level, but also the hardest. We tried its strategies against the Zhutian Starfield, and it was a disaster—utterly crushed, embarrassingly so,” Kong Tianhui said.
“Brother Chu Feng, pick another. Manuals are about mastery, not just high level. Even the Zhutian Starfield’s chess genius, Nangong Yifan, uses only mid-level tactics.”
“I heard he studied under a master and refined it extensively to perfect it.”
“This *Unorthodox Tactics to Break Ten Thousand Armies* is just too difficult for you,” Long Ning added.
“Forget manuals. Focus on mastering chess force control. You won’t need manuals anyway.”
“No one’s going to listen to you. Xian Yun’s in charge of our strategy,” Kong Ci said, glancing at Xian Yun.
…
