C19 Teach Me How to Bribe and Please Others

The moment those words were spoken, Yan Rufeng's breath caught in her throat!

She immediately understood why Chen Xing had driven Old Mr. Wang to such a frenzy!

Old Mr. Wang was revered as the Chess Saint!

He was also a formidable eighth-level Guide Spirit expert and a novice alchemist capable of refining second-grade pills.

Yet, you could criticize his combat skills as subpar or his alchemy as amateurish, and he wouldn't bat an eye. But when it came to chess, that was his pride and joy! His entire life's work was dedicated to it! He was the sole individual in the Purple Wind Empire capable of laying out an eight-level formation.

Such an eight-level formation could serve as the protective barrier for an entire empire! Many empires lacked the resources to establish an eight-level formation, making do with a seven-level or cobbling together several six-level formations. These inferior formations significantly compromised a nation's security, leaving them feeling a notch below and less confident in the presence of an empire with an eight-level formation.

The foundational skills required to be a formation master were less demanding than those of an alchemist. However, the path to mastery became increasingly arduous the higher one climbed. It demanded immense talent and relentless mental exertion, as one had to constantly engage in thought and simulation. Each new level of formation was a leap in power from the last, and the materials required were exorbitantly expensive. A single failure could mean the loss of all materials, a luxury only the Nagas of 100,000 years ago could afford in training a high-level formation master.

Thus, the development of a formation master relied heavily on array chess.

Array chess served as a low-cost simulation tool, but the higher the level, the more apparent its limitations became. There's a vast difference between theoretical strategy and actual execution, which further highlighted Old Mr. Wang's profound expertise in array chess.

To have such a distinguished figure dismissed as a "lousy chess player" by a junior was astonishing.

Yan Rufeng suddenly felt that Old Mr. Wang's restraint in not immediately lashing out upon their meeting was nothing short of saintly patience.

Meanwhile, Luo Shuining was biting her lip in distress. She was on the verge of losing her mind! She couldn't find any solution to this reckless behavior. After racking her brain, she was left with only eight words of realization.

It was a hopeless situation; all that was left was to wait for the inevitable end.

Wang Yun let out a muffled groan, his head throbbing with pain. He had been subjected to those four words more times in the past two days than in the last few decades combined!

He fixed his gaze on the younger man before him and inhaled deeply. "I'll give you a chance to make your case. If your argument holds water, I'll let it slide. But if you fail to make sense, don't blame this old man for showing no mercy."

"What, do you need me to make excuses for your poor chess skills? A true loser reflects and strives to learn from their failures, rather than being overly sensitive."

Chen Xing was justified in his strictness. He was, after all, the creator of this chess game, having invested much of his passion into it. It was only natural for him to critique what he saw.

As soon as he spoke, the others around Chen Xing gave him peculiar looks. Wang Yun let out a cold laugh.

"Oh? Are you implying that you can defeat this old man?"

Chen Xing, with his keen intuition, sensed the awkward atmosphere and a troubling thought crossed his mind.

"No, with your level of skill, there aren't many who could beat you."

Wang Yun's sneer intensified. "Apologies, but it's been years since I've met my match. In recent years, I've only had the company of my own thoughts for chess in Stargazer's Tower. It's been far too long since I've enjoyed the thrill of a real opponent."

"That explains it. But it's not your fault. It's typical for someone so isolated to be unaware of their own shortcomings in chess."

Chen Xing stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"I could teach you a technique, but you'll need to give me a compelling reason to do so."

In that instant, Yan Ruhuang, Luo Shuining, and even Wang Yun's eyes widened in surprise.

They hadn't expected this young upstart to actually make such a bold challenge.

Regardless, having the audacity to face the Chess Saint himself was an act of bravery!

"Ha! Very well, very well!" Wang Yun burst into laughter, feeling an unexpected surge of exhilaration. It had been ages since anyone had dared to challenge him.

"I'll give you a reason. That flying sword you've noticed—it's a spiritual weapon."

"If you defeat me, you'll have a chance to have the best of both worlds—to own it!"

"But let me warn you, if you fail, you must accept the punishment for insulting a Chess Saint!"

"A spiritual weapon?" Chen Xing glanced at the flying sword. "Alright, it's a deal. It's exactly what's needed in this situation."

"Let's begin. Set up the board."

Wang Yun acted quickly.

The chess strategy was split into fast and slow play.

Fast play didn't restrict the pace at which you made your moves. In other words, if you were quick enough, you could outpace your opponent by several moves, laying out your formation and establishing an advantage. This required rapid thinking and a strong foundation. It was especially suited for real battlefield tactics, where situations change in the blink of an eye and there's rarely time to think—you must make the best decision for each scenario.

Slow play, as the name implies, involved a more deliberate approach to formation and strategy. It slowed down the pace, allowing for thoughtful countermeasures and primarily focused on enhancing one's ability to strategize.

Unless specified, the default was fast play.

Wang Yun gestured, and three chess pieces fell onto the board.

A glow swirled across the board, and a simulated small-scale formation emerged, taking physical shape.

Yet, Chen Xing remained motionless.

"If you don't make a move soon, you'll need to prepare for the punishment."

Wang Yun gave him a nonchalant look. Truth be told, he was somewhat let down.

Chen Xing had the audacity to call him a trash player and to challenge him. Wang Yun had expected some skill, but now it seemed more like a facade.

Chen Xing simply offered a faint smile, remaining silent.

On the board, Wang Yun continued his formation, always taking a serious approach regardless of his opponent's moves.

Snap!

Chen Xing finally made his move, placing his first piece swiftly and firmly, causing Wang Yun to hesitate.

The properties radiating from the piece, along with its position, were inscrutable to him.

Chess is a complex and lifelike pursuit. Each piece is crafted from a unique crystal that simulates reality based on the array pattern infused by the user. This means that when you play, the game manifests differently depending on whether you channel the essence of thunder wood or fire crystal into it—it's not just a static game piece.

Chen Xing took great pride in this. Anything crafted by the Nagas was far from ordinary.

Wang Yun remained silent, continuing to place his pieces methodically. As before, for every few characters he placed, Chen Xing would place one in response. The pace was slow, yet each move Chen Xing made was executed with decisive certainty, without a hint of hesitation.

In contrast, Wang Yun's pace slowed with each move, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. Eventually, it took him three to five minutes to place a single piece! Sweat beaded on his forehead as a sense of alarm grew within him.

"You've already lost."

With Chen Xing's final move, the characters he had placed suddenly connected, forming an intricate and targeted array that sliced through Wang Yun's formation like a sharp knife. The light screen erupted, shattering into dust, leaving only Chen Xing's pieces shining on the board like stars.

"This... This..." Wang Yun was dumbfounded, staring at the board. Even in his Guide Spirit state, he seemed unsteady, sweat pouring down his forehead in disbelief.

Chen Xing turned away, unimpressed by the lackluster match. He had had numerous chances to win earlier. If he hadn't been intent on giving Wang Yun a lesson while sparing him some dignity, he could have clinched victory at the moment of Wang Yun's first hesitation.

"Well then, I'll be taking the flying sword we agreed upon."

For Chen Xing, the allure of the spiritual artifacts far outweighed the thrill of the match. The pattern on the hilt of the flying sword was particularly intriguing, suggesting a hidden mystery. Had he not chanced upon his old friend's mirror, the flying sword would have certainly been claimed as his own.

"This round was well worth it!"

He admired the hilt of the flying sword with a hint of affection before making his way out of Stargazer's Tower.

"Wait, hold on!"

It was then that Wang Yun snapped out of his reverie and quickly spoke up.

"What's the matter? Surely the Chess Saint of Stargazer's Tower isn't reneging on his word?"

Chen Xing eyed him warily and concealed the flying sword behind his back.

Wang Yun couldn't help but show a pained smile; the title 'Chess Saint' now grated on his ears.

With a determined clench of his teeth, he stopped hesitating, flung his sleeves dramatically, and knelt down!

"Sir, your talent is immense! Please, take me as your disciple!"

Everyone was dumbfounded!

Wang Yun was the Chess Saint, a Master of the Eight-Tiered Array Formation, revered wherever he went in the Udrealor Continent. No one could have imagined that such a venerable Chess Saint would kneel so readily!

And to request a junior as his master, no less!

This news would surely send shockwaves across the entire Udrealor Continent and become the talk of the land!

"Senior Chess Saint, please rise. Chen Xing is but a child," Yan Ruhong pleaded, her anxiety palpable. She was merely a teacher and this gesture was too much to bear! Though it was not she who was being knelt to, it was her student.

Yet Wang Yun remained resolutely on his knees, immovable. His mastery of the Guide Spirit at the eighth level was profound, far beyond the reach of a novice like Yan Ruhong, who had only just begun her journey with the Guide Spirit.

"Sir, he is a true prodigy! Regardless of his status as a Starfall Academy student, even if he were a beggar, I, Wang, would still seek to be his disciple!"

He lowered his head in a respectful bow, "I earnestly request that you fulfill my wish!"

He had indeed mastered the Eight-Tiered Array Formation, but he had been stagnant in that realm for far too long. Chen Xing's resounding victory had left him without a shred of hope, yet it had unexpectedly opened his eyes to the possibility of a breakthrough!

Chen Xing gave him a speechless glance.

To offer a spiritual weapon and then ask to become a disciple? This elder certainly had a knack for strategizing!

However, this old fellow was genuinely sincere and open-minded. Had it been a hundred thousand years ago, I might have reluctantly taken him on as a disciple. But now, it's not possible.

Chen Xing shook his head.

"No, it won't work. You're too well-known. I prefer to stay under the radar."

In the near future, there were still some people he needed to confront. Having someone so conspicuous by his side would be like giving the enemy a spy to monitor his every move.

"Sir!" Wang Yun exclaimed, his eyes wide with dismay. He truly didn't want to let this chance slip through his fingers.

"However, while I can't take you on as a disciple, if you insist on occasionally bribing me, flattering me, and looking after me, I might just be in a good enough mood to teach you a trick or two," Chen Xing said with a smile and a wink before turning to leave.

Wang Yun was left standing there, his eyes gradually brightening with determination.

Suddenly, he became flustered and eager. Glancing around, he stood up and seized Yan Ruhong's arm. "Quick! Teach me, teach me, how do I bribe and ingratiate myself with someone?"

Yan Ruhong: "..."