: The Vision of a Chess Player

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2025-08-25

Ning Zhuo took the initiative to send over a visiting card and waited for a day without any response, so he understood the situation.

He wasn’t the least bit surprised. Before taking this action, the big-headed youth had already considered this possibility.

"It seems Yu Heye doesn’t take me seriously."

This reaction was perfectly reasonable.

In Yu Heye’s eyes, Ning Zhuo was just a Foundation Establishment newcomer attracted by the Feiyun Conference.

Where did this nobody come from?

He didn’t even know Ning Zhuo!

Even Liu Fu hadn’t properly investigated Ning Zhuo. Who would cover the cost of such an investigation? How much was it worth spending on a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Although Ning Zhuo had shown some skill, was it worth it?

So far, it wasn’t enough to warrant more attention from Yu Heye’s side.

"Moreover, the more one cultivates the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art,' the stronger the combat power becomes, but the harder it is to control oneself. The risk of qi deviation increases significantly."

"Only with outstanding cultivation realms can one restrain this chaotic state."

"Yu Heye has already reached the limit of his cultivation. According to the intelligence, he’s already overwhelmed, spending most of his daily cultivation time controlling his dantian and adjusting his condition to avoid qi deviation."

"In such a situation, his attention naturally wouldn’t be on me."

Yu Heye’s side didn’t value Ning Zhuo and didn’t investigate him, but Ning Zhuo wouldn’t make such a mistake.

He even purchased a portion of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' to study it.

Naturally, there was no branch of the Complete Book Tower in the main sect of the Myriad Forms Sect, but one of the sixteen halls, the Transmission Hall, had similar functions.

The biggest advantage of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' was combat power. Anyone who cultivated this art would progress quickly and fiercely in the early stages, often surpassing others of the same level in combat power.

There were two drawbacks.

First, the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' had a much higher risk of qi deviation compared to other arts of the same grade.

Second, the upper limit of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' was relatively low, only allowing cultivation up to the Nascent Soul stage. It was an art that stopped at the Nascent Soul stage.

Ning Zhuo’s understanding of the Five Elements was profound. After just one look, he grasped the essence of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art.'

This demonic art primarily cultivates the Middle Dantian (Qi Sea) and the Lower Dantian (Essence Sea). Its main approach is to use essence blood in place of spiritual energy and the internal organs of the body in place of the external Five Elements spiritual mechanisms.

Normally, even Ning Zhuo would use Five Elements techniques to convert external spiritual energy into his own spiritual power. The attributes of spells depend on the cultivation art practiced. A Wood-element art produces Wood-element spiritual power. Ning Zhuo’s Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art produces Five Elements spiritual power.

The 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art,' however, is based on the internal organs. The Five Elements are categorized according to the organs, and cultivators extract spiritual mechanisms from them, outputting through essence blood, making the source of spiritual power closer to the cultivator’s own use.

This essence blood can quickly transform into Five Elements spiritual power. Similarly, Five Elements spiritual power can also transform into essence blood to replenish the body.

With such a mechanism, the Essence Sea becomes another Qi Sea, and the Qi Sea can also be seen as a special Essence Sea.

The叠加 of the two dantians naturally makes the cultivators of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' outstanding in strength. This essence blood flows from the internal organs and can quickly transform into spiritual power of the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth elements, as easy as moving one’s fingers.

Single-element spiritual power of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth can also be converted back into essence blood to enhance the physical body and improve close-combat capabilities.

Therefore, cultivators of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' are usually capable in both ranged and close combat.

However, because of this art’s principles, cultivators are prone to qi deviation.

The reason is obvious—converting single-element spiritual power into essence blood isn’t produced by the body itself and requires long-term nurturing to assimilate.

Transforming essence blood into spiritual power causes a sharp decline in the body’s foundation. The physical body is the cornerstone; drawing too much essence blood is like suffering a severe injury, bringing various negative effects and forming a chain of deterioration.

Moreover, the complex relationships of generation and restriction among the Five Elements spiritual powers pose threats when stored in the Qi Sea Dantian, requiring the art to harmonize and arrange them to prevent internal consumption.

For example, Ning Zhuo’s Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art forms a Five Elements vortex in the Qi Sea Dantian, allowing transformation and coexistence in this form.

The Five Elements spiritual power of the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' isn’t just stored in the Qi Sea Dantian; it also mixes within the body! After all, the transformation between essence blood and Five Elements spiritual power isn’t instantaneous—no matter how short, it still takes time.

Mixed Five Elements spiritual power and essence blood coexisting in the body is a serious matter!

If not handled properly, it’s like a powder keg, ready to explode with the slightest carelessness. Even if it doesn’t explode, minor frictions and various degrees of internal consumption add up, causing continuous torment to the body.

Therefore, cultivators who have successfully practiced the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art' often suffer from internal injuries.

After paying the price to master the entire 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art,' Ning Zhuo gained even more confidence in dealing with Yu Heye.

It also provided him with a wealth of experience in utilizing the Five Elements.

"Although my understanding of the Five Elements is quite profound, my practical application experience is limited. After all, I haven’t been cultivating for long."

"Perhaps I should collect a large number of Five Elements-related techniques to fill my experience repository."

"With enough accumulation, I’ll be capable of creating my own Five Elements techniques."

Through this, Ning Zhuo felt inspired and thought of this step.

His understanding of the Five Elements far exceeded the norm, allowing him to create spells on the spot. Creating techniques is much harder than creating spells, but with rich theoretical and practical experience, he could fill the biggest gap and develop his own techniques.

"Note it down for now and do it when I have time later!"

Currently, Ning Zhuo’s main focus was on dealing with Yu Heye.

This was still a bit troublesome.

Ning Zhuo was fully confident he could defeat a late-stage Golden Core cultivator like Yu Heye. Now that he had mastered the 'Reverse Five Elements Demonic Art,' countering Yu Heye’s primary combat methods was almost a sure thing.

That goes without saying.

If Ning Zhuo used his divine ability, Life Threads, controlling Yu Heye and making him surrender on the spot, kneeling and calling him daddy, would be轻而易举.

Because Yu Heye wasn’t a Nascent Soul cultivator.

As long as it’s Golden Core, it’s basically hard to escape the control of the divine ability. (Of course, exceptions like Zhu Xuanji and Linghu Jiu don’t count.)

But Ning Zhuo had no desire to do so.

If he challenged Yu Heye and the outcome of their battle became known, Ning Zhuo would inevitably attract attention and scrutiny, leading to widespread discussion, continuous investigations, and recruitment attempts from various factions.

In that case, his every move would be observed and analyzed by many cultivators.

How could he then plan to secretly infiltrate the Shuyu Studio?

Being high-profile and gaining fame was acceptable, but not now.

Ning Zhuo himself needed to make a name for himself, but he was waiting for the right timing.

The Rising Clouds Minor Trial before the Feiyun Conference was an important event gradually formed by the Myriad Forms Sect for cultivators to compete and showcase themselves.

Ning Zhuo also planned to shine in this event, but not now.

The timing wasn’t quite ripe yet.

"Within the Myriad Forms Sect, the eight main peaks are undergoing a transition between old and new. The decline of Purple Thunder Peak has made Flowing Clouds Peak the target pushed into the spotlight."

"If I rashly step forward and show myself, I’d be targeted by both major factions and various forces."

Being targeted here includes many things, such as temptation with benefits, coercion, suppression, etc.

Where there are people, there are conflicts.

Once Ning Zhuo demonstrated his value, a whirlpool would inevitably form around him.

At that point, it wouldn’t be a matter of whether he wanted to get involved or not. He would be forced into it because everyone would have to take someone like him seriously.

He was also human, and a strong one at that! Strong individuals naturally stir up storms in such conflicts.

Ning Zhuo wasn’t unwilling to get involved; he was waiting for the right time.

What was the right time?

It was far from now!

First, Ning Zhuo needed more detailed intelligence.

So, he had been waiting these days for Wen Ruan Yu to finish his debriefing.

In Ning Zhuo’s view: Wen Ruan Yu’s ability wasn’t just his Golden Core cultivation or the four arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting as a Confucian cultivator. Wen Ruan Yu’s most outstanding ability was his political talent!

Over the years in White Paper Immortal City, he represented the Myriad Forms Sect, managing the city’s internal affairs as the deputy to the City Lord.

He had governed White Paper Immortal City for a long time, accumulating extensive experience. In the process, he must have coordinated with various forces, witnessed both sides of human nature, and observed the constancy and fickleness of the human heart.

Wen Ruan Yu was just unfamiliar with the current situation in the Myriad Forms Sect. Even though he had been away for a long time, he still had his connections within the sect.

Given a little time, he could quickly grasp the current internal situation of the Myriad Forms Sect.

Wen Ruan Yu also fully supported Ning Zhuo.

For Ning Zhuo, this would be a crucial source of intelligence and a reference for action.

Even with sufficient intelligence and a thorough analysis of the situation, the timing still wasn’t ripe.

He needed to wait for a suitable entry point.

In the Myriad Medicine Sect, this entry point was Lin Shan Shan. In the Two Notes Kingdom, the entry points were first Liu Guan Zhang, then Mu Lan. In White Paper Immortal City, it was somewhat special. The entry point was already arranged for him; he was the greatly anticipated savior!

What was the entry point in the Myriad Forms Sect?

The Feiyun Conference was just a huge opportunity for everyone, not an entry point.

Wen Ruan Yu, Yang San Yan, and the close friend mentioned in the jade slip message from the Buddhist Physician Meng Yao Yin were closer to the concept of an entry point.

Wen Ruan Yu represented the general populace outside the mountains. Meng Yao Yin’s identity was also this, being someone outside the main peaks.

Yang San Yan represented the Evil Execution Hall, one of the sixteen halls, a place for practical work.

Meng Yao Yin’s close friend was a cultivator from the main peaks. Ning Zhuo might be able to join a main peak through this channel.

Ning Zhuo was willing to get close to Shen Xi because these people could also be an entry point.

In the future, new entry points might also appear.

As for which one Ning Zhuo would ultimately choose, he didn’t know yet; it would depend on the situation.

"The old and new factions of the Myriad Forms Sect are bound to engage in a fierce game! And this session’s Feiyun Conference is the best stage for this contest."

Ning Zhuo had already deduced this from his analysis of intelligence regarding Purple Thunder Peak and Flowing Clouds Peak.

But his understanding of the Myriad Forms Sect was far from deep.

He needed to continue waiting and observing. When the situation became clear, and he saw which side had the greater chance of winning, he would basically join that side.

"I’m an outsider; my family is far away in Southern Bean Country."

"Joining the winning side means I’m a winner!"

Who would want to lose?

In the Myriad Forms Sect, as an outsider, Ning Zhuo’s alignment depended entirely on his own choice, making it very flexible.

Ning Zhuo’s cultivation level was weak, but that didn’t mean his abilities were weak.

The over ten years of忍耐 in Fire Persimmon Immortal City had honed his political skills.

It was precisely these skills that enabled him to make many correct choices, allowing him to thrive in the Myriad Medicine Sect, Two Notes Kingdom, and White Paper Immortal City.

He often knew how to adapt to circumstances, drive away wolves with tigers, and overcome the strong with the weak.

"Now is not the time for me to make a choice. Retrieving my mother’s belongings is the most important thing at the moment."

Ning Zhuo’s goals were always clear.

So, his real problem now was—how to deal with Yu Heye without drawing too much attention or causing a stir.

And Shen Xi’s involvement undoubtedly made this problem more complicated.

How should Ning Zhuo display his prowess in front of Shen Xi, and to what extent? This truly tested Ning Zhuo’s political skills!

Su Ling Kou gathered intelligence and came to Shen Xi with concern: "Cousin, the situation has changed! Yu Heye’s side is making moves. Many of his Foundation Establishment subordinates are challenging the newly relocated cultivators."

"The Martial Training Hall quickly accepted these challenges. Clearly, they’ve used connections and made arrangements in advance."

"The people Ning Zhuo brought in are simply no match!"

"Many have been scared off; the matter of ten mid-grade spirit stones never even came up."

"Cousin, Ning Zhuo’s plan has failed, and all our money is in his hands."

Shen Xi shook his head and smiled: "This contest has only just begun."

"Do you think no one noticed this 'money-making opportunity' that Ning Zhuo targeted before? That no one has tried it?"

"Cousin, you need to understand that the formation of factions is customary, naturally evolved. Such evolved things are often顺势而出 and mature."

"Like this time, Yu Heye sending his Foundation Establishment subordinates for martial challenges is a mature response. Many precedents in the past were dealt with this way."

Su Ling Kou’s eyes lit up: "Cousin, as expected of you! You foresaw this!"

Shen Xi shook his head again: "If I could foresee it, Ning Zhuo certainly thought of it too, yet he still proceeded. So, what I’m truly curious about is how he will respond."

Su Ling Kou changed her expression, showing a slight smile: "I think Ning Zhuo should step in personally and fight these Foundation Establishment cultivators. His combat power is quite outstanding; otherwise, he wouldn’t have the courage to provoke Yu Heye’s side like this."

Shen Xi noncommittally said: "Let’s wait and see."

Step in personally?

That was impossible.

Under Su Ling Kou’s silent observation, Ning Zhuo took no action, not even a hint of it.

(End of )