Super Gene Hunting Ground

In this way, the two unknowingly each placed fifty to sixty chess pieces.

Together they placed about one hundred and twenty pieces, and at this point, the game had entered the middle stage, where the outcome would be decided.

Currently, however, the game was still in a stalemate, with neither side overwhelming the other.

The space around them subtly fluctuated, the cultivation technique of spiritual power rising and falling, and the killing aura leaking out.

If observed closely, you would see Long Hang’s face was solemn, with sweat soaking his forehead and dripping all over his body.

In contrast, Yang Xiao had only a few tiny beads of sweat on his forehead, and his expression remained calm and normal.

A guard always stood nearby, watching the two, and seeing their state, felt slightly uneasy but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. After hesitating a moment, he walked towards the control room at the back of the competition hall.

In the control room, Long Aotian and Long Jing sat together, accompanied by more than a dozen high-level guards tasked with maintaining order and preparing to handle any emergencies.

The guard hurriedly walked in, approached Long Aotian, and whispered:

”Your Highness, Long Hang, the vice dean’s match with Yang Xiao is somewhat peculiar. Something seems off.”

”Peculiar? How so?”

”Long Hang is drenched in sweat as if in great pain.”

Long Aotian replied calmly:

”They’ve been playing for quite a while, that’s normal.”

”Not normal; Yang Xiao remains steady with no abnormal reactions.”

”Impossible, right? Long Hang is in the Reach Nether Realm. How high can Yang Xiao’s realm be?”

”Your Highness, why don’t you take a look?”

Long Aotian hesitated before saying:

”Alright.”

Long Jing, hearing their exchange, immediately added:

”I’ll go with you.”

The trio exited the room into the competition hall, where quite a few people had already decided the outcome. After confirmation and registration by the staff, some stood around Yang Xiao and Long Hang, observing closely.

When Long Aotian’s group arrived, there were already twenty or thirty spectators surrounding Yang Xiao and Long Hang.

Yang Xiao and Long Hang were enveloped in a spiritual power killing aura, maintaining a two-meter radius that no one could breach.

Their chess match had shifted, with Yang Xiao’s black pieces occupying the major areas, although closer inspection showed he seemed to leave room; the white pieces could find a chance for reversal with effort.

Because of this, Long Hang never gave up but persistently held on, racking his brain for strategies.

Every move Yang Xiao made felt like an invisible spiritual longsword piercing into Long Hang’s Divine Sense Sea, causing him suffering and agony.

”Clack!”

Yang Xiao dropped a black piece, and Long Hang felt an invisible longsword stabbing into his brain, causing intense pain.

Beads of sweat fell, yet Long Hang ignored them; amidst panic, he found a loophole in Yang Xiao’s setup and hurriedly placed a white piece to counterattack.

Every time he counterattacked, Long Hang felt slightly relieved, the pain less intense.

But Yang Xiao quickly placed a black piece as if a sword plunged into his body. Long Hang’s head throbbed with pain, causing his body to tremble slightly and his face to pale.

The surrounding people noticed Long Hang was thoroughly suppressed by Yang Xiao.

”Why doesn’t Long Hang concede?”

”He seems to be in agony; conceding and quitting the match would be best.”

...

”Concede? Why? Yang Xiao’s setup is flawed, and we’re not at the final decision stage. Long Hang still has a chance to reverse the game.”

”Indeed, Yang Xiao’s black pieces seem filled with flaws, offering Long Hang a chance for victory reversal!”

....

Long Aotian and Long Jing squeezed into the crowd, glancing at Yang Xiao and Long Kui, and were astonished.

Long Hang was clearly at a critical point of exhaustion, while Yang Xiao appeared calm and composed.

Long Jing relaxed, initially worried for Yang Xiao’s safety, but now that no danger was evident, she needn’t fret.

Long Jing said to Long Aotian:

”Long Hang won’t last; let him surrender. If this continues, Long Hang could be seriously injured, even facing life-threatening peril.”

Long Aotian hesitated briefly, responding bitterly:

”Long Hang should be aware himself. We shouldn’t decide for him; he’s the vice dean with Reach Nether Realm cultivation, higher than us. Perhaps he has a hidden ace?”

”Let him choose whether to concede the match himself.”

Long Jing urgently replied:

”But the situation is dangerous, Long Hang already ensnared in Yang Xiao’s setup, unable to extricate himself. If we don’t intervene, he won’t realize it.”

Though Long Aotian wasn’t versed in chess, he understood the danger Long Hang faced.

Anyone keen would see their expressions and judge their states.

Despite this, Long Aotian harbored a slim hope, driven by his disdain for Yang Xiao, longing for a miracle where Long Hang might succeed.

”Long Jing, I’m the host for this tournament; you’re merely my assistant. Follow my arrangements.”

”You?”

Long Jing waved her hand, unwilling to engage with Long Aotian.

Moments later, the duo placed ten more moves.

By now, Long Hang’s face was ashen, sweat poured, soaking his clothes completely.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao’s forehead glistened with large beads of sweat.

Closer to the decisive moment, Yang Xiao grew cautious, having previously left too many openings for Long Hang, necessitating vigilance to avoid gifting him the chance for reversal with missteps.

Thus, while intentionally revealing flaws to appear weaker, Yang Xiao faced intense spiritual pressure, immune to Long Hang’s attacks but vulnerable to his own power’s backlash.

Long Aotian pointed at Yang Xiao and whispered to Long Jing:

”Look, Yang Xiao isn’t in a good spot either, he’s anxious too. Long Hang’s chances aren’t gone, hold steady.”

At this point, another dozen participants joined, many sharing Long Aotian’s views.

Yang Xiao glanced at the board, acknowledging they had reached the late stage, crucial steps defining the outcome. Having let slip victory points earlier, retreat was no longer an option.

”Clack!”

A black piece landed, encircling a small group of white pieces.

Long Hang felt tense, akin to a sword entering his brain, struggling with unbearable pain.

Striving to stabilize his mind, he barely managed a move, hoping Yang Xiao would evade key spots in his subsequent moves, preserving a slim chance forward.

”Clack!”

Another black piece dropped unhesitatingly, blocking the white piece’s critical spot.

Long Hang felt his heart tremble, his mind aching immensely, and his fury overwhelmed him.

”Thud!”

Blood spurted from Long Hang’s mouth,

His body tilted, collapsing onto the ground.