Invincibility Begins with a Super Fairy Manny

Chapter 988: Chapter 988: The Game Begins (3rd Update)

The day the chess tournament officially began, the entire Tian Zhao Star Domain bustled with excitement.

As the primary venue, the Moon-Viewing Star was second only to Tian Zhao Star in prominence within the Tian Zhao Star Domain.

Crucially, the Tian Zhao Chess Academy was situated here as well.

Therefore, it also became a holy land in the hearts of many chess cultivators.

At this moment,

In front of the Chess Academy on the Moon-Viewing Star, it was a veritable sea of people.

Divine Thought Cultivators from various stars and chess masters had packed the place to capacity.

People whispering and discussing fervently, but their conversations primarily focused on the current competition.

”I heard that during his seclusion, Amazing Young Chess King Jing Tianrui received guidance from a Chess Sage, which dramatically boosted his chess cultivation level. He’s expected to dominate the competition again and take the laurels!”

”Don’t underestimate the talented young lady from the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Xuanqing either!”

”Ah, have you guys heard about the bet between the Gong Family and the Cai Family?” someone mentioned.

At this, many faces showed strange expressions, and some even chuckled sinisterly.

”Who doesn’t know about that bet by now? Tsk, if you ask me, that so-called Mr. Xue must be a charlatan. Let’s just wait and see!”

”I don’t think that’s necessarily the case! If he was bold enough to make such a statement, he must have some real skills!”

”Even if he’s skilled, can he surpass the Great Master Jing? Who does he think he is, Zhuge Banzang?”

While they were discussing,

A commotion arose from afar as Cai Yongxin led numerous high-level members of the Cai Family to the forefront.

At that moment, Cai Yongxin wore a face full of smug satisfaction, striding forward as if no one else mattered.

Since they were all nine-dan chess masters, there was no need to wait outside; instead, they headed straight to the high platform reserved for elite chess masters.

But before they could even take their seats,

Di Yuanlong arrived with many fellow chess masters from the Tian Zhao Star Domain.

Upon seeing them, the people from the Cai Family hastily went up to meet them, their faces ingratiating and obsequious.

Their bowing and scraping were enough to make onlookers feel nauseated.

Then, individuals from the great chess noble families arrived one after another.

The atmosphere at the venue grew even more lively.

It was evident, though, that the chess masters from the Tian Zhao Star Domain all wore an air of arrogance, clearly separating themselves from the external chess masters.

At this time,

The crowd surged dramatically.

Zhuge Xuanqing, dressed in a black gown and carrying a chess bag, gracefully made her way through.

Her arrival relieved the external chess masters who had been unable to lift their heads, and they quickly came forward to greet her.

Zhuge Xuanqing nodded without expression, as if to say hello, then sat down on the high platform by herself.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but upon her arrival, even the conversations of the Tian Zhao chess masters seemed to quiet down a notch, and many gazed at Zhuge Xuanqing with eyes filled with reverence.

As Zhuge Xuanqing had said, in the world of chess, prowess was everything.

If you were a powerful player, naturally, people would hold you in awe!

Everything was so bare, so undeniable.

But soon, the arrogance of the Tian Zhao chess masters flared up once more.

Because Jing Tianrui had arrived.

This genius chess king, heralded as a once-in-a-century talent in the Tian Zhao Star Domain, even made his entrance with more flair than the average person.

Seeing him appear, all of the Tian Zhao Star Domain’s chess masters, including Di Yuanlong, as well as the noble families such as the Cai Family who sincerely sided with Tian Zhao, stood up one after another.

”Great Master Jing!”

”Greetings to the Chess King!”

The calls of greeting came in waves, greatly pleasing Jing Tianrui.

But he quickly focused his attention on Zhuge Xuanqing, who was sitting on the high platform.

The cool beauty of the girl flashed a greedy gleam in his eyes, and then he walked up to her under the pretense of warmth.

”Miss Zhuge, it’s been three years since we last met at the competition. I didn’t expect you to have grown even more elegant!”

Zhuge Xuanqing gave him a cold glance and said indifferently, ”You’re not too bad yourself.”

This lackluster response was a soft snub for Jing Tianrui.

But he wasn’t discouraged and continued with a smile, ”Actually, with Miss Zhuge’s strength, there’s no need for you to come so early. After the preliminary rounds, you could directly enter the finals!”

There indeed was such a rule in the chess competition.

For those acknowledged as chess masters, it was permissible for them to skip the preliminary rounds and proceed directly to the final competition.

But Zhuge Xuanqing merely shook her head, ”Thank you, but I prefer to start from the preliminaries and win my way up step by step!”

Jing Tianrui’s expression grew subtly complex, and a hint of anger flashed deep within his eyes.

He could not miss the veiled mockery in Zhuge Xuanqing’s words.

In actuality, during the last chess competition, Jing Tianrui, because of his fame, had not gone through the preliminaries but was directly placed into the final rounds.

On the other hand, Zhuge Xuanqing had fought her way up step by step, only to encounter Jing Tianrui, who had conserved his strength and was fully prepared.

It was well known that chess competitions were highly draining of both physical energy and Divine Sense. At that time, Zhuge Xuanqing had played seventeen games of chess, showing signs of fatigue in both her stamina and Divine Sense.

In such a situation with the advantage on his side, Zhuge Xuanqing narrowly lost to Jing Tianrui by a mere three moves.

And had Zhuge Xuanqing been in her normal state during that match, the outcome would have been uncertain.

So when Jing Tianrui heard Zhuge Xuanqing’s words, he naturally felt a twinge of embarrassment.

Yet his covetousness for the young girl made him hold back, merely responding with a faint smile. ”In that case, I also wish to start from the preliminaries and win my way up step by step!”

Zhuge Xuanqing was noncommittal, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed, showing a trace of impatience.

Jing Tianrui, though unwilling in his heart, still bowed and returned to his seat, his eyes filled with a chilly intent.

What he valued was not just Zhuge Xuanqing’s beauty.

In reality, with his status and position, in the Tian Zhao Star Domain, he could beckon, and countless beauties would throw themselves at him.

What he truly valued were Zhuge Xuanqing’s talent and status.

A saying had always been circulating in the chess world.

The union of genius chess players was highly likely to give birth to offspring with even more astonishing talents.

And that was the real reason for his avid desire for Zhuge Xuanqing.

”Hah, don’t get too smug! Just wait for this competition. I’ll crush you so thoroughly you’ll have nothing to say and you’ll kneel before me voluntarily!” Jing Tianrui thought bitterly to himself.

At this moment.

Gong Family siblings arrived together.

Their arrival stirred up quite a commotion. People began pointing and whispering in hushed tones to those next to them.

Clearly, they were discussing that these were members of the Gong Family.

But before the noise could die down.

Xue An’s figure appeared in the arena.

After these past two days of rumors, Xue An had become a celebrity in his own right.

Many people showed a strange smile upon seeing him.

Xue An didn’t care and was about to head up to the high platform with the Gong siblings.

But just then.

A guard blocked their way.

”Sorry, this high platform is reserved for ninth-tier chess masters! Those without a tier must stand over there!”