At the top of a high platform.
In the midst of a buzzing crowd.
A man wearing a blue fox robe sat before a chessboard, gently pushing a piece forward, then waiting for his opponent's move.
The opponent across from him furrowed his brow, pondering for a long while, still unable to make a move.
Below, the gathered crowd discussed excitedly.
"Hu Linye's chess skills are truly superb. He plans from the very beginning, playing chess with such flair, laying deep strategies without ever making a mistake. It's unbelievable."
"He's already a famous chess grandmaster. Just drawing with him can earn you over ten thousand Spirit Stones. That's how formidable he is."
As these words were spoken, Hu Linye's opponent directly admitted defeat, stood up with a bow, and retreated.
"Is there anyone else?" Hu Linye asked softly.
The crowd below was clamorous, but no one dared to step forward.
After a while, a figure finally approached - a middle-aged man in simple white clothes. He sat down at the chess table and said with a gentle laugh:
"I have some modest insights into chess. I'll boldly give it a try."
"Mm." Hu Linye said nothing more, taking the first move.
This game lasted half a day.
In the end, with no more moves possible, it was declared a draw.
Only then did Hu Linye raise his head to look directly at the middle-aged man before him, asking in a deep voice:
"Your name?"
"Bai Lu," the middle-aged man replied with a smile.
"Good, I'll remember you," Hu Linye nodded, standing to leave. As he did so, he waved his hand and said:
"A reward!"
This was the first time over ten thousand Spirit Stones had been awarded, causing an uproar among the crowd below.
"Found him," Chen Xia said, pointing at this scene in the Time Law's vision.
"Arrest him, arrest him!" Emperor Capital was very excited. His cultivation had progressed, so he naturally wanted to test his strength.
"Fox Qilin Wild, Hu Linye, he sure knows how to pick a name. It's so obvious," Qiu Li wondered aloud.
"The obvious name doesn't matter. Without Chen Xia's Time Law, we might never have found him in this lifetime," Li Yang replied.
"Mm," Chi Yu responded.
"Let's go!" Li Yue was the most lively.
Huang Can and Jia Bai sat side by side in the back, one propping his head with his left hand, the other with his right.
These two were birds of a feather, and it was likely they'd soon have another joining their ranks.
Chen Xia pondered carefully, planning to find a good way to summon Hu Linye, while the Bai Lu in the vision also reminded him of past memories.
He hadn't expected Bai Lu to have his own insights into chess; in the Time Law's vision, Bai Lu had already reached the Mahayana Peak realm.
This was the result of each person following their own path.
Chen Xia chuckled softly, thinking how unpredictable the future was, and began preparing to arrest Hu Linye.
Later, he would gather more cultivators from the Blue Sky Sword Sea to return.
He stood up, smiling at the group behind him.
"Let's go."
The seven saints behind him all rose, following Chen Xia's silhouette as they left the small room, swiftly descending upon the location shown in the Time Law's vision.
Today, Hu Linye had once again set up his chessboard, waiting for challengers.
Below, another crowd had gathered, waiting to watch an exciting chess match.
The first to approach was a young man in blue robes. Sitting at the chessboard, he said only one sentence:
"I want to play red and go first."
"Fine," Hu Linye agreed without raising his head.
Clack!
"Your horse is gone," the blue-robed youth laughed.
Hu Linye still didn't look up, continuing to play his own strategy.
Clack.
"Another one gone."
At this, Hu Linye finally raised his head and asked in a deep voice:
"Your name?"
"Xia Chen," the blue-robed youth replied, then stood up and left without playing further.
Hu Linye frowned slightly but didn't pay it much mind. How could such small tricks disturb his composure?
A second challenger approached.
It was a man with a scholarly air; his chess skills should be decent.
After sitting down, this man also wanted to play red.
Clack.
Opening move: attacking the horse.
The same strategy.
Hu Linye frowned and asked again:
"Your name?"
"Li Qiu."
After taking both horses, Qiu Li also stood and left. He had played quite quickly, as Chi Yu and the others were still waiting in line.
They had come in disguise, emphasizing the art of torment.
The subsequent players all opened by attacking the horse - different people, all using the same strategy.
It left Hu Linye bewildered.
Until Emperor Capital took the stage - the heavyweight had arrived. Chen Xia had even told him to play freely, saying he trusted in Emperor Capital's abilities.
Emperor Capital naturally wouldn't disappoint Chen Xia.
He let Hu Linye play red and go first. Hu Linye felt relieved, thinking he'd finally met a normal player. He moved a pawn first, then waited for Emperor Capital to make his move.
"I can't take that. Pass!" Emperor Capital declared confidently, arms folded across his chest.
Hu Linye was stunned, unable to help explaining:
"This is Chinese chess."
"I know," Emperor Capital nodded.
"Do you know how to play Chinese chess?"
"I do."
"Then why did you say you can't take it?"
"Because when you can't take it, you can't take it!" Emperor Capital shouted, grabbing his four pawns and throwing them forward, yelling:
"Bomb!"
This time, Hu Linye was truly dumbfounded. After a long moment, he pointed at Emperor Capital's nose and cursed:
"You motherf***er, you really are... I f***ing... you son of a... you..."
Emperor Capital's expression remained unchanged. He stood up, interlacing his fingers and stretching them outwards, making his joints crack loudly. His eyes flashed with starlight as he replied:
"The game is over, Hu Linye. Why don't you surrender immediately!"
The scene shifted and transformed.
From the center of heaven and earth to the bounds of the universe, suspended in the starry sky.
That blue-robed youth stood at the forefront of the group, like the moon surrounded by stars. He patted his blue sleeves and smiled at Hu Linye.
"Do you remember the Blue Sky Sword Sea?"
Hu Linye sighed, "I'd heard about you all long ago, but I never thought I couldn't escape in the end."
"Fate and karma, the changes of heaven and earth, past and present - what's meant to come will eventually arrive. I'll reason with you properly, and you should understand too," Chen Xia said softly.
"This is what you call reasoning?" Hu Linye sneered.
"Of course," Chen Xia replied, pointing at Emperor Capital behind him, who was cracking his knuckles.
"Or would you like to try unreasonable methods?"
Hu Linye fell silent. After a long while, he said in a low voice:
"I surrender."
The Fourteen Children of the Blue Sky, now all saints, were assembled!
Good night, everyone.