Chapter 852: Facing Sima Zongheng

Chapter 852: Chapter 852: Facing Sima Zongheng

"Second Uncle, can you break this game?" Sima Qianjun looked at Sima Zongheng with anticipation.

Sima Zongheng narrowed his eyes, and with a sudden motion, placed a white stone on the board.

"Snap!"

As the stone landed, it was as if a gentle breeze swept across the board, instantly changing the entire game situation.

"You broke it, Second Uncle, you broke Zhong Shan's game," Sima Qianjun exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes," Sima Zongheng nodded in satisfaction.

"Winning three games against me was such a bitter pill to swallow. If only I had thought of this move back then," Sima Qianjun said with a resentful expression.

"No, you still aren't his match," Sima Zongheng shook his head.

"Why?"

"Zhong Shan's chess skills have transcended mere 'artistic conception' and are nearing the level of 'Dao conception.' You've only recently entered the realm of 'artistic conception,' so it's hard for you to defeat him for now," Sima Zongheng said solemnly.

"Dao conception? Has Zhong Shan reached Dao conception?" Sima Qianjun asked in surprise.

"No, I said he is nearing 'Dao conception.' He is still within the realm of 'artistic conception.' He practices the way of the emperor, with his heart set on the imperial path. How could he devote himself fully to the way of chess? One cannot serve two masters. Hence, I say he is still in the realm of 'artistic conception,'" Sima Zongheng explained seriously.

"And you, Second Uncle?" Sima Qianjun asked with a hint of hope.

"Me? I am also nearing Dao conception. Dao conception is not easy to attain. In our Sima family, the only one to have reached Dao conception is the Young Prince," Sima Zongheng said solemnly.

"The Young Prince? The young master? The Young Prince has reached Dao conception?" Sima Qianjun asked in astonishment.

"Yes, the Young Prince has reached Dao conception. This time in Yan Hai Yun Mountain, our Sima family's hopes rest on the Young Prince," Sima Zongheng said.

"Young Master!" Suddenly, a servant's voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Come in!" Sima Qianjun called out.

Soon, a servant ran in.

"What is it?"

"Reporting to the Young Master and Second Master, according to a report from a house servant just now, Zhong Shan has reappeared at the Second Chess Plaza and is continuing the match," the servant said.

"What? Zhong Shan is out? How could he be out?" Sima Qianjun asked in surprise.

Sima Zongheng's eyes also narrowed, a hint of doubt flashing in them.

"Second Uncle, what do you think?" Sima Qianjun frowned.

"Let's go and see!" Sima Zongheng said.

"Yes!"—

At the Second Chess Plaza.

At this moment, the plaza was crowded with chess players, all extremely excitedly watching the central chess game.

In the center of the plaza, there was a special chessboard set up. Or rather, ten chessboards.

Zhong Shan's arrival quickly caught the attention of the chess players from the past few days. The Sacred King of Dazheng had come.

The Sacred King of Dazheng was here? Initially, people eagerly wanted to play against Zhong Shan, but after he won six games in a row, most were too intimidated. This ill-fated Sacred King played chess too brilliantly.

Sima Zongheng's tone shifted, filled with anger.

"Humiliation? What are you talking about? One's honor is earned, not given. Everyone saw what happened with Sima Qianjun that day. As for what it means to be a true man, Lord Sima Zongheng, you acted out of personal vendetta, disregarding protocol, and had me, a Sacred King, stripped of my powers and sent to the eighteenth level of hell. Is that what you call the actions of a true man?" Zhong Shan retorted without a hint of politeness.

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Clearly, they were taken aback by Sima Zongheng's actions. According to tradition, a vassal's royal hostage should be sent to the hostage residence. Sending a Sacred King to the eighteenth level of hell was both improper and petty, not the act of a true gentleman.

There was no reason for Zhong Shan to mince words with Sima Zongheng. In Taichu, Sima Zongheng still needed to maintain his reputation. Zhong Shan, on the other hand, had nothing to lose. He spoke without reservations.

As expected, Sima Zongheng's eyes flashed with a trace of anger at Zhong Shan's words, but it quickly subsided.

"Very well, let's see just how capable you are!" Sima Zongheng said coldly.

Sima Zongheng was really going to play? The chess players around were filled with surprise, and then with excitement. After all, a match between two top players was a rare spectacle.

"What do you think?" the Nine-Tailed Princess asked Zhong Shan.

She knew of Sima Zongheng's strength and feared that her hard-won skilled retainer might be humiliated and defeated.

"Afraid? If you're scared, kneel down and kowtow to me three times, and I'll let bygones be bygones!" Sima Qianjun taunted.

Zhong Shan ignored Sima Qianjun and looked at Sima Zongheng, saying calmly, "If you have a token, I do need one last stepping stone. Just don't cry for help like your nephew when you lose."

"What did you say?" Sima Qianjun shouted angrily.

Sima Zongheng held out his hand to stop Sima Qianjun from acting rashly. He took out his token, which he hadn't used in decades.

"Then we shall see who laughs last!" Sima Zongheng said coldly.

The area was cleared.

Zhong Shan vs. Sima Zongheng!

The two took their seats, with Zhong Shan taking the black pieces and Sima Zongheng the white. The draw had determined Zhong Shan to go first.

Black piece, Tianyuan!

With a single move, Zhong Shan used his old strategy against Sima Zongheng.

"Tianyuan again? Does Zhong Shan not want to win?"

"Not necessarily. Zhong Shan's layout must have hidden intricacies. Just wait and see!"

As people speculated, Zhong Shan and Sima Zongheng continued to place their pieces. After an hour, each had placed over a hundred pieces.

Zhong Shan's moves gave off a grand, majestic feeling, like a mighty river rushing towards the sea, unstoppable and vast.

Sima Zongheng's chess, equally powerful, felt like thousands of horses galloping, dominating the world.

When Zhong Shan placed his 108th piece, the faces of the chess players suddenly changed.

Everyone watching the board seemed momentarily dazed, as if the chessboard had transformed into a battlefield with endless armies clashing, blood staining the land.

"Kill~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

"Kill~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

The chessboard seemed to become a vivid illusion. The players, their minds immersed, felt as if they were in a real battlefield, enemies in front and pursuers behind, a sense of no escape gripping their hearts.

Sima Qianjun, watching from the side, turned pale.

When Sima Zongheng placed his piece, it felt like a river of heavenly water pouring down, sweeping over the battlefield.

The confrontation between these two peak players, their chess prowess and realms, left most onlookers' faces constantly changing. The weaker players, overwhelmed, sat down on the ground, sweating profusely, unable to continue watching directly.