If Zhao Ya truly has the ability to disrupt the Celestial One Chessboard, then He Nandou will concede.
Zhao Ya’s eyes lit up.
No matter what mindset He Nandou had, he had agreed to Zhao Ya’s request.
So he nodded appreciatively.
"Thank you, Pavilion Master He."
With that, Zhao Ya looked up at the distant Celestial One Chessboard, and with a leap, flew into it.
As his figure disappeared behind the stone chess pieces, Nan Liangyu hesitantly said,
"Master, is it really okay to do this?"
He Nandou stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm.
"What could happen? It’s his own choice to enter. Whatever happens, he bears the consequences. Besides, allowing him in is already a huge courtesy."
Nan Liangyu closed his mouth upon hearing this, though he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of worry.
He sensed that it wouldn’t be so simple, but couldn’t pinpoint what was amiss, so he silently prayed for Zhao Ya’s safety.
At that moment, He Nandou seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Liangyu, what news did Zhao Ya bring this time?"
"Master, this is the Azure Dragon Order, please have a look."
"Azure Dragon Order?" He Nandou was stunned, then chuckled.
"This fellow isn’t very old, but his ambitions aren’t small."
Saying this, he reached out and took the Azure Dragon Order, examining it carefully.
After some time, his brows slightly furrowed, and his expression grew exceedingly serious.
"Was there really an incident in the Wuyang Sea?"
"Yes, I was also quite surprised," Nan Liangyu said.
He Nandou was silent for a moment, then said gravely, "This is no trivial matter. I even suspect the sudden change in the chessboard might be related, so we must prepare in advance."
"You mean...?"
"Let’s wait until he comes back out!" He Nandou looked at the intricate chessboard, his tone becoming distant and somber.
"If he truly is the person I anticipate, and returns safely from the chessboard, Celestial One Pavilion wouldn’t mind supporting him."
Nan Liangyu’s heart trembled violently.
Because he understood the weight of He Nandou’s words.
This was clearly a stance to support Zhao Ya and the Azure Dragon Temple behind him.
Of course, the premise was that he first needed to prove his capability.
With this thought, Nan Liangyu’s feelings suddenly turned complicated.
Once, he was the undisputed number one among the young generation in Beyond the World.
Yet in just a few short years, he could no longer keep up with Zhao Ya’s strides.
Especially now, as Zhao Ya has become the master of a sect, even his own master had to be courteous toward him.
In comparison, he fell far behind.
Sensing his disciple’s emotions, He Nandou suddenly patted his shoulder and said calmly,
"Alright, you can’t compare person to person, especially with a genius like Zhao Ya, one in billions."
"If you force such a comparison, it will only add frustration."
Nan Liangyu gave a bitter smile, "Master, I’m not forcing a comparison, just a bit sentimental."
"During the inaugural ceremony at Jade Dragon City, I participated too. At that time, Zhao Ya was just an ordinary boy new to Beyond the World, but who could have imagined he’d reach such heights in a few short years."
He Nandou sighed upon hearing this, "Indeed, it’s just good fortune for the Azure Dragon Temple; otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that someone like Zhao Ya emerged when they were on the decline."
As He Nandou and Nan Liangyu were sighing on the outside of the chessboard, Zhao Ya had already delved deep within its core.
At this moment, he was surrounded by massive black and white stones. Due to being in the midst, even the ground’s chessboard lines were indistinguishable, appearing only as trenches or ridges.
Combined with the obstruction of these massive pieces, the light became distorted.
Standing there, you couldn’t even see the sun above, leading to a disorienting loss of direction.
Ordinary people would certainly be lost at this point.
But Zhao Ya maintained a clear mind, with a very distinct goal, moving along these trenches, winding about until he quickly reached the chessboard’s center.
This was also where the battle between the black and white pieces was at its most intense.
Large swaths of black and white intertwined like two fierce dragons biting and entangled.
Yet Zhao Ya stopped, extended his hand, and lightly touched these cold "pieces."
No one knew what stone these pieces were made from, but they were incredibly sturdy and durable.
Zhao Ya tried to shake them forcefully, but just as Nan Liangyu had said, they wouldn’t budge, as if rooted to the spot.
However, Zhao Ya was not discouraged; instead, his eyes grew brighter.
The reason he wanted to delve into the chessboard suddenly was due to a hunch.
This instinct told Zhao Ya that the progress he had been stuck on in unlocking his brain might have a subtle connection with this chessboard.
It was for this reason he ventured into it despite the danger.
Now that he had reached the core, Zhao Ya felt his thoughts becoming more active.
He did not force anything, but followed his instincts, walking slowly.
Though in the chessboard’s center, a remarkably clear three-dimensional chessboard existed in Zhao Ya’s mind.
And with each step, this mental three-dimensional chessboard became clearer.
Suddenly.
Zhao Ya halted.
This was the very center of the chessboard, commonly known as the Tian Yuan.
It was also the most critical part of the chessboard.
The black and white pieces battled for the "breath" within this chessboard.
And Tian Yuan was where the "breath" was most abundant.
Arriving here, you could sense the evident change in the aura without even trying.
Zhao Ya took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.
He began to extend his perception, attempting to connect with the omnipresent aura changes.
At first, these aura changes were elusive, even seeming to avoid Zhao Ya deliberately.
But in just a moment, these auras successfully connected with Zhao Ya’s perception.
Boom!
Zhao Ya felt a tremendous shock to his mind, and then an enormously grand and striking image appeared in his mind.
It was an unbelievably vast land.
On this land, there were mountains, lakes, as well as towns and villages scattered throughout.
Zhao Ya looked closely, and realized it was Beyond the World.
Not only that, but to the east of Beyond the World, despite the massive mountain barriers, Zhao Ya could vaguely see towns on the other side, though somewhat blurred.
That was naturally the Great Yan.
Besides that, there was an endless white snowfield on the northernmost part of the land.
At this moment, most of this snowfield was shrouded in mist, exuding a strong sense of foreboding.
Zhao Ya’s heart was in turmoil.
This snowfield was naturally the Northern Realm Snowfield.
And now, most of it was veiled in mist, precisely what Kong Xiangdong had described.
Could it be that the Celestial One Chessboard was a three-dimensional map that reflected real-time conditions in Beyond the World?
With this thought, Zhao Ya tentatively tried to explore the Northern Realm Snowfield further.
But then he suddenly felt a strong bout of dizziness, and the scene before him shattered violently.
Replaced by a vast and somber aura.
This aura, seemingly alive, let out a soft exclamation when it sensed Zhao Ya’s aura.
"After so long, finally one worth considering, alright then, it’s you!"
With that, the aura directly penetrated into Zhao Ya’s mind.
In an instant, Zhao Ya felt an excruciating headache, as if something was being forcefully infused into his brain.
But this pain lasted only a moment, after which Zhao Ya felt a sudden clarity, as if a thick veil had been lifted, and the world before him became clear.
[Brain Unlocking Successful, Acquired Talent: Tongxuan]