Chapter 19

Even Ye Xiyin couldn't understand why the person before her suddenly seemed to be in a better mood—and she didn’t press him further. It seemed almost too easy to placate him. Of course, this also allowed Ye Xiyin to breathe a sigh of relief.

Over the next few days, Ye Xiyin gradually grew accustomed to the occasional intimate contact between the two, no longer feeling embarrassed or at a loss for words when speaking with He Xiting. Finally, after a series of stops and starts, the group arrived at their destination—Fanglan Mountain.

Fanglan Mountain was a sacred site of the Shi Sect. It was said even the emperor had once visited, making it the most renowned among many venerable temples. They expected to remain here for some time to receive treatment.

Xu Ziche remarked, “The Shi Sect upholds a pure and upright spirit. Even for the sake of reputation, they wouldn’t commit murder or robbery. There are many masters here, so even if we’re not around, you’ll be safe.”

Otherwise, after logging off, he couldn’t help but worry about Ye Xiyin’s safety. For instance, one of them—who usually played games just for relaxation—had recently developed a severe addiction to the game, logging in frequently just to check on things. Those who knew him were astonished, unable to understand what charm “Sword Trial” held to captivate such a busy person with a strict schedule.

Little did they know, it wasn’t “Sword Trial” itself that was so alluring, but a certain someone within the game. He Xiting’s obsession with an NPC was unbelievable, yet it was the truth.

Reflecting on the unpredictability of life, who would have thought He Xiting’s personality could change so drastically because of a single quest?

The four of them stood at the foot of Fanglan Mountain, waiting for Zi Buyu to find them. Zi Buyu was a disciple of the Shi Sect. After reaching a certain level and reputation, players could attain some status within the sect. Being one of the elite players of the Shi Sect, Zi Buyu was naturally among them.

He was to lead the group into the Shi Sect and arrange an audience with the abbot, perhaps negotiating terms for Ye Xiyin’s treatment. The sect had, in the past, used the Diamond Sutra to heal patients, and with Zi Buyu’s mediation, offering payment or completing tasks might secure treatment opportunities for Ye Xiyin.

“I hope it won’t be too troublesome,” Ye Xiyin said, troubled.

“It’s alright. The Shi Sect always prioritizes saving lives and guiding the world. They won’t turn a blind eye to this situation,” Qingyun Qiuyue reassured him.

The others thought the same, but none expected the serious expression Zi Buyu wore when he approached. Usually, he bore the kind, compassionate face of a monk. Even when he acted fiercely, his face always carried a smile. This was the first time they saw him shrouded in a dark cloud.

Xu Ziche joked, “Don’t tell me there’s trouble in the Shi Sect and this trip is going to be a mess?”

He was only joking, but Zi Buyu spoke gravely, “You guessed right. Last night, thieves broke into the Shi Sect. They wanted to avoid detection by the disciples, but failed. The sect is now under lockdown, strictly verifying identities of all who come and go. Even pilgrims cannot enter the temple for the time being.”

“Currently, only disciples of the sect can enter freely.”

It was unfortunate timing that they arrived just then.

Xu Ziche groaned, “What the hell? Could it be the system acting up again?”

His words almost earned him a mute penalty.

“Let’s go up and take a look,” He Xiting said. “The illness still needs treatment.”

No matter how strict the lockdown was, it couldn’t last forever. Besides, this situation sounded like a sect mission. The sooner it was resolved, the sooner treatment could begin.

They had no choice but to proceed.

The group headed up the mountain. Along the way, Zi Buyu updated them on the current situation.

“At present, only Shi Sect disciples can enter. Some have left because they’re not in a hurry, while others unwilling to leave are waiting outside the mountain gate.”

Outside the gate was a row of houses, providing shelter for those who stayed. If Ye Xiyin and the others couldn’t enter, they would likely have to remain there.

Fortunately, Zi Buyu anticipated this and had already reserved a room for them.

“People around here have already checked out these visitors. They’re regular pilgrims to the Shi Sect, so there’s basically no danger. The sect is also concerned about too many people gathering outside, so they’ve assigned warrior monks to take turns guarding the area. Safety is guaranteed.”

As they spoke, the group arrived at the sect’s gate. As Zi Buyu had said, houses lined both sides of the mountain path. Aside from a few nearby residents, nearly all were outsiders.

Among them were NPCs and players. Curiously, one category of NPCs, despite diverse appearances and seemingly high status, all looked ill. Each of these NPCs was surrounded by five or six players, apparently involved in some quest.

Ye Xiyin noticed this, as did the others. They looked to Zi Buyu for an explanation.

“This is the second problem we face. Follow me.”

Zi Buyu led them directly to the front of the gate.

Before the Shi Sect’s gate was a vast, open space that usually accommodated many people. Now, it was occupied by a giant chessboard. Each square seemed large enough for a person to stand on, glowing faintly with an ethereal blue light. The chessboard was exquisitely crafted, clearly no ordinary object.

“See those unwell individuals? They all suffer from various ailments and require healing through the sect’s cultivation methods. Since these people showed up after the intrusion, the abbot, fearing infiltrators, collaborated with Elder Song Jiuzhi from the Xingluo Sect—who came to exchange martial arts knowledge—to set up a formation known as the ‘Heaven and Earth Chessboard.’”

“Heaven and Earth Chessboard?”

“Yes. It’s a filter. Anyone who passes this chessboard has a chance to enter the Shi Sect for treatment. This arrangement eases the sect’s burden, giving them time to verify identities. The chessboard will open tomorrow, and all may enter then. To treat Xiao Ye’s illness, we must pass through this chessboard tomorrow.”

As for the players surrounding the NPCs, they were recruited to substitute for the NPCs in navigating the chessboard.

In other words, Ye Xiyin and these players were all vying for the same spot.

“Many speculate this is a new dungeon entrance. Quite a few players have already rushed here.”

“It feels oddly coincidental,” Ye Xiyin murmured. Why now? Why not earlier or later? And why so many people falling ill at the same time?

Thinking of the cold poison within himself, Ye Xiyin felt uneasy.

Others shared this sentiment, but still, illness had to be treated. They could only face whatever came.

After observing the chessboard, Zi Buyu showed them their lodgings. Along the way, they encountered many patrolling warrior monks who greeted Zi Buyu respectfully as senior brother.

Their unusual situation also drew the attention of other players.

[World Chat]

Three-Fur-Moon: Wow, the big shots are here too! This is bad—the chance to be the first through the Heaven and Earth Chessboard is slipping away.

Roll or Not Roll: Not necessarily. We don’t know what mode this chessboard uses yet. Maybe it’s not purely about brute force. When the official preview came out yesterday, they mentioned adding puzzle and intelligence elements. If strength can’t secure victory, maybe brains can.

Warm Winter, Cool Summer: What the heck? Puzzle elements? Did I hear that right? Does “Sword Trial” think it’s a baby’s educational game?

Southern Cat: LOL, maybe we’re even less smart than babies.

Candy-Flavored Girl: I don’t care about first clear. I only care about the rewards. That old geezer who gave me the quest is picky and annoying, but the rewards are generous—a set of gems that, once socketed, will greatly boost my weapon’s attributes. This year’s Famous Sword and Martial Arts tournaments will be within my reach.

Curious, Ye Xiyin searched the system compendium for these terms.

The Famous Sword Tournament was hosted by the Famous Sword Manor. Winners received a limited number of divine forging artifacts each year. Even those who didn’t get the divine artifact still earned other rewards.

The Martial Arts Tournament evaluated outstanding players’ strength. Just as monsters of the same level could have varying power, so too with players. Most players had reached max level and possessed master-level skills, but not everyone could be called a true master.

Only by placing in the top ten in the Martial Arts Tournament and defeating master-level NPCs could one earn that title.

For example, He Xiting.

There were even rumors that his strength might challenge grandmaster-level experts, though this had yet to be verified. Regardless, among players, he was undoubtedly a singular talent.

While spectators gossiped, the group finally reached their lodging.

Zi Buyu had arranged a spacious room with all necessities. As they entered, they saw some disciples carrying two boxes out of the room.

“They’re the disciples tidying up the rooms,” Zi Buyu explained, aware of Ye Xiyin’s recent crises and attentive to the details.

Everyone trusted his arrangements and had no cause for concern.

It was already late when they arrived at Fanglan Mountain. After ensuring their safe arrival, Xu Ziche and Qingyun Qiuyue logged off to rest. Zi Buyu had other tasks and left first. Only He Xiting stayed to have dinner with Ye Xiyin, inspect the surroundings, and set up a few formations before departing.

Left alone, Ye Xiyin had nothing to do and wandered around the room.

The space was large, furnished with a table, bed, and a bookcase. Curious, Ye Xiyin browsed the bookshelf, finding mostly Buddhist scriptures.

Remembering that the quest zone might relate to tomorrow’s dungeon, he flipped through a few pages but soon felt drowsy.

Shaking his head to stay alert, he looked at other books and found something interesting—several volumes of chess manuals.

Though still somewhat sleep-inducing, these were marginally more engaging than the scriptures.

Combined with the Heaven and Earth Chessboard outside, Ye Xiyin felt drawn to these chess manuals.

He picked one up and began reading.

The manuals seemed intended for a general audience, written in a lively, accessible style. They contained little introduction to chess formations but featured diagrams and annotations highlighting key moves and brilliant strategies.

Ye Xiyin instinctively kept flipping through.

And so the night passed.

At eight the next morning, the group gathered punctually before the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Unlike the previous day, several Shi Sect disciples now stood ready in front of the chessboard. When the quest began, players could converse with these disciples and then enter the dungeon.

Meanwhile, a group sat cross-legged on meditation cushions atop a cliff above, observing the challengers below.

“The disciples attempting to break the formation seem straightforward enough. I wonder who recruited them,” Abbot Guangyuan said, turning to Elder Song. “What’s your take?”

After a long silence, the abbot turned in surprise to see Song Jiuzhi fixated intently on a particular figure before the chessboard.