noveldepot Chapter 1197 - 1188: Replay
Chapter 1197 - 1188: Replay
The Emperor of Great Dragon said:
"All of you may leave now. I wish to play a quiet game with the Great Grandmaster, so you don’t need to observe today."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Everyone responded, reluctantly departing.
For them, being able to watch the First Grandmaster play chess with the Emperor is extremely rare, and merely watching the First Grandmaster play is beneficial for their own chess skills.
After the crowd left, only Chen Rong, the Emperor of Great Dragon, and the Seventh Princess remained at the scene.
Chen Rong had just finished a game with the Seventh Princess, and the pieces on the board were still very disorganized.
With a slight motion of her Divine Sense, Chen Rong caused the black and white pieces on the board to fall into the Chess Bowls in front of the two players.
These black and white pieces were originally intertwined and entangled together; for ordinary people, distinguishing them one by one would require some care. Chen Rong only glanced at the board and, with a slight motion of her Divine Sense, used her spiritual power to separate all the black and white pieces skillfully, a feat truly admirable.
The Seventh Princess clapped her hands in approval.
"Rong Sister, you are amazing!"
The Emperor of Great Dragon smiled slightly,
"Grandmaster, your spiritual power is becoming more formidable."
"Your Majesty flatters me, it’s merely a minor skill."
After Chen Rong finished speaking, a black piece flew out from the Chess Bowl and settled steadily on the board.
The Emperor of Great Dragon exclaimed quickly:
"Unfair, unfair."
"Hmm?"
"Great Grandmaster, your chess skill is higher than mine, so how can you play black first? I should be the one to play black first."
Chen Rong smiled and said:
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Yesterday you played black first, so today it should be my turn."
The Seventh Princess echoed:
"Rong Sister, your chess skill is so high, why not let my father go first? Isn’t it just one step ahead? With your skill, is there really a need to seize this advantage?"
Chen Rong glanced at the Seventh Princess and said lightly:
"This is tradition; I am merely adhering to it. Every chess game is a battle of life and death, and one must never underestimate their opponent; once you underestimate them, you lose."
Chen Rong spoke very seriously and earnestly.
The Seventh Princess pursed her lips and sighed:
"Yes, the Great Grandmaster’s advice is taken to heart by this disciple!"
The Emperor of Great Dragon chuckled,
"Fine, you play first then."
With that, a white piece fell onto the board with a motion of his Divine Sense.
The two exchanged moves, and the number of pieces on the board increased.
In the beginning, the Emperor of Great Dragon could make moves casually, but later, each move required much deliberation; even when he had decided, a piece would hover in mid-air, hesitant to land.
Chen Rong did not rush him, waiting quietly for the Emperor of Great Dragon to place his piece.
After the Emperor of Great Dragon placed a piece, Chen Rong’s piece would fly out from the Chess Bowl and land on the board immediately.
The Seventh Princess exclaimed:
"State Preceptor, do you simply make a move without thinking?"
Chen Rong smiled:
"Have you forgotten that I mentioned the chess is divided into nine grades?"
The Seventh Princess nodded,
"Of course I remember. Rong Sister, does this mean you have reached the First Grade Divine Realm? I see your chess skills are brilliant, unpredictable, and unbeatable for us."
The Seventh Princess used "us," referring not only to herself and the Emperor of Great Dragon but also all others who play chess with Chen Rong, as no one could win even any advantage from her.
Chen Rong smiled slightly,
"I could not possibly reach the Divine Realm; at most, I am in the Sitting and Illuminating Realm."
To sit before the chessboard in the Second Rank Sitting and Illuminating means that without effortful thought, each move hits the opponent’s weakness, exhausting their spiritual power.
The Seventh Princess immediately asked:
"What about my father; what grade does he belong to now?"
Chen Rong glanced at the Emperor opposite her and said lightly:
"Your Majesty is wise and skillful, and his chess has reached the Fourth Grade Reach Nether Realm."
"Only the Fourth Grade Reach Nether?"
The Seventh Princess looked somewhat disappointedly at her father.
The Emperor of Great Dragon smiled and said:
"This Fourth Grade Reach Nether was achieved under the guidance of the Great Grandmaster, and it was no easy feat. You think it’s easy? Try it and see."
The Seventh Princess pursed her lips, looking unconvinced, watching the two play chess.
Over ten minutes, a white piece from the Emperor of Great Dragon hovered in mid-air for a full minute, uncertain whether to place it.
Finally, with a long sigh,
"Oh! Great Grandmaster, you are formidable. I yield."
Chen Rong nodded,
"Your Majesty, you were gracious!"
The Emperor of Great Dragon placed his piece, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Every time he finished a game with Chen Rong, he felt somewhat exhausted from the mental struggle, covered in cold sweat.
However, after a rest, he would recover, feeling his spiritual power was more full and improved.
This feeling was very peculiar and made one yearn for more.
Chen Rong looked at the Emperor of Great Dragon and said,
"Your Majesty’s mind is somewhat restless today, not calm and steady enough, which affected your spiritual power. Otherwise, you could have played about ten more moves."
The Emperor of Great Dragon nodded and sighed:
"Oh, lately the Imperial affairs are a season of troubles, constantly unsettling the mind, causing anxiety!"
"No matter what issues the Emperor faces, once you sit down at the chessboard, at this moment, you are just another chess player, and you must to opt to abandon all distractions."
The Emperor of Great Dragon listened, his body slightly trembled, and he looked at Chen Rong.
"Thank you for your guidance, Grandmaster. I seem to understand much now, haha, the Grandmaster is indeed formidable."
"It’s not that I am formidable, but as a chess player, I must demand that I discard all distractions and focus on the game. This habit has been with me for twenty years and has become a part of my life, as well as my creed,
No matter how noble or unworthy the identity of the opponent, as long as they sit opposite my chessboard, they become my opponent, and I must concentrate all my attention and fight them with dedication,
This is why I never allow you to undo moves, never let you, even the chance to play black first once."
Listening to Chen Rong, both the Emperor of Great Dragon and the Seventh Princess became enlightened and deeply respectful of Yang Xiao, gazes filled with admiration and reverence.
The Emperor of Great Dragon rose to take his leave, as it had become a habit for him to visit the Chess Institute daily and play a game with Chen Rong.
The Seventh Princess still wanted to play chess with Chen Rong,
"Rong Sister, won’t you accompany me for another game?"
Chen Rong smiled:
"Seventh Princess, I give you immense face by playing one game with you each day. Seeing you have talent and are hardworking, only then do I accompany you for a game. You want two games?"
The Seventh Princess stuck out her tongue and made a funny face, murmuring discontentedly:
"Meanie!"
After speaking, she turned and left.
Both the Emperor of Great Dragon and the Seventh Princess departed.
Chen Rong came to the Imperial Chess Academy hall, where dozens of academy members were playing duels.
"Everyone, pause your games. I will demonstrate the chessboard of the match with the Emperor earlier; comprehend it yourselves."
The hall immediately fell silent, with everyone fixated on Chen Rong.
Chen Rong stood before the chessboard at the front of the hall, and with a gentle motion of Divine Sense, the black and white pieces flew out one by one, arranging on the chessboard.
The entire process was smooth and flowing, without the slightest hesitation, until all the pieces were placed.
Everyone was internally amazed.
"Such powerful memory, such powerful spiritual power!"