Phantylia: Is this all Jing Yuan's got?
"Startled awake from the brink of death!"
"Jing Yuan's character PV? Yu Ling, how could you not give us a heads-up about something this big?!"
"This video means Jing Yuan's joining the gacha pool, right? Did I get that right?"
"Oh my gosh! What am I seeing?!"
After a wave of real-time comments flashed by, the main video began.
The lively, excited crowd in the square suddenly fell silent, their eyes glued to the screen as if frozen in place.
The scene shifted swiftly, revealing a lush, verdant courtyard. Inside, an elder and a young man were playing a game of chess. It seemed like the clichéd opening of many stories, but the young man here was none other than—Jing Yuan and Yanqing!
Jing Yuan rested his chin on one hand, his eyes half-lidded as if on the verge of sleep. A small bird perched on a nearby railing, disturbing his drowsiness. He yawned.
"Well? Still can't think of a move?"
Yanqing's eyes lit up as he moved a piece.
"Checkmate, General."
Jing Yuan stroked his chin. "Tsk tsk... Young people these days..."
As he spoke, he plucked a falling ginkgo leaf with two fingers.
"Still... too naive."
He placed the leaf onto the board as if it were a chess piece. At the same time, he leisurely stood, hands behind his back.
The background music shifted from a serene, elegant melody to an intense, heroic tune.
In the bamboo grove ahead, four monstrous creatures appeared unexpectedly.
As Jing Yuan's voice rang out, he unfurled a scroll with a single hand, filling the screen with golden light effects.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.(The croud at plaza)
"Holy—this is too cool!"
"The music gives off the vibe of strategizing from a thousand miles away!"
"The production team has outdone themselves again!"
"Here it comes! The hype is real!"
Behind them, Phantylia frowned.
"Just a few minor monsters, and they're this excited? What a bunch of country bumpkins."
The next moment, a golden light flashed behind Jing Yuan. An enormous chessboard expanded beneath his feet, replacing the courtyard scenery. Only Jing Yuan and the monstrous soldiers remained, standing on opposing sides of the board.
Phantylia's heart skipped a beat.
"Could he truly possess the strength of foresight?"
"To manifest such an illusion—turning battle into a chessboard?"
"Is this the secret to his unshakable composure?"
Her eyes gleamed with a faint light. She was now watching intently.
The background music intensified with rapid drumbeats, like a call to battle. The spectators clenched their fists, as if ready to charge into the fray with whatever they could grab.
The atmosphere reached its peak.
Jing Yuan drew his weapon—a glaive named [Starfall Reverie].
"Frost... awaits!"
Lightning crackled along the blade. The front-line "pawns" fell one after another. The "generals" and "advisors" at the rear—
Jing Yuan's eyes gleamed.
A golden spirit emerged from the clouds, wielding a massive blade.
"Thus... victory is assured."
Phantylia's fingers twitched slightly.
She had been captivated by the video—not because Jing Yuan could truly summon a giant chessboard, but because of the artistic portrayal of his tactical brilliance.
But then—
The fallen figures began to twist and contort, transforming into a towering, antlered beast.
Phantylia smirked.
"Finally, something interesting."
Jing Yuan stepped out of the chessboard illusion.
"Time for an unexpected move."
He raised his glaive overhead, bathed in golden lightning. A halo of scrolls encircled him, and the sky darkened into a swirling golden vortex.
"Divine retribution descends—spare none."
With a single command—"Judgment—strike!"—he unleashed a heaven-splitting slash.
When the light faded, the monsters and the antlered beast were gone. Only ginkgo leaves drifted in the wind.
"Remembered it all, Yanqing?"
"Yes, General."
"Good. Once you forget it all, you'll have truly graduated."
Jing Yuan patted Yanqing's shoulder, then turned away with a chuckle.
"Ah—General! You stole another piece!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Phantylia, however, left with a cold expression.
"So this is Jing Yuan's power demonstration?"
"Heaven and Earth as a Chessboard, stars as chess pieces?"
"This is it?"
Though the production was flashy, she saw through the facade. Against mere monsters, he had to rely on divine blessings.
"Jing Yuan... if you're this weak, why not embrace [Destruction]?"
"Become one of its heralds."
"Then, the Luofu will collapse from within."
Only one question remained—how to lure him out?
Just then, she received a message—from Sky-Faring Commission's helms master, Yukong.
"Tingyun, the Express crew is heading to the Shackling Prison to assist General Jing Yuan. I recommended you as their guide."
"Reply ASAP."
Phantylia nearly laughed aloud.
"Heaven itself aids me!"
"This time, luck is entirely on my side."
"The Luofu is doomed to fall today!"
To be continued…
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