A crushing defeat in the midgame!
Gu Zhao scratched his cheek, unable to see exactly where he had gone wrong.
Even though his opponent’s attacks were fierce, his own defense had been quite steady. How did his pieces get captured so inexplicably?
Taoist Yun Chang fell silent for a moment before chuckling. "My young friend, your playing style possesses quite an ancient charm. Have you studied many game records of famous masters?"
Beside him, Taoist Hai Zhao nodded. "Your opening was secure, advancing steadily step by step. It was actually quite good."
The two young Daoists standing nearby snickered.
Although the two old Daoists were trying to find angles to praise him, the young ones could hear the underlying implication. This young man might be a Go enthusiast, but his talent was truly limited. After studying countless game records, he could mimic a decent opening layout and hold his own against Taoist Yun Chang initially. But once the game entered the midgame, he had no references left to rely on and had to depend entirely on his own skills.
Gu Zhao clearly didn’t have much of that. Despite not falling behind in the opening, he was utterly slaughtered in the midgame!
If the two young Daoists could read between the lines, Gu Zhao naturally could as well.
However, Gu Zhao didn’t feel embarrassed. He simply laughed. "I did have a slight misunderstanding of my own Go skills. Watching you two play earlier, it didn’t feel like you were exceptionally strong. But once I actually stepped up myself, I proved to be no match at all."
One of the young Daoists smiled and offered some comfort. "That’s perfectly normal. I’m the same way. When I watch my martial grandfather play, I feel like I’m on a similar level, but the moment I take over, I get completely crushed."
Gu Zhao nodded, then began picking up the Go pieces from the board one by one, dropping them back into their bowls. "How should I address you, Daoist?"
"Li Yunchang," Taoist Yun Chang replied casually. "Are you a local, my young friend?"
"No," Gu Zhao shook his head. "I’m from Yangcheng."
"Yangcheng?" The other young Daoist sized Gu Zhao up and asked curiously, "Did you find a job over here?"
Gu Zhao looked at himself, then at the tourists not far away, understanding why they would ask that.
"Not quite," Gu Zhao smiled. "I just arrived from Yangcheng."
The young Daoist blinked, paused for a moment, and finally said, "I’ve long heard that people from Yangcheng are relaxed and laid-back. Seeing it today, the reputation is well-deserved."
Everyone else was geared up in windbreakers, sun hats, outdoor backpacks, hiking boots, and trekking poles. Gu Zhao, on the other hand, was in casual wear and sneakers, completely empty-handed. Fortunately, summer hadn’t yet arrived. Kongdong Mountain was located in the Northwest, and the chill in the air hadn’t fully dissipated. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be wearing board shorts and flip-flops?
Gu Zhao put all the pieces away into the bowls and replied with a smile, "You flatter me. Actually, average Yangcheng folks aren’t quite this laid-back. My situation is a bit special."
"What special situation?" the young Daoist asked.
Gu Zhao didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Taoist Yun Chang. "A game of Go should have a wager. Since I lost, allow me to give you a gift, Daoist."
"No need, no need," Taoist Yun Chang laughed, waving his hand. "It was just for entertainment. There’s no need to take it seriously."
"That won’t do." Gu Zhao shook his head, then turned to Taoist Hai Zhao. "I borrowed your seat, Daoist, so naturally I have a token of appreciation for you as well."
Taoist Hai Zhao raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. "What do you plan to gift me, young friend?"
"A fortuitous opportunity for you both."
As soon as his voice fell, Gu Zhao pointed a finger. Two Thunder Seeds instantly entered the Sea of Consciousness of the two men.
Taoist Yun Chang and Taoist Hai Zhao only felt their Divine Souls shudder. Then, they "saw" a seed flashing with purplish-gold lightning suddenly appear deep within their minds.
The next moment, the seed emitted endless thunderbolts. Not only did it fill their Sea of Consciousness, but it also followed their spiritual perception all the way down, surging into their middle Dantian.
A wave of their own Qi emerged under the effect of this lightning. The two old Daoists immediately understood that this was the Innate Qi they had cultivated for decades. This Innate Qi was their Lifebound True Qi. Normally, it remained hidden within the vital apertures of the Dantian, but under the stimulation of the lightning, it was activated and began integrating into their bodies.
The next moment, this Innate Qi mixed with the Thunder Seed to cleanse their entire bodies. At the same time, it activated the hundreds of years of Dao Practice they had painstakingly cultivated. Their bodies, like ponds that had suffered a long drought, began to greedily devour the sparse Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the surroundings.
A speck of lightning also transmitted into their Sea of Consciousness, granting them relevant information regarding the Five Thunders Order and the Thunder Seed.
Meanwhile, the two old Daoists vaguely sensed dozens of other similar Thunder Seeds in the unseen world, carrying a variety of unique auras, some strong and some weak.
These were the others who possessed Thunder Seeds! The different auras indicated that the Lifebound Techniques they cultivated were different, while the different intensities represented the disparity in the strength of their Dao Practice!
Except for one aura that felt clear, pure, and spiritual, none of the other Thunder Seed owners were in this world!
Wait, no. There were three auras weaker than their own, moving toward the southeast.
Taoist Yun Chang immediately realized that these must be the holders of the Thunder Seeds Gu Zhao had gifted not too long ago. Their destination was likely Yangcheng. They were waiting for Gu Zhao to take them to that New Grotto Heaven!
Taoist Hai Zhao also understood why only Daoists could go to that New Grotto Heaven. Because only Daoists with successful Cultivation possessed this Innate Qi, could gain the acknowledgment of the Thunder Seed, and had the qualifications for Eradicating Evil and Accumulating Merit to accelerate their Cultivation.
The two old Daoists even sensed auras similar to their own among those dozens of Thunder Seed holders, indicating they were of the same sect.
The next moment, several Divine Sense voice transmissions crossed the boundaries of worlds via the Thunder Seed connection.
"Another fellow Daoist from the Dragon Gate Sect, and with such profound initial Dao Practice. I am Yi Hong of the White Cloud Temple. Which Immortal Mountain do you hail from, senior brother, and how should I address you?"
"Jing Hong of the Dragon Gate Cave greets you, Daoist brother."
"HAHAHA, a fellow Daoist from the Qingwei Sect has finally arrived! Gao Yue of Zhenwu Mountain greets you, Daoist brother."
"Qingwei and Shenxiao are one family. Chong Xuan of the Shenxiao Sect on Feiyun Mountain greets you, senior brother."
Taoist Yun Chang and Taoist Hai Zhao quickly responded one after another. Only then did they learn that those who had recently displayed Extraordinary abilities in the modern world were just a small minority; the main force was still in the Otherworld, looking to slay demons!
It was also through the rough explanations of these old Daoists that the two learned more details. They found out about the Demons and Ghosts in the Otherworld, as well as the Daluo Palace established by Gu Zhao.
Having received enough information and with their bodies fully cleansed, the two old Daoists finally opened their eyes.
A refreshing breeze swirled around Taoist Yun Chang of the Dragon Gate Sect. Then, visible wisps of cloud energy condensed around him, making him look like an Immortal.
Taoist Hai Zhao of the Qingwei Sect appeared much more ordinary; his eyes merely flashed with purple light as electricity crackled in the empty air around him.
Of course, this scene was ordinary to Gu Zhao, but to the two young Daoists in their twenties, it was absolutely terrifying. They had watched with their own eyes as their martial grandfathers suddenly closed their eyes, followed by a noticeable freshening of the surrounding air. Only the young man who had just talked about giving a gift had sat back down.
Just as they were wondering what had happened, their two martial grandfathers opened their eyes. It was just that the scene of them doing so was a little frightening.
Riding the wind and mounting the clouds?
Commanding thunder and lightning?
Had their martial grandfathers become Immortals?