Chapter 1637: Lost?

"This..."

The old monsters were dumbfounded.

Although they had experienced countless earth-shaking events, this was the first time they had witnessed something so inconceivable.

A young man had somehow miraculously broken the array that Ling Xiaozi was most proud of!

It was a feat that none of them could have anticipated.

One must be reminded that in the eighth round, Lin Xun had sat there for many days with furrowed brows and a dazed look.

Due to this sight, several old monsters had been getting ready to encourage Lin Xun when he eventually admitted defeat so that he wouldn’t be overly dispirited.

After all, no one wanted to see such a young and outstanding dao rune founder fall apart due to a setback.

But now...Lin Xun had confidently placed a Go stone and broke the array!

For a time, the old monsters' eyes nearly popped from their sockets as they stared at Lin Xun as if he were a little monster.

"Ah ha? Haha...hahahaha…"

Initially stupefied, Shun Ji couldn’t help but produce strange, duck-like noises from his throat, unable to hide his shock.

However, rumbling laughter soon followed.

He had won!

In the eighth round, Lin Xun had successfully broken the array!

The suppressed worry and anxiety that had built up inside Shun Ji were washed away, making him feel so refreshed that he wanted to sing out loud.

The beautiful lady in purple couldn't help but deeply exhale and lightly pat her chest. An enchanting smile emerged on her rosy lips as she dotingly gazed at Lin Xun.

What an incredible kid!

It also worried her a little. Although her granddaughter was talented, intelligent, and beautiful, would she be worthy of this boy?

Meanwhile, Ling Xiaozi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He stood there in a daze, the corners of his lips trembling slightly as if he wanted to say something but was unable to form the words.

That was his trump card that he had poured all of his heart and soul into. It could be regarded as his highest achievement to date.

In spite of this, it was still broken in the end!

Moreover, it was crushed with a single move by an unreasonably young junior!

A move with no regrets.

Wind and thunder rises, the carp transforms into a dragon, and the sun and moon interchange to bring about a new day!

The silent atmosphere fermented in shock for quite some time. In the end, Ling Xiaozi looked at Lin Xun with a complicated expression and said, "This young friend is very talented. This old man has nothing but admiration for you."

That comment stirred the group again.

When it came to the rune arts, Ling Xiaozi’s attainments would make even quasi-Emperors sigh in amazement. Yet, this very same Ling Xiaozi was now impressed by a junior!

Evidently, Ling Xiaozi already viewed Lin Xun as someone who could stand on equal footing with him!

Lin Xun was unperturbed by the praise. He cupped his hands and said, "Elder, you praise me too highly."

His face was slightly pale. The sustained strain he had experienced over the past few days had left him greatly exhausted. Although he had only been contemplating how to break a rune array, it was far more difficult than fighting an enemy.

Lin Xun couldn’t but sigh emotionally. Ling Xiaozi's mastery of the rune arts was definitely at the peak of the founder level and could be described as ingenious and superb.

Ling Xiaozi took a deep breath and solemnly said, "We still have the final round left. Please deploy your array."

At present, eight rounds had finished, and he and Lin Xun had won four matches each. Now, only the ninth round was left.

If Ling Xiaozi managed to break the array deployed by Lin Xun, he would become the ultimate victor.

If he failed, it would be his defeat.

One of the old monsters couldn't help but say, "Ling Xiaozi, how about we end it at this? The two of you are evenly matched. Won’t it be perfect if we end this match in a draw?"

The others also spoke up. "Yeah, the boy only wants to gain some insights into attacking the Big Saint stage so we naturally won’t be stingy about it."

If Ling Xiaozi lost the ninth round, it would be a substantial blow to his reputation.

Similarly, if Lin Xun lost, it would not only dampen his spirit, but also make it seem as if Ling Xiaozi was being a bully.

Surprisingly, Shun Ji also nodded. "Agreed, it's best if everyone is happy."

Lin Xun looked at Ling Xiaozi.

Ling Xiaozi immediately refused, "There is no first come first served in seeking the dao. Do you think that I, Ling Xiaozi, cannot afford to win or lose? "

Toward the end, a look of pride emerged between his brows as he looked at Lin Xun and said, "Young friend, if you regard me as a friend, go all out in the ninth game and use your strongest strategy. No matter the outcome, we should both have no regrets. What do you think?"

No regrets!

These words displayed Ling Xiaozi’s broad-mindedness.

With a deep breath, Lin Xun smiled and said, "I humbly accept."

Ling Xiaozi laughed heartily. "For that alone, I will give some of the Nine Mystery Divine Essence to Old Shun after our match is over."

Shun Ji was taken aback. Soon after, he unhappily said, "Things wouldn’t have become so messy if you had done that earlier. You’re clearly just asking for trouble and should be given a beating."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh. It was certainly a harmless joke.

Lin Xun began to deploy the array. He confidently picked up a Go stone and placed it on the

Middle Palace

position as if he had already planned it in advance.

Omm!

A rune array abruptly took shape.

The array resembled a starry sky with billions of twinkling stars. It gave off a presence that was infinitely vast and mysterious.

The old monsters withdrew their smiles and carefully observed.

Everyone knew that both the array deployer, Lin Xun, and the array breaker, Ling Xiaozi, would be going all out in this final round!

It was akin to a duel between masters with one attacking and the other defending.

Now, Lin Xun had made his move.

After observing for a long time, all the watching old monsters gradually furrowed their brows as the looks in their eyes grew increasingly grave.

A similar feeling emerged in their hearts: the array was all-encompassing like an endless sea of ??stars that was impossible to measure!

On the other side, Ling Xiaozi’s back had straightened, and his eyes were shining brilliantly. He was fully focused and gave off a solemn air.

As time passed, the place grew increasingly quiet.

It felt like they were experiencing an entire reincarnation. Like Lin Xun during the eighth round, Ling Xiaozi didn’t move for a very long time.

Two days later.

His brows gradually furrowed.

Five days later.

He twirled a Go stone between his fingers, causing everyone to hold their breaths. In the end, however, Ling Xiaozi was unable to make a move!

He stroked the stone with his fingers and fell silent again.

Time flowed little by little.

……

Deep in the desolate reaches of space far, far away from the Great Emperor Pass, meteorite-like tombs silently floated in space.

On one of the tombs, an enormous thirty-two-winged blood-red mosquito that looked as if it was made of blood suddenly let out a joyful cry.

The sixteen pairs of wings on its back trembled violently.

Boom!

A terrifying and ferocious aura spread from the Underworld Blood Mosquito, causing the ancient tombs nearby to shatter.

At the same time, the huge blood mosquito suddenly transformed into a thin and imposing figure who stood in the void like a peerless evil god.

His blood-red hair fluttered around him. His blood-red eyes were like diamonds, and his facial features seemed like they were finely carved from jade, making him appear devilishly handsome.

Behind him, a scarlet cloak flapped in the void.

"After refining the blood of a thousand Saints and integrating the remnant spirits of countless ancient heroes, I have finally cultivated to the realm of invincibility..."

The blood-colored-robed man let out a satisfied sigh as his eyes swirled with terrifying light like a bizarre whirlpool.

Crash~

With a thought, a strange blood lotus seat made from thirty-six blood-colored wings appeared in his palm.

It was covered with strange and complex Underworld Symbols that glowed blood-red as if they originated from the Underworld River.

The blood-colored-robed man muttered, "After so many years, I’ve finally cultivated the Underworld God Lotus Seat..."

Toward the end, he suddenly pulled back his head and laughed as his blood-red hair danced wildly. "Starting now, I am invincible in the Supreme Saint Stage!"

The excited and arrogant voice echoed amidst the desolate void of space.

Meanwhile, the man in the blood-colored robe had already disappeared.

……

The ninth round had been ongoing for ten days.

Over these ten days, Ling Xiaozi had been completely still like a dead tree. His gaunt face was grave to the extreme and had become slightly pale.

His eyes were also covered in veins!

The group of old monsters were in deep suspense. No one dared to disturb Ling Xiaozi for fear of disrupting his thoughts.

All of them couldn’t help but inwardly sigh. None of their peers would believe this was happening even if it spread throughout the Great Emperor Pass.

After all, who would believe that a young junior could stump Ling Xiaozi in a Go match?

Regardless of the outcome, the old monsters’ attitudes toward Lin Xun had already changed drastically.

The younger generation would indeed surpass the older generation in time!

"Phew."

Suddenly, the dead-tree-like Ling Xiaozi finally showed a hint of activity. He released a long, drawn-out breath as unconcealable joy burst from his eyes. He said, "I understand!"

Everyone immediately jolted to attention.

Shun Ji's heart trembled. Had Ling Xiaozi figured out a method to break the array?

"Young friend, I shan’t hold back."

Ling Xiaozi radiated confidence and calm.

"Please go ahead."

Lin Xun remained unfazed even at this juncture.

Ling Xiaozi picked up a Go stone and lightly tapped it on the

Middle Palace

position.

Amidst countless swirling specks of light, the array deployed by Lin Xun collapsed and disappeared.

Upon seeing this, the old monsters breathed a sigh of relief and revealed expressions of surprise and excitement.

This final round might have seemed simple and boring, but it was honestly the most thrilling of them all!

Fortunately, Ling Xiaozi had won!

Although Shun Ji knew that Lin Xun had shown sufficient experience and mastery, he still couldn't help but sigh inwardly at this scene, feeling somewhat regretful and disappointed.

Even the beautiful lady in purple couldn't help but sigh. Ling Xiaozi indeed lived up to his name and had proved himself to be a step above!

With a deep breath, Ling Xiaozi said, "Young friend, thanks for letting me win."

He wanted to suppress the excitement and elation in his heart, but ultimately couldn't hide it and the start of a smile appeared from between his brows.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this was the most difficult Go match he had encountered in his life.

The feeling of satisfaction, elation, and excitement when he finally broke the array was especially incomparable.

To his surprise, however, Lin Xun appeared unfazed as if he had yet to realize his loss.