I am Master Maoshan

"Hold your ground, follow my command, advance the cannon one step." Just then, Mr. Zhuge's calm voice rang out again.

Liu Jun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He gritted his teeth, endured the excruciating pain in his heart, and slowly moved the chess piece.

The avatar of the Heavenly Dao on the opposite side seemed unwilling to let them off easily. It also moved its pieces, each movement revealing an undeniable majesty and power.

Although the Heavenly Dao Avatar only has six pieces left, three fewer than Liu Jun's side, it doesn't mean it has no ability to fight back.

On the contrary, the Heavenly Dao incarnation at this moment is like a wounded beast. Although its body is injured, it still has a powerful burst of energy and aggression.

After the Heavenly Dao manifested and moved the chess pieces, the situation on the chessboard instantly became more tense. Its pieces, like well-trained soldiers, quickly adjusted their positions, forming a highly threatening formation.

Looking at the changes on the chessboard, Liu Jun felt a surge of tension. He instinctively looked at Mr. Zhuge, his eyes filled with pleading.

Mr. Zhuge narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully observing the chessboard. After a moment, he nodded gently and said, "Don't panic, it's just bluffing. We'll proceed as planned, advancing the rook to the third position."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jun mustered his courage once more and pushed the chariot. Although his movements were still somewhat hesitant, a new determination had appeared in his eyes.

As the pieces moved, the situation on the board subtly changed again. The avatar of Heaven seemed to have sensed Liu Jun and his companions' response, and it moved its pieces again, attempting to break through their defenses.

In an instant, the chessboard was filled with the smoke of battle, with both sides exchanging blows and refusing to give way. He felt as if he were on a battlefield without gunpowder, engaging in a thrilling contest with the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.

In this contest, he not only had to use his brain to quickly adapt to the changes in the game, but also had to use his iron will to endure the pain of losing his family and friends.

As time went on, the game once again entered a heated phase. The embodiment of Heaven seemed to launch a final, desperate counterattack, its pieces surging towards Liu Jun like a tidal wave.

Liu Jun and Mr. Zhuge kept their eyes glued to the chessboard, not daring to relax for a moment. They would sometimes discuss in hushed tones, and sometimes fall into deep thought, trying to find a breakthrough in this complex situation.

“The horse will jump to the side,” Mr. Zhuge suddenly said.

Upon hearing Mr. Zhuge's words, Liu Jun did not hesitate to move the chess pieces.

Just then, one of the pieces that was the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao suddenly posed a threat to a key piece on Liu Jun's side.

Liu Jun's heart tightened, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead again. His first thought was that he had gone the wrong way, but he couldn't figure out what the mistake was.

I remember Mr. Li also said that Mr. Zhuge's chess skills were no weaker than his, so he must have had a special idea behind making this move.

"Don't panic, use cannons to distract it," Mr. Zhuge quickly suggested.

Liu Jun quickly moved the cannon piece, defusing the immediate crisis. However, the embodiment of Heaven's Way did not stop there; it unleashed new moves, making the game even more unpredictable.

“In this game, the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao is going to lose.” The former Order Keeper, Yu, stood to the side with his arms crossed, his eyes slightly narrowed, his tone carrying a hint of certainty.

"It's a loss, but Liu Jun will pay a heavy price." The mysterious old man stroked his long beard.

On the chessboard, the situation grew increasingly tense. The six chess pieces representing the Heavenly Dao began their final, desperate counterattack.

They advanced towards Liu Jun's pieces in an almost one-for-one exchange.

Each move of a chess piece seemed to carry a devastating force, creating ripples across the chessboard.

In this situation, Liu Jun knew he could win, but to not lose a single piece was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

The situation on the chessboard is like a brutal war, with both sides willing to pay any price for the final victory.

"Advance the cannon one step," said Mr. Zhuge with a solemn expression.

As Zhuge Liang finished speaking, Liu Jun swiftly moved his chess piece. The opposing chess piece, an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, was equally determined, advancing a step forward like a ferocious beast, pressing closer relentlessly.

"Take one step forward," Mr. Zhuge said again, his voice without the slightest hesitation.

This time, Liu Jun's pieces showed no sign of backing down, and were equally prepared to perish together.

“Mr. Zhuge?” Liu Jun hesitated, his eyes revealing a struggle and reluctance.

His gaze swept across the chessboard, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The first piece at the front was his revered master, Qingfengzi, whom he regarded as a father, while the first piece on the side was Yanli, whom he deeply loved.

In his memory, although he had never been very respectful to Qingfengzi, they were as close as father and son, and Qingfengzi had indeed spared no effort in helping him grow.

Yan Li is the woman who has been with him since the moment he embarked on his cultivation journey, and she is the woman he intends to spend his life with.

However, if they were to resort to a suicidal tactic at this moment, the pieces represented by Qingfengzi and Yanli would surely disappear.

This meant that he would lose them forever, a pain that was like a thousand arrows piercing his heart, making it unbearable for Liu Jun.

"Liu Jun, you must understand, this game of chess is not just about your personal victory or defeat, but also about the fate of the entire world." Seeing Liu Jun's hesitation, Master Zhuge said earnestly, "Some sacrifices are necessary. Only by winning this game can other possibilities arise."

Liu Jun bit his lip tightly, his hands trembling slightly. He knew that Master Zhuge was right; behind this game lay the fate of countless lives. But he simply couldn't bring himself to sacrifice his closest loved ones. Just as Liu Jun was caught in a deep struggle, the chess piece, an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, launched another fierce attack. A piece hurtled towards Liu Jun's important piece like lightning, seemingly about to devour it.

"I can't back down!" A surge of courage suddenly welled up in Liu Jun's heart. He gritted his teeth, and his eyes became firm again.

He knew he couldn't let personal feelings cloud his judgment and sacrifice the greater good. For the sake of a greater mission, he had to make sacrifices.

"Continue the attack according to plan!" Liu Jun said, clenching his fist.

Mr. Zhuge nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He once again directed Liu Jun to move the pieces, launching wave after wave of attacks. The situation on the chessboard became increasingly intense, with pieces from both sides falling one after another, resembling a fierce battle.

As time went on, Liu Jun's pieces gradually gained the upper hand. But every step forward came at a huge cost.

Meanwhile, the chess pieces represented by Qingfengzi and Yanli gradually found themselves in dangerous situations during their repeated clashes.

"No!" Liu Jun looked at the chess pieces that were about to disappear from the chessboard, his heart filled with pain and helplessness.

However, just as he was about to collapse, a strange light suddenly appeared on the chessboard. Within the light, the figures of Qingfengzi and Yanli gradually emerged. They wore smiles, their eyes revealing encouragement.

"You rascal, you did a great job," Qingfengzi said with a smile. "Don't blame yourself for our sacrifice; it was our fate."

Yan Li nodded slightly and said, "Liu Jun, don't let me lose my life in vain. We must win."

After they finished speaking, their figures gradually disappeared into the light. Liu Jun stared blankly at the chessboard, tears finally streaming down his face.

"Mr. Zhuge, let's continue!" Liu Jun wiped away his tears, his fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes.

Under Zhuge Liang's command, Liu Jun launched another fierce attack. Finally, after a fierce battle, Liu Jun successfully defeated the incarnation of Heaven.

The light on the chessboard burst forth instantly, and a powerful force spread out, causing the entire world to tremble.

After the light on the chessboard dimmed, all the chess pieces turned into ordinary pieces, and the figures inside all disappeared.

"We won," the mysterious old man's hoarse voice rang out.

Liu Jun breathed a slight sigh of relief, his tense body relaxing a little, but there was no joy on his face.

He won the battle, but behind this victory lay endless pain and despair.

His master, his mistress, Yan Li, and Long Aodi, among others—these people were all alive and well standing before him just a few days ago. Yet now, they had all vanished from this world, as if they had never existed.

The game was over, and he won, but the price of that victory was too high, so high that his heart was bleeding.

"Is there any hope for them to be resurrected?" Liu Jun slowly turned his head, his eyes filled with expectation and pleading, and looked at the mysterious old man.

The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head and sighed.

"It's impossible now. Although this chessboard is called the Heavenly Way Chessboard, even the Heavenly Way can't control it. If a piece disappears on this board, it's truly gone." The old man's voice was low and helpless.

Clearly, he had no control over what was happening on the chessboard.

Liu Jun's body jolted violently, his eyes instantly becoming empty and lifeless, as if he had lost his soul.

He stood there blankly, his mind filled with images of his master, mistress, Yan Li, and Emperor Long Ao. All those joyful moments, all those wonderful times they had shared, now felt like sharp knives, slowly slicing him apart.

“Liu Jun, you have gained the approval of Heaven and are now a true Order Keeper.” Just then, Yu stepped forward, breaking the suffocating silence.

However, upon hearing that he had been recognized and had become a true Order Keeper, Liu Jun felt no joy whatsoever.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a bitter smile filled with endless sorrow and despair.

"If this is the price I pay for becoming an Order Keeper, I would rather be an ordinary person." Liu Jun's voice was low, as if he were making a silent protest against fate.

Becoming an Order Keeper means taking on the heavy responsibility of upholding the rules of Heaven, but at this moment he can't even protect the most important person by his side, so what right does he have to protect the rules of Heaven?
“No, Liu Jun, you can’t think like that.” Yu seemed to see through his thoughts and quickly said, “Their sacrifice was not meaningless. It is because of their sacrifice that you have the opportunity to become an Order Keeper. You have great power, and you can use this power to change many things.”

Liu Jun fell silent, lost in deep thought. Change many things? How? The only thing he wanted to change now was to bring his master, mistress, and Yan Li back to normal.

Before he could finish thinking, the avatar of the Heavenly Dao, who seemed dead after losing the game, suddenly rushed towards him.

The speed was astonishing, and the surrounding space was distorted and deformed by this powerful force.

Liu Jun's eyes widened in astonishment, his body tensing instinctively as he braced himself for the intense collision he had imagined.

His first thought was that this Heavenly Dao avatar, like the previous one, had developed its own consciousness and was now enraged, trying to kill him. (End of Chapter)