Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 70 Book of Life and Death

"despair."

As the stone fell, a crisp, metallic sound echoed through the pavilion.

A glint flashed in Chu Zhaoye's eyes.

—What a strong physique!

He knew all too well the power of this chessboard formation. Ordinary people in the third realm couldn't even look directly at the chessboard, let alone make a move. Even if someone could use a secret technique to see through the illusion and face the game, they would have been mentally scattered and unable to control themselves under the triple suppression of sound, fragrance, and earth energy.

Chu Zhaoye still had some sense of shame.

Having already gained the upper hand and set up four layers of suppression, if he were to push the "Nine Earths Binding Technique" to its limit with his fifth-realm cultivation, making it impossible for anyone to escape, it would be too embarrassing.

Whatever.

If we can truly win under such circumstances, what harm is there in showing him the Book of Life and Death?
"Snapped!"

The black piece fell to the ground.

The game has officially begun.

Lu Chenyuan's chess style has changed from the steady and methodical one to an extremely fierce one, with a series of deceptive moves and cunning schemes, striving to win as quickly as possible!

With his seventh move, "Suppressing the God's Head," he regarded the bottomless abyss before him as nothing, and lightly touched the center of the board with a white piece;

With his thirteenth move, "Big Slanting Flying", he ignored the tantalizing fragrance at his nose and used a variation of "Golden Well Railing" to strike straight at the corner.
When he made the twenty-first move, "Ghost Gate Cut," the white pieces in his hand had already transformed into wriggling ice silkworms, yet they still landed precisely at the third position, cutting off the large black group in half!

But the triple suppression was not just for show.

Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Lu Chenyuan's forehead, and the fingers holding his hand began to tremble slightly.

Each move felt like pushing a massive boulder.

Chu Zhaoye grew increasingly alarmed as he descended.

—This player's chess skill is truly superb!

What's even more commendable is this composure...

Just as the judge was secretly praising him, Lu Chenyuan suddenly played a "second-line penetration" move—a move that was ridiculed as a "defeated move" in the Dunhuang Chess Manual, but at this moment it was like a stroke of genius, completely sealing off the last chance of life for the black pieces.

With only fifty-two moves in total, the game was already decided, and the final endgame stage began.

Incredibly fast.

The judge's defeat was inevitable, but his insistence on ending the proceedings and dragging things out was not considered a violation of the rules.

At the same time, the power of the illusion array in the pavilion became so strong that it was difficult to suppress.

The rich aroma of wine permeated the pavilion, so strong that it seemed to penetrate his seven orifices, causing Lu Chenyuan to become momentarily disoriented.

In a daze, I saw the white pieces on the chessboard transform into graceful dancing beauties.

"Ding--"

The bronze wind chimes under the eaves suddenly changed tune, and the "Soul-Shattering Song at Dawn" began to play softly. Every note was like a needle piercing the eardrum, making the brain buzz. Lu Chenyuan's right hand, which was holding a chess piece, paused slightly, and the white chess piece at his fingertips felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The most deadly thing is the feeling of binding from the soles of the feet. The [Nine Earths Kunyuan Binding] draws on the powerful earth energy to wrap around the Yongquan acupoint on the soles of the feet, like thousands of invisible chains binding the whole body, making every move extremely difficult.

Under the relentless suppression, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and a drop of sweat fell "plop" onto the jade.

Outside the pavilion, the Empress looked tense, Lin Hanyi's gaze was focused, and Chu Heng moved slightly in her sleeve, three talismans falling from her fingertips.

"despair."

The white piece was placed, but the sound was much softer than before.

A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Zhaoye's eyes. At this point in the game, an ordinary person would have already fainted, but he was still able to make steady moves. Most importantly, this kid didn't say a word. Even though he had already won, he could still patiently help him fill the chessboard, without being arrogant or impatient, and without the slightest complaint.

By this time, Chu Zhaoye had already lost, but for some inexplicable reason, he wanted to see how far Lu Chenyuan could hold out.

The black piece immediately landed, increasing the array's power by another three points!
The scene before Lu Chenyuan's eyes began to distort, and the lines on the chessboard moved like small snakes. He bit his tongue to keep himself awake with the pain, only to see that Chu Zhaoye's figure opposite him had been split into three.

“Star position...33…”

He muttered to himself, his fingers trembling as he reached for the chess box. This simple action, however, felt as difficult as lifting a tripod.

The moment his fingertips touched the chess piece, a bone-chilling cold suddenly swept over him, and the white piece froze into ice in his hand.

"unacceptable……"

At the corner of the pavilion, Chu Heng narrowed her eyes. Taking advantage of her father tilting his head back to drink, the girl gracefully moved behind Lu Chenyuan, and with her slender fingers, she took out three cinnabar talismans and slapped them on his back with lightning speed.

—A mind as clear as still water, a mirror as clear as still water!

The moment the talismanic power entered his body, Lu Chenyuan felt his mind clear instantly.

The demonic sounds in his ears dissipated, the fragrance in his nostrils weakened, and a refreshing coolness replaced it, like eating menthol mint. A cool sensation went straight to his heart, and his magical power under his feet became lighter.

He swiftly shattered the ice crystals on his fingertips and steadily placed another piece.

Chu Zhaoye's hand, which was holding a bottle, suddenly froze in mid-air. He gave his daughter a meaningful look. Chu Heng pretended to examine the wind chimes under the eaves, but her slightly reddened ears betrayed her.

"Snapped!"

Black resigns.

The illusion vanished instantly, and Lu Chenyuan awoke as if from a dream.

Chu Zhaoye stroked his wine gourd, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Brilliant! This 'Second-Way Penetration' move, seemingly a losing move recorded in the *Dunhuang Chess Manual*, actually conceals a deadly intent. Your style is ruthless and decisive, yet also imposing and awe-inspiring; your defeat is not unjust. It's a pity I haven't been able to use this formation for long before I have to change it again."

Chu Zhaoye unfastened the bronze book from his waist and asked, "Which one?"

Lu Chenyuan said, "Regarding the sacrificial vessels of the Yuantai Suiming Pavilion."

Chu Zhaoye nodded, quickly flipping through the book in his hand to a certain page. Then, he channeled a bit of true energy into the Book of Life and Death, and threw the book over directly: "I'll lend you half a quarter of an hour." As he stood up, he glanced at his daughter with a half-smile: "Aheng, my wine gourd is empty."

Chu Heng stuck out her tongue and obediently went to refill Lu Chenyuan's wine. As she passed by, she whispered, "Don't forget to thank me!"

The girl skipped away with her hands behind her back, the corner of her pale yellow shirt flashing and disappearing among the maple leaves.

Lu Chenyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the Empress came over to wipe his sweat.

Lin Hanyi stood to the side, her gaze sweeping lightly over Lu Chenyuan before looking in the direction Chu Heng had left. Her tone was calm: "It seems that this human skin mask is still too..." She paused, as if choosing her words carefully, "...too conspicuous."

Lu Chenyuan was taken aback, then chuckled: "Mother-in-law is overthinking it."

Lin Hanyi remained noncommittal, only giving a soft "hmm" with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

She observed Lu Chenyuan's actions and found nothing out of line, but she was even more certain that the judge's daughter, with her youthful heart, might have truly developed some feelings for him...

He had only been to the Ghost Market for less than two hours, and he hadn't even used his own face, yet he already had the favor of young girls. No wonder the princess was always so anxious and insecure.

Lu Chenyuan took the Book of Life and Death and found that the writing on the other pages was gone, leaving only the page with the bounty he was looking for.

-

Bounty Number: Jia Zi · Gui Mao 79

Bounty Target: Destroy the jade sacrificial artifacts used in the grand ceremony of the Luo River.
Deadline: Before midnight on October 24th
Location: Suiming Pavilion, below Yuantai Terrace, Divine Capital - Guigong Hall
remuneration:

Deposit: Three Qingfu knives (already paid)
Final payment: Seven Qingfu knives (delivered upon completion of the transaction)
Delivery regulations:

1. Three days after the incident, the person who performed the act should stand before the "unmarked, solitary grave" (with the broken sword on the grave) at Qingpu Hill in the Ghost Market:

Burn three sticks of incense to guide the soul at the hour of You (5-7 PM).

A plain white lantern hangs above the broken sword.
Second, those who hire a hitman must see the lamp behind them:
Wrap the seven coins in yellow paper.

Buried three feet in front of the grave

After covering with soil, sprinkle cinnabar as a mark.
The blood pact has been established:
If the person who hired the killer breaches the contract and fails to pay, the judge will execute their entire family.

If the ghostwriter fails in his mission and leaks the secret, his name will be crossed out of the Book of Life and Death.
If both sides secretly set a trap, the Yin Fu Jun will ensure that they cannot live or die.
-

The Ghost Market has strict rules.

Judge Pavilion deals in hiring hitmen. As a guarantor, Judge Pavilion upholds the contract and maintains a single-line contact to prevent the hitman from killing the victim after the crime or the hitman from leaking information.

Neither the person who hired the killer nor the person who bought the hitman knew each other's identities, and the transaction took place in the Ghost Market, where "harmony is paramount" and killing is strictly prohibited, in order to ensure the smooth delivery of the final payment.

However, there are always exceptions, and there are always those who are incredibly audacious.

Therefore, the Book of Life and Death clearly states the rules of the blood pact, prohibiting any violation of the pact, and anyone who dares to take action must bear the consequences.

The Book of Life and Death is a fourth-grade magic artifact with only one function: anyone who makes a blood pact and spills their blood on it can be located by sensing the blood through the artifact. No matter where they are, violating the pact will result in certain death!

This contract seems flawless, but it actually has a backdoor that can be exploited, which is specifically prepared for the "bounty target".

After the accomplice completes the task, he must report to the judge. The judge will have someone verify the information. Once it is confirmed that everything is correct, the judge will inform the accomplice of the method of payment so that he can collect the final payment. However, if the accomplice is captured, the Book of Life and Death is "lost," and others learn about the details of the transaction, then the rest is predictable—by following the clues through the method of payment, they will find the person who issued the bounty!

"Qingpugang, a solitary grave without a monument..."

Lu Chenyuan's face turned cold: "I want to see who exactly wants to kill me!"

It's almost dusk.

Lu Chenyuan decided that there was no time to lose and that he would give it a try today.

He returned the Book of Life and Death to the judge, thanked Chu Heng, and promised to come to the Ghost Market in a few days to thank her properly. Then he walked out of the Blood Maple Forest, bought three sticks of soul-guiding incense and a plain white lantern with two knife coins, and strode towards Qingpu Hill.

Inside the Judge's Pavilion.

Chu Heng sat by the stone table, resting her chin on her hand, gazing in the direction the three had left. With her other hand, she played with the chess pieces they had just played. The white jade pieces twirled between her fingers, reflecting the faint light from the talisman array and casting tiny spots of light on the stone table.

"The people have already gone far away, why are you still looking?"

Chu Zhaoye slowly swung his wine gourd, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"father!"

Chu Heng's ears turned slightly red as she glared at him. "I was just thinking... this person is quite rare. Despite not being a top-tier cultivator, he managed to withstand your four-fold suppression: illusion, sound waves, sleeping potion, and magic. This [Drunken Dream Galaxy] was something you and Master refined together, yet it couldn't stop him... and his eyesight is so sharp, he even saw through the secrets of 'Golden Thread Edge.' He must be an extraordinary person!"

"It's more than just unusual."

Chu Zhaoye snorted and sat down opposite her, taking a sip of wine: "If it were anyone else with such composure and cultivation, and so young, I wouldn't say much. But this person, girl, whether you have any ideas or not, stop right there!"

Chu Heng blushed immediately when Chu Zhaoye spoke so bluntly.

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about!"

She stomped her foot and turned her head away, saying angrily, "We've only just met her, what kind of person do you take my daughter for!"

"I'm doing this for your own good."

Chu Zhaoye remained unmoved: "You heard it too, he wanted to see what the bounty was."

Chu Heng was taken aback.

Chu Zhaoye shook his head and said, "Who would be interested in the 'Suiming Pavilion Sacrificial Artifact'? Who could have Lin Gongren escorting it? And who is Lin Gongren? What kind of cultivation technique can withstand the heavy pressure of the [Nine Earths Kunyuan Binding] in the Third Realm, and move with normal ease? With so many coincidences, haven't you guessed who he is yet?"

"he……"

Chu Heng was taken aback: "Could he be Princess Taiping's gigolo?"

"so."

Chu Zhaoye said calmly, "Stay away from him in the future; it will be good for both of you."

Chu Heng fell silent.

Seeing this, Chu Zhaoye shook his head slightly and sighed.

(End of this chapter)