The work of the Go master

The Empress only revealed these two items, which were much more ordinary than expected.

However, only one item was revealed by Mr. Hanno—

Item 3: [Mysterious Game Cartridge]

A crystal-green chip cartridge lay on the chessboard, exuding a technological quality that transcended this era.

In my childhood, many gamers who couldn't resist buying game cartridges liked to open the packaging and keep only the core green chip inside.

The chip in front of us is the same, but it has a more advanced technological feel, as if it came from the future and was a key component taken from a spacecraft.

Without outer packaging, it's impossible to know what games are inside.

It's likely that even a typical game console wouldn't be able to run this chip.

The only thing that can run this chip cartridge... is probably that.

The trophy for the Dream Paradise title battle.

Although the flyer did not specify what the trophy was, Koji had a feeling it was a special game console specifically designed to run this game cartridge.

After staring at it for a long time, Ke Zhiguang put the chip down.

Countless mysteries will be revealed in this Dream Paradise battle.

Given this, it becomes clear what to do next.

Without saying a word, he activated the [Ling Shang Kai Hua Skill Scroll]!

"Okay, let's play cards today!" Ke Zhiguang happily stepped onto the card table. No one knew that in just a short while, he had quietly unlocked a demon king-level mahjong superpower.

Well, like Xiong Ying said, let's get through this tonight first and then discuss preparations tomorrow.

The mahjong tiles clattered and clattered, while on the quiet balcony of the secluded mansion, Hannoken smiled with relief, then lay down peacefully and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Seven: This type of person is what we call someone who brings misfortune to their master.

The next day, as the new sun rose and the nighttime temperature began to rise, the noisy chirping of cicadas filled the city's streets and alleys.

Finally, in the afternoon, Ke Zhiguang and Qingdao Lu arrived at the Go Academy, yawning.

Sure enough, playing cards is really exciting; no wonder Hu Shi was so addicted to it every day.

The feeling of satisfaction is even more thrilling when you consistently win with a winning hand.

“That’s more like it. I knew you couldn’t possibly be so diligent as to come to work every day. Of course, you work one day, rest one day, and then come to work another day depending on your mood.” Xingcai appeared at the entrance of the training hall, hands on her hips, staring at Ke Zhiguang.

"Hey, good afternoon. But what brings you here?" Ke Zhiguang asked.

“Because over there…” Xingcai raised her chin towards the training hall.

Inside the training hall, the chess players spontaneously gathered around a chess table.

Xingjia sat on the other side of the chess table, and her presence clearly enlivened the atmosphere.

The people gathered around the table, including her current opponent, were a group of middle-aged chess players, probably all health-conscious chess players who had heard that playing against her could bring them a boost to their luck.

Normally, these people would only occasionally appear at the chess academy, and then leave after having a cup of tea. But when they heard that Xingjia was coming, they all showed up.

After the game ended, the middle-aged 7-dan player opposite Hoshi no Uta stood up with a smile: "As expected of the priestess, your Go skills are as profound as rumored. You live up to your reputation. By the way... will I receive divine protection like this?"

Xingjia nodded politely and said, "Thank you for your compliment. As for the blessing, unfortunately, it's not my work time or workplace right now."

"Alright, you old codger, get out of the way. It's my turn next!" Another middle-aged Go player pushed the middle-aged 7-dan player aside and sat down in front of the Go board.

"Damn it! I was here first!" The third player rushed up to grab a spot.

So a group of middle-aged and elderly people started fighting, and the scene of the battle was extremely intense.

Xingjia smiled and said, "Please don't be in a hurry, everyone. I expect to stay here for a while, and everyone will have the opportunity to play against me."

Hmm... the way she tilted her head and smiled had a sly, mischievous feel to it, like she was enjoying watching a good show.

In fact, her fan base is quite different from that of Harushima Deer. Harushima Deer's fan base is mainly among teenagers, while Xingjia's supporters are mainly middle-aged and elderly people.

I look forward to them each representing their own groups and holding an election, guaranteed to be as exciting as the presidential election in the United States.

"This...she's officially become a regular Go player?" Harushima Shika looked over there, her cheek twitching.

"No, not really, but she's been having nothing to do these past few days, so I brought her here," Xingcai said.

"The way you're saying it makes me feel like you're a parent..."

"I guess so. Anyway, I've been taking care of you, Harushima-senpai, for so long, I've already gotten the hang of it... By the way, I heard recently that you two are living together?" Hoshino rested her chin on her hand, scrutinizing the two people in front of her.

"Fake news! He just happens to live next door to me, there's a wall between us!" Harushima Shika immediately shook off her sleepiness and skillfully made an X gesture.

"Oh, I understand." Xingcai nodded knowingly.

"No, who told you that we're living together?" Harushima Shika asked.

Ke Zhiguang said, "It should only be Xiong Ying and Ying Mei."

Xingcai nodded: "Yes, those two even told me that the four of you played mahjong for two nights in a row. Perhaps I should take the liberty of asking Senior Ke Zhiguang how your game went? For example, how many pieces of clothing did you take off, and how many pieces of clothing did the other three take off?"

"It's just playing mahjong! There's no stripping involved!" Harushima Shika loudly retorted.

Her shout was heard by everyone, and they all turned their astonished gazes toward her.

Hmm... I feel like my reputation is going crazy -1.

Xingjia also noticed this, and temporarily left the chessboard, happily sidling up to them: "It's been a long time since I've seen Long'er, and Mr. Guang."

"So when are you finally going to go home and properly fulfill your duties as a shrine maiden?" Harushima Shika said snortingly.

"Don't say that. He's one of your important teammates, and you have valuable shared experiences. Or... do you think that my insistence on staying here is actually an invasion of your territory?" Xingjia tilted her head optimistically.

The two began exchanging glances and exchanging electric shocks, filling the air with the smell of ozone from the electrolysis of oxygen.

In short, everyone is still full of energy today.

Suddenly, Xingjia turned to Ke Zhiguang and said, "I will not go back until the Imperial Chess Tournament is over. This is the last instruction I received."

Ke Zhiguang was taken aback.

The feeling of Ragnarok is growing stronger.

Nidhogg is already there, and so is the World Tree.

The goddess of fate and the Valkyrie are also included, corresponding to the Star Bride and the Sun Island Deer, respectively.

In this final battle that will determine destiny, everyone has their own corresponding role and identity, like a grand stage play slowly opening its curtain, with the entire Tokyo enveloped in a red curtain.

"Then let's work together," Ke Zhiguang said.

So, today's training session officially begins.

“Same as always, Yamaoka, you—” Koji Mitsuaki was about to shout the word “step forward” when he was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice:

"Ke Zhiguang, 9th Dan, please play against me next." The voice said respectfully.

Ke Zhiguang turned around and found a group of new chess players standing behind him. Their faces showed the naivety of students, which was obviously different from the old hands who had been in the chess academy for a while.

They are all newcomers who entered the ranks at the beginning of this year, and they can't hide their talent.

"I am Katsuya Tamaki, I am 16 years old this year, and I am aiming for the 2nd dan. I hope to receive guidance from my seniors."

“My name is Kitano Hiroki, I am 14 years old, and I am a preliminary second dan. I consider you to be our biggest enemy right now.”

"My name is Furuya Ikumi, I am 15 years old, and I am aiming for 2-dan. Please take good care of me." This time, it was a female Go player.

"......"

Nine players who had initially qualified for the second dan rank bowed to Ke Zhiguang one by one to greet him. Although they were just greeting him, they couldn't hide the fighting spirit in their tone.

To be honest, this scene looks like a gangster paying respects to a leader.

Ke Zhiguang listened attentively to their self-introductions and nodded to each of them in respect.

I'm really embarrassed to admit that I didn't remember a single name.

This year, there are no more highly coveted spots for the preliminary third dan, and the number of spots for the second dan has also been reduced. The nine people currently in front of us who are the preliminary second dan are exactly the only second dan spots available this year, and these nine people are the strongest players this year.

"To be honest, we envy you, 9-dan, in many ways for getting the precious spot for the initial 3-dan qualification," said the boy in the lead, named Tamaki Katsuya.

So that's how it is. These people were a little unconvinced.

The subtext of this sentence is that Ke Zhiguang was lucky; as a previous graduate who had achieved the required dan rank, he happened to have a spot available for preliminary dan rank last year.

These ambitious young people all believed that if there were such a spot this year, they would definitely get it.

They certainly didn't mean that they were stronger than Ke Zhiguang now. Of course, they had played all of Ke Zhiguang's games from the New Star Tournament to the Dragon Throne Tournament and knew the difference in strength between the two sides.

However, the more they act this way, the more aggressive they become, always feeling like they could be the next Ke Zhiguang.

Ke Zhiguang smiled calmly and sat down in front of the chessboard: "Alright, let's skip the provocation and get straight to the point... Interested in both of you coming at me at once?"

The shadow of pressure loomed over them, and the second-stage group wavered, exchanging glances with each other.

"Aren't these people a bit too fearless, like newborn calves?" Narita Shunji muttered to himself.

“That’s good. Letting them experience setbacks in advance will be beneficial for their future growth,” said Noriyuki Sasahara.

"This guy, he said he'd skip the provocation part, but he ended up provoking people himself..." Yamaoka gave him a "that's enough" look.

Soon, the exchange of glances between the two groups yielded a result—

“Of course it’s one-on-one.” After preparing himself mentally, Tamaki Katsuya sat down abruptly.

"Very good, keep up this momentum." Ke Zhiguang gently lifted the chess piece.

The afternoon hours slipped away between the chess pieces, and the sunlight in the courtyard slowly turned orange, then into sunset, and finally into night.

At night, the sky, which had been stuffy all day, finally began to rain—a heavy rain typical of summer.

Under the hazy mist, the neon lights became even more enchanting and alluring. Couples ran across the road through the rain, their wheels making the unique sound of rain on the road.

In the central district, amidst towering buildings, Yagami Kunikyo gazes at the city shrouded in rain from his floor-to-ceiling window.

Not long after, the elevator arrived at this floor.

"Phew... It's raining again in Tokyo, but this time the rain is much more normal. If it were always like the weather during the Dragon Throne War, Tokyo would have been flooded long ago." Nishi Chiaki patted the rain off his clothes and stepped out of the elevator.

"Have you completed the task I assigned you?" Yagami Kunikyo asked through his reflection in the window.

"Yes, it's done. I..." Just as he was about to describe in detail his experience of completing the task, Nishi Chiaki stopped.