The work of the Go master

"More than a hundred dragons clashing in battle!"

"If I remember correctly, based on the experience of the previous games, whenever the game turns into a large-scale battle, Ke Zhiguang is the one who wins, right?"

"It's not that easy. Of the four games he won, only three were dragon-slaying duels. Shi Xin... that's Shi Xin! There's no way to defeat him so easily!"

The countdown had already begun, and both sides, urged on by the thirty seconds remaining, pushed their pieces onto the board.

Move 168! Shi Xin flipped his wrist, hiding the deadly dragon-slaying blade behind the back of his hand, and quietly placed a chess piece.

On the second line, White has established a position, and at any moment a small or large knight's move could extend into Ke Zhiguang's side territory.

"Shi Xin... he's backing down? Does he think he can win by simply finishing the game steadily?"

However, just before the countdown ended, Ke Zhiguang quickly responded—on the other side of the field, he launched a desperate counterattack, aiming at the most dangerous situation.

"No! That's not the endgame! Shi Xin is targeting the weakness in Ke Zhiguang's territory. If he doesn't fill in the gaps... or if he doesn't fill in the right spots, the key stones will be exposed!"

On the chessboard, Shi Xin's long-hidden dagger was finally drawn. It was hidden behind a piece in the endgame and launched a surprise attack on Ke Zhiguang's dragon.

Kasaya Slash!

The Buddha's light, like a sharp blade, swept across the chessboard and the heavens and earth, and Ke Zhiguang also unleashed a desperate attack!

In the upper right corner, a sharp, flying blade pierced the gap in the opponent's line, or rather, the eye shape. It was a rather strange and tricky piece. No one knew how Ke Zhiguang knew that such a wailing counterattack was hidden here.

The blades, both horizontal and vertical, collided between the sea and the sky, and a giant cross rose up, judging the fate of both sides like a god!

The sound was gradually fading from Ke Zhiguang's ears. He was forging ahead through the storm, heading towards the center of the cross, while Shi Xin was moving forward from the other side.

I believe the ending I foresaw.

I also believe in destiny and in everything!

Inside the mysterious space, all the onlookers stared in disbelief at the unfolding events on the chessboard, as if an ancient painting depicting the vast war between the Buddhas of the divine realm was being painted before their eyes.

"Hey...did you guys notice? If this part goes all the way to the end..."

"Yes, if we go all the way to the end, it will be..."

The onlookers were increasingly shocked, and even the people setting up the chess pieces stopped and turned their astonished gazes to the chessboard.

Both players on the chessboard lowered their arms as if the game had ended.

There was actually a look of horror in their eyes, as if to say... how did we end up with this thing?

"This is... the Tribulation of Immortality?" Qingdaolu asked in surprise.

"Yes, it is indeed a tribulation of immortality." Ling nodded calmly... Actually, she wasn't so calm after all.

The final battle spread to the upper right corner of the board. Although the two sides' large dragons shook hands peacefully and allowed each other to live, the damage caused by the dragons attacking each other made the already strong black corner in the upper right corner appear even weaker.

Then, with the help of one skillful hand after another, the Longevity Tribulation was formed.

Although both are "ko," this kind of ko is much more bizarre than ordinary ko fights. Ordinary ko fights revolve around capturing a single piece, even if it becomes a chain ko, a three-ko cycle, or even a four-ko cycle. In essence, it is all about fighting around a single piece.

The peculiarity of the Eternal Ko is that it revolves around two pieces and involves mutual capture and removal. Black needs to send one piece inward to capture it, and then White will remove it. However, since it is on a dead line, Black can immediately counter-capture. Then White will invade the first line to break the eye, and Black will send another piece inward. Thus, the Eternal Ko is formed.

On a dead end line, four chess pieces endlessly cycle through the game, like an endless cycle, hence the name "Eternal Calamity".

It wasn't until the very last moment that Ke Zhiguang realized this was a calamity of immortality. Shi Xin also realized it suddenly. He originally thought that with his last move into the broken eye, forming a death shape of a knife handle at the corner, victory would belong to him.

Unexpectedly, Ke Zhiguang suddenly had a flash of inspiration, as if he had discovered something unusual. He cleverly pushed his piece into the concave part of the white pieces, giving away two pieces. Only then did both sides realize what was going on.

Applause erupted around Ke Zhiguang and Shi Xin, and everyone around them stood up and applauded.

"The ninth game of the Shi Ke Ten-Game Match ended in a draw with the 'Eternal Life Ko' ko!"

As is customary, whenever a game ends in a draw, the surrounding players stand up and applaud.

Applause came from all directions, and countless people were clapping.

Many people who didn't understand this chess-related meme were also caught up in the applause and hurriedly asked what had happened, while those who knew chess patiently explained it to them.

From that moment on, the meme spread throughout Japan and even reached China.

"The Tribulation of Immortality, huh? This is truly... I must say, as expected of a senior, always managing to give people unexpected surprises." Xingcai shrugged helplessly.

She had previously had a four-ko cycle in the Dragon Throne Tournament, ending in a draw and earning applause from the audience, but compared to the rarity of the Long Life Ko, a four-ko cycle is relatively common.

This is the rarest draw pattern. To this day, people's understanding of the "Eternal Life" ko is limited to the interesting tesuji in textbooks. No one has ever seen it in actual games, and there are no related game records or even legends about it.

Unexpectedly, it appeared in this world-renowned, unprecedented ten-game match, as if it were a destiny ordained to make this ten-game match unprecedented and unparalleled.

"That concludes today's match. See you next time..."

"Wait a minute," Ke Zhiguang said, interrupting the referee.

“I also have something to say, and I may share the same thoughts as you.” Shi Xin looked at Ke Zhiguang, and a tacit understanding appeared in their eyes.

Everyone was stunned. It was already dark, and everyone must have been tired after playing chess all day. What could they possibly have to say at a time like this?

You can't exactly object to a draw, can you?

"My original idea was to win 6-4, but I didn't expect it to end in a draw, which makes me very unhappy."

Shi Xin nodded: "I also have many things I'm unhappy about."

Ke Zhiguang continued, "However, the good news is that once a game ends in a draw, it means that... the entire ten-game match will not end in a draw."

These words reminded everyone that once this game ended in a draw, the ten-game match would become a nine-game match, and one side would inevitably win. It couldn't be a five-to-five tie... unless the two of them really did plan it together and ended in another draw.

If this really happened, then we'd have to suspect that these two were fixing the match...

"In short, since we can't go from 6 to 4, we're both really unhappy and angry right now. What do you think we should do?" Ke Zhiguang asked, as if addressing everyone.

"Could it be that you intend to...?"

"Now, right now, let's play another round." Shi Xin said what Ke Zhiguang also wanted to say.

Although their lines were passionate and full of heroic ambition, ...didn't you guys consider the others?! What time is it?! I'm so tired of being cooped up here all day!

"Don't worry, it won't take long. This game... we'll play fast chess." Ke Zhiguang picked up the timer next to him, which was already being adjusted.

"Fifteen seconds per move, how about that?" Shi Xin was also adjusting his strategy. Rather than saying he accepted Ke Zhiguang's suggestion, it would be more accurate to say that he had already planned to do so.

"no problem."

Ke Zhiguang looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.

After an unknown amount of time, he... eventually returned to the old path of blitz chess. Ever since he first used blitz chess to defeat Shinobu Shika, who was far stronger than him at the time, he seemed to have an inseparable connection with this strategy.

This is the final completion!

"Tenth round, begin!"

Chapter Fourteen: To fight you is a great honor.

No one expected that the tenth game would start in this way, and it was even in this rapid chess format.

The final war drums sounded, and everyone seemed to hear the awe-inspiring sound, their expressions tensing up!

Pick up the pieces, clap, guess who's first—

"In this game, Shi Xin plays black, Ke plays white, and Guang plays black!"

Ke Zhiguang pulled out a white chess piece, as if taking a forged god-slaying blade out of a furnace, the scalding heat emanating from his fingertips.

Perhaps this is the moment, the calling of destiny, the guidance of mission.

It is said that everyone has the ability to foresee the future, especially when making important decisions.

I saw it...

This is the game they are destined to win!

The game begins, with each of the four corners occupied. Time passes silently in fifteen-second increments as the setting sun swirls overhead, gradually transforming into evening glow.

Tomorrow is the start of summer, and this is the last spring glow of the year.

On Ke Zhiguang's original tactics panel, regardless of the outcome of the ninth game, he would propose this rapid game to end everything today.

The chess pieces raced forward at a speed of fifteen seconds per move. To outsiders, the game still appeared slow, but to those who understood chess, it was the ultimate in rapid, swift attacks, each strike possessing a power that others could never achieve in their entire lives.

The opening moves are complete; the mid-game battle begins!

On the chessboard, black and white surged forth, forming two dragons that rapidly attacked each other, one ko fight after another!

Although the game is still being broadcast on television, there is no commentary anymore. No one is qualified to commentate on it at such a fast pace, so it's better to just enjoy watching.

The chess-setting team also stopped their work and focused their attention on the game.

Heaven and earth held their breath, listening to the sounds of this game of chess, the greatest notes in the world.

Cut it off! Eat it!

Damn it! Empty digging!

The dazzling maneuvers fell like a rain of molten iron, scorching through mountains and rivers. With each flash of the ghostly hand, the mid-game battle came to an end!

"What's the situation?"

"They're evenly matched; their territory and strength are roughly equal. It'll come down to a close call!"

"That's bad for Ke Zhiguang!"

The most deadly and tense endgame battle has begun. Ke Zhiguang closed his eyes and sighed, unable to tell whether what he was inhaling was scorching heat or icy vapor.

Amidst ice and fire, Stoneheart's figure remains like a god, even though he is already covered in wounds.

"Next, we will enter a battlefield that is advantageous to me. Are you ready?" Shi Xin asked in a voice that no one else could hear.

Ke Zhiguang picked up a chess piece and stepped towards the end of ice and fire.

He saw it, he saw that burning light of hope, that was the only, and certain, chance of victory!

The long endgame battle began and sailed towards its final end...

One hundred and eighty hands.

Two hundred and ten hands.

Two hundred and forty moves!

White was down by half a point! Everyone was astonished to realize this result.

The game has now reached nearly 300 moves, which is quite a lot for Go. Most games can be completed in around 250 moves, but 300 moves means the game is extremely intense, with several rounds of fierce ko fighting.