A Cunning Pervert in the Cultivation World Chapter 344: A Glimpse Beyond the Sky.

Outside the secret realm, under the tranquil, moonlit heavens, the immense flying ships of the four Great Sects floated serenely in the night sky. Though vast in scale, their decks were largely deserted, as nearly all disciples had already entered the secret realm, leaving only a few Elders behind. Some were immersed in silent, cross-legged meditation, while others lounged against the railings, their robes billowing in the gentle night breeze, engaged in casual conversation like old acquaintances. Yet, aboard the Azure Moon Sect’s flying ship, the atmosphere was far from peaceful.

"Ha! You dare challenge me with that maneuver again?!" a booming voice disrupted the quietude of the night. In the center of the deck, a square stone table had been prepared, illuminated by a softly glowing spirit lamp. Four Elders were seated around it, their expressions grim, sleeves rolled up as though bracing for combat. Between them lay a spirit formation board, its surface intricately carved with lines that shimmered with spiritual light. Black and white pieces hovered slightly above it, emitting faint surges of qi. This was no ordinary game of chess; it was Heavenly Battle Chess, a contest where each piece embodied strategy, the flow of spirit, territorial control, and mutual suppression. A single miscalculation could spell utter ruin.

"Elder Mo, you have already succumbed to defeat three times," Elder Shentian scoffed, stroking his beard. "At your age, you should prioritize your cultivation rather than courting humiliation."

"Nonsense!" Elder Mo of the Azure Moon Sect retorted, striking the table, which caused several pieces to tremble in mid-air. "This round, I have already sealed your Spirit Gate. Let’s see how you manage to escape!"

Nearby, a striking woman in her thirties narrowed her eyes. Delicate threads of spiritual energy extended from her fingertips as she hovered them over the board. "...You are all too slow." With a subtle flick of her finger, Elder Lu of the Waterflow Sect dropped a white piece into place. The entire board erupted in light as torrents of illumination surged like flowing rivers, effortlessly cleaving through the existing formations.

"WHAT?! Impossible!"

"You breached all three layers?!"

Meanwhile, the fourth Elder, Elder Mountain Crasher, who had remained silent until this moment, finally let out a chuckle. "You were all so preoccupied with attacking each other that you overlooked one crucial element." He calmly lifted his teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip. "...This is a four-player game."

The board shifted once more. Black and white lights clashed, and formations collided. An invisible pressure radiated outwards, rustling everyone's robes. From afar, it resembled nothing less than a genuine battlefield. Then— A thin fracture appeared on one corner of the spirit board. Elder Mo’s expression froze. "No... that’s—" But before he could finish his sentence— A surge of white light erupted as Elder Lu’s piece landed. What appeared to be a simple breakthrough was, in reality, merely the prelude to a far more devastating maneuver. Threads of spiritual light intertwined, overlapped, and consumed the surrounding formations like a relentless tide engulfing scattered vessels.

Elder Shentian’s beard quivered. "You... you weren't breaking through—"

"I was guiding you... towards your doom," Elder Lu replied softly, a faint, perilous smile gracing her lips. Her fingers moved again, and another piece descended. This time, the entire board convulsed as territory crumbled. Pathways inverted, and the very flow of qi twisted violently. Elder Mo’s meticulously crafted formation, his vaunted sealed Spirit Gate, was instantly ripped asunder. His pieces were flung about as if struck by an invisible force.

"Damn it!" He sprang to his feet, his robes flaring dramatically. Simultaneously, Elder Shentian gritted his teeth, slamming his palm down to arrest the collapse of his own position. "You insane woman..! You’re dragging all of us down with you!"

Elder Lu merely chuckled. "If I fall... do you truly believe I will fall alone?" The pressure intensified, causing even the spirit lamp to flicker erratically. And yet, amidst this escalating chaos... Elder Mountain Crasher remained seated, utterly unperturbed. He took another slow sip of his tea, as if the tempest unfolding before him were naught but a passing zephyr. "...Children squabbling," he muttered. Then, without even deigning to look down, he placed a single piece. There was no explosive surge... only a quiet sound. But in the very next instant— Everything ceased. The raging currents of qi froze mid-flow, and Elder Lu’s encroaching formation halted as if seized by an unseen hand. The countless threads of light she had so intricately woven trembled... then began to fray and dissipate.

"...What?" Her smile vanished for the first time. Elder Shentian blinked, and Elder Mo’s jaw went slack. A single, unassuming move. Yet it occupied the precise center of the board, severing every pathway, disconnecting every link, and transforming the entire chaotic battlefield into a desolate, silent void. Elder Mountain Crasher finally set his teacup down.

"Your formations are quite ingenious," he stated with a placid tone. "However, you mistake elaborate designs for genuine command."

A gentle tap echoed from his hand upon the table.

"In the game of Heavenly Battle Chess... the fiercer your struggle..."

The solitary game piece emitted a faint pulse.

"...the more susceptible you become to being broken."

One by one—

The game pieces belonging to Elder Lu began to lose their luminescence.

The defensive formations of Elder Shentian crumbled entirely.

Elder Mo's last remaining formation shattered as if it were delicate glass.

...and an absolute silence descended.

It was an overwhelming and complete annihilation.

For a considerable duration, not a single word was uttered.

"THAT IS UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE!!!"

Elder Mo's furious outcry finally pierced the night, causing him to overturn the game table.

The spirit board tumbled through the air, its formation lights flashing erratically before extinguishing completely.

"This chess set must have been tampered with!" he declared, his face flushed crimson with utter humiliation.

"There's absolutely no way a brainless oaf like you could achieve such an overwhelming victory three times in a row!!"

Elder Shentian let out an awkward cough.

"...He does present a valid point."

Elder Lu crossed her arms over her substantial chest, her eyes narrowing as she examined the fallen board. She then directed her gaze towards the silent, towering figure.

"...That final move was not normal."

All eyes shifted to focus on Elder Mountain Crasher, who remained seated.

For a moment, he offered no response.

Then, Elder Mountain Crasher stood up, striking a pose of dramatic flair.

His bare upper torso, adorned with powerfully sculpted muscles, gleamed under the moonlight. He turned to the side, one arm extended upward, the other tensed.

"Who asserts that we are merely brawny simpletons?" he scoffed, his chest expanding and his biceps visibly swelling.

"...You fail to comprehend," he continued, his voice now resonating with undeniable pride.

"My muscles... are far from ordinary."

He flexed once more.

A prominent vein pulsed dramatically.

"They possess the ability to think," he proclaimed, "...they can observe."

Another display of muscle.

"...and they adapt."

Elder Mo stared at him, his face still red from fury... but now, a different emotion was slowly beginning to surface.

"...You have lost your mind."

"LOST MY MIND?!" Elder Mountain Crasher bellowed.

He suddenly took a heavy step forward—

And the entire deck shuddered.

"My left pectoral alone can strategize three moves ahead!" he bellowed, emphatically slapping his chest.

"My right arm is specialized in executing defensive formations!"

He flexed the limb in question.

"...and my back muscles—"

He spun around abruptly, twisting his torso in a manner that was unnecessarily theatrical.

"—are responsible for handling long-term strategy!"

Elder Shentian's face convulsed severely.

"...Your back... plays chess?"

"Naturally!" Elder Mountain Crasher retorted sharply, as if deeply offended. "Do you honestly believe I secured this victory solely with my intellect?!"

"...Yes??"

"Incorrect!"

He dismissedively waved a hand towards his own head.

"This thing is merely for aesthetic purposes."

Then, with a proud gesture, he hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

"THE TRUE GENIUS RESIDES BACK HERE!"

"""THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE LIE!!!"""

All three elders exclaimed in unison.

_

Meanwhile, situated a short distance away on a separate deck,

Qing Lianhua observed the boisterous assembly of elders engaged in their argument, her eyes shining with amusement and curiosity.

"...It appears they are enjoying themselves."