Chaotic Sword God Chapter 3994: A Game of Chess

After uttering those words, the Wicked Immortal Elder remained stationary, a silent sentinel awaiting what was to come. No further words were exchanged.

Hours drifted by. Then, a sudden distortion rippled through the fabric of space, the very region undulating like disturbed water. Presently, a formidable consciousness, slumbering though it was, began to stir, its power surging with each passing moment.

As this awareness fully awakened, the five dismembered body parts adrift in the void were irresistibly drawn towards each other by an unseen force. They converged, ultimately rejoining to form a single, albeit broken, physique.

This was a body grievously harmed, marred by countless vicious and horrifying lacerations. Its internal organs were breached, riddled with finger-sized apertures. A peculiar energy permeated each wound.

It was this residual, strange power that actively thwarted any natural healing of the grievous injuries sustained.

“H-has M-Master truly f-found a w-way for m-me to r-recover…” A voice, fragmented and exceedingly frail, echoed through the void. Though a communication of the soul, its weakness was palpable.

Standing with folded arms, the Wicked Immortal Elder responded, “At this juncture, it is merely a potential. It is the greatest opportunity I have yet discovered. Whether you can truly mend, however, will only be known once we attempt it.”

The Wicked Immortal Elder paused, his expression turning grave. “However, to seize this chance, considerable effort will be required. He possesses exceptional skills in concealment; even Heavenly Emperors find it arduous to locate him.”

“E-even Heavenly Emperors… find it arduous. Then Master, d-do we still have hope…” the weakened soul inquired.

Upon hearing this, the Wicked Immortal Elder let out a hearty laugh. “While my martial prowess might not match that of a Heavenly Emperor, when it comes to locating individuals, none in this era can rival my abilities.”

“Yes, Master. I shall reconstruct my physical form forthwith!” In the ensuing moment, the reunited body blazed with an intense radiance, unleashing a potent surge of vitality that vibrated through the surrounding space.

Enveloped by this brilliant light, the five torn sections rapidly sealed, gradually coalescing into a single, unbroken whole.

As the Wicked Immortal Elder observed the figure’s recuperation, his gaze lingered upon the wounds imbued with that peculiar, lingering energy. A profound sense of guilt flickered in the depths of his eyes.

During that fierce conflict three million years prior, those wounds and that grim fate should have been his own. Yet, at a crucial juncture, his disciple, employing an innate secret technique, had turned the tide. He had forcefully absorbed the injuries onto himself, enduring the entirety of the onslaught.

Consequently, the Wicked Immortal Elder was burdened by an immense feeling of culpability and obligation towards his disciple.

At this precise moment, the Wicked Immortal Elder’s brows furrowed. He turned his head, directing his gaze into the distance.

Where his eyes settled, an elder materialized silently from seemingly nowhere. He was clad in aged, worn daoist robes, his presence subtly concealed, rendering him appear as an ordinary itinerant priest.

However, the sudden appearance of this daoist priest instantly put the Wicked Immortal Elder on high alert, as if confronting a formidable adversary.

“Heavenly Talisman Venerable, what brings you here?” The Wicked Immortal Elder fixed his gaze directly upon the old daoist priest, his tone laced with hostility.

The individual before him was none other than his long-standing rival. They had engaged in conflict, both overt and covert, for an uncounted number of years, neither managing to gain a decisive advantage over the other.

“Wicked Immortal, our game of chess from our last encounter remains unfinished,” the Heavenly Talisman Venerable stated impassively. With a wave of his hand, an ancient talisman detached itself and transformed into a colossal chessboard suspended in the void.

“I am currently engaged in other critical matters. I have no leisure for your chess game. I shall contend with you another day!” the Wicked Immortal Elder declared coldly.

“I have journeyed this far; the decision of whether you engage is not yours to make alone.” The Heavenly Talisman Venerable offered a gentle smile. The chessboard conjured by the talisman expanded, swiftly encompassing both the Heavenly Talisman Venerable and the Wicked Immortal Elder.

The chessboard resembled a pocket dimension, governed by its own unique laws. It was remarkably resilient, and with the added reinforcement of the Heavenly Talisman Venerable’s power, even a peak expert like the Wicked Immortal Elder would find it challenging to break free swiftly.

The Wicked Immortal Elder’s countenance darkened. He let out a growl, “Heavenly Talisman Venerable, are you deliberately obstructing me, preventing my departure from this place?”

“Come. Let us resolve this game before we speak further,” the Heavenly Talisman Venerable’s smile gradually receded. He executed a hand seal, and the chessboard immediately unleashed a tremendous force, bearing down upon the Wicked Immortal Elder with overwhelming might.

“Heavenly Talisman Venerable, it appears you are resolute in preventing my departure.” The Wicked Immortal Elder’s gaze was alight with lethal intent. Following this declaration, the immense aura of a Ninth Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt surged forth from his being, transforming into an unseen blade that struck ruthlessly towards the Heavenly Talisman Venerable.

Boom!

The potent forces clashed mid-air, unleashing a thunderous resonance that caused the entirety of the chessboard realm to tremble violently.

From this powerful exchange, the Wicked Immortal Elder and the Heavenly Talisman Venerable found themselves at a stalemate, with neither able to gain a definitive upper hand.

A look of sternness crossed the Heavenly Talisman Venerable’s face. With a mere flick of his finger, a chess piece materialized from the void, descending with the colossal size of a planet.

Upon its impact on the chessboard, an immediate and chilling aura of desolation permeated the once-still playing surface.

Unperturbed, the Wicked Immortal Elder channeled his Qi, manifesting a planet-sized chess piece of his own, unleashing a destructive force that swept across the chessboard.

The chessboard served as both a game and a deadly arena, saturated with an unending killing intent. A single moment of carelessness would spell ultimate doom.

“This game of chess will not conclude swiftly. My disciple, you will have to proceed on your own…” The Wicked Immortal Elder’s voice, tinged with frustration, echoed through the space.

......

…

Upon the Reverent Observance Heaven, a figure shrouded in a cloak traversed the Sword Region of Violet Heavens.

His movement seemed leisurely, yet he covered immense distances with each stride, demonstrating incredible speed. Like a phantom, he would materialize near cultivators venturing into the Sword Region of Violet Heavens, scrutinizing them intently from an unnervingly close proximity.

No one within the Sword Region of Violet Heavens detected his presence. Even Immortal Emperors who traversed near the Sword Region of Violet Heavens periodically were oblivious to his stealthy approach.

To say nothing of Immortal Emperors, even the Space-splitting Venerable, who diligently monitored the Sword Region of Violet Heavens using his soul sense from the Immortal Sect of Colossal Elephants, failed to perceive the cloaked wanderer.

Concealing his visage entirely, this cloaked figure was none other than the Soaring Immortal Heavenly Emperor, hailing from the Immortal Feather sect situated within the twelve courts of heaven.