CHAPTER 103: 6) THE PROGRESS.

Zhao Fan and the Sword Hermit sat across from one another and the mystical board laid between them like an altar to the intangible forces governing their existence.

If Zhao Fan lost, it would mean his end, a heartbreaking reality that Zhao Fan understood very well. Not to mention, it’s tragic to think that this floor holds the power to annihilate an entire team, because only one emperor exists for the whole team.

Logically speaking, if someone like Lu Tian played the game, the team is bound to fall unable to find peace.

Woosh~

The cold soul-chilling air around them moved subtly with a low wooshing that knew the wonders of worlds and the height of Mount Tai.

Not to mention, the destiny’s thread, and the weight of the game pressed down heavy as if the very heavens watched, to which they did.

Because the game of fate was no ordinary contest, even the Laozi of the east and the emperor of the west might tremble as it was a trial of will, intellect, and wisdom.

In such games patience, and foresight were important.

If one needs to win then one needs to think: Each piece on the board is more than just a token. It was a living symbol, an extension of the soul, a fragment of the Dao itself.

* * *

So,

The Fish, small and unassuming moved with one step at a time and it was a cleanser of bad fate and...

The Little Boy, weak in early form yet heavy, was a growth type with great potential. Quite interesting... And once it gets 10 heavenly virtues, it cleans the path from bad fate.

The Scholar however was the best one, being immune to the whims of fate itself, yet, the Scholar moved first, guiding the Emperor forward.

And there is an emperor, like a king in a chess piece, and lastly sage... It is a very high potential piece but it can’t be taken out early one.

...

"Let the game begin..." Zhao Fan said as calm as the sea, as silent as bamboo.

"Good! Good! Good!... I will choose Even, you are Odd." The sword cultivator said.

"Sounds good..."

With that, the sword cultivator rolled the dice.

The first number was two, so, sword cultivator moved the scholar five steps on the first move.

The dice rolled once again, it was four, the sword cultivator moved the fish. As soon as the fish came to the tile... The tile began to glow black however the fish ate all the misfortune.

Clack!!!

The dice rolled again across the board, and once it came to rest.

It was three, an odd number which means Zhao Fan’s turn.

The sword cultivator’s fingers paused mid-sip, his head tilting ever so slightly, as if trying to gauge what move the Young Master would take next.

Zhao Fan stared at the board, then calmly spoke:

"I will move the Scholar..."

The scholar moved five steps.

The dice rolled once again,

It was 5, and Zhao Fan moved the fish... It was golden light, with +3, the fish moved three steps.

Zhao Fan fully grasped the game mechanics.

Every tile is either good, bad, or neutral, and you can only explore it by moving. And the path of Zhao Fan and the Sword cultivator was different.

However, whether that is a good thing or bad remains unknown because fish can’t move backward meaning the tiles 2 and 3 are unknown.

Clack...

The dice spun again, a blur of ancient light shone brightly, and when it settled... It was four.

The Sword Cultivator raised his head just slightly, the shadow of his straw hat hiding the glint in his eyes. He reached out calmly, two fingers landing on the Little Boy.

"Hmm... let’s give the child a chance to grow."

The piece moved forward and a light shone brightly... It was heavenly virtue +1.

"Ho, ho, Ho..." The Sword cultivator laughed.

The dice rolled again... Again... And again...

Zhao Fan’s little boy as soon as it came out got stuck in a bad fate of a trap, which meant it couldn’t move.

Later once a certain path was cleared emperor got trapped meanwhile, the sword cultivator’s journey was easy.

The little boy had already managed to gather 7 virtues and the scholars had already reached the end and swapped places with the emperor.

And now once the scholars reach the end Zhao Fan would lose. Winning is impossible, no wonder it is a game of fate. One has an easy path while the other is filled with hardship.

The only way to win the game is to physically beat the opponent now.

Woosh!

Zhao Fan conjured a red ball and shot it towards the sword cultivator but the sword cultivator merely smirked and boom!

The red ball hit him and the Sword cultivator died.

The sword cultivator was confident thinking it was merely a Qi ball but in no way, it was a normal Qi Ball. Some people are really unaware of the depth of the seven seas.

The moment it touched the Sword Cultivator, his smirk froze mid-arc, his body convulsed, and a golden crack split across his chest like shattered glass on divine jade.

The teacup in his hand dropped, falling in slow motion. The steam still rose from it, ignorant of the sudden shift in fate.

Boom!!!

A shockwave of scarlet Dao-energy exploded out from the cultivator’s body, slicing through the air like the judgment of a Heavenly Tribunal.

But the Sword Cultivator was no ordinary opponent. Even as his body began to collapse, something shimmered in the shadows beneath his straw hat.

"You... used a Heaven-Severing Intent Ball," he rasped, blood running from the corner of his mouth like crimson ink on a white scroll. "That is not... something of this floor."

Zhao Fan stood slowly, his robes rippling like wind over calm water. His eyes were indifferent, yet profound, as if looking past the Sword Cultivator and into a realm far beyond mortal comprehension.

"You were too arrogant," Zhao Fan said quietly. "And too sure of your fate."

The Sword Cultivator staggered, kneeling now as his strength bled away. The board trembled. All the pieces; Fish, Scholar, Sage, Emperor, ceased their glow and crumbled into dust, returning to the void.

The Game of Fate is nullified.

The winner... has defied the script.

"You broke the rules," the Sword Cultivator growled.

"No," Zhao Fan said, stepping forward. "I simply realized... that your rules were never meant for someone like me. When the game isn’t fair play as you like..."

He lifted a single hand and snapped his fingers.

Crack...

A seal above the sky shattered.

It wasn’t a sky, not of blue or gold, but one shimmering with endless realms and layered heavens opened above them.

[ You have shattered the board of destiny. A hidden path is now unlocked. ]

[ Congratulations. You have ascended past the 38th floor. ]

...

Floor 39 was simple, ot was easily done.

Floor 40 was easier too.

These floors were strange as there wasn’t any need to kill someone.

Floor 41 was a strange one and the ones who greeted him were hermits.

It was a small island and these four hermits traveled in different directions.

One would go to the east, another to the west, another one to the South, and the last one to the north.

Zhao Fan chose the west, starting a journey to the west.

After that, ascend to floor 42,

Then 43,

Then 44,

It wasn’t normal ones...

[ Hehehe... This is the mirror of the riddle. The riddle here would be far more stronger than before ]

The guide said.

[ So, make sure you answer them well, or else the consequences will be dire ]

[ Of course, may the heavens be with you. ]

Heaven!?

How interesting.

Zhao Fan sighed and touched the mirror.

Instantly... He was in a sea of consciousness.

Answer,

In the beginning, there is no sound.

In the end, there is nothing.

What lies between is the answer.

What am I?

Answer:

I am the end.

I am the beginning.

I am in the middle.

I am nothing.

I am everything.

I am always there, yet you can never see me.

I am never heard, yet I speak to all.

I am felt by none, yet I touch everyone.

What am I?

A voice rang in his head.

"..."

"Time"

Zhao Fan answered.

Indeed, time is nothing but the beginning, end, middle, and everything.

Correct. Time is correct.

Another riddle.

* * *

Answer.

I am a dream,

I am an illusion,

I am a lie,

Yet I am true.

Without me, there would be no life,

Without me, there will be no death.

I am neither good nor bad.

I am not a thing,

I am not a being,

I am nothing,

I am something.

What am I?

"I know this one..." Zhao Fan replied with a smile as he began to answer. "It is ’Breath’."

Indeed, it is breath. Breath is light as a feather yet no one can hold it more than a few minutes. And, breath is a dream, illusion, and lie yet it is true.

And without breath, there is no life, and without breath, there is no death, and breath is not good or bad, and it isn’t a thing or being yet it is something.

Thus, the answer is Breath.

Indeed, it is Breath...

The mechanical voice echoed.

Zhao Fan smirked and the mirror began to break...

Breath wasn’t the correct answer.

From the moment Zhao Fan entered this place, Zhao Fan never took a breath. All the questions asked here was utterly stupid.

The only answer is Dao.

Everything else is but an illusion, and this mirror is a trap.