Chapter 1215 - 1205: Can You Sit Down?
Chapter 1215 - 1205: Can You Sit Down?
Bai Zetian just realized he really underestimated Yang Xiao.
Originally, he thought that despite Yang Xiao defeating Long Hang yesterday, he still had a chance to beat Yang Xiao, so he intentionally let Yang Xiao go first just before the game started.
But after just a hundred moves, Bai Zetian felt unable to hold on anymore. His pieces were completely trapped by Yang Xiao, unable to extend further; apart from a group of pieces in a triangle formation surviving, the rest were dead pieces, unable even to make two eyes.
This Yang Xiao is ruthless!
Using Go training to enhance spiritual power and maintaining one’s mental stability is very important. After every move, the board changes, exerting strong spiritual pressure on the opponent. Especially when facing a master, it feels like every move is an invisible longsword stabbing at your heart.
Bai Zetian currently felt just this; with every move Yang Xiao made, that invisible spiritual longsword stabbed an inch deeper into his heart, giving him a feeling of trembling.
It was as if a noose was tightening around his neck, slowly suffocating him.
Bean-sized sweat dripped onto the board from his forehead.
Bai Zetian was highly tense; he only felt this way before when playing against the first grandmaster.
Suddenly shocked, Bai Zetian looked up at Yang Xiao.
"I lost!"
After saying these three words, Bai Zetian sighed deeply, feeling a wave of relief over his whole body, the spiritual pressure suddenly vanished without a trace.
Yang Xiao smiled slightly,
"Thank you for letting me win!"
Bai Zetian wiped the sweat off his forehead, noticing that he was already drenched in sweat, which he hadn’t realized due to the intense focus.
Bai Zetian stood up and slightly bowed to Yang Xiao with clasped fists,
"Yang Leader’s Go skills are outstanding and his spiritual power profound, I am impressed!"
Yang Xiao chuckled,
"Not at all, I was just lucky."
Around them, dozens of Go experts had gathered, tensely watching the board.
When Bai Zetian admitted defeat, everyone else similarly breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Ming walked to Bai Zetian’s side, asked him a couple of concerned questions, then glanced at Yang Xiao, and the two departed.
Wanyan Hong and Wanyan He came over, both smiling,
"Congratulations, Yang, on defeating another formidable opponent."
Yang Xiao smiled slightly, and the three left the chess institute.
The Eldest Prince, Wanyan He said,
"Yang, did you know that according to the rules, Long Hang whom you eliminated yesterday and Bai Zetian whom you defeated today can’t make it to the finals anymore; both had hopes of competing for the top three. Alas, encountering you was unlucky for them."
"Ah, then among the remaining contestants, who still has the strength to enter the top three?"
"Definitely our Dean, Bai Ming from Youming Empire, and one from the Fire Wolf Empire Chess Academy, Su Xiao."
Wanyan He, on the side, laughed,
"With Yang here this year, things are completely different. The competition is elimination-based, a single loss means losing the chance to continue competing. Whoever encounters Yang early is unlucky."
"How many more rounds are there?"
"We have over a hundred participants; after four eliminations, around six to eight people remain, entering the final round. The final round involves cross matches; each one plays a game with all the other opponents, ranking according to the number of victories, the person with the most wins is first."
Yang Xiao asked,
"Why hasn’t the first grandmaster from the Great Dragon Empire Chess Institute appeared after two rounds?"
Wanyan Hong, hearing this, laughed,
"Yang might not know this: the first grandmaster is very proud and doesn’t enjoy socializing; only after the final round will she separately meet the top three winners and host three public Go lectures."
...
After Yang Xiao defeated Bai Zetian, the chess institute’s contestants were instantly abuzz.
Whether Long Hang or Bai Zetian, both were top Go players on Witch Star Continent, yet both were consecutively defeated by Yang Xiao, and from the field situation, Yang Xiao won rather easily, seemingly holding back.
Long Aotian again found the Fire Wolf Empire Chess Academy’s Dean Su Xiao.
"Dean Su, you watched the match between Yang Xiao and Bai Zetian today, do you have confidence?"
Su Xiao smiled faintly, saying,
"Yang Xiao’s Go skills are indeed excellent, but I still have confidence in defeating him and making him suffer greatly."
"Great, it seems Dean Su is full of confidence. I’ve spoken to my father about your request; he has promised me that as long as you can defeat Yang Xiao in the match, wound him greatly, or even kill him, we will certainly fulfill your request and teach you the Heavenly Dragon Swordsmanship."
Su Xiao chuckled,
"Good, it’s a deal!"
...
Liu Suifeng and Chen Rong were in the courtyard, playing Go while sipping tea and chatting.
"Senior brother, I heard a fierce competitor appeared in this Go tournament, already consecutively defeating Long Hang and Bai Zetian."
"Ah? How fierce is this person? It’s not the Fire Wolf Empire’s Su Xiao, is it? I heard he spent three years in seclusion studying Go; he’s mainly here to challenge us."
Chen Rong smiled faintly,
"Challenge us? Let’s talk when he gets the championship. People from Witch Star have innate shortcomings in Go; no matter how hard they try, their achievements are limited. To challenge you, an expert in the Divine Realm, is difficult!"
"You’re right; for people from Witch Star, the purpose of playing Go isn’t Go itself, but enhancing their spiritual cultivation. Therefore, Go for them is just a means; they can’t be fully committed to it. Generally, after reaching the Through-You Realm, progress becomes challenging; even for someone like Su Xiao who studied the basic board, achievements are very limited."
"Sigh, I’m really tired of staying on Witch Star. When will we be able to return to Earth?"
"Don’t worry, junior sister, since we’re here, let’s settle down. Plus, cultivating the Genetic Evolution Method is beneficial."
"I’m just complaining, what else can I do?"
...
The third elimination round went smoothly; Yang Xiao, Wanyan Hong, Bai Ming, Su Xiao, and several other popular candidates smoothly advanced to the top sixteen.
The highly anticipated fourth round also passed without incident; the favored contestants including Yang Xiao didn’t meet, smoothly entering the final round.
Before the final, there’s a day of rest, with a lecture by the first grandmaster scheduled at the chess institute.
Most attendees came for the chance to hear the first grandmaster, Chen Rong; only those who qualified could attend her lecture at the chess institute, a rare opportunity.
People like Wanyan He, whose Go skills are relatively low, used their influence to suppress some local competitors, finally earning the chance to be here.
Over a hundred participants and some guests, totaling fewer than two hundred people, sat quietly in the hall, waiting for the first grandmaster’s appearance.
Other than those in the chess institute, it’s challenging for outsiders to glimpse the first grandmaster, let alone listen to her lecture and receive her guidance.
Yang Xiao, Wanyan Hong, and Wanyan He sat among the crowd, having arrived a bit late and positioned farther back.
Many people arrived two hours early to secure front-row seats; originally, Wanyan He also wanted to compete for a seat, but Yang Xiao’s casual "Isn’t it just a Go lecture, is it necessary?" stopped him, so he gave up.
Now sitting in the back, the Eldest Prince Wanyan He’s muttering,
"I said to come early for seats, but you weren’t willing. Look, now we can only sit in the back, so far from the stage, it’s difficult even to see the first grandmaster."
Long Jing, Long Aotian, Su Xiao, Bai Ming, Bai Zetian, and others took the front seats.
The host of the lecture was Deputy Dean Long Hang.
Long Hang was hurt by Yang Xiao’s spiritual power, but after resting for two days, he was much better.
Long Hang glanced at the clock on the wall of the hall, it was exactly nine o’clock, then loudly announced,
"Everyone, quiet down. Now, let us welcome our Witch Star Go’s first grandmaster to explain Go knowledge to us, with enthusiastic applause. Let’s clap!"
"Clatter!"
Thunderous applause filled the room.
A door near the stage opened; two maids stood on either side of the door as a graceful figure walked out.
Chen Rong wore a white dress, looking elegant and refined, with an advanced aura and light movements, resembling a fairy from beyond this world.
Everyone’s eyes brightened, their hearts racing, applause intensified.
Those seated further back stood up to see the first grandmaster clearly.
Many more people stood up.
Thunderous applause filled the hall, the atmosphere was intense.
Yang Xiao and others couldn’t see due to the people standing up in front.
"Damn, sitting in the back, you can’t even see a shadow. Can you people in the front sit down!"
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