Chapter 2

On the fourteenth of June, in the Great Chen Kingdom, inside the Hulao Pass, there was an ancient town called Gufeng. In the town, there was a mansion known as 'Gu Mansion'.

The entire Gu Mansion, along with the surrounding streets, was filled with banquet tables, with guests coming and going incessantly. It was quite lively!

But just a moment ago, a group of people dressed in mourning attire surged in, and the original clamor came to an abrupt halt. A large number of troops guarded the area, instantly filling the originally festive scene with a solemn and deadly atmosphere.

"Isn't today the 70th birthday of Mr. Gu? The surrounding military camps should have been prepared long ago, so why are there so many soldiers?"

"That's not right, not right. Although Mr. Gu does not involve himself in politics, no one in the government dares to cross him!"

"Earlier, that was the Crown Prince, dressed in mourning attire, followed by the civil and military officials!"

"How is that possible?"

"It's true, truly the Crown Prince. Why is the Crown Prince dressed in mourning attire? Could it be...!"

...

The guests on the street immediately showed a look of shock.

The Crown Prince wearing mourning attire could only mean one thing: the current Emperor had passed away?

Isn't the current Emperor leading the troops on the front lines and winning battles?

Everyone showed a look of shock, clearly the news they had was too outdated.

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Gu Mansion!

The guests were all feasting in the front courtyard and on the streets, while the back courtyard of Gu Mansion was quite quiet. A seven-story tower in the back courtyard was the tallest building in the entire town. Standing on the tower, one could overlook everything in the town.

The tower was called the Sky-Piercing Tower!

Below the Sky-Piercing Tower, a large number of solemn people from Gu Mansion stood, watching a group of civil and military officials dressed in mourning attire kneel before the Sky-Piercing Tower, their faces showing signs of grief.

Only one person among those who came did not kneel, and that was the third grandfather of Chen Taizi, the white-robed man from the sect.

"Nephew Chen Liangyi requests to see Uncle Gu, and asks Uncle Gu to avenge his father!" Crown Prince Chen Liangyi said with a look of grief.

The Great Chen Kingdom is about to be destroyed, and how long can I, as the Crown Prince, remain in this position? Once the Great Chen Kingdom is destroyed, I might even be punished by the Immortal Sect, and my life would be in danger. Father said this person can turn the tide and is also his sworn brother.

To save the Great Chen Kingdom, not to mention kneeling, even if I had to kneel for three days and three nights, Chen Liangyi would not frown. For more and faster chapters, please visit.

Many of the servants in Gu Mansion were staring with wide eyes.

This is the current Crown Prince! And these are the civil and military officials? How is that possible? Just to request an audience with the master?

"Gu Hai, I am Chen Tian Shan of the Qinghe Sect. Do you remember? The Crown Prince has already led the civil and military officials to kneel before you. What more do you want?" The white-robed man standing there shouted loudly.

The people of Gu Mansion looked at him with furrowed brows. A middle-aged man in a green robe, about thirty years old, with a broad face and an ordinary appearance, stood outside the Sky-Piercing Tower, and all the people of Gu Mansion looked to him for guidance.

"Eldest Master? What about...!" A servant seemed to have something to say.

The middle-aged man in the green robe gave him a cold look, and the servant immediately closed his mouth in fear.

The authority of Gu Mansion cannot be challenged.

The eldest master in the green robe did not pay attention to the requests of the crowd but patiently waited outside the Sky-Piercing Tower.

"Uncle Gu, it was my father's last wish before he passed away that I come to request your help, and to apologize to you on his behalf. Father said he was wrong to you!" Chen Liangyi cried, his whole body trembling.

"Alas~~~~~!"

From inside the Sky-Piercing Tower, a distant sigh was heard.

Everyone's expressions changed.

Then, from inside the Sky-Piercing Tower, an old voice was heard again: "Master Chen has arrived, and I have been negligent. Gu Qin, please invite Master Chen to the tower, and also let Chen Liangyi come up!"

The eldest master, Gu Qin, standing at the tower entrance, immediately said solemnly: "Yes, Father!"

"Bang!"

Gu Qin pushed open the tower door and said to Chen Tian Shan: "Master Chen, I have been negligent. My father has not seen guests for a long time. This time, I have been disrespectful. Please come in!"

Chen Tian Shan nodded.

"Crown Prince Chen, please come in!" Gu Qin said solemnly.

Chen Liangyi, with a hint of excitement, immediately got up.

Gu Qin led Chen Tian Shan and Chen Liangyi into the Sky-Piercing Tower!

"Bang!"

The tower door closed again.

Outside, the civil and military officials looked at the tower with curiosity. For more and faster chapters, please visit.

The tower had seven floors, and the two of them found that each floor was filled with bookshelves, lined with countless books.

They finally reached the sixth floor.

Chen Tian Shan and Chen Liangyi finally saw Gu Hai.

At the window of the Sky-Piercing Tower, a large Go board was placed, but this board was different. A typical Go board has nineteen lines horizontally and vertically, but this board had twenty-nine lines in each direction.

The board was filled with Go stones, and the layout was unclear.

Next to the board stood an old man in black, about seventy years old, with snow-white hair and a very serious face. Although he had some wrinkles, his eyes were incredibly bright, as if they could see through one's heart, making Chen Liangyi's heart tremble.

This is the richest man in the six kingdoms, Gu Hai?

"Are you Gu Hai? No, you're not Gu Hai! Your eyebrows...?" Chen Tian Shan's eyes widened.

The old man smiled slightly and said: "Master Chen, do you remember the plea under that waterfall? I am indeed Gu Hai, but to avoid unnecessary trouble, I grew a beard and drew my eyebrows at that time!"

Chen Tian Shan looked closely and indeed, it was Gu Hai. But the most memorable part of his appearance at that time was all fake? The person was still the same, and the changes to his face were not significant, but if Gu Hai did not reveal himself, Chen Tian Shan would never have guessed it was the Gu Hai he had once met. For the latest updates, please visit.

"Uncle Gu, my father has passed away. He said you are his sworn brother and asks you to avenge him, in the name of our brotherhood!" Chen Liangyi knelt down again.

Gu Hai's eyes narrowed slightly, looked at Chen Liangyi, and said after a moment of silence: "In the past, I did indeed swear brotherhood with him, but he also tried to kill me. The brotherhood is no longer valid!"

"Ah?" Chen Liangyi's face stiffened.

Chen Tian Shan frowned slightly.

Gu Hai looked at Chen Tian Shan and said: "I know why you are here. The three passes have fallen, especially with Gao Xianzhi's betrayal and the slaughter of the 600,000 troops at the three passes. The Song Kingdom is united, and the Great Chen Kingdom is about to be destroyed. At this time, only a scattered 100,000 inferior troops remain. Do you think they can resist the 800,000 elite troops of the Song Kingdom?"

"What? Gao Xianzhi slaughtered 600,000 troops? They were prisoners!" Chen Liangyi exclaimed. For more and faster chapters, please visit.

"Four days ago, at noon!" Gu Hai said calmly.

"You, how do you know?" Chen Liangyi exclaimed.

Gu Hai did not speak.

Beside him, the eldest master, Gu Qin, served Gu Hai, pouring him a cup of tea and then pouring one for Chen Tian Shan.

Gu Hai gestured to Chen Tian Shan and sat down.

Chen Tian Shan looked at Gu Hai, his eyes filled with unfamiliarity. Ordinary people who saw him, a member of the Immortal Sect, would all revere him as a deity, but Gu Hai was so calm?

"Chen Taizi said you can!" Chen Tian Shan sat down and said solemnly.

Gu Hai picked up the tea and took a sip: "The kingdom is about to fall. In just half a month, Gao Xianzhi's army will reach Hulao Pass. The 100,000 troops at Hulao Pass are of poor quality, and you know better than I do. Do you think these people can resist Gao Xianzhi's 800,000 elite troops? Ha, not only will they not resist, but some of them will defect. Perhaps without Gao Xianzhi's intervention, Hulao Pass will fall on its own!"

Chen Tian Shan and Chen Liangyi's faces changed. This was not an exaggeration by Gu Hai but a very possible scenario. For the latest updates, please visit.

"Uncle Gu, please come out of seclusion and save the Great Chen Kingdom. As long as you save the Great Chen Kingdom, you can have anything you want!" Chen Liangyi immediately called out.

Beside him, Chen Tian Shan also said with certainty: "That's right! Do you have a plan?"

Gu Hai's eyes suddenly narrowed and said: "Oh? Since the Immortal Sect cares so much about the Great Chen Kingdom, why doesn't Master Chen go personally? I think with your power, taking the head of a general in the midst of a thousand troops is not difficult. Moreover, the Immortal Sect controls more than just the Great Chen Kingdom. Why not seek help from other countries? Why come to me, an old man full of copper stench?"

Chen Tian Shan frowned and said after a moment of silence: "This time, it can only be a battle between two countries, and no help from other countries is allowed. Moreover, members of the sect are not allowed to intervene!"

"Not allowed?" Gu Hai's expression changed, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

Although it was just three words, Gu Hai instantly understood a lot of information and saw a great opportunity, causing a ripple in his otherwise calm heart.

Suppressing that ripple, Gu Hai took a sip of tea.

"The Great Chen Kingdom is already beyond saving. I'm just here to ask one last time. If you can't, then that's it!" Chen Tian Shan said solemnly.

Gu Hai did not speak but looked at Chen Tian Shan and Chen Liangyi.

After a long while, Gu Hai said solemnly: "I can save the Great Chen Kingdom, but...!"

"You can save the Great Chen Kingdom? How?" Chen Tian Shan showed a hint of surprise.

"I have one condition!" Gu Hai did not explain but said solemnly.

"Oh?" Chen Tian Shan looked at Gu Hai.

"Uncle Gu, whatever you want, as long as I have it, I can give it to you!" Chen Liangyi also got up, surprised.

Gu Hai ignored Chen Liangyi and stared at Chen Tian Shan: "I need the sect leader of the Qinghe Sect to perform the灌顶 (initiation) for me, to help me break through the barrier to the Postnatal Realm and advance to the Prenatal Realm! And I need to learn the cultivation techniques of the Prenatal Realm in the Qinghe Sect!"

"What? You have reached the Postnatal Realm's perfection?" Chen Tian Shan immediately stood up in shock.

Gu Hai nodded solemnly.

"That's impossible. I saw your bone structure in the past, and you can't cultivate inner techniques. You started cultivating after the age of thirty, with such poor bone structure, you can only rely on external techniques, and you can never exceed the fifth level of the Postnatal Realm. But you say you are at the tenth level of the Postnatal Realm? That's absolutely impossible!" Chen Tian Shan immediately exclaimed. For the latest updates, please visit.

"External techniques? Others can't, but I can. The lifespan in the Postnatal Realm is only a hundred years, but once you reach the Prenatal Realm, your lifespan will be two hundred years. I am already in my twilight years. If I don't break through to the Prenatal Realm, my external techniques will dissipate. Fortunately, I have already reached the perfection of the Postnatal Realm. Even if you are at the Golden Core Realm, you are not enough to help me. Only your sect leader can. Go and talk to your sect leader. As long as he agrees to my conditions, I will save the Great Chen Kingdom!" Gu Hai said solemnly.

Chen Tian Shan stared at Gu Hai, his eyes filled with doubt.

External techniques? How ridiculous. External techniques can also reach the perfection of the Postnatal Realm? That crude cultivation method can only be achieved through self-torture. Even if one exhausts all their potential, they cannot exceed the fifth level of the Postnatal Realm. It has never happened before. Gu Hai actually reached the perfection of the Postnatal Realm?

"I have only this one request! What do you say?" Gu Hai stared at Chen Tian Shan, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation.

"Save the Great Chen Kingdom first, and I will talk to the sect leader!" Chen Tian Shan said solemnly.

Gu Hai smiled slightly and shook his head. For more and faster chapters, please visit. He did not speak but just looked at Chen Tian Shan.

"The sect leader is not here. How can I help the sect leader agree? Save the Great Chen Kingdom first, and I will report to the sect leader!" Chen Tian Shan said solemnly.

"Gao Xianzhi's army will reach Hulao Pass in at least half a month. In half a month, you have enough time to return to the sect and back. As long as the sect leader gives a promise, I will immediately save the Great Chen Kingdom. Once the Great Chen Kingdom is saved, the promise can be fulfilled. But I need the sect leader's promise!" Gu Hai stared at Chen Tian Shan, his tone firm.

"Half a month? Half a month can bring many changes. In half a month, Hulao Pass might fall! What will you use to save the Great Chen Kingdom? Moreover, in half a month, the 800,000 elite troops of the Song Kingdom will be at the city gates. With these 100,000 inferior troops, how can you resist?" Chen Tian Shan frowned and said unhappily.

"Half a month? Don't worry, it won't fall. How to resist is my problem. The sooner you return, the sooner the Great Chen Kingdom will be out of danger!" Gu Hai's eyes showed a hint of determination. Without a promise, Gu Hai would not take the risk.

Chen Tian Shan stared at Gu Hai, his eyes cold: "Gu Hai, this is what you said. If you can't save the Great Chen Kingdom, you know the consequences of deceiving us...!"

Gu Hai did not care but turned to Chen Liangyi: "Since Chen Taizi is dead, let's put past grievances aside. Although I live in the Great Chen Kingdom, the taxes I pay to the Great Chen Kingdom every year are enormous. I am not under the protection of the Great Chen Kingdom. In the six kingdoms, if I want to move, any country will grant me land. I have stayed in the Great Chen Kingdom all these years just because of some attachments. I have no grudges with you, and I don't owe you anything. If you want me to save the Great Chen Kingdom, wait for Master Chen's news!"

"Yes, thank you, Uncle Gu!" Chen Liangyi immediately said respectfully.

"Go back first. I have many guests today, so I won't entertain you further!" Gu Hai said, seeing them off.

"Yes!" Chen Liangyi nodded.

Chen Tian Shan stared at Gu Hai for a while: "I will immediately return to the sect and ask the sect leader for a promise. I hope what you said is true, otherwise... hum!"

He turned and quickly left with Chen Liangyi.

Beside him, Gu Qin looked at Gu Hai, his brows slightly furrowed: "Father, the Great Chen Kingdom is almost unsolvable this time. How can you save it? Could it be...!"

Gu Hai looked at the Go board on the table again, took a deep breath, and said: "I know it's unsolvable, and from their tone, the sect is not allowed to intervene. A battle between secular forces is like 'a crippled infant fighting a brute'! But this is my last chance. The difference between the Postnatal Realm and the Prenatal Realm is like heaven and earth. Entering the Prenatal Realm, I can become young again, returning to my prime! I only need this one chance to become young again. So, no matter how great the difficulty, I must solve it!"

"Yes!" Gu Qin nodded, somewhat worried.

"I will think of a plan. Don't disturb me. Go down!" Gu Hai said solemnly.

"Father, today is your birthday. Do you...!"

"No need. I have already received the best birthday gift. Go...!" Gu Hai waved his hand.

Gu Qin nodded and left.

Gu Hai leaned against the window, watching the troops withdraw. He played with a black Go stone in his hand, his brows deeply furrowed: "On my 30th birthday, I collected 100,000 incomplete Go board diagrams and found this 'black stone' in the library's cellar. I didn't expect you to bring me from Earth to this world, and it has been forty years. What secrets do you hide? Is it just for those 100,000 incomplete Go board diagrams? After studying for decades, I have almost understood them, but in all these years, you have shown no signs. How can I understand you?"

Gu Hai sighed slightly and reached out to place the black stone on his forehead.

"Buzz!"

The black stone strangely penetrated the skin and entered Gu Hai's forehead.

Gu Hai's mind sank into his forehead, where there was a space. Below the space, there were 100,000 Go boards, each with an incomplete game. The 100,000 incomplete games seemed to be constantly changing, with the 'black stone' floating above them, like a king overseeing the 100,000 incomplete games.

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