Xie Lingyu was instantly speechless, wanting to fiercely refute Chu Xingchen's statement, but then felt that he hadn't really said anything wrong.
Most secret realms were actually tombs that powerful cultivators carefully prepared for themselves when they knew their death was approaching.
Before death, these powerful cultivators wanted to pass on all the wealth accumulated in this lifetime, and if possible, have it inherited by themselves in the next life.
This group of powerful cultivators mostly suffered from soul erosion rather than physical body problems, so simply seizing another's body couldn't solve the issue.
Therefore, in cultivation theory, resetting everything about the soul and restoring the erosion would result in a brand new soul.
Although everyone knew that starting over meant losing memories, and everything left behind could easily fall into others' hands.
But... everyone in this world thinks they're the one lucky exception - what others can't do, I can make work.
Naturally, building a tomb wasn't meant for joint archaeological excavation by other sects to study what style one's coffin was.
So these secret realms were mostly well-hidden - underwater, deep in the sea, deep in mountains, and so on.
They designed clever methods to protect their tombs.
Additionally, the more remote the location, the better. The worst was the Central Continent, where the probability of being excavated was highest - those people had the highest cultivation and the best divine consciousness.
Moreover, with high cultivation came many archaeological methods. Basically, once discovered, they'd be excavated to the end.
Other continents might still hold out for a while after being discovered thanks to their designs.
Chu Xingchen didn't have much experience in grave robbing. The one with more experience should be Li Xingtian.
But relying on his cultivation, Chu Xingchen felt there shouldn't be any problem - he was afraid of living Grand Ascension cultivators, but dead ones? What was there to fear?
"Let's go! Rob some graves!" Chu Xingchen waved his hand, ready to advance.
Xie Lingyu showed some helplessness, "Can't you say it more pleasantly?"
Chu Xingchen promptly changed his words, "Let's go! Do some archaeology!"
Xie Lingyu frowned slightly - it sounded a bit better, but why was it still strange?
But Chu Xingchen had already taken the lead into the secret realm, and Xie Lingyu followed closely behind.
Well, archaeology sounded better than grave robbing.
Inside the secret realm.
Chu Xingchen stepped in and immediately swept his gaze around. Although it was called a tomb, the design was quite cheerful.
There was no overflowing yin energy, far better than the Peach Blossom Village from Yuankong's time.
On the contrary, although there was no sun hanging in the sky, it was still bright and clean.
Lush green grass, flowers in full bloom.
A stream flowed in the distance, and further away, a towering tree rose from the ground.
That tree was enormous, almost filling his entire field of vision.
Chu Xingchen looked into the distance. Inside the great tree, many houses were built. Among them, at the left and right positions near the treetop, a house slightly more magnificent than the others was situated.
Although this magnificence was only at the level of ordinary mortal houses.
Xie Lingyu also stepped in, with a slightly alert expression, naturally noticing the most prominent large tree.
Chu Xingchen suggested, "Shall we go take a look?"
Xie Lingyu nodded gently, "Be careful."
Chu Xingchen's divine consciousness slightly extended outward. After confirming the surrounding situation, he took a step forward.
In the next moment, the surroundings rapidly shifted. Chu Xingchen quickly sensed a spatial displacement. He reacted swiftly, reaching back to grasp Xie Lingyu's hand, and a spiritual barrier rapidly expanded.
The scene before him flashed like flowing light and instantly dissipated, then quickly reassembled.
In just a blink, everything settled safely.
Chu Xingchen first confirmed Xie Lingyu's condition. The spatial displacement hadn't separated them.
Xie Lingyu nodded gently, indicating she was fine.
Only then did Chu Xingchen turn his gaze forward.
In a bamboo grove, a young man wearing white robes and holding a folding fan sat with a gentle expression on a stone chair. Before him was a chess game.
He held a white piece, gently placing it on the board, then looked up at Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu with a smile:
"Care for a game?"
Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm. He didn't let go of Xie Lingyu's hand. There was something wrong with this space - if he let go and she disappeared, who would he complain to?
Clearly, Xie Lingyu had the same thought and also tightened her grip on Chu Xingchen's hand.
Chu Xingchen asked directly, "What if I don't play?"
The young man answered, "Nothing much, just wait for me to finish this game."
Chu Xingchen understood. This person had no opponent, yet wanted to finish this game?
He was clearly saying, if you don't play, you don't leave.
Chu Xingchen simply pulled Xie Lingyu along and sat down directly opposite the young man.
Let's play a game first. Maybe he'd win?
And if he lost, that was fine too. Maybe he could win a fight?
The young man looked at Chu Xingchen with surprise, then showed appreciation.
The chess pieces before them automatically gathered into the chess box nearby.
The young man, holding white, asked:
"Guess first?"
Chu Xingchen picked up a black piece and immediately placed it:
"No guessing. I'm in a hurry, let's play fast."
The young man readily agreed and also immediately placed a piece.
Chu Xingchen picked up a black piece and placed it while asking:
"How long have you been playing chess here?"
The young man's face showed a look of reminiscence, then he smiled and said:
"I've pursued the way of chess my entire life. You could say I've played for a lifetime."
Chu Xingchen nodded in understanding, then asked:
"Then you must pursue the ultimate in chess?"
The young man answered seriously, "My lifelong wish."
Chu Xingchen showed an expression of finding a kindred spirit and placed another piece.
Xie Lingyu looked at Chu Xingchen with confusion - hadn't he said he was terrible at chess and only knew some made-up game called Five-in-a-Row?
But soon Xie Lingyu's confusion was resolved.
Because the young man's expression also went from delight to hesitation to confusion. Chu Xingchen played very quickly.
Basically, as soon as the young man placed a piece, Chu Xingchen immediately followed.
The young man endured for more than ten moves before finally looking up at Chu Xingchen: "You're in a hurry, but you can't just play randomly?"
Chu Xingchen's understanding of Go rules was limited. At most, it was a hobby. His actual skill level was really quite average.
"Just tell me, is it fast or not?" Chu Xingchen placed another piece quickly.
The young man asked with confusion, "What's the use of being fast?! Your large dragon is completely dead."
Chu Xingchen showed realization and collected the black pieces:
"Then I surrender. You win this one. Can I leave now?"
The young man frowned and shook his head to indicate no.
Chu Xingchen readily accepted and asked, "Then shall we start a new game?"
The young man sighed, and the chess pieces before him automatically reset.
At the beginning of the game, Chu Xingchen picked up a piece and placed it.
Within fifty moves, Chu Xingchen surrendered again.
The game started anew.
After Chu Xingchen lost ten games in a row, a new game began.
At this point, Chu Xingchen didn't even look at the board anymore. He held a chess piece in one hand and casually dropped it while chatting with Xie Lingyu.
The young man repeatedly reminded him to play seriously, but Chu Xingchen brushed it off.
"Am I not playing?"
"What thinking? I've been thinking this whole time."
"What do you mean by going through the motions? I've been calculating the game in my mind. You can't sense it, and that's my fault?"
"I haven't even gotten frustrated from losing, and you keep winning but still complain? Do you have any chess etiquette?"
The young man's expression changed repeatedly, but he still endured and started new games.
But watching Chu Xingchen pick up a piece and drop it into the board like throwing garbage without even looking...
The young man finally couldn't hold back and stood up:
"Are you here to play chess or not?!"
Chu Xingchen looked at the young man with surprise:
"I've played nearly thirty games with you. If I'm not here to play chess, am I here to eat?"
The young man questioned, "How long did those thirty games take?!"
Chu Xingchen asked back, "Does playing slowly mean playing well?"
Hearing Chu Xingchen's fault-finding rebuttal, the young man was instantly angered into laughter and said coldly:
"You haven't won a single game, and you still want to leave?"
Chu Xingchen also had a smile on his face:
"Who said I want to leave? Come! Let's play chess!"
Here's a tighter, cleaner version that still hits hard:
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