Chapter 3: The Chessboard

Of course, when we at Qingshan possess sufficient strength to confront everything, we will naturally not let go of those treasures. On the path of the Great Way, whether in competition or solitude, if one does not seize the gifts bestowed by heaven, one will instead suffer the consequences

At present, this chessboard lies quietly in the mud palace of Fang Qingshan, emanating a faint glow

Moreover, that map of the underworld is not merely an inanimate object; in fact, it possesses a spirit, which is neither the protagonist nor Fang Han. Fang Qingshan does not believe that he can easily subdue it

Therefore, before one has reached a certain level of strength, it is best not to harbor unrealistic ambitions of seizing what is not rightfully theirs; instead, engaging in tasks within one's capabilities is also commendable

Of course, the most important thing is that the Fang family, as the starting point of the Eternal Life World, possesses great fortune. Not to mention the eldest lady, Fang Qingxue, who is the reincarnation of the ancient Thunder Mother; even a mere servant being the protagonist provides Fang Qingshan with the opportunity to take advantage of the situation and seize the fortune.

However, one thing is certain: such treasures are indeed extraordinary. If they are offensive treasures, they are bound to be extremely dangerous. Once they emerge, they will possess destructive power capable of annihilating the heavens and the earth. If they are defensive treasures, when held above one's head, they exhibit miraculous effects that render one immune to all forms of attack. As for supportive treasures, their functions are numerous.

However, that item is still in the hands of the White Sea Zen, and although it has been severely damaged, it is still a disciple of the Star Gate. A lean camel is larger than a horse, and because it is being hunted by the Fang family, if Fang Qingshan acts recklessly to seize it, the best outcome would likely be that not only would he fail to obtain the treasure, but he would also expose the existence of the Celestial Chessboard, this supreme treasure.

Although this may seem somewhat out of order, it is nonetheless a fact; it is simply a matter of different times.

Unfortunately, this chessboard is still only a semi-finished product, and the pieces have only illuminated half of it.

Young master, is everything ready? Shall we set off?

To illuminate the pieces on the chessboard, there is only one method, which is the enhancement of fortune and cultivation. In essence, the improvement of cultivation indirectly enhances fortune as well

A piece has already been illuminated on it, symbolizing this eternal world. Additionally, there is another piece in a semi-illuminated state. When this piece is fully illuminated, Fang Qingshan will be able to continue traversing to the next world

The way of Heaven is to diminish the excess and replenish the insufficient; the way of man is to diminish the insufficient in order to serve the excess

Fang Qingshan has been in the Eternal Life World for about a year. The reason he has not taken any unnecessary actions and has settled comfortably in the small courtyard is that, in addition to adjusting his body, he is waiting for the starting point to begin.

In this way, by enhancing one's own cultivation, receiving the support of the family's fortune, and sharing the protagonist's luck, one can certainly illuminate a chess piece for oneself

The grand situation has commenced, and Fang Qingshan remembers that Fang Qingxue has broken through the realm of divine powers, to the extent that even the Emperor of Dali had to come eagerly to confer rewards. The fortune of the entire Fang family is indeed flourishing, with flowers blooming and dragons and phoenixes presenting auspiciousness.

In addition, he intends to establish a favorable connection with the protagonist, much like Lü Buwei did, by making an early investment before the protagonist rises to prominence, thereby earning the protagonist's gratitude. As the protagonist is favored by the fortunes of heaven and earth, he will be grateful to him, and in turn, he will surely be able to share in a portion of that fortune.

The chessboard in Fang Qingshan's hand represents the Water Blue Planet, the Era of Cultivation, the final fortune and the one that has escaped, merging together to ultimately give birth to the supreme treasure

For Qingshan, the greatest advantage in the world of immortality does not lie in having a powerful backing like Fang Qingxue, nor in being the first to perceive the truth, but rather in the celestial chessboard that brought him to this world

That truly is a case of failing to catch the chicken and losing the rice, losing both the wife and the soldiers, and ultimately being worse off than before

In ancient times, the emphasis was on family, state, and the world, with family coming first, followed by the state. The family was of utmost importance to an individual. As a member of the Fang family, although not highly regarded, Fang Qingshan naturally benefited from a portion of the family's prosperity

However, this Celestial Chessboard is not merely a supportive magical artifact; in terms of offense, it is likely quite formidable and exceedingly violent. Each chess piece represents a world of its own, and when one is directly smashed down, although it cannot compare to a true world, its power is evidently significant. In terms of defense, while it may not have the obvious support that offense does, it still possesses defensive capabilities. Therefore, Fang Qingshan's Celestial Chessboard can be regarded as a comprehensive magical artifact.

With the entire three thousand worlds as his offering, he could confidently assert that even the protagonist Fang Han could not compare to him at all

Firstly, Fang Qingshan is inherently deficient, with a weak spirit and soul, making it relatively easy to seize control without encountering significant issues.

Generally speaking, a person's fortune is predetermined, and it is quite difficult to change. Once the fortune changes, it indicates that their destiny has also undergone a transformation

Initially, the reason why the Celestial Chessboard chose Fang Qingshan to possess was not without justification

At that moment, Fang Ling's voice rang in Fang Qingshan's ear

This can be considered a treasure of assistance, with three thousand chess pieces on it, representing three thousand paths and three thousand worlds. It allows Fang Qingshan to traverse through the myriad realms, but the prerequisite is that you must first illuminate the chess pieces on the board

At present, what he can access are only the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir and the Yellow Springs Diagram from Fang Han's family.

The methods to obtain fortune have just been mentioned; improving one's cultivation is one way, while the expansion of the family, national rewards, and so forth are also viable options

Thus, three people in a line headed towards the racetrack

Fang Qingshan came to his senses, looked up at the time, nodded, and said, "Let's go!"

In the legends, there exists a realm where either the lifespan of the stars is approaching its end, or due to some significant upheaval, it has reached a point where change is inevitable

Fang Han, I have arrived

Moreover, although he lived a life free from worries about food and clothing in the Fang family, he was not given much attention, which meant that outsiders would not notice his changes. This lack of prominence provided the host with the perfect opportunity to make alterations

Possessing the supreme treasure of the celestial chessboard, along with the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and the Yellow Springs Diagram, may be impressive; however, as one's strength increases, it is not impossible to obtain items that are comparable, or even superior, to these. Therefore, these two items are not worth the risk for Fang Qingshan.

The world of immortality is unlike other lower-level worlds; the dangers are too great. Given Fang Qingshan's current state, traversing the world, it is likely that he could perish before even leaving Longyuan Province.

In this realm, it is possible for the stars to give birth to the most extraordinary treasures, with any type potentially emerging. It could be offensive, defensive, or supportive; it could take the form of a tower, a tripod, a bell, or even a mirror, a pearl, a flag... The possibilities are endless, and all are feasible.

As for why one should not take advantage of the foresight of the prophet to seize Fang Han's opportunities, Fang Qingshan merely wants to express that while the idea is beautiful, the reality is harsh

Like humans, all things in heaven and earth have a limited lifespan. Unless one achieves the Great Dao, transcending all time and space, and attaining eternal freedom, everything, including planets and the universe, is the same. Human life is but a fleeting moment, akin to grass growing in autumn, while the lifespan of the universe and planets has extended to an immeasurable degree, leading people to mistakenly believe they are immortal