The old village chief, with a youthful appearance, wore a solemn expression, showing emotion for the first time. She asked Chen Jiuyang:
"Where did you hear about the Final Chess Game? Have those who went to the Immortal Realm returned?"
Chen Jiuyang, unaware of any hidden circumstances, simply shook his head. "Not exactly. I heard about it in the Dao Fruit Secret Realm."
A flicker of obvious disappointment crossed the old village chief's face. She sighed, "The Final Chess Game. It's time you knew about it."
"Everyone knows that Emperor Suigu was the first inheritor of the Human Emperor's Path, pushing martial arts to the extreme of the Great Emperor realm."
"Few know that the second inheritor of the Human Emperor's Path was even more astonishing than Emperor Suigu. He pioneered an alternative method of achieving enlightenment and opened the ninth realm of martial arts, capable of shaking the existence of Immortal Emperors."
"With this alternative method of enlightenment, by consuming and refining Dao Fruits, all races began to follow humanity's lead."
"However, this alone was not enough to free all races from the Heavenly Court's control. Thus, a plan for the Final Chess Game was established in the distant past."
"As most Dao Fruits descended into the mortal world, everyone realized that the Book of Death and Underworld was in the mortal world. This led to the creation of numerous forbidden zones in the mortal world. On one hand, these zones were to absorb prodigies to perfect the Final Chess Game plan, and on the other hand, the supreme beings behind these forbidden zones were to prevent the Heavenly Court..."
"In the last great war attacking the Immortal Realm, the Final Chess Game was determined: the confrontation between Immortals and Martial Artists!"
"The Final Chess Game is the destiny of martial arts, the ultimate transcendence pursued by martial arts."
"A total of one hundred and eighty individuals, holding Dao Fruits in both the immortal and martial paths, participated in this chess game."
Chen Jiuyang's heart grew cold, yet he was also shaken.
Possessing a Dao Fruit meant advancing to the eighth realm in martial arts, the Martial Immortal of the Mortal World!
"In this era, no Martial Great Emperor will be born. In other words, the Final Chess Game must conclude before the arrival of the Golden Age."
Chen Jiuyang frowned, "Then my immediate priority is to refine a Dao Fruit as soon as possible."
The old village chief slowly nodded. "Indeed. In this Final Chess Game, if Qin Shujian and the others survived the last battle, they would return to the mortal world to participate in the Final Chess Game."
"The Final Chess Game was initiated by humanity and will take place in the mortal world or the minor immortal realm. Before his demise, the 'Supreme' Immortal Emperor of the Chongming Sea had already arranged the location for the Final Chess Game, named the 'Myriad Manifestations Realm.' He placed the Book of Death and Underworld within it. To open this game, one must possess the Book of Life and Underworld held by the Heavenly Court."
Chen Jiuyang's heart trembled again. So, the Book of Death and Underworld had already been found, and the game was set up by the ancestor of the Supreme lineage of the Chongming Sea, the 'Supreme' Immortal Emperor.
He wondered how many tens of thousands of years ago this had been planned.
Hearing the old village chief's words, Chen Jiuyang finally understood why she had shown emotional fluctuations. Despite her longevity, how could she be devoid of feeling? Qin Shujian, such an unparalleled and towering figure...
A hint of sadness flashed in the old village chief's eyes. "When the Final Chess Game begins, all forbidden zones in the world will be annihilated, leaving only the mortal world. Since you can leave the Crippled Old Village, take your relatives away from here."
Chen Jiuyang's expression finally changed. "The forbidden zones will be annihilated? That means... the forbidden zones are a part of the Final Chess Game's 'Myriad Manifestations Realm' setup, a feat of an Immortal Emperor?"
The old village chief nodded slowly.
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath. "What a grand undertaking."
The old village chief looked at Chen Jiuyang. "With your talent, you should be able to obtain a Dao Fruit and become a chess piece. Unlike us, who are forever bound here, never to glimpse the mortal world again."
Chen Jiuyang remained silent for a long time.
The old village chief said, "Open your furnace. Let me see what stage you have reached in the Celestial Palace."
Chen Jiuyang nodded and slightly activated his martial furnace.
"Rumble!!!"
The old village chief merely glanced, her expression trembling, her eyes somewhat dazed. She murmured, "How could this be..."
Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly. "Old village chief, is there a problem?"
The old village chief took a deep breath, steadied herself, and looked at Chen Jiuyang. "If you didn't know about the Final Chess Game, would you have wanted to pursue the path of Great Emperor in this life?"
Chen Jiuyang did not reply.
The old village chief sighed with emotion. "Even I did not expect your cultivation speed to be this astonishing."
Chen Jiuyang gave a wry smile.
The old village chief suddenly changed the subject, staring at him, and asked, "Do you have any past life enlightenment?"
Chen Jiuyang looked confused. "No. If I had past life enlightenment, how could I have cultivated martial arts?"
"Martial will, immortal primordial spirit. Only the immortal path can undergo soul dispersion and reincarnation. Martial arts cannot. Once a person's soul is fixed, it is irreversible."
"It's... too similar..." the old village chief muttered to herself.
The old village chief's words stirred a fog in Chen Jiuyang's heart. Similar to what?
The old village chief looked deeply at Chen Jiuyang. "If I'm not mistaken, your Dao Fruit destiny has long been set, and you have already come into contact with it."
Chen Jiuyang's frown deepened. "Old village chief, what are you talking about?"
Playing riddles was not a good thing.
The old village chief said, "It's not that I won't tell you, but it cannot be spoken, cannot be described, cannot be uttered. Do you understand what I mean?"
This made Chen Jiuyang's heart even more confused.
"Perhaps in the future, you will understand what I mean."
"Take your relatives away. Before the Final Chess Game begins, you still have a period of peace to spend with your family."
Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists and bowed to the old village chief. "Thank you, old village chief. If I find a way, I will bring you all back to the mortal world."
Chen Jiuyang was able to move freely only with the Human King Sword.
The old village chief slowly shook her head. "Everywhere in heaven and earth is a cage. It's just a matter of moving from one to another. If that person does not permit it, we cannot leave."
Chen Jiuyang said no more. He returned to the courtyard where he had lived for a hundred years, took all his sleeping relatives, and left the Crippled Old Village with the Human King Sword.
"Whoosh!"
The great river still surged with waves.
Chen Jiuyang raised his hand, tearing through space, and brought dozens of his relatives into it. With a single step, he returned to Qingzhu City.
In the martial arts hall, Yu Neizhu and others were still diligently practicing the moves taught by Chen Jiuyang, their bodies drenched in sweat.
Chen Jiuyang glanced at the current peaceful society and world, which was what he had pursued, even with the Final Chess Game.
Regardless of the outcome, he should let his loved ones enjoy a period of peaceful life.
As for housing, that still needed to be properly resolved.
Although Chen Jiuyang's combat power was strong now, in the eyes of the Dragon Country, he was still just an ordinary citizen.
When Chen Jiuyang returned to Qingzhu City with his relatives, it immediately caused emotional fluctuations in Feng Hanhou, Gong Jingmeng, and others.
Feng Hanhou smiled and said, "It seems our street will be livelier from now on."
Ming Huatong pouted, somewhat displeased.
She had originally hoped to seize the opportunity of this era and get involved, but who knew that Chen Jiuyang had sealed his relatives long ago? What chance did she have?
"Huatong, come with me. I need your help with something," Chen Jiuyang's slightly joyful voice rang out.
Ming Huatong immediately perked up her ears, her eyes shining. "Where to?"