I Have A Dual World Seal

Three games played, three games lost.

This time, Lu Zheng didn't lose on purpose; he genuinely couldn't win.

"Not bad, not bad. Although you didn't win, it gave me some ideas. Perhaps, I can deduce a few more patterns and maybe there's a chance for victory." The elder nodded contentedly.

He waved his hand, and the stone wall beside him shattered, with a small piece of stone falling into the elder's hand. The elder gently brushed it with his hand, and the stone turned into a palm-sized stone bottle.

After glancing at a stalagmite in the cave, droplets of Stalactite Spring water started emerging from its surface, forming a continuous stream that fell into the stone bottle.

Lu Zheng saw clearly that these droplets squeezed from the stalagmite were dark green, thick and rich, with a sweet fragrance. Just smelling it from the side made his mind clear and his True Qi stir restlessly.

After collecting a small bottle of this Stalactite Spring, the elder blocked the bottle's opening with a small stone and handed it to Lu Zheng, "Young friend, your chess skills are noteworthy. In the future, if you want more Stalactite Spring, come to this cave of mine. There isn't much Stalactite Essence, but ordinary Stalactite Spring is plentiful."

"Thank you, elder!" Lu Zheng respectfully received the stone bottle, "I'll study this endgame further when I return. If I find a solution, I'll come back and play chess with you again."

"Good." The elder nodded, not harboring much expectation.

He thought Lu Zheng's ability to find four approaches at once was due to previous accumulation. To find a new path would require years of study, and to duel with him again might take months or even a year.

By then, perhaps he would have found a way?

"I'll take my leave!" Lu Zheng clasped his hands and said, seeing the elder nod before focusing back on the chessboard. Only then did Lu Zheng retreat slowly, exit the cave entrance, flip down the cliff, and turn away.

...

Peach Blossom Plain.

"Such rich Spiritual Qi in this Stalactite Essence!" Shen Ying opened the stone bottle, took a breath, and hastily closed the lid again.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"

"Water! Water! Water!"

A fleeting shadow darted by, Zhi Ma dashed into Shen Ying's arms, causing a wave-like ripple, then shook its body, making a chunk of reishi fall into Lu Zheng's hand, as it stared at the stone bottle in Shen Ying's hand, "Water! Water! Water!"

Lu Zheng, "..."

Poor Zhi Ma, already being so proactive...

Shen Ying smiled, opened the stone bottle, fed Zhi Ma three drops of essence, then gave it a cup of ordinary Stalactite Spring, waving goodbye to let Zhi Ma leave.

"Let's talk inside." Shen Ying ushered Lu Zheng into the house, "Didn't expect such a Great Demon in the deep mountains of Tonglin County; wonder what its true form is."

"Indeed, a chess fanatic." Lu Zheng laughed, and then recounted the events of the trip.

Listening, Shen Ying's eyes shone brightly, she quickly pulled Lu Zheng into the study and had him lay out the endgame, "Given the Great Demon's performance, if you can help him solve the endgame, the rewards could be substantial."

"Probably more bottles of this Stalactite Essence?" Lu Zheng chuckled, then arranged the chessboard, sorting the black and white pieces, and setting them up according to memory.

"That would still be great!" Shen Ying said earnestly to Lu Zheng, "Lu Lang, the more you use this Stalactite Essence, the faster your Dao Practice improves. These Stalactite Essence and ordinary Stalactite Spring, although from the same source, aren't the same thing!"

Lu Zheng nodded, "I tried a little upon returning, it indeed has the effect of enhancing cultivation."

While observing the endgame, Shen Ying handed the stone bottle to Lu Zheng, "Lu Lang, take good care of it. You can also let Little Sister Qingyan use some, since her Dao Practice is still somewhat lacking."

"Eh?" Shen Ying frowned, "Can White still win?"

Shen Ying's chess skills weren't weak, so at first glance, she felt White was bound to lose.

"I've tried four moves, and all failed, but the elder said White can definitely win." Lu Zheng said.

"Lu Lang's chess skills are profound!" Shen Ying gently brushed her fingertip against her cherry lips, eyes shimmering, "I can only see five possible moves now; maybe there's some room to struggle."

"Lu Lang, I'll play White, let's try it." Shen Ying said.

"Okay!"

...

3 p.m. has passed, the sun tilted westward, Shen Ying tried all five moves, and despite having similar chess skills to Lu Zheng, she failed completely.

Shen Ying touched her slightly heavy forehead, gently shook her delicate head, "Can't win."

Lu Zheng placed the pieces back into the wooden box, smiling and comforting, "If this endgame were so easily solved, that elder wouldn't have spent thirty years on it."

"That's true." Shen Ying nodded, watching Lu Zheng put the pieces away. She softly smiled, leaning close with a weak demeanor, "Master, after playing five rounds, I feel drowsy, can't stand well, could you support me back to the room to rest?"

"Madam, your mind is diligent; I know some massage techniques to help you relax!"

"That's lovely~"

Lu Zheng supported Shen Ying, half her weight pressed against Lu Zheng, the two swayed together back to the master bedroom.

Xiaocui entered the courtyard, intending to ask Lu Zheng about dinner, only to see their silhouetted backs together and the master bedroom door closed.

...

Through modern times, Lu Zheng first downloaded a Go application, then input the endgame, selecting Hell's computer to play White first.

Then...

Played ten rounds with the computer, all ending with the computer conceding.

Damn!

Still needs AlphaGo!

The problem is, AlphaGo doesn't casually agree to play with just anyone!

Moreover, his chess skill is still different from the elder's; even if AlphaGo can beat him, he can't directly apply its strategies since heaven knows how the elder might change tactics.

Lu Zheng looked troubled, is he still relying on himself?

Why does improving this side profession seem never-ending?

It's too difficult!

"Jade Seal, enhance!"

"Buzz!"

Lu Zheng suddenly felt his mind blur, instantly filled with a bunch of chess strategies and thoughts.

Considering the endgame, countless thoughts swirled, crazily deducing, only to find White still couldn't win.

"Jade Seal, enhance again!"

"Ugh..."

The Jade Seal trembled slightly, indicating that Lu Zheng should first absorb his current chess skills.

Lu Zheng frowned, opened that Go software again, and played against Hell's computer, winning three consecutive games.

"No, this lousy computer's strategies are all figured out by me, playing more doesn't consolidate chess skills." Lu Zheng murmured, opened the long-unused Penguin Game Hall, "Find some True Men, see if there are experts on this platform."