Ancient Sword Tomb Chapter Forty-Two: The Chess Game

As the individual trials of the Sacred Land came to an end, night quietly descended, yet this night was far from tranquil. Qing Xingyue’s words in the afternoon had undoubtedly sounded a warning for all the sects and noble families present. The silent Heavenly Pinnacle Palace, dormant for nearly a thousand years, was about to reemerge, heralding the end of a fleeting peace.

And the name Lu Chen was now etched deeply into everyone’s hearts. The disciple of the Eight Pavilions’ foremost seat, he was also the ace of Heavenly Pinnacle Palace’s return. The outcome of this trial would alter the balance of the continent.

Lu Chen stood hesitantly at the doorway, watching Luo Xiaoya seated by the bed inside. He was at a loss for how to explain what had happened earlier. By rights, all of this had started because of him, and he ought to enter and face Luo Xiaoya now. Yet, his mind was troubled by Qing Xingyue’s words that afternoon and the peculiar looks from everyone.

What would stepping through this door mean? Lu Chen knew all too well. Perhaps if he had never come to Tianfeng City, none of this would have occurred. Qing Xingyue’s words, and everything that had transpired, left him with a lingering doubt.

Lu Chen increasingly felt himself to be a crucial piece in a grand chess game. The cost of being such a piece was steep. Now that he had found softness in his heart, he could no longer simply immerse himself in the game.

“Brother Chen, come in. Xiaoya has missed you so much.”

Hearing Qing Xuan Yu’s voice from behind, Lu Chen shook his head helplessly. How could he not understand Xiaoya’s feelings? After a few moments' hesitation, he slowly entered the room.

“Brother, you’re here,”

Lu Chen smiled and nodded, walking straight to the bedside. Their gazes intertwined for a moment. Seeing Lu Chen enter, Luo Xiaoya’s heart was filled with happiness. She had always known he was outside the door. Though she didn’t yet understand why her brother had kept his identity secret for so long, she knew his actions must be driven by hardship. She did not blame him.

Even if he hadn’t made up his mind to step into the room, she would not hold it against him. As long as he returned, as long as he was safe, all was acceptable in her heart.

“Xiaoya, I’m sorry, I shou—”

“I know, Brother, you have your reasons. You’re back, and that’s enough.”

Luo Xiaoya interrupted him directly, and in her words she threw herself into his embrace. Hearing her speak, Lu Chen smiled, gently stroking her hair. This was the feeling he had so long missed...

True night now arrived. Any sect or family with a history spanning centuries or more knew well the tragedy of hundreds of years ago. With Heavenly Pinnacle Palace’s return, the empire behind it would rise again, and soon, the continent might once more be shrouded in the smoke of war.

“Xueluo, are you certain of what you just said?”

In the main hall of a pavilion, a woman seated in a position of authority asked Xueluo, who knelt in the center, her tone heavy with doubt.

“Master, I am certain. Lu Chen has comprehended more than one law. For now, at least three,”

After Xueluo finished, the woman gestured for everyone in the hall to leave. As they departed, she gradually lost herself in sorrow. Looking at the jade pendant in her hand, a single tear fell.

“Luohua, do you truly wish to stand against your mother this time?”

Meanwhile, atop a pavilion behind the main hall of the Sky Sword Temple, the temple master stood by the window, his expression gleefully surveying the distant Heavenly Pinnacle Academy and the resting pavilions of other sects. Behind him, an elder in white leisurely sipped wine and played chess.

“Old Bai, are you confident in this plan?”

After the temple master spoke, the white-haired elder glanced at his back, then smiled faintly.

“Does Sword Cang Temple Master not trust that lord?”

At these words, Sword Cang’s expression grew solemn, and he turned to sit at the table, glancing at the chessboard. He took a black piece and placed it, prompting the elder to frown and look at him, before casually dropping a white piece and smiling.

“It seems the temple master has made his decision. If so, simply keep your promise and protect him. Once that lord emerges, the Heavenly Pinnacle Continent will be yours to command.”

The elder and Sword Cang exchanged a smile...

As the night deepened, Lu Chen gazed at Luo Xiaoya sleeping soundly, a gentle smile lifting the corners of his lips. Carefully, he tucked her in, watching her immature face glow with secret joy as she fell into a sweet dream, and his eyes grew moist.

“Brother Chen, is Xiaoya alright?”

Qing Xuan Yu entered quietly and asked. Lu Chen shook his head.

“She’s fine. Let’s leave her to rest.”

With that, Lu Chen took Qing Xuan Yu’s hand and led her out, pausing to look back at Luo Xiaoya once more before closing the door.

Afterwards, he glanced at the back of his hand, activated his spiritual sense, and then let out a cold laugh. He brought Qing Xuan Yu to an open balcony, where Qing Xingyue sat reclining.

“The empire has played a clever game. But isn’t it unfair to involve so many innocent people, Elder Yue?”

Lu Chen’s voice was cold as he addressed Qing Xingyue, startling Qing Xuan Yu, who felt the chill for the first time, with not a hint of warmth.

Yet Lu Chen spoke this way only after he had obtained that so-called key in the afternoon and reviewed all that had happened. At first, he thought he was overthinking it, but whenever he remembered those around him being innocently entangled, he felt something was amiss. Seeing Qing Xingyue silent, Lu Chen spoke again:

“If Elder Yue is unwilling, then I shall take my leave. From this day forth, I, Lu Chen, shall have no ties to the empire or the academy!”

“Wait!”

Lu Chen had already turned to leave, but Qing Xingyue’s voice stopped him. Lu Chen paused, turned, and watched as Qing Xingyue waved his hand, summoning a table and three chairs onto the balcony. He invited Lu Chen and Qing Xuan Yu to sit.

Lu Chen sat, observing Qing Xingyue’s solemn face, his brow etched with helplessness. He glanced at Qing Xuan Yu’s confused expression, but said nothing, waiting for Qing Xingyue to give him an answer.

“Lu Chen, there are things I do not wish to conceal from you, but knowing them may only bring you danger. Why rush to seek the truth?”

Lu Chen laughed coldly. He didn’t know what truth Qing Xingyue referred to, but he increasingly felt that every step he had taken was orchestrated by unseen hands. The so-called Sacred Land trial felt far from simple. But who was truly pulling the strings? Lu Chen was unsure, though he believed it wasn’t any of those he had met.

“You all went to great lengths to bring me from the empire’s edge to the academy. With so many involved in this game and me as a key piece, shouldn’t you tell me why?”

Qing Xingyue sighed, then with a wave of his hand, a sound barrier enveloped the three.

“Let me tell you a story,”

He began, and as he spoke, Lu Chen gradually understood.

According to Qing Xingyue: Over five thousand years ago, in the New Divine Calendar year 2011, the Four Continents—Heavenly Pinnacle, Ancient Martial, Azure Profound, and Nightfall—organized an expedition to explore the edge of the Endless Soul Sea. It was the first time mortals had ventured to its far shore.

Nearly a thousand set sail from the northern reaches of Heavenly Pinnacle, entering the mists. The top powers of the four continents had high hopes for the journey.

But five months later, only three returned from the fog, barely alive, and they uttered a single phrase to the world: “Dark Star descends, dusk returns, with sword as flower, pierce the heavens, throne restored, gods tremble.”

These twenty-four words became known as the Final Prophecy, known only to key figures among the top powers.

Lu Chen pondered. It seemed to have no connection to the answers he sought, and the meaning of the Final Prophecy was obscure to him.

“Elder Yue, don’t tell me those twenty-four words have anything to do with me.”

Lu Chen laughed coldly. Qing Xingyue’s expression grew grave, and he rose, turning his back.

“Lu Chen, this vast universe is a chessboard prepared for all beings. You, I, and all the creatures of these realms are but pieces on it. The stalemate has lasted too long. As pieces already in play, all we must do is walk our own path and fulfill our mission.”

Lu Chen laughed again, colder. So he was a piece on the board, only needing to follow his assigned path.

“What if I refuse to walk the path you’ve set?”

His words made Qing Xingyue hesitate. But Lu Chen spoke from his heart: even knowing he was in the game, he would not let others manipulate him. If it truly was a stalemate, he would break it himself.

“Lu Chen, if you truly wish to know your origins, then strengthen yourself. Believe me, I bear you no ill will, nor do most in this domain. Yet you must be prepared for the price of learning your past. Your arrival may be fate, or merely an accident.”