</a> He knew this beat well – it was the signal for him to advance.


    All of them were glaring at him, as though daring him to take a single step forward.


    A deafening silence fell upon the battlefield, through which Soldier Zhao Two could even hear the sound of metal shaking.


    That was right.


    The sound was from his armour shaking due to how hard he was trembling right now.


    Advance?


    Wouldn’t that be equivalent to sending himself straight into the jaws of death?


    Soldier Zhao Two had always been proud of how he had endured all the training that he had done throughout his life.


    Every swing of a sword.


    Every punch against a tree.


    All of that had come together to give birth to the strong warrior that he currently was.


    But was this really what he had trained for all his life? To die for the kingdom?


    Soldier Zhao Two swallowed his saliva that had been born of nervousness, and tried to take a step forward.


    He willed it with his mind, but his legs did not follow.


    As though it was fully aware of the dire consequences, his body refused to obey his foolish instructions.


    It was impossible after all.


    There was no way he could advance.


    How could he?


    When all that awaited him was death?


    “What is this? Are you not able to make a single move?”


    “


    Upon hear that familiar voice, Soldier Zhao Two felt his surroundings begin to warp.


    The entire Benevolent Wave World seemed to be dissolving like butter over fire, melting away to reveal another world beneath.


    Zhao Yunxiao opened his eyes to find himself seated in a huge chamber with numerous stone pedestals. In front of him was a floating chessboard, and a sea serpent looked at him from across the chessboard.


    For a moment, the soldier Zhao Yunxiao failed to comprehend what was going on.


    Thankfully, his memories came flooding back the very next moment.


    And then Zhao Yunxiao understood.


    He had clearly lived the life of Soldier Zhao Two, and understood every little detail of the soldier.


    But at the same time, he was no soldier.


    Or rather, he had been a soldier, just that he was no longer one.


    He was now a cultivator, a proud outer disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect.


    Huu-!


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    Zhao Yunxiao closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as he tried to compose himself, at the same time organising the jumbled memories in his head.


    He tried to regulate his breathing once more, concurrently using his essence energy to vapourise the cold sweat covering his entire body.


    “You sure weren’t joking when you said that you are completely talentless,” Cha sighed. “Are you not even capable of playing a simple game of chess?”


    “I never said I am completely talentless,” Zhao Yunxiao begrudgingly corrected the sea serpent after finally regaining his bearings. “And you could have warned me about the effects of the chessboard in advance, Senior Cha.”


    A simple game of chess?


    How could it be shameless enough to say that to his face after he had already experienced first-hand just how strange this chessboard was?


    “Well, you never asked,” Cha answered nonchalantly. “So, what is it going to be? Are you even able to play the game?”


    “Are you able to move the pieces on the board, Senior Cha?” Zhao Yunxiao could not help but ask in return.


    “


    “


    “


    “


    “


    “


    “


    “


    Zhao Yunxiao did not answer.


    Instead, he fixed his gaze on the same soldier piece as before, slowly stretching his hand out towards it.


    Boom-!


    Soldier Zhao Two looked forward, his eyes falling upon the enemy soldier who had entered the curtain of sand between the two armies.


    The face of this enemy soldier was a blur, but he could clearly see its eyes staring right back at him.


    Its gaze was cold and merciless. There was no doubt that if given the chance, it would cut him down without a moment of hesitation.


    It was not just this one soldier either.


    Every single enemy in the Black Kingdom’s army behind it was glaring at him, unleashing a heavy pressure that bore down upon him.


    His instincts told him to run.


    Run as fast as possible, as far as possible.


    Even so, he remained standing there without retreating.


    Perhaps it helped that his muscles were slightly frozen from fear?


    It was the same situation as before, and the familiar drum beat that came from behind was no different.


    This was the signal for him to move forward, to enter this deathtrap that had been laid out in front of him.


    If Soldier Zhao Two had not been prepared for this, the pressure would probably have completely overwhelmed his nerves, bringing him to the point of collapse.


    “


    “


    “