When Yu Qingtan approached the high tform, Xiang Ru was bewildered, Xie Yun was shocked, and the crowd was cheering.


    The four talents on the tform also stared at her intently, as if they were seeing her for the first time.


    Hearing Yu Qingtan''s words, Zhou Lan''s eyes widened dramatically, instantly shedding any hint of sleepiness.


    Because he did not know how to solve the fifth puzzle.


    He had not even heard of anyone who could solve it.


    He had only set it up as part of the numbers and to give the chess yers of Tianxiang Immortal City a glimpse of this game.


    At this moment, Yu Qingtan extended her delicate hand, her Ninth Stage Qi Cultivation''s spiritual power red up, and she ced a white piece at a certain point on the fifth puzzle''s chessboard.


    The whole room was in an uproar.


    Xie Yun felt greatly relieved and, with a hint of disdain, whispered, "She doesn''t even know how to y chess; she''s just there to show off."


    The crowd also began to discuss among themselves.


    Because with that move, the white side had directly handed over a gaping fifty-point void to the opponent.


    Xiang Ru looked worriedly at Yu Qingtan on the tform, wanting to say something on her behalf, but she did not understand chess.


    Zhou Lan let his eyelids droop again and, out of decorum, did not say anything; he simply began to y his pieces.


    Yu Qingtan ignored the surrounding dialogue and quickly made her moves.


    Twenty movester, Zhou Lan''s eyes narrowed.


    The lone piece that Yu Qingtan had previously ced in the center had unexpectedly be a strong position; the outer influence of the ck pieces turned into a lone piece, and therge pattern on the top, which was initially set to jump and blossom independently, not only vanishedpletely but the upper-left three pieces were now caught in a heavy siege.


    Fifty movester, Zhou Lan''s eyes were as round as wheels, staring fixedly at the chessboard.


    The audience was dead silent; Xie Yun''s hands were clenched tightly, his fingers digging into his flesh, oblivious to the blood flowing from them.


    After a few more moves, it was as if a phantom image appeared above the wall of the chessboard.


    In the image, two armies dressed in ck and white uniforms were engaged in battle, with a small part of the white army already surrounded. The white army''smander abandoned any attempt to rescue them and, while the ck army was upied with eliminating the white forces within the enclosure, he hid troops in ambush and ultimately turned the tide of battle.


    In less than half an hour, the ck army was in total disarray, and the white army emerged victorious.


    The phantom disappeared.


    Below, Zhou Lan''s eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting heavily, looking like a beaten dog.


    Yu Qingtan still stood elegantly on the tform, her gaze fixed on Zhou Lan.


    Three breathster, Zhou Lan stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Yu Qingtan, "Miss Qingtan''s Chess Skill is unparalleled, capable of solving this ancient, unsolvable precious puzzle. Lan wishes to take Miss Qingtan as his master and hopes Miss Qingtan will not abandon him!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the entire ce erupted.


    "So this was a puzzle that no one has ever solved before, Miss Qingtan is too incredible!"


    "It turns out that Young Master Zhou also could not solve this puzzle; no wonder he is willing to be an apprentice."


    "Miss Qingtan''s first move directly gave away a cluster of white pieces; then she attacked with a taboo pattern in chess, such genius moves one after another. It''s no wonder no one could have anticipated them."


    "With just this one game, Miss Qingtan deserves to be called the contemporary Chess Saint!"


    ...


    Xiang Ru was already dumbfounded, and Xie Yun had alsoe to terms with it.


    As for Zhou Lan''s request to take her as a master, Yu Qingtan was also puzzled.


    "You are the pride of All-World Academy, a high level cultivator in thetter stages of Foundation Establishment, is it really okay for you to take me, a minor Qi Cultivator in the public eye, as your master?"


    So, she refused, saying, "Young Master Zhou, you overstate my abilities. Qingtan merely acted on a whim and happened to stumble upon this method. I still need to learn much from Young Master Zhou in chess."


    Zhou Lan continued to maintain his bow, and said, "Master Yu, do not be modest! An asional pointer from Master Yu is all Lan asks for—it will not interfere with Master Yu''s cultivation or life."


    At this point, Shi Kuang also spoke up, "The virtuous shall instruct; Miss Qingtan should agree. Brother Zhou is obsessed with the Path of Chess, and we hope Miss Qingtan will amodate him."


    What else could Yu Qingtan say? She could only agree.


    "All right then."


    Zhou Lan showed a smile.


    Under such circumstances, there was no need for the two of them to continue ying chess, and the day''s exchange in the Path of Chess came to an end.


    Amidst the lively discussion of the crowd, Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru returned to the Raoliang Tea House, followed by a Zhou Lan and a Shi Kuang.


    Zhou Lan said he wanted to learn about the strategies for solving the intricate chess formations, whereas Shi Kuang mentioned he wanted to exchange knowledge on Zither Art with Yu Qingtan.


    "I am the disciple of Master Yu, and since you haven''t taken a master, naturally it should be me first. You can find another time for your Zither Art exchange!"


    Zhou Lan unapologetically rebuked Shi Kuang.


    Shi Kuang was left speechless, but still followed them.


    In a private room of the Raoliang Tea House.


    Zhou Lan took out a jade bottle and handed it to Yu Qingtan with both hands.


    "Master Yu, this is the gift I offer as I be your disciple, a Foundation Establishment Pill. It should be useful to you, please ept it."


    "Such extravagance!" Yu Qingtan thought to himself, but still replied, "Young Master Zhou, this isn''t necessary. Besides, I already have a Foundation Establishment Pill."


    "You may address me as Zhou Lan or just Lan, but the customary gift for pledging discipleship cannot be omitted. What does Master Yu need?"


    "To call you ''Lan Lan,'' how can I say such a cute name?"


    A look of exasperation crossed Yu Qingtan''s forehead. Considering the rich might as well be exploited, with a guilty conscience, he said, "Zhou Lan, I am about to undertake Foundation Establishment soon and have made all the necessary preparations. However, the Second Stage Spirit Dew that I will need for my cultivation after Foundation Establishment is something I could use."


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Lan put away the Foundation Establishment Pill and took out another jade bottle; Shi Kuang reluctantly also fetched a jade bottle and tossed it to Zhou Lan.


    "Master Yu, here are two bottles containing a hundred drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew in total. Please ept them!"


    Yu Qingtan felt a bit embarrassed, as he hadn''t expected Zhou Lan to give him so much—it was worth quite a lot of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    However, Yu Qingtan still epted it.


    Earned through one''s abilities, there was no guilt in epting it.


    With this Second Stage Spirit Dew, it would be enough for his cultivation to reach thete phase of Foundation Establishment.


    After epting the disciple''s gift, the two of them began to review the previous intricate chess game.


    "Master Yu, how did youe up with that brilliant move?"


    The question from Zhou Lan was naturally about Yu Qingtan''s first move.


    "Sacrifice several pieces to maintain the initiative. But the predecessors were not bold enough in their sacrifices…"


    Although Yu Qingtan''s actual Chess Skill was not that strong, he was still capable of exining it.


    Not until thete hours of the evening did Shi Kuang, still eager to learn more, finally pull Zhou Lan away from the Raoliang Tea House.


    The Raoliang Tea House, including Xiang Yu and others who had listened to Xiang Ru''s recount of Yu Qingtan''s bold deed, were also filled with astonishment and regarded him as a prodigy.


    Yu Qingtan finally had a good night''s sleep since ying chess had drained so much of his energy.


    ...


    The next day, Xiang Yu, along with Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru, headed to the central square of Tianxiang Immortal City.


    "Sister Qingtan, you''re not going to tell me that you''re also skilled in Calligraphy and Painting, are you?"


    On the way, Xiang Ru asked curiously.


    Today was the day for Zhong Yao and Jing Hao to have their Calligraphy and Painting Skill exchange. As the saying goes, calligraphy and painting are inseparable as paper arts and oftenbined, so the exchange was set on the same day.


    "I have a little understanding, just a little!" Yu Qingtan replied with a purse of his lips,ughing it off.


    Xiang Ru took it as the truth, but Xiang Yu gave her a deep look.


    She knew that Yu Qingtan''s mastery in the arts of Calligraphy and Painting was quite profound, at least in Painting Skill.


    She was finding it more and more difficult to see through this new disciple from Tianxiang Valley.


    She had also recently done some secret investigations into Yu Qingtan''s past.


    At just fifteen, he was already at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, notcking inbat prowess, exceptional in Dance Artistry, adept in both Zither and Chess, possibly proficient in Calligraphy and Painting as well, and also a creative Spirit Tailor.


    Could this be what they call a genius?