Chapter 585: The Heavenly Star Chess Game

"The method of reading with divine sense?"

"Saint Second Level?"

All the master teachers on and off the stage stared at each other in bewilderment, utterly puzzled.

As for this term, let alone seeing it, they had never even heard of it.

"Above martial artists is Mortal Transcendence, above Mortal Transcendence are Half-Saint, Sub-Saint, and Saint. You all should know these levels, right?"

Instead of answering directly, Teacher Hong asked back.

"Mm!" The crowd nodded.

Almost everyone present was a master teacher, and although many levels were far beyond them, they had still heard of some.

"Half-Saint and Sub-Saint are merely single levels, while Saint, like Mortal Transcendence, is divided into nine levels!"

Teacher Hong continued.

Half-Saint and Sub-Saint, like the Yuan Qi and Yin Yang stages of Mortal Transcendence, are just minor levels, whereas Saint is a broad general term.

Like martial artists, it is divided into nine grades.

"Among them, the first level is called the Void Chase Realm, meaning that upon reaching this realm, one can truly fly. The second level is called... the Divine Sense Realm!"

Teacher Hong's expression turned grave: "Only upon reaching this realm can one open the fetal eye and generate divine sense."

"What... is divine sense?"

Someone couldn't help asking.

They had heard of soul power and witch souls, but never of divine sense.

Teacher Hong said: "Divine sense is a unique ability exclusive to Saints. As we all know, when one cultivates to the Spirit Fusion Realm, where spirit and flesh unite, one can temper the soul, making it increasingly powerful!"

The crowd nodded.

The Mortal Transcendence fifth level, Spirit Fusion Realm, is a turning point. Upon reaching this realm, a cultivator tempers not only the physical body and true qi... but also the soul.

"As the soul grows stronger, one can do some astonishing things. Those who reach this realm will naturally understand. What I want to say is, when the soul reaches a certain level... it can leave the body. Whatever it envelops, it perceives as if with one's own eyes, even more clearly than what the eyes see... This is divine sense!"

Teacher Hong said.

"Then... isn't that soul extension?"

"How powerful must a soul be to leave the body and observe?"

"Teacher Hong doesn't mean to say... that Teacher Zhang already possesses this ability, having reached... Saint Second Level!"

Everyone was startled.

Saint Second Level? How could that be?

Zhang Xuan was also baffled. He had just been speaking casually; how did Teacher Hong get carried away, bringing up Saints?

"Teacher Zhang naturally does not have the cultivation of a Saint, so everyone need not worry. Hear me out, and you will understand!"

Teacher Hong shook his head: "Using divine sense to read, one can view books without turning pages. That is why Saints can learn knowledge extremely quickly and become increasingly powerful."

"Teacher Zhang is not a Saint, yet he possesses this ability. If I am not mistaken, it should be... that a super expert excavated the fetal eye of a Saint Second Level and placed it on him using a special method, enabling him to read and memorize rapidly!"

As he spoke, Teacher Hong himself felt shocked.

Only by opening the fetal eye can a Saint generate divine sense.

Therefore, if someone excavated the fetal eye and placed it on a junior, properly handled, it could also grant that person this ability.

Of course, this could not compare to that of a true Saint Second Level; at most, it could be used for reading, with other functions being much weaker.

Even so, for low-level master teachers, it was still heaven-defying.

While others read one book, you could read ten or a hundred. How could they compete?

No wonder Teacher Zhang, so young, was proficient in so many professions and had a terrifying understanding of master teachers—he possessed this ability!

It was probably... specially arranged by Teacher Yang to help him progress quickly.

Excavating the fetal eye of a Saint Second Level and placing it on someone else, perfectly integrating it... just what terrifying realm had this Teacher Yang reached?

The mere thought was horrifying!

No wonder Hall Master Mo was so cautious, specially offering high-grade spirit stones to curry favor. Such a strong person indeed had the capital to be courted.

"Excavating the fetal eye of a Saint Second Level and placing it on someone else?"

"Reading without turning pages, speed reading?"

"And being able to see books in storage rings?"

"No wonder he could finish so many books in an hour. But... being able to remember them after reading is also heaven-defying!"

"Indeed, reading is not the same as remembering. Reading fast and remembering is truly terrifying!"

...

Hearing Teacher Hong's explanation, everyone finally understood. They looked at the young man before them again, filled with awe.

Being able to excavate the fetal eye of a Saint Second Level—how deep must this guy's background be?

While everyone was shocked, Ruohuan Gongzi on the side rolled his eyes in frustration.

Just now, after finishing reading, he had asked the other how much he had read. The answer was similar to his, which made him happy for a long time, thinking he could finally match him again. But the result...

Your family's twenty thousand plus books are about the same as a thousand or so?

If you're going to comfort someone, at least be sincere; don't fool people like this!

"Alright, regardless of the method, this round tests wisdom and the ability to memorize knowledge in a short time. Teacher Zhang memorized the contents of twenty thousand books, even shattering the River Washing Book. He passes. Does anyone object?"

Interrupting the discussion, Teacher Hong said.

"No..."

Everyone quickly nodded.

No kidding. Those who memorized eight hundred books passed; he memorized over twenty thousand and even broke the River Washing Book. If they didn't let him pass, Teacher Hong wouldn't agree!

"Mm, in that case, let's proceed to the final round of the selection: comprehension!"

Teacher Hong looked over.

"The master leads you in, but cultivation is personal. Besides effort and talent, an even more important factor is comprehension. With the same technique and study time, different students achieve vastly different results. Having talent makes it easy to become a master teacher, but becoming a powerful master teacher is difficult."

"Therefore, comprehension is especially important for master teachers."

"Comprehension is important for master teachers, that's true, but... how do you test comprehension? Are we supposed to be given a technique to comprehend?"

"If we comprehend techniques, many factors are involved, including talent and wisdom. It can't be a test of pure comprehension!"

Everyone was puzzled again.

Comprehension, whether in cultivation or becoming a master teacher, is extremely important. However, like wisdom, it cannot be quantified and is hard to compare.

For wisdom, you can judge by reciting knowledge, but what about comprehension?

Even if you comprehend techniques, some are suited to some people and not to others; comparison would be biased.

"Hehe, I naturally understand these concerns."

Knowing everyone's worries, Teacher Hong smiled and flicked his finger. The mist at the corner of the round platform dissipated, revealing a small pavilion.

In the pavilion sat an old man in white robes. On the stone table before him was a cyan-gray chessboard with black and white pieces interwoven, yin and yang clashing—it was a chess game.

The old man was expressionless, with no trace of life within; clearly a puppet.

"This is the Heavenly Star Chess. Its rules and play differ from all other chess styles, forming its own system. I obtained it by chance in a relic while traveling far and wide. I don't know who created it or the specific rules. After studying it for many years, I have only grasped four or five parts."

He flicked again, and on the wall not far from the pavilion, light flashed, displaying the chess game on the board. It was completely different from any game anyone had seen; even those who had studied chess had no reference.

"It's a jade-like chess game?"

"Indeed, with unknown rules and no solution... how can this be tested?"

"I don't know."

Among the crowd were those skilled in chess. Seeing the chess pattern displayed on the wall, with its vertical and horizontal maneuvers completely different from what they had learned, they were all bewildered.

"The Heavenly Star Chess takes heaven and earth as the board and stars as pieces. Its spirit is profound, subtly aligning with the principles of heaven and earth. Looking at it on the wall, naturally nothing can be seen. But on the stone pillars of the small pavilion, there are fragments of text left by the chess game's owner."

"Through these words, one can comprehend certain rules of the game."

"After knowing the rules, one can play against the puppet in the pavilion. If the move is wrong or fails, the piece cannot be placed on the board. This round has nothing to do with talent or cultivation, only comprehension. High comprehension means more rules grasped and more moves made; low comprehension means fewer rules and fewer moves. Being able to last six moves counts as passing!"

Teacher Hong explained the rules in detail.

"This... using a chess game to determine comprehension, not bad!"

"Heaven and earth as the board, stars as pieces—what boldness! This chess game is indeed formidable!"

"Yes, using this to test comprehension involves nothing else; it's fair and just!"

...

Understanding the rules, the crowd nodded.

In chess, some people study for a lifetime, decades, and may not match a child who just learned a few days ago! This is not about intelligence, but comprehension.

Because of this, a famous saying circulates in the chess world, enjoyed by all: "If you don't become a national player by twenty, you'll never have hope!"

Without comprehension and talent, no matter how long you study, the gains are minimal.

This Heavenly Star Chess, different from all other chess styles, uses fragments of text to comprehend rules and play. Using the number of moves made to evaluate comprehension quantifies it, making it the best testing method.

As expected of a five-star master teacher, his testing methods are unique.

"Each master teacher entering the pavilion has only the time it takes to burn one incense stick to view the words on the stone pillars, then must play. Those who don't move within the time or cannot place a piece are judged to have failed."

Teacher Hong waved his hand: "Alright, the rules are set. Begin the test!"

"Yes!"

The crowd nodded.

"Since the game can only be played one person at a time, we still need to decide the order..."

Teacher Hong looked at the crowd.

In the first round, Zhang Xuan was the first to take the test, but the Ghost Domain Phantom City was destroyed, so no spots were selected; in the second round, the alien race threat eliminated three people; in the third round, seventeen were eliminated.

From the twenty-eight major powers, fifty-six participants, after eliminating twenty, exactly thirty-six remained.

"How about... I go first again?"

Zhang Xuan stepped forward.

Thirty-six people, each with the time of one incense stick; by the time all finished, it would probably be dark. Rather than waiting here, it was better to finish first and rest.

"Cough, cough..." Seeing him approach, Teacher Hong nearly choked on his saliva: "You'd better forget it!"

Pass three rounds, destroy three rounds. Letting you go first... I'm not that bold.