Doesn't this make your blood pressure spike

The night sky was filled with countless stars.

As the night deepened, the starry expanse resembled a chessboard scattered with pieces, seemingly within arm's reach, inspiring boundless imagination. Gazing up at such a breathtaking sight, one couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

Yet, Yi Feng leaned against the window with a furrowed brow, lost in troubled thought.

His chess game wasn’t going well.

The reason? He had heard that Gu Qingcheng was also staying temporarily in these palace halls, treated as an honored guest—after all, his status was anything but ordinary.

This had delighted Yi Feng for quite a while.

He had assumed this would be his chance to seek death. He had stayed up half the night, waiting for the other party to make a move.

But there wasn’t even a whisper of disturbance.

What happened to the vengeful, scheming old fox he’d heard about?

If this kept up, the man’s reputation would collapse entirely.

Yi Feng was on the verge of falling asleep, still seeing no sign of action. Doubt crept into his mind—could it be that Gu Qingcheng was truly intimidated by Bai Piaopiao and didn’t dare strike here?

If that were the case, then all his efforts today would have been for nothing.

Two more hours passed.

Yi Feng grew increasingly anxious, a sinking feeling taking hold. Recalling the day’s events only deepened this sense of foreboding. That pretty-faced scoundrel, though cunning and shameless, was indeed a master of patience and maintaining appearances—truly the demeanor of a young master from a prestigious family.

If things continued like this, Bai Piaopiao’s prediction might come true—that coward wouldn’t dare act here.

This wouldn’t do!

He had to fan the flames. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away!

After some deliberation, Yi Feng sat at his desk, grinding ink and lifting his brush, transforming into a hot-blooded, reckless youth. He went through every taunt he could think of, each draft more arrogant than the last.

"Gu Qingcheng, don’t think your pretty face gives you the right to steal love. Our Piaopiao isn’t some shallow woman. Let me tell you straight—we’ve known each other since childhood..."

His brush flew across the paper as he refined his words, discarding draft after draft.

"Piaopiao and I grew up together, sworn to each other with vows as deep as the sea. If you think your powdered face will win her over, you’re nothing but a clown. The world will laugh at you when this gets out..."

"With all that makeup, I doubt you have an ounce of a man’s courage. If you dare, meet me outside the palace, deep in the misty forests to the east, and let’s settle this like men!"

"P.S.: If you don’t show, you’re no man at all—utterly worthless!"

"Signed, Yi Feng, Bai Piaopiao’s devoted lover!"

Just reading it was enough to make one’s blood boil.

Satisfied, Yi Feng nodded at the crooked handwriting he’d deliberately penned with his left hand.

Exaggerating his relationship with Bai Piaopiao? All for the sake of stoking hatred.

He knew exactly what that pretty-faced schemer was after.

And with that final provocation, as long as Gu Qingcheng had a shred of pride, his temper would flare, and he wouldn’t dare refuse the challenge.

The tactic was underhanded, but for the sake of his grand death-seeking plan, he had no choice.

Besides, this concerned Bai Piaopiao’s future. Dealing with such a scoundrel was justified. If he could die and achieve the state of immortality, solving this nuisance would be a bonus—killing two birds with one stone.

For both reason and sentiment, he’d shoulder this burden!

Sealing the challenge letter in an envelope, Yi Feng stepped out of his courtyard and instructed a servant waiting outside.

"Deliver this invitation to Chess Saint Gu Qingcheng. Tell him Yi Feng invites him for a tea discussion."

The servant’s heart skipped a beat, but he bowed and hurried off.

Seeing everything go smoothly, Yi Feng grinned in satisfaction. Given the pretty-faced man’s jealousy earlier, there was no way he’d refuse this challenge. Once the reply came, Yi Feng would head out for the duel, stoke the flames further, and Gu Qingcheng would surely open with his deadliest move!

Time was of the essence. Yi Feng returned to his room, rehearsing every possible line to ensure he was fully prepared.

Meanwhile, the servant made his way to Gu Qingcheng’s grand hall. But along the way, he grew suspicious and discreetly opened the letter for a peek. He dared to do this only because of his mistress Bai Piaopiao’s earlier orders—to remain vigilant around Yi Feng’s vicinity, leaving no room for carelessness.

One glance, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

This was disaster in the making!

He was about to rush and report to Bai Piaopiao first when, by ill fortune, he ran into Gu Qingcheng himself, who was outside the hall brooding over his frustrations.

"What is this?"

The servant hesitated, scrambling for an excuse.

But Gu Qingcheng was a Saint—his aura and presence were anything but ordinary. The servant, merely at the Dao Comprehension realm, was instantly overwhelmed, barely keeping his composure as he stammered out a flimsy explanation.

Yet, it was too late. Gu Qingcheng had already spotted the letter.

"To Chess Saint Gu Qingcheng—Personal!"

With a single glance at the envelope, Gu Qingcheng flicked his finger, and the letter floated into his grasp.

He read it.

His face darkened to an extreme, and the letter instantly turned to dust, vanishing from existence. Then, his figure disappeared into the void.

Witnessing this, the servant paled and bolted straight for Bai Piaopiao’s residence.

"Lady Bai! Lady Bai!"

Bai Piaopiao had been deep in thought, pondering how to dissuade Gu Qingcheng once and for all, when the frantic shouts outside disrupted her. Her delicate brows furrowed.

Since attaining sainthood, her abode had been undisturbed—save for Gu Qingcheng’s incessant visits. But now, after today’s turmoil, her servant was in such a panic that an ominous premonition gripped her heart...

She summoned him at once. Upon hearing his report, she froze momentarily before her face drained of color.

Childhood sweethearts? A duel to the death?!

Just hearing the vicious wording, Bai Piaopiao’s heart clenched painfully. She had already been moved by Yi Feng’s sincerity and bravery, intending to resolve this matter discreetly to spare him trouble.

Yet, Yi Feng had acted first—despite being only a Half-Saint, he was willing to face Chess Saint Gu Qingcheng head-on!

This act of shouldering everything, this unyielding masculine courage, moved Bai Piaopiao deeply. To have met Yi Feng in this life, to reunite after so many trials—it was nothing short of heaven’s blessing.

She would not allow any further mishaps. Even if the Chess Saint of the Gu family stood in her way! If Yi Feng could defy death for her, how could she betray such devotion?

Her eyes hardened with resolve, divine energy swirling around her.

"Not a word of this to anyone!"

Her rare display of authority sent the servant prostrating in fear.

Then, with a thought, she summoned a figure into her courtyard—an elder who appeared bewildered and alarmed, hastily bowing.

"Young Mistress, what urgent matter requires my presence? I was in seclusion, having just broken through to Half-Saint and not yet stabilized..."

Without letting him finish, Bai Piaopiao rose, her expression grave.

"What is the most powerful formation scroll currently stored in our treasury?"

The elder blinked in confusion but answered truthfully.

"Young Mistress, the strongest formation at present should be the Great Desolate Seven Extremities Formation. It is an ancient, top-tier Saint-grade lethal formation, sealed within the treasure vault. It is not to be used lightly—once activated, even a Saint would struggle to escape..."

Before he could finish, Bai Piaopiao cut in with steely determination.

"Retrieve the scroll from the vault."

The elder gaped in shock.

The Great Desolate Seven Extremes Array possesses terrifying power, yet it is sealed within a scroll, usable only once—making it incomparably precious!

Why use it so abruptly, and with such haste?

The elder was utterly stunned and wanted to question further, but upon seeing the White Emperor's resolute gaze, he could only comply, transforming into a streak of light as he departed. Moments later, he personally delivered the scroll.

Watching the White Emperor take the scroll and tear through the void to leave, the elder stood frozen in shock!

An ancient array of such magnitude—

It should never be deployed except in a battle between Saints.

What earth-shattering calamity could have occurred to drive him to act with such urgency, even resorting to such a trump card? Could a cataclysmic disaster be imminent...?