"Huh?"
"Startled awake from a dream on the brink of death!"
"A character PV for Jing Yuan? Lao Yu, how could you not give us any prior notice about such a big event?!"
"The appearance of this video means Jing Yuan is entering the card pool, right? I'm not misunderstanding, am I?!"
"My goodness! What did I just see?!"
As a flurry of real-time comments scrolled by,
the main video began.
The previously boisterous crowd in the square fell silent at once.
Each person fixed their gaze intently on the screen, as if suddenly under a spell that immobilized them.
Even Phantylia found the abrupt shift in atmosphere somewhat eerie.
In the opening scene,
a lush courtyard appeared.
Within it,
an old man and a youth were playing chess.
At first glance, it seemed like the clichéd beginning of many stories, but these individuals clearly represented the pinnacle of power aboard Xianzhou Luofu:
Jing Yuan and Yanqing!
With one hand resting under his chin, Jing Yuan squinted slightly, appearing almost on the verge of dozing off.
A small bird landed on a repulsion chess piece, momentarily disturbing the drowsy Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan yawned and asked, "What's this? Still haven't figured it out?"
Yanqing's eyes lit up as he moved his chess piece.
"Indeed!"
"It's your turn, General."
Jing Yuan rubbed his chin. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, such aggression..."
"These youngsters nowadays..." As he spoke, Jing Yuan extended two fingers to catch a falling ginkgo leaf mid-air.
"But still...
"...too simplistic."
He promptly placed the ginkgo leaf on the chessboard as if it were another piece!
Simultaneously,
he stood up with hands leisurely clasped behind his back.
The background music shifted from the serene elegance of "Flowing Mountains" to the rousing melody of "Ode to Liquor"!
In the bamboo grove before them, four Demonic Yin Body creatures unexpectedly appeared.
As Jing Yuan finished speaking, he waved his hand with a flourish.
A decree unfolded like a painting, filling the screen with golden radiance!
An explosive wave of thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd!
"Oh man, that's insanely cool!"
"The background music feels like a grand strategy unfolding over vast distances!!"
"The Feathered Spirit is going absolutely berserk again!"
"Yes, here it comes! Bring on the power!"
Behind them, Phantylia frowned slightly.
Wasn't it just a few Demonic Yin Body pawns arriving? Why such excitement from these people? Truly, they were like naive frogs confined to their well, oblivious to the wider world!
In the next moment, a golden flash illuminated behind Jing Yuan.
An enormous chessboard spread out beneath his feet, transforming the surrounding courtyard scenery entirely.
Only Jing Yuan and the Demonic Yin Body soldiers remained visible.
Jing Yuan stood at the position marked for the "King" on the chessboard, while the Demonic Yin Body soldiers occupied all the "Pawn" positions at the opposite end.
This sight startled Phantylia internally.
"Could he truly possess hidden strength?"
"The ability to transform the battlefield into a chessboard-like phenomenon?"
"Is this the key to his unwavering composure?"
Phantylia's eyes subtly glinted with intrigue; she now focused intently on the scene unfolding before her.
The background music intensified with drumbeats resembling a storm's fury, akin to the call of war horns.
Spectators clenched their fists excitedly, as if yearning to grab nearby stools or brooms and charge into battle themselves.
The atmosphere reached its peak.
Jing Yuan revealed his weapon—the formation blade known as Stone Fire Dream Body.
"Thunder...manifest!"
Golden lightning surged along the blade's edge.
The front-line "pawn" units had already fallen.
Behind them, the "generals" and "advisors" swiftly advanced.
Jing Yuan's eyes gleamed intensely.
Amid swirling clouds, a majestic golden spirit emerged.
A colossal blade descended with force.
"Only thus can victory be achieved."
Phantylia unconsciously tightened her grip on the controller.
She had been tricked by this video!
Contrary to what it seemed, Jing Yuan did not possess the ability to summon a massive chessboard, positioning enemies and allies as corresponding chess pieces!
This was merely a visual representation technique!
It aimed to depict Jing Yuan's strategic prowess, likening his tactics to a game of chess akin to warfare!
"Damn..."
Suddenly,
the fallen bodies began twisting and convulsing, giving rise to a gigantic deer-shaped monster from behind.
Upon seeing the Abundant Ebon Deer, Phantylia let out a cold laugh.
"At last, something interesting emerges."
Jing Yuan also stepped out of the chess illusion.
Softly, he said, "It's time for an unexpected maneuver."
He raised his hand, lifting the Stone Fire Dream Body above his head.
Golden lightning enveloped him, with imperial edicts circling around the blade.
Even the spiraling cloud formations in the sky turned gold.
"Mighty spirits, heed my command."
The Divine Monarch behind him likewise raised his weapon.
With that order—
"Execute without mercy!"
With a strike akin to splitting the heavens, he cleaved through the realm before him.
When they looked back,
the Demonic Yin Body and Abundant Ebon Deer had vanished entirely.
All that remained were silver maple leaves gently drifting down with the wind.
"Have you remembered all of it, Yanqing?"
"Yes, General."
"Excellent. Once you've forgotten everything, your apprenticeship will be complete."
Jing Yuan lightly patted Yanqing on the shoulder and walked away from the courtyard.
"Huh? But, Yanqing..."
"Oh no, General! You're stealing chess pieces again!"
The spectators burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Phantylia left the scene with a cold expression.
What demonstration of Jing Yuan's abilities?!
What "heaven and earth as the board, stars as the pieces"?! Is that it?
It sounded far more impressive than reality!
Although the video production was commendable, with stirring music throughout...
But Phantylia had seen through these exaggerated exteriors to the core truth!
Even against mere Demonic Yin Bodies and Abundant Ebon Deer, Jing Yuan resorted to wielding The Hunt's bestowed might.
As one of the seven heavenly generals wielding Emperor Bow—Jing Yuan, he seemed devoid of any other significant abilities beyond those granted by the Divine Monarch.
So this is what the Divine Strategy General truly amounts to!
Having reached this conclusion, a sudden idea sprouted in Phantylia's mind.
"Ah, Jing Yuan, since you're so weak, why not bestow upon you the power of [Destruction]?"
"I'll transform you into a Voidranger of Destruction."
"With this, chaos will inevitably engulf Luofu, leading to its collapse without a direct assault."
"Yes, yes, this aligns perfectly with my aesthetic of destruction!"
Now there remained only one question:
How could she entice Jing Yuan to take action?
If he continued to operate from behind the scenes, her plan would be unfeasible.
Just then, she received several messages.
They were from Yukong, the helmsman of the Sky-Faring Commission.
"Tingyun, where are you now?"
"The Astral Express Crew is about to head towards The Shackling Prison to support General Jingyuan, and I've recommended you as their guide."
"See this message? Reply immediately."
After reading it, Phantylia's grin stretched wide, nearly splitting her face apart!
"Truly... [Fortune favors me]!"
"It seems luck is entirely on my side this time."
"This :!: Today marks the inevitable disintegration and utter destruction of the Roaming Immortal Ark!"