Deep Sea Hunter, but Deep Sea Titan

As soon as Luo Ting finished speaking, the scattered chess pieces transformed into their accomplices, ready to pounce.

Lotin is currently only in his original form because he is in a dream-like world; he hasn't actually shed his outer shell. Therefore, he can still use Nautilus's skill set.

A pillar of crimson lava erupted with a stomp, instantly scorching the chess pieces that had been transformed into weapons.

"Unfortunately, your premise is wrong."

"Who told you that if I were to fight Yan, we would both be severely injured?"

At this moment, the entire chess room had already been ignited by the spreading lava.

"You must be wondering why Yan can be so domineering and forceful with you, but has to be cautious about renewing the alliance with me."

"From the very beginning, Yan had no trump card that could harm my core."

The beams collapsed as they burned, and the chess room constructed by "Wang" was disintegrating, gradually turning into ashes in the firelight.

"You really enjoy playing chess, but unfortunately, the Great Yan Go system is too complicated for me to understand."

"It doesn't feel as good to me as the Golden Spatula Auto Chess."

Luo Ting had no intention of belittling or denying the profound and sophisticated game of Go. However, for him personally, it was not an activity that brought him any enjoyment, just like how Lao Li in the original story said "not as good as Gomoku" to mock Sui Lao Er.

It's less about targeting Go and more about targeting that terrible Go player, Sui Lao Er.

However, talking about Go and the Golden Spatula reminded Luo Ting of a certain old Eagle-style Go player who played the Golden Spatula with 5 units and 7 yuan.

The fact that the second son has drawn himself into the game is also a move by the eagle.

"Child's play".

The burning canvas collapsed helplessly from the wall, igniting the figure's clothes.

"I don't think it matters. You'll have a lot of fun as long as you don't bring anything other than the pieces into your game."

"happy?"

The figure then burst into a silly laugh.

"What's the point of both sides of a chessboard following the same rules, fighting each other in black and white across the board?"

"Chess is ultimately just a game."

Luo Ting knew, however, that this lousy chess player was just being stubborn.

"Then I'll break your rules, overturn your chessboard, and give you your freedom. Would you be happy? Would you think it's meaningful?"

If I complain that playing games is boring, and then I stop joking around with you, you'll get upset.

Luo Ting suspected that his words had caused real damage, because the figure fell silent again.

In the flickering, bright firelight, the surrounding scenery transformed into a chilling, snow-covered mountain landscape. To Laurentina and Skadi, Lotin seemed to have just been lost in thought for a moment; the others couldn't even tell what the colossal creature had been contemplating.

Ling, however, used his power over dreams and time to realize that Luo Ting had just clashed with his second brother.

"My second brother has been acting crazy lately, and he even dares to act unruly and arrogantly in front of you, sir."

Ling continued drinking the strong liquor from the flask, seemingly unfazed, as if he had no fear whatsoever that the three of them gathering together would give birth to a celestial being.

"It is truly shameful to rely on others to cure one's own illness."

"My two younger sisters are so disrespectful; they came up with such an elegant way to get rid of that thing. I'd really feel bad if I didn't show them some appreciation. I'll treat you to a good drink another day."

Ling had already realized that Luo Ting wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of the Year Minister, and he also learned from the chess room just now why Luo Ting wanted to get rid of the Year Minister - simply because his second brother had foolishly dragged him into the chessboard and done something extremely provocative.

Amidst the rising winds and surging clouds, a majestic dragon with golden flames encircling it and stone-like skin and scales descended from the sky.

Nian, Xi, and Ling remained silent.

Even those who had existed for a long time were speechless for a moment.

The wind has been blowing since time immemorial, but this time is no longer the same.

The shadow of the Year Beast looms large and ancient. It lazily gazes upon the human world, a single glance spanning a thousand years, a thousand years as fleeting as a dream, its expression a mixture of anger and resentment.

"In the vastness of heaven and earth, mountains and seas are depicted in motion."

After growing to a gigantic size, Loting poured his mana into the Mountain and Sea Scroll, and the strange ancient scroll immediately emitted golden light. In the picture of gods and giant beasts, a ferocious figure suddenly appeared.

What lies before them is the yearly manifestation of Nian, Xi, and Ling, a quarter of a yearly beast.

"It's like an Ursus nesting doll."

Because several spatial abilities existed in the same place, Zuo Le began to feel somewhat disoriented in his surroundings.

This is an independent spacetime created by the power of the Order, and this independent spacetime has now been incorporated into the Mountain and Sea Scroll.

The bronze giant waved its massive anchor, using the mountains as its harp, and plucked a startling string. In an instant, the early spring snow scene, glowing red under the fiery clouds, was shrouded in a dark red giant sun. The mountains turned black, the valleys were chilled to the bone, and in a moment they transformed into crackling molten springs.

New and old grudges, behemoth and god, stare at each other angrily, swords drawn.

"It's nothing but a broken shadow, yet it really thinks it's the master of the Heavenly Dragon?"

On the dark red giant anchor, the surging lava veins flickered and shimmered, then erupted towards the celestial phases that hovered in mid-air.

Xi, who had locked herself in the painting to avoid the shadows of the past, was already showing signs of fear. Nian, who was usually just playing around, was unusually serious for a moment. Even if it was just a shadow, she didn't like being stared at by it.

The phase of the year also accelerated its descent, transforming into a thunderbolt, and with the force of a falling sky, it directly confronted the giant anchor of the bronze god.

As rock fragments scattered, the winding, epochal shape was already held in place by Loting's giant anchor.

The blue and red flames scorched the scales, forcing the year's phase to transform and release its breath, trying to break free with the raging karmic fire.

But how could Nautilus, who was as solid as a rock, be afraid of such a tiny spark?

Commanded by the giant god, the mountains began to deploy like an army. The solid mountains transformed into fluid waves, one higher than the next, until they reached above the peak of the river, revealing a gaping maw that swallowed the small insect of the year whole.

Luo Ting suddenly felt that directly using the ultimate skill was a bit of an overreaction, but it was also a simple and straightforward way to solve the problem once and for all.

The shadows of the past vanished in an instant.

Zuo Le suddenly felt that the last rays of time, as the years were being swallowed up, were scrutinizing this land.

One moment I feel nostalgic, the next I feel grief and indignation, then I feel pity.

In the end, a sense of bewilderment and astonishment remained. Why had the once evenly matched opponent become so powerful that He couldn't even withstand a few moves?

"Your Excellency Gonggong, your divine power is truly remarkable."

Taihe, who was accompanying Zuo Le, was seeing Luo Ting unleash some of his great power in such a gigantic form for the first time. He couldn't help but sigh to himself that the appearance of mountains and rivers was nothing more than a thought of the other party.

"It's over just like that? Unbelievable."

Just as Xi was about to crouch down in a defensive stance, she witnessed the Year's appearance vanish into thin air, and only then did she recover from her previous fear.

Compared to Nian, Xi, who has always hidden in paintings, is obviously more afraid of "her own shadow." Of course, when she has nowhere to hide, she will fight to the death.

Were you this capable before?

Normally, Nian would only use six weapons, but just in case, she prepared seven this time. However, in the end, she didn't use any of them. Nian's transformation turned into dust like a small insect in the grass.

"While we're struggling to survive, you can shatter that illusion with a simple tap?"

"In the great battle back then, although you had a slight advantage, you were still evenly matched."

Looking at the incredulous Nian, Luo Ting said:

"The mere remains of the Year Beast are nothing more than a phantom that your sister could pierce with a single finger if she were to make a move."

In the original storyline, Ling did indeed exhibit such behavior.

"Not at all! You're joking, old man. It may seem easy for me to shatter the shadows of age, but it requires a strong mind and character."

"Life is but a dream, like dew or lightning, leaving no trace, like a bubble."

"Little did we know that you and I are like a shadowy figure to it, seemingly the same yet not quite."

"If I am not carefree and cannot regard the passing years as nothing, I am afraid I will be just as overwhelmed as my sisters."

The meaning of "令" is that she has cultivated a carefree mind over the long years and has a very firm understanding of her true self. Even the shadow of the year's phase cannot shake her understanding of her own existence and identity. It is precisely because of this that she was able to cleverly break the problem, expose the fragility of the year's phase transformation, and thus achieve the effect of shattering it with a single blow.

“You are truly the one with immense strength, who single-handedly subdued the tenfold afflictions of the three phases of life.”

This is like the same math problem: someone who tries to solve it using the most brute-force method can do it just as quickly as someone who solves it using a clever formula.

"Let's not argue about this anymore; there's no point in praising each other."

After all, the transformation of the year into human form wasn't that powerful to begin with. In the original story, Linghe Baitian was able to handle it on his own, so it's reasonable that Luoting didn't have to use his full strength.

For others, 1000 points of damage is enough to kill them in one hit, so for Loting, 10,000 points of damage is also enough. On the contrary, because the enemy is killed after taking 1000 points of damage, the difference is not noticeable - to give an example, it is a similar principle.

"Now that you have regained your freedom, what should you do from now on? The Situation Office can continue to follow the old rules, right?"

Laurentina relayed Lotin's meaning.

"The old Grand Tutor said he wishes to meet with Your Excellency and those other gentlemen."

Zuo Le's words were then relayed to Luo Ting through Laurentina.

Luo Ting readily agreed. He was very curious about Yan Kingdom's attitude towards these three who had been freed from the bondage of the Year Beast.

Chapter 197: The Most Sincere Episode

"Grand Tutor, it's been decades since I've seen him. I wonder what he's become now."

Ling continued drinking, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around him.

The black wine cup that was included in the Mountain and Sea Scroll was shattered during Luo Ting's release of his ultimate skill. After all, arranging mountains into waves was a natural disaster.

Another piece was destroyed by Loting, and with each piece missing, the "Hope" plan became increasingly difficult to implement.

Ya, the scroll of mountains and seas and the black wine cup, the chess pieces have been completely crushed, and the chess game of Wang has become incomplete because it has become shaky.

With all the dangerous elements dealt with, Luo Ting naturally put away the Mountain and Sea Scroll, restoring the surrounding area to the snowy mountain scenery of early spring.

At this moment, an old boatman wearing a straw hat and a raincoat appeared at the foot of the mountain with an old man dressed in the official robes of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master Shen."

"I have a rather impolite question for Master Shen."

The boatman beside the Grand Tutor was none other than "Shenlou Yushi," one of the top celestial masters of that time, who once single-handedly wiped out a large band of water bandits.

"An old ferryman is not worth the adults' time to ask questions."

Master Shen lowered his straw hat. He knew, of course, that the person he was carrying was the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, and that he had come to deal with the matter of the giant beast.

"Master Shen, how much do you think it would take to shake that giant cauldron in the river?"

The Grand Tutor was clearly alluding to Gonggong, who had fled to Shangshu.

"A few drops of rain won't wash it away. Even if we bring in the potter, I doubt he'd be able to do anything."

Master Shen changed the course of the small boat, and in addition to the eighteen peaks of Shangshu, there was an extra mountain. This extra mountain was probably Gonggong, which the Grand Tutor had been referring to.

The white potter he mentioned was Bai Dingshan, the first master of the Great Yan Dynasty. After he grew old and had nothing to do, he, like Master Shen, found a side job to pass the time—doing pottery.

“Unlike the Sui Beast, whose power stagnated while the Great Yan Dynasty was changing rapidly, this Gonggong is progressing even faster than the Great Yan Dynasty.”

"The best outcome is that everything remains peaceful."

The Grand Tutor believed that Gonggong was theoretically unlikely to side with the Sui beast, since they had been enemies since ancient times, and now that incompetent chess player was risking his life.

"Sir, here we are."

Master Shen stopped his small boat next to the temporary bamboo dock. After all, it was normal that the facilities were old and sparsely maintained because Jiang Feng had been taken into his dream world for a long time.

Just as the Grand Tutor stepped out of the small boat, the nineteenth mountain peak suddenly shrank, causing rolling waves on the river.

Shen Yushi used Originium Arts to divert the waves, preventing Taifu from getting soaked.

On the way down the mountain, Nian and Xi clearly showed that they did not want to see the Grand Tutor.

"If you see that old man, you'll be dragged over to make this and that again."

She started making her own plans at the beginning of the year. Now that the year was over, she should be as carefree and unrestrained as her older sister.

Is there any way to evade the Yan Kingdom's court...?

Looking at the scroll painting of mountains and seas, Nian thought of her younger sister who often hid in the painting.

Should we shamelessly hide inside?

"never mind."

After thinking it over, Nian gave up the idea. Gonggong valued contracts and transactions, and if he didn't offer suitable bargaining chips, he might displease the old man.