30 Chapter 2365 

The other 3 Venerables took their seats at the table.

Fang Yuan began to serve them food and drinks, casually flexing his food path attainments.

"How's the food dear friends?" Fang Yuan asked as he poured 4 cups of his signature tea.

"As expected of someone who has gained the only Food path true inheritance in the world"

"This Food and Tea have certainly broadened my horizons"

"It's passable."

While Giant Sun and Star Constellation applied some pleasant feedback, Spectral Soul was straightforward.

After all, the Food path Inheritance Fang Yuan received came from his Shadow Sect!

"Honestly, besides the Tea, I am very disappointed in your use of Food Path," Spectral Soul casually said as he sipped the Tea.

Fang Yuan smiled: "Then you must forgive me friend Spectral Soul I guess your taste has been refined to be gentler and more ladylike."

Spectral Soul glared at Fang Yuan but didn't act.

He merely snorted and continued drinking his tea.

The table became very awkward as the Venerables sat around not entirely sure what was happening.

But all of them had a sneaking suspicion that Fang Yuan was deeply involved.

Fang Yuan was the first to act: "Friends how about we play a pre-game before the real game begins after all I did take a lot of effort making this 4-person variation of Chess."

"Let's just enjoy these next 10 days."

Immediately all the Venerables tensed up.

His words implied that the real competition would begin 10 days later and that it had something to do with the contest for Reckless Savage's Myriad Beast Fusion Color Heaven.

"Allow me the first move then friend Fang Yuan, after all, ladies first." Star Constellation had indeed been very intrigued by this variation of chess and had been running some calculations in the back of her mind.

Though most of her thoughts were preoccupied with the situation at hand.

Fang Yuan merely smiled: "Be my guest Lady Star Constellation."

Giant Sun and Spectral Soul merely nodded.

"Then I shan't stand on ceremony," she moved the pawn in front of the Queen 2 steps forward.

The turns would rotate Clockwork, the left-side of the player.

On Star Constellation's left was Spectral Soul.

Spectral Soul started to develop his pawn as well.

On Spectral Soul's left was Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan copied Star Constellation and pushed his Queen pawn forward 2 steps as well.

All while smiling directly at her.

Star Constellation frowned.

"Is he going to intentionally copy me the whole game? Or is he sending me a message?"

While Star Constellation made deductions Giant Sun made his move.

He advanced his Kingside knight forward!

This move of his was rather shocking to the other 3 Venerables.

"Oh? Giant Sun is actually going against the trend? Is this part of his Luck Path calculations?"

Spectral Soul wondered these things as Giant Sun was directly across from him.

They say that faraway friends are better than close enemies, for Giant Sun and Spectral Soul their biggest enemies were Star Constellation and Fang Yuan!

After all, because these 2 were adjacent they would be the most direct in a clash.

This made them pseudo-allies.

"Heh, as the saying goes, an enemy of my enemy is my friend," Spectral Soul thought to himself.

Giant Sun was also thinking the same thing, but he was inwardly conflicted: "Urgh, which person on this board could even be remotely considered an ally, Star Constellation will scheme against you, Spectral Soul will try to kill you and Fang Yuan will not only do both, but he'll also try to use you to kill the other 2!"

Giant Sun was getting a headache thinking about his future partnership with Spectral Soul: "Forget it I can't depend on him it is still best to rely on oneself but to engage 3 enemies at once is unwise."

Thus, the board developed an interesting alliance between Star Constellation and Fang Yuan, versus Giant Sun and Spectral Soul.

As the battle on the chessboard grew more intense a faint rumbling sound could be heard.

"Hmm? Someone sounds hungry. Who could possibly be hungry here unless…" Giant Sun and the rest thought up to this point and they all subconsciously glanced at Fang Yuan.

Facing their stars Fang Yuan casually smiled: "My friends what appears to be the problem?"

The growling was coming from Fang Yuan or more precisely the Sovereign Immortal Fetus Gu!

All the venerables knew exactly what the Sovereign Immortal Fetus Gu needed for sustenance, Immortal Aperture!

Because Fang Yuan was a Venerable it meant he needed a Rank 9 Venerable's Aperture.

And there was 3 Venerable's present away from their HQ!

The 3 Venerables jumped away from the Chessboard while preparing their killer moves.

"Fang Yuan! Nice trick luring us out here so that you could suppress and devour one of us! It seems the hunger hasn't completely corrupted your mind." Star Constellation exclaimed.

She had no concrete proof, but she knew that Spectral Soul and Giant Sun had similar thoughts, she wanted to make them subconsciously side with her.

Giant Sun and Spectral Soul did not deny or agree with Star Constellation, but they still prepped their Killer Moves just to be sure.

"My dear friends," Fang Yuan said with an apologetic look on his face: "I would never eat one of you."

The Venerables raised their eyebrows.

The increasing rumbling in his stomach made it very unconvincing.

Fang Yuan then proclaimed: "If you leave the Western Desert and this game then I can take it as the Oath being over and me as the winner!"

Star Constellation then realized something: "You're after Reckless's Grotto Heaven to satiate your hunger!"

Fang Yuan's face bore a sinister smile.

It all made sense now, Reputation Gu's game being related to Reckless's Grotto Heaven, the Alliance Oath.

It was a part of Fang Yuan's plan to obtain Reckless Savage's, Grotto Heaven!

After all, the battle would be fought by the forces under the venerables, and they were all limited to 10 groups with 3 direct subordinates.

But if Fang Yuan's force was the second strongest in the current world, who would dare claim number 1?

Heavenly Court? They could if they were still around, but their member base had greatly dwindled since the repeated battles.

Over 3 million years of foundation used up in the span of a mere 2-3 years.

Of course, this would have been nothing compared to a Venerable but because of their Alliance Oath, the Venerables cannot interfere with the winner.

This means that once Fang Yuan won, they couldn't even take back their word and stop him!

Spectral Soul and Giant Sun soon caught on: "You've really had us this time."

Giant Sun was feeling a little defeated before the games even began.

At that moment Reputation, Gu burst forth once more; "Venerables do not despair, I had long seen Fang Yuan's plans and have thus, based my game around them."

The Venerables were shocked by Reputation Gu's sudden appearance.

Giant Sun asked: "How can we trust that you and Fang Yuan are not in cahoots?"

"You even let him put you in a formation? How can we be sure you will be impartial?"

Star Constellation nodded in agreement.

But before Reputation Gu could respond Spectral Soul interrupted: "We can trust her."

Everyone was shocked at what Spectral Soul said, even Fang Yuan.

Spectral Soul wasn't fazed: "Reputation Gu hasn't been refined if not you would not be talking to her right now. And even if she were, Gu are mere fragments of the Heavenly Dao, they are equally bound by the Heavenly Dao, even if the 2 of them were in cahoots, once she is tasked as the overseer of the game she must adhere to the rules and not offer any bias, she is not the judge but merely the referee carrying out the judge's will."

Reputation Gu responded: "He is right, while I have acknowledged Fang Yuan as my master what I have said before is also true, whoever wins will become my new master no questions asked even if Fang Yuan would kill me the moment, I defect I will still be forced to become the winner's Gu."

The other Venerables wanted to know how Spectral Soul knew all that, but he merely ignored their questions.

Giant Sun then spoke up: "What I want to know is why set up this additional competition and risk Reputation Gu?"

Fang Yuan responded: "Because even though the Oath does restrict you guys from adding Venerable moves onto your team, it does not prevent you from interfering from afar."

"Nor does it prevent any past plans that were put into motion before the competition."

"Tch," sound came from Giant Sun who was feigning weakness but Fang Yuan had noticed that there were a few Longevity Heaven Experts living in the Grotto Heaven.

"This contest gives me assurance because I can't force you guys to take another Oath this competition adds an extra layer that you can't resist." Fang Yuan added.

"Oh? And what might you mean?" Star Constellation asked.

Fang Yuan smirked: "Don't think I don't know about the loopholes placed into the Oath Star Constellation, I know that while the rules are completely strict and rule-bending isn't easily allowed, but how can the rules apply to someone who has already forfeited hmm?"

Star Constellation merely kept smiling.

Fang Yuan was right! This was part of Star Constellation's ploy because the Oath was made to bind someone during and after the results of the game, but if someone forfeited during the match before a conclusion?

Then they would be free from the Oath and its rules, capable to interfere with the match as it was ongoing.

Of course, a forfeit is the same as a loss but since it was a 4-way competition if there was no winner yet then the Forfeited could do everything in her power to mess with the competition.

After all, she could just destroy a large portion of the entire Grotto Heaven preventing anyone from winning!

And if the timing was good enough would the 2 other Venerables that were losing disagree with preventing the winner from obtaining the prize?

No. In fact, they were most likely going to prevent the likely winner from stopping Star Constellation.

As they were in the Western Desert everyone did not have the boost of their HQ and thus, were able to easily hold back one another.

Even in this environment, it was not easy for Fang Yuan to fight a Venerable one on one. Let alone two on one.

"I see the Oath was never really about the Grotto Heaven but this Chess game before us. To forfeit now would be to give you Reputation Gu's full support."

Giant Sun added: "Not only would your control over Reputation Gu increase but your Luck would as well."

Giant Sun was the pioneer of Luck Path he had come to understand some of Luck's fickle nature.

Luck has always favored the bold, and to back down without a fight would make providence seek out a new master, the winner.

Spectral Soul was the only one who sat back relaxed: "Fang Yuan has decided to make a seemingly risky bet by putting Reputation Gu as collateral but knowing him his scheme reaches far deeper, if we sat out now who knows how he could twist it to his advantage, we've stepped one foot into his trap and now we have to fight our way out."

Fang Yuan was all smiles throughout their exchange.

"Things have developed somewhat outside expectations but, in the end, you've realized it any way you have no choice but to play," Fang Yuan happily explained.

"Because as Star Constellation has explained the Game has always been the one that will be set down by Reputation Gu, and if you forfeit now well let's just say that it won't be so easy to destroy the prize."

Star Constellation revealed a rare smile: "Heh, Fang Yuan must be too used to victory fine let's play I do hope you realize that all you've done is turn hidden schemes into open ones. If you think you've won, then be prepared to starve to death! I, Star Constellation, will stop you from winning!"

Spectral Soul and Giant Sun began emitting their confident auras as well.

Fang Yuan stood his ground and stare at these behemoths of legends.

Finally on equal grounds, as a player, not a pawn.

"Bring it on."