Chapter 2606: Yuan Xi's Obsession

Killing that Insect Race Harmonization Realm cultivator just now had instantly increased Lu Ye's strength by fifty Dao power, and he had thought that was an unexpected surprise.

Now he knew that it wasn't a surprise at all; it was likely just a basic reward.

With his current strength, killing an Integration Realm cultivator granted him one Dao power, while killing a Harmonization Realm cultivator granted dozens. The unexpected surprises, however, seemed to vary.

The first surprise had been for the chess player, allowing Yuan Xi to mobilize two additional squares each turn. That was an immense help to the chess player, and now this one was for him.

Lu Ye was filled with anticipation.

He reached out and grabbed the shimmering light in front of him. The moment he touched it, the light instantly enveloped his hand like a fluid, sinking into his palm and quickly vanishing.

Lu Ye concentrated his senses and found that his strength had directly increased by nearly two hundred Dao power, which was almost equivalent to the basic reward for defeating four Harmonization Realm cultivators.

For him, such an improvement was undoubtedly substantial.

Yet, Lu Ye felt somewhat shortchanged.

In comparison, the first surprise had undoubtedly provided much greater assistance to the chess game. This current reward merely increased his personal strength by two hundred Dao power, which seemed incomparable to the first surprise.

However, for himself, this surprise was still acceptable.

There was another matter he couldn't figure out: whether the basic rewards others received for defeating Integration and Harmonization Realm cultivators were the same as his. If they were, then to close the gap or even surpass those stronger cultivators, he would have to rely on "unexpected surprises."

This was precisely his unique advantage. Among the many cultivators present, some might be able to defeat stronger opponents with their weaker strength, but none could casually kill enemies beyond their cultivation level as he did.

Silently, Lu Ye sensed his current strength. After two battles, he now possessed over one thousand three hundred Dao power. Three hundred of these were not inherently his but an external force added to him by the Star Chessboard, a supreme treasure, after he took action. However, external force was still force, and as long as he remained in the chess game, he could always mobilize this power without any burden.

As he pondered, Black Blood had already made his move.

Almost every time the two chess players made a move, there would be considerable activity as life forces were mobilized. Lu Ye observed silently and found that both players were trying their best to maneuver their pieces to eliminate the opposing Integration Realm cultivators.

This was because there were numerous Integration Realm cultivators in the chess game, and they were relatively easy to kill. The number and overall quality of a player's pieces were closely related to the strength the chess player could exert. As long as one side could eliminate more of the opponent's pieces, reducing their numbers, it would weaken the opponent's power and gain a significant advantage in offense and defense. Once the disparity was great enough, the outcome between the chess players might be decided even before their pieces had finished battling.

Therefore, in such confrontations, the survival of the pieces was also crucial.

Lu Ye turned to look at the few Integration Realm cultivators beside him, deep in thought. The young man quickly asked, "My lord, do you have any instructions?"

Having witnessed Lu Ye's formidable strength, how could they dare to show any disrespect?

Lu Ye shook his head. "It's nothing. Just follow me and don't wander off."

He had initially thought of using the "United Front" ability to form a formation with a few Integration Realm cultivators, but after careful consideration, he decided against it. His current strength far surpassed that of ordinary Integration Realm cultivators, so forming a formation would not be very meaningful to him; it might even be a burden. These Integration Realm cultivators just needed to stay close and not run around while he was fighting enemies.

"Understood," the Integration Realm cultivators replied respectfully, nodding. They knew their lives currently depended on Lu Ye, so they were naturally very obedient.

After a few more turns, the number of Integration Realm cultivators accompanying Lu Ye grew to about thirty. In these turns, although he had killed several enemy Integration Realm cultivators, he hadn't encountered any Harmonization Realm cultivators, which he found quite regrettable.

In another turn's action, Lu Ye led his group of Integration Realm cultivators into a chessboard square.

As he looked up, he saw a Harmonization City standing ahead.

During the previous "Chess Cleansing" process by the supreme treasure, all people and objects within the chessboard's coverage had been drawn into the game. Thus, the Harmonization Cities, like the cultivators, were now part of the chess game, scattered across different squares.

It was not strange to suddenly encounter a Harmonization City.

Yet, Lu Ye's eye twitched as he watched. Yuan Xi's obsession was terrifying; even in such a chess game, she was still fixated on other people's Harmonization Cities.

He was certain that Yuan Xi had deliberately orchestrated his deployment here; otherwise, it couldn't be such a coincidence.

The City Lord's intention was clear: she wanted him to attack the city. Yuan Xi had even found him over thirty helpers earlier!

Judging by its scale, this Harmonization City was undoubtedly an Arid-grade city. If Lu Ye were alone, conquering it would be quite troublesome, but with over thirty helpers now, the situation was entirely different.

This was undoubtedly an enemy Harmonization City. Although Yuan Xi coveted Harmonization Orbs, she still had her principles and would not have Lu Ye attack the Harmonization City of their own allies.

Even though city lords could not currently benefit from the Harmonization Orb's amplification, each city represented years of hard work accumulated by its lord. She certainly wouldn't undermine her own people at a time like this.

"Attack the city! There's not much time, move quickly!" Lu Ye immediately called out, taking the lead and charging towards the Harmonization City.

It was currently Yuan Xi's turn to make a move, so they had to break the Harmonization City before her next move. Otherwise, they would remain stuck here for another turn, wasting an opportunity to be redeployed.

Behind Lu Ye, the group of Integration Realm cultivators looked stunned.

Attack a city at a time like this? Although it was an empty city, its defensive array was still maintaining basic operations, and conquering it would require some effort.

And even if they broke through the city, what then? It wouldn't benefit the chess game in the slightest.

Thus, since the beginning of the chess game, many cultivators had encountered opportunities to attack cities, but no one had done so. In such circumstances, no one was willing to expend their Dao power on useless endeavors. If they had spare time, it would be better to cultivate diligently and increase their Dao power.

Lu Ye and his group were certainly setting a precedent.

However, at this moment, all the cultivators looked to Lu Ye as their leader. Once his command was given, how could the Integration Realm cultivators not obey? No matter how reluctant they were, they could only follow.

In an instant, dozens of figures swept towards the Harmonization City, unleashing fierce attacks.

Lu Ye now possessed over one thousand three hundred Dao power, and his Pan Mountain Saber had a defense-piercing effect. His attack alone was comparable to the combined efforts of those thirty-odd Integration Realm cultivators.

Each full-strength saber strike made the defensive array's light barrier tremble incessantly.

Even so, facing this empty city, the group of cultivators still took a full half-incense stick of time to breach it.

Lu Ye immediately rushed towards the central hall.

On either side of the chessboard, Black Blood stared coldly at Yuan Xi. After repeated attacks and defenses, he no longer dared to underestimate Yuan Xi in the slightest. The woman before him possessed terrifying strength, especially now that she could mobilize two more squares than him each turn. This small advantage, accumulated over time, was also quite formidable.

"Why aren't you moving? What are you waiting for?" Black Blood roared in frustration. It was Yuan Xi's turn after he had just made his move, but the woman had remained inactive, which greatly agitated him.

However, as a fellow chess player, Black Blood knew that such delays had time limits. Yuan Xi couldn't keep procrastinating indefinitely; the rules of the chessboard wouldn't allow it.

"So eager to die? Then I shall grant your wish!" Yuan Xi glanced at him indifferently and lightly pushed out a palm in Black Blood's direction.

It was at this moment that Lu Ye, using Void Dao runes, sent the packaged Harmonization Orb fragments back to Yuan Xi City. Immediately after, he sensed Yuan Xi mobilizing him.

Throughout the city, the thirty-odd Integration Realm cultivators scattered like a pack of wolves descending a mountain, searching everywhere for anything useful. Unfortunately, they seemed to find nothing.

There were certainly treasure vaults in the city, but opening them would be quite troublesome and definitely too time-consuming.

"Let's go!" Lu Ye called out, then swiftly moved in the direction he was being mobilized, followed closely by a group of streaks of light.

Before he even entered the adjacent square, Lu Ye saw an intense battle unfolding there. He had actually noticed it earlier while attacking the city, but being in a different square, he was powerless to intervene despite seeing it.

He knew in his heart that Yuan Xi would definitely deploy him to this contested square next, so he had anticipated this.

This was likely a battle left over from a previous deployment by one of the chess players, which had continued until now. It was most probably a deployment by Black, as Black's side had the upper hand on the field.

Both allied and enemy forces were enveloped in different colored lights, making them easy to distinguish.

Currently, three Harmonization Realm cultivators were clashing there: one from their side and two from the enemy. Additionally, a group of Integration Realm cultivators was engaged in chaotic battle elsewhere.

The range of the square was actually quite large, but the ripple effects of the Harmonization Realm cultivators' clash also spread widely. Thus, even though the Integration Realm cultivators were fighting chaotically, each of them had to divert some attention and residual power to resist the aftermath of the Harmonization Realm cultivators' struggle, making their combat appear rather sluggish.

Their side's Harmonization Realm cultivator was likely a body cultivator. It was fortunate he was a tough, thick-skinned body cultivator; otherwise, fighting two opponents in such a restrictive environment, he would probably have collapsed long ago.

Even now, he was covered in wounds. Without external interference, he was destined for a tragic end.

Lu Ye's intrusion startled the two enemy Harmonization Realm cultivators. Just as Lu Ye had noticed them while attacking the city, they too had noticed Lu Ye's side, vaguely realizing that enemy reinforcements would soon arrive.

Upon seeing this, one of them, a cultivator whose entire body was pitch black, as if he were a charcoal spirit, let out a low cry: "I'll take him, you quickly kill this fellow."

As he spoke, he changed direction and charged towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye briefly sensed the Dao power fluctuations swirling around the man, then raised his hand, drew his saber, and unleashed a horizontal slash.

In that instant, the saber light converged, interlocking like jagged teeth, as if a fierce beast had broken free from its cage.

Secret Art: Bared Fangs!

The charging Harmonization Realm cultivator's expression first stiffened, and he fully unleashed his power. Then, his eyes widened in horror. His forward-rushing figure abruptly halted as he tried to retreat, but it was too late. The saber light enveloped him. By the time Lu Ye swept past him, the charcoal-skinned Harmonization Realm cultivator's life force had vanished, and his body was torn into pieces.