In the distance, atop a certain high mountain.
Fang Qingxiao and Pang Heng sat opposite each other, and in front of them, a game of chess slowly unfolded.
"Emperor Pang, when do you think it will end?" Fang Qingxiao placed a chess piece and asked.
Pang Heng turned his head to look in the direction of the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm, pondered for a moment, and said:
"In the Secret Realm, the main opponents are the Truth Secret Society and the Grey Realm Star Beasts. If the three parties are in a standoff, it might drag on for a while. Adding the time to occupy and extract the Dragon Veins, it might still take a few days."
Fang Qingxiao laughed, "True Monarch Pang has always been so cautious."
Pang Heng placed a black piece and then added, "However, the Secret Realm has its own rules, which might affect the situation, so it could end earlier."
Fang Qingxiao nodded, his gaze sweeping across the chessboard.
Pang Heng’s black pieces were not only watertight in defense but also gave a strong oppressive feeling of a storm about to break over the city, making it hard to find an opportunity to breakthrough.
After some contemplation, Fang Qingxiao decided to set a bait for a wave, placing another white piece.
However, Pang Heng placed another piece, undistracted, continuing his pressure as per his layout, step by step, squeezing Fang Qingxiao’s white pieces.
Seeing this, Fang Qingxiao shook his head with a wry smile, "Once you fall behind against Emperor Pang, there’s truly no chance to turn the game around..."
Pang Heng said, "You’re overpraising me, but it’s just a game of chess.
On the chessboard, each black and white piece weighs the same; one is one, two are two.
But battles and wars are not like chess; perhaps the small ’bait’ I ignored... suddenly transforms into a divine weapon changing the tide of battle."
"You’re right, Emperor Pang," Fang Qingxiao laughed heartily, then said, "But in this game, I’m mostly likely doomed."
Pang Heng nodded.
Fang Qingxiao withdrew his gaze from the chessboard, looked at Pang Heng, and asked, "So... what does Emperor Pang think about the casualties in this Dragon Vein fight in the Secret Realm?"
Pang Heng’s expression turned solemn, "The struggle for the Dragon Veins will undoubtedly be fierce; even... one side might be wiped out completely."
At this point, Pang Heng glanced towards the north, "Qiguang arrived even earlier than us..."
"After all, he’s the one overseeing the Holy Blessing project..." Fang Qingxiao smiled, showing a bit of admiration in his eyes, "Regardless of the morality or the cost, achieving such feats with the Truth Secret Society makes him a truly remarkable researcher."
Pang Heng nodded in agreement, suddenly his eyes tightened, turning towards the direction of the Secret Realm.
"There’s movement... The Secret Realm is collapsing, it’s already over!"
Pang Heng was quite surprised, having just said it would take a few more days, and now the Secret Realm had begun collapsing, surely meaning the Dragon Veins had been taken.
Fang Qingxiao’s expression also turned serious, "Faster than we anticipated!"
While observing the situation in the field, the two locked onto the actions of Qiguang to the north.
After the initial investigation of the Secret Realm, the troops had already withdrawn in advance.
In high-level battles, ordinary warriors were of no use.
Fang Qingxiao and Pang Heng were here to retrieve the people of the Sky Patrol Department, to prevent Qiguang from breaking the rules in panic.
As the Secret Realm collapsed, before long, there was a flash of silver light on the field, and a silver-haired, silver-eyed youth arrived near the two.
"Greetings, Imperial Throne Fang, Emperor Pang." Su Yuan spoke respectfully.
"Su Yuan!" Fang Qingxiao’s eyes lit up and immediately asked, "Su Yuan, what’s the situation?"
Su Yuan smiled, "Fortunately, I didn’t disgrace my mission, brought back these Dragon Veins."
Saying this, Su Yuan flipped his hand, and three Dragon Balls along with a Pulse Stabilizing Pillar appeared before them.
Fang Qingxiao and Pang Heng’s pupils contracted, their eyes fixed on the Dragon Balls and the Pulse Stabilizing Pillar:
"Four?!"
The two quickly grabbed the Dragon Balls and the Pulse Stabilizing Pillar to examine them one by one.
With Earth Qi surging inside and dragons’ roars resonating, there was no doubt they were Dragon Veins!
"Indeed, four Dragon Veins!" Fang Qingxiao rejoiced.
Even the always composed Pang Heng couldn’t help but show a hint of joy.
Four Dragon Veins meant four new kings... and Su Yuan alone had brought back four Dragon Veins?!
For a moment, both of them looked at Su Yuan full of amazement.
Su Yuan said, "Not only these four, Xiahou, Fang Yuan, and several other True Monarchs each have a total of four Dragon Veins.
This time, all eight Dragon Veins in the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm fell into our hands!"
"Eight...!" Fang Qingxiao took a deep breath, asking, "Really?"
"Indeed!"
"Good!!" Both Fang Yuan and Pang Heng were overjoyed.
This operation, managing to claim all eight Dragon Veins, far exceeded the expectations of both them and the Red Emperor and Green Emperor!
Moreover, with eight Dragon Veins, Qiguang should not have been left without any.
Is it because of some Secret Realm rules that Qiguang...