So now a new question arose—
How was he supposed to convince Morax to move Liyue's people to Guili Plains?
Even he felt he might be thinking too far ahead.
While Zayn pondered outside, Morax and Guizhong were still in the hall, exchanging ideas about governance.
What should've been a short discussion somehow stretched from afternoon… all the way to the next morning.
If Zayn didn't know Morax was emotionally a brick—literally and figuratively—
he would've suspected the two of them were doing something improper inside for so long.
When the pair finally stepped out, both wore apologetic expressions.
They had simply gotten too deep into the joy of exchanging knowledge—
a normal occurrence for beings with eternal lifespans.
A day or two could pass in the blink of an eye.
Of course, Zayn didn't stay outside doing anything foolish.
He used his Manifestation Authority to conjure up a temporary pavilion and tinkered for hours.
And now, before him sat what looked like an ordinary Go board.
Only Zayn knew…
This thing was anything but ordinary.
By infusing it with manifesting power, he'd turned it into a fully automatic "AI"—
capable of moving its own pieces and evaluating the board.
To the left were three buttons: Easy, Normal, Hell Mode.
Zayn admired his creation with smug satisfaction.
This—this was the correct way to use the Manifestation Authority!
"Zenos… my apologies," Morax said solemnly.
"Guizhong and I became too absorbed in discussion and forgot you were waiting."
"I'm so sorry! Zayn, it really is—wait, what's this?"
Guizhong also apologized… until her eyes locked on the strange board.
Zayn placed a black stone.
A faint blue light pulsed—
the board pulled in a white piece and placed it by itself.
Both Morax and Guizhong stared.
Zayn didn't respond—
He was fully immersed in the critical final moments of his match.
So Morax answered in his stead:
"This is called Go. Zenos invented it.
The game's rules are simple, yet its depth is unfathomable.
Even now, I cannot claim to have fully mastered it."
Guizhong blinked.
"Then… does it really play on its own?"
Of course Go didn't play itself.
But Morax had seen enough of Zayn to know better.
"By common logic, no.
But considering this belongs to Zenos… nothing surprises me anymore."
Guizhong fell silent.
Yeah. That tracked.
And just then—
Snap!
"I win!"
Zayn threw down the final stone triumphantly.
The "Easy" mode indicator glowed softly beside the board.
He looked up at Morax and Guizhong, utterly self-satisfied.
"At last! Morax, Guizhong—come look at my new invention!
The Intelligent Go Board!
With this, you can play even if you're alone!
It has Easy, Normal, and Hell difficulties.
Morax, wanna try?"
Morax actually felt intrigued.
He had long since run out of equal opponents.
Although… he couldn't help but worry:
Would this thing also cheat the way Zayn cheats?
A mild trauma stirred in his stone heart.
"Very well. Since it is your creation, I shall try."
"Heh, then please—sit down, Morax.
I believe even Hell Mode can't defeat you!"
The moment Morax sat down…
…Zayn silently pressed HELL MODE.
"Zayn, can you teach me this Go game?"
Guizhong leaned over, curiosity sparkling.
Zayn's eyes lit up.
Excellent.
"Of course! You'll definitely learn fast.
You might even surpass Morax!"
He eagerly began explaining the basics.
He was already envisioning it—
If he couldn't beat Morax, he could at least train someone who could!
Truly…
He was a genius.
Guizhong listened with growing interest.
Before long, she was already grasping the core concepts, her eyes shining brighter and brighter.
The two then watched Morax's match.
The tension rose.
Move after move, the board shifted like a battlefield.
Guizhong was captivated.
A world of infinite possibilities contained within nineteen lines.
But as the stones grew dense—
Morax's living space shrank.
He was being slowly crushed by the board's ruthless logic.
Watching Morax sink into the disadvantage…
Zayn's grin widened invisibly behind Morax's back.
Yes. Yes!
Let Hell Mode give this smug rock a taste of despair!
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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