The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?!-Chapter 1172 - 732: Black Mountain Goat in Favorable Times, Sewer in Adversity

Chapter 1172: Chapter 732: Black Mountain Goat in Favorable Times, Sewer in Adversity

"That is natural. However, the Earth Spirit just mentioned playing a game, not necessarily Go."

Liu Zheng chuckled.

"If not Go, then what game? If it’s a game I don’t know, I won’t play it."

The Earth Spirit reminded.

"Gomoku."

"Gomoku? Oh, you mean ’Five Star Alignment’?"

The Earth Spirit understood after a brief thought.

"That’s right."

He nodded.

The way to play Gomoku appeared during the Han dynasty and became widely spread during the Tang and Song dynasties, known as ’Connecting Five’, ’Five Eyes’, or ’Five Star Alignment.’ Later, it spread to Japan and was called ’Renju.’

"Old man indeed knows how to play ’Five Star Alignment’, but..."

The Earth Spirit looked at Silver Label, somewhat hesitant.

"Earth Spirit, try this bottle of Lao Bai Gan again. It may not be as sweet and soft as this bottle of Fen Wine, but it excels in being clear and refreshing, very thirst-quenching."

Liu Zheng extracted another bottle of Silver Label.

"Fine, then let’s play ’Five Star Alignment.’ However, though ’Five Star Alignment’ is a minor art, I still excel in it. Don’t underestimate me."

The Earth Spirit couldn’t resist the temptation of two bottles of Silver Label.

The main reason is that although there are crops here that can be brewed into wine, it’s been the same flavor for hundreds or thousands of years, long since become tiresome.

"No problem, Earth Spirit, just play without worries."

Liu Zheng said confidently.

"In that case, you can go first with the white pieces."

The Earth Spirit pointed with his staff, and two earthen mounds rose on either side of the ground’s board.

The two sat on the mounds and began the match.

Since the Earth Spirit let him go first, Liu Zheng didn’t hesitate, picking up a white piece and placing it directly on Tianyuan.

In Go, playing first on Tianyuan is a form of performance art, but in Gomoku, playing first on Tianyuan is the standard method.

The Earth Spirit didn’t think much, directly placing his piece at the upper right corner of the white piece.

And Liu Zheng, without hesitation, immediately placed his piece to the right of the first white piece, beneath the black piece.

The Earth Spirit thought for a moment and then placed his piece to the right of the second white piece, at the lower right corner of the first black piece.

"I’ve won."

Liu Zheng looked at the board and smiled slightly.

The Earth Spirit’s every move was within his expectations, and now the situation on the board had formed a standard "Cloud-Moon Bureau."

Just as Go evolved countless fixed forms, Gomoku, over thousands of years, has also evolved many winning strategies.

As long as there are no forbidden hand rules, the first to set up a winning strategy only needs steady hands to secure victory.

This is why he dared to challenge the Earth Spirit to a game that would decide the winner.

"I concede."

After twenty moves, the Earth Spirit saw the situation was set and thus conceded defeat.

"I didn’t expect Gomoku to have such a strategy; what is this style called?"

The Earth Spirit asked.

"This style is called ’Cloud-Moon Bureau.’ Because in the world of chess, it’s black first and white second, implying the white piece hangs like a bright moon high among the clouds."

Liu Zheng replied.

"Cloud-Moon Bureau, the name is quite elegant. Fine, this round counts as passed for you."

The Earth Spirit said cheerfully.

"Thank you, Earth Spirit."

"Don’t thank me yet. There are still two rounds left, each harder than the last. If you hadn’t passed this one, I could have sent you out, but if you can’t pass the other two, you’ll have to stay here with me forever as company. Do you dare to take on the challenge?"

He asked.

"Since I’ve come this far, I won’t give up halfway."

Of course, Liu Zheng wouldn’t give up.

"Very well."

The Earth Spirit thrust the Peach Rod into the ground, and above those fields and orchards, peach blossoms began to flutter, beautiful beyond compare.

"Then good luck to you."

He said and then vanished into the earth.

Subsequently, waves rolled across streams and rivers, and countless fish and shrimp leaped from the water, transforming into hideous and terrifying insects flying in all directions.

But when they approached the fields and orchards, ready to feast, they were blocked by the fluttering peach blossoms, unable to enter.

After several fruitless attempts, they turned their gaze toward the only living being standing now.

"Damn!"

Liu Zheng looked at the swarming insects flying toward him and couldn’t help but curse.

Why do I have to kill insects outside and now even while tomb raiding?

He’s a delivery guy for the Bloody Restaurant, not a technician from the agriculture station.

Despite the cursing, he obediently drew "Anger" and the "Voodoo Insect Killing Dagger."

Although Liu Zheng figured these insects probably aren’t Alien Insects, having an extra weapon always boosts efficiency in killing insects.

The swarm flew incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, they were not far in front of him.

These insects looked very different from Alien Insects, but they didn’t quite resemble ordinary insects either.

Not only were they huge, but they also had features that didn’t belong to insects.

Some had antlers, some had fish scales, some had eagle claws, and some even had snake necks...

"Aren’t these dragon features?"

Liu Zheng suddenly remembered.

It’s recorded in Erya Yi: A dragon has antlers like a deer, a head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, a neck like a snake, a belly like a clam, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, palms like a tiger, and ears like an ox.

Recalling that the Earth Spirit asked if he was here for the True Dragon’s corpse, could there really be a True Dragon’s corpse here, and these insects are transformed from Dragon Energy?

"If I bring these to the Weaving Spider Lady and Box Weaving Spider, I can definitely exchange them for good stuff. It would be great if I could upgrade the Phoenix Cloak a bit more."

Liu Zheng thought to himself.

Even if I can’t always have the Five Virtues’ blessing, at least it should have the effect of Phoenix Rebirth.

While fantasizing, an insect with wings rushed in front of him, its two shiny black mandibles aiming for his eyeballs.

"Going straight for the eyeballs, a real connoisseur."

He jested as he wielded the Voodoo Insect Killing Dagger, striking at the insect’s right wing.

The dagger pierced the fleshy wing like a chopstick piercing rubber, leaving just a dent without breaking it.

"Well, it seems not only does it lack special attack, but it’s also not sharp enough."

Liu Zheng shook his head, casually storing the Voodoo Insect Killing Dagger back in the System Space, then swung the Dragon Scale Blade to slash at the insect’s mandibles.

Even if transformed from Dragon Energy, an insect is still an insect.

Not to mention, he stood firmly on the ground while the insect, having no foothold in the air, was easily knocked backward by his slash, spinning a few times before falling to the ground, kicking helplessly, clearly not going to survive.

Though he succeeded with one strike, it was only the beginning.

Soon, the main swarm arrived, surrounding him completely, with every part of his body being attacked by one or even several insects.

Even though Liu Zheng had four tentacles, he couldn’t handle such dense attacks and was soon covered in wounds.

Anger’s effect wasn’t lethal enough on these insects, and he didn’t dare enter the "Angry Fire Burning Body" state, as his body would collapse even faster that way.

"Should I use a big move?"

Liu Zheng pondered.

Transforming into the "Angry Demon" or "White Feather Chicken" should handle these insects.

Using the "Deep Sea Multi-headed Abalone Sashimi," with the dual bonuses of "Heart of the Ocean" and "Kun Absorption," I should be able to kite the swarm to death.

But the value of the big move Anger and the rarity of the cosplay suit are significant, not to mention the "Deep Sea Multi-headed Abalone Sashimi" is a rare dish; using them just like that would be a pity.

"Or maybe just chase them away instead of killing them?"

He thought again.

But he didn’t have insect repellent or mosquito coils, so what could he use to drive them away?

"Got it!"

Liu Zheng temporarily repelled the swarm with a big windmill move, then took out a wooden barrel filled with semi-solid matter from his System Space.

"Name: Portable Bio-Waste Containment Device"

"Type: Equipment"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect: Can store up to five cubic meters of bio-waste."

"Note: From now on, all the protective poop on this street is collected by me, cancelling any three-day or seven-day collections!"

"Can be taken out of instance: Yes"

The last time he entered Meide Middle School through the sewer, he casually filled it with some sewer filth just in case, but later didn’t use it. Now it’s time for them to shine.

With a crazed grin, he wantonly splashed the semi-solid matter from the barrel.

The stench, never before present in this space, quickly spread, and the liquid component evaporated by the Anger turned into a yellow mist that enveloped the black insect swarm in reverse.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

The insects, which had been swarming toward Liu Zheng, even trying to bore into his body, now seemed bewitched, desperately flapping their wings to get away from him, even spitting out the flesh they’d managed to eat.

But it was all too late.

Never having faced the sanitary trials of the Metropolis, how could they withstand the condensed essence of the Metropolis’s sewer filth, accumulated over countless years?

Liu Zheng watched the insects buzzing about like headless flies with a hint of pity, his heart filled with compassion hoping they would die and reincarnate soon.