Absolute Choice 9 Read online

  The Infernal Queen was holding a big advantage.

  However, Shi Xiaobai laughed instead. It was a deep and meaningful smile.

  "You say that you have quite an advantage?"

  Shi Xiaobai threw his die and let the fourth piece lift off. He sent two pieces into the board and said with a chuckle, "You can always try and see if you can send your last piece to the end point under This King's defense. The despair of what it means to never 'fly to the finishing point' begins from this moment!"

  The Infernal Queen looked up in surprise as she gave a surprised smile. "I see now. Does Darling plan to switch from offense to defense? Interesting. Then, let me see if Darling can withstand my attacks!"

  With only one piece left, the Infernal Queen had easily entered an unbridled offensive stance. As for Shi Xiaobai, the only thing he could do was defend against the Infernal Queen's last piece!

  And to speak the truth, using four pieces to defend against one piece was much easier than the Infernal Queen's usage of four pieces to defend against four pieces. With Shi Xiaobai's meticulous thinking, the Infernal Queen's only piece would never cross his defense as long as he did not make another mistake.

  The Infernal Queen attempted for forty rounds but failed to pass through Shi Xiaobai's iron defense. Therefore, she joked, "If Darling had any desire to attack by first sending one, two, or even three pieces towards the end point, Darling's defense would fall apart. However, Darling did not do so and maintains a full-out defense of four pieces. It seems Darling doesn't want to lose? Or is it because Darling really wants to be with me for the rest of his life?"

  The Infernal Queen only had one piece left. If Shi Xiaobai had sent one or two pieces to the end point, his defense would show flaws and allow the Infernal Queen's last piece to escape the encirclement and obtain victory!

  However, Shi Xiaobai had completely abandoned taking the offensive. He only defended as though he was a loser without any ambition!

  Such a struggle could indeed delay the Infernal Queen's victory, but it appeared as though he was afraid of failure.

  This made the Infernal Queen slightly disappointed.

  However, was Shi Xiaobai a person afraid of failure?

  Of course not!

  Shi Xiaobai slowly picked up the die. On the forty-first round, it was his turn once again. Shi Xiaobai said with a chuckle, "This King doesn't have that much time to waste on you. This game has already ended."

  The Infernal Queen was stunned as she cast her gaze at the board.

  At that moment, Shi Xiaobai threw '6', '6', '1'. He managed to stack four pieces together!

  The Infernal Queen's pupils constricted slightly as she looked at her own piece. She was horrified to discover that her piece was exactly 43 spots away from Shi Xiaobai's stacked piece!

  On closer look, there was no way for her piece to reach the end point during her round. She was short of one step!

  As for Shi Xiaobai, his stacked piece could reach the endpoint by moving its maximum distance.

  The Infernal Queen's smile gradually turned stiff.

  Her piece could only move 42 steps at most, and it was short of one step to strike Shi Xiaobai's piece.

  And her piece required two rounds to reach the end point!

  But in the next round, Shi Xiaobai's stacked piece would simultaneously reach the end point, allowing him to clinch victory!

  She was short of one step!

  But this miss was as good as a mile!

  The Infernal Queen gaped as she looked incredulously at Shi Xiaobai.

  She had lost. She had lost in such a manner?

  During the calm and peaceful attack, she had not revealed any flaw, but it had suddenly resulted in death!

  Was all of this a coincidence?

  Or was it...

  "Darling, you did it on purpose!?"

  The Infernal Queen said with an uncontrollable laugh, "That mistake roll Darling made was not a mistake—Darling chose the moment when I could send three pieces to the end point in two rounds to make a mistake. So it was to deliberately let me send three pieces to the end point?"

  Shi Xiaobai nodded.

  The Infernal Queen's eyes shimmered as she whispered, "Darling had already planned everything from the moment he deliberately made the mistake. Darling had 'seen' the situation at the forty-first round and knew that victory was at hand at the forty-first round. Is that it?"

  Shi Xiaobai nodded his head once again.

  The Infernal Queen's eyes flashed a look of disbelief as she said in astonishment, "How did Darling calculate every step I would take up the forty-first round? How did you do it?"

  Shi Xiaobai looked the Infernal Queen seriously in the eyes and whispered, "Because you are too perfect. Your every step is the most perfect move that This King can think of. Your every step is done with the most precise calculations such that This King is unable to find any flaw in it. However, perfection is its biggest flaw! You only play a perfect game, so considering what is the most perfect move in every round is sufficient to calculate what moves you would make."

  The Infernal Queen's eyes glazed over for a moment. She had never realized of such a simple reasoning—perfection had become her biggest flaw!

  Although Shi Xiaobai had said it in such a simple manner, to put it into practice was actually impossible to imagine. How much reasoning was needed to deduce the forty-one rounds in his head while also needing to consider his own moves as well as the perfect response of his opponent and eventually set up a trap? How clear was his logical reasoning as well as how powerful was his psyche?

  The Infernal Queen could not help but feel a sense of admiration. However, her mouth did the opposite by saying, "Darling's acting is truly realistic to make me think that Darling had made a mistake. Darling won the game in such a crafty manner!"

  Shi Xiaobai gave a faint smile and calmly said, "All is fair in war!"

  The Infernal Queen gave Shi Xiaobai a meaningful glance and whispered, "What an appropriate saying. I have lost. Darling, ask any question you have. Other than my identity, I will definitely answer you truthfully, even if Darling asks which part of my body is the most sensitive."

  ........

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  Chapter407 Darling asked the right person

  "What an appropriate saying. I have lost. Darling, ask any question you have. Other than my identity, I will definitely answer you truthfully, even if Darling asks which part of my body is the most sensitive," The Infernal Queen said sultrily.

  Shi Xiaobai ignored the Infernal Queen's sultry words and asked her the number one question he wanted to ask, "How can the war be prevented?"

  The Infernal Queen's eyebrows pricked up, but there was not much of an astonishment on her face. It was as if she had guessed what Shi Xiaobai's question would be as she chuckled and said, "Since time immemorial, gods and demons stood on opposite sides in an eternal clash. The war between the two factions had began from the first Celestial King and Infernal King. It lasted for three centuries until the Celestial domain finally had a Celestial King that was sick of war. A treaty with unfair terms and conditions was signed in exchange for thousands of years of peace. And now, the flames of war have been stirred once again. Just like a well-aged wine, how can the fragrance of the wine be suppressed any further once the wine cork is removed? It is very difficult to prevent the war."

  Upon saying that, the Infernal Queen paused. Shi Xiaobai frowned slightly as he said, "And then?"

  When the Infernal Queen said a load of crap to end with an analysis that the war would be very difficult to prevent, Shi Xiaobai had an ominous feeling.

  The Infernal Queen gave a small laugh and said, "Although it's very difficult, I had actually thought of a solution prior to this. Does Darling want to hear it?"

  Shi Xiaobai found her sentence somewhat odd, especially the words 'prior to this', but he naturally nodded.

  The Infernal Queen said,
"If I didn't guess wrong, the reason for the Celestial King's incitement of war is because of that Celestial Jade. If Darling had immediately returned the Celestial Jade and apologized with reparations, before signing some unfair treaties, there is a possibility of preventing the war."

  When Shi Xiaobai heard this, he was stunned as he said, "That's your plan?"

  The Infernal Queen nodded as though it was for granted, "I only managed to think of this plan."

  Shi Xiaobai fell silent and said helplessly, "The Celestial Jade has already been eaten by This King!"

  The Infernal Queen blinked her eyes and said, "I saw that, which was why I said that it's a method I thought of 'prior to this'! Now, I can't help even if I wanted to."

  Shi Xiaobai rolled his eyes and said, "Isn't your answer too perfunctory? You had said that your intelligence is something that even you are afraid of? But now, you are giving me an answer anyone with a bit more intelligence can come up with?"

  The Infernal Queen said with a shrug, "Wasn't my intelligence just beaten by Darling? If Darling can't figure out a solution to the problem, how would I be able to?"

  Shi Xiaobai could tell that the Infernal Queen did not plan on seriously answering his question. It might be because she really did not know or she did not want to tell him because of some unknown reasons, but from the way things looked, the Infernal Queen was planning to go back on her word!

  Shi Xiaobai was infuriated at that moment. He did not hold out all hope that he would be able to gain the method of stopping the war from the Infernal Queen, but after playing a round of mentally taxing Aeroplane Chess, which killed numerous brain cells, Shi Xiaobai felt that he had suffered a great loss.

  Shi Xiaobai said with a deep voice, "This King is extremely unsatisfied with your answer. But since you can't answer the question, This King won't make it difficult for you. This King shall change questions."

  The Infernal Queen smirked as she said, "If Darling wants to ask another question, he will need to play another round of Aeroplane Chess with me."

  Shi Xiaobai's mouth twitched as he said, "Your first answer isn't to This King's satisfaction, yet you think it's right to get This King to play another round with you? If you bought a rotten fruit, will you continue buying from the same fruit stall a second time? You must at least prove that your answers are of value or why would This King waste his time to play a completely worthless game?"

  The Infernal Queen was surprised as she chuckled and said, "What Darling said is very reasonable. I have nothing to offer to your viewpoint. In that case, as Darling said, I will answer another one of Darling's question and satisfy Darling. But in return, Darling has to play at least one more round of Aeroplane Chess with me!"

  Shi Xiaobai could tell from her words. The Infernal Queen had deliberately gone back on her word because she was worried that he would no longer play another round with her after he obtained the answers he wanted. He could tell that the Infernal Queen wanted to seek revenge on the chessboard.

  Shi Xiaobai hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. Shi Xiaobai admitted that he did not have any match when it came to Aeroplane Chess. He had a myriad of methods to beat the Infernal Queen into submission.

  Shi Xiaobai's eyes flickered as he asked the next question he wanted to know about the most.

  "What is the Infernal King’s Mandate?"

  The Infernal Queen fell into a daze. Clearly, Shi Xiaobai's question had exceeded her expectations. She could not help but say, "Darling, why do you keep asking such odd questions?"

  Shi Xiaobai rolled his eyes and said, "Don't tell This King that you can't answer this question either?"

  The Infernal Queen's eyes flickered for a moment as she slowly shook her head and said, "Just the opposite. Darling asked the right person. I am probably the only person who can answer this question."

  ...

  ...

  Celestial domain, in front of a teleportation nexus

  With war beginning, the Celestial domain had naturally opened up a teleportation nexus that connected the Celestial domain to the mortal world. Troops of Celestial soldiers were sent through the nexus to the mortal world.

  The teleportation nexus was two-way. By activating it in the Celestial domain, there would be one opened up in the mortal world as well. It was equivalent to opening a path from the mortal world to the Celestial domain as well.

  This was a hidden risk for the Celestial domain because it meant that although the Celestial domain could enter the mortal world, it also meant that mortals could enter the Celestial domain.

  And at that moment, there were a hundred thousand elite soldiers gathered in front of the Celestial domain's teleportation nexus. They were the second wave that was meant to invade the Celestial domain. After the first wave was defeated early last night, they were supposed to have set off and continuously strike at the Infernal domain.

  However, they had no choice but to stay in front of the teleportation nexus for an entire night.

  That's because in front of the teleportation nexus's switch, there stood an existence that was not easily touched.

  Their king, the Celestial domain's Celestial King had switched off the teleportation nexus. Furthermore, he was standing at the switch and prevented any soldier from approaching it!

  Divine General Blood Leopard, ranked eighth among the ten Divine Generals, tried to persuade him all night, but the Celestial King remained cold. Anyone who dared to approach it would be met with a heartless slash of the sword!

  The Celestial King had blocked a hundred thousand soldiers alone, but the soldiers did not dare to group up and attack him.

  It was already nearing noon. Divine General Blood Leopard had not given up trying to persuade the Celestial King. He repeatedly stressed, "Your Majesty, please turn on the teleportation nexus. The defenses placed at the teleportation nexus that we set up in the moral world are far from sufficient. If the Infernal domain were to invade now, the nexus will likely fall! Your Majesty, please think again!"

  Speechless remained silent. This was the only method he could think of to prevent the war. In the country with a parliament, he did not have much authority as the Celestial King so Speechless was forced to act in this manner.

  As for Divine General Blood Leopard's mentioning of sending guards to defend the nexus, Speechless wasn't foolish enough to believe him. He was certain that if he were to let the hundred thousand soldiers reach the mortal world, it would immediately mean the beginning of a bloody and cruel battle.

  From the intelligence from last night, the Infernal soldiers did not pursue them. From the looks of it, the Infernal domain did not plan on fighting the war. As long as he could stop the Celestial soldiers from proceeding, he could be able to prevent this one-sided war.

  With this thought in mind, Speechless was even more determined to not let the hundred thousand soldiers use the teleportation nexus.

  At that moment, the hundred thousand soldiers suddenly spread out like a tide and made way for a wide path. A figure slowly walked over.

  Speechless looked over as his expression changed slightly.

  That was a tall and and muscular man with bullhorns on his head. He was dressed in the garb of a guard. From the beginning, Speechless had guessed that the bull-horned guard was not an ordinary guard. When he later learned of the bull-horned guard's identity, he was truly given a scare.

  The bull-horned guard was not a guard, nor was he a Divine General, but the—Celestial domain's Field Marshal!

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  Chapter408 Speechless begins to question life

  According to information pertaining to the Celestial domain from past trial-takers, Speechless had certainly never seen any description regarding the Celestial domain's Field Marshal. But this time, the Celestial domain suddenly had an additional Field Marshal whose influence and power exceeded the ten Divine Generals!

  All the military power of the Celestial dom
ain was in the hands of the bull-horned Field Marshal!

  The hundred thousand soldiers knelt down and chanted, "Field Marshal Awesomo!"

  Field Marshal Awesomo's expression was livid. As he walked slowly over, he said in a deep voice to Speechless, "Your Majesty, what are you trying to do!?"

  Speechless could ignore Divine General Blood Leopard, but he had to contend with Field Marshal Awesomo because all the military power was in his hand. He could easily cause a revolt.

  Speechless shrugged his shoulders and said, "This King simply wants to prevent the war. Field Marshal Awesomo obviously knows of the cruelty of war. This King is doing this to save the lives of these hundred thousand soldiers. All of you should thank This King instead."

  Field Marshal Awesomo said with a sullen expression, "Disregarding the Elders' objections and using the Will of the King to start the war was because of you. Now, with the troops having high morale and fighting spirit, it's the best opportunity for us to invade the Infernal domain. But the one singlehandedly stopping the war is also you, Your Majesty. What does Your Majesty intend to do?"

  Speechless could only give a wry smile in his heart. There was no way for him to explain that the Celestial King that proposed the war wasn't him. He could only shoulder the blame silently, so Speechless said, "This King has already said. The proposing of a war was done on impulse by This King. After considering it later, This King is filled with regret. So what if the war is won? Our troops will be dead with countless injured. How many people will lose their loved ones? The entire Celestial domain will wallow in the sorrow of death. Now, that the war has only just begun, preventing and ending this war that should not have happened is the only way for This King to redeem the sin he committed in his rashness!"

  Speechless had a sincere expression and his words were very inspiring. All the Celestial soldiers that heard his words were lost in thought. There was an additional but different look in their impatient and anxious eyes.