It was indeed a nightmare.
Within this chess formation, Nangong Yifan was the undisputed king.
He was the barrier that no junior of the Ancestral Martial Starfield could hope to overcome.
Because of this, Nangong Yifan had left a deep shadow over the hearts of Kong Ci, Long Ning, Xian Yun, Kong Tianhui, and even Yuan Zhi of the Nameless.
At least within this chess formation, that was the case.
"To control the chess power treasures — that is the supreme method of 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies.' I didn't expect you to have actually mastered it. You must have spent quite a bit of effort," Nangong Yifan said to Chu Feng.
"What? 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies'? Isn't that just a formation chess manual? How could it allow someone to control the chess power treasures?"
Nangong Yifan's words not only stunned Kong Ci and the others — the crowd outside the formation was equally astonished.
Even the Sword Guardian's gaze shifted.
Because before this, no one had known how Chu Feng was able to control those chess power treasures. Not even the Sword Guardian knew.
Yet now, Nangong Yifan had provided the answer.
"So it seems you've studied that chess manual as well," Chu Feng said.
"I've read it. I simply found such methods beneath my contempt."
"As the most difficult chess manual, its ultimate technique is not about deploying formations or mastering chess power — it is the control of chess power treasures. In my view, this is nothing but a trick of the unorthodox path."
"I would never stoop to studying such a manual," Nangong Yifan said.
Upon hearing this, everyone finally understood. So the method Chu Feng had been using really was the technique from 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies.'
People had seen that chess manual before, but it was simply too difficult, and no one had been able to make head or tail of it.
It was only now, after hearing Nangong Yifan's words, that they realized the ultimate technique of 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies' was the ability to control the chess power treasures.
Thinking about it, that really was a brilliant trump card.
At the same time, however, people felt a sense of admiration for Nangong Yifan. From the way he spoke, it was clear that it wasn't that he couldn't understand the 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies' manual — rather, as he himself had said, he simply disdained using such means to achieve victory, and so he had gone on to study a different chess manual instead.
"A trick of the unorthodox path, you say?" As for Nangong Yifan's mockery, Chu Feng simply smiled. He didn't bother offering any lengthy explanation. Instead, he locked his gaze onto Nangong Yifan and said:
"Then why don't you show me how your supposedly unorthodox-free methods work? What do you say?"
At Chu Feng's challenge, the corners of Nangong Yifan's mouth curled upward. He actually smiled — people rarely saw him smile. But that smile of his right now sent chills down Kong Ci and the others spines and filled them with unease.
"Chu Feng, don't provoke him! You don't know just how terrifying this guy is, but we do! Even with all these treasures, I still don't feel confident," Kong Ci whispered to Chu Feng.
This girl had always carried an air of arrogance and fearlessness, like nothing in the world could faze her. Yet here she was behaving like this — it just went to show that the shadow Nangong Yifan had cast over her was no act.
"Don't worry. I've got this," Chu Feng said, giving Kong Ci a reassuring wink.
"Huh? You?" Kong Ci's little mouth twisted into a grimace, her expression making it perfectly clear she didn't quite trust Chu Feng's assurances.
It wasn't that she looked down on him. By now, she knew full well how formidable Chu Feng was — after all, the chess power treasures they were carrying had all come from him.
But just moments ago, Nangong Yifan had pointed out that the ultimate technique of 'A Strange Way to Defeat Ten Thousand Armies' was the control of treasures, and Chu Feng had already accomplished exactly that. Yet Nangong Yifan had seen right through it.
And even after all of that, Nangong Yifan still remained utterly composed and brimming with confidence.
What's more, Nangong Yifan had never been the type to bluff or posture. All of this left Kong Ci feeling increasingly uncertain.