Super Gene Hunting Ground

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: The Peculiar Game of Go

Yang Xiao discovered a new situation: Ice Element Mages have a much greater resistance to the cold than other people. They felt much more relaxed when running outside.

Chen Fei, who is an Ice Mage, joked while running with Huang Wen and others:

”Ah, it’s just some snow, right? Look at you all freezing like that, haha....”

Huang Wen and the others could only roll their eyes.

Yang Xiao then said:

”Alright, you Ice Element Mages are naturally resistant to the cold because of your genetics. Here’s what we’ll do: from now on, you guys will handle half of the chores for gathering firewood and melting snow for water. The task of collecting firewood and snow outside the cave will be yours, so you don’t freeze the logistics team members.”

”Boss, huh?”

Chen Fei gaped at Yang Xiao while Huang Wen, Qin Yu, and others laughed uncontrollably as they ran.

...

Yang Xiao took Long Yongjun for a trip to the Genetic Store.

The cave was only about two hundred meters away from the Genetic Store, but it was difficult to walk due to the deep snow, which was more than a meter high.

The snow hadn’t hardened, and stepping into it almost buried a person.

Xiao Zhe suggested having the Wind Mages clear a pathway, but Yang Xiao shook his head,

”Forget it, the road is long, and it’s cold outside; it’s not easy for everyone.”

Zhao Gang, a local from Tis City, found several one-meter-long, arm-thick branches for Yang Xiao to tie to his feet.

Yang Xiao tried them out and found that walking on the snowy ground was indeed much more stable, at least without sinking into deep snow.

”This is the principle of snowshoes, Zhao Gang. Since you’re free anyway, make more of this stuff. In case anyone has to go out, it’ll be useful. Aren’t our potatoes stored in the office building? In a few days when we run out of potatoes, we can send someone to carry some over.”

Zhao Gang smiled and said:

”Can’t Huang Wen and the others just fly over and grab a bag each?”

”They’re girls, you, a big man, don’t know how to be tender toward women?”

Huang Wen and the others burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Yang Xiao and Long Yongjun finally made it to the Genetic Store.

The ground within thirty meters of the Genetic Store had only a thin layer of snow about ten centimeters thick, and two Iron Tower Warriors stood at the entrance covered in snowflakes, looking like snowmen.

”Holy crap, these guys aren’t afraid of the cold.”

”Didn’t you notice that the temperature around the Genetic Store is much higher than elsewhere? It’s probably only around minus 5 to 6 degrees Celsius here.”

The two said as they pushed open the door to the Genetic Store and walked in.

Yang Xiao remembered that the Genetic Store didn’t use to close, but at some point, a door was added, probably to block the wind and snow.

Stepping inside was like moving from winter to spring, even warmer than inside the cave. Yang Xiao suspected that they must have installed either air conditioning or heating.

Gu Bo was playing chess with his assistant in the main hall of the store. Yang Xiao saw this and laughed:

”Do you even play Go?”

”Hmm, do you want to play a game with me?”

”Sure, but my Go skills are so-so.”

”I’ve only just learned it. This is a chess skill from your Earth’s human world; you’re definitely better than me. Come on, let’s play casually.”

Gu Bo’s assistant immediately stood up to give up his seat.

Yang Xiao didn’t hesitate to sit down and reached out to grab the black piece, but then he froze.

The black piece seemed to weigh a ton and wouldn’t budge.

Confident in his own Strength Attribute, with a Genetic Power of 9 points, Yang Xiao could normally lift hundreds of pounds without effort, and yet he couldn’t pick up this tiny chess piece.

Yang Xiao tried harder, but the piece still didn’t move.

Opposite him, Gu Bo watched Yang Xiao and slightly smiled.

Yang Xiao knew there was a trick to it and let go, saying:

”Old man, how is this chess played?”

”It’s simple, we don’t play chess with our hands, but with our minds,”

Gu Bo said, pointing at his head.

”Focus your attention and use your consciousness to move the pieces to where you want them to be.”

”Ah?”

Yang Xiao and Long Yongjun both blinked in confusion.

Gu Bo smiled silently, glanced at the board, and a white piece slowly hopped out of the small bowl holding the pieces, then gently landed on the board.

”Give it a try.”

Said Gu Bo.

Yang Xiao nodded, immediately focused his consciousness, and moved a black piece from the small bowl.

The black piece vibrated a few times before slowly rising.

With a snap, it fell back into the bowl.

”Don’t rush, take your time, focus your energy.”

Yang Xiao took a deep breath and tried again.

After failing three times in a row, he finally managed to lift the piece on the fourth try, slowly moving it to the board.

Gu Bo nodded slightly.

”Well done!”

Hearing Gu Bo’s words, Yang Xiao really felt like spitting blood, thinking, just wait until I completely beat you, then we’ll see who’s the real novice.

Yang Xiao had been sent by his parents to learn Go from his childhood until high school, reaching the level of an amateur 7th dan, and had even won the championship of the city’s middle school student Go competition.

Half an hour later, Yang Xiao’s forehead was sweating, and he suddenly realized that this game of Go wasn’t just about the game itself, but rather it was about training a type of thinking power, or spiritual power, which felt completely different from the usual game of Go.

He felt that he could capture one of Gu Bo’s pieces in just a few moves, but those few steps took a very long time to complete, and by the time he actually captured the opponent’s piece, the joy of capturing it had long disappeared.

Yang Xiao didn’t know how long he had been playing, totally absorbed in the game.

”Boss, it’s getting dark, it’s time to go home for dinner.”

Long Yongjun suddenly called into his ear.

Yang Xiao looked up in a daze toward the door, and indeed it was already dark.

”How long have I been playing?”

”Hehe, about four hours.”

”Four hours?”

Yang Xiao looked at the board somewhat incredulously; they had only covered less than a third of the board, mainly because Yang Xiao was too slow in moving the pieces with his consciousness.

Although Gu Bo’s Go skills were not as good as his, deciding the winner would require at least two-thirds of the board to be played.

”Hehe, not bad, kid. Your Go skills are indeed better than mine. Let’s stop here for today, come again tomorrow.”

Yang Xiao nodded and stood up saying:

”Alright, I will defeat you tomorrow.”

Gu Bo laughed:

”Haha, good!”

Yang Xiao walked out of the Genetic Store, and a cold wind blew outside, instinctively making him shiver.

”Damn it, what’s so weird about Gu Bo’s Go board?”

”Boss, what was your purpose in visiting Gu Bo today?”

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao slapped his forehead and turned back into the store.

”What did you forget?”

Asked Gu Bo.

”Ah, I came today to ask if you have any skills or Secret Books of Heart Method, something that everyone can practice on their own when they’re bored?”

”Most combat skills need to be improved in the process of hunting Mutated Creatures, so you can’t practice them sitting in a cave. However, there is one Cultivation Technique that does not require hunting Mutated Creatures and can be practiced on your own.”

Yang Xiao was overjoyed, ”What is it?”

”Light Shield.”