Super Gene Hunting Ground

”Additionally, I’d like to propose a bet with Yang Leader. I wonder if Yang Leader dares to accept?”

”A bet? What do you want to bet on?”

Yang Xiao looked at Su Xiao, sensing ill intentions.

Su Xiao smiled slyly and said:

”Everyone says Yang Leader is exceptionally gifted, with a Genetic Evolution Ability that surpasses others. You’ve not only united the savages of Purple Origin Star but also consecutively killed the head of Heavenly Dragon Academy, Long Kui, and the War God of Great Dragon Empire, shocking the entire Witch Star.”

”Speak plainly. What do you want to bet on? Just say it directly, don’t beat around the bush.”

Yang Xiao looked at Su Xiao coldly.

Su Xiao was abruptly interrupted by Yang Xiao, his face awkward and displeased, and he glanced at Yang Xiao gloomily, saying:

”I want to bet our lives. Do you dare?”

”Bet our lives? What’s the method?”

”It’s very simple. I’ll set up a chess endgame, you choose either black or white. If you win, your life is mine; if I lose, my life is yours. How about it? Do you dare?”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze as everyone watched Yang Xiao and Su Xiao.

No one expected Su Xiao would present Yang Xiao with such a challenge.

Wanyan Hong immediately walked to Yang Xiao’s side and said quietly:

”Yang Brother, don’t accept it. Su Xiao has been studying Go in seclusion for the past three years. It is said he has a book of chess endgames, presumably studied thoroughly. Betting on endgames with him will only lead to hardship; just follow the normal rules.”

Wanyan He was also tense and said:

”Yang Xiao, don’t be impulsive, don’t fall into his trap.”

In the crowd, Long Aotian and Long Jing, the hosts, came over.

Long Aotian coldly said:

”Su Dean, the Go exchange match has its own rules. What are you doing?”

Su Xiao laughed:

”Your Highness, I’m not breaking any rules. The rules don’t say you can’t set your own endgame or that you can’t increase the stakes, as long as both parties agree, it’s not a violation, right?

Besides, I’m just proposing. Yang Leader may not necessarily have the guts to accept.”

After speaking, he looked at Yang Xiao with a smile.

Long Jing nervously glanced at Yang Xiao, signaling him not to accept.

So far, among all the participants in the Go competition, Su Xiao and Yang Xiao have the highest chess skills, and Su Xiao’s tactics are fierce. Although he hasn’t played directly against Yang Xiao, many believe that Su Xiao might be slightly superior.

Bai Ming, on the other hand, said eccentrically from the side:

”Yang Leader shouldn’t be afraid to accept the challenge from Su Dean, right? You’ve overcome obstacles all the way here, as long as you defeat Su Dean today, you’ll be famous everywhere, I have faith in you!”

The onlookers also whispered:

”Why would Su Dean suddenly propose such a horrifying bet? Betting our lives, there’s no need for that?”

”These big figures are all about the thrill.”

”Su Dean is extreme by nature and always likes to take unconventional paths.”

”Let’s see if Yang Xiao dares to accept the challenge.”

”I don’t think Yang Xiao dares to accept the challenge. Who would joke with their own life!”

...

All eyes were on Yang Xiao, and the hall’s atmosphere was very eerie.

Yang Xiao looked at Su Xiao and said calmly:

”Do you truly want to bet our lives?”

”What, afraid to play?” Su Xiao provocatively said.

”It’s not that I’m afraid to play. I fear that when you lose, you’ll regret it.”

”Regret? In front of so many people, how could I regret? We can sign and seal it.”

Yang Xiao glanced at everyone, then looked at Su Xiao again:

”Are you that confident you’ll win against me?”

”Hehe, I’m certain of your defeat.”

”Alright, I accept your challenge.”

Everyone was taken aback, staring at Yang Xiao in surprise.

Wanyan He immediately shouted:

”Yang Brother, no!”

Long Jing’s heart also skipped a beat, wanting to voice opposition, but hesitated, anxiously watching Yang Xiao.

Long Aotian’s face showed a subtle, imperceptible sly smile.

This challenge was initiated by Su Xiao and Long Aotian, and even Long Aotian didn’t expect Su Xiao to be so crazy.

Yang Xiao looked up at Long Aotian and said:

”Eldest Prince, you are the person in charge of this Go exchange match. Now that Su Xiao has proposed extra match requirements, may I ask if it is appropriate?”

Long Aotian nodded,

”As long as you are willing to accept, it is appropriate. However, I must remind you, you have the right to refuse any extra proposal from him; you just need to follow our normal match requirements. Once you accept, consequences are at your own risk.”

Yang Xiao nodded,

”Okay, everyone present now are witnesses. I don’t need any signatures or stamps. I believe Dean Su isn’t one to play tricks. Dean Su, I fully accept your terms and wager. You can set up the endgame now and start your performance.”

Su Xiao hadn’t expected Yang Xiao to accept his challenge with such nonchalance, which surprised him a bit, though he was pleased on the inside.

For the past three years, Su Xiao had been in seclusion, studying chess and had indeed made significant progress, especially in endgames. He had delved deeply into them, and the endgame book at his side, with its hundred types of endgames, had been thoroughly studied by him repeatedly. He was very confident.

Endgames are different from regular matches; in a regular match, neither side knows what developments will follow, and they must play move by move, adapting as they go.

But endgames have certain fixed patterns. As long as you understand the key positions behind the endgame and seize those crucial positions promptly, you can create a huge advantage.

A person’s chess skills may be mediocre, but if they master one type of endgame, they can use it to defeat someone with better overall chess skills.

Yang Xiao once consulted his senior sister, Chen Rong,

”Senior sister, why is it so hard for me to win against those street chess setups?”

Chen Rong laughed and said:

”A person who sets up one endgame for a lifetime knows every move, every advantage, and disadvantage of the next dozen or even a hundred moves like the back of his hand.

When you make a move, he can see ten moves or even dozens of moves ahead. If your skill level is similar or only slightly higher than his, you will undoubtedly lose.”

”Then how can one break the opponent’s endgame?”

”It’s simple; you need to be much more skilled than he is.”

...

Yang Xiao and Su Xiao sat opposite each other at the Go table. Onlookers had lost interest in the battles of the other three pairs of competitors, focusing all their attention here. Even those three pairs wanted to finish early to watch Yang Xiao and Su Xiao’s duel.

Su Xiao smiled slightly, and with a slight movement of his Divine Sense, the black and white stones jumped out from the Chess Bowl one after another, setting up an endgame in an instant.

”Yang Leader, black or white, it’s your choice. However, this endgame starts with white.”

Yang Xiao glanced at it and smiled slightly, saying:

”White.”

”Alright, please!”

With a slight movement of Yang Xiao’s Divine Sense, a white stone flew out of the Chess Bowl without any hesitation, and it landed steadily on the board.

”Hiss!”

Yang Xiao’s spiritual power pierced through, like a sharp sword, straight to Su Xiao’s heart.

Su Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, and his fingers trembled slightly.

Yang Xiao’s white stone landed precisely on a critical position.

Su Xiao was significantly shocked. It had taken him months of study to identify the key positions for white and black in this endgame. He had also played against people from the Chess Institute to confirm the crucial positions in each match.

With just a glance, Yang Xiao had found the key position for the white stones. Such skill indeed startled him.

Su Xiao composed himself, his Divine Sense moving slightly as a black stone landed on the board.

Su Xiao’s spiritual power countered, blocking Yang Xiao’s attack.

Yang Xiao smiled slightly, and another white stone landed on the board.

The spiritual power’s Longsword pierced toward Su Xiao again.

Su Xiao felt his mind shake, a sharp pain bursting in his brain.

Hastily, he maneuvered a black stone to resist the white.

What happened next left everyone watching dumbfounded.

Yang Xiao maintained a calm demeanor, with each move perfectly executed, as if every step was a critical threat, gradually sealing the black stones.

The black stones struggled desperately, launching assaults everywhere, but none succeeded.

Large beads of sweat appeared on Su Xiao’s forehead, his back was soaked in cold sweat, his head felt a stinging pain, his nerves were on edge, his face turned red, then purple, and now pale.

Yang Xiao’s white stones seemed to drop without hesitation. As soon as a black stone was down, a white would follow immediately, almost without thought.

Meanwhile, Su Xiao’s black stones were placed with increasing difficulty, his speed slowing down, each move requiring seconds or even minutes of hesitation before being placed.

Long Aotian’s expression was heavy, while Long Jing was beaming with joy.

Wanyan Hong and Wanyan He were so excited they almost shouted out, but they restrained themselves due to the need for silence in the competition.

Bai Ming and Bai Zetian gazed at the board, lost in thought; both had always placed themselves in opposition to Yang Xiao, contemplating how to maneuver the black stones to attack the white, yet seeing Yang Xiao’s white stones made them resign with self-deprecation.

If it had been them against Yang Xiao in this endgame, they would have conceded long ago.

Su Xiao struggled bitterly, his hands trembling towards the end.

With a ”thud,” a white stone landed steadily, sealing off a group of black stones.

”Boom!”

Su Xiao felt a tremendous burst of spiritual power rolling towards him like a tsunami, his mind turning to chaos, his head splitting with pain.

The tsunami swept in without hesitation, bringing with it an overwhelming force.

”Ah!”

Su Xiao screamed, his vision going black, blood gushing from his mouth as he fell backward.

The crowd was astonished.

In a flash, a cold gleam flashed, Yang Xiao drew his Bronze Divine Sword, and a fierce Sword Qi cleaved toward the fallen Su Xiao.

”Hiss!”

Split in two!

Su Xiao’s body was cleaved in half by Yang Xiao, blood spurting out.

The surrounding people exclaimed in horror, retreating in alarm.