249: Chapter 249 Three Supreme Inheritances

"I've taken one piece!"

Zhang Huaiyuan's heart suddenly began to pound violently.

Over ten thousand games!

More than three thousand years!

Countless attempts!

He had finally succeeded in taking a piece from his opponent!

If he remembered correctly, the ruins intelligence had once said.

As long as you can take a single piece from the opponent, you pass the trial and can enter the core of the ruins!

"Senior?"

Thinking this, he looked expectantly into the void.

"3651 years..."

The ruins intelligence also seemed to find this somewhat incredible.

Only after a long while did it slowly speak:

"Although there is an element of luck, since you managed to take a piece from my master, you can barely be considered to have passed."

"Kid, do you intend to stay here and continue playing against my master, or proceed to the core ruins?"

"Senior, after going to the core ruins, can one return to study the chess game?"

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Huaiyuan bowed and asked.

He had comprehended less than one ten-thousandth of the mysteries of the entire "Truth Chess Game"; he had no desire to abandon this entire treasure trove.

"Of course. In fact, if you fail to pass the minimum trial within a hundred thousand years, you will be expelled from the ruins."

The voice from the void calmly stated.

"Congratulations. You have successfully obtained permanent access to the ruins."

As the words fell, the entire starry river faded, and a massive, technologically advanced laboratory reassembled.

Countless similar-looking phantom figures could be seen repeating unimaginable sets of experiments.

However, when Zhang Huaiyuan tried to observe closely, he found everything completely blurred; even True Sight could not penetrate it.

"Don't bother trying, kid."

At that moment, the voice from the void sounded again.

"My master left 110 experimental recordings here in total, each representing the pinnacle achievement of a different field of study."

"As one of the rewards for passing the basic trial and entering the core ruins, you may observe one recording every one hundred real years. This opportunity can be accumulated."

Hearing this, Zhang Huaiyuan did not rush to rejoice. Instead, he cautiously asked:

"Senior, are there any requirements, such as having to comprehend a certain number of recordings within a specific timeframe?"

This intelligent lifeform was always hiding crucial information.

When the Xuanjian Sect's disciples entered, it had concealed the key detail that one could not leave after touching the books.

The "Truth Chess Game" was said to allow unlimited attempts, but it hid the fact that failure to pass within a hundred thousand years would result in expulsion.

He was genuinely afraid there might be some hidden rule here as well.

"Rest assured, you have already proven your talent. You are qualified to remain in the ruins to study."

As if seeing through his thoughts, the voice from the void explained indifferently.

"That's good."

Zhang Huaiyuan breathed a sigh of relief in his heart before asking:

"Senior, you just said this is 'one of the rewards.' Does that mean there are other rewards?"

Studying the recordings was certainly precious, but the principles these experiments contained far exceeded his current level of comprehension. Using the opportunity now would be too wasteful.

It would be better to save the chances for later, when his abilities had improved.

"Of course. However, before receiving this reward, you must swear by your true name before my master's projection that you will never reveal any information."

The voice from the void became unusually solemn.

At the same time, a figure similar to the majestic presence he had played chess against earlier slowly materialized.

"I, Zhang Huaiyuan, swear by my true name that no matter what I see next, I will never reveal even the slightest detail."

Though puzzled, Zhang Huaiyuan complied immediately.

"Very good... Kid, this is for your own protection."

The voice from the void spoke again:

"Remember the rules I mentioned before? Taking ten pieces from my master allows you to choose one legacy. Taking thirty pieces grants you all the legacies. As for taking only one piece, you are qualified to learn *about* these three legacies, which should serve as motivation for you to continue striving."

"Huh?"

Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but be taken aback.

Did this mean that merely *knowing about* the legacies was considered a reward?

Wasn't this just another way of dangling a carrot?!

"Hmph, kid, you think this doesn't count as a reward? Let me tell you, just the *name* of any one of these legacies, if known by outsiders, would spell doom not only for you, but also for your two teachers, and even your entire Association."

The voice from the void chuckled dryly twice, no longer keeping him in suspense.

Before the majestic figure, three illusory lights slowly appeared.

On the left floated a stone stele inscribed with two ancient, simple characters. With just a few strokes, they seemed to encompass all changes in the world.

Zhang Huaiyuan was certain he had never seen this script before, yet its meaning was clearly imprinted in his mind.

"Supreme Divine Art: Three Lives."

"This is a divine art with limitless possibilities."

The voice from the void quietly chimed in:

"Have you heard of the Holy Spirit City?"

"No."

"What about the Holy Light Monastery?"

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded. "I've heard of that. Soon, the Time Book House I belong to will be engaging in an academic debate with them and the Leviathan Laboratory."

"The Holy Light Monastery is one of the insignificant subordinate institutions of the Holy Spirit City. The supreme existence within that city achieved enlightenment with the help of 'Three Lives.'"

"This..."

Zhang Huaiyuan was momentarily shocked speechless.

He knew the Time Book House was also a subordinate institution of the Time Traveler Association. By that logic, the supreme existence mentioned by the ruins intelligence was at least a figure comparable to the founder of the Association.

The enlightenment method of such an existence...!

At that moment, he finally understood why he had been required to swear an oath of secrecy earlier.

This ruin hidden in a low-level world actually contained treasures that reached the heavens!

It took a full twenty minutes for Zhang Huaiyuan to barely calm his emotions.

He turned his gaze to the central light.

There, a gilded, seemingly fragile sheet of paper floated, yet it exuded an aura of timeless permanence.

"Eternal Enlightenment Method: Mythos."

The same kind of information feedback entered his mind.

Just seven simple words, yet they seemed to carry a weight surpassing everything in the world.

Zhang Huaiyuan waited quietly for a moment.

However, he found that the ruins intelligence did not offer any further explanation this time. He could only look helplessly at the final legacy.

It was a chip formed by the convergence of countless indistinguishable virtual symbols.

"Truth Realm Core Zero."

Soon, Zhang Huaiyuan learned its name.

However, he had no idea what its specific function was.

He couldn't help but glance up at the void.

"With your level of understanding, telling you would be pointless. Just know that each one is a legacy sufficient to reach the absolute peak."

The voice from the void chuckled:

"Alright, the rewards have been given. Do you choose to stay and use one observation opportunity, return to the Truth Chess Game, or leave this place?"

"Send me back to the Truth Chess Game."

Zhang Huaiyuan withdrew his gaze somewhat dejectedly. After quick consideration, he made his decision.

Compared to continuing to bury himself in study, focusing on the chess game was clearly much more efficient.

Furthermore, to obtain these three supreme treasures, he needed to take more pieces in the game.

Thinking this, Zhang Huaiyuan took a deep breath, suppressing his restless mood.

"I have about 50 years left. I hope to make further progress before I leave seclusion."