317: Chapter 317 The Fifth Seal and Farewell

The massive phantom of the Power Legion crossed the chessboard and began attacking the pieces planted by the Lord of Truth.

One of the opponent's pieces was a combined high-efficiency reactor; it had no offensive capabilities and could only rely on energy circulation to maintain a protective layer for defense.

"There's hope!"

Zhang Huaiyuan watched the changes in the battle while combining new pieces.

Under the continuous attacks, the reactor clearly began to struggle, its protective layer flickering uncertainly.

However, at this moment, the Lord of Truth's second piece was already prepared.

Two Rune Towers rose from the ground, and frost and a sea of fire instantly covered the Power Legion, annihilating a section in an instant.

"Converting a tech-side thermal reactor into magic-side Rune Tower mana without loss?"

Zhang Huaiyuan's pupils constricted sharply.

The fusion of technology between different civilizations is extremely complex, especially when piecing together a perfect combination using these Knowledge Stars, which only contain basic knowledge.

"The Lord of Truth, at the same age as me, has already delved into this level on his own?"

A sense of absurdity welled up in Zhang Huaiyuan's heart.

If not for that reputation being so resounding, he would even suspect that the opponent was cheating.

You must know, according to the records of the ruins, during that period, there were no systematic academic organizations like there are now. All profound knowledge had to be explored and moved forward on one's own.

"I can only see this through to the end. Fortunately, he added another development-type piece next, so there might still be a chance."

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head, collected his thoughts, and continued to select a combination of offensive Knowledge Stars.

Anti-magic armor, upgraded firepower, coordinated attacks...

When the tenth piece was placed, the originally ordinary Power Legion had now been equipped with powerful anti-magic mechs, paired with heavy firepower.

The few Rune Towers were finally unable to intercept the crazed attack and were destroyed one by one.

The reactor's protective layer also shattered in response, and the two pieces instantly lost their luster and fell to Zhang Huaiyuan's side.

However, there was not a trace of joy on his face.

Solving those two pieces took too long; the opponent's development formation had already taken shape.

A vast starry fleet set sail, destroying the Power Mech Legion with almost overwhelming force.

Helpless, Zhang Huaiyuan could only command a suicide charge; after exchanging for the third piece, all of his own pieces were destroyed as well.

"I concede."

Zhang Huaiyuan looked at the collapsing situation and sighed.

This wasn't a simple offense and defense.

The choice of each piece not only required pursuing complementarity but also paving the way for the overall strategy later, testing the breadth of mastery and the flexibility in applying knowledge across various aspects.

For example, with the same combination of a reactor and Rune Towers, an ordinary person might at most construct a transmission protocol with a thirty percent conversion rate; in that case, during the first wave of attacks, the energy would simply not be enough to simultaneously convert for both offense and defense, and they would be defeated before the third piece could even appear.

The opponent was purely crushing him with a higher academic understanding.

— This was more despair-inducing than a strategic error.

"Little one, your performance is not bad."

Unexpectedly, the ruins intelligence actually emerged on its own and praised him:

"I have seen many top-tier geniuses who could take down three or even more pieces on their first visit, but often, when they come for their second or third assessment, their results actually get worse and worse."

"And you were actually able to perform better than last time."

The ruins intelligence spoke with a hint of amazement:

"This means that your progress during this period of time has actually surpassed my master during the same period; it's incredible."

"This... but during this time, I have been growing under the guidance of many excellent Scholars and the accumulation of resources from the entire association... whereas your master..."

Zhang Huaiyuan smiled bitterly.

"Little one, you seem to have fallen into a thinking trap..."

Perhaps it was because the opponent's performance had garnered attention, the ruins intelligence spoke up to comfort him:

"Throughout endless years, anyone who could truly be called a peerless genius has had special encounters. Even my master... in that era, although there was no academic system as perfect as today's, the rules were manifest at that time, space and time were not perfect, and obtaining knowledge from Myriad Things was ten thousand times easier than it is now."

"So, there is no need to belittle yourself."

"Is that so..."

Zhang Huaiyuan paused slightly, regaining a bit of confidence.

He began to rethink the match just now.

Compared to the one-sidedness before, at least now he could see the opponent's shadow.

A blitz attack was not unfeasible.

If the Knowledge Star combination he chose could be more perfected, and he could break the combination of Rune Towers and reactors faster, then he could gain the upper hand.

Try again!

Having made up his mind, Zhang Huaiyuan looked up and applied to the ruins intelligence again.

Soon, the chessboard reset.

This time, the Lord of Truth's projection did not choose the same routine, but instead also chose a blitz combination.

With both refining speed and combination compatibility lagging behind.

He lost the game after exchanging only one piece.

However, he was not discouraged; instead, his eyes lit up.

In this game, knowing he would definitely lose, Zhang Huaiyuan used True Sight to devote half of his focus to observing the opponent's choices and combinations.

Learning through battle.

Since his skills were inferior, he would steal the opponent's techniques.

"Continue."

Three games... four games... one hundred games...

The results of each game changed from an uncertain 0-3 pieces to gradually stabilizing at more than two pieces, and even the best performance reached four pieces.

"What a pity."

The 195th game.

Zhang Huaiyuan conceded with some regret.

In that game just now, the opponent chose a development combination again, and he had almost broken through their defense line at one point with his improved blitz combination.

But at the critical moment, the opponent changed their formation on the fly, forcing a comeback victory while trailing by two pieces.

The result also reached the best, the fifth piece.

"It seems I was right from the beginning, little one; you are indeed the candidate with the most hope of obtaining my master's inheritance through your own strength in endless years."

The ruins intelligence, which had been observing, spoke with a hint of amazement and satisfaction:

"How about it, do you want to continue?"

"Not for now."

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head, pondering the gains and losses of these nearly two hundred games.

That game just now was already the best opportunity.

Even with his currently most proficient strategy and tactical restraint, since he lost even then, it meant that no matter what, he could not achieve a better result right now.

To meet the conditions, it seems there is only that one means left.

"It's about time."

Zhang Huaiyuan took a look; there were twelve days left until he had to head to the Ascension Battlefield.

"Planning to leave?"

The ruins intelligence seemed to see through his thoughts and asked with a smile in its voice:

"When do you plan to come again next time?"

"Soon."

"Oh? Confident you can achieve better results?"

"Perhaps?"

Zhang Huaiyuan smiled at the ruins intelligence and took one last deep look at that magnificent phantom that seemed to transcend everything.

The next time he came, it would be the time to obtain the inheritance.