After the match ended, the crowd gradually dispersed. Quite a few had come from outside especially for this, but most were from Ethan Chess Club. Their own chess club member had won, and especially since he had defeated William Thompson, the so-called super genius, everyone was extremely excited. Many began returning to their seats to study the game that had just taken place.

The Eight-Tone Soul-Shocking Flute really worked well. When the game ended and no one was paying attention, Ethan Brooks had already put the Eight-Tone Soul-Shocking Flute away.

However, at this moment, in Ethan Brooks's hands, the Eight-Tone Soul-Shocking Flute was nothing more than a high-end telephone. Ethan Brooks didn't even have true qi, let alone true essence. He couldn't wield or use these magical treasures, but Ethan Brooks had another way. For treasures like storage rings that could be used after recognizing a master, he simply had the original owner help him with the blood recognition. As for magical treasures like the Eight-Tone Soul-Shocking Flute, thanks to the Spirit-Gathering Robe left behind by Adam Reed's master years ago, his entire body had actually been absorbing spiritual energy from the air all along.

Although spiritual energy in the secular world was extremely scarce, and Ethan Brooks himself found it difficult to cultivate true qi or true essence, whatever spiritual energy he absorbed would dissipate inside his body. Not to mention spiritual energy—even the heavenly tribulation that countless people feared would vanish inside him without a trace. Yet the spiritual energy gathered by the Spirit-Gathering Robe was like a gentle rain falling into his body, and some of it would nourish him. This was the last thing Adam Reed's master did for him after being unable to solve Ethan Brooks's fundamental problem.

With this treasure, as long as nothing unexpected happened, even if Ethan Brooks was just an ordinary person, it would be no problem for him to live a long life free from illness. Moreover, the Spirit-Gathering Robe had other important uses at critical moments.

Over the years, through constant practice and research, Ethan Brooks had developed a method to collect a small amount of spiritual energy passing through his body by vibrating all his muscles. Although the amount was pitifully small, and every use put his body under great strain, he could occasionally draw on some spiritual energy.

This minuscule amount of spiritual energy was of little use, only occasionally used to study the various magical treasures in his storage ring. As a result, Ethan Brooks now used this magical treasure, famous even in the cultivation world, as a live-streaming soul telephone. If those experts who had died fighting over the Eight-Tone Soul-Shocking Flute knew how Ethan Brooks was using it, they would probably be so enraged they'd come back to life. It was as extravagant as using the imperial sword to cut grass or riding a Rolls-Royce to beg for food.

William Thompson came out from inside, his sharp, murderous gaze sweeping over everyone. Most people immediately looked away when they met his eyes; almost no one dared to meet his gaze directly.

When his gaze fell on Ethan Brooks, William Thompson paused slightly—this person could actually meet his eyes calmly. He knew well that his gaze carried not only the killing intent from the match just now and his usual accumulated aura, but more importantly, the pressure from his powerful true qi, which ordinary people could not withstand.

Could it be him? Impossible, William Thompson immediately dismissed the thought. He still looked like a student, and the moves Andrew Carter played in the latter half of the game were quick and steady. More importantly, that ancient chess style was definitely not something a young person should possess.

At this moment, his face was honest and his eyes were clear, like an unpolished jade untouched by the world. With a turn of thought, William Thompson sighed inwardly... What a pity, whether in the martial arts world or the world of Go, at this age, it's impossible to achieve much.

This thought flashed by, and William Thompson had already left the chess club, paying no further attention to Ethan Brooks. What he was thinking now was, Matthew Hill—no, it should be Andrew Carter—who exactly did they find to help them? They must have worked together inside and out to catch him off guard. In the match three days from now, he would let them know that no one could stop his advance, whether in the world of Go or martial arts.

The peak of the Postnatal Realm! As William Thompson passed by like a battle lion, radiating killing intent, Ethan Brooks could already tell that this William Thompson had reached the peak of the Postnatal Realm, not far from the Innate Realm. Even without outside help, it would take him at most ten years.

What surprised Ethan Brooks a little was that a martial arts expert at the peak of the Postnatal Realm was also a professional Go player. And he was so strong—if Ethan Brooks hadn't been outside the game and caught him unprepared, it wouldn't have been so easy to win.

As for how he had reached the peak of the Postnatal Realm at such a young age, Ethan Brooks didn't pay much attention. He was used to seeing cultivators flying around. Even if a row of Innate Level Seven martial artists—considered on the verge of becoming immortals in the secular world—stood before Ethan Brooks, he wouldn't be surprised. After all, someone who often mingled with dragons and phoenixes—divine beasts—would hardly be impressed if a domestic chicken turned into a wild one and learned to fly.

Andrew Carter gradually calmed down, but the shock brought by the voice that had sounded deep in his mind was hard to dispel. As for the questions from Matthew Hill and the others, every time Andrew Carter wanted to speak, he remembered the last words of that voice: "Buddha says: it cannot be spoken."

With the excuse of being too tired, Andrew Carter quickly left Ethan Chess Club, leaving Matthew Hill and the others utterly baffled.

"Auntie's husband!" Seeing Matthew Hill return after sending Andrew Carter out, Ethan Brooks finally stepped forward to speak.