Through his game with Ogata, Ao Ying further clarified his thoughts and understood his shortcomings.
“Wrapped-Head Man, oh, no, it’s Ogata…”
“The professional scene, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Having activated the system for over ten days, he had a general understanding of this era.
The current internet was in its nascent stage, far less informed than in later generations.
Most game records from major tournaments were recorded in magazines, with very few circulating online.
Even records of minor games were only kept at the Ki-in, making it troublesome for outsiders to access them.
Go exchanges were relatively insular.
New changes and new moves were mostly developed in isolation.
Over the past few decades, Master Wu and Kitani-sensei jointly initiated the New Fuseki Movement, injecting many changes into the Go world.
The concept of speed being king emerged as a result.
Moves like Star Point, Two-star, and Triple Star Formation aligned with the fast-paced theme and became mainstream.
“Under the dual influence of the New Fuseki Movement and the Komi rule, current Go players are not confined to the gains and losses of a single city or pond; they don’t like local entanglements.”
“However, not getting entangled means subconsciously avoiding battle, and their fighting ability has somewhat declined.”
“Moreover, the New Fuseki Movement was decades ago, and some moves have already been eliminated.”
Ao Ying rubbed his head, his eyelids slightly lowered.
The entire Go world was too stagnant, lacking vitality.
Since the New Fuseki Movement, new moves have rarely emerged.
Go players clung to old joseki as if they were sacred, like natural laws.
Only a very few tried to seek change, pursuing God's Hand, but given the overall environment, they were also gradually assimilating.
For example, Ogata, adhering to Go principles, was very disciplined, having learned ninety-nine percent of his teacher, Toya Meijin’s style.
This is also why, in the anime, new blood like Toya Akira and Shindo Hikaru were full of drive, stirring up a new wave in Go.
“My arrival will also join this new wave.”
Ao Ying did not intend to hide his strength; becoming famous at a young age was not a bad thing.
Those who say it’s bad are just lacking themselves; if they were good enough, they would find it interesting.
“AI Go will sooner or later lead an era; resistance is meaningless. History proves that AI moves can help humans fill in gaps and correct errors.”
“In my previous life, how many people achieved error-free play for the first hundred moves? If it develops further, it might even be possible to achieve a perfect full game.”
“Perhaps I can use AI to find God's Hand, and then learn and surpass it.”
“I will spread AI Go, allowing more Go players who pursue God's Hand to study it.”
“Fujiwara no Sai, Toya Koyo, Ogata Seiji, Toya Akira, Shindo Hikaru, what will you evolve into?”
“By then, I hope you can catch up to my back.”
Ao Ying opened his eyes and found several groups of people still discussing the game just played, their enthusiasm undiminished.
“Teacher Ao Ying is amazing, how did I not think of that.”
“Teacher Ao Ying has a chance to win a title, right? He has a chance, right?”
“When Teacher Ao Ying participates in a title match, we’ll Go cheer him on; he came from our Go salon after all.”
Praise echoed from time to time.
Defeating Toya Akira, defeating the Wrapped-Head Man who was several levels stronger than Toya Akira, and even receiving an invitation from Toya Meijin, Ao Ying became the new darling of Go fans.
Toya Akira stared at Shindo Hikaru, hesitating to speak.
“Ao Ying, in that last game, there are a few places I don’t understand. I’d like to review it with you.”
Shindo Hikaru approached, his voice loud and full of vigor.
Provocation?
Ao Ying watched him playfully; with the system’s help, he could see the interaction between the person and the ghost.
At this moment, Sai stretched out his hand to pull Shindo Hikaru’s sleeve, “Xiao Guang, be polite. We’re not making a formal challenge.”
“Sai, beat him up! Look how lewd his smile is; he definitely has ideas about me, a primary school student.”
Hearing someone’s nonsense, Ao Ying’s mouth twitched. “Bro likes women. Bro is still young. Bro can’t do anything.”
Shindo Hikaru put his right index finger on his lower eyelid, pulled it down, stuck out his tongue, and made a funny face.
“If you don’t want to review, then forget it. I don’t think you could solve it anyway.”
His own Go spirit always praised the other person, so he was holding back; they were roughly the same age, wasn’t that right?
“Hey, Sai, are your moves okay?”
Sai used his folding fan to cover his mouth, smiling, “I lost some ground in the new fuseki, but the middle game is a test of overall strength.”
“Go sense, calculation, experience, and psychology—none of these can be missing.”
“But Xiao Guang, you’re just jealous of another kid having this Go skill.”
Shindo Hikaru flailed his arms, “Darn it, if you keep talking nonsense, I won’t play Go anymore.”
The threat immediately turned Sai into a tiny figure, darting around in front of Shindo Hikaru, his two small fists raised high in protest.
“Xiao Guang, Xiao Guang.”
“I want to play Go, I want to play Go…”
“Ah!” Shindo Hikaru scratched his head with both hands, “Don’t shake, I know, I know.”
After some mischief, Sai quieted down.
Having dealt with the annoying ghost, Shindo Hikaru unhappily said to Ao Ying, “Hey, give me an answer, I still need to Go back and do my homework.”
At the thought of homework, Shindo Hikaru’s mouth twitched in annoyance; he hadn’t even touched his homework today.
Ao Ying looked at the clock on the wall.
One game took four hours, leaving an hour and a half before dinner time.
Reviewing the game meant reconstructing it and discussing the gains and losses again, which half an hour would be enough for.
“Alright, let’s review. Let me see what… what brilliant moves you have.”
Since Sai didn’t know he could see ghosts, he would just act as if the ghost didn’t exist.
Anyway, Fujiwara no Sai could only play Go through Shindo Hikaru, so in a sense, the person and the ghost were of one mind, no need to differentiate so clearly.
The game’s participants and another very strong kid reviewing the game immediately drew the attention of the onlookers.
Teacher Xiao Liang’s analysis was good, but nothing was as appealing as someone stronger.
The world of competition was just that realistic: you might not like an athlete, but you had to respect their strength.
Toya Akira paused, the strange expression on his face growing more intense.
“Can this blond kid review the game with Teacher Ao Ying? Is he good enough?”
“Don’t even say it like that, this kid named Shindo Hikaru beat Teacher Xiao Liang, his strength is solid.”
“Ah? Teacher Xiao Liang lost to him?”
A few newcomers, unaware that the two had played a match before Ao Ying’s game, expressed appropriate shock.
“Watching the review, different people have different understandings, and we can learn more too.”
“Mm, Shindo Hikaru is very strong.” Toya Akira vouched for his good friend, “He didn’t use his full strength when he played against me.”
“Wh-… what?”
“Is he that strong?”
“Even Teacher Xiao Liang couldn’t force out his full strength?”
The onlookers’ expressions turned serious as they watched intently.
Shindo Hikaru shivered, “These people are so scary.”
“Xiao Guang, relax. Xiao Liang has been training in this kind of environment for a long time. If you want to be his opponent, you have to learn to adapt.”
“Hmph, only a ghost would want to be his opponent.”
Shindo Hikaru sat opposite Ao Ying, “Sai, don’t mess up at the critical moment, I’m most afraid of making a fool of myself.”
“And that Toya who keeps peeking at me, let him see the difference.”
“Xiao Guang, I am a Go player who pursues God's Hand, and doing my utmost for Go is my duty.”
The board was reset to the first five moves.
3-3 Point vs. Two-star.
On the sixth move, white played a shoulder hit.
“Ao Ying, I have two ways to counter your next move, the 3-3 Point.”