Chapter 11: The Wager

Shadow Chaser was somewhat surprised, but it slowly withdrew its Void Domain and descended to the ground alongside Su Ziye.

“If this is training, then for one of the Sky Realm, you have only just begun,” Shadow Chaser said gravely.

“I know that those of the Sky Realm usually spend decades refining their domains, but I do not have that much time,” Su Ziye replied calmly. “I have only one month.”

“My strength is merely average among those of the same rank, yet even now you can barely survive a battle against me. How, then, do you expect to kill a Sky Realm monster?” Shadow Chaser challenged.

From the perspective of a veteran Sky Realm expert, although it acknowledged that Su Ziye, as a human youth, had already grown powerful enough to nearly rival Star Dawn, the mightiest of monsters, nearly rivaling it still meant that he was ultimately inferior.

Star Dawn had once accomplished such a feat, but for Su Ziye, it was practically impossible.

“Not every Sky Realm monster is equally strong. There are also differences in affinity,” Su Ziye said coolly. “If I encounter a monster whose affinity is countered by mine, I may not be without a chance.”

“You have no way…” Shadow Chaser began, then suddenly fell silent.

Su Ziye smiled. “That is right. I do have a way.”

“I know that the overlords of the Radiant Death Forest cannot leave their territories at will. Once one trespasses into another’s domain, and expulsion proves ineffective, a world-shaking battle will inevitably follow.” Su Ziye looked at the heavenly steed. “In a certain sense, I have already crossed the threshold of an overlord monster. Indeed, if I successfully kill an overlord monster and am willing to reside here permanently, I could become an overlord myself.”

“But…” Su Ziye paused briefly. “My own strength does not actually reach the Sky Realm. Almost all of my power comes from the Illusory Annihilation Blade. That means that as long as I do not activate the Illusory Annihilation Blade, I can pass through the territories of all the overlords with virtually no risk, correct?”

“If that is the case, I can seek out an overlord I believe to be suitable and have a proper battle with it.” As he spoke, Su Ziye offered Shadow Chaser a slight bow of thanks. “That is why I spent ten days sparring with you.”

“Since a certain someone will not guarantee my survival, I had to at least ensure that I would not die in battle. Now, my confidence has risen from forty percent to roughly ninety percent.”

“When it comes to surviving death, I have quite a bit of authority on the subject.”

“Even so, your chances of success remain exceedingly slim, and the time you have is far too short.” Shadow Chaser tried to dissuade him.

Over the past ten days, it had indeed developed some fondness for this human. Among monsters, strength was supreme. Although Su Ziye had yet to surpass it, the youth’s potential was unmistakable. It was only a matter of time before he exceeded Shadow Chaser. Moreover, he was the genuine bearer of the Illusory Annihilation Blade. Shadow Chaser had once believed that the blade was merely an ancient legend preserved in the memories of its ancestors, and it had thought that it would never submit to a human of unknown origin.

But now, although Shadow Chaser still had no intention of submitting, it had to admit that Su Ziye had already reached the threshold that would make submission acceptable to it.

“Actually…” Su Ziye looked at Shadow Chaser calmly. “When that person gave me the Illusory Annihilation Blade, he told me everything about the karmic ties surrounding it.”

“That naturally included the contract between the Initial Emperor and the Lord of the Heavenly Steeds.”

Shadow Chaser’s entire body trembled.

It had vaguely suspected that Su Ziye knew, but since he had never said so openly, Shadow Chaser had pretended not to understand. After all, whoever spoke of this matter would die.

But now that Su Ziye had truly laid it bare, Shadow Chaser found itself with nowhere left to retreat.

For an instant, it even considered fleeing.

Or perhaps giving its all to kill the youth before it.

In the end, however, Shadow Chaser remained where it was.

“What do you intend to do?” it asked.

The Sky Realm monster spoke in a low voice.

“I told you that I am grateful for your help over these ten days. This is merely part of my way of expressing that gratitude.”

“I know of the contract between your race and the Illusory Annihilation Blade, and I know that I possess the ability to force you to obey it. But I will not do that,” Su Ziye said evenly.

“I only wish to make an agreement with you. If I truly manage to kill a Sky Realm monster, you will sign a master-servant contract with me.”

“If I fail to accomplish this within the month, I cannot guarantee that a future bearer of the Illusory Annihilation Blade will not do so. But for the rest of my life, I will never activate this contract.”

The heavenly steed Shadow Chaser trembled again. It gazed at Su Ziye, its eyes filled with complicated emotions.

“Can I trust your promise?”

“My promises have never been made with absolute certainty. But before I ever break one, I must first receive a reward far greater than what I would gain by keeping it.” Su Ziye smiled at it. “Still, in all my life until now, I have never broken a promise.”

Shadow Chaser let out a sigh.

“You have earned my respect. May I know your human name?”

Even now, Shadow Chaser still did not know Su Ziye’s true name.

“In the Stele Empire, my name is Xi Che. At the academy, I am generally called Su Ziye,” Su Ziye replied calmly. “But if you truly wish to know what I am called, there is not much meaning in it. I have several names that I may never tell anyone.”

“In the future, I might even be called Spring of the Fourth Year of Qingli.”

“Then I shall call you Xi Che.” Shadow Chaser made its choice without hesitation.

“You have twenty days to complete this wager. I do not believe you can succeed, and I believe you will die during the journey.”

“Even so, I still hope you can return. Every Shadow Chaser has dreamed of having a true hero as its master. If you can prove yourself worthy, that is.”

“I cannot guarantee anything.” Su Ziye smiled. “But for the sake of my beloved younger sister, I will certainly do my best.”

“Your younger sister?” Shadow Chaser had never heard Su Ziye mention anything of the sort.

“Well, you know her.” Su Ziye looked at Shadow Chaser with a proud smile.

“The Star Sovereign you spoke of.”

“She is my cousin.”

For a moment, Shadow Chaser could not conceal its shock. It stamped its hooves against the ground, suddenly understanding everything.

“It seems unconvinced. Why not come out and confirm it?” Su Ziye said with a smile toward the void.

But the void offered no response.

The youth seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Then I am leaving. I have twenty days.”

With that, he walked without looking back toward the depths of the forest. Shadow Chaser watched his retreating figure, then raised its head and looked at the bright moon in the sky.

Its pure moonlight shone down upon the creature.

“What a strange feeling,” Shadow Chaser said calmly.