“What is on your mind right now?” Cha asked after noticing the look on Zhao Yunxiao’s face. “Are you unhappy to be here?”

“Of course not, Senior Cha,” Zhao Yunxiao quickly shook his head. “But may I ask why you brought me here?”

Zhao Yunxiao was not sure what exactly this palace was, but it certainly looked important to the Origin Lake Sect.

If Cha really was the guardian spirit of the sect as it said, why would it bring Zhao Yunxiao, someone who was not even a disciple of the sect, here to this important location?

Was he wrong to believe its words after all?

“No particular reason. I’m just bored after staying here without company for centuries,” the sea serpent’s whiskers moved as though it was shrugging its shoulders. “So, your job here is to entertain me.”

Zhao Yunxiao: “...”

He was starting to believe it less and less.

“But what do you mean staying here without company? Isn’t that more of a personal choice?” Zhao Yunxiao asked. “If you really want to, can’t you just kidna- I mean, talk to the other members of the sect? I’m sure there are more than enough people in the Origin Lake Sect willing to entertain you.”

Its strange behaviour aside, as the guardian spirit of the sect, most disciples would surely be more than happy to even have the opportunity to talk to it.

If Zhao Yunxiao was ever given the chance to chat with the Black Tortoise Sect’s guardian spirit, he would be thrilled even if he had to talk to it for weeks on end!

Who knew what great insights he could get just from conversations with a big shot like that?

Then again, in that same light, Zhao Yunxiao should probably be feeling excited to be talking to Cha right now.

After all, even though Cha was not the guardian spirit of his Black Tortoise Sect, it was still considered a big shot to an Essence Gathering realm cultivator like Zhao Yunxiao.

But for some reason, he simply could not feel any sense of excitement when faced with this eccentric creature.

Ah!

Perhaps that was exactly why Cha was bored and lonely – because nobody wanted to talk to it...

“I have a feeling that you are thinking about something very rude right now,” Cha narrowed its eyes at Zhao Yunxiao. “And it’s not that I don’t want to talk to the other members of the sect, but I simply can’t.”

“You can’t?” Zhao Yunxiao did not quite understand.

“It’s all because of that Yang Hong,” Cha let out a helpless sigh. “Back then, he had this idea that as the guardian spirit of the sect, I should maintain a certain level of mystery and only appear under two circumstances. First is when the sect was in danger, to defend the sect from enemies. Second is to those who managed to create a mythical tier treasure in the recent past, to encourage the growth of that person. Who would have known that the descendants of the Origin Lake Sect are all so pathetic, and not a single person have been able to create a mythical tier treasure?”

“So that’s why...” Zhao Yunxiao finally understood why he seemed to be the only person who could see Cha. “But Azure Hand Yang Hong has already passed on for so long. Do you really have to continue following those instructions?”

“Those are not simple instructions. I swore an oath.”

“You swore an oath...?”

“That’s right, the kind that would kill you if you went against it.”

“What?! But why would you agree to such stup- I mean, disadvantageous restrictions?!” Zhao Yunxiao could not believe what he was hearing.

“It just sounded like a cool idea back then, so I agreed without thinking too much. Who would have expected that things will end up like this?” Cha shook his head helplessly.

Zhao Yunxiao: “...”

You definitely should have expected this!

The guardian spirit of a sect should have been a character worthy of utmost respect. But the more he learnt about Cha, the more he was losing respect for it!

“What do you want to do now then?” Zhao Yunxiao sighed. “I can accompany you for a while, but I can’t be here forever either. There is an important event tomorrow, and I need to be there to help.”

“Your little cultivation lecture can’t be called an important event,” Cha scoffed. “But don’t worry, I will make sure to send you back before daybreak.”

Zhao Yunxiao let out a sigh of relief.

At least there was finally some assurance that Cha would send him back after this.

“As for now...” Cha looked around the chamber. “Right! Why don’t we play some chess?”

“Chess? Sure!” Zhao Yunxiao nodded without hesitation.

He had half expected the sea serpent to suggest something crazy after all the things that it had done so far, but its suggestion was surprisingly normal.

“That’s settled then!” Cha was overjoyed to hear Zhao Yunxiao’s response, and immediately flicked one of its whiskers.

With that, a chessboard that had been resting atop one of the stone pedestals started flying over towards them.

“Is this a treasure as well?” Zhao Yunxiao asked hesitantly.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Of course, everything you see here can be considered a treasure!” Cha answered. “This is the Benevolent Wave Chessboard, used personally by Yang Hong as an array forming treasure whenever he had to face a large number of enemies.”

Zhao Yunxiao’s eyes lit up in awe.

Another personal treasure of Azure Hand Yang Hong!

But... is it really all right to use something as precious as that for a simple game of chess?

“All right then, let’s do this!” Cha set the chess board down between them.

Zhao Yunxiao took a closer look at the chessboard.

Just like the Azure Origin Robes, there did not seem to be anything special about the Benevolent Wave Chessboard.

Were all the treasures of Azure Hand Yang Hong like this?

Or were they simply too high level for an Intermediate Essence Gathering realm cultivator like him to see through their mysteries?

“A simple game of chess is boring. So how about we make a bet on it?” Zhao Yunxiao asked after thinking about it a little.

“Oh? That does sound interesting,” Cha mused. “Since that is the case, I will give you an item from the palace if you win.”

“Really?” Zhao Yunxiao exclaimed in shock.

He had suggested betting on the game thinking that if he won, he could try to make Cha leave him alone for the rest of his stay.

Who knew that Cha would suddenly suggest such a bet instead?

Just the two treasures that he had been introduced to earlier were priceless items.

If he could get a treasure of that level, that alone would make coming on this trip more than worth his effort even if he failed to achieve anything else!

“Don’t be too happy just yet,” Cha grinned. “To make it fair, you will have to give me something of equivalent value as well if I win.”

Zhao Yunxiao’s excitement died down immediately.

Something of equivalent value to the personal treasures of the ancestors of the Origin Lake Sect?

How could he possibly have anything in his possession that was even remotely close in terms of value?

“I know what you are thinking. Don’t worry, I’m definitely not expecting a kid like you to be capable of bringing out a treasure of such level,” Cha chuckled. “The value of something differs according to how much one valued it. What I’m asking is for you to put your fortune on the line.”

“My fortune?” Zhao Yunxiao frowned. “Is it even possible to bet something like that? And what happens when I lose my fortune?”

“Did you forget that they call me the great Fortune Devourer?” Cha said. “Unlike you who are affiliated with the earth element, my affiliation is fortune.”

“I am affiliated with the earth element?” Zhao Yunxiao blinked blankly.

Cha: “...”

You don’t even know your own law affiliation?

Ah, that’s right. You are still at the Essence Gathering realm...

Cultivators usually gain the ability to touch upon the laws of the world only when they enter the Essence Physique realm.

Damn, it sure is difficult to talk to kids.

“That does seem to be the case for now, but of course things can change as you walk further on the path of cultivation. Anyway, back to the topic of fortune,” Cha quickly changed the topic in case Zhao Yunxiao asked him to explain the boring concept of world laws. “Without fortune, it is slightly less likely for one to encounter fortuitous encounters, but that is not a big deal anyway. As long as one has the talent and determination to work hard, one can still easily advance to the peak of the cultivation path.”

“Then I will have to decline,” Zhao Yunxiao shook his head without hesitation. “I already don’t have great talent, so I definitely cannot afford to lose the chance to get lucky as well.”

“Can you not be so pathetic? How can you think of yourself as a completely talentless cultivator like that?” Cha shook his head in disapproval. “One need to be confident and ambitious in order to go far!”

Zhao Yunxiao: “...”

I did not call myself a completely talentless cultivator. I only said that I do not have great talent.

In case you didn’t know, there’s a huge difference between the two!

“Think about it. I will only take a portion of your fortune if I win. But if you win, you will be taking away a treasure far beyond what you could ever have otherwise!” Cha tried to convince Zhao Yunxiao. “This can be seen as a form of gaining fortune as well. So effectively, you are just betting your small fortune for a chance to gain a big fortune. That’s not too bad a deal if you ask me!”

Zhao Yunxiao glanced over at the golden Sin Chaser, then at the Azure Origin Robes.

Indeed, these were treasures far beyond what Zhao Yunxiao would ever be able to obtain on his own, perhaps even after spending his entire lifetime cultivating.

After all, the tales that he had heard about Azure Hand Yang Hong suggested that the progenitor of the Origin Lake Sect was even strong than He Luoxuan!

Zhao Yunxiao definitely did not think that he would be able to reach the level of a Black Tortoise Sect elder in the future.

Considering that, this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a treasure of an incredible level!

But still...

“How about we have a practice match first?” Zhao Yunxiao suggested.

Zhao Yunxiao had always been rather confident in himself when it came to anything that relied on thinking and analytical skills, and chess was naturally something of that nature as well.

However, he was not about to commit to a huge gamble like that before learning the level of the opponent!

“Practice match?” Cha narrowed its eyes while hiding its grin. “Sure. Let’s do that before the actual game then.”

With a flick of its whisker, the chess pieces floated up and landed gently on the chessboard.

“Do you want to start then?” Cha offered.

“Then I shall not stand on ceremony, Senior Cha,” Zhao Yunxiao calmed his mind and reached out towards a basic soldier piece.

Even though this was just a practice match, he dared not take it lightly whatsoever.

Since it was a practice match, winning or losing was not important here.

Instead, the important thing was that through this practice match, he had to properly test Cha’s responses to his moves. Only then would he be able to make an accurate assessment on Cha’s actual skill level, and finally use that information to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the bet.

At the same time, he would have to hide his abilities to a certain extent so that the other party would not back out of the bet either.

This was a complicated plan to pull off perfectly, but Zhao Yunxiao was not feeling too worried.

After all, this would not be his first time doing something like this.

He did not know how Cha was intending to drain him of his fortune or the actual effects that it could have in the future, but Zhao Yunxiao was definitely not intending to find out either!

Zhao Yunxiao had already decided.

If he did not feel at least 90% confident of winning after going through the practice match, he would turn down the bet altogether!

Unfortunately, while Zhao Yunxiao was fully prepared to get the most out of the practice match, what happened next still caught him completely off guard.

The moment his hand touched the soldier piece, a burst of energy shot out from the chess piece, passing through his hand to reach his brain in an instant.

Boom-!

It was like a mini explosion went off in his head.

Shit, I messed up...

That was the last thought on Zhao Yunxiao’s mind before his vision turned dark.