Zenith halted his steps as he looked over the creature from a distance. He didn't dare get close to it carelessly. This Lycan was a creature that stood at +A-Rank. He stood no chance against such an opponent. If they fought each other, it would certainly end with only one result— his death!

That was just how outclassed he was.

"You've come. You've really come! The heavens haven't forgotten me! After so long, they finally sent someone to rescue me!" the lycan emotionally said between glee and tears.

Zenith remained silent and just watched the creature break down in tears in front of him. After that, he gave a brief glance at the locked stone doors a few meters behind it. The lycan noticed his lack of action. It stopped crying and gave him a puzzled look.

"What's wrong? Why are you not moving? Come closer and release me from my shackles. Didn't Sword Saint send you here to rescue me?" the lycan asked, and suddenly, a doubtful look appeared on its face. "Did Sword Saint tell you something about me?"

"He didn't," were Zenith's first words to the creature.

The lycan became furious and cursed out, "That wretched Sword Saint! He sent you here to rescue me but didn't even tell you the details?! What's wrong with him?! If he's going to send you, at least do it properly!"

It seemed like this lycan and the Sword Saint had some history with each other.

Zenith heaved a sigh of relief and said, "That's the kind of person he is. There's nothing we can do about it."

He was still a bit displeased that Sword Saint kept a lot of things from him prior to entering the temple. He wasn't even told about the existence that he felt outside, and he still had no idea what it was. One thing he was sure though, it didn't come from this lycan.

The lycan gave him a pitiful look. "It seems like you've suffered from his hands as well. That guy always does whatever he wants without considering the consequences."

"He sent me to this temple without telling me any details. I almost lost my life to the minotaurs in the labyrinth."

"Even though he's like that, he does things for a reason. You mustn't bear a grudge against him. He must've sent you here because he believes in your capabilities. Anyone else would've died against the minotaurs. You're very exceptional to reach this place."

"Senior thinks too highly of me," responded Zenith humbly.

The lycan was pleased with his attitude and started nodding up and down. "You're not bad. You're not bad at all. Still, why didn't he come here to rescue me himself?"

"He must've been busy. He left quickly after telling me about this place."

The lycan frowned and let out a deep sigh.

"Ah, it doesn't matter now that you're here. Come and—" the lycan stopped speaking as it let out a few, violent coughs.

"Senior, are you okay?" Zenith asked in concern but he didn't move an inch towards the lycan.

The lycan waved his hand, reassuring him. It stopped coughing after a few seconds but it looked really weak and tired.

"I'm okay. Anyway, get these shackles off me. Since you're the one rescuing me, I won't shortchange you. I will reward you when we get out."

"Alright, but senior must definitely not go back on his words."

The lycan only laughed at that as if finding his words extremely ridiculous.

"Won't I be letting down my reputation if I go back on my words to my benefactor? Don't worry. If you want, I can even swear an oath to Earth Duke, if only to reassure your mind," the lycan offered.

An oath to Earth Duke was one of, if not, the most important and sacred oath in the universe. Once someone violated the oath sworn upon Earth Duke's name, Earth Duke would descend upon the world to eat their soul.

Oaths sworn upon his name were something that shouldn't be taken lightly. It wouldn't matter who you were. Even if you were a god, Earth Duke would still come to eat their soul so long as they went against their oath. However, not just anyone could swear an oath to Earth Duke. Only those who were powerful enough could do so.

"How can I do that? If we swear an oath to Earth Duke, won't that mean I don't trust senior? There's no need for that, senior."

Zenith was not strong enough to swear an oath to Earth Duke, but the lycan was at +A-Rank. He could do so. That was why he refused.

Earth Duke might've been the one to send him here but he definitely wouldn't spare his life if he violated his oath. He was, after all, the most impartial god in the universe. If not for his impartiality, no one would dare to swear an oath to his name. Zenith wouldn't carelessly swear an oath to Earth Duke knowing that.

"It's just that... can senior please tell me why you're here in this place?"

The lycan's eyes dimmed as it went silent for a moment. It seemed like it was contemplating something. Eventually, the lycan sighed and looked at him.

"Telling you is not a problem. This is the least I can do for you. However, you mustn't tell anyone else about this. That is the only thing I ask of you in exchange for this information."

"Senior can rest assured. Sword Saint wouldn't have picked this junior if this junior can't be trusted."

The lycan smiled at him. "You're right. You're the one chosen by Sword Saint, after all."

Zenith no longer said any word as he waited for the lycan to continue.

"Where should I begin?" the lycan muttered to himself and went deep in thought. "I suppose I shall start by telling you about this temple. Outside, this place might look like a temple, however, it truly isn't a temple. A temple is a place where everyone gathers to worship a god. But the true purpose of this place is not to worship a god but to imprison a great evil who went havoc in heaven a long time ago."

"An evil who went havoc in heaven?" Zenith asked curiously.

Was this great evil the one he felt earlier?

The lycan gave him a knowing smile and didn't elaborate any more about the great evil he mentioned. Seeing this, Zenith backed down.

The lycan continued, "This temple was created solely to imprison and seal off that evil, and I was one of the many entrusted to protect this prison from intruders. The minotaurs were placed in the labyrinth as the first layer of defense, and in the second layer which is this dungeon, it is I. As for the next one..."

Zenith waited for the lycan's next words, however, he saw the fear in its face as it tried to recall something. Zenith narrowed his eyes at that.

The lycan shook its head and changed his words, "I used to think that all of us guarding this temple was overkill. Those who were taken into this place couldn't use Nu nor spirit seeds due to a certain god's blessings. Cultivators were nothing but ordinary mortals here, and to deal with mortals, the minotaurs were more than enough. But recently, someone intruded into this temple and chained me up. I didn't even stand a chance."

"Does senior have any idea who it is?" Zenith asked.

"I don't, but they came to take a great evil imprisoned here. With that evil gone, there's nothing left for us to guard anymore so our duty is finally over. Other than rescuing me, Sword Saint sent you here for something else, isn't that right?"

"Senior is perceptive. That is indeed the case."

"I'll help you find that thing when you set me free."

"Before that senior, I have one more question," Zenith said sincerely.

The lycan was starting to get impatient but it suppressed its irritation as it forced out a smile. "You have already asked me many things but fine, ask away."

"I'm just wondering how long has senior been in this place?"

The lycan raised a brow at him and was a little stumped with his question. It had been staying here for so long that it had actually lost track of time.

"I don't know how long exactly. I stopped counting after 10,000 years," answered the lycan solemnly.

"10,000 years? Senior has been living for that long? How is that possible?"

The lycan said mysteriously, "Do you think I would accept becoming a guardian without any benefits? The reason I accepted was to receive a blessing from a god and become an immortal. As long as that god lives, I won't die."

"That kind of thing is possible?" Zenith asked in surprise.

"Of course, it's possible. As long as..." the lycan responded, but then its voice trailed off. An ugly expression appeared on its face right after.

"Forgive me, senior. This junior is stupid so I cannot conceive that such a notion is possible."

"No, you're very clever," the lycan said with a sinister tone. Its face was full of anger as he glared daggers at Zenith.

"Senior?"

"I've become muddle-headed after staying here for so long. To think I would get outsmarted by a child!" the lycan said through gritted teeth. "Brat, you're very clever. You've managed to obtain a lot of information without coming close to me. I already told you so much when you hadn't even set me free yet."

The lycan had finally realized Zenith's true intention but it was too late. It had already spilled out so much to him.

"Senior thinks too much."

The lycan suppressed its anger and took a deep breath. It tried to calm itself before saying, "I'll forgive you for this transgression if you set me free."

"Senior must be joking," responded Zenith indifferently. "Once I set you free, you will kill and eat me. You're very hungry aren't you?"

"Wha?" the lycan mouthed out in surprise, stunned at Zenith's question.

"Immortal you may be but it doesn't mean you can't feel hunger. After all, your immortality isn't true immortality. You're just depending on someone else's blessings."

"Did you know I was trying to kill you from the start?"

Since it had already come to this point, Zenith finally shed all pretenses and said coldly, "With such poor acting, you think a mongrel like you can hide your intentions from me?"

Upon hearing that, the lycan saw red. Veins popped all over its body as it ran towards him furiously, rattling all of the chains connected to his limbs.

"How dare you lead me like a fool?! I must have your head!"

Zenith just stood calmly, unperturbed by the lycan's anger. When the lycan was upon him, he kicked it right in the center of its abdomen, sending it flying away.

"Is that all?" Zenith plainly asked. "How pathetic. You're all bark but no bite."