I Don't Agree to the Terms

"You can't tell just by looking, but you can test for it."

"How do you test?"

"It's simple. Just use that dagger to nick your major artery. If you're the protagonist, you definitely won't just die like that. Someone or something will jump out to save you."

"What if nobody does?"

"Then it proves you're not the protagonist."

"But then, I'd be dead." Wang Qi's face darkened. The test method was indeed very practical, but if used, those found not to be protagonists would all be dead. He didn't fancy gambling.

"You've given up on yourself anyway; sooner or later you're going to die regardless, so why not verify it? If you prove you are the protagonist, what else are you worried about? Even suicide won't kill you. Perhaps this terminal illness might even turn into your advantage," Gu Shanhai quipped.

At this moment, Wang Qi also realized that Gu Shanhai was comforting him in a rather unconventional way. If he was really scared of death, wouldn't it be over if he just died now?

"Rest assured, I won't give up that easily. There's still time, right?" As the symptoms of his illness faded, Wang Qi no longer felt as helpless as before.

He also realized that if his condition didn't progress, it actually didn't affect him much... okay, well, it did a bit. He noticed that both his physical and mental states had declined to some extent, just not by much.

More importantly, the illness would deepen with each occurrence, possibly resulting in symptoms he couldn't resist.

Given his current physical condition, it would take at least a year to reach a critical state, and as he grew stronger, that critical stage would be postponed even further. It was just a matter of time before his increasing strength would no longer suffice and he'd be overtaken.

"I'm glad you think that way. Also, we're nearing the spot marked with an X on the sea chart, so be careful," Gu Shanhai said.

"Careful? Is there some danger?" Wang Qi asked, stretching his limbs.

Since obtaining that sea chart, he had been adrift for three more months. If it wasn't for the conversations with Gu Shanhai, he'd have gone mad. So, having a crew for a sea voyage wasn't just about expanding his power, it was also to maintain his mental and physical health.

"Don't forget, you dug up this sea map from a treasure buried by someone. If they find out, do you think they'll let you off the hook?"

"If I can see this X, why can't they? Even if they don't have a sea map with automatic navigation, wouldn't they have a normal map?"

"As a Transcendent item, this sea map could also be a key. That way, they definitely won't just let you be and might have been lying in wait at the treasure's location already," Gu Shanhai had none of the mysterious air of typical mystical mentors, but rather, bluntly gave away spoilers without any reservation.

"You're making sense. Let's change course and make a run for it. We'll come back for it in a year or two. I don't believe they'd wait around that long." Wang Qi spoke with resounding certainty about fleeing.

Face a head-on confrontation? Seek out experiences? As someone who clawed his way up from the bottom and was facing a terminal illness, he knew all too well the value of life.

He wasn't brainless. Anyone capable of obtaining such a Transcendent item would surely be more than just an ordinary sea dweller with one or two Transcendent abilities. They would be amongst the powerful ones, or even worse to consider, this sea map might just be a baiting tactic by the enemy, luring people to fetch the treasure, and then ambushing them from the outside. It involved no risk and was more convenient.

So, fleeing now and surprising them later on was the plan.

'Damn, this kid's gone crooked...' Gu Shanhai felt a bit uneasy inside. How could the protagonist be so prudent? He wasn't supposed to be the type who survives by avoiding danger. He should be battling the heavens and earth; his situation was dire, and yet he was still thinking about catching the enemy unawares.

"Fine, let's do it your way then," Gu Shanhai naturally wouldn't object; what was there to oppose anyway?

However, Gu Shanhai was also somewhat curious. As the protagonist, did Wang Qi receive any influence from the world? Under normal circumstances, such thoughts wouldn't occur; one would simply go and have a conflict with the other party.

Gu Shanhai would certainly not be influenced. With his current strength, as long as he didn't venture into worlds with ridiculously high power levels, his vision would not be clouded.

Of course, the high-powered worlds he could currently visit were limited to the invitation that had been jovially given to him at the beginning. He needed to transition through one or two more worlds and enhance his strength to a certain level before he could visit without haste.

As for the worlds available to him at this stage, the power levels didn't even reach 1000; as long as he didn't dig any dark lines, he could basically crush them with ease.

After all, some things aren't heavy until you put them on the scale, and once you do, even a thousand pounds can't hold them back.

Therefore, he had to rely on the protagonist for help, letting the protagonist weigh these things. Gu Shanhai just needed to blend in and follow along.

"Alright, I'll adjust the helm. Let's find an island to resupply, and see if we can recruit some like-minded crew members," Wang Qi was now extremely strict about selecting crew members; if his criteria weren't met, he'd rather drift on the ocean with Gu Shanhai than settle for less.

He definitely didn't want to wake up one day with his head cut off.

"By the way, what do you think if I use your real name to form a group and recruit people under that banner?" Wang Qi suddenly thought of this.

"Not great," Gu Shanhai said irritably: "The last person who said that to me sliced me up and put me into a white jade gourd. Are you saying that now in order to split me in two after opening that thing?"

"Ah, it's just a name, just a name, you're not actually appearing... Alright, forget it then," Wang Qi said sheepishly. He also felt that his straightforwardness had indeed led him to misspeak; wasn't it obvious he was rubbing salt into the wound? If the other party wasn't bothered, it was already very generous of them.

"Even if I were willing, that course of action would be seeking death. If you truly flew my banner, the Godslayer Alliance would immediately think you'd picked me up. They would then undoubtedly pursue you, and use their influence to slander you as a human traitor. That would leave you barely able to move a step," Gu Shanhai appeared unperturbed and kindly explained the pitfalls.

Wang Qi, sensing the danger, also quenched the idea of forming a force. Indeed, it was not feasible. Regarding not relying on the reputation of Gu Shanhai's true identity, there was only one outcome: to be swallowed up by the Godslayer Alliance. But whether it was either option, he was not willing to do so.

It was like someone telling you that you must join them and surrender all wealth for the enterprise you have built with hard effort, or else just wait for death.

It's better to take the elite route, which is simpler and purer.

If it weren't for the fact that he would eventually need to upgrade to a larger ship because his power had grown and he couldn't manage it alone, Wang Qi really didn't want to recruit anyone. After all, there were many secrets on him, especially the secret of his strength being linked to the Divine Gu Shanhai, which was contrary to the current mainstream.

"I understand, it really is seeking death. Let's talk about the rest later; let's head to the nearest island for supplies," Wang Qi wouldn't bring up the topic again.

Afterward, he placed the treasure map into the lowest drawer of his bedside cabinet, hoping he'd remember it a year later. By then, it wouldn't be too late to go treasure hunting.

...

In a certain sea area, a ship lay anchored, flying the flag of the Godslayer Alliance. An elder with a fierce expression at the bow of the ship gazed at the distant sea, his tone filled with anger: "Humph, little thief, don't think that just because you stole my treasure map without leaving a trace, I can't find you. Unless you never come here for your entire life otherwise, I'll make sure to hang you from the ship's bow."

Thus, he endured a year of sea breeze, waiting without finding anyone, eventually leaving with frustration smoldering within him.