I Don't Agree to the Terms

Chapter 696 374: Drink This Bowl of Porridge, See the Flashback of Life

"Phew~ This is what you call a fifty percent chance of winning? I felt like I almost died," Wang Qi said, panting heavily.

He looked down at the treasure chest monster that was nearly shattered beneath his feet, the creature resembling more a mimic than anything. Its long tongue bristled with barbs that could rip off a chunk of flesh with a single lick.

Moreover, it was incredibly tenacious. He had used up all three of his malicious charges, and only then, barely, did he manage to kill it—physically too, since those malicious charges were more about control than actual damage, with the psychological hurt being only an add-on.

"Exactly, a fifty percent chance of winning, win or lose, and you just won," Gu Shanhai stated righteously.

"You make it sound so reasonable. Anyway, where's the treasure?" Though Wang Qi couldn't refute Gu Shanhai's words, his attention wasn't on this discrepancy but rather on the treasure itself.

"See that lone tree over there? Just dig below it and you'll find it." Gu Shanhai didn't put him through any kind of test; he just told him straight.

Wang Qi went over and started digging with his hands, quickly unearthing a sheepskin scroll inside a glass bottle.

He examined it and found it to be an exceedingly detailed nautical chart. More importantly, this nautical chart was a Transcendent item that could perform self-location. This way, there was no need to worry about getting lost at sea.

"Good stuff." This was precisely what Wang Qi needed—a nautical chart, considering his ship had no navigator and could only drift along with the waves.

Further, in the lower-right corner of the chart, there was an X marked, clearly indicating something was there.

The only downside was that the chart didn't cover the entire Azure Sea, just a part of it, and it didn't specify things like reefs or currents—the information leaning more towards a treasure map.

If not for the self-locating feature, it would hardly count as a Transcendent item.

"You need to be careful with this thing. If you follow the chart blindly, you might hit a reef and then you'll really be in trouble," Gu Shanhai also saw and understood that the item in itself wasn't very valuable, but he was aware of the trouble and benefit it could bring.

The benefit, of course, was the location of the treasure.

The problem was simple: whoever buried it would definitely spark a conflict. For ordinary people, it might never be found, but Wang Qi was the protagonist, and the two sides were bound to meet.

Gu Shanhai also figured out that the origin of this map was from an Elder of the Godslayer Alliance, left behind for someone to claim once they had grown stronger.

As for why it was buried so ignorantly on a deserted island instead of being kept close, that was clearly to suit the protagonist. Otherwise, Gu Shanhai, having such crucial items, would never let them out of his sight.

This way, Wang Qi could confront the Godslayer Alliance and further target the Divine.

It would also help strengthen Wang Qi with the items from the treasure, killing several birds with one stone.

"I understand, I'll use it cautiously," Wang Qi acknowledged Gu Shanhai's warning, realizing the map might not be as important as he imagined.

"Shall we go treasure hunting next?"

Wang Qi asked, as Gu Shanhai, being Divine, knew more.

"Sure, decide for yourself. Why ask me? I can't help you much anyway," Gu Shanhai expressed his lack of ability.

"Alright, let's go treasure hunting then. I'll try to recruit some people along the way, otherwise, just by myself, this won't be easy," Wang Qi now understood why seafarers always stuck together—he had only a small boat and couldn't manage alone, let alone expand his influence later.

He knew he couldn't confront the Godslayer Alliance by himself.

"Then you need to be careful who you choose. Nowadays, every Divine is an outcast, and you're offering Tribute to my essence and consuming dark cuisine. If you misjudge people, you might end up beheaded in your sleep, with your head taken to the Godslayer Alliance for a reward," Gu Shanhai was acutely aware of the current situation.

He knew everything about the Azure Sea situation. Ever since he steered the Godslayer Alliance towards the Divine camp, they had been secretly releasing Divine beings and conspiring with them, slowly encroaching on various powers and stirring up resistance.

Once the time was right, the Godslayer Alliance would change sides.

Gu Shanhai estimated that this moment would come once all the Divine beings were released, otherwise, how could he benefit?

It was precisely because he had a puppet in the Godslayer Alliance that he could keep the plans smooth. Otherwise, those Divine beings would have taken control of the Godslayer Alliance long ago. He scoffed at the thought that the power-hungry upper echelons of the Godslayer Alliance could really stand against the Divine on their own.

At first glance, it seemed the upper echelons had schemed against his puppet and thus gained the power to converse with the Divine. In reality, the Divine feared Gu Shanhai, not the sea people. They were not fools; they saw through some of Gu Shanhai's plotting.

As for those high-ranking members of the Godslayer Alliance hoping to become Divine, that was total nonsense, purely hoodwinked by Gu Shanhai, while the Divine beings just played along.

After all, both sides wanted to see the Godslayer Alliance grow and become the biggest turncoat in the human camp, which was why they were given great expectations.

But for Gu Shanhai, this was just a puppet through which, after releasing the Divine, he could deal with later.

Of course, he wouldn't take action himself; he would have Wang Qi do it.