Chapter 2: The Bet
As soon as this idea came up, Zhang Xuan shook his head.
The Mo family was as strict as iron. He would need an identity before leave and walk out openly. If he could have snuck away, he would have done so long ago, not stayed until now.
"No, why was I able to kill it?"
After his frustration, a sense of doubt appeared in his mind.
He had been bullied by this horse for several days. The harder he fought back, the worse the beatings got. How did it suddenly reverse today?
He replayed the events in his mind and couldn’t help but look at his new world.
This was a place created by absorbing Source Energy, structured like the Firmament, with land, mountains, oceans, plants, and animals... Everything was there.
In one area of the new world, a massive ocean spanning tens of thousands of miles had evaporated completely, turning into light blue beams, which was the power that killed the horse.
Killing a horse had consumed an ocean spanning tens of thousands of miles. If this kind of battle happened a few more times, the hard-won universe might collapse completely and disappear.
His soul was already bound to this place, and if it really happened, he would surely suffer severe damage too!
Hmm, this method is good, but better not use it again...
Throwing these thoughts aside, Zhang Xuan looked at the horse in front of him again.
The arrogant horse that had been so aggressive was now lying dead.
It lay motionless, gradually becoming stiff.
"This was Mo Yanxue's sixteenth birthday gift, and she treasures it. What should I do now?" Zhang Xuan was troubled.
He had been punished just for tying it up. If this was discovered, the consequences were obvious. With his current strength, even if he escaped the Mo family, he would surely be caught and chopped into pieces.
Entering this world, he was prepared to sacrifice himself, but dying for a horse was too ridiculous...
No, he had to find a way to save himself!
"What if... you got up and kicked me?"
Grabbing Su Shang's front hoof, Zhang Xuan mumbled and was about to figure out how to activate the Library of Heaven's Path in this world when he heard Wu Xiang's voice outside the stable.
"Zhang Xuan, here's a fan for Su Shang from the young lady. This horse's fur is thick and doesn't handle heat well. You must take good care of it, and don't make any mistakes..."
The door creaked open, and Wu Xiang's words stopped abruptly. He rubbed his eyes hard and then looked terrified. "Y-you killed it?"
Not expecting him to appear suddenly, Zhang Xuan didn't even have time to hide the body. He remained silent for a moment and then explained, "Can I say... it was an accident?"
Wu Xiang went crazy. "Does it matter if it was an accident? You know how important this horse is to the young lady. It's fine if you die, but don't drag me down with you! No, I can't be punished with you... Wait, if I report this, maybe I can escape punishment!"
Taking two steps back, Wu Xiang turned and rushed out, disappearing in an instant.
"..."
Zhang Xuan didn't expect him to run so fast. He didn't even have time to stop him and felt helpless.
If he hadn't been discovered, he would have had a chance to deal with the body. Even if he couldn't escape, he could at least buy a few hours to think of a plan. Now, he had no way out.
Was he going to wait for death?
Or... burn the new world to gain some power for a short time and fight his way out of the Mo family?
Not to mention how much strength the new world could provide, whether he could fight some experts, but if it burned out, all the creatures inside would die!
If that happened, his risky arrival here would not solve the crisis but be a way to get himself killed...
"What should I do?"
"Wait, Su Shang is dead, which means it's an object. If it's an object, it can be spiritually awakened..."
In his despair, an idea popped into his mind.
The Spirit Awakening Technique was the forte of Spirit Awakeners on the Master Teacher Continent. As the name suggests, it could awaken the spirit of any object, giving it life and making it follow commands, like a Taoist controlling a zombie or a cultivator driving a flying sword.
Back then, Wang Ying had even awakened the spirits of all the buildings of the Master Teacher Pavilion to fight.
However, Source Energy had sealed Zhang Xuan's power, so to awaken the spirit, he might need to continue burning...
Knowing this was the least damaging option, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate. He approached Su Shang again, raised his finger, and pointed it at the horse's forehead.
Boom!
In his new world, a mountain range over a hundred thousand miles long instantly shattered, turning into beams of blue light.
"Feng Jin, I saw Zhang Xuan hitting Su Shang as soon as I walked in, and then Su Shang fell to the ground, not breathing..."
Zhang Xuan had just placed his finger on Su Shang's forehead when Wu Xiang's explanation echoed in the courtyard, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Creak!
The door was violently pushed open, and Feng Jin rushed in first, looking frantic. Clearly, Wu Xiang's report had driven him mad.
The scene in the stable came into view instantly. Zhang Xuan was squatting on the ground, stroking the horse's head, while the latter lay motionless, appearing truly dead.
Feng Jin's body trembled uncontrollably. "Zhang Xuan, you dared to kill Su Shang? You're courting death..."
"Kill?"
Before he could finish, Zhang Xuan interrupted, "Steward Feng, you must be mistaken. How could I dare do such a thing? I was... scratching Su Shang's itch!"
Feng Jin's eyelid twitched involuntarily. He wanted to kill someone. "Do you think I'm blind? Scratching an itch, and you made the whole horse stiff as a board?"
At this moment, Su Shang's entire body was rigid, as hard as dried socks, looking unmistakably dead. Yet you’re telling me... this is scratching an itch?
Are you kidding me?
"Don't you believe me?"
Zhang Xuan looked innocent. "How about this... let's make a bet? If Su Shang is really dead, I'll take full responsibility. You can do whatever you want with me. But if he's not dead, I'd like to accompany the young lady to White Rock Academy tomorrow to see how she undergoes the Source Pool Assessment!"
A young lady like Mo Yanxue would definitely take several attendants with her when she went out. Deciding who to take was well within Feng Jin's authority.
"You, a mere servant, what makes you think you're qualified to bet with me?" Feng Jin snapped.
"Whether I'm qualified doesn't matter. What’s important is..."
Zhang Xuan scratched his head, his black eyes full of innocence. "If Su Shang is truly dead, even if you beat me to death, you won't escape blame. After all, I'm here because you brought me to the Mo family, and you bear undeniable responsibility. But if Su Shang is alive, everyone is happy, the young lady will be pleased, and you can rest easy, maybe even receive a reward... Feng Jin, I'm just a lowly servant, I don’t understand much. I don’t know if what I'm saying makes sense?"
"You..."
Feng Jin stunned for a moment and looked at the young man in front of him again, his eyes narrowing involuntarily.