A partnership for what? - Zac asked again , suspecting he knew the answer .
Esmeralda needs to enter the Left Imperial Palace , so I’m hoping you could take her . -
You’re a sealbearer? - Zac said , indignity partly replaced by surprise , but the toad shook her head .
Only cultivators and beasts who have reached Atavism can become sealbearers . But that’s fine . There are other paths to entry , - Lova said as she took out an ancient-looking parchment . - The Enshrinement of Kanba . It’s from an interesting society deep in the Eternal Storm . They consecrate beasts in a faith-based cultivation system . This binding will make you the speaker for the Beast Deity . -
Uh , what? - Zac was decidedly unenthused by the idea of becoming the priest of a toad god .
Well , that’s just in their society , - Lova laughed . - In practice , it means Esmeralda could temporarily create a shrine—a subspace—in your body and join the Left Imperial Palace that way . It will also create a mental link to allow you to communicate better . It will even temporarily allow you to use part of Esmeralda’s skills and abilities . -
No offense , but why use some weird method from the Endless Storm? - Zac said with suspicion . - There are many ways to contract beasts . -
It’s for your benefit , - Lova explained . - For one , Esmeralda is more unique than you can imagine . No Hegemon can bear a conventional binding with her . Secondly , the enshrinement will not leave a mark on your path . It’s more of a temporary housing agreement and will not affect your pathways , combat effectiveness , or System evaluation . The only detriment is that you must expend some Cosmic Energy to maintain the shrine . Not much is needed , though , and it will not impact you after forming a core . -
Esmeralda eagerly nodded , and her tongue lashed out to grab the parchment , bringing it to Zac , though he didn’t accept it .
No offense , but I’ve seen you in action , - Zac said as he took a step back . - You’re fast , but I’ll be even faster by the time the trial starts . And your aura is even weaker now than when we last met . What can you bring to the table? -
Esmeralda looked incredibly affronted , and made a series of angry croaks . Of course , with her tongue still stretched toward Zac , they came out distorted .
Esmeralda isn’t a beast bred for battle like those Beast Tamers contract , - Lova said with a laugh . - Her expertise lies elsewhere . And don’t worry . She’s in a phase of rapid growth . Truthfully , the Esmeralda you see in front of you now is not her true form . She’s not even an undead creature . Eons ago , she had the reputation of being one of the best . . . infiltrators . . . of the Multiverse . -
Infiltrator? - Zac said . - A thief? -
Esmeralda excitedly nodded .
Wait , best in the Multiverse? - Zac said . - Does that mean . - ?
She could be considered a Supremacy , - Lova confirmed , making Zac look at the unassuming toad suspiciously .
Are you two messing with me? -
There was just no way this supersized toad matched the aura or power of the two Supremacies he’d just encountered in the Stand of Saeward . Esmeralda croaked with exasperation , then her eyes widened , and she disappeared in a puff . Before Zac could ask where she went , she returned , the parchment on her tongue replaced by another item : a box .
What? - Zac gasped .
It was the main item consecrated in the hidden temple across from his mansion , emitting the same hair-raising aura as when he first saw it . Zac had almost gotten himself killed getting his hands on the Lucky Beads] , and they weren’t even part of the temple arrangements . They’d just been lying on a pillow in front of the shrine . Meanwhile , Esmeralda took a few seconds to abscond with what probably was the best thing , barely breaking a sweat? Would she be able to do the same inside the Left Imperial Palace?
It took all Zac’s willpower not to welcome Esmeralda to his team right then and there .
63
ESMERALDA
Esmeralda thumped her chest as she wagged the box in front of Zac . Clinging to his doubts , he moved to a nearby window . Catheya was sitting on a bench in the pebble garden , occasionally glancing in his direction . She lit up upon seeing him , who waved at her assuredly and turned back into the room .
Catheya hadn’t noticed Esmeralda coming and going , by the looks of it , and neither was there any response from the ghost temple on the other side of the peak . There wasn’t even a Karmic ripple indicating they had been robbed .
Zac wondered if it were really Esmeralda who’d gotten her hands on it . He couldn’t help but look at Lova sitting by the neighboring window . It had been a deadly tribulation to enter the ghost temple for him , but for this mysterious woman . . .
