Chapter 624 - 421: Deal [2]

The expression on Black Erosion, who had been sitting still, changed drastically.

It clearly hadn’t expected Hu Qi to suddenly attack.

In that fleeting instant, a massive, pillar-like snake tail materialized from thin air, crashing down from above with apocalyptic force!

BOOM—!

With a deafening crash, Black Erosion’s form exploded like a fragile bubble, shattering into countless black fragments that scattered in all directions.

The entire space trembled violently under the force of the blow, as if it could not withstand such terrifying power and might collapse into nothingness at any moment.

But in the next moment, Black Erosion’s form re-coalesced atop another boulder, as if it had never been attacked.

"I admit, your strength exceeds my expectations. But this is my domain! You simply cannot kill me here.

If you attack me again, I’ll awaken the prime will directly. When that happens, things won’t end well for either of us."

Black Erosion said coldly, its voice laced with a hint of annoyance and wariness.

"Haha, don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to test your strength.

After all, a peaceful deal requires both parties to be on equal footing. It can’t be a one-sided offer from the weak to the strong."

Hu Qi gave a faint smile, and the spectral image of the pale, giant snake behind him quietly dissipated.

The violently fluctuating space stabilized, as if he wasn’t the one who had been ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

In his heart, however, he had already formed a rough estimate of this being’s power.

’In terms of raw power alone, empowered by the rules of this world, this being is comparable to a True God who has comprehended the Great Dao.’

’In a real fight, that level of strength would be no match for me at all.’

’However, within this world, unless I could completely destroy it, I wouldn’t be able to kill it—only endlessly weaken its power.’

"You’re right."

Black Erosion said after a moment of silence.

But in its heart, its wariness of Hu Qi had grown even deeper.

’This man is a lunatic. His actions defy all logic.’

’And his power far exceeds my expectations.’

’Though he can’t kill me, my power will be severely weakened if he keeps this up.’

’That would put me at a great disadvantage.’

’I want to devour the prime will, but who’s to say he doesn’t want to devour me?’

’For that reason, I can’t—and daren’t—let him keep killing me.’

Meanwhile, Hu Qi was equally wary of this world’s prime will.

He didn’t want to flip the board before he had obtained the Dao Rhyme.

This shared apprehension formed the temporary basis for a deal between them.

"I can give you the Sunstone first. But to ensure our deal proceeds smoothly, we must swear an oath."

As it spoke, it held out its palm. With a flash of light, an ancient white Scroll materialized.

The Scroll’s surface shimmered with a faint silver light, exuding an ancient, solemn aura.

The Scroll flew into mid-air and unfurled on its own. Eerie, shimmering lines of Runes instantly appeared upon the white surface.

The Runes seemed alive, flowing slowly across the page, at times coalescing into clear text, at others blurring into indistinct symbols.

The moment Hu Qi’s gaze fell upon them, he instantly understood their meaning.

It was about the contents of their deal.

In essence, it would provide Hu Qi with Sunstones and Sun Core Stones, and in return, Hu Qi would help it suppress and devour this world’s prime will.

They were to be partners and could not stab each other in the back.

Anyone who violated this pact would have their soul utterly destroyed.

And this threat of soul annihilation was no mere empty vow.

Hu Qi could clearly sense a potent Power of Rules attached to the Scroll. Even a True God who defied it would suffer dire consequences—and might even perish on the spot.

"Of course! I always keep my word."

After only a brief pause, Hu Qi smiled and agreed.

The instant he consented, the Scroll floating in mid-air seemed to react, dissolving into a stream of Flowing Light.

The Flowing Light then split into two beams.

One shot like a meteor into the space between Hu Qi’s brows, while the other merged into Black Erosion’s body.

At the same time, Hu Qi felt an invisible force binding him from the ether.

The power was like an invisible chain, coiled deep within his soul.

If he were to attack Black Erosion again, something irreversible and terrible would happen.

The same was true for his counterpart.

Seeing this, Black Erosion seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

’If Hu Qi hadn’t agreed, that would have been a real problem.’

With this in mind, it spoke.

"As a show of my sincerity, here’s another piece of information for you: you are not the only outsider in this realm..."

...

「A short while later.」

In the atmosphere high above Ocean Star.

A silver Mecha appeared silently—it was the Forbidden Mecha, Eclipse Hermit.

Without pausing, the figure transformed into a stream of Flowing Light and shot away from Ocean Star.

...

Just then, a pitch-black figure appeared on the spot.

It was Black Erosion. It glanced in the direction Hu Qi had gone.

"This time, I should be able to escape this fate of endless Reincarnation, as long as..."

Its voice trailed off, unfinished, as its figure vanished from sight.

...

「Inside the Copper Cross Medal.」

Hu Qi’s main body sat cross-legged.

He felt the prying gaze on his back disappear.

He toyed with the Sunstone he had just acquired.

A peculiar expression appeared on his face.

He thought back to his conversation with Black Erosion.