Pact in Hand

"What's going on?"

Blackheart was greatly alarmed. Then, sensing Wang Nanxuan's aura, he cried out in disbelief, "A Hell Lord! How could there possibly be a Hell Lord on Earth?"

"Of course, I have you to thank for that."

Wang Nanxuan smiled as he controlled the Puppet Curse, gradually turning Blackheart into a puppet. As a Hell Lord, he was naturally born with numerous abilities, such as Flame Control, curses, super strength, Pact Power, and more.

"A Hell Lord!"

Wind Demon and the other two's expressions changed drastically. They did not dare approach him and even wanted to flee. At that moment, Wang Nanxuan appeared and coldly said, "Kneel there and await my command."

The Three Demons did not dare resist. They obediently knelt down. That was a Hell Lord!

"No."

Blackheart was filled with unwillingness. He had finally escaped Hell—how could he fail like this? He had not even begun to act!

Unfortunately, no matter how unwilling Blackheart was, he had failed. Wrapped in black mist, he transformed into a small, pitch-black statue floating in the air. Wang Nanxuan grabbed the statue and said to the Three Demons, "Give me your phone."

"A phone?"

The Three Demons froze. They had never expected a Hell Lord's first demand to be a phone. Had Hell become this technologically advanced?

Wind Demon was quicker on the uptake. He climbed to his feet, found a phone on a corpse, and respectfully handed it to Wang Nanxuan.

Wang Nanxuan took the palm-sized phone and discovered that it was now 2008. He opened the browser, and a news article popped up: Tony Stark was dating a beautiful woman from Maxim magazine.

"With that punchable face, this is the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

Wang Nanxuan shook his head and began searching online for the information he wanted. Wind Demon cautiously reminded him, "Lord, Mephisto's Rider will find this place soon. We should leave quickly and search for the San Venganza Pact."

Wang Nanxuan asked, "How do you plan to find it?"

Wind Demon answered, "Blackheart said the pact is hidden in a nearby graveyard, but he never said exactly where. You can ask him."

Blackheart's statue shouted, "I won't tell you even if I die!"

"He doesn't know the exact location. Besides, I've already found it."

Wang Nanxuan held up the phone for Wind Demon to see. On it was a news article: the famous racer Blaze Barton had been buried in the cemetery outside St. Michael's Church after his death—Blaze Barton was Johnny Blaze's father, the Ghost Rider.

The Three Demons and Blackheart looked utterly incredulous. Such a secret location, and he had found it with a few taps on a phone? If it were really that easy, why had Mephisto failed to find the pact after all these years?

"Even devils need to keep up with the times. Let's go."

Wang Nanxuan did not waste words. After memorizing the map, he transformed into a streak of black light and flew toward the cemetery. Wind Demon hurriedly turned into a gale, sweeping up the other two demons as they followed behind Wang Nanxuan.

In the cemetery outside St. Michael's Church, an Old Cowboy was repairing a grave with a shovel. Just then, a foul wind descended from the sky, sending the fallen leaves around him dancing wildly. The Old Cowboy hurriedly held down his cowboy hat.

Then the gale vanished, and four figures appeared before the Old Cowboy. His gaze immediately sharpened—he could tell at a glance that these four were not human.

Wang Nanxuan looked at the Old Cowboy and asked, "Carter Slade, the Ghost Rider who betrayed Mephisto and stole the San Venganza Pact. I've got the right person, haven't I?"

Slade backed away as he denied it. "You've got the wrong person. I'm just a gravedigger."

"Is that so?"

Wang Nanxuan raised his hand, and the shovel in Slade's hand abruptly flew into his own. Slade was shocked. Fire blazed in his eyes, and with speed utterly Does Not Conform to his age, he charged at Wang Nanxuan and grabbed for the shovel.

Wang Nanxuan gripped the shovel and swung it backhandedly, sending Slade flying. Though Slade had once been Ghost Rider, he had not judged a soul in over a century. His Hellfire was so weak it seemed ready to go out at any moment. He was no match for Wang Nanxuan.

Slade fell to the ground, unwilling to give up. He let out a loud roar, and a beam of Holy Light flew from a distant house, shooting straight toward Wang Nanxuan like an arrow.

This was the power of the statue of St. Michael. The reason Slade had been able to hide for so long without Mephisto finding him was because Michael had been protecting him.

Wang Nanxuan took out Blackheart's statue to block the Holy Light. Vast amounts of black mist poured from the statue as Blackheart let out a miserable scream. Was This Guy even human? He had not only turned him into a statue, but was also using him to block attacks? As expected, not a single Hell Lord was any good.

"Catch him."

Wang Nanxuan gave the order. The Three Demons came to their senses and immediately pounced on Slade. They were deeply shocked. Their lord had actually found the pact through a phone? This was far too absurd.

Before long, Slade was beaten bloody by the Three Demons. He shouted, "I surrender! I'll take you to the pact, but you have to spare me."

"You really know how to act."

Wang Nanxuan sneered and flicked his wrist. The shovel disintegrated into ashes, and a parchment scroll appeared out of thin air. It was the legendary San Venganza Pact.

Slade was stunned. "How did you know the pact was hidden inside the shovel?"

"Because I like superhero movies. Speaking of which, the old ones were better. Unlike nowadays, when everything is far too correct."

Wang Nanxuan put away the pact and said, "Carter Slade, what a pity. Your soul was sold to Mephisto long ago. Otherwise, I might have made you one of my subjects."

Slade was astonished. "One of your subjects? You're a Hell Lord?"

"Correct."

Wang Nanxuan said, "Sign a pact and offer the Spirit of Vengeance to me. I will grant you one year of life. If you refuse, I will forcibly strip away the Spirit of Vengeance. Then, you will experience the most terrifying pain in the world."

In truth, with Wang Nanxuan's current strength, he might not be able to strip away the Spirit of Vengeance. Otherwise, he would not have signed a pact with Slade at all—after signing it, he could borrow the power of his true body.

"I'll sign."

Slade readily said, "It's not like I have a choice. Signing the pact will at least let me live another year."

"Very good."

Wang Nanxuan nodded in satisfaction. He raised his hand, and a transparent contract appeared before Slade. As Slade examined its contents, he complained:

"You're much better than Mephisto. That bastard tampered with the parchment. Once you opened it, it would cut your finger, and then Blood Droplets would fall onto the pact, sealing it."

"That works too? No wonder he's the most shameless Hell Lord."

Wang Nanxuan and the Three Demons all looked disdainful. That method was far too low-class.

Soon, Slade finished reading the pact. He asked, "Can you add a few more years?"

"Carter Slade, I know you're trying to Delay Time, and I also know that you want to sign the pact so you can preserve your useful body and stop me."

Wang Nanxuan said, "I handle hundreds of souls a minute. I don't have time to waste on you. Either sign, or I'll forcibly strip away the Spirit of Vengeance."

Slade's eyes narrowed slightly. Then he readily signed the pact and asked, "Which Hell Lord are you, exactly?"