"What's going on?"
Blackheart was horrified. Sensing Wang Nanxuan's aura, he shouted in disbelief, "A Lord! That's impossible! How could there 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 innately capable of wielding many abilities, such as Flame Control, Curse, Super Strength, Pact Power, and more.
"Hell Lord!"
Wind Demon and the other two underwent a drastic change in expression. They did not dare approach and even wanted to flee. At that moment, Wang Nanxuan appeared and said coldly, "Kneel there and await my orders."
The Three Demons did not dare resist and obediently knelt. 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 turned into a tiny black statue floating in midair. 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 so technologically advanced?
Wind Demon was more quick-witted. He got up, 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 story popped up about Tony Stark going on a date with a beautiful woman from Maxim magazine.
"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 find the San Venganza Pact."
Wang Nanxuan asked, "How do you plan to find it?"
Wind Demon replied, "Blackheart said the Pact is hidden in a nearby graveyard, but he didn't say exactly where. You can ask him."
Blackheart's statue shouted, "I'll never 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. Displayed 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—Johnny Blaze being the Ghost Rider.
The Three Demons and Blackheart looked utterly unconvinced. Such a secret location, and he had found it with a few taps on a phone? If it were that easy, why had Mephisto failed to find the Pact after all these years?
"Even devils need to keep up with the times. Move out."
Wang Nanxuan wasted no words. After memorizing the map, he transformed into a streak of Black Light and flew toward the cemetery. Wind Demon hurriedly turned into a Fierce Wind, sweeping up the other two demons as they followed behind Wang Nanxuan.
At the cemetery outside St. Michael's Church, an Old Cowboy was repairing graves with a shovel. Just then, a cluster of evil winds descended from the sky, sending the fallen leaves around him dancing wildly. The Old Cowboy hurriedly held down his cowboy hat.
Then the Fierce Wind vanished, and four figures appeared before the Old Cowboy. His eyes narrowed at once—he could tell with a single glance that these four were not human.
Looking at the Old Cowboy, Wang Nanxuan asked, "Ghost Rider Carter Slade, the one who betrayed Mephisto and stole the San Venganza Pact. I have the right person, don'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 grip abruptly flew into his own. Slade was alarmed. Fire flared in his eyes, and with a speed utterly unsuited to his age, he charged at Wang Nanxuan and reached for the shovel.
Wang Nanxuan gripped the shovel tightly and swung it backward, sending Slade flying. Though Slade had once been a 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 roar, and a beam of Holy Light shot from a distant house like a Yaka Arrow, flying straight toward Wang Nanxuan.
This was the power of the statue of Michael. Michael had been protecting Slade, which was why he had been able to hide for so long without Mephisto discovering him.
Wang Nanxuan took out Blackheart's statue and used it to block the Holy Light. Vast amounts of black mist rose from the statue as Blackheart let out a shrill scream. Was this guy even human? Not only had he turned him into a statue, he was using him to block attacks too? Hell Lords truly were all terrible people.
"Seize her."
At Wang Nanxuan's command, the Three Demons snapped out of it and immediately pounced on Slade. They were deeply shocked. The Lord had actually found the Pact through a phone? That was too absurd!
Before long, the Three Demons had beaten Slade until her head was bloodied. She 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 snapped the shovel in half over his knee. A rolled-up parchment Contract fell from the break. It was the legendary San Venganza Pact.
Slade was stunned. "How did you know?"
"Because I like superhero movies. Speaking of which, the old ones were better. Unlike the ones now, they're too politically correct in every way."
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 allowed you to become one of my people."
Slade was shocked. "One of your people? You're a Hell Lord?"
"Correct."
Wang Nanxuan said, "Sign a Contract and offer the Spirit of Vengeance to me. I will grant you one year of life. If you refuse, I will forcibly perform Separation on 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 separate the Spirit of Vengeance. Otherwise, he would never have made a Contract with Slade. Once the Contract was signed, he could borrow power from his true body.
"I'll sign."
Slade agreed readily. "I have no choice anyway. At least signing the Contract will let me live another year."
"Very good."
Wang Nanxuan nodded in satisfaction and raised his hand. A transparent Contract appeared before Slade. As she examined its terms, she complained, "You're much better than Mephisto. That bastard rigged the parchment. When you opened it, it would cut your finger, then your blood would drip onto the Contract and seal 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-grade.
Soon, Slade finished reading the Contract. She asked, "Can you add a few more years?"
"Carter Slade, I know you're trying to Delay Time. I also know that you're signing the Contract 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 separate the Spirit of Vengeance."
Slade's eyes narrowed slightly. Then she signed the Contract without hesitation and asked, "Which Hell Lord are you, exactly?"