"You'll find out later."
Wang Nanxuan activated the power of the Contract. A dim, lightless figure resembling an angel made of flames flew out of Carter Slade's body. It was the Spirit of Vengeance.
The Spirit of Vengeance had originally been God's angel, sent to Earth by God's command to purge evil. Later, they and the demons had both suffered heavy losses. Mephisto stole some of the gravely wounded Vengeance Angels and transformed them into fallen Spirits of Vengeance.
With the Spirit of Vengeance leaving his body, Old Cowboy fell into extreme weakness. Looking at the Spirit of Vengeance that had plagued him for half his life, he cursed, "So this is what you look like. Ugly as hell."
The Spirit of Vengeance was furious and tried to struggle, but it could not break free from Wang Nanxuan's control.
Wang Nanxuan did not waste time. He absorbed the Spirit of Vengeance into his own body, then forcibly erased its consciousness with the power of a Hell Lord.
Wang Nanxuan closed his eyes, then opened them a moment later. Hellfire filled his eyes and quickly spread across his entire body, making him look like the Human Torch.
However, Wang Nanxuan did not turn into a flaming skull like the Ghost Riders. He was different from them; he controlled the Spirit of Vengeance.
"Good."
Wang Nanxuan put away the flames and took out Blackheart's statue again. With a wave of his hand, a streak of Black Light flew from the statue into Slade's body. The Old Cowboy, who had nearly died, immediately regained his health.
Blackheart was so furious he nearly went berserk. "Using my power again?"
"Old Cowboy, cherish your last year of life. Don't get involved in too many things."
Wang Nanxuan snapped his fingers, and Slade fainted. Wind Demon said coldly, "Lord, shall I kill him? That wouldn't violate the Contract."
"I don't make a habit of breaking my word. Besides, keeping him alive isn't a bad thing. He can help us stall the Ghost Rider."
Wang Nanxuan glanced at Wind Demon and spoke coldly. Wind Demon smiled awkwardly and did not dare say anything else.
After thinking for a moment, Wang Nanxuan took out two balls of flame and handed them to Earth Demon and Water Demon. "Earth Demon, take this flame and go as far away as possible. Water Demon, go to the TV station in the city and find a woman named Roxanne. Don't hurt her. Wait for my orders."
Wang Nanxuan was leaving himself a way out. If the coming battle failed, these two balls of flame would allow him to rise again. No matter what, he could not be completely driven back to Hell.
"Yes, Lord."
Though Earth Demon and Water Demon did not understand why, they quickly departed with the flames. Then Wang Nanxuan said to Wind Demon, "Wind Demon, take me to San Venganza Village."
San Venganza Village was a village that had believed in God for generations. Every villager had been a devout believer in God. Later, Mephisto promised them immortality and drove them to slaughter one another. In the end, more than a thousand people died, including the elderly and children.
These souls filled with Corruption Power had been trapped in San Venganza Village ever since. As long as one possessed the San Venganza Pact, one could collect their souls and construct a Lesser Hell on Earth.
Mephisto had nearly succeeded, but Carter Slade, whom he had sent to collect the souls, betrayed him and fled with the Contract. That was how all this trouble came about.
"Yes, Lord."
Wind Demon replied respectfully. His previous respect had stemmed from fear, but now it carried an added measure of admiration. This Lord's methods were truly extraordinary.
Wind Demon then transformed into a Fierce Wind and led the way, with Wang Nanxuan following close behind.
Meanwhile, in nearby Rocket City, a Harley motorcycle engulfed in blazing flames sped wildly along, leaving a straight, dazzling trail of fire behind it.
The motorcycle's owner was a flaming skeleton clad in leather and wrapped in chains. He was Johnny Blaze. In his youth, Mephisto had deceived him into signing a Contract and becoming his Ghost Rider—Mephisto had promised to cure his father, only for his father to die in an accident the very next day.
"Hurry to San Venganza Village. Blackheart has obtained the Contract."
Mephisto's urgent voice rang in Johnny's mind. Without Michael's Holy Power suppressing it, the location of the San Venganza Pact could no longer be hidden from him.
To be honest, Mephisto was baffled. How had that idiot obtained the Contract so quickly? Could it be that his foolish son had finally wised up? Should he feel gratified as a father, or should he curse at the top of his lungs?
This was Johnny's first transformation, and his rationality was completely controlled by the Spirit of Vengeance. The Spirit of Vengeance let out a roar, accelerated at full speed, and sent the police cars trying to intercept him exploding in the flames along the way.
Even more outrageous, when he encountered an artificial lake, the Ghost Rider did not detour at all and simply drove across the water. Newton's coffin lid was probably about to burst open.
San Venganza Village had long since become ruins. Wang Nanxuan walked through them, his ears filled with the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling.
"A bunch of greedy idiots. Still, thanks to your greed, I got a chance to escape my predicament."
Wang Nanxuan muttered to himself. He had not stolen the San Venganza Pact to become some ruler, but so that he could enter Earth without being controlled. He had endured enough of this year's loneliness, not to mention that Earth had an abundance of souls.
Wang Nanxuan did not waste time. He took out the Contract and prepared to collect the souls. Just then, accompanied by the roar of a motorcycle engine, the Ghost Rider made his official entrance.
Seeing Wang Nanxuan about to open the Contract, the Ghost Rider immediately hurled a ball of blazing fire at him. Wang Nanxuan sidestepped it and complained while forcibly activating the Contract, "Does it have to be this much of a coincidence?"
Mephisto appeared out of thin air. Staring at Wang Nanxuan, he asked in shock, "You're not Blackheart. Which layer of Hell are you the Lord of? Why does your aura feel so unfamiliar?"
Wang Nanxuan did not answer. As the Contract activated, countless ghosts emerged around them, letting out strange cries that sounded both excited and relieved as they rushed toward Wang Nanxuan.
"Stop him!"
Mephisto shrieked. The Ghost Rider was about to charge forward on his motorcycle when a blast of Fierce Wind slammed into him, knocking him off the bike and onto the ground.
The Ghost Rider immediately climbed back up and swung his Flame Chains at Wind Demon, who had transformed into a Fierce Wind. To his surprise, the Flame Chains swept straight through Wind Demon without harming him in the slightest.
"Hahaha, you can't hurt me."
Wind Demon laughed smugly and rushed forward, sending the Ghost Rider flying once more. At the same time, a voice traveled into the Ghost Rider's ears along with the Fierce Wind. "Ghost Rider, do you remember Roxanne from Rocket City? Water Demon has gone to find her."
"How dare you!"
The Ghost Rider roared furiously. Johnny Blaze's consciousness awakened and fought desperately against the Spirit of Vengeance's consciousness—Roxanne was his former girlfriend, the woman he felt deeply guilty toward.
Meanwhile, massive numbers of souls poured into Wang Nanxuan's body. He used them to construct a Minor Hell. Once it succeeded, this Minor Hell would connect to his Hell, and Kamar-Taj's formation would no longer be able to stop him.
Seeing the Ghost Rider tied up, Mephisto panicked. After thinking for a moment, he decided to "call the police"!
Yes, call the police—but not ordinary police. He was calling Kamar-Taj.
"Ancient One, someone is constructing a Minor Hell in the Human World! Are you going to do something about it or not?"
Mephisto shouted toward the sky. Everyone present, including Wang Nanxuan, stared at Mephisto in utter disbelief. A Hell Lord was actually calling Kamar-Taj for help? Did he have no shame at all?