Soul Reflection Stone

"Stop them?"

Aiken grinned. "Why would I stop them? It's not like you're actually farming points. Even if you were, that wouldn't be my problem."

"Reality will teach you a lesson!"

In Hell,

if a Star Demon ever turned out to be unworthy of the title, countless challengers would immediately swarm them.

When it came to making a name for themselves, they knew exactly what they were doing.

Making a name by stepping on the strong was difficult, but doing it by crushing an idiot unworthy of the title was the most worthwhile deal of all.

No one could resist!

Countless people were willing to risk their lives challenging a Prefect Lord, so what was one challenge against a Middle God whose strength didn't measure up to that of a Five-star Demon?

"Hahaha!"

Hermes chuckled. With the combative nature of Hell's countless powerhouses, they'd fight even when they knew they'd lose, just for the thrill of it.

Challenge a Middle God? That really could happen.

Even if this Middle God truly had the strength of a Five-star Demon, they'd have to fight him to find out.

As long as the difference in strength wasn't so vast as to be utterly despairing, no one could stop Hell's countless powerhouses from fighting.

They were desperate to improve.

Using battle to bring out their talent and potential, and to spur greater understanding, was indeed the best way for Hell's powerhouses to break through quickly.

Hermes's arrival in Hell, and Bamer's as well, had both been influenced by this to some extent.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Boom!

The Metal Life came to a halt once more at Yilan City's north gate. Hermes and Bamer disembarked first, followed by a dozen or so Gods who had passed the Demon Assessment.

Although they'd passed the assessment, they still hadn't received their Demon Medals.

After paying a Ink Stone to enter the city, Hermes left everything to his follower, Bamer.

Now,

whether Salif was the Bamer he'd imagined or not, he'd just call him 'Bamer' for now.

Bamer Salif had told Hermes as much. Since he was a follower, of course he should be sincere with him!

The City Guards were left dumbfounded.

"What's going on with them?"

A Yilan City soldier asked his squad leader.

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

The squad leader was thoroughly perplexed. He was just as astonished, but who was going to answer his questions?

"Maybe he's a hidden powerhouse!"

To preserve his dignity as squad leader, he could only make something up.

"But he's a Middle God!"

The soldier was the argumentative sort. Unsatisfied with his leader's explanation, he raised another objection.

"Fool!"

"Powerhouses can do anything! Maybe he's deliberately disguised his soul aura."

The squad leader resorted to another wild guess.

He hadn't expected to convince the argumentative soldier under his command, but his explanation worked at once.

"That really could be it!"

"You're incredible, Squad Leader!"

The argumentative soldier nodded. "I heard from the people guarding the Plane Teleportation Array that they do occasionally see Middle Gods traveling between planes."

"But how could a Middle God travel between planes? Putting aside whether their strength allows it, the teleportation fee alone would be more than a Middle God could afford."

The City Guards had a more comfortable life, but it was also boring. Whenever they found something to talk about, they'd discuss it for hundreds of years.

Until the next topic came along.

Yilan City, Demon Castle.

"Here to turn in a mission!"

Hermes said nothing,

but several Middle Gods right behind him called out first.

Their announcement immediately drew the attention of everyone in the Demon Castle's first-floor hall.

"Is it a Demon Assessment mission?"

"Of course. I remember seeing this person, but for the life of me, I can't remember his name."

Everyone turned to look and began discussing it.

Hell was vast, which made news travel slowly.

But once news spread through a Demon Castle, it was bound to reach all of Hell, traveling far faster than a Metal Life could fly.

There were no phones in this world,

but there was a faster means of communication: Divine Clones.

The Demon Castle had specialized intelligence agents, with multiple clones stationed in different cities and even on different continents.

Their only purpose was to circulate important intelligence for the Demon Castle.

Not every piece of information was worth sending out the Demon Castle's professional intelligence agents.

They had their own system for assessing the value of intelligence. Other, less important information was left to civilian organizations to gather.

But in the end, the intelligence still converged at the Demon Castle and its surrounding areas.

This gave rise to a profession:

Intelligence Dealers!

They made a living by picking up information the Demon Castle didn't consider worth its attention.

And they could do very well for themselves.

Hell was enormous, with few cities, and countless lives gathered together. There were always opportunities of one kind or another.

It was just a matter of whether you could spot and seize them.

At the moment, hearing someone call out that they were turning in a Demon Assessment mission, everyone pricked up their ears.

They wanted to find out if there was any intelligence they could profit from.

"Silence!"

Susimita said irritably.

"Demon Assessment missions are processed in the second-floor hall. Brittany, you can process the mission roster this time."

"1,000 set out, 970 died, and 17 completed the mission and obtained the assessment token..."

Brittany spoke with Susimita in a low voice as Susimita took notes.

"What? Such heavy losses?"

Susimita cried out. If she hadn't seen Hermes return safely, she would have been even more surprised.

"More than just heavy losses!"

"This time..."

Brittany recounted the events vividly.

"Salif, Hermes, let's go to the second-floor hall to turn in the mission."

Aiken left Brittany behind and personally led Hermes and the others up to the Demon Castle's second floor.

It was much smaller than the first-floor hall.

Its functions were limited, and it was divided into many small rooms.

If not for Salif and Hermes, Aiken wouldn't have gone to the trouble himself.

When they reached a black room, Aiken pushed the door open and walked straight in.

"Come one at a time. First, take out the Blocking Gold Saber, along with the Demon Emblem you were given earlier."

A Black-robed Person spoke without looking toward the door.

"Process Hermes's Demon Assessment first. The rest of you can take your time."

Aiken said.

"Ah, Lord Aiken! I'll register him right away."

Seeing that it was Aiken, the Black-robed Person hurriedly rose to his feet and bowed respectfully.

"Just get it done quickly. He still has to go back to the first floor to turn in his demon mission."

Aiken waved his hand, paying no mind to the Black-robed Person's respectful attitude.

He merely gestured for him to sit down.

"Name?"

"Hermes."

The Black-robed Person took out a bead the size of a finger, its surface a jade green, and placed it beside Hermes.

"This is a Soul Reflection Stone. For now, it's only recording your soul aura!"

Since Aiken had given him a heads-up, the Black-robed Person kindly explained.

"A Soul Reflection Stone can absorb a trace of a person's soul aura. No matter how powerful someone is, their soul aura is unique. With just one Soul Reflection Stone containing your soul aura, your identity can be verified."

Hermes was surprised.

He saw the jade-green bead turn gray in the blink of an eye.

That was probably the sign that it had finished absorbing his soul aura.

"I don't feel any discomfort. It must have absorbed only my soul aura, not my soul force."

After assimilating Basim's soul force, Hermes's soul perception was now extremely sharp.

He was sure of it.

"These are your Demon Medal and Deputy Demon Medal. You'll need to drip blood on both to make them recognize you as their master."