Trade

Faced with Colin's sudden question, Leian was merely stunned for a moment before his mind began racing.

He knew Colin would not test him for no reason, so did this mean he truly possessed the talent to cultivate the Death Rule?

At that thought, a surge of joy rose uncontrollably in Leian's heart.

Yet following that joy came deep confusion and wariness.

Given the sensitivity of necromancers, even if they wished to take disciples, they would likely choose innocent children with no background rather than a Saint Realm peak expert like him.

Even if Colin truly intended to teach him Necromancy, Leian did not quite dare accept. The Death Rule excelled at enslaving souls, and he did not dare casually accept something bestowed by an Undead Saint Archmage.

As he pondered, Leian stared intently at Colin and asked coldly:

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Colin?"

Colin seemed to realize that his earlier question had been somewhat inappropriate. He fell silent for a while, then seemed to come to a realization and suddenly shook his head with a laugh.

"Haha, my mistake. Neither of us is a fool; this sort of probing is indeed meaningless."

He explained:

"That's right. Earlier, when you fought Walter... oh, Walter is the Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor's name. When you dispelled the Mist of Soul Confusion that Walter released, you leaked a trace of soul aura, and I happened to sense it.

"Given the purity of your soul, you fully meet the requirements for cultivating Necromancy. That is why I asked that question just now."

At this point, Colin's expression turned solemn, and the look he gave Leian instantly became serious.

"Now, I'll ask again. Leian, are you willing to cultivate Necromancy?"

Though he remained immensely vigilant, Leian could not help feeling excited when Colin asked that question.

This was Necromancy!

Although he was now only one step away from becoming a god, Leian himself did not know when he would be able to take that step. If he could learn Necromancy now and use it to come into contact with the Death Rule ahead of time, that would not be a bad form of preparation.

But could the words of a strange Undead Saint Archmage truly be trusted?

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Leian's mind, yet his expression remained unchanged. Meeting Colin's gaze, he smiled faintly and said:

"Why would Mr. Colin want to teach me Necromancy? With your abilities, if you wished to take a disciple, it should not be difficult to find a youth with a pure soul, should it?"

Colin seemed to have expected Leian to ask that. He answered without hesitation:

"Because your talent is high enough, and your strength is great enough!"

As he spoke, he suddenly asked in return:

"Do you know why I have been hiding in the Youquan Mountain Range to cultivate?"

Leian knew well that cultivating Necromancy caused considerable disturbances, and necromancers generally hid in remote places far from human habitation. However, Colin had used the word "hiding," which suggested there was another reason, so Leian cooperatively replied:

"I would like to hear the details."

Colin sighed softly and began to explain slowly:

"This began a century ago. At the time, I was living in seclusion in a small coastal town in the east of the continent..."

Colin then truthfully recounted how he had been captured without cause by the Dark Church of the Nansen Continent.

After hearing it, Leian did not know whether to laugh or cry. Earlier, seeing the resentment in Colin's words, he had made a random guess. He had never expected Colin to have truly undergone an experience like Sesler's.

At that moment, Colin continued:

"Although I escaped with my life this time, I cannot swallow this grievance. Though the Dark Pope is a god-level expert, who can say for certain that I, Colin, will never become a god?

"Even if I lack that fortune, with my endless lifespan, can't I seek out more people with talent and teach them Necromancy?

"I believe that as long as I do not give up, and as long as enough people cultivate Necromancy, a genius will eventually emerge—one who breaks through the Saint Realm, becomes a god, and helps me fulfill my desire for revenge!"

At this point, Colin's gaze changed. Staring intently at Leian, he said:

"I had long decided that once my strength recovered, I would go out and seek people suited to cultivating Necromancy.

"Yet I never expected that before I even took action, a Saint Realm peak expert like you would come to my door. Looking at it now, this may not be a bad omen.

"As long as you, Leian, agree to help me destroy the Dark Church when you become a god in the future, I will immediately teach you Necromancy. What do you say? Do you dare swear an oath?"

Under Colin's burning gaze, Leian did not immediately give an answer.

In truth, setting everything else aside, he greatly admired Colin's determination to seek revenge.

The longer Leian lived on the Youquan Continent, the more clearly he understood the status god-level experts held in the hearts of ordinary people.

Because they lived on a Material Plane, even Saint Realm peak experts had only a very limited understanding of god-level experts.

They knew only of the power that came after becoming a god, but they did not know that lower gods were the weakest among gods. Above them, in terms of strength, the Hell Plane had One to Seven Star Fiends; above Seven-Star Demons were Asura Sovereigns; above Asura Sovereigns were Paragons...

Precisely because they knew so little, they were incomparably respectful toward any god-level expert. When facing one, they did not dare make even the slightest presumptuous move, or even entertain such a thought.

Yet even knowing that the Dark Pope was a god-level expert, Colin still dared to seek revenge and had even taken action toward that end. Leian could not help but admire him.

Of course, admiration was one thing. An Undead inheritance in exchange for killing the Dark Pope in the future—no matter how he looked at it, the deal seemed unequal.

However, judging from Colin's attitude, if he did not agree to the other man's condition, he likely would not obtain the inheritance.

After pondering for a moment, Leian ultimately decided to agree.

Perhaps influenced by Linley's experiences, he felt some disgust toward the Dark Church and the Radiant Church for collecting pure souls and powerful bodies. If he had the ability to destroy those two churches in the future, he would not mind giving it a try.

However, though Leian had decided to accept, some of the conditions needed to be changed.

Having made up his mind, he immediately asked:

"Mr. Colin, what exactly is the process of receiving this Undead inheritance?"

Leian vaguely remembered that Necromancy was not passed down through scrolls and written records like other forms of magic. When Sesler took in those sisters, he seemed to have directly bestowed something upon them.

Leian did not dare be the slightest bit careless with an act that might involve the soul.

Colin was shrewd with age and immediately saw Leian's concerns. Smiling, he explained:

"An Undead inheritance is actually very simple. It has no written record; it must be personally bestowed by a necromancer. The process is also very brief. In truth, it is merely the imprinting of a special mark upon the other person.

"Once one has this mark, one can use its aura to communicate with the Undead Realm. Upon entering the Undead Realm, all Necromancy can be comprehended on one's own."

Colin's explanation was not beyond Leian's expectations, but he did not dare underestimate the so-called Inheritance Mark. After all, no one knew whether that mark was an inheritance or a means of enslavement and control.

After weighing the matter, Leian said seriously:

"Mr. Colin, I can agree to your request. So long as I become a god through the Death Rule in the future and possess sufficient strength, I will help you take revenge. But—

"You must also swear to the Supreme God that you are sincerely teaching me Necromancy and have no intention of enslaving, controlling, or harming me."

At this point, Leian's tone grew increasingly stern, and he even spoke each word distinctly:

"If you violate this in the slightest, may your body perish and your soul scatter immediately!"

As Leian's words fell, Colin raised a brow. A faintly smiling expression appeared on his pale face. "Become a god through the Death Rule?"

With Colin's experience, he immediately caught the key point Leian had laid out in his words. According to Leian's condition, becoming a god through the Destruction Rule was clearly excluded.

Leian had never intended to conceal it and readily admitted, "That's right. Becoming a god through the Death Rule!"

Once Leian confirmed the conditions, it was Colin's turn to ponder. However, before long, Colin accepted Leian's demand.