I Have an Agreement with King Yama!

Meanwhile, outside the thatched hut.

Sun Qingcang and the others watched the situation inside.

Yet the black mist within was as dark as ink, forming a space of its own. They could not glimpse even the slightest thing inside.

"Master, he'll be all right, won't he? It's been so long."

Remembering how Tan Kun had suffered backlash while praying for blessings earlier, Madam Song could not help feeling worried.

"He'll be fine. I believe Little Friend Lu must be confident."

For some reason, Sun Qingcang had become somewhat more confident than before.

Behind him, Sun Yourong's brows drew together slightly.

From time to time, she studied the rolling scarlet flames overhead.

It was the same act of praying for blessings and making offerings.

But wasn't Lu Chen making far too much of a commotion?!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the black mist inside the hut dispersed.

Lu Chen's head poked out from within.

"Patriarch Sun!"

"Little Friend Lu!" Sun Qingcang and the others trembled from head to toe. "Y-you, are you all right?"

Lu Chen smiled. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't worry. By the way, what is your father's name?"

Sun Qingcang's pupils contracted. Could it be... it worked?

He hurriedly said, "Sun Dechang. De as in merit, Chang as in prosperity!"

Lu Chen said, "Got it! Wait a little longer! There shouldn't be any major problems now!"

As he spoke, Lu Chen pulled his head back inside.

The black mist closed up once more.

"Master! Dad, he can be saved?!"

Madam Song was beside herself with excitement.

Sun Qingcang could not stop his whole body from trembling, the joy at the corners of his mouth impossible to conceal. "I told you Little Friend Lu would make it! He definitely would!"

Sun Yourong and Sun Xingwen also let out long breaths of relief.

"Show Mr. Lu more respect from now on, hear me?"

"Got it, Sis." Sun Xingwen scratched his head. "I never expected him to be this strong! But it's strange. He clearly isn't even a spiritual practitioner, so why is his ability to pray for blessings so terrifying?"

"What do you mean, 'him'? Call him Mr. Lu from now on!"

Sun Qingcang slapped his son across the forehead. "Did you hear that?"

"I-I heard you, Dad..." Sun Xingwen said with a pout.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zhihong, standing to one side, was already overwhelmed by towering waves in his heart, utterly aghast.

His mouth hung wide enough to fit a bowl!

"It-it worked again?!"

Inside the thatched hut.

"Your Majesty, the man seeking a longer life is named Sun Dechang."

Hearing this, King Yama flipped his palm, and a book appeared—pitch-black throughout, yet surrounded by radiant splendor.

"The Book of Life and Death!"

This thing was also one of the rare innate spiritual treasures between Heaven and Earth. It recorded the life information of every human and beast in the mortal world, controlled life and death, and possessed immense power.

Lu Chen could not help taking a few more looks. He truly coveted this thing!

If others can add years, why can't I? And my whole family too! Best if all our names could be crossed off the Book of Life and Death.

Lu Chen could not help calculating how to maximize the benefits he could get from King Yama later.

"Sun Dechang... as expected, his allotted lifespan is nearing its end. He has less than six hours left."

King Yama's voice rang out.

"Please grant him your blessing, Your Majesty."

Lu Chen cupped his hands in salute.

"No rush."

Who would have thought that King Yama would abruptly change his tune again?

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat. "Your Majesty, this..."

King Yama said, "Didn't you say you would invite me back? Then wait until you have invited me back before we discuss it."

Lu Chen said, "Huh?!"

King Yama said, "What, you are unwilling?"

Lu Chen was truly helpless before this old schemer. He said, caught between laughter and tears, "Your Majesty, if you don't grant him more life, I can't give them an explanation. If I can't explain it, I won't get the reward. If I don't get the reward, how am I supposed to invite you home? You don't think inviting a deity at a shrine costs nothing, do you? It's expensive!"

King Yama considered it and found that reasonable. "Very well. I shall first grant him seven days of life, so that you have an explanation to give."

Lu Chen said, "Seven days? Your Majesty, th-that's too little, isn't it?"

King Yama said, "Do not haggle with me. Where in this world is there a free lunch? You refuse to part with even a cent, yet you wish for me to grant him several years of mortal life. Is that possible?"

Lu Chen scratched his head. This... did make some sense.

King Yama gave a cold chuckle. "Rest assured. I am the King Yama of the underworld, and I never go back on my word. So long as you sincerely work for me, I naturally will not treat you poorly."

Damn!

It seemed that merely inviting a deity was not enough.

So this old schemer had long since made his calculations.

Lu Chen quietly drew a breath. At present, he could only cup his hands and say, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

King Yama nodded in satisfaction. "The boy has some wits about him. Listen well. If you wish for me to continue granting longer lives in the future, you must agree to several conditions.

First: build a temple and cast a golden statue. That is indispensable.

Second: since you are willing to serve me, promote the underworld, and attract incense offerings, from this day onward, for every worshipper you bring to me, I shall grant that person three days of life. If you can bring me a thousand worshippers, then I shall grant him five full years of mortal life in one go. What do you say?"

After doing the math in his head, Lu Chen frowned. "That's not right, Your Majesty. Three days per person means three thousand days for a thousand people. That comes out to seven or eight years. Why is it only five years?"

King Yama shouted, "Insolent brat! Do you truly think the heavenly laws and precepts are mere decorations? Even Heaven and Earth have their ordained fates and tribulations, let alone insignificant mortals! Sun Dechang's allotted lifespan is already as high as eighty-six years—that is his blessing. For me to agree to let him live several more years is already grace beyond the law, and you still want to push your luck?"

Seeing Old King Yama become angry, Lu Chen wisely stopped while he was ahead.

When one made a mistake out in the world, one had to admit it; when one got beaten, one had to stand at attention.

After all, he was asking a favor.

But then again...

Was King Yama's meaning... that he was assigning him a task?

A thousand worshippers?

I knew this old schemer's goal was to get his hands on the mortal market!

He's using me as his vanguard!

Still, so be it. He could not refuse anyway, so he might as well agree first.

Speaking of the four major ways to increase Divine Service Rating!

Accepting a deity's task was precisely one of them.

Moreover, it was one of the fastest ways to increase Divine Service Rating.

It was said that under normal circumstances, one needed more than 20% Divine Service Rating before one might receive a deity's task.

Could it be that his Divine Service Rating with this deity had already reached 20%?

Lu Chen did not dwell on it.

After all, a cheat-powered player could not be judged by ordinary logic.

"Fine, Your Majesty! This disciple understands! We'll do as you say!"

"Very good. In that case, invite me home first and make offerings to me. I will have further arrangements for you then."

As he spoke, King Yama's enormous ghostly figure gradually faded away. The surrounding black mist also slowly dispersed, restoring the place to its original appearance.

Just as Lu Chen took a deep breath, the anxious voices of Sun Qingcang and the others came from behind him. "Little Friend Lu! Mr. Lu!"

Lu Chen turned to look at them.

"How did it go, Little Friend Lu? Did you succeed?"

"Yes, Mr. Lu. How many years of life did you obtain?"

Faced with their eager gazes, Lu Chen was just about to speak when he noticed Zhao Zhihong's furtive expression behind them and instinctively held his tongue.

Following his gaze, Sun Qingcang immediately understood. His expression cooled slightly as he said, "Supervisor Zhao, please step aside for a moment. I have something to discuss with Little Friend Lu."

Zhao Zhihong's expression changed slightly, then he nodded with an awkward smile and took his leave first.

Once he had left.

Sun Qingcang tapped a finger, and a transparent barrier enveloped everyone within.

Only then did he cup his hands. "Little Friend Lu, now you can speak without restraint."

Lu Chen nodded. "There's good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Sun Qingcang and the others stiffened.

"Then tell us the good news first."

"The good news is that the old gentleman does not have to die for the time being."

Every member of the Sun family revealed delighted expressions. "Then... what's the bad news?"

"The old gentleman can only live another seven days for now."

The moment those words fell, the Sun family's smiles froze again.

"How could this happen? Couldn't you even obtain half a year of life?"

"Dad, I told you he wasn't reliable, didn't I? Only seven days! What can seven days do? Listen here, kid, you only got him a few days. Don't even think about getting that much reward money!"

Sun Xingwen felt as if he had been played. But before his words had even faded, a loud slap landed across his face.

Sun Qingcang rebuked him, "Shut your mouth! Apologize to Mr. Lu!"

"Dad!"

"Apologize!"

Unwillingly, Sun Xingwen cupped his hands. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lu."

Lu Chen nodded faintly.

No matter what Sun Xingwen's attitude was, at least Sun Qingcang was still reasonable.

"Little Friend Lu, seven days is still far too little in the end. Do you think you could speak with Lord King Yama again and see if there is room for negotiation?" Sun Qingcang cupped his hands. "Rest assured! Money is not a problem!"

This was precisely what Lu Chen had been waiting for.

Secretly activating [Treasure Appraisal Eye], he discovered that the number above Sun Qingcang's head had reached a staggering ten digits!

And it even began with a five!

Hiss—

Worthy of being one of Jiangdu City's four great families!

Lu Chen's eyes turned red with envy!

Damn, that net worth! If I don't carve off a chunk, this humble Daoist would be letting himself down!