I, Tony, Will Never Yield

Lu Xi looked at the repulsor aimed at him and could not help laughing.

"You want to use that thing against me? Don't you know that toy can't even break through my defenses?"

Inside Tony's helmet display, JARVIS rapidly flashed all kinds of red warnings.

They were all data it had collected on Lu Xi's terrifying destructive power.

"Sir, the opponent's strength far exceeds the armor's operational limits. The attack may be ineffective. Please proceed with caution."

Tony looked at those warnings, but there was not the slightest hint of retreat in his eyes.

"JARVIS, ignore the alerts."

He fixed his gaze tightly on Lu Xi and said firmly:

"I know you're practically a walking nuclear arsenal. You alone could destroy human civilization. But for Pepper, I have to do this."

Lu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.

"You still dare fight me even knowing that? I have to say, I admire your courage."

"If I were in your shoes, I might not have the same courage."

To stand shoulder to shoulder with gods in the body of a mortal—there was nothing wrong with using those words to describe Tony.

Although his strength was still lacking, the potential in his character was already becoming apparent.

Lu Xi unhurriedly raised a finger, and his power activated in an instant.

An invisible force immediately enveloped Tony, lifting him a meter into the air in the blink of an eye and forcibly holding him in a ramrod-straight stance.

Standing there, he looked just like a soldier.

Tony found the posture utterly humiliating.

His pride was instantly ignited. Struggling desperately like an enraged lion, he roared:

"Let me go! If you've got the guts, fight me head-on! What kind of hero does that make you?"

As he spoke, he activated the thruster system without hesitation and pushed its output directly to maximum.

In an instant, blazing flames burst from beneath his feet and from his palms, trying to break free from the force restraining him.

However, it was all utterly futile.

He remained firmly fixed in the air at attention, only now he had become a "rocket soldier" with fire shooting from his feet but no ability to move even an inch.

Seeing this, the corners of Lu Xi's mouth lifted slightly as he lightly swiped a finger through the air.

In an instant, the Iron Man armor seemed to be violently dismantled by an invisible force, its components flying apart one after another.

"Clang! Clatter! Bzzz!"

Armor parts fell all over the floor, sparks and electric currents spraying in every direction as the scene turned into a complete mess.

Tony was left hanging alone in the air, his eyes seemingly ready to spit fire.

He glared furiously at Lu Xi and roared, "If you've got the guts, kill me!"

At that critical moment, Pepper ran out anxiously and, without hesitation, stepped in front of Tony.

Her eyes were full of terror and pleading as she said urgently:

"No! Lord Lucifer, Tony is drunk. He didn't mean it that way. Please forgive him!"

As Lu Xi watched the scene before him, a familiar image suddenly flashed through his mind.

Oh no, have I become Deva Path Pain?

He shook his head helplessly and waved his hand. The force binding Tony vanished in an instant.

Tony hit the ground with a bang, stumbling and nearly falling over.

Lu Xi looked at Tony and said helplessly:

"I never intended to do anything to you in the first place. How did I end up looking like some kind of supervillain?"

After steadying himself, Tony stared stubbornly at Lu Xi and demanded:

"What do I have to do for you to return Pepper's soul?"

Hearing this, Lu Xi's eyes immediately lit up. That was exactly what I'd been waiting for.

He replied unhurriedly:

"I never said it was impossible. Trade me your own soul instead. Replace hers with yours, and there won't be a problem."

Tony barely hesitated. After pausing for only a second, he said decisively:

"Fine. I'll trade with you. Let's make the deal now."

The moment Pepper heard that, panic filled her heart. She immediately reached out and pulled Tony back, saying firmly:

"No, I don't agree."

Tony looked at Pepper anxiously, his eyes full of determination and affection.

"Pepper, I'm doing this willingly! I can't just stand by and watch you use your soul to save my life!"

Pepper answered with equal resolve:

"No means no. If you dare make that trade, I'll go smash my head into something and kill myself!"

A complicated look filled Tony's eyes as he looked at Pepper, full of helplessness and gratitude.

Pepper saw the deep affection in Tony's eyes as well.

Moreover, the fact that he was willing to trade Stark Industries and his own soul—the two most important things to him—moved her immensely.

The two simply stared at each other, love flowing through their eyes.

Their bodies unconsciously drew closer and closer, and they were about to embrace and start making out.

"Tut, tut, tut. Ewwww."

Lu Xi truly could not bear to watch any longer and had no choice but to interrupt.

"There are other people here, you know. Are you treating this place like your bedroom?"

You want to flaunt your relationship in front of me, Lu Xi? Dream on.

At Lu Xi's shout, the two sprang apart as if shocked by electricity. Their faces reddened slightly as they pretended to casually look elsewhere.

Tony stared at a box of pizza not far away and awkwardly said:

"Uh... this pizza is really... pizza."

For a moment, the atmosphere became strange to the extreme, thick embarrassment permeating the silence.

Lu Xi broke the silence and looked at Tony.

"You think that if a soul belongs to me, it means I'll do what? Torture it in Hell for all eternity?"

Tony responded as though it were only natural:

"What else? Isn't that what Hell is for?"

Lu Xi shook his head helplessly and said:

"All right. As a demon god who'll be staying on Earth for the long term, I really should clear this up."

"First, souls traded to me won't be affected in any way while they're alive—unless, of course, they offend me. Also, after Pepper truly dies, her soul won't enter Hell. It'll come to me instead."

"That means she won't be able to enter Heaven, but that's still better than falling into the hands of other demon gods. That would be real eternal torment."

Tony asked skeptically, "Is that true?"

Lu Xi replied with a serious expression:

"Of course. A soul that becomes my subordinate and works for me is essentially living again on another level, with no limit on its lifespan."

"Also, it's four workdays and three days off, no overtime normally, triple salary at the end of the year, and there's even a limited-time discount right now. Top up... ah, no, make a trade, and you'll get physical abilities capable of crushing Hulk. So, want to consider it?"

Hearing this, Tony's eyes flickered, and he found himself somewhat tempted.

He thought that in just a few short decades, he had already led several technological revolutions.

If he truly could possess an endless lifespan, then with his genius brain, wouldn't he eventually create technology unrivaled in the universe?

Pepper took in Tony's changing expression. Seeing how tempted he looked, she was both annoyed and amused, and could not help smacking the back of his head hard as she scolded:

"You said I was confused? Then what were you thinking just now? Don't even try to fool me. I know that look in your eyes too well!"

After getting smacked, Tony froze for a moment before giving an embarrassed smile.

He hurriedly put those thoughts away and said with a solemn expression:

"No. Even if I, Tony Stark, were to starve to death, work myself to death, or be drained dry by beautiful women, I would never make this kind of deal! I was just distracted for a moment and thinking nonsense."

Lu Xi watched the scene, raising an eyebrow slightly. It seemed this trade would not happen after all.

But he was not worried. Based on what he knew about Tony, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

He liked people who set themselves up with these kinds of declarations. Maybe someday, Tony would end up eating his words.