The Ancient One raised a finger, and then that was it.
The abandoned warehouse was silent for a few seconds. Chen Mo looked at the finger, then at the Ancient One's calm old face, and his expression gradually became subtle.
Chen Mo tentatively asked, "Master, are you asking me to wait a moment, or are you going to tell my fortune?"
The Ancient One remained silent.
Chen Mo stroked his chin.
"Or perhaps, this is how your Sorcerer Supreme greets people? One finger represents a cup of tea, two fingers represent adding sugar or something like that?"
The Ancient One finally glanced at him, her eyes calm.
But for some reason, Chen Mo sensed a hint of speechlessness in it.
"I just wanted to remind you."
The Ancient One slowly said, "You just asked me what I meant."
Chen Mo nodded.
"Yes."
"It means, one."
"One what?"
"A deal."
Chen Mo fell silent.
He glanced down at the Ancient One's fingers, then looked up at the Ancient One again.
"My goodness, old man, are all you mages this concise when doing business? You held up one finger, and I thought you were going to demonstrate some universal truth to me."
The Ancient One put it back.
"If you're willing to listen, I can start from the origin of the universe."
"Oh, then never mind."
Chen Mo immediately waved his hand.
"I'm afraid that if you start talking halfway through, I might just bite the floorboards next to me."
He had initially thought that the other party was there to tell him to get off the planet.
After all, he had only been in this world for a short time, yet he had already packed up the Abomination on the street and taken it away, then devoured it all in the warehouse.
When a normal player sees this alien species, their first reaction should be to call the police, ban the account, and kick it off the server.
As a result, the Ancient One said was a deal.
That's interesting.
Chen Mo pondered for a moment.
"So, you're not here to kick me out?"
"If I wanted to get rid of you, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you."
The Ancient One looked at him, waved his hand, and the warehouse environment transformed into an endless starry sky.
"I have seen many possibilities in the Infinity future."
Chen Mo secretly tried to activate his time-travel ability, and fortunately, it still worked.
"Yes, a classic opening scene."
The Ancient One ignored his complaints.
"I have seen you devour your enemies, I have seen you hunt those who possess power, and I have seen you strike without hesitation."
Chen Mo's smile remained unchanged.
"Oh dear, it seems like I'm not really suitable for the community's outstanding individual award."
"But I also see that you don't treat ordinary people as disposable materials."
The Ancient One slowly said, "You restrained your instincts, leaving a way for the weak to survive. You didn't become a calamity that leaves nothing but desolation in its wake."
Chen Mo's smile faded slightly.
This sounds like a compliment, but considering the preceding context, it's definitely not a good thing.
"Stop."
Chen Mo raised his hand and said, "Don't give me the 'friend zone' card yet. I get nervous when people praise me. Just tell me what you want me to do?"
A slight smile appeared in the Ancient One.
"Very good, you're quite perceptive."
"There's no way around it; it's all learned through experience and hardship."
Chen Mo looked at him.
"Just tell me the details of the collaboration."
The Ancient One looked up at the transformed starry sky.
The future of this world is not secure.
With a wave of his hand, a familiar figure appeared—it was Director Thanos.
"The threats in the universe are increasing, and beings from beyond dimensions have never stopped spying. There are some dangers that even I cannot resist."
Chen Mo did not interrupt.
That sounds like a big deal.
But considering the unique characteristics of this world, it's not really meant to scare people.
Purple sweet potato spirits, Dark Dimension, Celestials, and all sorts of unreasonable aliens.
It's quite remarkable that this planet has survived this long.
The Ancient One continued, "Originally, there was a crucial possibility that I could see roughly how it would go."
At this point, the Ancient One turned to look at Chen Mo.
"But you came."
Chen Mo pointed to himself.
"So, it's my fault?"
"Yes, your arrival has blurred that possibility."
It sounds like I broke your home GPS.
"In a sense, that's true."
The Ancient One looked at him.
"So, I hope you can protect the Earth when necessary."
Chen Mo blinked.
"What the hell? Say it again!"
"I hope you will protect the Earth."
"No, do I look like that kind of person?"
Chen Mo pointed to himself, his expression very sincere.
"I just ate a yellow, muscular monster right in front of you, and now you want me to protect the Earth? Isn't that a huge leap in scope?"
The Ancient One calmly stated, "No one said Butcher can't guard the gate."
Chen Mo clicked his tongue.
"Old man, that's a rather unpleasant thing to say."
He did not agree immediately.
Protecting the Earth sounds grand, but it's actually quite complicated to do.
And this is Marvel, who knows what kind of monsters and freaks they might have?
"And what about the compensation?"
The Ancient One didn't seem surprised.
What do you want?
"Evolve, become stronger."
Chen Mo counted on his fingers.
"Of course, if you have a few textbooks in your warehouse that can instantly make you stronger, I'm not unwilling to try studying them."
The Ancient One shook her head.
"No, learning magic is not suitable for you."
"Hey old man, I don't like hearing that."
Chen Mo said, "Although I don't look like a top student, you can't deprive an ordinary passerby of their right to learn."
"However, you are not an ordinary passerby."
"Oh, thank you, I just realized."
The Ancient One did not respond to that.
He simply looked at Chen Mo and slowly said, "After I follow the path of fate to my death, my body can be entrusted to you."
There was a moment of silence in the warehouse.
Chen Mo's expression also froze.
"What did you say?"
I said, my body.
The Ancient One spoke as calmly as if he were talking about an old piece of clothing.
"It has witnessed hundreds of years of magical practice, undergone the baptism of dimensional energy, and retains some of the power of the Sorcerer Supreme. It should be valuable to you."
Chen Mo looked at him.
Wow, a menu from the Sorcerer Supreme?
This is not a menu.
"You expect me to swallow it all? Isn't that a menu?"
The Ancient One finally fell silent for a moment.
They seemed to find this argument somewhat difficult to refute.
Chen Mo stared at him.
"What are the conditions?"
My soul is not subject to this transaction.
The Ancient One said, "You can only receive the physical body, and the portion of my legacy that I am willing to leave behind."
"Understood."
Chen Mo nodded.
"You won't give me your soul, but I'll keep the shell, plus an instruction manual. You're using yourself as insurance, and your body after death as a deposit."
The Ancient One didn't deny it. "You can understand it that way."
Chen Mo touched his nose.
"To be honest, this contract sounds pretty ominous."
But it's worth it; after all, it's the body of the Sorcerer Supreme.
While the physical strength is hard to say, there are traces of magic from hundreds of years ago, dimensional energy permeating the body, and possibly a large amount of mystical information.
This is no ordinary meal.
This is an entry ticket to a new system, and it may even allow you to directly reach the maximum level.
More importantly, the Ancient One isn't asking him to risk his life right now.
However, it is a term with considerable room for maneuver when necessary.
Chen Mo looked at the Ancient One and held up three fingers.
"Let's agree on this first."
Chen Mo said, "First, I don't accept moral blackmail, I won't sign a contract of servitude, and I don't guarantee I'll be available at your beck and call."
"Can."
"Secondly, if someone provokes me first, I will handle it in my own way."
"As long as it doesn't endanger the Earth itself."
"And thirdly..."
Chen Mo extended his right hand to the Ancient One.
You can't renege on your debt after you die.
The Ancient One looked down at his hand.
Then he reached out his hand, and the old hand grasped his.
Chen Mo's smile instantly brightened.
"Go through fire and water, Your Sorcerer Supreme!"