Facing the reward offered by Demon Lord Julius, Han Xing took a deep breath.
He admitted that he was deeply tempted.
But he did not fully trust the Demon's words, so he asked,
" I can help you, but how can I trust that you won't break your word and leave as soon as you escape?"
Demon Lord Julius sneered. "Are you questioning my credibility?"
"Yes."
Han Xing nodded directly. "You've already disgraced yourself this badly. Why would you care about credibility?"
Demon Lord Julius was furious, but he still suppressed his anger and said, "I can make a contract with you using my real name. As long as you lift the summoning array, I will definitely reward you!"
A real name contract?
Han Xing's eyes lit up. As a Demon, the most important thing to him was his real name.
It was not like in those stories, where knowing someone's real name meant controlling his life and death, but swearing upon his own name was still quite sincere.
"Fine, then let's sign it." Han Xing agreed readily.
The System Prompt appeared.
Demon Lord Julius swears upon his real name and requests your assistance in lifting the summoning ritual. As a condition, you may choose one item as your reward. Do you wish to form the contract?
"Sign!"
Han Xing immediately accepted, then asked, "How do I lift the summoning ritual?"
The Demon's tone returned to calm. "Throw Spirit Cores into the water and purify the dark aura within the Spirit Spring Water. The summoning ritual will naturally be interrupted."
Han Xing nodded. He did not doubt Demon Lord Julius's words, because this had also been the method listed in Option 2 of the system quest from the very beginning.
Han Xing was very cautious. Even after accepting the quest, he did not attempt to approach the summoning array.
Because he was not sure whether this Demon still had other tricks up his sleeve.
He drew out a wooden arrow, tied a Spirit Core to its tip with a rope, and fired the Spirit Cores into the water one by one using his bowstring.
Demon Lord Julius responded to Han Xing's wariness with a cold sneer.
As Spirit Cores were thrown into the pool one after another, the dark aura stopped spreading and gradually turned clear.
That horn piercing into the sky also began to fade, as though it were about to vanish from this space.
It was not until Han Xing fired his thirty-seventh arrow that the Spirit Spring Water in the pool stopped releasing black mist.
Demon Lord Julius's horn slowly sank beneath the water, about to disappear.
At that moment, Han Xing hurriedly shouted, "Demon, my reward!"
Demon Lord Julius wanted to go back on his word, but remembering the real name contract he had signed, he said, "Human, state the reward you desire."
Hearing this, Han Xing quickly weighed the pros and cons of the three rewards in his mind, finding it difficult to choose.
"You'd better make your decision quickly. Once the ritual dissipates, you will no longer be able to speak with me. Then it will not be I who breaks the contract." The Demon's sinister laughter rang out.
Thinking of how cunning this fellow was, Han Xing gritted his teeth and swiftly made his choice.
"I choose the Exotic Beast Egg!"
The other side seemed to pause. Demon Lord Julius asked, "Are you sure you do not want my sword or the Demon Blood?"
Han Xing nodded. "I'm sure. Give it to me, quickly!"
The Demon sneered. "As you wish."
A moment later, as Demon Lord Julius completely disappeared, the once-dark sky brightened again.
Han Xing felt as though he had gone through a great battle and collapsed onto the ground.
At that moment, the System Prompt appeared.
Demon Lord Julius has returned to the Abyssal Realm. Survivor, you have completed a great banishment. World Influence increased by 32. You have obtained 10 Legendary Points.
"Legendary Points? What the hell are those?"
Han Xing was somewhat confused. He checked his character interface and saw that there was indeed a new Legendary Points entry.
However, it did not explain what Legendary Points were used for.
Shaking his head, Han Xing put the matter aside for now.
Because his gaze had already fallen upon a massive black egg floating atop the clear pool at the center of the Dark Elf territory.
Han Xing's eyes widened. He hurried toward the pool and grabbed the giant egg in one swift motion.
The System Prompt appeared.
You have obtained an Exotic Beast Egg of an unknown race. Begin incubation? Please note: once incubation is selected, the creature within this Exotic Beast Egg will automatically become bound as your pet. At the current stage, each survivor may bind only one pet. Choose carefully.
Hearing the System Prompt, Han Xing murmured thoughtfully, "I can only bind one pet?"
"I wonder what race is inside. Since it's something Demon Lord Julius valued, it shouldn't be bad... but what if..."
For no reason at all, a trace of regret suddenly rose in Han Xing's heart.
"Should I have chosen the Demon Blood or the Monarch Greatsword instead? Maybe I shouldn't have chosen this Exotic Beast Egg?"
But in the next moment, he seemed to realize something, and his expression changed drastically.
When he had chosen his reward just now, that Demon had seemed more eager for him to choose the Demon Blood or the Monarch Greatsword. He had even specifically confirmed it with Han Xing.
That fellow could not possibly have been so kind. The only possibility was that the Demon had a scheme!
Han Xing said in a trembling voice, "I remember... the description of the Demon Blood said that after fusing with it, I would gain demonic power, but my bloodline would also change into a Demon bloodline. In other words, I would become a Demon."
"And Demons are creatures with an extremely rigid hierarchy. Higher-ranked Demons hold absolute power over the life and death of lower-ranked Demons!"
"If I became a Demon, would I also fall under his control?"
"And that Demon Monarch Greatsword... as a weapon he had wielded for years, he must have planted something on it. Maybe he could directly use the greatsword to control my soul and seize my body!"
"Holy crap!" Han Xing abruptly jolted awake.
He realized that his guess was very likely correct. That Demon's goal from the very beginning had been to control him!
Cold sweat broke out across his body as he said bitterly, "Cunning bastard!"
At the same time, he felt incomparably relieved. Luckily... I unknowingly made the most correct choice.
When Han Xing looked again at the massive black egg before him, he no longer felt so regretful.
After all, compared to his own life, what were these things worth?
With that thought, Han Xing clicked incubate without hesitation.
The System Prompt appeared.
Incubate the Exotic Beast Egg of an unknown race? This incubation will require 100 hours.
"100 hours? That long?"
The required time was quite long.
Han Xing confirmed it, then said expectantly, "I hope it hatches into a powerful pet. I wouldn't mind getting a dragon!"
Of course, Han Xing also knew he was dreaming.
From its appearance to its size, this giant egg had nothing to do with dragons. The chance of hatching one was extremely low.
Incubation in progress. Remaining time: 99 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds.
After dealing with the giant egg, Han Xing stared fervently at the pool ahead.
He had not forgotten his original goal. He had risked challenging that group of Dark Elves for the water source at the center of their territory!
Although he had gone through several twists and turns, even playing a game of wits with such a terrifying existence, he had ultimately succeeded!
Now, as long as he merged this territory, he would immediately possess a large amount of water resources and completely resolve his water shortage crisis.
Not only that, if this batch of Spirit Spring Water appeared on the trading market, it would surely trigger a scramble throughout District 107.
And he would be able to reap enormous profits from it!
Before you continue