Chapter 638: The Abyss and the Flame: A Dangerous Contract

Saying they should move just a bit further forward, Xia Chong boldly dragged Lu Xin through several shattered ruins.

They felt they were only a few streets away from the Flame Building; the dark red, intermittently clear windows and doors came into view, so they paused briefly—so tense that her heartbeat almost rang out.

At that moment, they could clearly sense a powerful mental pressure surrounding the Flame Building.

They distinctly felt that some creature lurked beside the building. Its ebbing and flowing mental power pulsed like a tide, periodically sweeping over a vast area that included the Flame Building.

They even sensed that it might have detected their approach; its mental radiation was deliberately spreading over the area they were traversing, as if a living thing were probing their every move.

Xia Chong’s face went slightly pale with fear…

Seeing this, Lu Xin hurriedly produced the 12-layer puzzle cube and fixed his gaze on it, causing the cube to spin gently.

A strange surge of mental power enveloped both of them, matching the creature’s rhythmic mental radiation, as seamlessly as water blending into water.

However, the aura of the 12-layer puzzle cube was rapidly being diluted. At this pace, it might soon vanish entirely—leaving Lu Xin and Xia Chong exposed to the creature’s radiation.

“You actually have that kind of ability?”

Xia Chong, visibly taken aback, glanced at the parasitic item in Lu Xin’s hand and asked, “How do you use it?”

“It’s simple,”

Lu Xin replied, “Just a glance is all it takes.”

“?”

Xia Chong, still surprised, shook her head and said, “Your parasitic item is unlike the others.”

“They say every parasitic item has its own vitality and temperament.”

“Some require certain rituals to harness their power, while others demand a sacrifice.”

“And some—even if you exert tremendous effort and use its power—will eventually give you a backlash…”

“…”

“That troublesome?”

Lu Xin marveled, “Aren’t those parasitic items rather unruly?”

“Anyway, mine responds to just a glance.”

“…”

Xia Chong cast a meaningful look at Lu Xin and said no more.

In this world, many ability users are extremely wary of others prying into their origins.

Especially with parasitic items—they’re practically an extension of one’s ability, and the method to control them is a closely guarded secret.

To Xia Chong, Lu Xin didn’t seem out of line; he just came off as a bit stingy.

She took a deep breath, her gaze drifting toward the source of the creature’s mental radiation, yet she deliberately kept her eyes averted, fearing that a direct look might set off its alert—or trigger a backlash.

In a low whisper she said, “I’ve never come this close before… it’s terrifying…”

“I suspect it’s at least a Mental Overlord, perhaps even beyond that level…”

As she snapped her fingers lightly, she explained clearly, “According to the Research Institute’s Seven-Step Theory: the first step is Ability Awakening; the second, Trait Extension; the third, Infinite Pollution; and the fourth, Mental Overlord.”

“The fifth step is the Realm of Illusion.”

“The sixth step is True Creation.”

“The seventh step…”

“…”

She shook her head, unwilling to speak of such heights, and turned to Lu Xin, saying, “Theoretically, each step is populated by countless mental creatures or ability users who, due to certain restrictions, can’t ascend further. These beings, surviving in the cracks, often wield power far more terrifying than their peers…”

“I suspect the creature guarding the building is one of those beings.”

“Above the fourth step, once in the real world, such a creature could easily contaminate an entire city.”

“Otherwise, it shouldn’t be affecting me so profoundly—even instilling fear…”

“…”

Listening to Xia Chong’s earnest words, Lu Xin nodded seriously.

Yet, regarding the sensations Xia Chong described, he couldn’t relate too deeply…

…It seemed it was just a mental creature after all.

Still maintaining a professional tone, Lu Xin nodded and then added with a serious expression:

“So, once we enter that building, our mission is complete?”

“…”

“Let’s say that entering is just our preliminary objective.”

Xia Chong, pausing briefly, corrected him, “The real goal is to investigate Hell from within the building—uncovering information about Hell, its truths, the location of its entrance, and even the reason behind Flame City opening that portal…”

“…”

Lu Xin nodded, “Understood. So we just need to get inside the building, right?”

Xia Chong fell silent for a moment before saying, “To be clear, we not only need to enter the building but also secure an escape route to prevent being trapped if discovered. In short, before we start the investigation, we must establish a clear path in and out—and this path hinges on the creature guarding Flame in the Abyss.”

“Makes sense…”

Lu Xin pondered slowly and said, “To deal with it, there’s one issue we must consider.”

Xia Chong, a bit anxious, asked, “What issue?”

Lu Xin continued in a professional tone, “Since this creature guards here, it’s evidently tied to the Flame Company in the real world. Before we act, we must assume it might call for help or raise an alarm in reality.”

Xia Chong was instantly dumbfounded.

After a long pause, she said, “I thought your concern was how to survive…”

“Survival isn’t the issue,”

Lu Xin replied, “Completing the Research Institute’s mission is.”

Xia Chong saw a noble determination in Lu Xin’s demeanor and found herself moved.

After gathering herself, she sighed softly and asked, “So, what do you plan to do?”

Lu Xin thought for a while before saying, “I remember you mentioned that your ability is a Contract?”

Xia Chong frowned and looked at him, saying, “My ability lets me adjust a part of my mental frequency to align with the mental power of the creature in the Abyss. In short, it permanently taints a portion of my mental power—like an imprint. The Research Institute later named this ability Contract.”

“Once the imprint forms, the mental creature obeys my will, and I can even summon it.”

“Of course, don’t expect too much from me—my contracts are usually with weaker or more amiable mental entities. If I encounter a powerful one, it can instantly taint me completely, making me its subordinate.”

“…”

“Amiable creatures…”

Lu Xin caught the key point in her words, nodded, and said, “I understand.”

As he stretched lazily, it was clear he was about to take action.

Xia Chong, startled, quickly asked, “What are you planning?”

Lu Xin replied, “The first step of our operation is to encircle that mental creature so it can’t alert the real world.”

“Encircle?”

Xia Chong was utterly baffled, “Are you kidding?”

“How can just the two of us encircle it?”

“…”

Noticing Xia Chong’s tension and astonishment, Lu Xin smiled and said, “You’ve got it wrong—it’s not the two of us encircling it.”

“I can handle it alone.”

“…”

Then, before Xia Chong could react, Lu Xin gently let go of her hand.

Almost instinctively, Xia Chong reached out to grab it again, but seeing nothing amiss in Lu Xin, she was slightly startled.

She noticed that tucked between his fingers was a black playing card.

It was that card’s mysterious, shimmering glow that kept Lu Xin’s stance steady.

Normal people in the Abyss—like Lu Xin—

would instantly be melted or repelled by the Abyss’s mental power if not for help from an ability user like Xia Chong.

But now, with the black playing card in his grasp,

he could use its power to remain in the Abyss for a short time.

“I need to convene a quick meeting first.”

Having made his decision, Lu Xin smiled warmly at Xia Chong and walked to the side.

In Xia Chong’s confused and questioning eyes, Lu Xin moved to a nearby empty space. He placed the 12-layer puzzle cube and black playing card on the ground, then brought out the Memory Hourglass and the Six-Senses Mask. Straightening his back slightly, he spoke softly:

“When we faced that Hell Regiment in Flame City before, need I say…”

“You all performed terribly.”

“…”

The mental power of several parasitic items appeared briefly dazed, exchanging bewildered glances.

The skinless dog had initially crept out, but seeing something was off, it quickly tucked its tail and sneaked back, furtively peeking.

“Now is our second chance.”

Lu Xin, looking at them, gradually smiled and said, “I need everyone to help encircle it. Can we do that?”

Several parasitic items looked even more dazed as their mental power trembled slightly.

Under the Abyss’s deep red hue, they appeared as if huddled together—little fellows shivering at the sight of Lu Xin.

The point is clear: it isn’t about whether we can do it, but whether we can afford not to.

……

……

“Good attitude.”

Seeing that no one objected, Lu Xin smiled contentedly and nodded gently.

“In that case, shall we set off?”

“…”

Nodding, Lu Xin rose, straightened his back, and strode forward. The Abyss’s deep red radiance bathed him, radiating confidence and nonchalance, while his sister sat on his shoulder, a dark shadow trailed close behind, and several trembling little beings followed.

At that moment, Xia Chong was dumbfounded, almost instinctively wanting to stop him.

Before she could speak, Lu Xin turned back, looked at her intently, and gently clenched his fist:

“For the sake of civilization and order in this world…”

“…”

Xia Chong was utterly stunned into silence.