Su Cheng stood in the grand hall of the Library, his expression unreadable as he met the Oracle's unseen gaze. The silence in the vast library was a tangible presence, a weight of ages that would have crushed a lesser god's will. Su Cheng, however, remained unfazed.
"A price is expected," Su Cheng's voice was calm, cutting through the silence without an echo. "State your terms, Oracle."
A low chuckle, like the rustling of dry leaves, came from the shadowy figure. "Direct. I appreciate that. But first, a demonstration, so you understand the quality of the goods you are purchasing." The Oracle's shadowy form shifted slightly.
"You command five Saints of the Sanctuary rank: a Gnoll Demon King who now wields the power of a demigod, a Holy Unicorn, a Mountain Giant, a Red Dragon, and a Two-Headed Troll," Morpheus recited, his voice neutral. "You recently conquered the believers of nine demigods and the masters of a collapsing undead plane. Your primary Godhoods are Demon and Slaughter. Your mythical talent is..." The Oracle paused. "...a curious one. It leaves a unique signature on the threads of fate. One of endless possibility."
Su Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly. While the rank of his believers might be discernible to a powerful enough entity, the mention of his talent's "signature" was something else entirely. Morpheus wasn't just observing events; he was perceiving the very nature of his power.
"You've proven your reach," Su Cheng acknowledged. "Now, the price for information on the True God Lamov."
"The wrath of a High God is a potent thing," Morpheus whispered. "He is currently bleeding his resources, attempting to hire a cabal of ancient and powerful nine-star demigods to hunt you. He seeks not just your death, but the complete erasure of your divine spark. To know his plans, his assets, the identities of his proxies... that is a secret of immense value."
The Oracle's shadowy hand lifted, and a single finger rose. "The price is two things. First one is : one hundred threads of pure divine power."
Even Su Cheng, with his vast reserves of Faith Power, felt the weight of that number. It was equivalent to 100 million Faith Power, a staggering sum that would bankrupt most demigods.
"And the second thing is," Morpheus continued, "an item. A unique treasure that I require for my own collection. It is called the 'Eye of a Fallen God'."
Su Cheng remained silent. He had never heard of such a treasure.
As if reading his mind, the Oracle added, "No, you do not possess it. Very few do. It is a crystallized fragment of a dead god's divine perception, allowing one to see echoes of the past." His voice took on a hint of something that might have been desire. "Fortunately for you, I know where one is."
"And where would that be?" Su Cheng asked.
"In the possession of a fellow newcomer. A reclusive and rather ambitious player-demigod who has been making his own waves," Morpheus explained. "You may know him from the Demigod Leaderboard. His name is Kaelen, the God of the Void."
The name registered instantly. Kaelen was one of the few demigods who had managed to reach the rank of three-star, a distant second to Su Cheng but far ahead of most others. Su Cheng's mind raced, processing the variables. The Oracle was not just asking for a payment; he was giving him a quest, a quest that would inevitably lead to a confrontation with another top-tier player.
Was Morpheus simply using him to acquire a rare item? Or was he testing his ability to deal with a powerful rival? Perhaps both.
"This is your price," Su Cheng stated, confirming the terms. "One hundred threads of divine power and the Eye of a Fallen God, and in return, you will provide me with everything you know about Lamov's plans."
"Everything," the Oracle confirmed. "His movements, the identities of those he contacts, the treasures he offers as payment. I will be your eyes and ears in the war against a True God."
For Su Cheng, the choice was clear. A hundred threads of divine power was a steep but payable price. The true challenge was Kaelen. But a confrontation with his main rival was inevitable sooner or later. Using this as the catalyst was as good a reason as any. More importantly, the intelligence Morpheus offered was priceless. It was the key to turning a defensive war of survival into an offensive campaign of his own.
"I accept your terms," Su Cheng said without hesitation.
The Oracle's shadowy form seemed to nod. "Excellent. I await your return with the Eye. Do try not to get yourself killed by the God of the Void. He is... surprisingly potent."
With the deal struck, Su Cheng turned and walked out of the timeless library, the heavy wooden door closing silently behind him. The mist outside seemed to part for him once more, offering him a clear path back to the bustling streets of Chaos God City.
His next objective was clear. He had to find Kaelen.