What's going on?"
Blackheart was startled, then sensed Wang Nanxuan's aura and exclaimed in disbelief, "Lord! This is impossible, how can there be a Hell Lord on Earth?"
"Of course, I have you to thank for it."
Wang Nanxuan smiled, controlling the puppet curse to gradually turn Blackheart into a puppet—as a Hell Lord, he was naturally proficient in many abilities, such as fire control, curses, superhuman strength, and the power of contracts.
"Hell Lord!"
The Three Demons' expressions changed dramatically; they dared not approach, even wanting to flee. At this moment, Wang Nanxuan appeared and said coldly, "Kneel there and await my command."
The Three Demons dared not resist and obediently knelt down. That was a Hell Lord!
"No."
Blackheart was filled with unwillingness. He had just managed to escape from Hell; how could he fail like this? He hadn't even started his plans!
Unfortunately, no matter how unwilling Blackheart was, he failed. Wrapped in black mist, he transformed into a dark statuette floating in the air. Wang Nanxuan grabbed the statuette and said to the Three Demons, "Give me your phones."
"Phones?"
The Three Demons were stunned. They never expected a Hell Lord's first request to be for phones. Had Hell become so high-tech now?
Wind Demon was more astute. He got up, found a phone on a corpse, and respectfully handed it to Wang Nanxuan.
Wang Nanxuan took the palm-sized phone and realized it was 2008. He opened the browser, and a news article popped up: Tony Stark's date with a Maxim magazine beauty.
"This punchable face... it's the Marvel movie universe."
Wang Nanxuan shook his head and began searching for information online. Wind Demon carefully reminded him, "Lord, Mephisto's Rider will soon find this place. We should leave quickly and search for the st. venganza contract."
Wang Nanxuan asked, "How do you plan to find it?"
Wind Demon replied, "Blackheart said the contract is hidden in a nearby graveyard, but he didn't specify where. You can ask him."
Blackheart's statuette cried out, "I'd rather die than tell you!"
"He doesn't know the exact location. Besides, I've already found it."
Wang Nanxuan showed the phone to Wind Demon. It displayed a news article: "Famous Racer Blaze Barton Buried in Cemetery Outside St. Michael's Church"—Blaze Barton was Johnny Blaze, also known as Ghost Rider's father.
The Three Demons and Blackheart looked disbelieving. Such a secret location, and you found it with a few taps on your phone? If it were that easy, why hasn't Mephisto found the contract after all these years?
"These days, even devils need to keep up with the times. Let's go."
Wang Nanxuan wasted no words. He memorized the map and transformed into a black light, flying towards the cemetery. Wind Demon quickly turned into a whirlwind, sweeping up the other two demons and following behind Wang Nanxuan.
...
Outside St. Michael's Church cemetery, an Old Cowboy was using a shovel to repair a grave. Just then, a wicked wind descended from the sky, causing the surrounding leaves to dance. The Old Cowboy quickly held onto his cowboy hat.
Immediately after, the whirlwind disappeared, and four figures appeared before the Old Cowboy. His gaze instantly sharpened—he could tell at a glance that these four guys were not human.
Wang Nanxuan looked at the Old Cowboy and asked, "Carter Slade, the Ghost Rider who betrayed Mephisto and stole the st. venganza contract, I haven't come to the wrong person, have I?"
Slade backed away, denying, "You've got the wrong person. I'm just a gravedigger."
"Is that so?"
Wang Nanxuan raised his hand, and the shovel in Slade's hand flew directly into his grasp. Slade was shocked. His eyes flared with fire, and he rushed towards Wang Nanxuan with a speed completely unbefitting his age, reaching for the shovel.
Wang Nanxuan gripped the shovel tightly and backhanded Slade, sending him flying. Although Slade was once a Ghost Rider, he hadn't judged a soul for over a hundred years. His Hellfire was so weak it seemed it could extinguish at any moment, making him no match for Wang Nanxuan.
Slade fell to the ground, letting out a defiant roar. From a distant house, a holy light shot out like an arrow, directly at Wang Nanxuan.
This was the power from the St. Michael's statue. Slade had been able to hide for so long without Mephisto discovering him because Michael was protecting him.
Wang Nanxuan took out Blackheart's statuette to block the holy light. A large amount of black mist emerged from the statuette, and Blackheart let out a piercing shriek. Was this guy even human? Not only did he turn him into a statuette, but he also used him to block attacks? Hell Lords truly were all bad news.
"Grab him."
Wang Nanxuan commanded. The Three Demons reacted, immediately pouncing on Slade. They were greatly astonished; their Lord had actually found the contract through a phone? This was too magical!
Soon, Slade was beaten bloody by the Three Demons. He yelled, "I surrender! I'll take you to the contract, but you have to let me go."
"You're quite the actor."
Wang Nanxuan scoffed. With a flick of his hand, the shovel disintegrated into dust, and a parchment scroll appeared out of thin air—it was the legendary st. venganza contract.
Slade was stunned: "How did you know the contract was hidden in the shovel?"
"Because I like watching Super Hero movies. Speaking of which, the old ones were better, unlike now, they're too politically correct in every way."
Wang Nanxuan put away the contract and said, "Carter Slade, it's truly a pity. Your soul was already sold to Mephisto. Otherwise, I might have allowed you to become one of my subjects."
Slade was incredibly shocked: "Your subject? You are a Hell Lord?"
"That's right."
Wang Nanxuan said, "Sign the contract and offer the Spirit of Vengeance to me. I will grant you one year of life. If you don't sign, I will forcibly strip the Spirit of Vengeance, and then you will experience the most terrifying pain in the world."
In reality, with Wang Nanxuan's current strength, he might not be able to strip away the Spirit of Vengeance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have signed a contract with Slade at all—after signing the contract, he could borrow power from his main body.
"I'll sign."
Slade said readily, "Anyway, there's no choice. Signing the contract will at least let me live for another year."
"Very good."
Wang Nanxuan nodded with satisfaction. He raised his hand, and a transparent contract appeared before Slade. Slade examined the contract while grumbling:
"You're much better than Mephisto. That bastard tampered with the parchment. After opening it, your finger gets cut, and then blood drips onto the contract, making it valid."
"That works? Truly worthy of being the most shameless Hell Lord."
Wang Nanxuan and the Three Demons all looked disdainful. That method was too crude.
Soon, Slade finished reading the contract. He asked, "Can I add a few more years?"
"Carter Slade, I know you're stalling for time, and I know you're signing the contract to preserve yourself and stop me."
Wang Nanxuan said, "I deal with hundreds of souls a minute; I don't have time to waste with you. Either sign, or I'll forcibly strip the Spirit of Vengeance."
Slade's gaze narrowed slightly, then he readily signed the contract. He asked, "Which Hell Lord are you, exactly?"