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"So the so-called deal you propose is for me to locate that 'memory' and thereby help you find a passage to leave this world. In return, after your departure, I can acquire your knowledge and experience, and further discover a perfect method of my own." Chen Xuanfeng mused aloud. "I have three questions: First, how do I do it? Second, how much will this world be affected? Third, what are the stances and attitudes of the gods?"

The massive flaming beast-eye on Bato's forehead shifted as he replied, "Regarding the first point, I will impart to you a portion of the knowledge about the false gods—far superior to the incomplete *Sword God Realm* Leinster once possessed. This will allow you to complete the transformation from the Saint Realm to the Divine Realm within a century, at which point you can read your own soul. Of course, the Divine Realm is still vastly different from true godhood, so don’t expect to become a god—at best, you’ll reach a level comparable to my prime. In fact, it would be troublesome if you actually ascended to godhood, because the current Prime Material Plane cannot withstand the full power of a deity’s true form. As for the second point, once you reach the Divine Realm, you’ll have to judge for yourself how much impact it will have on the world. Whatever I say, you likely won’t fully trust me anyway. As for the third point, I can’t fully grasp the gods’ stances either—this is inherently the greatest danger in this endeavor. The only silver lining is that the current Prime Material Plane, due to its incomplete laws, can no longer bear the descent of deities, so at least we don’t have to worry about them directly descending to kill us. So, do you accept my deal?"

Accept? Or refuse?

This wasn’t even a question. Even if it was a risk, how could Chen Xuanfeng possibly pass up the chance to return to his homeland—even if only in soul? However, even if he accepted, it had to be on his own terms.

"I have two conditions," Chen Xuanfeng said after a moment’s thought.

"Name them."

Chen Xuanfeng raised one finger. "First, from now on, I don’t want to see you meddling in the wars on the continent—whether to aid me, other beastmen, humans, or elves."

"No problem. In fact, for many years to come, aside from studying this world’s fundamental laws, I’ll need to remain in these ruins to suppress the passage to the demon realm that you’ve opened. Though small, now that I have a physical body, if the Great Demon Kings take notice, it could be very troublesome. Of course, if it’s just the Demon Dragon King’s son passing through a few times, that’s fine. But if it’s too frequent, those vile Demon Kings might casually toss something over, and that would be far from amusing."

"Second, when you leave this world, you are not to go to my homeland."

This was Chen Xuanfeng’s real concern. If this unrivaled Demon King traced the path of his soul back to his previous world, it would be a true disaster. Even if the laws of the two worlds differed, reducing the Demon King’s power to a fraction, it would still be enough to turn rivers and seas upside down to ravage the world. Though he had already reincarnated, he absolutely did not want to bring such calamity upon his homeland.

"Uh... To be honest, I can’t fully guarantee that," the Demon King said hesitantly. "After all, I know nothing about the world beyond. Of course, when you read your soul’s memories, you could erase the parts before entering the 'Crystal Sphere,' preventing me from finding the path to your world. That way, I’d randomly end up in any possible world. But if, by chance, your homeland is the only survivable world out there, or if there’s a special connection between your world and this one that makes it highly likely I’d end up there, then I can’t promise I won’t go."

"Hmm?" Chen Xuanfeng paused, understanding the other’s point. After all, whether his soul’s sudden transmigration to this world was pure coincidence or carried some inevitability was impossible to determine.

The Demon King continued, "But you needn’t worry too much. As I said earlier, spaces separated by the Crystal Sphere are also out of sync in time. If you’re concerned about your homeland, it’s mainly for the sake of the people of your era, right? If I truly can only reincarnate into your world, I could delay my arrival—say, appearing thousands of years after your previous death. Would that be acceptable to you?"

Chen Xuanfeng considered it. He knew that until he fully digested the power of the Saint Realm and advanced to the edge of the Divine Realm, the disparity in knowledge meant he couldn’t detect lies even if the Demon King deceived him. Rather than severing ties now, it was better to agree. If the Demon King truly intended to cooperate, deeper collaboration would reveal more secrets. Any countermeasures could wait until then.

Finally, he nodded. "Very well. I accept."

*Heroic Werewolf Scroll* Chapter 98: *Death Saint's Secret Legacy: The Emperor's Returned Sword*

Endless green mountains, pine waves roaring like fury.

The boundless sea of trees in the southwest of the Yellow Dragon Empire stretched unbroken, from the source of the Blue Moon River—the empire’s greatest waterway—to the southern forested mountains of its mid-reaches. It was the largest forest system in the eastern continent, home to a third of the world’s plant species, hiding the second-largest population of magical creatures after the Never-Setting Sun Mountains, along with countless mysterious legends.

Yet few knew that the famed Nameless Lake Moonlight Tower also lay concealed within this vast wilderness.

Though well-hidden, it could not escape the notice of those truly determined to find it. Over centuries, with the aid of the empire's successive supporting regimes, the tower’s disciples had cultivated the area into a deceptively serene yet impervious forbidden zone. Aside from the tower’s members and key figures of the Yellow Dragon royal family, any outsider venturing into the guarded perimeter would be intercepted and expelled.

But today, the tower faced a sudden invasion.

And the intruder made no attempt to conceal themselves, charging straight from the outer edges toward the tower’s heart.

Shrill warning whistles and startled birds marked the intruder’s advance. The twelve deadly passes and thirty-three perilous zones, reputed to be iron-clad defenses, were breached one after another amid screams and disorder. Soon, the advancing force reached the shores of Nameless Lake.

At the same time, two figures streaked out from the Moonlight Tower, intercepting the intruder just as they were about to step into the lakeshore perimeter.