Chapter 20

The surface of this mechanical lock shimmered with a rosy glow, enough to show how extraordinary the object was.

"Let's make a challenge."

The girl smiled playfully, looking at Morax.

Morax frowned slightly and picked up the mechanical lock the girl had placed on the stone table.

"The challenge you speak of is......"

"Well, as you can see, it's just unlocking this lock."

The girl said with a light laugh: "I've studied this lock for several hundred years, yet I still haven't been able to open it."

"If you can open it, then I'll agree to all your demands. How about it?"

Morax's expression turned solemn as he stared at the mechanical lock before him for a long while.

"So... will you accept this challenge or not?"

The girl propped up her cheek and smiled at Morax.

"Ahem, how hard can that be?" A cold glint flashed through Morax's eyes.

"In that case………… let's make a bet."

"In the name of the dust god Lady Guizhong, I hereby form a contract with you." The girl's tone grew solemn.

"I bet you cannot open this lock."

A sly smile suddenly slipped across Lady Guizhong's face.

"If you open it, I'll agree to form an alliance with you, and I'll let you do whatever you want with me."

"If you can't open it, I'll still agree to form an alliance with you, but you'll have to let me do whatever I want with you!"

Lady Guizhong's idea was simple: she wanted to use this contract to take the dominant position in this alliance.

If she won, she would become the leader of their alliance, and Morax would become her subordinate.

If she lost, she would become Morax's subordinate and serve him.

But Lady Guizhong did not think she would lose—after all, this mechanism had been troubling her for several hundred years!

"The contract is now formed; those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of the Rock."

Morax nodded. He understood Lady Guizhong's idea, then gave a slight flick with both hands, and the contract between the two was thus established.

Nearby, Jiang Yan, who had been gleefully opening treasure chests, also looked over at the two of them.

"What are these two up to?"

Jiang Yan watched them with some confusion.

Probably discussing some alliance matter again.

After all, in Jiang Yan's view, the alliance between Morax and Lady Guizhong was a foregone conclusion.

Kicking aside the exquisite treasure chest he had already opened, one of the three exquisite chests guarded by this Hilichurl King had actually yielded something good!

One Piece World's Marine Six Powers: Soru!

A movement skill.

Jiang Yan had yet another very novel idea.

After Morax and Lady Guizhong joined forces, Jiang Yan planned to form an army of mortals, combining the military training from his previous life with the Marine Six Powers in his hands that could allow mortals to cultivate.

How powerful would Liyue's future army be?

Hehe!

With this thought in mind, Jiang Yan walked over to the two of them.

Just as he reached them, a refreshing, intoxicating fragrance drew Jiang Yan's attention.

Not far away, a bear-like creature was cooking at a stove.

And Long Wang had somehow already arrived beside the bear-like creature at some unknown time, drooling as he watched it cook.

"Hey! Ma Ke, what are you making? It smells so good!"

Jiang Yan came over to the bear-like creature with a grin, throwing an arm around its shoulder as he spoke.

That's right, the one before them was the God of the Stove: Ma Ke.

He had met them when Jiang Yan's group of three had first come here to play.

As one of only two gods in the tribe, the arrival of Morax and the others naturally required a meeting.

But very quickly, he hit it off with Jiang Yan.

Because Jiang Yan had previously unlocked Master-level Culinary Arts, the two had even had a friendly contest over it.

One could only say the God of the Stove lived up to his fame as a god renowned for cooking—even though Jiang Yan possessed Master-level Culinary Arts, he was always slightly outmatched.

But Ma Ke greatly admired this young man, so accomplished in culinary arts at such a young age.

"You're here? Come quick, try my latest creation—Shi Laimu Hotpot!"

Ma Ke showed off his creation to Jiang Yan.

"Uh......"

A bead of cold sweat dripped down from Jiang Yan's forehead.

I mean, come on.

A few thousand years later, Sister Xiangling really did learn from you, didn't she?!

This identical Shi Laimu culinary technique—no wonder you ended up following Sister Xiangling around after losing your power.