Chapter 712: Communication

Lu Mi wasn't surprised when his wrist was gripped by a wet, clammy hand.

He even let out a low chuckle:

"Good job—only dirtied your wrist, didn't smear my whole hand."

As he spoke, he pulled hard backward, feeling the opposite side unnaturally heavy.

Lu Mi's muscles swelled, his body seeming to grow slightly larger.

Finally, he saw the blood-drenched figure in a jacket being dragged out of the void-like mirror surface.

Bluish-black mist rose, seeping thread by thread into the faux parchment inscribed with the sinister contract.

The contract ignited on its own, turning into multiple silver-white symbols and characters streaked with black, linking end to end into a complex, illusory pattern that shot through his clothes and plunged into Lu Mi's chest and abdomen.

After dragging "Bloody Jack" out of the mirror, Lu Mi had fulfilled the other's demand—the contract was naturally fulfilled!

At that moment, "Bloody Jack," now firmly planted before the altar, lifted his head.

His flesh-ripped face turned toward Lu Mi, raising high the massive axe still dripping blood.

Lu Mi's eyes had already turned iron-black, reflecting "Bloody Jack's" two-tone silhouette.

One was crimson, covering every inch of "Bloody Jack's" body, filling every space; the other was pallid, no larger than a thumb, nestled in his abdomen, surrounded by thick crimson.

Like the still-unpossessed Father Cali, he had only one weakness—but not on his spirit form, hidden deep within his body… It looked like a mass of viscous blood; no matter how much damage or loss, as long as the core wasn't touched, he remained unaffected… Similar to the "Rose Bishop" of the "Secret Supplicant" Path, yet he also possessed mirror-related abilities… Lu Mi observed, his mind calmly processing these thoughts.

"Bloody Jack's" crimson, web-like eyes revealed a cruel, bloodthirsty expression as the raised axe crashed down toward Lu Mi's body.

The deal is done—I'm going to kill you now!

Boom!

The axe missed Lu Mi, slamming into the hollow quarry floor, carving a deep crack and sending shards of stone and dirt flying.

Lu Mi twisted his body in an unnatural, superhumanly flexible motion, slipping behind "Bloody Jack."

His arm snapped forward, his right fist driving out with sudden force.

Blinding white flame erupted instantly, engulfing his fist, coiling around his forearm, leaving a bright, trailing wake.

Puff! Lu Mi's fist struck like punching into a swamp—deeper it went, muddier and stickier it became.

Boom! He detonated the white flame encasing his fist, blasting open a passage.

His fist and forearm plunged into "Bloody Jack's" torso, stopping precisely at the pallid spot.

"Bloody Jack," about to twist his waist and swing his axe sideways, froze—his body rapidly collapsed, crumbling into large clots of solidified blood that fell to the ground.

These blood clots writhed and reformed into "Bloody Jack," but a small patch remained blank in his abdomen, impossible to fill.

Seeing this, Lu Mi's body erupted in blazing white fire, assuming a full-offensive stance.

"Bloody Jack" instantly became insubstantial, retreating back into the mirror atop the altar.

Lu Mi laughed, abandoning pursuit, calmly and steadily ending the summoning ritual.

His goal was achieved—he had gained the "Mirror Mark" contract ability!

His earlier observation of "Bloody Jack's" river of fate wasn't to gather information, but to confirm whether this strange creature from the Blood Realm possessed divinity!

If "Bloody Jack" lacked divinity, Lu Mi could engage in risky deals with him to bypass the requirement of ninety-nine living sacrifices; if he possessed divinity, Lu Mi would suffer backlash—but at that moment, he was under ritual protection, watched over by the "Fool's" gray mist, so he wouldn't be severely affected.

Precisely because he understood this, Lu Mi dared agree to the demand: dragging "Bloody Jack" out of the mirror, freeing him from ritual constraints.

The evidence proved that if a contract partner could communicate normally, the cost of signing the contract could be significantly reduced.

Of course, the negative effects couldn't be avoided—by gaining the "Mirror Mark," Lu Mi would now more easily attract mirror-related anomalies and eerie dangers.

Because the fissure carved by "Bloody Jack's" axe had spread to the "Spiritual Wall," causing it to gradually crumble, Franca seized the chance and curiously asked what had just happened.

Lu Mi briefly recounted his "bargaining" with "Bloody Jack," then smiled:

"I worked hard to reach Sequence 5 just so these sinister beings could calmly converse with me."

"You call that calmly?" Franca burst out laughing.

She sighed shortly after:

"If not for fighting Morane Avini, the 'Mirror Mark' is absolutely not a good choice—you'll never use it in daily life, wasting a contract slot."

This was because Lu Mi had no other mirror-related abilities; without a fixed mirror-world entrance, he couldn't even pass through mirrors, let alone use the "Mirror Mark" to locate targets.

Lu Mi didn't mind much:

"The artifact corresponding to the 'Siso' Unique Trait might have 'Possession' ability—the 'Mirror Mark' could perfectly complement it."

"Hope," Franca murmured. "That's exactly where 'Contracted Ones' fall short of 'Shepherds'—once you sign a contract and gain an ability, you can't abandon it, even if it's useless, it still occupies a slot and brings its negative effects."

Many contract abilities are acquired to meet temporary needs; once that period passes, they become useless—like Lu Mi's "Nise Face," which, after acquiring the "Lies" earclips, was only occasionally used as an illusion in battle.

Lu Mi smiled:

"Who said you can't abandon it?"

"Uh…" Franca froze.

Lu Mi's lips curled into a brilliant grin:

"Kill the contract partner—the contract dissolves naturally."

Franca and Jenna both silently hissed.

After a few seconds, Franca joked:

"Good. Keep that smile—it's the grin of a killer, no, a 'Harvester.'"

"No wonder you didn't kill 'Bloody Jack' just now—only scared him off. You were afraid your newly gained ability would vanish instantly," Jenna nodded thoughtfully. "You said you planned to contract three abilities—any ideas for the other two?"

"Yes," Lu Mi said, not rushing into the second ritual. "One is a defensive or substitute ability; the other is a power against undead creatures—but I'll wait a while before considering the latter."

The former addresses his weak physical body; the latter compensates for his lack of effective tools against spirits and undead.

"Substitute ability…" Franca smiled. "Just contract with the spirit or ghost formed after the death of a Sequence practitioner from the 'Witch' or 'Fortune Teller' Path."

Lu Mi scoffed:

"Do you think I haven't considered it?

"But aside from one suspected Saint-level Witch wraith, there are no 'Witch' or 'Fortune Teller'-related entities—and I certainly couldn't withstand the negative effects of a demigod contract partner."

"Maybe you could withstand it," Franca's eyes lit up. "Maybe the negative effect is just changing your gender."

"What do you mean 'just'?" Lu Mi had wanted to mock Franca's earlier "Life is short—why not try?" but held back in front of Jenna.

Franca suddenly wondered:

"Can you only contract with spirit-world or strange creatures?

"Can you contract with humans? I could share the 'Mirror Substitute' ability with you."

Lu Mi had never considered this before. After a moment's thought, he said:

"The esoteric knowledge doesn't say it's impossible…

"But still, better not—the fate-bound contract might carry hidden corruption or influence."

"True," Franca remained rational.

As she answered, another thought struck her:

If I truly signed a contract with him, what negative effect would I bring Lu Mi?

"Why wait before getting a power against undead?" Jenna, less flighty than Franca, focused on practical concerns.

Lu Mi smiled:

"Because spirit-world and strange creatures fear sunlight's purification. Without a similar ability, I can only consider acquiring it from the Domain of Death—and there's a perfect contract candidate."

"The 'Armor Shade'?" Franca understood. "You're afraid giving him too much gold will make future communication uncontrollable?"

Lu Mi nodded:

"Also waiting for the artifact made from the 'Siso' Unique Trait—if it has 'Possession' properties, I won't need another contract ability for undead."

After some discussion, Lu Mi rebuilt the "Spiritual Wall" and began the second summoning.

This time, he summoned:

"The peculiar being wandering the upper realms, the unyielding one, the endless giant."

When the incantation ended, a "mountain" of stacked flesh appeared at the mystical gate.

It was impossibly tall, unable to fully emerge, forcing the illusory gate to sway precariously.

After uttering the "Secret Words of Fate," Lu Mi received the corresponding information.

This "Flesh Mountain" indeed enhanced defense, hardening the body like steel, thickening it like rock—but the corresponding negative effect was a movement speed approaching that of an ordinary turtle.

Lu Mi had to abandon it.

His backup target was his messenger, "Penitent" Bayinfei.

According to the messenger data provided by the "Magician" lady, Bayinfei could animate his own shadow and swap positions with his body at critical moments.

(End of Chapter)