The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

Chen Guan did not immediately accept Li Yuqing's invitation, politely saying he would consider it. Li Yuqing did not press the matter, and after chatting for a few more minutes with a smile, she left with Huo Qixing.

It was already evening when I returned to my single dormitory.

After a simple dinner, he began his evening meditation as usual, working on the starry sky visualization diagram.

In the spiritual world, a vast star map slowly unfolds, and consciousness sinks into it, receiving nourishment from the power of the stars.

However, at the moment when his mind was most at peace and relaxed, the mark from the demon god Baal deep within his soul suddenly twitched.

Then, a faint, ethereal figure appeared—it was Baal's familiar face.

"Hehehe."

It was difficult for Chen Guan to open his mouth; he could hardly imagine that the person in front of him was a demon god.

But Balben seemed completely oblivious: "Thief, you didn't expect this, did you? Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, Lord Balben will keep haunting you."

"You are... Baal?"

Chen Guan asked knowingly, as he had been prepared. Ever since he was marked, he knew that this thing would never be peaceful, and its arrival was within his expectations.

"Exactly, do you have any last words?"

The demon god lazily conjured a recliner in his mental world and lay down on it in a relaxed, Ge You-style pose.

Chen Guan laughed: "Mr. Barr, how about we make a bet?"

Barr asked with interest, "What are we betting on?"

"I bet you can't kill me."

"You win, then I bet you can't get rid of me." Baal lay on the recliner conjured up in the spiritual world, admitting it directly, crossing his legs, his posture lazy and casual, showing no trace of the majesty of the legendary demon god, but rather like a shameless neighbor.

"My power isn't that easy to use. Your ability is the mythological ability Echo, right? Friendly reminder: as long as I don't want to help you, you can't use your ability. Your ability development is too poor."

"Mr. Barr seems to know a lot about my abilities?" Chen Guan asked tentatively. He wasn't sure what Barr was thinking; he couldn't just be looking for a chat, could he?

"I wouldn't say I understand it," Baal waved his hand. "I've just lived a long time and seen some similar little tricks."

"Stealing the echoes of mythology, recording them, imitating them... even attempting to control them—the idea is good, but taking too big a step can easily lead to disaster."

His tone was gloating: "Especially since the object you stole was me. My wrath, even just a wisp of its projection, is not something a small body like yours can easily record. Now it's left in your ability, like a restless bomb that could explode at any moment and blow your brains out."

"So, Mr. Baal, you've come here to reclaim this power? Or...?"

Chen Guan remained calm. He had long known about the instability of the reverberation; Tongzi had already mentioned it when he bought it.

"Take it back?" Baal scoffed. "That little bit of power is nothing to me. It's fine for you to keep it as a souvenir. As for the purpose..."

He paused, examining Chen Guan's spiritual world. Especially when he saw the vast star map that was slowly rotating and the gray mist that was surging on its own, a strange light flashed in his eyes: "Do you still remember that little girl Guan Jinyue?"

Before Chen Guan could answer, Baal began to speak to himself, "She wasn't willing to become my contractor at first, but guess why she changed her mind."

Chen Guan, being very accommodating, replied, "Why?"

"Because humans have limits, and I'm not even human." Baal remained nonchalant: "Kid, how about a deal? I like your fearless and suicidal spirit."

Without waiting for Chen Guan's reply, Baal offered his terms: "I won't stop you from using my power; in fact, I can let you use even more of it."

"But in exchange, you have to keep me company and talk to me from time to time to relieve my boredom. Also, you have to do me a small favor. The Guiyuan Group thinks highly of you, and I'm quite curious about what this new Guiyuan Group is all about."

"Besides that, help me find everything that's scattered around the world and has anything to do with me or any of the other old guys."

Chen Guan understood what Baal meant. He wanted him to be an inside man and help him find something, just like the so-called beacon that Guan Jinyue was looking for that day.

The advantage is probably that I have a super henchman to help me.

"You can choose not to accept it, then we'll maintain the status quo, mark it on you, and let my power be in your superpowers, causing you trouble from time to time, and see when you can't take it anymore and break down."

"Or, you can accept that we can coexist peacefully for now. You can help me explore the unknown and find things for me, and I will give you some benefits. As for whether you can use me to become stronger in the end, or whether I can reclaim more scattered power through you, or even get some other fun, that depends on our respective abilities."

Barr threw the choice back, laying bare the pros and cons.

Chen Guan fell into deep thought.

Refusal means constantly being wary of the backlash from the mark and the echo, like a ticking time bomb. Baal is, after all, a demon god. If you really want to cause him trouble, he won't die, but he'll definitely face a lot of problems.

Accepting means actively stepping into a game with the demon god, which is riskier, but may bring room for development, or even the opportunity to use the demon god's strength against him.

He remembered what Baihu had said.

In this perilous world, growing step by step may be safe, but it's too slow. He needs to become stronger faster and needs to access more secrets.

His greatest advantage is that he is not afraid of death.

Making a deal with a demon god is undoubtedly a shortcut, so what if it's full of thorns?

"I have one condition: keep our deal confidential."

Baal laughed and said, "No problem, I'm a demon who keeps his word, it's a little secret between us."

"Then, deal." Chen Guan extended a hand formed from his spiritual will.

Baal also extended a dark red phantom hand and gently touched Chen Guan's coffin.

"The contract is established."

Baal's voice carried a hint of pleasure: "Well then, let's end our first chat here. I look forward to you finding your first souvenir soon."

"Oh, by the way, as a deposit, here's a little gift for you: information on how to make your scythe better at digesting soul remnants."

A fragment of information flowed into Chen Guan's consciousness.

Immediately, Baal's phantom vanished like smoke, and the mental world returned to calm. Only the cold mark remained, but it seemed to be dormant for the time being, without any abnormality, just like a sticker.

Chen Guan slowly withdrew from meditation, opened his eyes, and let out a long breath. His forehead was covered with fine cold sweat.

Making a deal with a demon god is undoubtedly like dancing with wolves, but he has no other choice. At least for now, Baal seems to be genuinely interested in him, and this interest, before it turns into malice, is a bargaining chip he can use.

He will not give up any opportunity, any.