153: Chapter 153 I brought not war, but blessings.

Opening Climax:

The encirclement formed by thirteen abyssal monsters instantly tightened.

They were not lowly Inferior Demons—each one exuded a bizarre aura mixed with 'Divine Corruption' and 'Abyssal Erosion.' Thick black-gold pus oozed from the gaps in their scales, sizzling as it dripped to the ground, corroding deep pits.

The scorpion-tailed monster at the lead fixed its three crimson eyes on Lin Chen:

"Lord Cassio said your corpse is worth three 'Prime God-level Faith Crystals.'"

"So—"

"Please die!"

Thirteen black-gold beams shot towards Lin Chen from different angles! Wherever the beams passed, space began to twist and melt, revealing the void darkness behind!

This was the 'Abyssal Holy Light,' capable of corroding divinity—a product of the Divine Realm using faith power to reversely pollute abyssal creatures, specifically developed for hunting high-ranking gods!

Lin Chen stood in place, not moving at all.

He didn't even look at the beams, but instead turned his head to look at the corner of the temple—where there was clearly nothing.

"Michael," he said, "watching the show requires a ticket."

The instant his words fell—

The thirteen black-gold beams simultaneously stopped three meters in front of Lin Chen.

As if they had hit an invisible wall.

No, not a wall.

It was... a contract.

A 'Temporary Employment Agreement' floating in the air, composed of pure laws.

The first clause of the contract's main text was written in bold font:

"[Party A (the attacker) launching an attack against Party B (Lin Chen) is deemed automatic acceptance of the following terms:]"

"[1. All energy consumption, space repair fees, emotional distress compensation, etc., resulting from this attack shall be fully borne by the attacking party;]"

"[2. The attacking party shall pay a 'Combat Testing Service Fee,' standard rate: one hundred thousand Underworld Talismans per attack;]"

"[3. If the attack causes damage to Party B's clothing, disheveled hair, worsened mood, etc., the attacking party shall pay an additional 'Image Damage Fee'...]"

The scorpion-tailed monster's three eyes widened:

"What... what kind of nonsense is this?!"

"A business contract." Lin Chen finally looked at it, his tone calm. "Your attack just now triggered Article 44 of the 'Multi-Universe Self-Defense and Counterattack Law'—when one party launches an attack without signing a combat agreement, it is deemed to have accepted the 'Temporary Combat Service Contract' by default."

He pointed a finger.

The contract turned a page, revealing dense lists of charges:

"[Abyssal Holy Light Attacks ×13: Single energy consumption fee 50k Talismans, space repair fee 30k, emotional distress fee 20k, total 1.3 million]"

"[Combat Testing Service Fee: 13 times × 100k = 1.3 million]"

"[Party B's mood affected (detected slight annoyance): Image Damage Fee 500k]"

"[Total: 3.1 million Underworld Talismans]"

"[Please pay within 30 seconds. Late payments incur a 5% daily late fee and will be reported to the Scales of Truth for inclusion on the Dishonesty list.]"

The monsters collectively froze.

They had lived for millennia, killed angels, slaughtered gods, devoured Abyssal Lords, but had never encountered—

Having to sign a contract before fighting?!

"You... you're messing with us?!" The scorpion-tailed monster raged, all its scales standing on end. "Kill you! The contract will naturally be void!"

It led the charge!

The other twelve monsters followed simultaneously! This time it wasn't a ranged attack, but close-quarters combat—sharp claws, ferocious maws, barbed scorpion tails, all aimed at Lin Chen's vitals!

But just as they lunged through the air—

Hum!

The entire abandoned temple suddenly lit up with countless golden runes!

Those runes emerged from the walls, floor, even the void, instantly connecting into a massive net covering the entire space!

And every node of the net was precisely aimed at a monster!

"I already said," Lin Chen said leisurely, brushing his sleeves, "I wasn't watching you."

He looked towards the corner:

"Do I need to invite you out, Lord Treasurer?"

Dog-blooded Plot Twist:

In the corner, the air rippled.

Michael, wearing a tattered priest's robe, slowly revealed his form.

His face was pale, the ferocious wound on his chest still oozing blood, but his eyes were sharp as knives.

"As expected of Chairman Lin." Michael coughed twice, waving his hand to dismiss the golden runes—those runes weren't attack arrays at all, but... surveillance recording arrays.

"When did you discover it?" he asked.

"From the moment you sent the 'severely injured message.'" Lin Chen walked to the side of the now-deactivated teleportation array and tapped the ground with his foot. "Who is Michael? The former Divine Realm Treasurer, in charge of the entire Divine Realm's resource distribution for three thousand years, hailed as the 'most cautious old fox.'"

"Would such an old fox, knowing full well the Old Divine Court's tight surveillance, send a message in a 'severely injured and weak' state? And 'just happen' to intercept Cassio's entire plan?"

He smiled:

"The injury in your message is real, and the plan is real—but the act of sending the message itself was a test."

"A test to see if I could spot the flaw, a test to see if I dared to come, a test to see if I..."

Lin Chen looked at Michael:

"...was worth your Reformist Faction staking all your chips on."

Michael was silent for three seconds, then—smiled.

It was his first genuine smile today.

"Full marks," he said. "All correct."

He raised his hand and waved.

The thirteen originally ferocious abyssal monsters suddenly stiffened, then... began to melt.

Not dying, but like shedding a shell, the surface black scales, scorpion tails, maws all fell off, revealing beneath—figures wearing unified gray uniforms, with the "Reformist Special Operations Department" emblem embroidered on their chests.

Thirteen people, men and women, some in human form, some in angelic form, but each exuding an aura of Elite and strength.

The former 'scorpion-tailed monster' leader was now a Capable short-haired woman. She saluted Lin Chen:

"Reformist Special Operations Department, Seventh Squad Leader 'Nightingale,' at your service."

"The attack just now simulated the combat data of the 'God-Eroding Beasts' under Abyssal Lord Glamer's command, to assess your response capability."

"Assessment result: S+."

A flash of admiration appeared in her eyes:

"That move of using a contract to stop the attack... we didn't anticipate that."

Lin Chen looked at Michael: "So, Cassio's plan is real, but these 'monsters' were your impersonation. You wanted to kill two birds with one stone—test my strength, and make me mistakenly believe it was truly Cassio's doing, completely siding with you?"

"More than that." Michael walked to the center of the temple, wiping away the trap disguised as a teleportation array on the ground with his foot. "We also need you... to act in a play."

He called up a holographic projection.

The projection showed a map of the Divine Realm, with three points marked red:

"Cassio's plan is real, he really wants to kill you. But his real 'Divine-Erosion Beast' troops are currently ambush at these three locations—"

Michael pointed at the map:

"Here, is the The only way from the reception area back."

"Here, is the midpoint of the route for tomorrow's visit to the 'Faith Refinery.'"

"And here..." he paused, "is the Intersection of three Reformist secret bases."

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes: "He wants to Borrowing to kill my opportunity to wipe you all out as well?"

"Correct." Michael nodded. "Therefore, we need your cooperation—pretend to fall into the ambush, pretend to be severely injured, to lure out Cassio's main force."

"Then..." a cold light flashed in his eyes, "we counter-encircle and devour this elite force of his in one bite."

"As Return," Michael called up another document, "the Reformist Faction will additional transfer 3% of equity, and hand over the complete cultivation technology for 'God-Eroding Beasts,' as well as the complete transaction records between Cassio and Abyssal Lord Glamer, all to you."

He looked at Lin Chen:

"After this play is finished, you will not only gain tangible benefits but also establish your prestige in the Divine Realm—even Cassio's main force was Counterattack by you. The old fossils of the Old Divine Court will have to think twice before moving against you again."

Thrilling Satisfaction:

After listening, Lin Chen did not answer immediately.

He walked to the temple entrance, looking out at the Divine Realm's false night sky.

After a long while, he asked:

"Michael, do you know what I most wanted to see coming to the Divine Realm this time?"

Michael was taken aback: "...Please enlighten me."

"Not your sincerity, not the decay of the Old Divine Court, nor the threat of the Abyssal Lords."

Lin Chen turned around, a light in his eyes that Michael had never seen before—almost cold:

"What I wanted to see was—"

"Just how many fish wanting to Turn over are hidden beneath this stagnant pond of the Divine Realm."

He walked in front of the thirteen Reformist Special forces members, looking at each one:

"You impersonated abyssal monsters very well. The energy fluctuation, corrosive characteristic, even the smell of 'Divine Corruption' was simulated."

"But you forgot one thing—"

Lin Chen suddenly raised his hand, placing it on Squad Leader Nightingale's shoulder.

Nightingale's body stiffened.

The next second, from within her body—no, from the depths of her soul—a shrill scream suddenly erupted!

Not her voice, but... some ancient, vicious, hunger-filled roar!

"This is...?!" Michael's face changed dramatically.

"True Abyss Contamination." Lin Chen withdrew his hand. Nightingale collapsed to the ground, whole body trembling violently, black Texture beginning to appear under her skin. "The 'Divine-Erosion Beast cultivation technology' you used for camouflage is itself a trap set by Abyssal Lord Glamer."

He looked at Michael:

"You thought you were Reverse researching the abyss? No, the abyss was researching you."

"Every 'Divine-Erosion Beast' you dissected, analyzed, and imitate planted a 'pollution seed' in your souls."

"Dormant normally, waiting for the key moment—"

Lin Chen pointed towards a certain direction deep within the Divine Realm, outside the temple:

"For example, when Glamer launches its All-out attack, these seeds will instantly break out, turning you into its most loyal puppets."

Dead silence.

All members of the Reformist Faction, including Michael, turned deathly pale.

The secret weapon they thought they had was actually a Time bomb planted by the enemy!

"Then... then we..." Nightingale asked, trembling.

"I've temporarily suppressed it for now." Lin Chen said. "But radical cure requires the samsara seal's Purify with all your might—that has to wait until the Divine Realm's situation stabilizes."

He looked at Michael:

"Now, do you still want me to act in that play?"

Michael's lips trembled, unable to speak.

But Lin Chen smiled.

"The play will go on."

"But not your petty kind of fishing."

He walked to the center of the temple and raised his hand—

The entire temple suddenly began to Deformation!

The walls shrink inward, the floor bulge upward, the ceiling pressed down! In three short seconds, this abandoned temple transformed into a... pure black, Covered in sharp spikes, exuding a A strong abyssal aura—

Divine-Erosion Beast nest!

"Since Cassio wants to see abyssal monsters attack me..."

Lin Chen's voice echoed within the nest:

"Then I'll let him see his fill."

He looked at the stunned Michael and the Reformist members:

"Weren't you good at camouflage?"

"Now, camouflage for me as—"

"'Cassio's Special forces' that were Counterattack by 'Lin Chen,' their corpses dragged into the nest, In progress being digested and absorbed."

"Then..."

A crazy light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes:

"When Cassio personally leads a team to 'rescue'—"

"I will tell him—"

Hook:

Outside the nest, the Divine Realm's night sky was suddenly torn apart.

Three massive black fissures opened in the firmament, each gushing out densely packed, for real God-Eroding Beasts! Their crimson eyes locking the nest's direction, emitting Zhentian roars!

Cassio's main force—had arrived.

A full six Time earlier than Michael had estimated.

And the scale... was at least ten times larger!

Michael's face was deathly pale: "How is this possible... the intelligence clearly said..."

"Because your intelligence was deliberately leaked by Cassio." Lin Chen said calmly. "He long ago knew you were testing me, so he Turn the tables on them—using a fake plan to lure you out, then using his real main force to wipe you all out in one fell swoop."

He looked at the blotting out the sky tide of beasts outside the nest:

"However, it suits me just fine."

Lin Chen turned to face the Reformist members, his voice clear and cold:

"Remember, what I bring is not war—"

"It is blessings."

"And now..."

He raised his hand, the samsara seal manifesting in his palm:

"It's time to give the Divine Realm's old fossils—"

"their Welfare."