276: Chapter 276 Immortal Emperor's Origin Auction! I bought back my trust with 1.2 Jing.

The moment golden flames ignited around Arrogant Dragon, the temperature of the entire Oblivion Graveyard rose by three degrees.

That wasn't physical temperature, but conceptual temperature—the burning of an Immortal Emperor's Origin released "Existence Energy." For every second it burned, the Narrative Layer's laws' recognition of the character "Arrogant Dragon" blurred further.

A red alert popped up on the system panel:

【Target: Arrogant Dragon (Reincarnated Immortal Emperor)】

【Origin Remaining: 72%... 68%... 61%...】

【Burn Rate: 4% consumption per second】

【Estimated Time to Total Annihilation: 23 seconds】

Lin Chen did not shout "Stop."

Because he knew Arrogant Dragon wouldn't stop.

This man, who had fought his way out of a world of cultivation, had the simplest morality etched into his bones: debts must be paid, and a life for a life.

Since Lin Chen had sold his trust in him, he would use his life to earn the money back.

A fair trade.

But Lin Chen was a businessman.

The thing a businessman was best at wasn't stopping a trade, but repricing it.

He pulled up the system interface and opened the second page of the [Personality Asset Evaluation Report].

【Trust in Arrogant Dragon: Sold, Sale Price 100 Trillion】

【Current Status: Buyer is the "Trust Asset Fund" under the Universe Bank, Holder ID: XXXX】

【Buyback Clause: Original holder is permitted to buy back at a premium; Premium Rate: 300%】

A 300% premium.

This meant Lin Chen needed to spend 400 trillion to buy this trust back.

His account balance: 0.

Credit Score: -83.

He had no collateral.

23 seconds.

It wasn't enough time.

Lin Chen did a second thing.

He opened the [Era Guide Permissions] backend and pulled up an agreement he had never used before.

Agreement Name: [Author Permission Emergency Invocation Clause]

Clause Content: When the Narrative Layer faces a major character annihilation crisis, the Era Guide may temporarily requisition the Author's creative quota to save said character.

Cost of Requisition: The Author whose quota is requisitioned will be unable to update any works for the following week.

Requisition Target: Real-world Author Lin Chen.

Agreement sent.

Three seconds later, the real-world Author's reply came through:

"Not updating for a week will get me flamed to death by readers."

"But if Arrogant Dragon dies, I'll be flamed even worse."

"Approved."

Hum—

An invisible force surged in from the boundaries of the Narrative Layer, converging into a golden pen.

This pen did not belong to Lin Chen, nor to Number Zero, and certainly not to the Original Author.

It belonged to that young man in the real world staying up late to code words.

Lin Chen gripped the pen.

He wrote a line in the void:

【When Arrogant Dragon's Immortal Emperor Origin burned down to 15%, it suddenly stopped.】

【Not because he didn't want to burn it anymore.】

【But because someone spent a sum of money they wouldn't have dared spend in a lifetime to redeem that 'being trusted' status.】

The moment the words took form, the golden flames on Arrogant Dragon's body abruptly stalled.

The burning speed plummeted from 4% per second to 0.5%.

But it still wasn't enough.

Lin Chen still needed 400 trillion.

He opened the [Cross-Era Indefinite National Debt] issuance interface.

The system still prompted: Insufficient credit, unable to issue.

Lin Chen closed the interface.

He did a third thing.

He listed his entire personality asset of [Self-Identity · 12 Quadrillion] on the Cosmic Exchange.

Price: 12 quadrillion dimension points.

Usage: No splitting, no collateral, direct sale.

The buyer would obtain all of Lin Chen's self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth cognition—once bought, Lin Chen would become a person who forever doubted himself, forever feared making mistakes, and forever felt he didn't deserve to win.

Transaction Note: After this asset is sold, Lin Chen will immediately resign as Chairman of the Underworld Group and never participate in any commercial decision-making again.

Listing complete.

The entire Narrative Layer was silent for 0.3 seconds.

Then, Golden Abacus's emergency communication patched in, his voice cracking:

"Are you crazy?! This is your personality core! If you sell it, you're finished!"

"I know," Lin Chen said. "So, who's buying?"

Silence on the other end.

12 quadrillion was an astronomical figure.

In the entire Narrative Layer, there were no more than five entities that could produce that much cash.

The Universe Bank was one, but Golden Abacus couldn't possibly buy it—buying it would mean personally ruining his future son-in-law.

Morgana and Alpha were still struggling in their debt crises.

Number Zero had just started the job with a monthly salary of three thousand.

No one placed a bid.

Arrogant Dragon's remaining Origin: 11%.

Lin Chen looked at the empty trading interface and suddenly laughed.

"If no one's buying," he said, "then I'll buy it myself."

What would he use to buy it?

He had no money.

But he had something else—

【Spark Governor Permissions · Right to Tax Revenue for the Next Ten Thousand Years】

He used these permissions as collateral to apply for a loan from the Universe Bank.

Golden Abacus gritted his teeth and approved it: 9 quadrillion.

He was still 3 quadrillion short of 12 quadrillion.

He put up the [Era Evolution Energy Futures · Management Fee Share for the Next Fifty Years] as collateral.

Another loan: 2 quadrillion.

Still 1 quadrillion short.

He put up the [Eden Civilization and Affiliated Industrial Zones · Corporate Tax for the Next Three Hundred Years] as collateral.

Golden Abacus's voice trembled: "That's the hard-earned money the Eden people just came back to life to make! You're even mortgaging their taxes in advance?!"

"They are willing." Lin Chen pulled up a union resolution just sent by Dew. "The Eden Civilization Union voted, 98.7% in favor of trading three hundred years of future taxes for Arrogant Dragon's life."

Golden Abacus looked at that resolution and was silent for three seconds.

"...Release the funds."

1 quadrillion arrived in the account.

The 12 quadrillion was gathered.

Lin Chen clicked [Buyback].

The target wasn't [Trust in Arrogant Dragon].

It was himself.

He bought back his own [Self-Identity] complete personality asset, which he had just listed, for the price of 12 quadrillion.

Transaction complete.

A system prompt popped up:

【You have successfully bought back the "Self-Identity" asset】

【Amount Paid: 12 Quadrillion dimension points】

【Funding Sources: 10,000 years of future tax + 50 years of future energy share + 300 years of Eden corporate tax】

【Note: You are now the most indebted person in the entire Narrative Layer】

Lin Chen closed the prompt.

Then, using the newly bought-back [Self-Identity] as collateral, he applied for a bridge loan from the Universe Bank—400 trillion.

Golden Abacus was already numb: "Approved."

400 trillion arrived in the account.

Lin Chen clicked on the redemption interface of the [Trust Asset Fund].

Input: Buyback Target [Trust in Arrogant Dragon].

Amount Paid: 400 trillion.

Transaction complete.

A second system prompt popped up:

【You have successfully bought back the "Trust in Arrogant Dragon" asset】

【Current Status: Trust Restored】

【Special Note: Bought-back trust assets will come with a "Default Penalty Period" effect】

【Penalty Content: For the next 72 hours, you are unable to generate any "suspicion" toward Arrogant Dragon】

【Even if he rebels, assassinates, or sells secrets right in front of you—you will believe him unconditionally】

These were the rules of the market.

Trust could be bought and sold, but trust bought back was cheaper than it was before it was sold.

Lin Chen didn't care.

He just needed Arrogant Dragon to live.

The golden flames were completely extinguished.

Arrogant Dragon's remaining Origin: 7%.

He looked down at his hands, then up at Lin Chen.

"You..." his voice was raspy, "you spent 1.6 quadrillion just so I wouldn't die?"

"1.2 quadrillion was to buy myself back," Lin Chen corrected. "Only 400 trillion was to buy you. Don't flatter yourself."

Arrogant Dragon didn't speak.

He was silent for ten seconds.

Then, he suddenly drew the immortal emperor long sword at his waist and slashed it down onto his own left arm!

Blood splattered.

Lin Chen's pupils constricted: "What are you doing?!"

"Repaying the debt." Arrogant Dragon gritted his teeth, throwing the severed arm into the void. "You spent 400 trillion to buy back your trust in me. I'll use an Immortal Emperor's arm to ensure that 400 trillion isn't spent in vain."

He looked up, his eyes bloodshot:

"From now on, this life is yours."

"If you tell me to kill someone, I'll kill them."

"If you tell me to die, I'll die instantly."

"If you tell me to believe you, I... will believe you."

He paused, and for the first time, he didn't call him "Boss":

"Lin Chen, I believe you."

The entire place was deathly silent.

Dew, in the crowd, said softly, "Trust..."

"...is a two-way ticket."

Lin Chen didn't say anything.

He opened the medical system and pulled up an Immortal Emperor limb regeneration protocol.

System valuation: 50 trillion.

His account balance: 0.

He was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Golden Abacus.

Golden Abacus closed his eyes: "Get lost. No more loans today."

Lin Chen then looked at Morgana.

Morgana was expressionless: "My Icebound Star Domain just went bankrupt."

Alpha simply went offline.

Lin Chen took a deep breath.

Then, he walked before that boundless ocean of light specks.

Facing the trillions of deleted civilizations in the abyss that had yet to be revived, he said:

"Lend me 50 trillion."

"I'll pay it back in installments."

"The interest will be paid in 'being remembered'."

The abyss was silent for a long time.

So long that the blood on Arrogant Dragon's severed arm was almost starting to congeal.

Then, an aged voice echoed from the abyss:

"...Very well."

"But there is one condition."

"Speak."

The voice paused, as if organizing a language it hadn't spoken for three million eras:

"On the day you have revived us all..."

"You must come personally and call out each of our names."

"Every single person."

Lin Chen looked at that boundless ocean of light specks.

How many people were there?

127 layers of civilizations, each layer ranging from tens of millions to trillions.

The total number was uncountable.

Calling everyone's name.

Every single person.

He nodded:

"Deal."

Hum—

50 trillion dimension points surged from the deepest part of the abyss and flowed into Lin Chen's account.