Dead World
A bright moon hung in the sky, casting its light over the dark earth, where an atmosphere of loneliness permeated the air. This was a world of the dead, a realm where the deceased constantly watched the living across all planes.
After the disappearance of the Grim Reaper and the other gods, the order of this world collapsed, leaving skeletons and malevolent spirits scattered everywhere. Blue flames occasionally ignited in the air, flaring up before extinguishing, creating a haunting landscape in the realm of the dead.
In the center of a sea of skeletons lay a small city, established by a golden lich. As a mid-level force in this world, the golden lich was considered powerful; only the strongest could transform into a lich and secure their place in the land of the dead. Beyond the necromancers, liches represented the pinnacle of magic within the undead realm.
Within a grand castle at the heart of the Skeleton Ocean, Oshi, a powerful Lich Lord, was engrossed in observing souls in his laboratory when he received a call from his younger brother, Orr.
"Um?" Oshi murmured, pulling up his tattered hood. The flickering soul fire beneath his wizard robe betrayed his curiosity.
Oshi had transformed into a lich thousands of years ago, gaining eternal life. Yet, he harbored an obsession with his only remaining relative, even as his lich identity twisted his mind. When his brother's life neared its end, Oshi ventured to a small world, transformed him into a lich, and granted him immortality.
However, the undead have little concept of time. Their retreats or periods of sleep could last hundreds or even thousands of years.
Just moments ago, Orr had sent him a message expressing a desire to return to Xia for development. Oshi felt annoyed; he had barely begun his latest experiment and was already being interrupted.
"My dear brother, there are many ancient gods in Xia now. The one who summoned me is too powerful. I need your help."
Orr's voice was laced with a complex mix of intimacy and pleading, startling Oshi. It had been eons since he had heard such a tone.
While lichification grants eternal life, few wizards willingly undergo the transformation due to the mental corruption that accompanies it. Even the strongest minds can become twisted, seen as malevolent by orderly beings.
Yet, Orr's voice stirred memories of their childhood—a time when two young boys embraced for warmth in a cramped room. It was a scene Oshi had not recalled in ages.
Responding instinctively, he asked, "How can I help you?"
This world seemed to hold great power. The undead inheritance told him it was the birthplace of the gods, where the beings born carried a mark that held immense significance. Souls, blood, despair, faith—everything was desired by the worlds beyond Xia. The mark of this world was the supreme law of the universe, attracting all powerful beings!
Following the gods' disappearance, this plane entered a state of self-protection. Beings from other planes could only enter by invitation, and their powers were capped. Even ancient gods were barred from entering.
"My brother, please bring me back to the kingdom of the dead. It's unbearable here."
As Orr's intermittent plea echoed, a piece of black parchment slowly emerged in the air. This was a contract from the world of the dead, originally notarized by the god of death. After the god's disappearance, the role of notary fell to the remaining ancient and powerful beings of the undead realm.
Violating the terms would result in annihilation by the thoughts of those great beings.
Oshi felt a sense of foreboding. Examining the contract closely, he noted it lacked the complexity of a multi-layered contract; it was merely a simple traction agreement. Signing it would establish the positions of both parties as defined by the notary's power.
Despite the apparent normalcy, he sensed danger lurking beneath the surface.
"My brother, you are all I have left. Only you can rescue me. I am willing to give everything I gained this year in exchange for your help."
The urgency in Orr's voice was palpable, accompanied by the alluring scent of a Xia creature's soul. For beings from other dimensions who feasted on souls, this was the ultimate delicacy. He could even detect the fragrance of a precious soul crystal.
Tempted yet hesitant, Oshi needed more time to evaluate this seemingly straightforward contract.
"My dear brother, please take me away. I require your guidance and your anchor. This contract is notarized by the vampire king Alyssa Watson. I need her power to escape this cursed Xia. It took me ages to locate... the dead world."
Orr's voice trembled with desperation. Oshi gazed at the moonlight filtering through the castle window. Without the stability of divinity, the undead world was beginning to drift in the void once more. As stars fell into the realm of the dead, it would become a celebration among the undead.
This would disrupt nearly all positioning, and Oshi knew time was running out.
"Brother, do you remember the past? I am your younger brother."
Orr's voice weakened, becoming more intermittent. After a long examination, Oshi found no issues with the contract, and his vague unease was suppressed.
Extending a dry hand, he succumbed to the remnants of family affection, a feeling that had endured despite the passage of thousands of years, and pressed down on his lingering doubts.
Contract signed.
"Brother, come."
Suddenly, Oshi's voice halted as the contract transformed before his eyes. A scarlet teleportation array materialized, enveloping him in an instant.
This wasn't merely a traction contract; it was a summoning contract—layered and complex.
[You have harvested the third servant: a level 67 lich, Oshi.]
Bai Yi withdrew his hand with a smile as the power of the contract dissipated slightly. He watched Orr hastily depart, clutching the Dawn Badge that embodied his strength.
Now, he quietly awaited the arrival of the new workshop director.
It was late November, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky, arriving later than usual and heavier than expected. The thick snow concealed Orr's figure until he vanished completely, and the scent of the undead began to permeate the area outside Dongwu City.
Subtle vibrations rippled through the land. When the bodies of the dead encountered a strong enough aura of the undead, they would unconsciously submit to the powerful undead beings.
At such times, all the undead needed to do was offer souls and power to these corpses, transforming them into familiar skeleton soldiers—common denizens of the realm of the dead.
Buzz~
The snow clouds overhead darkened, and before much snow could fall, wisps of undead energy replaced the snowflakes as they drifted down.
From another dimension, a being raised a hand, appearing to descend from the world of the dead to Xia.
Bai Yi smiled and greeted it: "Hello, my name is Bai Yi. I'll leave everything to you from now on. I don't think you need to struggle anymore, right?"
Oshi fell silent, observing the now-darkened world around him, feeling the contrasting rules of this realm. In an extremely hoarse voice, he asked, "Is my foolish brother dead?"
Bai Yi sensed a threat; this lich seemed more formidable than he had anticipated. He smiled and replied, "No, I signed a contract with him a year ago, and now he uses you to exchange his freedom."
Oshi fell silent, and the soul fire beneath his hood turned scarlet.
Dark side, malicious intimidation.
[Your Charisma value is temporarily reduced to -17.]
Buzz~
Oshi, on the brink of exploding with rage, was momentarily stunned. He gazed at this entity, which despite its unchanged appearance, exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression. The rationality that had nearly slipped away returned swiftly, but a more resolute feeling emerged.
As a lich in pursuit of magical truth, he was not one to simply survive. If he were to be enslaved, then death would not be entirely unacceptable.
"Fifty years," Bai Yi declared, raising a hand. "I will grant you freedom after fifty years. Your duty now is to help me refine some alchemical materials. Of course, as a more powerful lich, I can offer you some freedom, provided you do not disrupt the tasks assigned to you. What do you think?"
Oshi, prepared for a fight, paused. The scarlet fire of his soul flickered as emotions surfaced in his previously silent voice—suppressed anger. "Fine, but the condition is that you hand over my rebellious and foolish brother. He needs to understand the consequences of betrayal."
"I'm sorry." Bai Yi extended his hand, indicating Orr's presence moving rapidly toward the west, having already created significant distance.
"When we signed the contract, he had already tactfully departed. It seems he recognizes your strength."
Boom!
The ground cracked, and the clouds in the sky shattered. The heavy snow that had been forming was obliterated in an instant.
Oshi turned to Bai Yi, his tone subdued. "I just want to know if there's a chance to see him again during this time?"
"Of course. It might not take long—perhaps just a few years?" Bai Yi responded, shifting back to a light-hearted demeanor. He produced ten large soul crystals and a wealth of alchemical and magical knowledge.
He continued gently, "These magical texts and soul crystals are your reward for the next fifty years."
"And the alchemical knowledge will serve as supplementary material for your future work. I'll set up a workshop for you in this city. Your workload may be slightly heavier over the next fifty years."
Oshi accepted these offerings. The soul fire in his eyes remained scarlet, but he had no chance of resistance against the overwhelming malice he had just faced. Moreover, fifty years was a short span for the undead—merely a blink of an eye.
He could afford to wait that long.
Bai Yi let out a quiet sigh of relief. He wasn't concerned about Oshi's defiance. While Oshi possessed significant expertise, it paled in comparison to the influence of dark thoughts. If it came to a confrontation, Bai Yi could end the lich's long existence in thirty seconds.
Furthermore, there were nearly a hundred layers of contracts to keep him in check.
However, such an outcome would lead to the bankruptcy of his workshop, leaving him with no assistance in polishing materials, increasing his workload. Therefore, Bai Yi preferred to entice cooperation.
Undead beings have near-eternal lives and generally cannot refuse time-limited servitude. The shorter the time, the easier it is for these creatures to accept the terms.
"We're out of time, Mr. Oshi. Please hold your breath. We need to leave first, and then our work will begin."
As Bai Yi began to set up the teleportation array, Oshi remained silent, his scarlet soul fire indicating that his emotions had not yet settled.
But that was inconsequential. Time would pass day by day, and after half a year, the exploitation could intensify.
After all, he had endured for half a year—dying now due to resistance would be a significant loss.
Orr had experienced this before; he would soon adapt.
As the light of the teleportation array flickered, the two returned to Dawn Pharmacy.
Luo Ning had packed everything. Upon seeing them emerge from the laboratory, she asked, "Boss, we're ready to go whenever you are. But what will my role be after we move? Can I be a housekeeper?"
Having lived in the City Lord's Mansion before, she preferred it here, even though she was more dependent on Bai Yi. This small shop was her first home, and she had developed a strong attachment to it.
Bai Yi paused at her question but quickly replied, "You'll manage the garden at the City Lord's Mansion, but don't neglect your training."
"Is that so? Don't worry, boss. I can definitely handle that!" Luo Ning said confidently.
"Good. When you have free time, learn from the waitstaff. There's no rush with your job," Bai Yi advised, then turned to the lich. "Mr. Oshi, let's get started. Everything here needs to be moved. The skeletons were left by Mr. Orr; he mentioned that the memories within them could aid your integration."
Oshi fell silent for a moment before swiftly taking control of the skeletons in the water. Memories emerged in fragments, revealing valuable knowledge. However, the contents ignited a warmth within the cold fire of his soul.
This shop was far too small for the new workshop director. Bai Yi needed a more expansive workshop, and the City Lord's Mansion offered ample space.
Before summoning Oshi, Bai Yi had already envisioned the layout. Now, he simply needed to relocate everything and expand the operation.
After all items were transferred, Oshi stood in the basement of the City Lord's Mansion garden, gazing at the underground workshop that even bright lights struggled to illuminate.
Finally, he could no longer contain his frustration and erupted.
"Damn you, Orr! Just wait. I will make you feel the consequences of betrayal. Your soul will become a lantern, lighting my laboratory forever!"
"Mr. Oshi, while we can still contact the dead world, summon more powerful skeletons. These may not suffice. Also, hellhounds possess formidable hellfire; I hope you can utilize that," Bai Yi suggested.
Oshi turned his gaze to the trembling hellhound that had been brought in. He roared, "Get out!"
The hellhound, Xiren, quivered under the intense scrutiny of the powerful lich, shrinking into the corner.
It was just a discarded dog, wondering why it had attracted such attention.
PS: Kindly give your precious power stones