All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 7: A Connection With The Coffin

“Legend has it that the illumination Goddess fell after a battle with the supreme powerhouse of the Nightmare race, the Corpse Emperor. The supposedly invincible Corpse Emperor was also severely injured and sealed away. To commemorate the illumination Goddess, ancient craftsmen forged ten 100-meter colossal statues. These statues were made of special materials that remain unchanged regardless of wind and sun exposure. Later, the ten great empires of the human world divided these ten colossal statues among themselves for their people to remember.”

“Apart from the Eastern Kingdom, the other nine countries placed their statues in their imperial capitals. The Eastern Kingdom placed theirs in Sun City because it’s said to be the birthplace of the illumination Goddess. But at that time, there was no Eastern Kingdom or Sun City. The legend is too ancient to be verified.”

Much of the content in “The Legend of the illumination Goddess” was fabricated. Legends from such ancient times were not very reliable, but the final statement was worth considering.

“I see, no wonder such an important statue was placed in the Eastern Kingdom’s third city rather than the capital,” Zhanyue nodded, then put down the book and hurriedly left.

“To the illumination Goddess statue,” Zhanyue hailed a random carriage at the inn’s entrance and headed straight for the statue’s location.

“Is the customer also going to pay respects to the Goddess statue? I know a good spot, the best viewing point,” the driver enthusiastically suggested.

“Oh? Good, go faster, I’m in a hurry,” Zhanyue returned there only to confirm the source of that special palpitation.

Hearing that Zhanyue was in a hurry, the driver immediately sped up. His vehicle wasn’t a rickshaw, but was pulled by creatures resembling small horses, with great endurance, very suitable as transportation.

Soon, the driver brought Zhanyue to the destination, the top floor of a nine-story building. There was a teahouse here, directly facing the Goddess statue. From this position, one could appreciate the nearby Goddess statue without much effort.

“Boss, I’ve brought you another customer, remember my share…” the driver pulled the teahouse owner aside and whispered. The teahouse owner was a tall, thin old man with a shrewd look. He said quietly, “Of course, I won’t forget. Whatever he spends here, one-tenth will be your commission.”

Zhanyue, not far away, naturally didn’t notice their scheming. He just ordered a pot of good tea and sat by the window to ‘appreciate’ the Goddess statue.

“Indeed, that palpitation has appeared again. What exactly is it?” Zhanyue still couldn’t determine the source of the palpitation, only knowing it was near the Goddess statue. “I probably need to get closer to the Goddess statue to search.”

The sun was slanting, soon to set. The last rays of the setting sun shone on this ‘Sun Goddess’, giving her a divine color. Shortly after, several armored soldiers appeared at the base of the Goddess statue, operating something on a stone pillar behind the statue. Noticing this detail, Zhanyue immediately asked the owner who was refilling his water.

“Boss, what are they busy with down there? Doesn’t the Goddess statue have no guards?” Zhanyue asked curiously.

The teahouse owner glanced down and knew what was happening, saying nonchalantly, “Maintaining the statue’s restrictions requires illumination Stones. They’re changing the illumination Stones for the restrictions.” The owner finished refilling the water and went to serve other customers.

Indeed, the restrictions surrounding the Goddess statue disappeared for a moment, along with the white warning line on the ground. This gap in changing the illumination Stones was the only weakness! Zhanyue looked at the time on his wrist and memorized this time point. Actually, the Goddess statue didn’t need any guards. Its material couldn’t be damaged by ordinary people, and such a huge statue didn’t need to worry about being stolen. The restrictions were only to prevent people from approaching and desecrating the Goddess statue. For so many years, the Goddess statue had never had any problems.

Gradually, the customers in the teahouse left, and the people admiring the colossal statue below also dispersed. Although the city was still bright at night, people still needed to rest. Only a few scattered humble workers on night shifts were still active in the surroundings.

When Zhanyue left, the teahouse was already closed. He walked alone on the brightly lit street feeling a bit nervous. “No matter what, I have to go and see what’s up.”

He felt guilty like a thief, approaching the Goddess statue very carefully. Quickly, he approached the stone pillar he had seen during the day at high speed. The stone pillar was the source of the restrictions.

“State Reversal!” Zhanyue used his ability for the second time in the Myriad Spirits Realm, but this time for sneaking around. Soon, the state of the stone pillar was reversed to the moment before the illumination Stones were changed in the afternoon. The entire restriction instantly lost effect, and the barrier wall that prevented outsiders from entering disappeared silently. A living person walked in brazenly, without triggering any alarms.

After Zhanyue entered, the energy of the illumination Stones once again awakened the restrictions.

“What? How did the restrictions restart?” Zhanyue was shocked. This wasn’t part of his plan. He didn’t know about the backup energy source for the restrictions. Although he had reversed the state of the stone pillar to when it had no energy supplement, causing the restrictions to fail briefly, there was actually a backup energy source arranged underground for the restrictions. When the stone pillar couldn’t provide energy, it would automatically use the backup energy.

“It’s over…” Zhanyue knew he was trapped inside now, unable to get out. His eagerness to find answers had led to an imperfect plan. He had overestimated himself.

“If I’m going to die, It’ll be after knowing the truth. I want to know what’s been calling out to me!” No longer thinking about what would happen later, Zhanyue quickly came to the base of the colossal statue. That palpitation became clearer as he approached the statue.

“Indeed, the center is this colossal statue, but my contract object can’t be such a huge statue, right?” Zhanyue was a bit confused. This matter was too bizarre. What use would contracting such a large statue have? More importantly, how could he explain and account for this to others? Those who desecrate the Goddess statue are sentenced to death, let alone contracting it.

“No, if I really contracted the Goddess statue, I might still have a chance to live. After all, according to the ‘Contractor Regulations’, the ownership of a contractor’s contract object belongs to the contractor, and the state compensates the original owner for the loss. The contractor then gradually repays the state. The Eastern Kingdom has strict laws. If I really contracted the Goddess statue, legally, this statue would belong to me.”

However, when Zhanyue placed his hand on the statue, the expected contract didn’t form. This statue wasn’t his contract object! Just as Zhanyue panicked, his entire being was pulled into the statue by a mysterious force.

Inside the statue was incredibly spacious, emitting a faint white light. In the empty space, there was only a crystal coffin. Through the transparent coffin, one could vaguely see a body lying inside.

“What… what’s going on? My contract object couldn’t be this coffin, right?” Zhanyue bravely placed his hand on the coffin. At this moment, his mind was full of questions. Where was this place, and whose coffin was this? However, still nothing happened. The coffin wasn’t his contract object.

“… Could my contract object be some burial object inside this coffin… This is going to be trouble.” Zhanyue’s forehead was already covered in cold sweat. How did he become so closely associated with opening coffins?

“Great one, although I don’t know who you are, I mean no offense. It’s just that the palpitation in my heart comes from inside the coffin. Without my contract object, I fear I can’t escape death. So, please forgive me.” Zhanyue mourned to the coffin. He didn’t want to disturb someone’s rest, but he had no choice.

Using force to push open the coffin lid, inside lay not white bones, but a ‘fresh’ corpse!! The female corpse wore white clothes and a white dress, with a golden crown on her head. The crown was inlaid with a sun pattern, and in the center of the sun pattern was embedded a red gemstone, dazzlingly brilliant. Her black hair was pillowed under her head, reaching her waist, black and bright.

When Zhanyue’s gaze fell on the woman’s face, he was stunned. The pale skin testified to the fact that she was a corpse, yet her perfect features were unparalleled in his life. Her crimson lips were like red plum blossoms in snow. Her tightly closed eyes made Zhanyue’s heart ache involuntarily. Such a beautiful, heavenly woman lying there cold. Zhanyue had never imagined he could feel the words ‘holy’ and ‘pure’ from a dead body. Yes, holy and pure, to the point where he had the urge to bow in worship. This was the so-called ‘divinity’.

White clothes, white dress, wearing a golden crown, holy and pure beauty. Who was this corpse? What exactly was my contract object? Zhanyue looked at the empty coffin and said, where were the burial objects?

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