Spellcasting Gods

However, later, for unknown reasons, a fierce conflict broke out between European colonists and Native Americans, and the inhabitants of the underground world hidden among ordinary people were also involuntarily involved.

Some of them believed that they should use their power to eliminate the Native Americans and make Europeans the masters of this land, while others believed that they should eliminate the misunderstandings between them and restore a state of non-aggression.

Unfortunately, Selma falls into the latter category.

Given the prevailing racial superiority and colonial ideology that swept across Europe at the time, few people were willing to support her; most preferred to support war against the Native Americans.

As a result, an ambitious man saw an opportunity to seize power, secretly plotted a perfect murder, killed all those who supported peace, including Selma, and then resolutely waged a war against the Native Americans that would last for hundreds of years.

This ambitious man was none other than Rudolf Marcus, the second leader of the North American Congress, known as the Grim Reaper.

To this day, his descendants still hold a very important position in parliament.

Of course, you might ask, what does this story of conspiracy and betrayal have to do with bloodshed and revenge?

The answer is simple: before Selma died, she used her last power to cast a vicious curse, saying that her descendants would one day return to exact a terrible revenge on the betrayers.

Any descendant who participated in that murder will die a painful death in this revenge.

About two hundred years ago, during the American Revolutionary War, a woman claiming to be a descendant of Selma launched a war in the underworld.

No one knows where she came from or where she recruited so many powerful subordinates. In any case, the council lost nearly half of its lords and members in that war and barely managed to suppress the rebellion, while also suffering heavy losses.

However, before she died, she also swore a poisonous oath, claiming that it would not be long before Selma's descendants would rise again until the curse was fulfilled.

For many years, Parliament has never given up on finding the whereabouts of Selma's descendants, but in the end, they have found nothing.

Just a few months ago, I suddenly received an anonymous letter with only one sentence: "The bloody revenge has begun..."

"So you think the chaos in Brooklyn isn't because you're about to die, but because Selma's descendants have returned?" Zhang Cheng asked, his eyes gleaming.

No one longed for war and slaughter more than him!

After all, the more chaotic the situation, the more he can glimpse the depths of the underworld and gain more knowledge and power from it.

Miles, clearly unaware of the dangerous thoughts harbored by the young man before him, nodded with a wry smile: "I think so! Perhaps her descendant is some lord in Brooklyn, lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity, a chance to seize power and infiltrate the council..."

Chapter 0265 Contract

“Interesting, very interesting. If I’m not mistaken, you haven’t told the council about this yet, have you?” Zhang Cheng asked with a half-smile.

It was obvious from the other party's almost ambiguous attitude that the old man was using a concealed approach to avoid offending anyone.

Miles didn't try to deny anything, and answered very seriously, "Yes! Why would I tell the council about this? They can't prolong my life, nor can they protect my family. If I exposed this, Selma's descendants would definitely not let my family off the hook, so I let the chaos in Brooklyn continue. Now you understand what the real danger is, right? It's not those two women fighting each other on the surface, but the dark hand stirring up trouble in the shadows."

Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement: "That's right, this matter is indeed of no benefit to you, but it's different for me. I believe that they will offer a generous reward for providing the council with such important information. But I still don't quite understand why you chose me?"

As the saying goes, those who offer unsolicited kindness are either up to no good or are thieves; he wouldn't believe any of that bullshit talk about instant rapport or admiration for talent.

If a stranger suddenly gives you unimaginable benefits, then there must be a sinister plot hidden behind it.

“It’s simple. I want to make a deal with you, a secret deal that only the two of us know.” With that, Miles used his bony arms to forcefully sit up.

"What about the content?" Zhang Cheng asked cautiously, narrowing his eyes.

"The content is that I'm transferring everything related to magic to you, including books, notes, laboratories, raw materials, and so on. All you have to do is guarantee the safety of my family. Of course, to ensure you continue to keep your promise after my death, we need to sign a blood oath with the effect of a contract. Those who break it will be severely punished. So, do you agree?" The old man tremblingly took a yellowed parchment scroll from the cabinet next to his hospital bed.

The back of the scroll is densely covered with dark red lines that resemble capillaries. Whenever light shines through it, it emits a faint black smoke, making it clear that it belongs to a rather evil thing.

Despite not knowing much about magic in this world, Zhang Cheng still smelled a faint sulfurous odor.

Without a doubt, this is a demonic contract. Both parties must inject a part of their soul into the contract, which is then overseen by the powerful demon lord who created it. Those who breach the contract will automatically become the target of the demon lord's hunt.

Unless one of the signatories is more powerful than the demon lord, sooner or later they will be exhausted in the endless pursuit, their souls will be taken back to hell to suffer near-eternal torment until they completely collapse.

No one wants to pay such a price!

Sensing the terrifying aura emanating from the scroll, Zhang Cheng suddenly laughed, refusing as he did so: "I'm sorry, Mr. Congressman, I have to disappoint you. I will not sign this contract, never, because it is a shackle that restricts my freedom. Once I sign it, it means I will have to stay with your family forever, unable to pursue the knowledge and power I crave. Finally, thank you for the information you provided; it has made me clearly aware of what is happening in Brooklyn..."

As the last word fell, Zhang Cheng turned to leave the intensive care unit.

But before he could even open the door, Miles suddenly shouted, "Wait! Tell me your terms! What can you do?"

"Me? I can only guarantee to do my best to ensure the safety of your family. If anyone dares to kill them, I will avenge them, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. No matter how many of your relatives the enemy kills, I will kill ten times as many people they care about as revenge, regardless of whether these people are innocent, elderly, women, or children. So, are you satisfied with this condition?" Zhang Cheng stopped and turned around, revealing a cold and ruthless smile.

“Revenge…” Miles lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then quickly nodded. “Okay, I agree to your conditions, but I have to add one more: if one day you master the ultimate power of alchemy—the resurrection of the dead—you must resurrect me once.”

"Resurrect the dead?!" Zhang Cheng's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

It should be noted that when he was in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, he had already spied on the "resurrection ritual" mastered by the priests of R'hllor.

However, it was later discovered that this so-called resurrection had extremely strict limitations. First, the body had to be perfectly preserved, especially the brain, which had to be completely free of any damage; second, the time of death could not exceed three days, and the body could not rot or be infested with maggots, otherwise the ritual would fail; finally, and most importantly, the soul of the deceased had to be near the body.

Strictly speaking, this cannot be considered resurrecting the dead; it is more like re-injecting the soul into the body and then repairing the damaged internal organs, blood vessels, and muscles.

If the lifespan of the resurrected person comes to an end and their physiological system can no longer function, then even if they are brought back to life, they will die instantly.

True resurrection should be the ability to reconstruct a physical body for the deceased, regardless of whether the body still exists, as long as the soul and consciousness of the deceased have not dissipated.

Clearly, the resurrection caused by the old man is not a cheap imitation, but a true rebirth and resurrection.

With the knowledge and power Zhang Cheng currently possesses, he is far from being able to access such profound and complex magic.

"Yes! The dead are resurrected! But don't worry, I understand how difficult it is to resurrect the dead, so I haven't given you a specific deadline. You just need to promise to fulfill your promise when you are able to. Oh, by the way, this alchemy stone is the most precious and valuable thing I have ever made in my life. It can help you better complete the conversion between matter and energy. Now that I am about to die, I will give it to you as a gift."

After saying this, the old man reluctantly took off a silver ring from his finger. The ring was set with a purple gemstone that seemed inconspicuous at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it had a breathtaking quality.

In particular, the dense clusters of constantly moving points of light inside seem to be revealing some unknown mystery.

Zhang Cheng took the ring to the window, held it high in the sun, and instantly felt as if he were in the deep universe. The points of light were like countless stars, radiating colorful light under the sunlight.

No language or words can describe the shock he felt at that moment!

Seeing the other party's reaction, Miles revealed a smug expression, then unfurled the scroll and said in a slightly weary voice, "Young wizard, may we begin signing the contract now?"

“Of course! It’s my honor, Mr. Councilor.” Zhang Cheng put away the alchemy stone and bowed with one hand on his chest.

And so, an untold contract was signed in the intensive care unit of Columbia & Cornell Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Apart from the two parties involved and the supervisor, no fourth person knew the contents of the document…

Chapter 0266 Speculation

Accompanied by bright flames, the completed demonic contract began to burn rapidly, eventually turning into wisps of black smoke and dissipating into the air, leaving not even a trace of ash.

At the same time, a triangular red mark slowly appeared on the back of the left hand of the two people who signed the contract, and disappeared after a short while.

However, Zhang Cheng, who was exceptionally sensitive to energy, could sense that an external evil force was clinging to his body like a malignant tumor. Although it did not pose a significant threat, the owner of the force could track its location through this trace of energy.

Without a doubt, if he breaks his promise, the demon lord who created the contract will personally intervene to ensure that the breacher is punished accordingly.

According to the agreement signed by Hell, Heaven, and the Council, none of the parties may interfere. In fact, the Council must even grant the Demon Lord temporary permission to enter the realm until it completes its duties.

It can be said that the Demon Contract, Heaven's Redemption, and the Council's Pardon are the manifestations of three ultimate forces that are almost impossible to defy in this world.

Feeling the Demon Lord's power flowing through his dying body, Miles visibly relaxed, lay back down on the soft hospital bed, and said breathlessly, "We're allies now. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Death hasn't given me much time left."

"I have only one question. From your perspective, among the many lords in Brooklyn, who is the most suspicious? The witch of lust, Catherine?" Zhang Cheng stroked his chin and asked with interest as he walked around behind her.

In fact, as a complete outsider, he was completely unconcerned about the impending chaos and war, and even less concerned about who would lead the powerful North American Congress. He simply wanted to extract enough benefits from it, just as he had done in A Song of Ice and Fire.

But this time, he is not in a relatively strong position, so he must be extra careful to ensure that he ends up on the side of the victor.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know who the prime suspect is, but it definitely can't be Catherine. Because I know that the reason she wanted to gain power was because her father was once the person in charge of daily affairs sent by the European Parliament to the New World. But later, with the establishment of the North American Parliament and the war with the Native Americans, her father was gradually squeezed out of the center of power and eventually had to return to Austria to live in seclusion. Oh, I almost forgot, when I was a member of parliament, I secretly collected some information about the lords in the area around New York, including their abilities, personalities, and preferences. I'll have Francis take you to get it later."

After saying that, Miles seemed to have used up all his strength. He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if he wanted to spend the last few hours of his life in peace.

Zhang Cheng had no intention of disturbing the other party. He turned around, glanced at the statue placed among the plants, and quickly pushed open the door and walked out.

He had barely stepped into the corridor when Francis, who was waiting at the door, approached him and asked in a low voice, "Well, Mr. Zhang, have you reached an agreement with the congressman?"

"Yes, we signed a contract in which he agreed to give me everything related to magic after his death. In addition, he also asked you to take me to retrieve a document, a very confidential and important document, which I believe you should know about, right?" Zhang Cheng hinted meaningfully.

“Of course! Please follow me!” Francis’s expression changed slightly. He glanced warily at the lawyer standing next to him and then quickly walked towards the parking lot.

"Go back to the villa and wait for me!" After giving the order to Polman, Zhang Cheng followed and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The two got into an old car, one after the other, and sped along the main road. About half an hour later, they stopped in front of a three-story brick and stone old house in Manhattan.

Francis said nothing, took out a key covered in green patina from his pocket, and forcefully inserted it into the dirty lock on the door.

With a click, the lock was opened.

He bent down and gestured for us to come in, then led the way while explaining, "Sir, this is where the councilor stores his valuables and conducts alchemical experiments. From now on, it will be your property. I will handle the relevant legal procedures later. You just need to sign the documents at the end."

"Oh? A villa like this must be incredibly valuable, right?" Zhang Cheng asked with a half-smile, looking at the numerous antique furniture, artworks, and paintings displayed around the living room.

"No, sir, compared to what's stored in this villa, its intrinsic value is negligible. Look at this portrait of the Virgin Mary, a work by the outstanding Renaissance painter Raphael Sanci; its value is five times that of the villa. And this candlestick, used by the Sun King Louis XIV of France, and these antique furniture, plates, and tea sets—all hundreds of years old, some even dating back to the Dark Ages over a thousand years ago..."

Francis was undoubtedly very attached to the things in the house, and he talked at length about the origin and story behind each item.

Under his guidance, the two unknowingly arrived at the study on the far right of the second floor.

Just as Zhang Cheng was drawn to the various books on the bookshelf, the old man suddenly raised his hand to signal him to stop. He then bowed to the monster-shaped stone statue standing at the door of the room: "Guardian, my master has sent me to fetch something for this gentleman."

"Passage permitted!" A sapphire in the statue's eye flashed and emitted a low hum.

“Also, from now on this gentleman will be the new owner of the house, and you will need to obey his orders as you would an owner,” Francis continued.

"Prove your proof! Otherwise, your application will be rejected!" The statue suddenly moved, raising its head and staring intently at Zhang Cheng.

Its sharp teeth and claws are proof of its formidable fighting power; it could dismember an ordinary person in seconds.

Such a blatant threat could not be ignored by Zhang Cheng, who immediately took two steps back and prepared for battle.

However, before he could put it into practice, Francis immediately reminded him, "Sir, please show me the alchemy stone that your master gave you."

"An alchemical stone?" Zhang Cheng paused for a moment, then took out a ring that emitted a strange luster from his pocket.

moment!

The originally hostile statue seemed to have encountered its natural enemy, and immediately curled up into a ball, not daring to move.

"Please remember that you can control all the alchemical creations in this house using the Alchemy Stone. If the Alchemy Stone is lost, they will see you as an enemy and an intruder, so please take good care of it. Here, this is the information you requested. Now let me take you home."

Francis took a thick notebook from the bookshelf and handed it, along with the key, to Zhang Cheng…

Chapter 0267 Accident

"Catherine Agnes, age 270, female, abilities: telekinesis, control of desires, life drain..."

Cassandra, age 53, female, possesses the abilities to manipulate animals and plants, is a close-combat expert, a master of herbalism, and belongs to the Celtic Druid sect...