Forgive my fragility, yet I remain cold and noble.

---

Long Ming lowered his gaze slightly, staring absentmindedly at the saber-toothed tiger fur rug beneath his bed for a long time.

Though he appeared lost in thought, there are levels to this, you know?

Ordinary people call it zoning out, professionals call it meditation, and at the highest level, like living Buddhas, it’s called contemplating the meaning of life.

Now, here’s the deal: there’s good news and bad news.

The good news is that after the battle where he “played the pig to eat the tiger,” Long Ming refined the purified dark elements and fully absorbed them into his body. His actual strength broke through from high-level Great Mage to the early stage of Magic Master.

Turns out, true strength only grows through combat. If you lock yourself in a room all day, even with a thousand-year-old halo, you’re bound to fall behind.

And when you fall behind, you get beaten up!

The bad news? It’s been 18 days since he entered the Nine-Tiered Gate! His fake Holy Domain power has started its countdown—there are only about ten days left! The pressure is on, folks! If he doesn’t claim the position of Warden soon, his whole charade is going to fall apart.

According to the whispers he picked up through his informants and by eavesdropping on conversations outside his room, the final eight contenders have been decided after two rounds of intense elimination. All those trying to sneak by with trickery were completely wiped out.

Now, the ones left are definitely formidable competitors in the race for Warden.

Although he holds a direct pass into the top four, if he had genuine power, he wouldn’t be sitting here stressing about it.

For the past few days, to maintain the masterful image he crafted, Long Ming hasn’t left his room at all. He’s on the verge of going stir-crazy!

But staying inside was a calculated move.

[Deception Rule No. 5: Act when you need to act, appear weak when it’s time to appear weak]

Right now, it’s the time for him to fake his weakness. A man who faced off against such a powerful criminal surely couldn’t have come out unscathed. Who would believe that he didn’t need time to recover? What is he, a god?

[Deception Rule No. 6: Maintain an air of mystery and let others fill in the gaps with their imagination]

Since he hasn’t shown up publicly, all those who’ve heard rumors or are eagerly awaiting his appearance are dying to see him in person.

But a master like him can’t just show up whenever. That would be beneath his dignity. If he does make an appearance, it has to be at the right moment. Like a man of his “strength,” the best time to show up is when it matters most—at the final eight!

[Deception Rule No. 7: Know your enemy as well as yourself, and you’ll always win]

Among the final eight are his potential opponents. Only by understanding his enemies can he come up with the perfect strategies. He can’t let the reputation of the Dragon Emperor be tarnished.

↑↑↑

But that’s only part of the reason. The main reason Long Ming can no longer stay in hiding is that Feng Shi of Phoenix City has arrived. He didn’t even have to search for this news; it found its way to his ears, non-stop.

The title of “Number One Beauty” is too loud. It’s impossible to pretend he didn’t hear it.

He’s been waiting for this moment. This time, he plans to give the beauty a grand surprise!

After double-checking his gear stored in his bracelet, Long Ming nodded in satisfaction. If he can’t dazzle them after all this preparation, it would’ve all been for nothing.

Standing before the mirror made of magic crystals, the reflection staring back at him was that of an impossibly handsome man. With the most critical eye, he inspected himself from head to toe.

Hairstyle? Perfect.

Expression? Perfect.

Outfit? Perfect.

Aura? Perfect.

Wait a minute! He almost forgot the most important accessory! How can he maintain an air of mystery without the essential item?

He pulled out a mask from his storage bracelet. It was simple yet elegant, made of bronze material with minimalistic patterns. No fancy embellishments, just pure sophistication. It covered everything above his nose, leaving his flawless jawline exposed.

The allure of half-concealed is the most irresistible!

Excellent. Time to make an entrance.

Over the past 18 days, people had come in droves to visit Long Ming, each with their own motives. However, they were all turned away by the sign on his door that read, “In Seclusion, No Visitors.” He hadn’t yet figured out the intricate relationships between the factions of each Plane, so it was best not to act rashly.

Better to reject them all. Since he, Long Ming, is here, if he doesn’t stir up some chaos in Grimm Space, he’d be unworthy of his title as the number one prodigy.

The moment he opened his door, Long Ming froze.

What the hell!

What are they up to now?!

Standing outside was a row of silent wolf warriors, still as statues. When they saw Long Ming’s white-robed figure, their eyes gleamed with a wolfish light.

Looking back at himself in his white robes, Long Ming saw the stark contrast between his delicate appearance and their fierce aura.

As passersby witnessed the scene, they hurriedly spread the word, “Quick, get Lord Sha Yu! The wolf warriors are here to cause trouble!”

Long Ming snapped out of his momentary shock, his cool, clear voice as refreshing as spring water, “What’s the matter?”

“Can we come in to talk?” That voice sounded familiar. Confident in his memory, Long Ming quickly recalled—it was the wolf warrior he had deliberately befriended earlier.

With an elegant, cold nod.

Like prisoners granted a pardon, the wolf warriors had been waiting here for days!

Fortunately, Dimensional Prison wasn’t stingy. The guest rooms for heavyweights like Long Ming were spacious enough to fit the group of wolf warriors.

The chilling aura of their armor and the eerie scent they carried radiated the oppressive presence of Dimensional Prison.

Long Ming lounged casually, looking calm and collected as ever.

The wolf warriors, on the other hand, stood frozen, as if they were in the presence of a venomous beast.

Were they… being shy?

“The Seven Treasure Fire Condensing Pill you gave us a while ago worked wonders. I… We…” The speaker was Lang Tianlu, the wolf warden Long Ming had encountered in Dimensional Prison, and also a wolf prince.

“You want one for everyone?” Long Ming finished the sentence for him.

Even with their helmets on, the wolf warriors’ embarrassment was palpable as they awkwardly nodded. Among the myriad species across the nine planes, the Demon Clan held the lowest status, a race constantly subjected to discrimination. Even with a once-renowned Demon Emperor, their treatment had only improved slightly.

Though their sheer strength might alleviate some of the bias, deep down, demons were still despised and feared.

No one ever showed them kindness, as if they didn’t deserve to exist. As for the Bloodscale Wolf Tribe, they were the lowest of the low within the Demon Clan.

If it hadn’t been for Dimensional Prison taking them in when they were on the brink of extinction, they would have been homeless.

Dimensional Prison was their only refuge.

But now, here they were, shamelessly asking for more pills. If it weren’t for the agonizing pain of shedding their scales, they wouldn’t have come.

As the full moon of next month approached, and not knowing when Long Ming would emerge again, they had no choice but to wait outside.

Though they had braced themselves for rejection, why would a distinguished human elite, a rare and precious alchemist, someone as untouchable as Long Ming, be willing to help a lowly demon race like them?

“Sure.”

Huh?

What?

The wolf warriors stared dumbfounded at Long Ming. Did he just agree that easily? A human willing to help them, and without any conditions?

In his previous life, Long Ming had known many demons, including a close friend, the most powerful figure in the Demon Clan—the Demon Emperor. During the final battle, it was the Demon Emperor who sacrificed his life to block a fatal blow for Long Ming, falling in the process and giving Long Ming the chance to tear through space and arrive in the world a thousand years later.

One could say the Demon Emperor was Long Ming’s lifesaver, someone he could never forget.

Not only did Long Ming not discriminate against the Demon Clan, but he also held a deep fondness for them.

He took out several bottles from his storage bracelet and handed them to Lang Tianlu. Clearly, Long Ming had been waiting for them to ask for the pills for a long time—waiting for this exact moment!

To win over these loyal, simple-minded wolf warriors, he had truly gone all out.

“We… We will pay you back!” The wolf warriors, overwhelmed with excitement, stammered.

Long Ming shook his head. What could they possibly afford with their meager salaries? “Just focus on gathering materials. I can’t afford to feed all of you.”

The meaning was clear: not just this time, but next time too.

No need for their gold. If they wanted more pills, they just had to collect the ingredients, and he would refine them. This deal was basically a huge bargain for the wolf warriors.

Alchemists were rare, and even a regular second-grade pill was incredibly precious, let alone one they needed every month.

For the first time, someone had shown the Bloodscale Wolf Tribe respect and offered them help without asking for anything in return!

What kind of amazing character was this guy!?

Long Ming merely gave a faint smile, as if it were no big deal.

No big deal… No big deal… No big deal, my ass!

The look in his eyes seemed to understand and accept everything they wanted to say.

Good heavens, I’m making such a big sacrifice. You guys better take care of me, alright?

After all, when I become the Warden of Dimensional Prison, you guys are going to be my hardcore supporters, so how about giving me a little extra effort, eh?!

Lang Tianlu held the pills tightly, his eyes growing misty, though the helmet concealed it.

Exchanging a glance with the other wolf warriors, they seemed to come to a grave decision. With a heavy tone, Lang Tianlu said, “Your character has earned our trust. If you’re willing to help us, we would like to offer something in return—we will sign a Blood Contract with you.”

Wait, what? This isn’t what he had in mind!

Have the Bloodscale Wolf Tribe learned how to haggle over the past thousand years?

Hold up. That’s not the point. Holy crap, Blood Contract?!

No amount of swearing could quell Long Ming’s shock.

“Please help our tribe survive this disaster!” However, Lang Tianlu remained tight-lipped about what kind of disaster they were facing.

It was as if he knew that if he revealed the truth, Long Ming would refuse to help.

Something feels off. Have I gone too far with my kindness and selflessness? These wolf warriors seem genuinely moved, but there’s this nagging feeling that I’m about to get screwed over.

As it turns out, his instincts were right.

Bad feelings always come true.

Before Long Ming could even voice his regrets, Lang Tianlu, fearing any delay, began chanting.

Suddenly, a transparent soul of a blood wolf appeared behind Lang Tianlu. As he muttered in an ancient language, the surrounding space seemed to twist into a vortex, and the other wolf warriors followed suit. A blood-red light flooded the entire room, generating a powerful magical ripple.

Alerted by the disturbance, Sha Yu rushed over, only to see the blood-red glow enveloping the building halfway there. This… Was this a Blood Contract?

The Bloodscale Wolf Tribe’s lifelong loyalty contract, binding them until death.

At that very moment, leaders from various factions also sensed the soul-binding contract energy and looked toward the source in unison.

What a terrifying energy resonance! How many demonic beasts are participating in this?

Who could possibly have the power to make these wicked, shameless demonic beasts sign a Blood Contract?!

The Blood Contract was different from other contracts; it ensured absolute loyalty. The demonic beasts offered up their souls, and if they violated the contract, they would face the wrath of Grimm’s laws. No one dared to trifle with Grimm’s laws.

The Blood Contract bound only the demonic beasts, with all the benefits going to the host. Who in their right mind would agree to such a one-sided, shackling contract?!

This was reverse sticking—a pure, shameless reverse stick!

Everyone had to see for themselves who had the guts and ability to pull this off!

Unbeknownst to Long Ming, forces from all sides were now on the move.

At the center of the contract, Long Ming floated mid-air, surrounded by red light, making him look even more dreamlike. His white robes fluttered, and a complex pattern of contract runes formed beneath him.

The soul of the blood wolf charged toward his chest before vanishing inside. This signified that their lives were now in his hands.

But Long Ming wasn’t pleased. Not at all!

Even if he was upset, he couldn’t stop the dozens of forces now flowing into his body, seemingly providing him with an endless supply of spiritual power. While he had never signed a Blood Contract in his past life, he knew that this power came from the wolves’ souls. As their contract lasted longer, their compatibility would increase, and his spiritual power would continue to grow, along with his strength.

Though his current power level was that of an early-stage Magic Master, he could now stand toe-to-toe with high-level opponents. In other words, he was now the strongest in his tier!

The Blood Contract was completed faster than expected. As Long Ming descended from the air, he felt the loyal gazes of dozens of eyes fixed on him.

Damn it, those loyal looks felt like a blatant threat to Long Ming. They had gone and forced the Blood Contract on him—such a high-end, grand contract—and now he had no choice but to help. How could he refuse? Could he even bear to?

What others saw as a stroke of luck, Long Ming saw as being trapped.

He had been bound, hard and fast.

Reality told him that even the most simple-minded of races could pull off some serious backstabbing!

Now, he finally understood how a maiden might feel after being forced into submission, only to have to pay for it afterward. He really wanted to put on his most constipated expression right now…

The more he suppressed his feelings, the colder Long Ming’s face became.

He was like a snow leopard from the farthest reaches of the frozen tundra.

The icy aura made the wolf warriors even more ashamed. Lang Tianlu knelt on one knee, and under his lead, the other wolf warriors followed suit, their heads hanging even lower, waiting for his judgment.

A whole row of black-armored warriors kneeling like this… What do they want now?

They’ve already forced me into this Blood Contract. What else can I do?!

Long Ming was in a terrible mood, feeling stifled and frustrated.

After taking several deep breaths, he finally spoke, “What do you want me to do?”

“It’s… If you can win the position of Warden, I will tell you then,” Lang Tianlu hesitated before responding.

Damn, what does that mean?

If I don’t win, are you guys planning to abandon me? After you’ve already bound me for life with this Blood Contract?! What’s with this bias towards strength?

Do you really think that even without strength, I can’t dominate the world?

Are you still going to be my loyal subordinates or not?

Of course, Long Ming would never voice these thoughts.

Although Long Ming wasn’t exactly a saint, since they were sticking to him so persistently, he wouldn’t be too stingy in helping them either.

Those who have little to their name must treasure what they do have.

Perhaps because of the Blood Contract, Long Ming’s cold, emotionless face now seemed even friendlier to Lang Tianlu and the others. Even if that “friendliness” was filled with bitterness and frustration on Long Ming’s end.

A deep sense of connection filled the air between Long Ming and the wolf warriors.

No one spoke, as if afraid to disturb the fleeting moment of peace.

At that moment, none of them could have predicted that one day in Dimensional Prison, a fearsome wolf-armored battalion would rise, their loyalty and deeds etched into history, marking the first time a demon race ever sparked such controversy.

Wait! Had Long Ming forgotten something important?!

With all that commotion earlier, it was bound to attract attention.

He had already earned enough fame previously. As a newcomer with no background or strength, being too high-profile would only draw backlash and suspicion. Especially since he was only a Magic Master, in a place crawling with monsters, he needed to proceed carefully, step by step.

[Deception Rule No. 8: Know when to stop. Stay low-key when necessary.

Through the bond of the Blood Contract, Long Ming’s orders were swiftly transmitted to their minds.

Lang Tianlu carefully stored the pills and, along with the other wolf warriors, bid farewell to Long Ming. After receiving his signal, they stood and left.

Given their intimate knowledge of the Dimensional Prison map, slipping away unnoticed was no big deal.

Watching them leave, Long Ming felt a pang of sourness.

Once again, Long Ming was alone in his room, as if the wolf warriors had never been there.

Until he had enough strength, everything had to be done in secret, gathering power until he could once again “play the pig to eat the tiger.” This was the rule of survival for Long Ming.

He never underestimate himself.

Every success wasn’t a coincidence but the result of precise calculations.

Now that they were gone, Long Ming certainly wouldn’t stay in the same place either. The whole building was filled with the scent of the Blood Contract, and though he had erased the traces from his room, he doubted anyone could figure out what had happened.

With a flash, Long Ming left decisively.

And even if they did suspect him, so what? Where’s the evidence?

You know why rumors are just rumors? Because no one knows if they’re true.