Trading Rules

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Ivan has gained insight into the Soul Fragment, understanding the general situation of hell, and found a sort of relief. It appears that dealing with Mephisto isn't as daunting as Ivan initially thought because Mephisto resides in hell, and the situation is more favorable than imagined.

As commonly known, hell serves as a haven for souls after death, yet it's not a singular hell. Precisely, each religion has a designated place for the deceased souls—such as the underworld, the abyss, hell, and numerous distinct spaces. These spaces compete for soul resources using various methods.

Mephisto's hell is one of these hells, ostensibly governed by Seven Sovereign Monarchs who, on the surface, collaborate to maintain hell's order. In reality, they are wary of each other, engaging in open and secret battles for mutual benefit. If given the chance, they won't hesitate to eliminate each other.

The intricacies of the Seven Sovereign Hell extend beyond this. Many other devils eye the throne, ready to seize the opportunity and overthrow the reigning hellish sovereigns.

However, the complexity doesn't end there. Mephisto, as an ancient devil, possesses numerous trump cards and can fend off those with ulterior motives. Yet, he faces another problem: Mephisto is essentially also a puppet, despite appearing as the noble king of hell.

The origins of the Hell where Mephisto resides remain unclear. When and how it came into existence eludes description, even for Mephisto. Nevertheless, this space possesses consciousness, with the Seven Sovereign Monarchs serving as its puppets.

To understand this phenomenon, we need to trace it back. For a space to become complete, it must host living beings. The more living beings, the more energy they can absorb into their consciousness, evolve through emotions, and achieve completeness. To birth the Seven Lords of Hell, a substantial part of the Hell origin was required, making it impractical to breed more lives. In response, under the power of the consciousness, a space crack emerged between two realms. The Seven Sovereign Monarchs were then tasked with luring human souls to hell.

The impact is evident as more souls pour into hell, aiding the rapid evolution and completion of Hell. Souls also serve as materials for breeding more devils. The diligent efforts of Mephisto and the other Monarchs are rewarded by the consciousness, enhancing their strength and motivating Mephisto to intensify soul seduction. However, a problem arises when one Monarch faces problems and is severely punished, realizing their puppet status.

The dynamic of this mirrors the relationship between the Dao of Heaven and Sages in Chinese legends. Similar to the Seven monarchs, Seven is a significant number in various legends, symbolizing creation and completion. Initially, the seven monarchs contributed greatly to hell's evolution, enjoying noble status. Over time, their importance diminishes as newer, more energetic devils emerge.

The aging monarchs, like all beings living too long, lose their struggle's goal. The consciousness of Hell may seek to replace them with younger devils. Ivan's earlier concerns about Mephisto's retaliation are mitigated, realizing Mephisto must contend with other Monarchs and jealous young devils before causing trouble.

Before the battle between Mephisto and Ivan, the soul-tearing injury may attract demonic attention. The outcome is uncertain, even if Mephisto wins, it will likely harm his vitality. Ivan, relieved, examines the jade gourd, containing a silver light ball— a trophy from using the reality gem to analyze Mephisto's soul fragments.

The unique power discovered is termed the "Law of Trade" involving contracts when devils lure souls into depravity. The devil-human contract is witnessed by the consciousness of Hell. Violating the contract results in a fusion of devil and human power, enforced by Hell's consciousness, ensuring compliance.

Ivan dissipates the red light, conceals the reality gem, now a pendant, and grabs the silver light. It contains source information on trading rules, erased from Mephisto's memory by the reality gem's influence.

Ivan found himself uncertain about how to handle this collection of pure law—a manifestation of a higher-level power, a pure information aggregation, albeit inferior to the reality gem.

While the reality gem serves as an information aggregate, its condensed entity is boundless, covering the entire universe. In contrast, the trading rules before Ivan only cover a city at most, extracted from a fragment of Mephisto's soul, limiting access to only a few of the consciousness of hell's trading rules.

Faced with this dilemma, Ivan considered the strand of trading rules a precious treasure. Despite the devil's opportunism altering the perception of fairness, the essence of trading hinges on fairness. Ivan contemplated resetting the trading rules and even envisioned a magical item called Gambling Dice, capable of reshaping transactions.

In the realm of gambling gods, all beings are equal, relying on luck to determine the winner. Yet, the idea of making such a prop posed a challenge—turning transaction rules into consumables. Ivan hesitated, reluctant to part with the rules after a single use.

Feeling conflicted, Ivan remarked, "You are truly putting me in a dilemma—like chicken or the egg. It's a pity to consume, yet abandoning it feels regrettable. Unless I find a substitute for the consciousness of hell—an entity willing to serve as a witness and uphold contract responsibility. This way, I can engage in fair dealings, unlike those devils who exploit loopholes. But how is that possible? Hell, consciousness is akin to the way of heaven in a world. Where can I find... wait! It might be possible"

Suddenly, Ivan's expression changed. He looked down at the ground, and his gaze penetrated numerous obstacles, revealing a mysterious underground space with a girl submerged in nutrient solution.

"Why not? If my assumption is correct, her existence is tied to the Earth. If she becomes displeased, it could spell disaster for humanity. It's right in front of me, and not trying would be regrettable."

Ivan's emotions fluctuated, torn between uncertainty and determination. He finally decided, "Hesitation starves, courageous actions. I will give it a try."

Without further hesitation, Ivan swiftly left the secret room, fearing he might change his mind if he lingered. Passing through corridors, he entered an elevator through a mysterious gate, descending rapidly to an empty underground space.