"Just who are you?" the guy in the crystal inquired.
"Hmm, the first and greatest necromancer in this mortal realm. Nice to meet you," Ronin said sarcastically.
The crystal shook momentarily, and a fearful voice emanated, "Boy, are you from that era?"
"Haha, no, I'm not from that era, Hafiz," Ronin replied.
"Do you even know my name? How is this possible? You're not from that era, yet you still know my name," a voice filled with fear and anxiety emerged from the crystal.
"Fret not, I'll get straight to the point. Be my slave for 500 years, then I'll release you. I won't interfere in your matters again. Of course, you can reject my offer, but do it at your own risk, because the moment you decline, you'll get a free ticket to the underworld," Ronin said in a menacing tone.
"Kid, I don't care who you are, but you're asking for too much. Do you really want Hafiz the Great Necromancer as your slave? Are you daydreaming? Even though I'm trapped in this crystal, you better do as I said if you don't want me to destroy your soul!" Hafiz shouted from the crystal.
"Enough with your nonsense. Trying to use your soul power in your current state is equivalent to asking for a free ticket to hell. Do you think I'm unaware of this and will fall for your pathetic acting? Stop wasting my time, or I'll break this stupid crystal," Ronin retorted, an annoyed expression on his face.
"Stupid crystal? Kid, do you even have any idea what's in your hand? Forget it. Why do you want me to be your slave?" Hafiz questioned from within the crystal.
"To eliminate a wretched soul and embark on my journey beyond this mortal realm, become a part of my quest to conquer every realm in this universe," Ronin declared, lifting his chin with an air of pride.
"Kid, you possess a greater appetite than anyone I've encountered in my life. However, even if it means my demise here, I refuse to be a slave to a nameless cultivator," Hafiz retorted sternly.
"A nameless cultivator? Would you like to know who I am?" Ronin challenged, releasing his demonic energy into the crystal.
"Such pure demonic energy," Hafiz exclaimed from within the crystal.
"You are a demon lord, and your bloodline is as untainted as that of your demon lord ancestors," Hafiz added, clearly surprised.
"Does that mean you agree to be my slave for 500 years?" Ronin inquired, maintaining a calm demeanor.
After several moments of silence, Hafiz finally spoke in a respectful tone, "I agree. I agree to be your slave."
Hafiz, renowned as the finest necromancer in the mortal realm, now served the powerful demon lord of that era.
"Now, how can I bind him as my slave for 500 years?" Ronin pondered silently.
"Are you certain you only want to bind him as your slave for 500 years?" the human-shaped light queried curiously.
"That will suffice," Ronin responded.
"Very well, I shall impart to you a potent binding spell that will tether both your souls permanently until you willingly undo it," the human-shaped light explained, transmitting a series of ancient words into Ronin's consciousness, where they lingered.
"A complex technique," Ronin murmured, although he grasped it within a minute, as the instructions were already imprinted in his consciousness, requiring only a brief review.
"Expand your consciousness space," Ronin instructed.
Merging his demonic energy with soul energy, Ronin infused the crystal, which then entered Hafiz's weakened consciousness. A "slave mark" materialized, hovering within his consciousness space.
"Excellent," Ronin declared, tossing the crystal into a pool of blood with a resounding splash.
Red veins spread through the blood, causing the pool to pulse like a heartbeat. Zhen Xia stood paralyzed as she observed the transformations occurring within the blood pool. Her senses returned only when a sharp, eerie sound emanated from the underworld.
A middle-aged man, entirely unclothed and covered in blood, emerged slowly from the pool. He held a gleaming crystal in his hand, walking purposefully toward Ronin. With a single knee on the ground, he knelt and uttered, "Thank you for aiding me in reclaiming my body."
"No problem," Ronin replied, astonishment clear on his face. While reading about this scenario hadn't affected him much, witnessing it in person made his skin prickle with unease.
"Quite exhilarating... incredibly exhilarating," Ronin muttered softly to himself.
"Agreed?" a voice emerged from his consciousness space.
"Silence," Ronin grumbled under his breath.
"Pardon?" Hafiz gazed at him, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Never mind. Please clean yourself up and put on some clothes. We'll wait outside," Ronin instructed, hastily grasping Zhen Xia's hand and pulling her away from the scene while she remained in a daze.
"Hehe, the master is rather bashful," Hafiz whispered with a low chuckle, observing Ronin's departure.
With his heightened hearing, Ronin nearly had a meltdown upon hearing Hafiz's comment.
Outside the hall…
"I never imagined this rune would turn out to be a trap," Zhen Xia remarked, a look of astonishment etched on her face.
"Haha, indeed. That was quite the surprise we stumbled upon upon entering this hall," Ronin responded, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Do you happen to know how he emerged from that blood pool?" Zhen Xia inquired, curiosity evident in her expression.
Ronin's internal thoughts held a note of annoyance, "How would I possibly know? That wretched bastard provided me with a detailed description of how Hafiz would emerge from the pool, including his body structure and measurements."
"Hello, are you listening?" Zhen Xia waved her hand in front of Ronin's face.
"How could I know? I'm witnessing this for the first time in my life," Ronin replied, his face reflecting a sense of helplessness. He was indeed being truthful.
"Why is he addressing you as 'master'?" Zhen Xia's eager expression fixed on Ronin.
"Because I am his master," Ronin stated matter-of-factly.
"When did you become his master?" Zhen Xia inquired further.
"Just a few minutes ago," Ronin responded with a somewhat bewildered look, thinking, "Why is she bombarding me with so many questions?"