Chapter 120 Earthly Branches Ascension Wagering Contract
Party A provides Party B with an opportunity for ascension, and Party B is responsible for selecting candidates for probations. Both parties, based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, trust, and without regret in life or death, have reached a friendly agreement and voluntarily entered into this contract.
1.1 This contract applies to Mortal-grade Earthly Branches. Upon signing, the Earthly Branch will confirm that they have no remaining Dào and voluntarily enter the probation room, becoming the room’s administrator.
1.2 From the date of signing, Party B willingly descends into infinite reincarnation, continuing until the contract expires or the room is emptied of participants.
1.3 Should Party B experience three consecutive empty rooms, Party B is to commit suicide immediately. Party A will promptly fulfill their obligations.
1.4 Upon completion of the contract, Party B will be promoted to a Terrestrial-grade and will leave the probation room.
1.5 If, during the term of this contract, Party B's mind becomes abnormal or if any other uncommunicable condition arises (including but not limited to madness, intellectual impairment, or becoming insect-like), this contract shall automatically be null and void.
2.1 Party A shall ensure that Party B receives physical enhancement after signing this agreement, with the enhancement standard being at least ten times greater than that of the strongest participant. Party A guarantees that this enhancement will not disappear once Party B leaves the probation room.
2.3 Party B promises that, at the time of signing this agreement, they do not possess a {Reverberation} ability. If Party B’s possession of this ability causes any loss to Party A, Party B shall bear full responsibility.
2.4 Party B promises to establish a correct worldview for the participants and ensure that they can be properly guided toward death voluntarily and with acceptance. During this process, Party B shall not indiscriminately kill innocents or seek personal revenge.
2.5 Both parties, at the time of signing this agreement, promise that they are of sound mind and able to communicate simply. If either party is not in such a state, this agreement shall be void.
3.1 All participants must be human or humanoid creatures. If any {Earthly Branches} or non-human creatures are seen among the participants, do not attempt to communicate with them, please commit suicide immediately.
3.2 The probation room is a fully enclosed space. If a dazzling starry sky is seen within the room, ensure Party B’s mind is clear. If clear, close your eyes and commit suicide immediately.
3.3 At the beginning of the probation, no one is allowed to move. If Party B sees anyone moving, immediately distance yourself from them. Ensure your safety before proceeding and commit suicide immediately.
3.4 Party A will never actively appear before Party B. If someone claims to be a member of Party A, Party B should kill them and then commit suicide immediately.
3.5 If suicide fails, attempt to destroy your own eyes and hearing as much as possible. Remain quiet and wait for rescue in the probation room. Party A will send a specialist to kill Party B.
3.6 The number of participants should not exceed nine. If you find more than nine participants, first confirm if Party B is mentally clear. If clear, attempt to kill the extra participants and commit suicide after the game ends.
3.7 The contents of this contract are valid up to {Section 4. Contract Term}. If Party B finds that the contract contains more than four clauses, ensure mental clarity. If clear, tear up the contract and commit suicide immediately.
The contract shall last for ten years from the date of signing. After ten years, regardless of whether the wager is successful, this agreement shall automatically become void.
The contract shall last eternally from the date of signing. This agreement shall never become void.
This contract is made in two copies, one for each party. Party A holds the final interpretation rights.
Party A: Authorized Representative of the Spirit Management Commission, Celestial Dragon.
Party B: Earthly Branches, code name Mortal Goat, Zhang Qiang.
After perusing this contract, not only Officer Li but even Qi Xia felt as though their sanity was slipping away. The only words that echoed in their minds were {commit suicide immediately}, and nothing else seemed to linger or be remembered.
It’s hard to imagine how Mortal Goat, in that dimly lit room, relied on this contract to hold himself together every day.
"Qi Xia, what... what do you think?" Officer Li asked.
"I..." Qi Xia honestly didn’t know how to respond. This contract indeed contained a lot of information, but it was equally baffling.
From a literal interpretation, {Celestial Dragon}, as the initiator of this contract, or Party A, seemed to have granted Mortal Goat {Ascension} rights. As long as Mortal Goat causes everyone in the probation room to disappear and maintains this for three cycles, he will succeed.
Once the contract is fulfilled, he can leave the probation room and become a {Terrestrial Goat}.
When combined with Chu Tianqiu’s explanation, to make everyone in the room disappear, the participants would need to lose a life-staking gamble against a {Terrestrial-grade} Earthly Branch.
In other words, the goal of the {Earthly Branches} was actually the same as {Passage to Heaven}. Both sides were locked in a bizarre standoff, each needing to kill the other through repeated cycles of reincarnation.
Only when one side succeeds can the cycle here be broken.
A bold thought suddenly emerged in Qi Xia’s mind—if the plan of {Passage to Heaven} wasn’t foolproof, then what’s stopping one from becoming an {Earthly Branch}?
Mortal Pig had once said that he wanted to depart this place justly, and with honor, which is why he chose to become a pig.
It may confidently be deduced that {Dào} does not constitute an indispensable item for these Mortal-grade Earthly Branches.
Their true goal is to kill.
Only by killing enough people would they have the right to obtain an {Earthly Branches’ Ascension Wagering Contract} and enter a {probation room}. After all, the contract mentioned that {upon signing, the Earthly Branch will confirm that they have no remaining Dào}.
This implies that the {probation room} was not just the participants' probation, but also probation for the {Earthly Branches}. Once they pass the probation, those Earthly Branches can transform from {Mortal} to {Terrestrial}.
‘Now it all makes sense…’ Qi Xia nodded. No wonder {Mortal Mouse} and {Mortal Pig} appeared closer to {humans}—they had human emotions and didn’t display the overwhelming strength of others. It turns out, only by signing the {Earthly Branches’ Ascension Wagering Contract} could they gain the kind of power seen in {Mortal Goat} and {Terrestrial Ox}.
And it is from that moment onward, {Earthly Branches} began to gradually diverge from the realm of {mortals}; their appearance and strength becoming more monstrous.
To Qi Xia, {End Point} appeared to function like a giant manufacturing belt, seemingly {producing} something. There was no need for outside intervention here; the system could sustain itself.
Yet, what had triggered its existence?
Qi Xia's fingers brushed over the name of Party A on the contract. Authorized Representative of the Spirit Management Commission, Celestial Dragon.
What kind of entity was the {Spirit Management Commission}? And why had it entrusted {Celestial Dragon} with this task?
Qi Xia paused thoughtfully for a moment before sharing his deductions with Officer Li.
After hearing them, Officer Li, who had been somewhat confused earlier, found his mind completely overwhelmed.
To unravel such an eerie phenomenon, one had to first embrace madness. Then, from the perspective of a madman, one could reassess the world.
Unfortunately, Officer Li was completely incapable of doing that.