Chapter 143: Watching the Devil

"One is for detecting demonic signatures similar to the one in this wand."

"The other is for tracking down magical tomes akin to this book of mine. I wonder, Mr. Richards, is that something you could manage?"

As the two magical artifacts hovered in the air, the Fantastic Four frowned. It wasn't because Gu Zhongyan’s request was too demanding, but because of the Darkhold.

Even those without magical sensitivity could perceive the immense, malevolent power radiating from the book; its brutal and chaotic aura was deeply unsettling. Furthermore, since the four had been transformed by cosmic energy, they were far more sensitive to such things than the average person. Had they not already been acquainted with Gu Zhongyan and verified his identity, they likely would have driven him out the moment he produced these items. Even so, their expressions remained grim.

Mr. Fantastic, brow furrowed, could not help but ask, "Mr. Gu, what exactly is the origin of these two items? I feel... I feel..."

Having had a pleasant conversation previously, Mr. Fantastic did not want to embarrass his guest and struggled to find the right words.

Gu Zhongyan, however, bluntly took the initiative. "It feels like some sort of evil dark artifact, right?"

The four were taken aback, surprised by his candor; he had no intention of hiding anything. Gu Zhongyan smiled. It was no joke—the nickname "Mr. Fantastic" wasn't earned for nothing. As the smartest man in the Marvel Universe, he represented the pinnacle of its technology. It could be said that wherever he was, the likes of Iron Man and Dr. Banner could only play supporting roles. This man had even once engineered devices capable of bombarding the Living Tribunal. Anyone familiar with the Marvel Universe knew that the Living Tribunal was, under normal circumstances, the ceiling of power—the second-in-command of the multiverse. That Richards could pull off such a feat spoke volumes of his power. With a technological giant like him, who could potentially threaten the entire multiverse with a few gadgets, deception was pointless and would only create distance.

Gu Zhongyan gestured to the dragon bone wand and the Darkhold. "From a general perspective, these are indeed very dangerous items."

"This wand was crafted from the bone of a dragon and a demon. Don't let its unassuming appearance fool you; there is actually a demon from Hell sealed within the bone."

"As for this grimoire, its origins are even more significant. It is a copy of a book containing numerous horrific black spells. It is tainted with dark attributes, capable of corrupting a person's soul, turning them violent and bloodthirsty until they lose themselves entirely."

"If an ordinary person were to encounter these two items, the best outcome would be becoming a lunatic."

"You are all scientists and have had little contact with the mystic arts, so you may not know that in the mystical realm, a group of mages has always been guarding the safety of Earth."

"I asked Mr. Richards to help create detection instruments in the hope of finding hidden demons and lost dark grimoires across the globe, to prevent further harm."

Hearing this, the four relaxed their guarded expressions and looked at Gu Zhongyan with approval. Regardless of his identity, any superhero would have a natural affinity for someone acting to protect the Earth, especially since Gu Zhongyan had behaved in a way that resonated with them from the start.

Understanding his intentions, Mr. Fantastic immediately made his decision. "Don't worry, Mr. Gu. Since you trust me, I will do my absolute best to help you complete these sensors."

"However, I do not understand magic. If I fail, I hope you will forgive me."

"You are too kind, Mr. Richards," Gu Zhongyan replied quickly. "I am essentially treating a dead horse as if it were alive; if it succeeds, that is for the best, and if not, then it is fate. I am grateful for you doing your best."

"Additionally, these items are somewhat malevolent. If you are working with them, please do not linger near them for too long, or I fear the dark power might erode your minds. If you feel any discomfort, please contact me immediately to avoid any accidents," Gu Zhongyan cautioned.

"Thank you for the warning," they nodded.

Perhaps because the topic of protecting the world was so appealing, the naturally lively Human Torch approached Gu Zhongyan once the discussion ended and couldn't help but ask, "Say, Mr. Gu, do Hell and demons really exist in this world?"

"Of course. Would you like to see one?" Gu Zhongyan nodded.

The Human Torch’s eyes widened, his voice rising by an octave. "Really? I can see one? Won't it be dangerous?" He asked, caught between excitement and worry.

It wasn't just the Human Torch; the other three unconsciously looked over as well. After all, whether from a scientific perspective or pure curiosity, the subject of demons was undeniably fascinating.

"It's fine," Gu Zhongyan shook his head and pointed to the dragon bone wand. "Didn't I say there was a demon sealed inside? Since you're interested, there's no harm in letting you take a look."

With that, Gu Zhongyan gestured toward the wand.

"Reveal!"

A series of violent grinding sounds echoed. The ivory-like dragon bone suddenly filled with cracks as if it were about to shatter, startling the four.

However, they soon realized the wand was not breaking. As the cracks spread, they transformed into a massive cage of white jade-like chains that began to expand. In the center of this white cage, countless intricate magical runes formed a formation, binding a massive, hideous demon—the very same "Beast" once worshipped by The Hand.

As its power was continuously drained, this once-mighty demon was now as weak as a common hell-imp, stripped of all its majesty under the suppression of the formation. It would likely be completely extinguished before long.

The four watched in stunned silence, not daring to blink. This was a demon—a legendary demon.

Like bumpkins visiting a grand mansion, they circled the expanded wand, peering left and right. Their hands were itching to reach out; had it not been for the interlocking white jade chains, they likely would have tried to touch it to see what a demon felt like.

Gu Zhongyan didn't let them watch for too long. Once he felt it was sufficient, he resealed the wand, returning it to its original state.

The four were clearly disappointed, but they did not ask to see it again. After all, beyond the novelty, there wasn't much to see—demons were simply ugly, and no other word could better describe them.

"Mr. Richards, I will leave these two items with you. I hope you can develop the detection instruments I need as soon as possible based on their energy fluctuations."