Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 405: Inescapable Lifespan_1

Chapter 413: Chapter 405: Inescapable Lifespan_1

The Firebird was just a pet he had subjugated; it was impossible for its master to let the most important cultivation resource be taken by a pet.

In the face of interest, the master definitely comes first.

Moreover, the contract he had signed with the Firebird was an equal one, and when it came to the distribution of significant benefits, there had to be some consideration.

“Borrowing it is also fine!”

Urgency seeped through the Firebird’s voice.

Its current situation seemed quite dire, probably at a critical moment in its cultivation.

“After the Fire Lotus is extracted from the lava, it has already been damaged, how do you plan to use it for your cultivation?”

Qin Niu naturally wanted to get the details clear before giving it to the bird.

“I have been cultivating for many years and intended to use the geothermal heat here along with the Fire Lotus’s energy to achieve rebirth. However, I’ve found that just absorbing geothermal heat is far from enough. The fire essence contained within the Fire Lotus could lend me a final helping hand. Since the Fire Lotus withers away from fire but thrives when meeting it, there’s no need to worry. Just give it to me, and with the great opportunity provided by the volcanic eruption, it will quickly recover.”

The Firebird was desperately suppressing the backlash of the flames.

Reabsorbing them into its body.

“After you use the Fire Lotus for cultivation, will it wither?”

“No!”

The Firebird answered with certainty.

“The fire essence inside it will be completely absorbed by me, and it will take many years to recover.”

“Wait here!”

Qin Niu rushed back to retrieve the Fire Lotus.

Soon after, he returned with the Fire Lotus and threw it directly into the Firebird that was immersed in the lava.

The moment the Fire Lotus, which had started to wilt, was tossed into the lava, it began to recover its vitality at a rapid pace. The ash-colored petals turned a red hue visible to the naked eye.

The Firebird pecked at the core of the Fire Lotus, feasting on the fire essence within.

Qin Niu took this opportunity to check its attributes.

Huo Zhi

Level: Level Eleven Order Galliformes, Huo Zhi Chicken, Experience 499.9 billion/500 billion

Lifespan: 1790 years

Energy: 100 million

Skills: Fire control Grade Eight 10 million/100 million, Flight Level Seven 1 million/10 million

Talent: Fire Mastery

After seeing its attributes, Qin Niu was stunned by its level.

It was now at the peak of Level Eleven, just one step away from leveling up.

If Grade Eight was equivalent to the Spirit Qi Realm and Level Nine to an ordinary Immortal Master, then Level Ten was already terrifying.

Just how strong was this Firebird, who was now at Level Eleven Demon Bird?

It would probably rank well even if it were placed in the Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect.

Such a powerful Demon Bird had actually been successfully subjugated under Qin Niu’s schemes.

Reflecting on it now, he still couldn’t help breaking out in cold sweat.

He had been too bold at the time.

If it were a human Immortal Master, Qin Niu would definitely not dare to entertain the idea of taking advantage of them.

But this Firebird was more than ten times stronger than an average Immortal Master.

No wonder it would rather die than become Qin Niu’s servant.

After pecking at the fire essence contained within the Red Lotus, the Firebird’s body was completely swallowed by flames, turning into a ball of fire.

Screech!

It emitted continuous piercing screams, which made Qin Niu’s heart pound with fear.

Having just subjugated an extremely powerful Demon Bird, he certainly didn’t want the Firebird to perish like this.

From its agonized cries, it was evident that its current situation was extremely dangerous.

Whether human or demon, one faces many difficulties when breaking through to a new realm, even risking their lives.

It is said that even humans who have cultivated to the Immortal Warrior Realm might disintegrate if they fail to break through to a higher realm.

And worse outcomes include being obliterated from the cycle of life and death entirely.

“Were you too hasty in attempting to breakthrough to a higher realm this time?” Qin Niu communicated directly with the fire bird using spiritual power.

“Yes.”

Its voice carried a sense of helplessness while also sounding extremely strained.

“My time is up, if I don’t break through, I can only die of old age.”

The fire bird expressed its own bitterness and helplessness.

Lifespan is the greatest test for any living being.

King Yama decides people die at the third watch, and will not let them live till the fifth.

Even for powerful demon birds, once their time is up, if they can’t find a way to extend their life, they too can only die of old age.

“You’ve lived for over seventeen hundred years already?”

Qin Niu asked it.

“I’ve never really counted, but ever since I became sentient, I realized how precious lifespan is. In the beginning, in order to become a demon, my body endured considerable damage, though I later succeeded in transforming, the damage to my body could never be repaired. You must pay attention to this issue in the future: severe loss of vitality or serious injury, both can diminish lifespan.”

The fire bird addressed Qin Niu with the word “you.”

Not as its master.

This was the result of an equal contract.

They were like friends, Qin Niu’s control over the fire bird was minimal.

While he was the master of the fire bird, he had to respect it and treat it equally.

He couldn’t simply order the fire bird to do anything for him.

Everything had to be voluntary on the fire bird’s part.

However, the fire bird couldn’t leave Qin Niu, due to the power of the contract binding them; whenever Qin Niu called, no matter the distance, it had to come.

Additionally, it could not attack Qin Niu, otherwise, it would be disrespecting its master.

The power of the contract would then punish it.

This punishment was more terrifying than the Tightening Band Spell Sun Wukong wore.

Because making a contract was a soul contract, with heaven and earth as witnesses. Violating the contract by either party is akin to defying heaven and earth.

At that time, they would face the punishment of the forces of heaven and earth.

Unless someone could withstand the forces of heaven and earth, no one would dare to break the contract.

The fire bird’s willingness to remind Qin Niu about the dangers of lifespan loss was a proactive show of goodwill.

“If you succeed in advancing this time, how much could your lifespan increase?”

Qin Niu pursued the question.

“At least by a thousand years. Considering last time it increased by a full eight hundred years.”

The fire bird, like all demon beasts, shared the advantage of a long lifespan, something humans could only envy.

It is much more difficult for humans to increase their lifespan than it is for demon beasts.

Heaven is fair, granting certain advantages to a species while also bestowing them with equivalent disadvantages.

Humans possess great intelligence, unmatched by any demon beast.

But the short lifespan of humans is also a significant weakness.

Ordinary birds, some may live only three to five years before dying. But once they become demons, their lifespan instantly increases by hundreds of years.

This fire bird had an overall lifespan of one thousand seven hundred and ninety years, and even though it lost some of its lifespan during its transformation, it has lived for at least a thousand years.

“What are the chances of your successful advancement?”

The question asked by Qin Niu seemed to touch a sensitive spot.

After a moment, it responded, “There’s hardly a ten percent chance, very low.”

“Less than a ten percent chance, and you still dare to challenge a new realm? You really amaze me,” Qin Niu said, somewhat speechless.

“The volcanic eruption seems to have come earlier than expected, rather suddenly. If I want to advance, I must seize this opportunity presented by the eruption. For us demon beasts, ascending to a new realm is much more difficult than it is for you humans. Besides having to guard against attacks from other demon beasts, we also have to beware of humans scheming against us when we attempt to break through. Additionally, sometimes the punishment from the heavens can be particularly severe.

If I can’t advance this time, when the heavenly tribulation of thunder descends, I’ll still face certain death.

Even though the chances are less than ten percent, I have to give it my all.”

The fire bird was filled with envy towards humans.