The Emaciated Daoren had not expected the exotic beast's soul to look so robust yet offer almost no resistance against the suction.
The enormous butterfly was sucked straight into the giant mouth.
The exotic beast's soul body was far too large. As it entered the mouth, its entire body twisted and folded violently.
It was actually rolled into a thick, long bundle.
Yet at that moment, the Big Head Butterfly sent out a mental message. Both combatants sensed it amid the fierce battle.
"First One, this is all I can do for you. See you in the next life!"
"Xiao Hu!" Qu Jianlei's eyes were practically splitting with rage. This was the only companion he had across both his lives! Although Xiao Hu was merely a digital artificial intelligence, it had always been growing, striving to develop an independent consciousness! Qu Jianlei had always been unable to stand the idea of other species cultivating immortality, but Xiao Hu... was truly different.
It had accompanied him through nearly all the years since he crossed over. Calling them dependent on each other for survival would not be an exaggeration.
Not only was Xiao Hu loyal, it never complained of hardship or exhaustion. The only trouble it ever caused him was its pursuit of computational power.
But Qu Jianlei did not think that was a problem at all. As an artificial intelligence, was it wrong to seek greater strength for itself? If anyone was at fault, it was him, its owner—he was simply too poor!
When one's companion—or rather, one's child—wanted something their parent could not afford, shouldn't that parent feel guilty?
What pained Qu Jianlei even more was that Xiao Hu's consciousness... was actually very afraid of death. It had always put survival first.
Yet this timid Digital Lifeform had willingly given