The End Is Near

"Grandfather, say no more. Given the current situation, I am the most suitable candidate," Mo Lin began to explain.

"If we're talking about valuable 'things,' the only thing our Mo Family can offer is soul bones. They are indeed precious, but things are still just things. No matter how valuable a soul bone is, it cannot change the fact that it is a dead object. If a Soul Master loses a soul bone, he may feel regret, disappointment, or remorse, but that is all. Besides, our Mo Family is a major clan; such emotions would not last long. Do you think something that can only bring people this much negative emotion could be considered precious in these two's eyes? What they wanted from the beginning was a person."

"Hisss, hisss, hisss!" The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python let out a strange laugh. "Little thing, you see things quite clearly! You're right. All we wanted from the start was a person. For any creature with emotions, they will only obediently comply when another creature they care about has its life threatened. So, if you plan to fob us off with soul bones, then while you have yet to develop fully, we can only fight to the death with you."

Mo Teng looked at Mo Lin, still wanting to change something.

"Since you want a person, why does it have to be my grandson? If you want one of the younger generation, come for me! We old men aren't dead yet!"

Upon hearing those words, both soul beasts felt somewhat displeased. To prevent a conflict from erupting, Mo Lin hurriedly stopped Mo Teng from saying anything more.

"Grandfather, I stepped forward voluntarily because my strength is low, making me easy to control, and because I am also your biological grandson. Furthermore, the Mo Family's experience will not be of much help to my special martial soul. It won't affect my cultivation wherever I train. Besides, I am meant to avenge my father and mother. It is only right that I make some sacrifices for the family. So please, say no more. Let it be settled this way."

Looking into Mo Lin's determined eyes, Mo Teng seemed to see Mo Di, who had once insisted on going out to sea. He clenched his fists tightly and said nothing, merely turning and walking back.

Mo Wen and Mo Wu looked at Mo Lin, sighed, and followed Mo Teng back.

Mo Jia walked up to Mo Lin.

"You're just as stubborn as my fourth brother."

Mo Lin smiled and shook his head.

"This isn't stubbornness. I merely made the best choice based on the current circumstances."

Mo Jia patted Mo Lin on the shoulder, then turned and walked back as well.

Mo Lin knelt on both knees in the direction the four had left, kowtowed once, then clasped his hands in salute and shouted:

"Please rest assured, elders! Mo Lin will surely remain safe and sound! Do not worry for me!"

After the four had completely vanished from sight, the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python said:

"Everything that needed to be said has been said, and everything that needed to be seen has been seen. Little thing, let's go!"

Within the forest, Mo Lin followed the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python toward its lair.

Before parting ways with the Reaper, the two soul beasts had agreed to take turns guarding Mo Lin, switching every sixty days.

Since walking was far too boring, Mo Lin took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"Senior, your lair shouldn't be far from where we were, right?"

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python glanced at Mo Lin with its vertical pupils.

"Little thing, you've got quite the nerve. You actually dare to take the initiative to speak with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Aren't you afraid you'll say something wrong, anger me, and get swallowed in one bite?"

Mo Lin remained perfectly calm.

"Senior, since you were able to reach an agreement with the ancestors of my Mo Family and coexist without violating each other's territory for so many years, I believe that as long as you do not face a threat to your life, you will certainly honor your promise."

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python stopped and lowered its head to scrutinize Mo Lin carefully.

"Little thing, what's your name? How old are you this year?"

"This junior is Mo Lin. I have just turned twelve this year," Mo Lin said.

"Twelve? Then your appearance and manner of speaking are far too mature for your age." The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python raised its head and continued forward. "Little thing, you're an interesting human. I'm quite interested in you. If you don't provoke me too much during the time you spend with me, I can consider giving you and your clansmen certain conveniences or leniency in some matters."

Mo Lin's eyes lit up.

This long worm is surprisingly easy to talk to?

But Mo Lin immediately returned his expression to normal. He still could not determine whether the long worm's words were sincere.

After another half hour of walking, Mo Lin reached their destination: an enormous swamp.

The moment the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python arrived, it submerged its entire body in the swamp.

"Little thing, I'm going to sleep. Do whatever you need to do."

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python buried its head in the swamp as well, leaving only its two nostrils exposed.

Mo Lin was not foolish enough to try escaping directly. He sniffed the air and found it very strange. Though it was clearly a swamp, there was no rotting stench. Instead, there was a faint fragrance.

Mo Lin climbed up a tree, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating. With a hundred-thousand-year soul beast nearby, no soul beast would be so full of itself as to come looking for death.

Twelve hours later, the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python awoke. It poked out its head and saw Mo Lin sitting in the tree.

Mo Lin likewise sensed that the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python had awakened and opened his eyes.

"Senior, you're awake."

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python raised its head to slightly above Mo Lin's height.

"You little thing are far too calm. Even those old fellows from the Mo Family whom I've met before wouldn't dare speak to me so calmly."

"Senior has never shown any hostility toward me, so why can't I speak with you calmly? On the other hand, Senior has been so courteous to me all this time, which has truly surprised me," Mo Lin said.

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python was a soul beast born and raised on Soul Beast Island. Though it knew that it could assume a so-called human form, it had never come into contact with humans before the Mo Family brought people to the island. Thus, it merely viewed Soul Masters hunting soul beasts as the law of the jungle, where the strong devoured the weak. After all, over its hundred thousand years of life, it had devoured no small number of other soul beasts to increase its soul power. Therefore, it did not possess that instinctive hostility toward humans etched into its DNA.

"You weren't raised on this island, were you?" the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python suddenly asked.

Mo Lin frowned.

"Why does Senior think so?"

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python looked at Mo Lin's expression:

"Looks like I guessed right. You must have only returned to this island recently, because I can't sense even a trace of the aura of the soul beasts from this island on you. Your scent is far too unfamiliar."

"Why did you bring this up, Senior?" Mo Lin felt that even if the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python knew about it, there was no need to point it out.

A hint of desolation showed in the Heaven-Devouring Titan Python's vertical pupils:

"I'm not afraid to tell you. This year marks the nine hundred and ninety-fourth year since I reached a cultivation of one hundred thousand years."

"In other words, you're about to... pass away?" Mo Lin asked.

The Heaven-Devouring Titan Python let out a breath:

"No need to put it so elegantly. Death is death. I chose to remain in my original form back then, so this outcome was inevitable. It's just that I've spent my entire life on this island. Thinking about it now, it really feels like a waste. So, tell me about the world beyond the island."

"If that is the case, then this junior will tell you..."