Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 405: Inescapable Lifespan_1 (2/2)

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.