Emperor Di cast a glance at Lin Mohan, silently signaling her not to speak.
She opened her mouth as if to argue, but in the end, she remained silent.
Turning back to Antares, Emperor Di said calmly, “Lord Antares, I wonder if you agree to this deal.”
There was no talk of friendship or favor. This was a transaction, pure and simple.
Emperor Di knew well that only a deal could move Antares; nothing else would.
Antares’s deep voice rumbled, “You understand what it ans for to divide a sliver of my will, don’t you?”
“The affairs of the human race are not sothing I can interfere with. You know that rule.”
Emperor Di smiled faintly, “I understand, Lord Antares. But for soone of your stature, splitting off a wisp of will can hardly be considered interference. I only ask that, in tis of danger, you protect my disciple.”
“As for how you protect her… I trust you’ll decide appropriately.”
Antares’s eyes flickered with contemplation. How to protect her, that left much room for interpretation.
Killing her enemies would count as protection. Saving her from peril would too.
As long as he didn’t directly ddle in human affairs, it wouldn’t count as interference.
Antares fixed his gaze on Emperor Di, “You’ve truly decided to go there?”
Emperor Di nodded solemnly, “It’s about ti. If I don’t go now, there won’t be another chance.”
Antares sighed, “You’re nearly 200 years old. If you wait any longer, it’ll be too late. Even if you go now, your chances of survival are less than 10%. Your odds are slim.”
“This is my destiny.” Emperor Di said heavily, the word destiny carrying the weight of a life-or-death decision.
He had no other choice. If he didn’t go now, the opportunity would vanish forever.
Even if it ant certain death, it was fate.
Antares gave a low grunt, “Very well. I accept the deal. Give the Dragon Bead. I’ll protect your disciple until she reaches half-step Transcendent God-level.”
Joy flashed in Emperor Di’s eyes. He imdiately produced a small box.
Lin Mohan’s eyes widened in shock. She had seen that box before. Emperor Di treated it like a priceless treasure, never allowing her to touch it.
When she once asked what was inside, he had simply said, “Life.”
She hadn’t understood then. Now she did.
Inside that box was her life, the one thing that could save her in a ti of true peril.
As Emperor Di opened it, a small, unassuming bead was revealed within.
It looked ordinary, almost dull, yet a flicker of desire flashed in Antares’s eyes.
The Dragon Bead floated out of the box and into Antares’s mouth. He swallowed it whole.
His massive, mountain-sized body trembled slightly, and the surrounding space quaked in response.
The entire space rippled like waves on the sea, layer upon layer spreading outward.
The distorted waves swept over them like a violent wind, twisting Lin Mohan’s body.
It was a feeling of total loss of control, unbearably uncomfortable.
Lin Mohan’s heart pounded in terror. This being was far too terrifying.
If he wished to kill her, he wouldn’t even need to lift a hand. Perhaps just a glance could end her a thousand tis over.
“How could such a terrifying being even exist in this world?”
“How many secrets does this world still hide?”
A flicker of horror crossed her eyes. Antares’s existence was beyond comprehension.
Since becoming Emperor Di’s disciple—the only half-step Transcendent God-level powerhouse among humankind—she had gained access to his private library.
Though not as vast as the imperial vault, it contained knowledge that even the imperial vault didn’t have.
So knowledge could only be grasped after reaching a certain level of power, and Emperor Di was the only human who had reached said level.
Under his personal guidance, Lin Mohan had learned far more than she ever imagined possible.
Over the past couple of years, Emperor Di had cramd imnse amounts of knowledge, both profound and trivial, into her mind.
He had always been in a hurry. Back then, she hadn’t understood why. But now she did.
Her teacher was leaving, for a place of almost certain death.
Emperor Di looked at her and said softly, “When I leave this ti, I’m unlikely to return. You must work hard. Strive to reach half-step Transcendent God-level.”
“Humanity cannot be without a half-step Transcendent God-level expert. Fortunately, Jiang Yi’s resurrection draws near. I can already sense his soul.”
“With Lord Antares’s protection, your safety should not be an issue.”
His voice carried both emotion and warmth.
In these short years, he had given her everything.
Antares, having completely absorbed and rged with the Dragon Bead, finally turned his gaze upon Lin Mohan.
To him, she had been too insignificant to notice, until now.
A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.
He lowered his massive head, his enormous nose sniffing at her.
Each breath was like a Category 5 hurricane, nearly blowing her off her feet.
Lin Mohan didn’t dare move. She knew her place before such a being.
Yet she felt no fear. From his earlier conversation with Emperor Di, she already knew Antares bore her no malice.
Or rather, she was simply too insignificant to warrant it.
Antares’s deep voice rumbled, “On your body… there’s his scent.”
Lin Mohan froze, “His scent?”
She didn’t understand, and neither did Emperor Di.
Antares spoke again, “What is your relationship to Lin Moyu?”
Lin Mohan’s expression shifted. Why ntion her brother all of a sudden?
She answered clearly, “Moyu is my younger brother.”
Antares let out a long ohh, then said, “No wonder. No wonder your blood carries that brat Lin’s scent. So you two are siblings.”
Lin Mohan asked curiously, “Lord Antares, you know Moyu?”
Antares snorted, “Of course I do. That brat, he’s no good.”
Lin Mohan didn’t dare to argue. If anyone else had said that, she might have been angry, but this was Antares. All she could do was stay quiet and accept it.
Antares gave two cold hums, “That brat is full of sches. And you, his sister, probably aren’t much better.”
“Still, you both have talent. The brat’s combat power is monstrous, and you, your cultivation speed isn’t bad. Not bad at all.”
A faint, illusory figure appeared before Lin Mohan—a transparent, fist-sized version of Antares.
“This is a wisp of my will. It will usually lie dormant and will only awaken when you’re in danger.”
“As per the deal, I’ll keep you safe. But I won’t kill anyone for you.”
“So don’t disturb unless it’s truly necessary.”
Despite all his grumbling about Lin Moyu, Antares still separated a fragnt of his will. He might complain, but a deal was a deal. Antares always kept his word.
The sliver of will turned into a transparent image of Antares and drilled into Lin Mohan’s spirit world, where it soon fell into a deep slumber.
Emperor Di exhaled softly, “Thank you, Lord Antares.”
Antares snorted, “This is just a transaction between us. Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been hiding the Dragon Bead for a century.”
“Granted, a century is just a nap to . But that kind of behavior doesn’t sit well with .”
“Still, it doesn’t matter. I doubt I’ll see you again. The dead deserve respect. I’ll let it slide this ti.”
Emperor Di gave an awkward smile. Though Antares’s words were harsh, he dared not refute them.
And besides, Antares was right. No matter how this journey ended, whether he lived or died, he wouldn’t return.
Lin Mohan’s eyes filled with reluctance and worry, “Teacher, can’t you stay?”
Emperor Di shook his head, “No. This step, I must take it.”
Antares said faintly, “If he goes, there’s a 10% chance he’ll survive. If he doesn’t, there’s no chance at all.”
Emperor Di was already 200 years old; his lifespan was nearing its end.
If he didn’t fight for a chance now, there would never be another.
Better to risk everything than to wither away without hope.
Lin Mohan’s eyes brimd with tears; she didn’t know what to say.
Emperor Di gave a carefree smile, “Don’t cry. You’re a God-level powerhouse now. What kind of God-level powerhouse sheds tears?”
“This journey may carry a 90% chance of death, but it’s not without hope.”
“Perhaps, one day, when you reach Transcendent God-level, you might see again.”
“In my training chamber, beneath the stone table, there’s a box. When you reach half-step Transcendent God-level, you’ll be able to open it. Inside lies the greatest secret of this world.”
Antares snorted, “You humans are always so secretive. It was the sa in the last age. Why can’t you just speak plainly? All this mystery is such a bother.”
Emperor Di smiled faintly, “You wouldn’t understand.”
In that mont, his aura grew calm and serene, all burdens released, “One last favor, Lord Antares. Would you send off?”
“Since you’re about to die.” Antares replied flatly, “I’ll send you off.”
As his words fell, a spatial channel opened beside Emperor Di.
Emperor Di smiled and bowed toward Antares, “Thank you, Lord Antares. Until we et again, if fate allows.”
“Get lost.”
Without another word, Emperor Di stepped into the spatial channel.
“Teacher!”
Lin Mohan’s tears finally overflowed. mories of the past three years surged through her mind, every lesson, every mont of guidance. Emperor Di had taught her with all his heart.
She had never imagined this would be their final farewell.
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