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Chapter 39: The Approaching End
Chapter 39: The Approaching End
"Mother Superior, I'm back!" Lin Sai returned to the church after bidding farewell to the torch-bearer.
Red Moon remained seated in front of the chapel, deep in her daily prayers as usual.
Hearing Lin Sai's greeting, the elderly nun merely nodded slightly without saying a word.
Compared to when she saved Lin Sai three years ago, Red Moon had hardly changed at all.
Silent and serene.
After a moment's thought, Lin Sai stepped forward and said, "Mother Superior, Finn asked me to deliver a message to you."
"Finn?" Red Moon finally turned her head, "Has he already sensed that his end is near?"
Red Moon's words were straightforward; the so-called "approaching end" referred to death.
In reality, Finn's physical decline over the past two years was a tacitly understood fact among them.
Lin Sai could understand Red Moon's seemingly cold-hearted inquiry.
As Awakened ones possess their own essence, they are even more resistant to zombification than ordinary people. However, if such a rare occurrence happens, it often leads to more dangerous consequences.
Out of her responsibility as a member of the Death Sect, Red Moon must have had this question on her mind.
Lin Sai quickly shook her head in denial, "Finn was still able to teach me normally today."
"He just asked me to tell you that he needs to discuss the Merchant's essence with you."
Hearing this, Red Moon already guessed Finn's intention.
She sighed softly.
"Oh..."
Lin Sai detected a hint of sadness in her tone and hurriedly asked, "Mother Superior, what's wrong?"
"Is there a problem with the Merchant's essence?"
Red Moon explained patiently, "The Merchant's essence cultivation technique involves combining one's own essence with external objects to create a cultivatable magical item, replacing the essence system centered around the self."
"After this technique spread, some Awakened ones nearing their end would abandon their skills before death, trying to leave behind something more useful than their corpses."
"..."
Lin Sai's mind was struck by lightning at the thought—Finn is going to die! He stood frozen in place.
On the other side, Red Moon walked into the backyard of the church and took out a thin scroll.
"Is this the Merchant's essence cultivation method?"
Lin Sai reacted only after seeing it, "I... Mother Superior, I'm sorry, I'll deliver it."
Red Moon handed the scroll to Lin Sai, "Go and have a good talk with Finn."
"Mother Superior, I'll be back later tonight."
Lin Sai took the scroll without hesitation and rushed out of the church, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Red Moon watched her foster child leave.
She turned her body, gazing at the statue of the Death Sect, and ultimately, she just shook her head slightly, saying no more.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Sai sprinted through the town.
After three years of training and with the enhancement of his life essence, his physical attributes of constitution, strength, and agility had reached 14, 11, and 12, respectively.
According to Lin Sai's estimation, an average adult human's physical attributes should be around 6.
His nearly doubled attributes granted him abilities surpassing those of top-level athletes.
With a constitution of 14, he could run a marathon without his stamina depleting faster than his recovery rate. As long as he had enough food and water, Lin Sai could run day and night without stopping.
With 11 points of strength, lifting objects weighing over a hundred kilograms was effortless.
And with 12 points of agility, he could sprint a hundred meters in under 9 seconds.
Supported by these attributes, Lin Sai quickly returned to Finn's wooden house.
But this time, he was in a panic.
He even forgot to knock and pushed the door open.
"Lin Sai, why are you here?"
Finn was sitting in front of the fireplace, boiling water. Seeing Lin Sai's anxious state, he immediately asked with concern, "What's the hurry? Did something happen with Red Moon?"
"No, I... you," Linsey stammered.
He couldn't possibly ask the scholar directly, "Are you nearing your end?" in front of Finn.
But this reaction indirectly answered Finn's inquiry.
The botanist understood and smiled gently, "Child, it's okay."
"I've already lived over a hundred years in this world, which is considered a long life."
Linsey still struggled to accept this:
"But it shouldn't be like this. Although you're not as mobile now, your mind is still sharp. How could it be so soon..."
Linsey wanted to say more, but Finn took the scroll from his hand, shaking his head to interrupt Linsey's reluctance.
"Child, this is my judgment based on my skills."
"Among the Life School, the first ability of our branch to reach Transcendence is called Life Instinct, which gives me a strong intuition. This year will be my last."
The small wooden house fell silent.
Finn's tone was gentle, but his words were resolute and left no room for argument.
Linsey knew this was the truth, so he couldn't say anything.
They had spent three years together, becoming close.
He had long regarded the elder before him as his most respected teacher, and now that his mentor was about to pass away, Linsey was at a loss for a moment.
---
After a while, the kettle on the fireplace whistled.
Finn lifted the kettle and poured a cup of hot water for Linsey.
"Child, have some water."
Almost instinctively, Linsey took the cup.
But instead of drinking, he stared at Finn and asked with a trembling voice.
"You, how much longer do you have...?"
Finn shook his head and then nodded.
"Linsey, I know you're a kind child, and this will sadden you. But from now on, you must learn to part ways with people."
At this point, Finn seemed to take on the role of a teacher.
He continued, offering earnest advice:
"You, with your life force, will have a longer lifespan than most. This parting will be a constant in your life, and you must prepare yourself, or you might be overwhelmed by it in the future."
Finn intended for Linsey to accept the natural cycle of life and death.
But Linsey thought of the longevity granted by life force, so he quickly asked:
"Then, can my life force help you?"
Finn smiled and shook his head.
"If that were possible, the world would be in chaos."
The elder then rose from the table and slowly walked to the study, gazing at the bookshelf.
Linsey had organized the bookshelf neatly after reading.
But as the owner of the place, Finn could tell which books Linsey had looked through. He spoke after examining the bookshelf:
"Child, I know your heart isn't set on the path of life. In the future, you'll surely attempt to break through Black Mountain's blockade."
"I believe you can do it."
"So, if one day, you manage to reach Volcanic City or encounter other scholars from the Life School, please entrust my knowledge to them. Let's not let this ability be lost."
Linsey straightened up and promised solemnly:
"Teacher, I will."
Finn didn't turn back, waving goodbye:
"Child, hurry home, Lady Red Moon will be worried about you."
[Here's a little extra info: The average physical attributes of ordinary people are 6, while the strong and robust can reach 9. Touching 12 is considered extraordinary, and 13 and above belong to the realm of the supernatural.]
(End of Chapter)
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