Chapter 2971 - 2971: A Father's Love Is Like a Mountain

Listening to the Heavenly Sect's words, the First God didn't even try to get up. Instead, he said in a trembling voice, "Heavenly Sect, stop talking!"

"Hurry up and beg Lord Heavenly Venerate. We've done so much for Lord Heavenly Venerate—if he shows a bit of mercy, you'll be able to survive."

"In the future, serve Lord Heavenly Venerate properly, and don't ever make him unhappy again!"

The Heavenly Sect grew anxious. "Father, you… can't you have a bit of dignity?"

"Living on like this—what's the point?"

"I'd rather die than live like that!"

"Silence!" The First God roared, "Heavenly Sect, don't say another word!"

"Lord Heavenly Venerate, he's still young, he doesn't understand. Please spare him."

"Whatever the problem is, it's all my fault. Kill me and let him go!"

The Heaven-devouring Rat suddenly laughed. "Oh? Such deep father–son affection."

"I really didn't expect that you lowly ants would throw away your lives for this so‑called blood relation."

The Heavenly Sect ground his teeth. "You're just a rat—how could you understand human emotions?"

The Heaven-devouring Rat sneered. "Very good!"

"As it happens, I've been wanting to test just how firm this so‑called human affection of yours really is."

"Here's the deal: between the two of you, only one can live."

"Whichever one of you kills the other gets to survive."

"Well? Want to give it a try?"

"Remember, I said kill the other, not end your own life. Suicide counts as cheating, and if you cheat, I won't keep either of you!"

"Aren't you two supposed to be oh‑so deeply bonded father and son? Heh. So, do you want one to live, or do you want to die together?"

The Heavenly Sect and the First God were stunned. This Heaven-devouring Rat was simply a Demon.

With a method like this, how were they supposed to choose?

If only one had to die for the other to live, then whether it was the Heavenly Sect or the First God, both would be willing to sacrifice their own life to save the other.

But to make them personally kill the other in order to survive—who could do that?

Even if both of them were willing to die, willing to let the other live, could the other really bring himself to strike the blow?

And even if he could, even if he killed the other, wouldn't the one who survives be doomed to live forever in self‑reproach?

Only now did the Heavenly Sect and the First God truly witness the malice of the Heavenly Venerables.

Before this, they had thought the Heavenly Venerables were merely the incarnations of the Heavenly Dao Rules, believed they had no thoughts of their own, that everything they did was for the Heavenly Dao alone.

Who could have imagined that once the masks were torn away, they would prove so terrifying?

The Heaven-devouring Rat stood off to the side, smiling with narrowed eyes. "You have three days to decide. I'll go back and sleep for a bit, get some rest."

"After three days, if you still haven't chosen, I'll have no choice but to kill you both!"

"You two, don't disappoint me now."

With that, the Heaven-devouring Rat threw his head back and laughed as he left.

Only the Heavenly Sect and the First God were left at the scene, staring at each other.

The Heavenly Sect clenched his teeth. "Father, you should kill me."

"All these years, you've suffered so much for my sake, and I've never been able to repay you!"

"Now it's time I paid you back!"

Hearing this, the First God's eyes filled with tears.

He shook his head hard and raised his voice. "Heavenly Sect, do you really think, in my condition now, that there's any meaning in me staying alive?"

"You're not like me. Your talent, your mind, everything about you surpasses me by far."

"You are my greatest pride, and my hope."

"Only if you live can you climb higher and go farther."

"But me? Even if I live, what's the use?"

"Once we walk out of here, the Human Clan won't spare me either."

"The way I am now, any Strongest could easily kill me."

"Do you want me to be like some rat in the street, hounded by those juniors with nowhere to run?"

"If that's really how it's going to be, then I might as well die!"

The Heavenly Sect's face was streaked with tears. If not for him, how would the First God have ended up like this?

"Father, stop talking!"

"No matter what, being alive means being alive—there's always some hope!"

"You ended up like this because of me. If you're gone, how could I disgrace myself by clinging to life?"

"Besides, all these years, I've only ever owed you and never repaid you. Now it should be my turn to give something back."

"You are my father. I came into this world because of you, and in the end I'll leave it for your sake!"

That last sentence left the First God stunned for a long time.

He stared wide‑eyed at the Heavenly Sect in front of him. All these years, they had been busy fighting against the Human Clan, busy with the great enterprise of the Guardian God. They had never truly sat down and talked.

Though father and son were willing to risk their lives for each other, they hadn't actually spent much time together.

Only now did the First God realize that his son had truly grown into someone he could be proud of!

He drew a deep breath and said softly, "Heavenly Sect, whatever happens, just hearing you say that, I can die without regret!"

"There's no need to argue over this any further."

"Right now it's not a question of which of us, father or son, should repay whom."

"It's a question of whose continued existence is more worthwhile."

"Let's be rational. You must understand, if I live on, it means little. If you live on, that truly has meaning!"

The Heavenly Sect was about to protest, but the First God shot him a look.

The Heavenly Sect paused. Though father and son hadn't spoken much over the years, in many things they were perfectly in sync.

That look was enough to tell him that the Heaven-devouring Rat was surely watching them, and there were some things the First God couldn't let the Heaven-devouring Rat hear.

The Heavenly Sect slowly walked over to the First God. "Father, I don't know what's worth it or not worth it."

"But I do know you are my father, and I absolutely cannot let you die!"

He bent down, crouching in front of the First God, his face covered in tears.

This First God who once shook the ages, who led the Guardian God through era after era, had now been gnawed by those rats until only a small part of his body remained.

Those rats were probably the Heaven-devouring Rat's offspring, and they were actually this powerful.

After being torn apart by these rats, the First God had been unable to regenerate his flesh. That was the truly terrifying part.

The First God forced out the hand that was now little more than a few dry bones, and gently stroked the Heavenly Sect's head, sighing. "This is the Land of Origin. You could say we've found the source of life itself!"

"The Seven Great Heavenly Venerable will surely obtain the Source of Heaven and Earth and seize the final victory."

"That Heaven Slayer, that Su Yang, that Human Clan—they could never possibly be a match for the Seven Great Heavenly Venerable."

"We can't fight them. Since we once worked for them, from now on you should obediently keep serving them, and then you'll be able to live."

"If you live, I can be at peace. Only then does the Guardian God have hope, understand?"