Inside the fish's belly, a golden heart was shimmering with specks of Immortal Light.

A black Profound Iron resembling an anchor pierced through this heart, firmly pinning it to the shore.

Su Mu couldn't move this whale's corpse earlier because the black Profound Iron anchor had nailed it to the ground.

Upon closer inspection, the heart was slightly trembling, so subtly that one might not notice if they didn't look carefully.

The heart was still beating!

That means... the whale wasn't completely dead!

...

Su Mu felt an extremely faint trace of Vitality Power from this heart, like a flickering candlelight in eternal night, which could go out at any moment.

This fish, stranded here for who knows how many days, with its heart pierced and most of its body eaten, yet it hadn't died!

The stench of decay was so overwhelming moments ago that Su Mu hadn't noticed this whale still held a spark of life.

The next second, a very faint thought emerged from the heart, transmitting into Su Mu's mind.

It was begging for help, its tone utterly humble as if pouring all its hopes forth.

Moreover, from this cry for help, Su Mu sensed a deep sadness, even affecting him.

At this moment, Su Mu stood frozen.

Looking at the decaying body before him, perhaps due to the whale's emotional influence, a sense of pity sprung in his heart.

To save or not to save....

Saving this whale might cost a lot of Favor Points, possibly rendering the past few days' efforts in vain.

Su Mu had always known he wasn't a great philanthropist; sometimes a bit selfish, always considering benefits before action.

But deep down, he harbored sincere kindness—not exactly kindness, but rather unable to stand idle watching a life wither away before him.

For if one day, he were pinned to the ground, body decaying, devoured, awaiting death in utter despair.

He too would wish someone saves him....

.....

After wrestling with his thoughts, Su Mu let out a heavy sigh.

[Spend "50000" Favor Points to heal 'Space-Time Primordial Beast'?]

As expected, almost as he estimated, it would take a massive expenditure of Favor Points; Su Mu earned fifty-five thousand Favor Points this week.

If he healed it, it would mean almost wasting a week's work.

Seeing as its injuries were too severe, nearly at death's door; reviving it would require spending so many Favor Points.

"You creature, you better repay me well in the future."

Su Mu decided to save it; after guarding this river for so long, this counts as a righteous deed.

[Favor Points-50000]

[Healing....]

The next second, a sphere of light burst from Su Mu's palm, enveloping the whale.

Soon, its body began visibly healing at a rapid pace....

Its aura continuously restored, climbing....

This treatment lasted over ten minutes, reflecting the severity of its wounds; usually, Su Mu's healing for his eldest and second brothers took just seconds.

As the light faded, Su Mu finally saw the whale's entirety.

It stretched tens of meters long, the head torpedo-shaped, resembling a tiger-headed whale from memory, lacking a prominent rostrum. Its dorsal fin was scythe-shaped, skin black with golden speckles, making it very striking.

Its eyes were sky blue, like two amber sapphires. Most distinct was its tail, ending like an axe, extremely sharp, seemingly capable of slicing through space.

Once revived, the tiger-headed whale was momentarily stunned, eyes brimming with shock, disbelief, excitement, and complex emotions.

Coming to its senses, it nudged Su Mu continuously; its head so large, Su Mu nearly lost balance.

"Alright, alright."

Su Mu promptly stopped it.

Looking at the completely healed tiger-headed whale, while feeling the sting of losing fifty thousand Favor Points, he felt a bit gratified.

"Today's my unlucky day, and your lucky one; you met me, otherwise...."

This whale was lucky to meet Su Mu; otherwise, in a few hours, even its heart would have been entirely consumed.

Hearing this, the tiger-headed whale showed immense gratitude, emitting a low call.

"Do you wish to follow me?"

Su Mu initially didn't plan on contracting a Spirit Beast, but now... not contracting wasn't an option since he'd spent fifty thousand Favor Points; it had to work off its debt!

Yes, Su Mu had a conscience, but not much.

He couldn't just let it go after revival; it had to work off the favor!

This big guy, so huge, such a strong aura, was likely a river overlord, its aura much stronger than even the strongest of his companions!

Therefore, Su Mu had to make a contract.

The tiger-headed whale hesitated briefly, seemed to make some resolution; the decision not only mattered to it but impacted All Heavens and Myriad Realms, a significant fate entanglement.

"What?"

"Reluctant?"

Su Mu continued, hoping he hadn't saved an ungrateful creature?!

Upon hearing this, the tiger-headed whale's hesitation vanished, nodding emphatically.

Seeing this, Su Mu smiled contentedly, preferring willing companions over forced contracts.

[Spend "5000" Favor Points to contract "Space-Time Primordial Beast"?]

Five thousand Points!

Within these days, he earned fifty-five thousand; healing cost fifty thousand, contracting five thousand, leaving nothing for himself?

Having spent fifty thousand, he didn't mind the extra five thousand.

"Contract," Su Mu murmured to the system.

The next second, an invisible spiritual bond connected the whale and Su Mu.

After the contract succeeded, Su Mu distinctly felt an added burden on his Spiritual Power.

The more Water Beasts contracted, the more it tested Su Mu's Spiritual Power.

Illustratively, besides this tiger-headed whale, Su Mu contracted seven others.

If his Spiritual Power was 100 points, the previous seven occupied ten points; yet, this whale alone took up ten points!

Fortunately, his cultivation was high, his Spiritual Power strong; otherwise, managing eight Spirit Beasts simultaneously would've been impossible.

Currently, his cultivation was Celestial Immortal Great Perfection; once reaching Immortal King Realm, his Spiritual Power would evolve, possibly reaching a thousand, even ten thousand points.

After all, comparing Immortal King Realm and Celestial Immortal Realm was like heaven and earth.

After contracting, Su Mu's gaze fell on the iron anchor nailing the tiger-headed whale to the ground.

Approaching, his hand touched the anchor, his body suddenly stiffened.

....

PS: Another chapter later, feeling a bit better today, will hang in there tonight, discharged tomorrow.

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