Life Sacrifice

[Late night of the fourth day, Newborn Reception Room of County Hospital]

Golden light lifted the withered Golden Chrysanthemum into the air. The scale's pans began to sway rhythmically, letting out a faint hum.

As Chen Kong watched the scale floating in midair, his gaze grew inexplicably dazed.

He subconsciously reached out, wanting to touch the Golden Chrysanthemum hovering above the scale.

"Hiss!"

The moment Chen Kong's fingertips neared the glowing area, an invisible force suddenly knocked them away.

At the same time, a searing pain shot through his palm.

The sudden pain instantly snapped Chen Kong awake.

Strange, why did I just do that?

Staring at the Golden Chrysanthemum so close at hand, Chen Kong frowned.

For an instant, Chen Kong had felt as if something had influenced him, causing his body to act beyond his control.

Something's wrong. What just happened... was very wrong.

"Kong, you can't touch that thing carelessly."

Just as Chen Kong was wondering why he had suddenly "lost control," Vivian spoke up.

Her eyes swept over the Golden Chrysanthemum and the scale, and a line of ancient Xing script appeared in her field of vision.

"Equivalent Exchange. Life as the Catalyst."

Vivian murmured unconsciously.

"Life as the Catalyst?"

Mi Yao lowered his head and repeated the words for a moment. Then, as if realizing something, he said, "Could it mean that we need to sacrifice enough life as payment to restore the Vigorous vitality of this withered Golden Chrysanthemum?"

Vivian turned to look at him. After considering it for a moment, she nodded. "That should be it. It's like when we were at the bank, where the bank staff used small bills to make an equivalent exchange for the Life Cores in our hands."

"If I'm not wrong, once the Golden Chrysanthemum's vitality recovers