White Whistle's Secret Sacrifice!

Afterwards, Saundin led everyone into the Steel Base.

The interior of this Steel Base, in Zhou Qing's eyes, was indeed similar to a steel mill in his previous life. The staff inside all wore uniforms, with only the patterns on their helmets being different.

We arrived at the edge of the Black Pillar.

Unlike the previous three levels, the edges of the Black Pillar on this Fourth Layer are covered with Gate, and the center is filled with swirling darkness. Above, there are countless white dots, forming concentric circles of Milky Way.

Saundin picked up an apple and threw it toward the Gate.

Snap!

The moment the apple touched the darkness at the center of the Gate, it instantly lost its color, first turning into charcoal, then into a cloud of ash, which fell to the ground.

Seeing this scene, everyone finally believed that barging in without White Whistle would be tantamount to suicide.

Even Tang San, with his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul and powerful Life, wouldn't dare to try it.

However, Zhou Qing noticed a round hole next to these Gate, which looked like a keyhole, and asked, "Is the White Whistle really the only pass? There are keyholes or something like that here."

Saundin said, "For us, the White Whistle is the only key we can find."

The implication is that if other keys are found, the White Whistle wouldn't need to be made from human materials; it could be crafted from other, harder metals.

In the silence, Romantina had an idea and said to Saundin, "Could we borrow your White Whistle?"

Xiao Wu was taken aback, and then started rubbing her fists together again.

But--

"You can't use it."

Saundin poured cold water on Xiao Wu's eagerness, "The White Whistle can only be used by the person who is sacrificed, because it contains the thoughts and soul of the person being sacrificed, and is extremely strong."

If I die, the White Whistle will either solidify into a sturdier flute or shatter and dissipate into ashes. Even if I agree to lend it to you, and even if you have the means to communicate with the thoughts within the White Whistle, threatening me with my Life, the White Whistle will not yield. It would rather die with its user than be used by anyone else.

The examples Saundin gave also made Zhou Qing and the others realize that outside Soul Master must have done this before, even forcibly snatching the White Whistle, but to no avail.

Xiao Wu fell silent.

This kind of sacrifice seems to be even more domineering than the way Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast sacrifices itself to humans.

After all, when Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast sacrifices itself to a human, its Soul Bone can still be taken away and used by others. While the White Whistle can also be taken away, once it's in someone else's hands, it's just like an ordinary whistle, with no other use except for being sturdy.

"I apologize for my partner's impulsiveness."

Those who possess the White Whistle have all lost their closest friends or family members; the White Whistle is the embodiment of their closest and dearest person.

Why would someone lend out their closest and dearest person?

That's incredibly offensive!

"Sorry."

Romantina and Xiao Wu also apologized.

Saundin was wearing a helmet, so no one could tell whether he was angry or had forgiven the two women. He said in a deep voice, "There's no need for that. I have long since abandoned human emotions. I was just telling you a fact."

Everyone fell silent.

These Abyss Ruins can indeed change a person's character.

Now, however, the question of how to get to the Fifth Layer is what's holding Zhou Qing and the others back.

The only key to access the area right now is the White Whistle.

Besides, it seems that the Fallen One are unrestricted, but they are obviously not willing to transform themselves into complete "beastmen".

How do I obtain the White Whistle?

Sacrifice one person?

Absolutely not.

"This matter needs to be considered carefully."

Zhou Qing would never allow someone to be sacrificed and turned into White Whistle.

Moreover, a single White Whistle can very likely only allow one person to pass.

There are six of them in total: him, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, Riko, and the Rabbit Girl. The Rabbit Girl is Fallen One who can ignore the rules of the Gate and will not be harmed. What should the remaining five do?

Even if we split it in half, it still won't be enough!

Moreover, Zhou Qing believed that the fact that the White Whistle was able to protect someone through this level meant that the White Whistle must have played some special role.

At least, Fallen One like the Rabbit Girl don't need any permits—

Or rather, the very existence of the Fallen One is a form of proof of passage, and the White Whistle may simply be able to Simulation a certain characteristic of the Fallen One, thus allowing the holder of the White Whistle to pass through unharmed.

After all, every door needs a key, and keys can be copied.

The original keys to these Gate may have been corroded over the years, but the energy released by those keys, or something else, is the real key, and this quality can be manifested in another form through other things.

"Saundin, where did Namiki go?" the Rabbit Girl asked Saundin.

"We went to the Fifth Layer."

Saundin.

"Impossible! Namiki is so big, it's impossible for her to bring everyone through such a small Gate." The Rabbit Girl didn't believe it.

"You should still remember that although I am not a good person, I am the one person who will never lie."

Saundin's tone carried a hint of pride, "There is actually another way to reach the Fifth Layer, which is to dive directly into the seabed. Beneath this Sea of Corpses, there are also passages connecting to other levels, similar to the Waterfall at the edge of this Fourth Layer."

These words further confirmed Zhou Qing's conjecture that the Fourth Layer was a composting site.

According to Saundin, he also studied the giant chunk of flesh that Namiki had transformed into and speculated that it went to the lower levels to obtain more food.

Although the Fourth Layer of seawater contains a large amount of nutrients, these nutrients cannot be directly absorbed by animals. Therefore, they instinctively move to the lower layer where there is more energy and richer biological resources.

Regardless of Namiki's own will, this is a biological instinct for survival!

But humans need to dive...

It's tantamount to suicide.

The ocean is home to a large number of carnivorous fish, including large sharks. Without the ability to breathe underwater, it would be impossible to pass through.

Upon hearing Saundin's words, the Rabbit Girl burst into tears once again.

But Saundin ignored this and said to Zhou Qing and the others, "Since you're here, why don't you stay here for now? Perhaps I can find a way to help you get the White Whistle."

"How so?"

Zhou Qing was curious, since the White Whistle could only be formed when someone was willing to sacrifice themselves and longed for someone else.

"If it requires our sacrifice, then there's no need for that; we all need to get back alive."

Saundin remained silent for a long while before saying, "Are the Soul Master outside this united?"

Perhaps some of you will actually choose to sacrifice yourself for your companions when facing death... But don't worry, none of you will die. You just need to spend a little time building a good relationship with an exceptionally innocent child.