Little Wolf

"Ah, what can I say—I'm too soft-hearted."

After a fierce internal struggle, Gu Han still decided to take in the Little Phantom Water Wolf.

It wasn't because of the temptation posed by the so-called Son of the Phantom Water Wolf King.

Nor was it to unlock the system's Battle Pet Function.

In the Running Wolf Nation, all Martial Artists prided themselves on contracting powerful wolf-type Demonic Beasts.

Anyone else in his place would likely find it impossible to resist the allure of contracting the Phantom Water Wolf King's offspring.

But Gu Han was different. With the Soul Capture Talent in hand, even a full-grown Phantom Water Wolf King wouldn't offer him much help.

At most, it would accelerate his path of Attribute Absorption during this period before he fully grew.

The real reason Gu Han decided to adopt the Little Phantom Water Wolf was mainly the emotional bond between the Phantom Water Wolf mother and her cub.

Every living being has feelings.

Even if humans and Demonic Beasts were born enemies, locked in a relationship of kill or be killed.

Gu Han wouldn't deny the sincerity of emotions like those between the Phantom Water Wolf mother and her child.

To Gu Han, he didn't lack the attributes from killing a Phantom Water Wolf anyway. Taking it in could also let it bear witness to his own growth.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Little Wolf."

Having made up his mind, Gu Han crouched down and scooped up the tender Little Phantom Water Wolf in his arms.

"Aoo..."

The Phantom Water Wolf, seeing this, let go of its last lingering concern.

The Little Phantom Water Wolf's father had been ambushed and killed by another pack, leaving only her to escape with the cub.

Earlier, when she went to the lake and faced the Wave-Treading Bull that surpassed her in strength, the reason she risked severe injury to fight for the Water Essence Lotus—

It wasn't for herself. It was so the Little Phantom Water Wolf could consume the Water Essence Lotus from a young age, build a solid foundation, and one day avenge its father.

Up until her final breath, her only worry was the Little Phantom Water Wolf.

And Gu Han was the most trustworthy person she could find to entrust it to.

After letting out a low growl, the Phantom Water Wolf slowly closed her eyes.

As the last two tears slid from the corners of her eyes, she finally breathed her last.

She could die with peace.

"Aoo~"

The Little Phantom Water Wolf seemed to sense its mother's passing, letting out a milky, mournful cry.

Gu Han sighed.

"System, form a contract with the Little Phantom Water Wolf."

There were three ways for a Martial Artist to subdue a Demonic Beast.

The first was to use a Beast Taming Talisman to forcibly subdue the beast.

This was the method most Martial Artists chose, but it often failed due to the beast's resistance, with limited success rates.

The second was for those from major families or sects to build a system of raising Demonic Beasts—or rather, Spirit Beasts.

By fostering a bond with the beast from infancy, the contract would naturally follow when the time came.

This method was generally only chosen by Martial Artists from large factions.

The third, and most difficult, was to earn the beast's genuine recognition from the heart.

But for most Demonic Beasts, even death was preferable to submitting to a Martial Artist's command.

So this method existed only in theory—at least, Gu Han's predecessor had never heard of anyone using it to contract a beast.

However, the Little Phantom Water Wolf hadn't grown up yet and had little will of its own.

Urged by its mother, it was willing to complete the contract with Gu Han.

"Ding. Congratulations, host, on successfully contracting the Phantom Water Wolf King cub. You may view the cub's attributes through the Attribute Panel."

After the contract succeeded, Gu Han could feel a mental link with the Little Phantom Water Wolf.

He immediately gave the cub a name that sounded pleasant.

"From today on, you'll be called Little Wolf."

Gu Han took a piece of roasted wild boar from the bag he carried.

Ever since his hunting range moved far from the Logistics Camp, Gu Han only returned to camp at night.

During the day, he lit his own fire and grilled meat in the wild—quite content with the freedom.

Little Wolf seemed to have been hungry for a long time. The smell of roasted meat nearly made it drool as it eagerly tore into the meat.

Though its teeth hadn't fully grown in, it could still manage to gnaw through the roasted meat.

Gu Han, meanwhile, opened the Little Phantom Water Wolf's panel.

"Check the attributes."

Battle Pet: Phantom Water Wolf King Strength: Unranked HP: 10 Attack: 8 Defense: 8 Speed: 10 Spirit: 7 Racial Skill: Phantom Water Clone (Manipulates water elements to form a phantom water clone with 10% of the user's strength to assist in battle. The higher the mastery, the stronger the clone and the greater the number of clones.)

Little Wolf's attribute panel was clear and straightforward.

For a beast of unranked strength, having attributes comparable to a newly initiated Martial Disciple was already no small feat.

Moreover, due to its racial traits, Little Wolf also possessed the skill that the previous Phantom Water Wolf had once displayed when facing the Wave-Treading Bull.

If released in advance, it could almost pass for the real thing.

"But until this proficiency gets raised, the Phantom Water Clone's stats are ridiculously low."

Gu Han curled his lip.

10% of the attributes—wasn't that just walking up to be a free meal?

It was probably only useful when bullying the weak.

However, Gu Han noticed that the Battle Pet Function could elevate the pet's bloodline!

Gu Han checked it out.

To raise Little Wolf's bloodline level, he would need 100 Water Element Power, 100 Demonic Beast Blood Qi, and 10 Second-Order Demonic Beast Inner Cores.

And he could also use the same materials to accelerate Little Wolf's growth.

Through the system's explanation, Gu Han learned that heavenly treasures like the Water Essence Lotus could be exchanged for Element Power via the system.

This single Water Essence Lotus could be converted into 30 points of Water Element Power.

As for Demonic Beast Blood Qi, it was a vital energy that only beasts at One-star Seventh-Order or above could produce.

How much Blood Qi a single beast would drop was unknown for now.

But Gu Han guessed it definitely wouldn't be high.

"But this Demonic Beast Inner Core requirement—isn't it way too damn ridiculous?"

Seeing the final condition, Gu Han couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

With his current strength, trying to kill a Second-Order Demonic Beast was nothing short of a pipe dream!

"Forget it, I'll just take it one step at a time."

Gu Han sighed. At least being able to upgrade Little Wolf's bloodline through the Battle Pet Function was better than letting the little guy fall behind his pace in the future.

"Awoo~"

Just as Gu Han was lost in thought, a soft, milky wolf howl came from under his feet.

Gu Han looked down and found Little Wolf, who had just finished a piece of grilled meat, nuzzling his pant leg affectionately with that tiny head.

Gu Han smiled and scooped up Little Wolf.

"Still hungry?"

Little Wolf seemed to think for a moment, then adorably nodded its little head.

"Then have another piece of grilled meat."

Gu Han, like a doting parent, took out another piece of grilled meat and let Little Wolf feast.

As for himself, he crouched down, reached out, and placed his hand on the Phantom Water Wolf's corpse.

"Don't worry. Before long, Little Wolf will personally avenge you."