Did a fated sacrifice not need a name?
Looking into those clear, pure eyes, Xu Xing found himself at a loss for words.
After a long while...
"Let's go. I'll take you back," he said in a deep voice.
As he spoke, he waved a hand and released a streak of golden radiance. After circling once through the space around the tree trunk, the flowing light drifted outside and transformed into a dull gray, leaf-shaped artifact that looked utterly unremarkable.
It was something Xu Xing had accidentally produced during one of his earlier attempts at artifact refinement.
Though its appearance was poor, the artifact itself was quite good.
The little girl was the first to climb to her feet.
But her body was too weak. Before she had taken two steps, her vision went black, and she staggered, nearly falling to the ground.
Fortunately, Xu Xing was quick-eyed and quick-handed, catching her directly.
"I'm sorry..."
The little girl looked at him somewhat embarrassedly.
"There's nothing to apologize for..." After a pause, he took out a jade bottle. "Forget it. Drink this first."
"Okay."
The little girl obediently accepted it. After opening it and drinking it down, she looked at Xu Xing again.
"Go wait outside."
"Mm-hmm."
Replenished by the Spirit Bamboo Essence, she was no longer as weak as before. She soon trotted outside and climbed onto the dull gray leaf-shaped artifact.
Xu Xing turned to look at the remaining children.
Only to find them all curled up, tear tracks still lingering on their faces, their eyes full of fear as they looked at him.
"..."
After quite a while...
The remaining eight children finally drank the Spirit Bamboo Essence one after another and climbed aboard the leaf-shaped artifact Xu Xing had released.
Xu Xing rubbed his brow and followed