New Family? The Netherworld Girl's Call

That thing called responsibility had only just taken root in the depths of his heart.

That grand ambition of being the King of Soul Beasts had only just been ignited.

The next second.

Ding!

[Emergency mission triggered!]

For the first time, the system's usually solemn and grand notification tone carried an undisguised sense of urgency.

A blinding golden exclamation mark flashed frantically in Li Hao's mind, nearly searing his consciousness.

Gold?

This was the first time he had ever seen a mission of this color.

Weren't they always blue for common missions or purple for rare ones?

This feeling was just like having a legendary item drop in a game.

[Mission Rank: Extremely Rare (Gold)]

[Mission Description: Detected that in the core area of the Star Dou Forest, multiple noble souls are perishing at an extremely rapid rate. This includes... the Hell Spirit Cat royal bloodline!]

[System Suggestion: Do you wish to investigate immediately?]

The Hell Spirit Cat royal bloodline?

These words made Li Hao's heart skip a beat.

Zhu Zhuqing?

No, that wasn't right.

The system said... multiple?

Could it be a buy-one-get-one-free family package?

The inertia of history was still stubbornly pushing the original characters to the brink of death.

But why would this trigger a golden mission of the highest level?

Just as Li Hao was stunned, Xiao Wu, who was in his arms, suddenly gripped his clothes, her little face deathly pale.

"Papa!"

Her voice was choked with sobs, and her body was trembling uncontrollably.

"I can feel it... it's so painful... it's just like when we saved Medusa before... no, it's even more desperate than that time!"

"They... they are about to die!"

Xiao Wu's resonance was like a needle pricking Li Hao's heart.

On the other side, Medusa, who had been standing still, also moved.

She stepped in front of Li Hao, her originally languid snake eyes now becoming incredibly sharp.

She gazed toward a certain direction outside the Paradise, her expression grave to the extreme.

"Master."

"There are extremely intense combat fluctuations deep in the forest."

"The aura of one side is filled with death and despair, but her soul... is extremely noble. It is one of the few noble bloodlines I have ever seen in my life."

One daughter was crying out, and one bodyguard was sounding the alarm.

The bit of kingly ambition that had just risen in Li Hao was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water.

Calm.

He had to stay calm.

He forced himself to analyze the current situation.

The core area of the Star Dou Forest.

A battle capable of bringing a royal bloodline to the brink of death.

And multiple noble souls.

These three pieces of information, when combined, pointed to one incredibly clear fact.

Trouble.

Huge, massive trouble!

Going there now would 100% drag him into a giant vortex.

He had finally managed to upgrade his home, Paradise, into a blessed land, and before he could even enjoy a single day of peace, he was expected to go out and invite trouble?

No.

Absolutely not.

His social anxiety instinct gave him the answer immediately.

The outside world is too dangerous; my own little nest is the safest place to be.

But...

Hell Spirit Cat.

That is Zhu Zhuqing.

With a fiery figure, a cold exterior but a warm heart, and a silent, reserved nature, she would never be as annoying as a chatterbox.

Isn't this the ideal teammate type for someone with social anxiety?

Plus, she possesses royal bloodline; her talent and potential are absolutely top-tier.

If I were to save her and raise her in the Soul Beast Paradise...

A thought sprouted uncontrollably and grew wildly in his mind.

Inside Li Hao, a fierce battle between heaven and man unfolded.

On one side, the God of Salted Fish lectured him earnestly: "Less trouble is better than more; lying flat is the true meaning of life."

On the other side, the Demon of Hoarding whispered temptations: "You won't find another shop like this once you leave this village! A top-tier Soul Beast Girl, and an original heroine at that—aren't you tempted?"

His thoughts churned violently.

He looked down and saw Xiao Wu's eyes, brimming with tears and filled with anticipation.

He looked up again and saw Medusa, who, though silent, was clearly waiting for his decision with a focused posture.

Finally, his gaze swept across this vibrant world he had created with his own hands.

Majestic mountains and rushing rivers.

The soul beasts he had just saved, those who had been reborn, were enjoying hard-won peace and tranquility in the grasslands and forests.

He had just told himself that he would turn this place into the final sanctuary for all kind-hearted soul beasts.

He had only just become the king of this soul beast kingdom.

Now, new subjects were wailing in despair outside his kingdom.

As their king, was he supposed to just sit by and watch?

Li Hao let out a long, long sigh.

He finally understood.

Why is it so hard to just be a salted fish?

He patted Xiao Wu's head, signaling her to be at ease.

Then, he turned to Medusa.

"Prepare yourself."

Four simple words.

Medusa's body tensed instantly, a terrifying killing intent flashing across her before vanishing. She knelt on one knee, her voice resolute.

"I obey the Master's command!"

A complex expression, helpless yet filled with a hint of anticipation, appeared on Li Hao's face.

A light, unprecedented in its intensity, flashed in his eyes.

"We are going... to pick up our new family member."

Since he couldn't avoid it.

Then he would turn the trouble into his own possession.

Since he wanted to build a Soul Beast Paradise.

Then he could not stand by and watch any noble soul wither before his eyes.

As his voice fell, Li Hao moved his mind.

The spatial laws of the entire Soul Beast Paradise operated according to his will.

He took Xiao Wu and Medusa with him, their figures instantly blurring as they merged directly into the void.

Star Dou Forest, core mixed zone.

The thick scent of blood, mixed with the sound of snapping branches and leaves, permeated the forest.

In a clearing violently leveled by force, the aftermath of battle had yet to dissipate.

Li Hao's figure, carrying Xiao Wu and Medusa, appeared silently atop the canopy of a massive ancient tree.

Using the Soul Beast Paradise's spatial jump ability, he had arrived at the location indicated by the system as if by teleportation.

Pushing aside the dense foliage in front of him, the scene below caused his pupils to constrict sharply.

It was a truly tragic sight.

A massive Hell Spirit Cat lay bathed in blood, a hideous wound extending from its shoulder blade to its abdomen, nearly disemboweling it.

It collapsed into a pool of blood, its life force fading rapidly as its golden eyes began to lose focus.

Standing before it.

A woman in black, possessing a similarly fiery figure and a face bearing a seven or eight-part resemblance, approached step by step, clutching a sharp, blood-stained dagger.

A triumphant, savage grin hung on the woman's face, filled with cruelty and delight.

"Zhuqing, my dear sister, you've struggled long enough; it's time to accept your fate."

"Boss Dai will be here soon, and I will finish you off right in front of him."

"He will understand that only I am qualified to be the Crown Princess of the Star Luo Empire!"

At this very moment of despair.

From the other side of the battlefield, within the dense jungle, came the sound of hurried footsteps and an angry roar.

"Zhu Zhuyun! How dare you!"

A golden-haired youth with heterochromatic eyes, dressed in fine robes, was charging toward them in a panic, accompanied by several guards.

It was none other than the Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai.

Three forces.

About to collide violently upon this blood-soaked woodland at this very moment!