Moon Spirit Leopard Cub and the Soul Return Ritual

Li Si and the others quickly returned to the foot of the mountain.

With Ya Er and Arsen's help, Elena had already finished preparing the Moon Spirit Leopard's body. All that remained was to use an elven ritual to send it back to the Elf Goddess's God Kingdom.

Arsen had also removed two of the Moon Spirit Leopard's claws and some fur as proof of completing the subjugation quest.

At that moment, Li Si walked over, seemingly carrying something in his arms.

Stopping before Elena and looking at the elf, who still seemed somewhat sorrowful, Li Si held out the black bundle wrapped in cloth from his arms.

"Look. See what I found?"

Elena looked confused. She accepted the little thing Li Si handed her, took one look, and froze on the spot.

A cute little head poked out from the cloth, its eyes still tightly shut. Its tiny black body kept crawling about within the wrapping, its pink paw pads struggling restlessly. Having left its familiar surroundings, it seemed a little flustered and kept making soft grunting sounds.

"This is... a Moon Spirit Leopard cub?"

Arsen, standing nearby, also spotted the little fellow. It was clearly a miniature version of the Moon Spirit Leopard lying on the ground beside them!

"Wow, it's so cute!"

Ya Er stared at the little creature with sparkling eyes. Girls simply had no resistance to fluffy animals.

"Li Si, where did you find it? I want one too!"

Remembering the culprit behind all this, Ya Er hurriedly asked Li Si.

"I thought it was strange that the Moon Spirit Leopard roared toward the mountain at the end, so I went looking around. I didn't expect to actually find something."

Li Si waved a hand. "I can't exactly help you find another one. Maybe another time if there's a chance."

"Ah... all right." Ya Er looked a little disappointed, but she quickly ran over to Elena, wanting to hold the Moon Spirit Leopard cub.

Elena ignored Ya Er's pleading and hugged the little baby tightly against her chest. It seemed to sense the familiar natural aura and lay obediently in Elena's arms, settling down quite a bit.

Elena raised her head, her eyes slightly red around the rims.

"Thank you, Li Si. I don't even know how to thank you."

Elena crouched down, holding the cub in one arm while gently stroking the fur around the mother Moon Spirit Leopard's neck with the other.

"Arsen told me everything. This child's mother must have suffered a great deal."

Elena stood up and gently placed the Moon Spirit Leopard cub on her shoulder. Her eyes were filled with deep gratitude as she looked at Li Si.

The Moon Spirit Leopard cub seemed to sense something too. It stayed silent and obediently remained on Elena's shoulder.

"When Arsen told me the truth, I was furious. I hated them. Humans were just as some of my elders had said—driven by selfish desires alone, they would destroy and ruin beautiful things. It seemed as though they would always carry darkness and filth that could never be washed away."

"But Li Si, you, Ya Er, and Arsen helped me understand many things."

"There are detestable people like those slave traders, but there are also admirable people like Ya Er, Arsen, and you."

"Thank you, Li Si. You will always be my close friend."

Elena's words were gentle yet resolute. She slowly walked up to Li Si, lifted her head slightly, and gently kissed his forehead.

Li Si was a little stunned. He felt he had merely done a small favor; he had not expected Elena to be so grateful.

Just then, a new message appeared on the system panel.

[You have completed the milestone Elven's Close Friend!]

[Elven's Close Friend: Your actions have earned the elves' heartfelt gratitude, and they now see you as a true friend. Your Charm attribute +10. Your initial favorability with all elven factions has increased to Friendly (excluding Dark Elves). Under certain conditions, you may spend favorability to obtain the elves' assistance.]

This milestone's effect was incredibly powerful!

He had not expected such an unexpected gain!

Li Si had not had any other motive when he gave the Moon Spirit Leopard cub to Elena.

For one thing, Elena was his teammate, so it would not have been appropriate for him to claim the Moon Spirit Leopard for himself at a time like this.

For another, Elena had said that without receiving the baptism, the Moon Spirit Leopard would only reach Silver-level strength in the future. It would also consume a large amount of precious resources, making it unsuitable for him.

Li Si was not an absolute egoist either. In his view, giving the little Moon Spirit Leopard to Elena was the best choice.

Although Li Si had not deliberately sought this outcome, he would not refuse it either.

"Thank you, Elena. You will always be my friend too."

Li Si spoke solemnly to the beautiful elven hunter before him, whose cheeks had turned slightly red.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh~"

Ya Er made an incoherent sound from the side, squeezing up beside Elena to join in the fun and hoping for a kiss as well.

Elena irritably pushed away Ya Er's little head as it leaned close. Her expression turned serious as she said,

"Everyone, please step back a little. I'm about to begin the goddess's Soul Return Ritual."

Li Si raised an eyebrow. The Soul Return Ritual? It was meant to send the Moon Spirit Leopard's soul back to the goddess's God Kingdom.

Generally speaking, after followers of the Gods died, their souls would not enter the underworld. Instead, they would be guided into the Gods' God Kingdoms, where they would be reincarnated or directly become petitioners. This was how the Gods strengthened their divine power, but it was also what their followers desired, believing that it would grant them eternal life and happiness.

Under special circumstances, when a soul could not return to a God Kingdom, another person could perform a Soul Return Ritual to open a gate leading to the God Kingdom and guide the lost soul in the right direction.

Of course, this required the God Kingdom's master to agree. Goddess Fenriria naturally would not refuse the soul of a Moon Spirit Leopard.

What Elena was preparing should be a Soul Return Ritual for Moon and Guardian Goddess Fenriria.

Li Si and the others stepped aside and waited for the ritual to begin.

Elena stood before the Moon Spirit Leopard and took out Fenriria's Holy Emblem from her Storage Ring.

It was a shield-shaped emerald-green badge engraved with a pure white silver moon!

She then took out morning dew, a branch from the Tree of Life, and an emerald-green gemstone containing a unique life force.

Once all the ritual items had been prepared, Elena gently knelt on both knees, closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and devoutly chanted:

Great and benevolent Goddess Fenriria!

You are the embodiment of the silver moon in the night sky!

You are the guardian deity of the elves!

You are the protector of rangers!

All praise, gratitude, and honor are offered unto you!

Your follower prays to you here with a sincere heart,

Please open the gate,

And let this wandering child return to your warm embrace!

As Elena prayed, faint silver and green radiance emerged from the offerings, intertwining in the air to form an illusory, ethereal silver gate.

Though he was only watching from a distance, that seemingly faint power made Li Si feel an irresistible sacred aura. Even though he sensed no threat, an immense pressure still seemed to settle upon his shoulders.

So this was the aura of divine power?

Although he had witnessed several battles involving incarnations of Gods in his previous life, this was the first time in this life that he had personally witnessed the display of a God's vast power. Even the faintest trace of its aura had left him unable to move.

Countless thoughts raced through Li Si's mind, but his eyes remained fixed on the ritual before him, not daring to miss even the slightest detail.

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