Sacrifice

Facing the gentle and poised Pink, Xiao Wu instantly burst into tears. She was deeply ashamed. She had clearly known that Pink's lifespan was nearly at its end, yet she had still set her sights on her. Her heart ached unbearably.

"It's all right, it's all right!" Pink came over to Xiao Wu, extending her two ears to cradle Xiao Wu's face as she comforted her softly.

"Besides, obtaining my Soul Ring won't be that simple. If your companion cannot earn my approval, then I still won't give him my Soul Ring."

"Sister Pink, don't blame Xiao Wu. It's all my fault. If I hadn't wanted the Teleportation skill, Xiao Wu wouldn't have set her sights on you."

Hu Jiu couldn't bear to see Xiao Wu cry so miserably. He immediately stepped forward and took all the blame upon himself.

"Also, Sister Pink, tell me! What must I do to earn your approval? I'll definitely do it for you."

There had never been anything in this world that came without effort.

If he wanted someone to Sacrifice herself to him, it was impossible for there to be no price to pay. Hu Jiu had expected that long ago.

He simply hadn't expected Pink to be capable of communicating. But that was even better; he could learn exactly what she wanted.

"Mm, Xiao Wu made a good friend. You have a sense of responsibility!" Pink gave Hu Jiu an approving look and slowly stated her request.

"My request is simple. Little Gray and Xiao Bai are both still young. I'm afraid that after I'm gone, no one will take care of them."

"That won't be a problem. I'll have Da Ming and Er Ming take care of them from now on." Before Hu Jiu could answer, Xiao Wu agreed first.

"Thank you, Sister Xiao Wu. With those two watching over my children, I'm at ease." Pink's voice was full of delight.

She had originally wanted Hu Jiu to spare some time to help care for them, but she hadn't expected Xiao Wu to offer an even better guarantee.

Those were the Emperor and King of the Star Dou Great Forest! With them caring for her children, what was there left for her to worry about?

"Then... Pink, do you have any other requests? Say them all at once!" Having agreed to Pink's first condition, Xiao Wu anxiously continued asking on Hu Jiu's behalf.

This made Hu Jiu, standing behind her, helplessly close his mouth just after opening it.

"Mm, the second condition concerns Xiao Jiu's martial soul effect. I've eaten his Carrots before, and they are greatly beneficial to cultivation. If my children can eat them for a long time, I believe they won't end up like me, exhausting their lifespan."

After saying that, Pink looked at Hu Jiu expectantly. This request had occurred to her on the spot. She felt that Hu Jiu's martial soul was of great help to Soul Beasts, so she had added another condition at the last minute.

After all, since Xiao Wu had brought this person here, Pink did not have much room to refuse in the first place.

Xiao Wu was the supreme King of the Rabbit Clan, and she had saved Pink's life before. Being able to help Xiao Wu before her death made Pink very happy.

"Mm, this isn't difficult for me. But I'm human, so I can't stay in the Star Dou Great Forest forever. I may not be able to fulfill that request."

Hu Jiu didn't want to deceive her either. Even if he agreed to something he couldn't do, it would be useless.

"Xiao Jiu, you may have misunderstood. I'm not asking you to stay here forever. I just want you to come by more often when you have time and leave them some Carrots."

Seeing that Hu Jiu had misunderstood her meaning, Pink hurriedly explained.

"Haha! Then that's no problem. I can come three to five times a year, at least. Sister Pink, would that be all right?" Hu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn't tied down here forever, it was fine.

"That's wonderful. Thank you, Xiao Jiu." Hu Jiu's promise filled Pink with joy. With the help of his Carrots, her children would surely grow quickly.

With the conditions settled, the rest was simple.

Because Pink couldn't bear to leave Little Gray and Xiao Bai, the two humans and one Soul Beast discussed it and decided that the Sacrifice would take place five days later.

During those remaining days, Hu Jiu and Xiao Wu stayed in the little valley, watching Pink spend her final days with her children.

Meanwhile, Hu Jiu also grew closer to Little Gray and Xiao Bai. After all, he would be the two rabbits' caretaker from then on, so they needed to get along well.

Five days later, in the nameless little valley.

Hu Jiu, Xiao Wu, Pink, Little Gray, and Xiao Bai—barely counting as two humans and three Soul Beasts.

Pink stood beautifully opposite Hu Jiu. Around them, Xiao Wu and the two rabbits had tears in their eyes, filled with reluctance to part.

The sight made Hu Jiu feel somewhat saddened as well. He had always considered himself hard-hearted, yet he hadn't expected to feel sorrow too.

Although he had only spent a few short days with Pink, she had been like a considerate Big Sister, treating Hu Jiu kindly and never looking at him coldly just because he wanted her Soul Ring.

Of course, Hu Jiu knew that Xiao Wu was inseparable from the reason he received such treatment. Without Xiao Wu, the instant this family of Lightning Rabbits saw him, they would probably have fought him to the death.

"Let's begin, Xiao Jiu. Just absorb the Soul Power without worry. Leave the rest to me!" Even though she was about to Sacrifice herself, Pink's voice remained gentle, as though this were no more difficult than having a meal.

"Don't worry, Sister Pink. Leave Little Gray and Xiao Bai to me from now on. I'll take good care of them." Hu Jiu solemnly promised Pink.

At this moment, the only thing he could do was let Pink leave in peace.

After all, even if he had not appeared today, Pink would likely have died naturally before long.

"Mm!"

Pink gave her two children one final look over her shoulder, then nodded to Xiao Wu before peacefully closing her eyes.

The next moment, Pink began to glow. A pink radiance illuminated the entire valley.

Within that light, Hu Jiu felt a warm surge of Soul Power suddenly pour into his body. Without any effort on his part, that Soul Power naturally merged with his own.

At that moment, Hu Jiu's Soul Power Level began rising rapidly. It quickly broke through Level 30 and reached Level 31.

Then it swiftly broke through from Level 31 to Level 32.

Only after it had passed the midpoint of Level 32 did that Soul Power completely dissipate.

After absorbing the Soul Power, Soul Rings naturally emerged beneath Hu Jiu's feet. He had originally possessed only two Purple Soul Rings, but now a third was Condensing at an astonishing speed.

In no time, the third Soul Ring took shape. At that very moment, Hu Jiu officially became a Level 32 Food System Soul Master.

However, the Transformation was not over. After all, whenever there was a Sacrifice, the appearance of a Soul Bone was inevitable.

Since Pink had Sacrificed herself to Hu Jiu, a Soul Bone would naturally appear as well.

Sure enough, just after he absorbed the Soul Power, Hu Jiu suddenly felt an intense pain erupt inside his head, as though something had been forcibly stuffed into it.

The next moment, his spiritual power began to soar. In only an instant, his Perception range expanded by more than tenfold.

Outside, fragmented images flickered past one after another. They were scenes beyond the valley.