Chapter 020: An Unbelievable Maneuver

Seeing the little fox trailing behind, Mu Tianhen felt helpless and could only stop, looking at the small creature and saying, “Little one, I’m not your kind, much less your parent. You shouldn’t follow me anymore.”

The little fox tilted its head up and let out a soft whimper, raising a small paw and pointing toward the bundle slung over Mu Tianhen’s shoulder.

“You smell food in there?” Mu Tianhen finally understood, set down his bundle, opened it, took out a piece of cooked meat, and handed it to the little fox.

“So you’re hungry after all. Here, take this, but when you’re full, hurry and go find your parents.”

The little fox eagerly took the meat and began eating ravenously, clearly famished.

Watching the fox devour the food, Mu Tianhen couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion, thinking of his own past and of his parents, who had left home searching for a way to restore his dantian and never returned.

In this moment, he realized that he and his younger sister were not so different from this little fox. Without the protection of parents, survival itself became a daunting challenge, let alone any hope of advancement. If the little fox hadn’t hidden in the cave just now, it would have been hard-pressed to escape the pursuit of the savage bull monster.

Just as he himself had barely survived the clutches of Mu Zihao’s family before.

Lost in these thoughts, Mu Tianhen reached out and gently stroked the little fox’s head, sighing, “If I wasn’t still searching for spirit herbs here, I’d take you with me and protect you.”

“Besides, Xue’er would probably like you as well. Little one, when you’re full, go find your parents, and don’t provoke any more fierce beasts.”

With that, Mu Tianhen stood up, turned, and walked further into the forest.

Whoosh!

The little fox, still clutching its piece of meat, hurried after him, unwilling to be left behind.

Mu Tianhen sighed helplessly and said again, “Little one, I can only help you this much. You can’t keep following me; I can’t protect you.”

The little fox quickly gulped down the last bite, and with a magician’s flourish, produced a bead about the size of a thumb from who knows where, holding it up high and offering it to Mu Tianhen.

The bead was smooth, pale green, and seemed to be faintly stained with blood.

“A beast core?”

Staring at the bead, Mu Tianhen uttered the words in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

A beast core was an inner pellet formed within a fierce beast, the very essence of its spiritual power. Only those who had reached the rank of captain and survived the tribulation of the cleansing thunder could produce such a core.

There were nine stars, nine stages, and with each successful tribulation, a beast could form one core, up to a maximum of nine. Once all nine were fused, they became a beast nucleus, allowing the creature to ascend to the rank of commander.

To beasts and birds, beast cores were among their most coveted treasures. By consuming them, they could greatly enhance their cultivation and break through to higher realms.

The core in the little fox’s paw must have been stolen from the savage bull monster, which was why it had been chased so fiercely.

This little one was not only brave but also clever.

But then, why hadn’t the fox kept the core for itself instead of offering it to Mu Tianhen?

Looking into the little fox’s round eyes and at the core it was offering, Mu Tianhen understood. He smiled and said, “Little one, are you giving this to me?”

The little fox yipped in reply, nodding furiously and stretching the core toward him.

Mu Tianhen was deeply moved.

This was the difference between animals and humans—the very embodiment of human sin.

Many people, when rescued and given a new lease on life, would not show gratitude; instead, they would stab you in the back and take everything from you.

But animals—treat them well and they will return your kindness. Even the fiercest lions and tigers know how to be grateful.

This little fox, saved only moments ago and given a scrap of food, was now offering Mu Tianhen a core for which it had risked its life.

Such a gift was truly heavy.

So Mu Tianhen would not accept it, nor would it do him any good if he did.

While human warriors could theoretically enhance their strength and even gain attributes by consuming beast cores, the risk of bloodline chaos and death was far greater.

That was why beast cores were rarely traded on the market; few dared to risk it.

There was, however, one exception: beast nuclei, formed by the fusion of beast cores. After refining, a nucleus was pure spiritual power and caused no harm to the user.

The stronger the nucleus, the greater its effect on a human warrior.

Many warriors, unable to obtain spirit pills, improved their cultivation by hunting fierce beasts for their nuclei. Thus, beast nuclei were as prized as spirit pills.

They were rare treasures, highly sought after in every major trading house.

Given all this, Mu Tianhen resolutely refused the little fox’s gift, smiling as he said, “Keep this for yourself, little one. I don’t need it.”

“Find a place to hide, swallow the core and grow strong, so you can protect yourself. Then go look for your parents. That will be much safer.”

If the little fox really understood him, it must have, for it put the core away with another sleight of hand, making it vanish as quickly as it had appeared. Who knew where it kept such things?

But still, the little fox made no move to leave Mu Tianhen, gazing up at him with hopeful eyes.

Seeing this, Mu Tianhen smiled helplessly. “Little one, do you want to follow me?”

The little fox nodded excitedly, baring its sharp teeth in a grin that was impossible not to love.

Mu Tianhen sighed, glanced around at the dense forest, and said, “Very well. I’m alone here anyway. Having you for company won’t be so lonely.”

“But you must behave and not—”

Suddenly, a beam of red light shot from the little fox’s forehead, cutting Mu Tianhen off and making him leap back several steps in shock.

The red light seemed almost sentient, flashing into Mu Tianhen’s forehead and entering his body, startling him even more.

The beam, sent from the little fox’s brow, lasted less than a heartbeat.

Immediately, Mu Tianhen could sense a strange connection between himself and the little fox—its every secret was now open to him.

With a single thought, Mu Tianhen could take the little fox’s life.

A soul-blood contract!

The words flashed across Mu Tianhen’s mind as he stared dumbfounded at the little fox, utterly stunned.

That red beam had been a soul-blood contract, initiated by the fox itself and forcibly binding it to Mu Tianhen as his beast companion!

From this moment on, the little fox’s life and fate were entirely in Mu Tianhen’s hands.

“Little one, you…”

Mu Tianhen looked at the fox, at a loss for words. Everything had happened so quickly it left him utterly bewildered.