I Have a Golden Crow

Late at night, under the Twin Trees.

Accompanied by Master Qing, Du Yu rushed through the night back to the very center of the Demon Spirit Realm, now standing beside the Twin Trees.

He closed his eyes, one hand pressing against the withered Divine Tree. In the distance, Fu Jianzhou and two or three Demon Spirit Soldiers stood guard.

Beneath the stunning Twin Trees, the woman in a pale green dress looked like a Banished Immortal, perfectly matching the picturesque scene of the Twin Flower Tree.

But cloaked and hooded in gray-green, Du Yu brought down the average beauty score of this scene.

After a long time, Du Yu let out a deep sigh. ”Ah...”

Just like last time, the Divine Tree paid him no mind. No matter how he tried to communicate, it was as if the Divine Tree had died—silent and unresponsive.

”No need to sigh.” Master Qing stretched out her palm, gently stroking the dried-up trunk. ”There are far too many things in this world we can’t understand. So many scholars spend their lives searching, only to find nothing in the end.

After hundreds of years, for the Divine Tree to reopen an ancient ritual for you, to even exchange a brief word—that’s already a kind of miracle.”

Du Yu: ”Mm...”

Master Qing sighed, ”Keep working at your cultivation, just as the Divine Tree wished. Maybe when your Spiritual Qi breaks through, it’ll be willing to guide you again.”

Her words were very gentle, but Du Yu knew this was just meant to comfort him.

To advance in the job of Spirit Taming, where in the world would you ever get such a perfect cultivation environment?

Du Yu slowly looked up, gazing at the intertwined withered and thriving Twin Trees, also seeing a sky full of petals and leaves.

In the darkness, white Twin Tree Flowers sparkled softly between thick branches and leaves, pouring down like a waterfall of blossoms.

Every time he stood beneath this dreamlike Twin Trees, Du Yu always felt a sudden urge to get married. The partner wasn’t important—the atmosphere was just too right.

As these thoughts wandered, he turned his head a bit, sneaking a peek at the Banished Immortal beside him.

The light of the flower waterfall sparkled in her eyes, reflecting countless flecks of light—utterly mesmerizing.

Hmm... no, getting married doesn’t quite fit Master Qing’s vibe—too worldly.

Forget it, let’s spare her~

Master Qing raised an eyebrow slightly. ”What is it?”

”N-nothing.” Du Yu quickly looked away, tossing aside his messy thoughts. ”I’ll just cultivate here. If I really get any messages, I’ll tell you right away.”

Yang Qingqing withdrew her palm, hands behind her back. ”Alright then, work hard at your cultivation.”

”Yes.”

Yang Qingqing turned and left, her voice floating gently back: ”In the next few days, pay attention to the activities the Library is holding—if you have time, participate.”

Du Yu watched Master Qing walk away, then waved to Fu Jianzhou in resignation. ”Okay.”

If nothing unexpected happened, Master Qing would probably launch an investigation into the Divine Tree. Who knew what news the other Spirit Masters might get?

It was such a shame he was too weak to take part—it really sucked.

That night, Du Yu spent beneath the Twin Trees.

Filling a single Spirit Ruins Acupoint took a whole night! What kind of download speed is this?

Du Yu almost thought he’d spent the night cultivating inside Baidu Cloud Drive...

If only the Divine Tree sold memberships, Du Yu would pawn everything to buy one—because damn, this was way too slow.

The Divine Tree gives people no way out, while the Demon Breath Tree benefits all the living!

After a whole night’s cultivation, Du Yu just felt like his body was bursting with fullness. Though he slept little and wasn’t very refreshed, his body felt brimming with power—a curious sensation.

”Get up, time to eat.” Du Yu called softly, summoning Xiaoyan and Ghost Firefly from within his body.

”Ying~” Xiaoyan squatted before Du Yu, tipping up her little head and shaking her fiery red big tail at King Du Zhou.

The Ghost Firefly Torch hovered in midair, curiously glancing around.

Looking up along the Twin Tree’s trunk, Little Ghost Firefly leaned backwards farther and farther too,

until it lay flat in the air, staring in a daze at the overwhelming waterfall of floral branches—so dumb and so cute.

”Today we’re heading to Zone 6 to meet that Moonlit Bear corrupted by Cold Qi!” Du Yu popped a piece of dried fruit into Xiaoyan’s mouth, then looked at the dawdling Ghost Firefly Torch, smiling despite himself.

He grabbed the torch handle with one hand, righted Little Ghost Firefly, and tossed the dried fruit into its fluorescent green flame.

That felt just like sprinkling fruit chunks on a giant ice cream cone, you know?

”I want some too~” In his head, Little Fen Yang’s voice rang out.

Du Yu hurriedly swallowed a Firethorn Fruit Leather, but then remembered something, unzipping the side of his backpack to fish out the last two Little Night Mongoose Demon Crystals.

He tossed one into the Ghost Firefly Torch’s flame, keeping the other in his pocket for emergencies.

Little Ghost Firefly’s eyes went wide instantly, happiness glowing from it, the green flame burning even brighter, crackling fiercely and flooding with light.

Du Yu: ”...”

”Bang!”

Just as Du Yu was about to say something, he suddenly felt a squeeze around his waist. Looking down in alarm, he saw a Twin Tree branch had wrapped around him.

”We’re sorry! Don’t...oh shit!” Du Yu yelped and was flung straight out by the Twin Tree’s branch.

”Ying!” Xiaoyan hurriedly chased after him, and Little Ghost Firefly—realizing it had caused trouble—zoomed out as well, actually outpacing even the swift Fire Fox Race as it flew.

”Du Yu, Du Yu~ Grab Ghost Firefly! Then we won’t face-plant. Take that, tree!”

”Agh.” Plummeting from the sky, Du Yu fumbled and managed to grab the rushing Ghost Firefly Torch.

Little Ghost Firefly tried hard to help its master. After Du Yu grabbed hold, it strained to fly up, but since the Ghost Firefly Torch wasn’t built to carry weight, the two of them still kept dropping.

Little Fen Yang: ”Ghost Firefly Blow! Aim at the ground!”

Du Yu’s mind sparked—he gripped the torch handle like a magic staff and pointed it diagonally at the ground: ”Ghost Firefly Blow!”

Whoosh~

Instantly, fiery streaks spiraled out, a column of wind shot down!

From about seven or eight meters above, Du Yu was blasted back by the Wind-Fire Pillar.

It actually worked!?

Du Yu’s eyes gleamed—he quickly twisted around: ”Ghost Firefly Blow!”

Whoosh~

”Blow! Blow! Blow!” He adjusted his stance, hands gripping what felt like a jetpack; after a storm of Wind-Fire Pillar blasts, he finally crashed to the ground in a tumble...

For a drop of only seven or eight meters, as a Demon Tamer Journeyman, Du Yu naturally didn’t have much of a problem.

Behind, the outstretched Twin Tree branches halted in midair.

The Twin Trees only aimed to discipline, not harm. Sensing the little Human had survived, their branches drew back.

”Good grief!” Du Yu, still rattled, looked down at the Ghost Firefly Torch in his hand, barely believing what had just happened.

There are actually moves like this?

Little Ghost Firefly blinked happily, then broke free from Du Yu’s grip, spinning circles in front of his face!

Fluorescent green sparks crackled off, as if celebrating with a dance.

Du Yu made a peculiar face—if I strapped the Ghost Firefly Torch to my leg, could I cosplay as Astro Boy?

”Ying!” Xiaoyan called out, leaping onto Du Yu’s shoulder.

Her fluffy little head nuzzled his cheek, those golden-brown fox eyes glaring disapprovingly at the Ghost Firefly Torch.

Ghost Firefly Torch was still spinning in celebration, but once its eyes turned toward Sister Xiaoyan’s expression, it immediately stopped.

Little Ghost Firefly floated there all aggrieved, saying nothing—just letting a few sparks spatter out from the top of the torch.

”Alright, alright.” Du Yu gently patted Xiaoyan’s head, then glanced back to see the Twin Tree branches had placed his tactical backpack and Demon Soldier Silver Fire on the ground.

Kicked out of home, Du Yu quickly packed up, grabbed his torch, and strode east: ”Come on, let’s go whack that bear.”

Xiaoyan’s Spark Splash output was already at Glory Gold Level—the bear’s Demon Breath Battle Robe would be shredded for sure!

As he spoke, Du Yu was also talking with Little Fen Yang in his head: ”Hey, Little Fen Yang, that trick was awesome.”

”Of course~ Just keep training Ghost Firefly. Its Wind-Fire Pillar can blast or suck things in. Once its Demon Skill reaches a higher Grade, you’ll have even more tactics to play with.”

”Mm.” Du Yu’s mind brimmed with anticipation. If I use Demon Skill · Ghost Firefly Attraction to try and suck at an immovable object, would I get dragged over instead?

With all these blows and sucks, there’s a ton of new tricks to try!

”Bzzz... bzzz...”

Du Yu was still lost in his beautiful daydreams when a fiery red tail gently tapped the back of his head.

”What is it?” Du Yu turned to look and saw Xiaoyan clinging to his shoulder, peering downward.

He heard faint noises too, so hurriedly pulled his phone from his coat pocket. It was a call from Li Mengnan, but unlike usual, it wasn’t a video chat.

”Bro, bro! The event sign-up has started!” As soon as the call connected, Li Mengnan’s impatient voice rang out, ”The store clerk says there are several rounds, so I guess tons of people are entering. Let’s team up for registration! We’ll go together!”

Du Yu didn’t hesitate: ”Sure.”

Li Mengnan: ”Send me your student ID number.”

”Hang on...” Du Yu switched to the database, searching for his info. ”531163941.”

”Du Yu?” On the other end, a girl’s voice suddenly chimed in, sounding oddly familiar.

Li Mengnan, curious: ”You know him?”

Tang Dun smiled at the student info on her screen. ”Perfect timing. Tell him to come to the Library and claim his reward.”

Li Mengnan instantly realized something. ”Bro, you’re at the North Suburb Demon Spirit Realm too?”

Du Yu: ”Yeah.”

Li Mengnan, excited: ”Are you a Demon Tamer Journeyman now?”

Du Yu cocked his head, ears tingling: ”Aren’t you one, too?”

”Me? No way. I hired a whole team to help!”

Du Yu: ”Pfft, can’t I hire a team too... Eh, yeah, I’m a Demon Tamer Journeyman.”

”Heh~” Li Mengnan couldn’t help but laugh, picturing Du Yu’s face full of mock resentment. ”The clerk says you should come get your reward. You want to come over now? If you do, I’ll wait here. We can figure out which round to join together.”

Du Yu turned to the south. ”Oh.”

Li Mengnan, curious: ”By the way, what prize did you get? Why did the staff have to notify you?”

At that, Du Yu’s spirits lifted!

That dude didn’t get to show off last time, but now’s finally his chance!

As Du Yu plotted how to phrase it, Tang Dun’s sisterly voice came through the receiver: ”For completing the store’s bounty quest, you get a Library Ring.”

Du Yu: ”...”

Am I just fated to be that guy?

Can’t I just show off for once while the sun’s still up!?

Li Mengnan’s mouth formed an O, and she instinctively looked up at the small blackboard above the store door. ”What did you even do?”

”Isn’t it written on the blackboard?”

Li Mengnan stared at the empty blackboard. ”The task’s already been wiped off.”

This is my opportunity!

Du Yu perked right up and quickly said, ”It was nothing. Just played with a few Dust Spirit Deer and brought back a couple Dust Spirit Beads.”

Li Mengnan: ???

She stammered, ”Why... why would the Dust Spirit Deer play with you? They don’t let anyone near them.”

Why would they play with me?

Du Yu scratched his head and said, ”First close your eyes.”

Li Mengnan was a bit stunned by the odd request, but obediently closed her eyes. ”Then what?”

Du Yu: ”Now imagine my eyes.”

Li Mengnan: ”...”

Du Yu: ”See? Anyone’d get confused looking at these. You get muddled, so do the deer!”

Li Mengnan rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing as she pulled the phone away and immediately hung up.

Ugh, who’s getting confused by you!