I Have a Golden Crow

As night fell, Du Yu’s cultivation had stabilized, and he was starting to get antsy.

Now that he’d successfully leveled up, he couldn’t wait to see what changes his Demon Pets had undergone, and he was eager to teach Tai Sui God a Spirit-level Divine Skill!

Celestial Punishment would last 3 to 5 days, so...

Du Yu propped himself against the wall and slowly stood up.

Watched by the soldiers, he walked out of the Otherworld Gate and quickly returned to his hotel room.

Once he’d locked the doors and windows, Du Yu immediately activated the Mountain and Sea Bell.

”Splash~”

Du Yu landed on a sea reef just as the waves hit the shore, splashing him all over.

He raised a hand to shield his face and looked up at the sky, feeling like he was sneaking in a cosmic swap.

The outside world was already night, but in the Sea Realm, it was sunny and cloudless.

Perfect~

No need to worry about losing sleep and hurting his body.

Du Yu reached forward, and the Divine Ghost Firefly quietly flew out: ”Mm!”

”Anything special you feel after leveling up?” Du Yu jumped off the reef, conveniently grabbing one of the Ghost Firefly’s little feet.

”Mm?” The Ghost Firefly was scooped into Du Yu’s arms, happily wiggling its head.

”You don’t look any bigger,” Du Yu said, patting its forehead.

There, right in the center, was the character ”God.” Du Yu traced it over with his fingertip again and again.

”Staying small is good,” the Ghost Firefly responded, its little face snuggling against Du Yu’s chest, rubbing side to side.

”True that.” Du Yu chuckled, giving its tiny head another rub.

”Tai Sui leveled up too,” said the Ghost Firefly, who lived atop the Tai Sui God Tower and had clearly noticed already.

”Yeah, let’s check on him, see if he’s all cold and aloof now.” Du Yu hugged the Ghost Firefly, sweeping his hand to the side as he summoned.

With a muffled ”thud.”

A round, fluffy lump landed on the gravelly ground.

”Woo!” Little Tai Sui roared on arrival, brimming with bravado—fierce and ridiculously adorable at once.

”Whoa~” Du Yu looked up at the enormous Chi Bear in front of him.

Little Tai Sui had undergone a qualitative transformation, ballooning up to two meters tall!

The Chi Bear that used to be a cuddle pillow had become a Chi Bear’s Bed.

Hmm... not bad!

Du Yu nodded in satisfaction. Now that’s what I call a ”tank.”

From now on, I can send you charging up front without feeling so bad for you.

Honestly, watching a 1-meter-tall little chub charge enemy lines always made Du Yu feel a bit guilty.

But now, with a two-meter-tall big chubby hurling forward, it just all makes more sense...

”Congrats.” Du Yu reached out and patted Tai Sui’s fuzzy belly, testing the squish factor.

Still adorably soft.

”Mrrp!” Little Tai Sui stuck out its head, looking super proud.

Du Yu was pretty used to this size.

Before the level-up, whenever Tai Sui activated its Ancient Body, it had been this size anyway.

Now I’m curious—if Tai Sui opens Ancient Body again, how huge will it get?

Du Yu immediately called out, ”Tai Sui! Ancient Body!”

”Wooo!” Tai Sui God bellowed to the sky, swelling up to almost four meters tall.

”Whoa, buddy~” Du Yu retreated a few steps, craning his neck at the giant Chi Bear.

Now that’s what I’m talking about, dude!

This is my wall of meat!

I wonder how much damage you can take now...

If we crank up Demon Skill·Chi Bear Charge on the battlefield, you’re basically a walking meat-bomb tank!

”Haha! Come on, Tai Sui, let’s go find Brother Tree and get some training in!” Du Yu called out happily.

”Woo!” Tai Sui God nodded, striding forward in giant steps.

Each step landed with a heavy thud, and a bear paw print was stamped into the gravel with every stride.

Height aside, just by sheer mass, Ancient Tai Sui still couldn’t compare to a Desolate Silver Lynx.

But the Desolate Silver Lynx could walk without making a sound.

Species differences—definitely obvious enough.

”Okay, new Demon Skill lesson first.” Du Yu looked way, way up at the giant Chi Bear, ”Shrink down for me, would you?”

Tai Sui God obligingly shrank back down, reverting to his two-meter-tall form.

”Master.”

”Hmm?” Du Yu looked at the drifting Tai Sui Demon Soul, reaching out to squish its bear face.

Sadly, the Demon Soul was just a phantom—Du Yu’s bear-face-grabbing only grabbed thin air.

”Sister Hongye specially taught me that I can freely adjust the Ancient Body’s size,” Tai Sui God communicated.

”That’s right.” Du Yu nodded. Last time in the Bamboo Grove, Hongye had shown Tai Sui all kinds of tricks. ”We’ll experiment with that in a bit.”

”Okay.” Tai Sui God smiled, and the Demon Soul Tai Sui smiled too.

All grinning in that dopey, adorable way again.

Du Yu couldn’t resist the urge to pinch bear cheeks...

”Master?”

”Ah! Come on, let’s chat on the way.” Du Yu snapped back to reality.

He walked right through the Demon Soul Tai Sui, hugged Tai Sui God’s arm, and headed off toward Begonia Bridge with his beloved pet in tow.

Having a giant meat shield by your side... now that’s a sense of security!

Honestly, back when Du Yu first saw the Forbidden City, he wanted to do this same thing.

But the Forbidden City was Master Qing’s Demon Pet—and a female one at that.

Clinging to a girl’s arm for a sense of safety? Just feels wrong somehow.

Now, it’s all good—Tai Sui is Spirit Level too!

”The Demon Skill adapted for Spirit-level Chi Bear Race looks like a single skill, but really? It works as a double whammy!” Du Yu explained.

Tai Sui God: ”Teach me, teach me!”

”First, let’s summon Little Chi Bear.” Du Yu was more than willing to teach.

On the long Begonia Bridge, the shadow of one man and one bear passed by.

The Divine Ghost Firefly couldn’t resist playing around, occasionally flitting into the Begonia Forest, only for the Begonia Tree to bounce it back onto the bridge.

Countless Begonia Trees—all avatars of the Shatang Tree—were being babysat by a Demon Saint-level nanny. Du Yu naturally wasn’t worried about the Ghost Firefly getting lost or not finding its way home.

By the time Du Yu reached the doors of Shatang Mansion, Tai Sui God already had a Little Chi Bear summoned at his feet.

”Click~”

The mansion’s doors opened left and right.

Under the Shatang Tree, a girl was quietly lost in thought.

At the sound, she turned her head.

And saw Du Yu bending to scoop up a Little Chi Bear—a heartwarming sight.

”Pfft~”

The next moment, the Little Chi Bear actually got squished by Du Yu!?

Glowing firefly-green motes swirled everywhere, like drifting fireflies.

The lights enveloped Du Yu and quickly merged into his body, nourishing him inside and out.

Lin Shiwei: ”...”

Well, she’s General Lin. If it were Li Mengnan here, she’d no doubt be yelling, ”How can you bear to do that?!”

Honestly, Little Chi Bears are only twenty or thirty centimeters big; bright eyes, dopey-cute, totally like Demon Pet Cubs.

And Du Yu just smooshed a baby cub like that...

Brutal.

In fact, these Little Chi Bears aren’t even real living things—they’re all pieced together from Demon Breath, a very deceptive Demon Skill.

”Nice! So that’s the Wooden Chi Bear—Huh?” Du Yu trailed off, sensing someone’s gaze, and looked up ahead.

Under the Shatang Tree, Celestial Cyan Porcelain was still fast asleep.

By its elegantly carved Dragon Head, a tall figure was quietly watching them.

”You’re awake!” Du Yu waved, brushing away the green motes like he was destroying evidence.

The girl was energetic and full of heroic spirit, her imposing aura practically visible. She had that ”commands respect without even trying” vibe.

The Demon Tamer class is all about one’s Spirit, Essence, and Qi.

And advancing to Great Demon Tamer—your first step to becoming a god—just makes your presence soar!

Du Yu admired her in his mind, but his expression only grew stranger.

Lin Shiwei was wearing a gray short-sleeve shirt.

This was the shirt she’d been wearing since the Celestial Punishment—after being scorched and passing out, it was Du Yu who’d dressed her in it.

Who knows how Li Mengnan was supposed to look after her third sister—couldn’t she at least change her clothes?

Or maybe...

Lin Shiwei woke up and put it back on herself?

And come to think of it, no matter how heroic General Lin was, she was still a girl. Her shoulders weren’t as broad as Du Yu’s.

So this gray shirt looked a bit loose on her.

It seemed like Lin Shiwei realized something too. She looked down at her outfit.

After a beat, she blushed faintly and murmured, ”I’ll wash it before I give it back.”

”No worries, it’s just a shirt!” Du Yu waved his hands in embarrassment.

”Okay.” Lin Shiwei got over her awkwardness quick and laughed easily, ”Then I’m keeping it.”

Du Yu scratched his head, ”Whatever you like. If you like loose clothes, I’ve got plenty more in my room—they’re all gray. Just grab one from the backyard whenever.”

Lin Shiwei gave Du Yu a quick look, then tilted her chin at Tai Sui God: ”He’s Spirit Level now.”

”Yep!” Du Yu replied, ”Tai Sui, go heal Sister Shiwei! Summon Wooden Chi Bear!”

”Mrrp!” Tai Sui God stomped a paw, and instantly, a 30cm Little Chi Bear appeared.

The Wooden Chi Bear hustled on its little legs, scampering toward Lin Shiwei.

Lin Shiwei watched the tiny Chi Bear run up to her and butt into her shin.

”Pfft~”

The Wooden Chi Bear shattered at once, dissolving into a shower of green motes.

The lights swirled around her legs, danced up into the air, and melted into her body.

Lin Shiwei closed her eyes and savored the feeling.

The scent of grass and earth filled her nose, making her feel absolutely refreshed.

And a surge of vibrant life force poured into her, leaving her body and mind at ease.

Demon Skill·Wood and Fire Chi!

Du Yu: ”Great, now let’s see what Sister Shiwei’s got! Come on, Fire Chi Bear!”

He said this aloud, but through the Contract, he added, ”Go easy, Tai Sui. Seriously—easy!”

”Mrrp!” Tai Sui God dropped into a bow stance, and when his paw hit the ground, another Little Chi Bear appeared.

The little guy scampered toward Lin Shiwei—cutest thing ever.

From her casually hanging hand, several Fire Vines shot out, quickly entwining and twisting themselves into a Flame Flower Vine Spear.

The Fire Vine Spear was massive—like, ten meters long!

Clearly, Lin Shiwei knew just how strong Tai Sui God was, and she wasn’t about to let the Chi Bear get close.

Her eyes flashed sharp. With a single swing, the spear’s tip came down hard on the Little Chi Bear’s forehead.

”Bang!”

Flames blasted out, shockwaves everywhere!

Behind the Little Chi Bear’s dopey-cute look was a powder keg!

”Super deceptive,” Lin Shiwei praised quietly.

This Fire Chi Bear was absolutely identical to the Wooden Chi Bear from moments ago!

If Du Yu hadn’t spoken up, Lin Shiwei wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart.

”Yeah, it’s deceptive, but kinda useless.” Du Yu shrugged.

It’s not like I’d go heal an enemy, and it’s not like an enemy would let a Chi Bear get close enough anyway.

So this so-called deception only really works on Du Yu’s teammates.

If your teammate opens their arms, getting ready for a healing cuddle from the Wooden Chi Bear—turns out, surprise! It’s actually a Fire Chi Bear, and Du Yu can blow them up in the face!

Pain—delivered to my teammates!

Not gonna lie, that’s a pretty 6D chess move~

”Hissss...” A low dragon’s rumble sounded as Celestial Cyan Porcelain slowly opened both eyes.

”Sorry for waking you.” Du Yu darted over, coming face-to-face with the Dragon Eye. ”Go back to sleep, go back to sleep. We’ll train in the backyard.”

He pulled down at Qingci’s eyelids with both hands, trying his best to shut them.

Which really just looked like he was yanking down a window blind.

Celestial Cyan Porcelain: ”...”

”Hehe~” Lin Shiwei couldn’t stifle a laugh, watching the great Celestial Cyan Porcelain meekly close her eyes—her heart swelled with emotion.

This was an Ancient Demon Saint with heaven-shaking power—one of the Sea Realm’s Prison Wardens—undoubtedly a paragon of dignity and authority.

But in front of Du Yu, she was just so obedient. It was almost unreal.

”Let’s go, Tai Sui. Time to—um, go spar with Brother Tree.” Du Yu beckoned.

”Mrrp!”

”How’s Mengnan doing?” Lin Shiwei suddenly asked.

”Oh, right!” Du Yu smacked his forehead, mentally scolding his own scatterbrain. ”Mengnan attracted a Wind Attribute Celestial Punishment. You’ll definitely benefit a bunch from that. Wanna go over right now?”

Lin Shiwei: ”Let’s go.”