"Alright."

As Master Qing spoke, the two Chi Bears battling in the arena stopped.

"Tai Sui, lead everyone in practicing your staff technique." Yang Qingqing waved at her beloved pet, "Come here."

"Nng?" The Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear put away its Purple Bamboo Stick and waddled over on tiny legs.

"Nng!" In the courtyard, with a command from Little Tai Sui—

Over a dozen Chi Bears all drew their Bamboo Sticks, lining up in formation with impressive presence!

Although, it seemed something odd had mixed into the Chi Bear squad?

Little You Ying?

It was floating at the very back of the group, treating its torch like a staff, letting out "mmm-mmm" shouts and practicing martial arts along with the round bundles.

The sight—just unspeakably adorable…

While the companions over there trained in martial arts, the Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear had already run up to its owner's legs on this side.

It stretched its head up hard, curiously peering at its owner.

Yang Qingqing picked up a wild fruit and held it to the little one's mouth: "From now on, you'll be called Forbidden City."

"Nng?" The little guy swallowed the fruit in one gulp, not at all understanding the meaning of the name.

"Nickname Purple Forbidden." Yang Qingqing patted the fuzzy little head, gesturing to the person across the table, "He came up with your name… hmm?"

Yang Qingqing's words trailed off, only to feel Demon Breath emanating ever more thickly from Du Yu.

Since the Shadow Gu Tower was constantly refining a Saint-level Demon Soul, Du Yu's norm was Demon Breath to spare.

But now, it wasn't just the surging of Demon Breath around him—the Fire Demon Breath of the world itself was pouring in, rushing toward this spot.

Breakthrough?

Yang Qingqing looked at the stiff-faced Du Yu, then waved: "Tai Sui, You Ying."

"Hmm?" Little You Ying blinked its big eyes, also sensing the call from its master through the contract.

Standing on a Mysterious Rune, lugging its giant torch, it scurried over to the bamboo table.

Breakthrough! Breakthrough!

I can be just like Sister Xiaoyan, reaching Celestial Level·Great Success Stage!

You Ying scampered through the air, Tai Sui bouncing happily below on the ground in hot pursuit.

The two little ones, one after the other, threw themselves onto Du Yu and returned to their Acupoint Home.

Yang Qingqing addressed the dazed Chi Bears in the arena, "Today's class ends here. All those with Fire Attribute, gather around; the rest can leave."

"Nng?"

"Nng~~~"

"Silence." Yang Qingqing's voice, rare in its chill, made the crowd of 'nng-nng' beasts fall silent and stiff with fear.

Only two or three Fire Bamboo Chi Bears shuffled over, the rest of the fuzzy plushies fleeing in a panic, scooping up their little bamboo baskets at the gate and scrambling out of the Red Bamboo Courtyard.

This woman is terrifying! What happened to that gentle, kind persona?

Meanwhile, inside Du Yu—

A mysterious black-gold bird circled around inside the Yutang Acupoint, flying laps around Little Du Yu: "Go for it, Du Yu! I'll help you widen your meridians. You focus on sculpting that Demon Soul!"

Du Yu: "Ah."

Little Fen Yang: "Make the most of this breakthrough—maybe you'll finish making the Demon Soul!"

Du Yu: "Huh?"

Little Fen Yang: "Believe in yourself! You never know, right?"

Du Yu fretted inwardly: "Little Fen Yang, aren't we biting off a bit much here? With my current body strength, how could I take heaven's wrath?"

"Pssh~ Coward." Little Fen Yang muttered, "Aunt Qingqing's right here! Didn't we agree before, if things go south, we'd dive under her skirt!"

Du Yu: ???

Since when did I agree to that?

Also, with shoes on, I can claim I'm 1.8 meters—how am I supposed to fit under a skirt?

Du Yu hurriedly said, "Fen Yang, let's just hold off for now. Worst case, I'll wait until I'm at Demon Tamer·Peak Stage before I face Celestial Punishment."

Little Fen Yang: "Great Success Stage or Peak Stage, the boost in body strength is just quantitative, not qualitative, y'know."

Du Yu said weakly, "But 'Peak' at least sounds more badass."

Little Fen Yang: "..."

Du Yu: "Okay?"

"...Yeah, fair enough." Little Fen Yang murmured, "Guess I am being a bit hasty. We can play it safe."

Du Yu lit up inside: "Exactly! Steady wins the race! No problem!"

Little Fen Yang: "Then get back to sculpting."

Du Yu: "Still sculpting?"

Little Fen Yang: "It's a rare chance! Don't worry, if you really are about to succeed, I'll warn you and tell you to stop."

"Alright, deal!" Du Yu grit his teeth—settled!

In his Ren Meridian, Little Fen Yang surged back and forth with endless Fire Demon Breath, battering Du Yu's bodily channels, expanding the size of his acupoints.

Within the Yutang Acupoint, Du Yu kept absorbing the purified Demon Soul delivered by the Shadow Gu Tower, carefully sculpting the Demon Soul·Little Du Yu.

It was quite the sight—in contrast, most Demon Tamers wished their Demon Soul would just solidify instantly!

Make that most people spend their whole lives stuck at gathering the Demon Soul; they'd give anything for the accomplishment but can't make an inch of progress.

But Du Yu…

He, instead, was scared out of his wits, moving ever so gently, terrified he'd actually finish sculpting Little Du Yu—for then the real fun (and danger) would begin!

With that mentality, the trembling Du Yu welcomed the breakthrough of both Little Tai Sui and Little You Ying.

The two little guys were about to break through anyway, so of course it happened smoothly.

You Ying had finally caught up to Xiaoyan—at least, equal on the Small Tier. And Little Tai Sui? Fully powered up!

If there were a cultivation progress bar, after Little Tai Sui broke into Peak of Earth Level, that experience bar would've jumped forward in a big way!

Du Yu was over the moon~

He knew that after reaching the Celestial Level, Little Tai Sui could head out and carry out missions with him.

Even more important: the awakening of an Ancient Bloodline becomes more and more obvious with each level gained.

The only pity: Du Yu had planned for Little Tai Sui to reach Celestial Level by the end of March.

That way, they could participate in this quarter's study hall evaluation.

There's real money at stake!

But things don't always go as you wish. Now, it's already March 20th—this quarter's evaluation, Little Tai Sui probably won't make it.

Torn between gains and losses, Du Yu sat over four hours in the courtyard, up till noon when—suddenly, a ring of fire blasted out from his body!

"Hoo!"

Yang Qingqing's long black hair whipped madly, one hand pressed down the bamboo table, the other shielding her face.

And the few Fire Bamboo Chi Bears at Du Yu's feet? All were sent tumbling away.

Just from how his breakthrough went, you could see the gulf between Du Yu and the others!

What kind of Demon Tamer-level cultivator could stir up a storm like this?

Not just a blaze of heat; it was as if all the oxygen had been burned away, and the courtyard's bamboo wood fence was knocked down in a huge swath!

"That felt amazing!" Du Yu inwardly praised, beaming as he clenched his fists tightly.

Demon Tamer·Great Success Stage!

He's broken through many times before, but the "full health revival" feeling after each one never stopped being exhilarating!

Breakthroughs are just too awesome—wish I could keep leveling up...

Little Fen Yang: "Pssh~ I was worried for nothing."

Du Yu: "What?"

Little Fen Yang: "My worries were totally unnecessary! Even if I let you sculpt, you still couldn't make a Demon Soul."

Du Yu: "..."

"Du Yu?"

"Ah." Du Yu opened his eyes, looking across the table.

Yang Qingqing froze—freshly advanced Du Yu's eyes were dazzlingly radiant!

And just a little similar to the shadow she'd seen in the Bamboo Shadow Thunder Pool.

"Master Qing?" Du Yu, sensing her searching gaze, wondered why the woman was stunned.

Within just one or two seconds, the light receded from Du Yu's eyes.

Though his eyes were still spirited, at least now he looked like an ordinary Demon Tamer.

"Master Qing?"

"Congratulations."

"Hehe." Du Yu stood up and bounced lightly, marveling at his new body.

He moved his limbs a bit and was amazed—his body wasn't as stiff as before!

Du Yu was on cloud nine inside!

Breaking through a Small Tier may not boost the body qualitatively, but the quantitative improvement was plain to see.

While Du Yu was still quietly celebrating, a bucket of cold water dumped right on his head.

He'd just stepped forward when, suddenly, Demon Breath surged through his Spirit Ruins Acupoint, roiling within—Du Yu tripped on air, nearly faceplanting…

"Ugh." Managing to steady himself, Du Yu scratched his head awkwardly, "Little Tower, can't you give me a break?"

Shadow Gu Tower: "..."

After thinking a bit, Du Yu continued the Spirit Contract conversation: "You keep refining that Demon Soul, just don't take control! If you're happy, I'm happy~"

Shadow Gu Tower: "Okay."

"By the way, how much longer for the Saint-level Demon Soul to be refined?"

Shadow Gu Tower: "At this pace, it'll take about a year."

A year!?

Du Yu knew a Saint-level Demon Soul would be nourishing, but he hadn't thought it'd be this nourishing.

This is basically a long-term meal ticket!

Du Yu: "So that means, for a whole year, I can't fight?"

Shadow Gu Tower: "When you go into battle, I can pause the refining and give you full bodily control."

"Good!" Du Yu nodded furiously, confidence swelling that he'd reach Great Demon Tamer long before a year was up!

By then, his body's channels and acupoint size would be so huge, he should be able to handle the Shadow Gu Tower's energy supply no problem.

Yang Qingqing sat quietly on her bamboo chair, elegantly crossing her legs. Seeing her disciple's delight, her thoughts drifted far, far away.

That scene just now, without a doubt, convinced her further that the blurry figure on the battlefield was Du Yu.

After a long while, she spoke quietly, "Du Yu."

Du Yu turned his head at once.

Yang Qingqing: "Did you ever notice the changes in your eyes?"

"Yes." Du Yu nodded, "When I first awakened, my eyes already changed a bit."

Later, when I got tested for attributes outside the hospital, the college teacher said after becoming a Demon Tamer, some bodily changes are normal, and as long as it doesn't affect daily life it's fine."

Yang Qingqing nodded gently: "Yes, Demon Taming is Concentrating Spirit and Refining Qi, worlds apart from ordinary people."

But your eyes—even among Demon Tamers—are far too unusual."

"Hmm..." Du Yu thought for a moment, then said, "Now that you mention it, Master Qing, I do feel like my eyesight is getting better and better."

Yang Qingqing: "Oh?"

Du Yu, internally murmuring apologies, didn't want to lie but he'd sworn vows with the Golden Crow.

Guess it's a helpless white lie.

This concerned Little Fen Yang's life—and, even more, Du Yu's promise to her.

To pave the way for showing that he could see in the dark or through mist, it was time to lay some groundwork…

So, as planned, Du Yu shoved all the blame onto the Twin Trees: "Maybe it's because I became a Spirit Master?

After undergoing the initiation under the Twin Trees, I didn't notice anything super special, but looking back, since I awakened as a Spirit Master, my vision's been improving over these months."

Yang Qingqing frowned lightly, nodding thoughtfully.

The whole "Breaking the Chains" thing originated from Du Yu too.

Now, in the modern age—even among Spirit Masters—Du Yu is the only one lucky enough to have communicated with the Divine Tree.

Are these uniquely special eyes a perk for Pure Fire Attribute Spirit Masters, or some unique blessing from the Twin Trees causing Du Yu's change?

Seeing his master deep in thought, Du Yu turned away a bit unnaturally, summoning several pets to check out how they'd changed after breaking through.

Honestly, he really hoped that one day, he could tell Master Qing the truth.

Because that would be the day the Burning Sun Golden Crow is freed, the Divine regains its place, and the world has nothing left to fear!

But he couldn't help but wonder, when that day comes…

Would Du Yu follow the Ancient Golden Crow, and find his place among the Heaven-Filling Gods and Buddhas?

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