This world is not fair.

The Demon Plant·Firethorn Tree advanced to Spirit Level without any hindrance from the heavens; its growth was permitted.

The same goes for the advancement of Demon Beasts—whether it was Xiaoyan or Ghost Firefly, when they broke through from the Peak of Earth Level to the Initial Stage of Celestial Level, it didn't take much time at all.

Only the growth of the Human Race seems targeted by the gods, every step laden with obstacles.

Since that phone call with Li Mengnan, Du Yu had been living alone at home, training bitterly for several days.

He always felt that he might break through to Demon Tamer·Minor Success Stage at any moment, but that moment just never seemed to arrive.

It was deeply frustrating.

At this moment, he was in the study, sitting with his eyes closed in meditation.

Compared to the empty room of a few days ago, now the study actually looked the part.

Not only were all the desks and chairs in place, but there was a row of bookshelves by the wall; through their glass doors, one could see a collection of Merit Demon Soldier Bows.

Inside the bookshelves, naturally, were also the Prince Du's most treasured three Library Rings on display.

Du Yu had a bit of a collector's habit. Each time he placed a Demon Soldier Bow into the cabinet, he felt an especially deep happiness…

Come to think of it, are three measly Library Rings still too few?

"Ah!" Suddenly, a woman's startled cry came from outside the door.

Du Yu jumped!

This Prince has stayed away from women for 17 years—how could there be a female voice in Prince Du's Mansion?

"Du Yu!" The girl's voice called again—this time, he recognized who it was.

"Mengnan?" Du Yu got up and walked outside; as soon as he opened the door, he saw Li Mengnan lying on the floor in the living room, getting dragged toward a flowerpot by the ankle by a Firethorn Branch…

"Help me!" Li Mengnan cried in alarm.

By contrast, Lin Shiwei was much calmer.

She too was being dragged by the ankle, but in her sharp, beautiful eyes there was only an innocent touch.

"Stop!" Du Yu's voice was unusually stern.

When he was home alone, the Firethorn Tree could interact however it wanted, but after all, Li Mengnan and Lin Shiwei were guests.

This Firethorn Tree really has become an Evil Tree—what, snatching up damsels now?

Hearing its master's command, the Firethorn Branches paused instantly, then quickly released, letting go of both of their ankles.

Li Mengnan scrambled to her hands and knees, eyeing the Firethorn Tree warily as she backed away in a hurry.

Lin Shiwei, on the other hand, smiled as she rose and walked over to the Firethorn Tree, gently stroking its branches and leaves. "Don't be angry."

Du Yu was puzzled: "Angry about what?"

Li Mengnan muttered quietly, "Because we bought you a big bed, duh."

Du Yu: "..."

Oh, so there's drama here too.

Li Mengnan took off her boots and carried them in one hand, tiptoeing toward the door as she asked, "What have you been doing at home these days? Cultivating every day?"

"Yeah."

"Any results?" As Li Mengnan put away her shoes, a branch picked up Lin Shiwei's boots and delivered them, snatching away her Lightning Cat slippers at the same time—seeing this, Li Mengnan's temper flared up!

I was here first!

"No success yet, still a little short," Du Yu said with some helplessness.

He knew in his heart that these days the three of them hadn't gathered together mostly because the other two were afraid to disturb his training.

But with the college entrance joint exam right around the corner, Du Yu still saw no breakthrough.

Lin Shiwei gently stroked the leaves of the Firethorn tree, soothing it while also comforting Du Yu: "Don't worry, once you reach the Demon Tamer stage, the difficulty of cultivation is on a whole other level."

"Mm." Du Yu nodded. "So, why did you two come by? Has the exam schedule been released?"

Lin Shiwei slipped on the slippers delivered by the Firethorn Tree and looked up at Du Yu: "It's out. The exam venue is in Bohai City, the provincial capital."

"Bohai City?" Du Yu was confused. "Just for a final exam, we have to go all the way to the provincial capital…?"

Lin Shiwei: "Most people don't need to go. Our school only got 100 slots and they mostly go to Paper Crane Disciples with mentors. Many people aren't even eligible to take this provincial joint exam."

"I see." Du Yu thought to himself—looks like the students in this joint exam will be top quality!

The students chosen to go to the provincial capital must be the elites of each Demon Spirit Academy.

"Huh?" Li Mengnan stood at the door of the southeastern bedroom, staring at the warmly decorated room, puzzled. "What's with the kid's room?"

The floor inside was covered with colorful padded mats, scattered with building blocks.

There was also a castle-shaped bed, the bed on top, and a little slide going straight to the floor. The inside of the castle held more secrets.

"That's Ghost Firefly's room," Du Yu explained, summoning the Ghostly Firefly Doll.

When it came to caring for his beloved pets, Du Yu's attitude was extremely earnest.

He believed, too, that the bond between human and pet was forged and strengthened in all these tiny details.

"Mmm!" Little You Ying blinked her big eyes; seeing Miss Mengnan again, she hopped along the magical runes eagerly toward her.

"Wow…" Li Mengnan had been prepared, knowing Du Yu's demon pets were likely all Celestial-level by now.

But seeing Little You Ying transform from a torch form into a mysterious, adorable Ghostly Firefly Doll, she still couldn't help but stare in awe.

Du Yu suggested, "Why don't you bring out Wind Witch too? Let Ghost Firefly show her around."

"Okay." Li Mengnan reached out, touched the slowly circling magic sigils, and felt the coolness of the flame symbol.

A ripple of demon breath flowed across her forehead, and a cloaked, hooded Wind Witch materialized quietly.

It was obviously a lot bigger than before—by rough estimate, about 50 centimeters long.

Celestial Level Wind Mage!

The name hadn't changed, but the strength leap was dramatic!

Upon reaching Celestial Level, the Wind Witch could learn a new demon skill: Wind Killing Array.

The name alone made it sound seriously deadly.

Du Yu then summoned Xiaoyan and Little Tai Sui, signaling them to go play with the others, and turned to Lin Shiwei: "Summon your demon pet too, let them get acquainted early."

"Mm." Lin Shiwei brought out the Rose Three Spirits.

For a second, Du Yu thought he was looking at Nezha…

The Rose Three Spirits had three budding flowery heads but no six arms; they all shared one body, and had three flower vines for manipulation.

"Mmm~" Seeing Du Yu, Rose Three Spirits stretched out a vine, instinctively wrapped around him, and waggled its three heads with a cheerful smile.

"Come here." Du Yu beckoned.

With her mistress's consent, Rose Three Spirits gripped Du Yu, flexed her vines, and flew sideways into his arms.

"You've gotten a lot bigger huh." Du Yu hugged the 50cm-long pet, spun it once, and greeted all three heads in turn.

The other pets gathered together, curiously checking each other out, but Dust Spirit Deer didn't join in.

Bai Lu stood quietly by Lin Shiwei's side, looking up at the Firethorn Tree—clearly sensing the power of this demon plant!

"Hehe~" Li Mengnan's laughter rang out; this time, her smile was truly radiant.

Looking at the crowd of adorable magical pets, she headed into the children's room too.

"Go play with them. We'll all be comrades-in-arms after this," Lin Shiwei whispered gently at Du Yu's side.

"Mmm." Rose Three Spirits whipped a vine around Li Mengnan's waist and zoomed her over.

Something clicked in Du Yu's mind: "Rose Three Spirits can bind all three of us at once."

"Exactly. On the battlefield, it'll help us adjust our formation more easily," Lin Shiwei replied, glancing inside—watching Li Mengnan squeezed among the pets, poking and squishing them on both sides. She couldn't help but grin inwardly.

Honestly, that Little Chi Bear is ridiculously cute…

Du Yu: "By the way, Mengnan, where's your pig?"

Li Mengnan: "Sleeping."

"Still hasn't reached Celestial Level?"

Li Mengnan: "Let it sleep a few more days—should be ready right before the exam!"

Du Yu: "..."

"Haha." Lin Shiwei chuckled softly. "She's not kidding. I bet Little Orange Pig will catch up just in time and break through before the exam. We'll have another powerhouse for our team."

Honestly, even without Fire Orange Pig, with all these Celestial-level demon pets here, any opponent will have their work cut out for them!

"Hmm…" Du Yu looked at Lin Shiwei. "You two have a new Acupoint Home. Decided on which demon pet to contract yet?"

Lin Shiwei lifted her chin slightly toward the blissfully happy Li Mengnan: "She wants to contract a Dust Spirit Deer."

"Hmm?" Du Yu raised an eyebrow, recalling the first time the tough guy met Xiaobai. "Bai Lu."

"Nai?"

"Come here." Du Yu beckoned.

Bai Lu was obedient and friendly with Du Yu, so he strolled over to let Du Yu stroke his snowy fur.

"Do you think she's got a chance?"

Du Yu asked, pointing at the girl inside: "Can she find the right partner from your herd?"

Bai Lu stared quietly at Li Mengnan for a while, and answered softly: "Nai."

Lin Shiwei: "Bai Lu doesn't mind her."

"Then there's hope… Right, when are we going to Bohai City?"

Lin Shiwei: "The school requires us to get to the provincial capital on the 30th and check in at the designated location."

"Three days is enough. If we really get a contract with a Dust Spirit Deer, our team's score will go… Wait! We're all Demon Tamers now—so we can't enter the North Suburb Newbie Demon Spirit Realm anymore."

"We have a specific goal this time; we're not just going for training. I'll help Mengnan ask about it," said Lin Shiwei, pulling out her phone. Suddenly she remembered something, and grinned, "By the way, I checked the Celestial List. The first place demon pet had me stunned for a while."

"Heh, you guys haven't had yours evaluated?"

Lin Shiwei: "Did it the day before yesterday, but the level score was too low—couldn't make the list."

Du Yu stroked Bai Lu's soft fur, running his fingers over the markings: "How about Bai Lu?"

"When I got Bai Lu, he'd already been raised. The library has extra requirements; there's an additional contract duration condition, so he can't be ranked yet."

"Oh…"

Lin Shiwei shook her phone, motioning she had to call, and turned to walk out to the balcony.

"Nai." Bai Lu lowered his head and gently nudged Du Yu's left chest with his nose.

"Oh, right, here you go." Du Yu snapped back to himself and conjured a little flame with his fingertips.

As he watched Bai Lu enjoy the spiritual qi, Du Yu couldn't help but think of his own Bai Yujing.

Master Qing should be helping take care of her, right?

She's so gentle and meticulous—of course she will…

The one always on Du Yu's mind was now standing amid a snowy white forest.

Yang Qingqing stood with her hands clasped behind her, gazing up at a vast mountain ahead. Her expression was complex, a trace of wistfulness in her eyes.

Beside her was a group of soldiers, their faces full of awe, also looking up at the mountain.

If you zoomed out, inside the snow forest were rows and rows of neat military camps.

And farther out…

Before this humble gathering of the Human Race stood a grand, gourd-shaped stone mountain.

The mountain was so unique—not a speck of snow clung to the rocks, completely at odds with the vast wintry landscape around it…

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.